https://meenews.co/post/6a45c64ec2ca79de2362e932 Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly donate $1.1 million to pro-immigration groups after 2025 federal enforcement te 2026-07-02T02:00:46.543Z Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly donate $1.1 million to pro-immigration groups after 2025 federal enforcement The Los Angeles Dodgers made headlines in 2025 for a number of reasons. Their front office once again built a dominant roster full of star players. They won back-to-back World Series, becoming the first team since the New York Yankees more than two decades ago to do so. But the Dodgers organization seems to always find itself in the middle of other off-field controversies, and last season was no exception. When federal immigration officials surged enforcement into Los Angeles, which has long been a hotbed of illegal immigration, the Dodgers inexplicably got themselves involved. Some Customs and Border Patrol agents parked their cars briefly in the Dodger Stadium parking lot as they prepared to move to a different location. The Dodgers, then, issued a completely false statement saying they'd denied ICE agents access to the parking lot. Except ICE agents, the agency confirmed, never went to Dodger Stadium. ICE DENIES SENDING AGENTS TO DODGER STADIUM AS TEAM SAYS THEY WERE TURNED AWAY They left the post up regardless, apparently out of a desire to receive praise from the political left and local far-left sportswriters. It worked, as they received widespread support despite being factually wrong. At the time, OutKick reached out to the team's Vice President of Communications, Jon Weisman (he/him), to find out why they had not issued a correction. He never answered. But as part of their virtue signaling efforts, the team announced that as a result of quite literally nothing happening, they would make a donation to pro-immigration groups to satisfy those who oppose enforcing the United States border. And a new report from the Los Angeles Times has confirmed that they followed through on their ridiculous promise to make "direct financial assistance for families of immigrants impacted by recent events in the region." Per the Times, "...The Dodgers donated $1.1 million, representatives for California Community Foundation and Labor Community Services" told them. WATCH: ANGEL MOM TURNS TABLES ON SANCTUARY POLITICIANS WITH BASIC QUESTION ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES What does this have to do with a Major League Baseball team? Nothing, of course. Why should a Major League Baseball team have any interest or impact in federal immigration law enforcement? It shouldn't; it has nothing to do with them or their sport. Regardless of how many illegal aliens live in Los Angeles and support the Dodgers. There are many Catholics who support the Dodgers, and they still felt it wise to give an award to a group of men who dress in drag like nuns and mock their faith. So what do these organizations do? Well, per their website, the California Community Foundation in 2025 "established a new fund" to support LA County NGO's because immigration raids to arrest violent criminals here illegally was a "humanitarian crisis." They also frequently issue statements of support for illegal aliens, though, of course, using the preferred progressive dogma language of "undocumented immigrations." Similarly, the Labor Community Services organization is designed to support immigrant groups with a "pathway to citizenship," per their website. There's little doubt that the Dodgers organization excels at providing a positive experience for their players. They excel at finding and developing talent. And they've done an outstanding job upgrading Dodger Stadium, retaining the character of the building and modernizing it, despite its age. But the ownership group is overwhelmed by left-wing politics. Ironic, since primary owner Mark Walter is the exact type of person the progressive left hates, thanks to his estimated net worth of around $15.5 billion. It's embarrassing that such a historic organization has sunk so low. But that's what happens when you only care about one side of the political spectrum. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45c1c3c2ca79de2362e83a CNN journalist jumps ship to MS NOW over fears of new leadership after merger: report te 2026-07-02T01:41:23.626Z CNN journalist jumps ship to MS NOW over fears of new leadership after merger: report CNN journalist Paula Reid is leaving the network for MS NOW out of concerns over Paramount Skydance's acquisition of the network, according to a Variety report Wednesday. "Reid turned down a chance to renew her current contract at CNN, according to two people familiar with the situation, in part because CNN’s next era appears chaotic," Variety reported. The article noted that Reid's decision allegedly came because of concerns over Paramount CEO David Ellison taking over the network and potentially installing CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss as head of CNN. JAKE TAPPER RUEFULLY REVEALS CNN WILL BE AFFECTED BY PARAMOUNT'S LOOMING TAKEOVER OF NETWORK "Paramount has made some indications that it sees Bari Weiss, the editor in chief of CBS News who has generated several public controversies, as the next steward of CNN," Variety reported. Reid initially joined CNN in 2021 after previously working as a White House correspondent for CBS News. Neither MS NOW nor CNN confirmed the news to Fox News Digital. "As a general matter of practice, we don’t comment on personnel matters," an MS NOW spokesperson said in a statement. "As everyone in Washington knows, Paula Reid is an exceptional reporter, and any news organization would be fortunate to showcase her journalism." RACHEL MADDOW INVITES FIRED CBS CORRESPONDENT SCOTT PELLEY TO JOIN HER NETWORK AFTER '60 MINUTES' EXIT CNN declined to comment. A Fox News Digital report in February found that the mood inside CNN was "horrific" as parent company Warner Bros. Discovery prepared to sell all of its assets to Paramount. In the report, a CNN insider suggested the possibility of talent fleeing CNN ahead of the Ellison takeover if they can afford it. A second insider said the two main concerns are "job loss" and "editorial indifference," noting the former "greatly outranks" the latter. Specifically, CNN staffers worried about a potential "bloodbath" if CBS News and CNN were to merge. Other CNN personalities have also publicly denounced the merger. CNN journalist Kara Swisher previously vowed to leave the network if Ellison took charge in March. CNN BOSS MARK THOMPSON INSISTS HE'S ‘REALLY COMMITTED’ TO NETWORK AMID LOOMING OWNERSHIP CHANGES Veteran CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour described feeling "concerned" over new leadership in May, pointing to past issues regarding CBS News' "60 Minutes" anchors. "I’m concerned based on what’s happened to the other things that he’s taken over already, like CBS News, right?" Amanpour said. "I mean, do I have to list what’s happening there? I mean, hemorrhaging viewers, probably hemorrhaging money, this ideological realignment of CBS and the destruction, potentially, of ‘60 Minutes.’" Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45c1b0c2ca79de2362e831 USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun receives controversial red card during Round of 32 match te 2026-07-02T01:41:04.168Z USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun receives controversial red card during Round of 32 match U.S. men’s national team star Folarin Balogun received a red card in the second half of their Round of 32 World Cup matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night. Balogun was making a challenge on a ball when he stepped on an opposing player’s leg. The U.S. men’s national team is down to 10 players for the rest of the match. If the U.S. holds their 1-0 lead, Balogun will have to miss the Round of 16 game. Balogun scored for the U.S. in the first half. This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45c188c2ca79de2362e80d UA gets $3.7M grant to prepare for screwworm outbreak in Arizona te 2026-07-02T01:40:24.758Z UA gets $3.7M grant to prepare for screwworm outbreak in Arizona Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45bf40c2ca79de2362e7aa Wild video captures apartment complex electrical room explosion as firefighters investigate smoke call te 2026-07-02T01:30:40.320Z Wild video captures apartment complex electrical room explosion as firefighters investigate smoke call Dramatic video captured the moment an explosion erupted inside a Washington state apartment complex electrical room, sending flames and debris toward firefighters as they investigated reports of smoke Sunday. The wild footage from Tacoma showed a crew of firefighters forcing open the door to the electrical room before thick smoke billowed out. Seconds later, a powerful explosion blasted through the doorway, shattering windows and sending vertical blinds and debris flying as firefighters quickly retreated from the building. The person recording the incident briefly turned the camera away after the blast. When the video refocused, firefighters could be seen checking on one another and moving away from the damaged building. 'PARCEL BOMB' EXPLODES IN MONACO RESIDENTIAL AREA, LEAVING 2 CRITICALLY INJURED: REPORTS The Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) later said no firefighters or residents were injured. Firefighters responded around 5:37 p.m. to an apartment complex at 6400 S. 12th St., after receiving reports of an explosion and smoke coming from an electrical conduit, according to the department. Fire alarms sounded after a resident pulled the alarm, prompting crews to evacuate buildings as a precaution. "Eight buildings evacuated indefinitely. No active fire," the TFD said in an update on X. 'PARCEL BOMB' EXPLODES IN MONACO RESIDENTIAL AREA, LEAVING 2 CRITICALLY INJURED: REPORTS Officials said an electrical transformer malfunction pushed smoke into multiple buildings while Tacoma Public Utilities and fire investigators worked to determine the cause. Apartment residents were temporarily sheltered at Hunt Middle School. In a later update, the department said the explosion occurred inside the electrical room after firefighters shut off power to the building. 'PARCEL BOMB' EXPLODES IN MONACO RESIDENTIAL AREA, LEAVING 2 CRITICALLY INJURED: REPORTS "Explosion occurred in the electrical room where firefighters shut power off to the building," the Tacoma Fire Department wrote on X. Tacoma Public Utilities continued investigating the cause of the blast. The utility later cleared residents to return to every building except the 600 building while crews worked to restore power. The American Red Cross assisted residents displaced from that building. The Tacoma Fire Department said the explosion remained under investigation. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45bcfdc2ca79de2362e70f USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun pays tribute to LeBron James after scoring in Round of 32 match te 2026-07-02T01:21:01.740Z USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun pays tribute to LeBron James after scoring in Round of 32 match U.S. men’s national team star Folarin Balogun thought he had gotten the Americans on the board against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their World Cup match on Wednesday earlier than he did The first shot that Balogun put into the back of the net was called back for offside. On his next opportunity, he would not be denied. FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE As halftime neared, Balogun found a hole in the Bosnian defense and received a nice pass from Malik Tillman. Balogun made the most of his opportunity and scored. Balogun paid tribute to LeBron James, celebrating with the NBA star’s "silencer" move. The U.S. took a 1-0 lead into the half and were only 45-plus minutes away from moving on to the Round of 16. Balogun has three goals in the tournament so far. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The U.S. came in with some momentum even though they lost their final group-stage match against Turkey last week. Balogun spoke of the mindset the team had going into the Round of 32 matchup. "The game is going to be about us and what we're prepared to do, and what we have to do to advance," Balogun said. "It’s crunch time. This is the business end, and this is the stage where, in my opinion, the big players step forward and the big players carry the pressure and make things happen." The U.S. reached the semifinals in the inaugural World Cup in 1930 when they won their group. Their only knockout victory came in the 2002 tournament when they beat Mexico in the Round of 16. The tournament expanded to 48 nations this year, which meant an extra knockout stage. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45bceac2ca79de2362e706 DC settles with left-wing protester who tailed National Guard while playing Darth Vader theme song te 2026-07-02T01:20:42.289Z DC settles with left-wing protester who tailed National Guard while playing Darth Vader theme song The District of Columbia has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a protester who tailed an Ohio National Guard patrol while playing Darth Vader’s theme song from "Star Wars" on his cellphone before being arrested.  Sam O’Hara will receive $50,000 after alleging he was unlawfully detained and subjected to excessive force, according to a Thursday court filing obtained by The Associated Press (AP). O’Hara, who works in the hospitality industry as an artist, said he is satisfied with the settlement but conflicted that taxpayers are covering the cost.   "Those who actually violated my constitutional rights should be the ones paying the price, like taking the money from their pensions. That’s what real accountability looks like," he said in a statement, according to The AP. DC GUARD SHOOTING SUSPECT STARES DOWN DEATH PENALTY IN FIRST COURT APPEARANCE On Sept. 11, 2025, O’Hara reportedly walked behind several National Guard troops down a street and played "The Imperial March" from "Star Wars" on his phone.   He alleged that his protest, which the lawsuit characterized as satire, was aimed at President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops patrolling D.C. neighborhoods  According to the lawsuit, one of the National Guard members called police, who stopped O’Hara and kept him handcuffed "tightly" for 15 to 20 minutes before releasing him without charges.  NFL STAR'S BROTHER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF MOTHER AFTER POLICE FOUND HIM SELF-BARRICADED NEAR BODY The following month, O’Hara sued Washington, D.C., four Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers and an Ohio National Guard member.  In court documents, O’Hara alleged the defendants violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights, accusing them of unlawfully restricting free speech and initiating an unlawful seizure while using excessive force. The lawsuit sought compensatory and punitive damages for claims including false imprisonment, battery and constitutional retaliation. Last August, Trump began deploying National Guard members after declaring a crime emergency in the nation’s capital. The increased federal presence heightened tensions among some residents in the heavily Democratic district who criticized the deployment as an overreach of federal authority.  The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45bad0c2ca79de2362dff3 Gary Paul Gillespie te 2026-07-02T01:11:44.283Z Gary Paul Gillespie Graveside Service for Gary Paul “Jeepers” Gillespie at 10 a.m., on Saturday, July 11, in the veteran’s section of the Holbrook Cemetery. A potluck reception following at the Holbrook Elks Lodge, located at 714 Elkdom Ave. The post Gary Paul Gillespie first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45babac2ca79de2362df50 Novice climber survives 1,500-foot drop on California's Mount Shasta after helicopter rescue delayed by clouds te 2026-07-02T01:11:22.293Z Novice climber survives 1,500-foot drop on California's Mount Shasta after helicopter rescue delayed by clouds A 31-year-old novice climber survived a roughly 1,500-foot slide down California's Mount Shasta after worsening weather forced rescuers to abandon plans for a direct helicopter rescue, sending climbing rangers scrambling up the mountain on foot before she could be flown to a hospital. The woman was climbing the Left of Heart variation of the popular Avalanche Gulch route Sunday with two other novice climbers when she slipped near the 13,000-foot elevation and ultimately came to rest roughly 1,500 vertical feet lower, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Cloud cover prevented a California Highway Patrol helicopter from reaching the injured climber directly, forcing the rescue to unfold in stages. RESCUERS FREE CLIMBER TRAPPED BENEATH 16,000-POUND BOULDER ON OREGON'S MOUNT HOOD IN COMPLEX OPERATION "The weather complicated the issue," a California Highway Patrol Office of Air Operations official with the Redding Air Unit told Fox News Digital. Unable to reach the woman, the helicopter instead dropped U.S. Forest Service climbing rangers lower on Mount Shasta, where they hiked to the patient while the air crew waited for weather conditions to improve. Once rangers stabilized the climber, they carefully lowered her by rescue litter to Lake Helen, where a CHP helicopter was finally able to land and fly her to Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta at approximately 5:37 p.m. RESCUERS FREE CLIMBER TRAPPED BENEATH 16,000-POUND BOULDER ON OREGON'S MOUNT HOOD IN COMPLEX OPERATION The rescue took roughly five and a half hours from the initial emergency call until the helicopter evacuation. Although the distance sounds extraordinary, Shasta-Trinity National Forest officials said the incident was not a straight free fall. Stokesbury said the climber's descent was a long slide down the steep snow slope rather than a straight free fall, with the terrain gradually becoming less steep farther down the mountain. RESCUERS FREE CLIMBER TRAPPED BENEATH 16,000-POUND BOULDER ON OREGON'S MOUNT HOOD IN COMPLEX OPERATION "It starts steep and then kind of levels out a little bit," Stokesbury told Fox News Digital. "It does enough for them to stop." Officials said climbers are taught to perform a self-arrest with an ice axe after slipping, but novice climbers often struggle to execute the maneuver before picking up speed. The woman suffered a suspected fractured ankle along with additional injuries but remained alert and in good spirits when rescuers reached her, according to the Forest Service. A CHP aviation official also described the terrain as particularly unforgiving. "That particular portion of the mountain is extremely steep and it kind of funnels into a little bit of a chute," the official told Fox News Digital. "People take a smaller slide on the upper end, there's nothing to really arrest that descent for quite a while." Forest Service officials said the incident follows a familiar pattern seen during the latter part of Mount Shasta's climbing season. "Slips and falls happen all the time at that level," Stokesbury said, adding that April, May and early June generally provide the safest climbing conditions. As summer arrives, snow begins melting, ice hardens and rocks loosen, increasing the risk of falls and rockfall. "This is not a normal hiking trail," Stokesbury said. "You need to make sure you're in shape, you have your proper gear." The Forest Service urges climbers to carry mountaineering equipment including an ice axe and crampons when conditions require, monitor changing weather and route conditions, climb with experienced partners and have an emergency plan before attempting the 14,179-foot volcano. "Before attempting a summit, be honest about your experience and physical conditioning," the U.S. Forest Service's Facebook post reads. The rescue was carried out by Mount Shasta's specialized climbing ranger program, which spends each climbing season educating visitors, monitoring mountain conditions and responding to emergencies on one of the nation's busiest high-altitude climbing routes. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45baa6c2ca79de2362deb7 Illegal alien on the run after allegedly ramming ICE vehicle in Pennsylvania, prompting agent to fire weapon te 2026-07-02T01:11:02.819Z Illegal alien on the run after allegedly ramming ICE vehicle in Pennsylvania, prompting agent to fire weapon An illegal immigrant with a criminal history that includes a hit-and-run remains on the run Wednesday, after he allegedly rammed his car into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle in Pennsylvania, prompting a federal agent to open fire, authorities said. ICE officers were trying to take Clemente Lara-Hernandez, a Mexican national, into custody in Harrisburg at around 6:15 a.m. when he resisted, ICE told Fox News Digital. At one point, Lara-Hernandez "weaponized his car" and rammed an ICE vehicle, the agency said. FLEEING SUSPECT IN NEW JERSEY STRIKES ICE AGENT, WHO OPENS FIRE "The illegal alien then dangerously drove in the wrong direction on a one-way street and crashed into a civilian vehicle," an ICE spokesperson said. An ICE agent fired his weapon and another sustained a cut to the hand, authorities said. No one appeared to have been struck. Lara-Hernandez remains at large. HEROIC ICE OFFICERS, STAFF MEMBER OPEN UP ON GROWING DANGERS: ‘AM I GOING TO DIE?' The FBI is leading the investigation into the incident. The Harrisburg Police Department had no involvement other than responding to secure the scene, a police spokesperson told Fox News Digital. The FBI said it responded to the scene but that "Justice Department policy prevents us from commenting on the nature of any investigations that may or may not be occurring." In addition to a hit-and-run, Lara-Hernandez's criminal history includes an assault and a domestic violence incident, ICE said. ICE noted that its officers are facing a significant uptick in attacks as they carry out immigration enforcement operations nationwide. "Our ICE law enforcement officers are facing a more than 1,300% increase in assaults, 3,300% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest the worst of the worst," ICE said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45ba92c2ca79de2362de0c America wasn't 'really founded' until 1965, MS NOW guest historian argues ahead of 250th birthday te 2026-07-02T01:10:42.516Z America wasn't 'really founded' until 1965, MS NOW guest historian argues ahead of 250th birthday MS NOW guest and presidential historian Jon Meacham made the case on Wednesday that the U.S. as a "multiracial, multiethnic democracy" was not founded until 1965 in the days leading up to the Fourth of July. "You know, we talk about, directly to your point, we talk about this as the 250th anniversary, which it is, of the Second Continental Congress passing the Declaration of Independence, fully beginning the Revolutionary War, which ultimately leads in 1787-1789 to the framing of the Constitution, the inauguration of George Washington, and the beginning of what we would see as a recognizable experiment in self-government, except that a lot of people weren’t included in that," Meacham said on MS NOW's "Morning Joe." He continued, "And in that important sentence about 'all men being created equal,' men had a very particular application in that era. There’s a very good case to be made, I think, that we were really founded in 1965, that that’s when a multiracial, multiethnic democracy came more fully into being, with the Immigration and Nationality Act, with the Voting Rights Act. And so we’re really about 60 years old, and we’re a developing democracy in a lot of ways." MS NOW GUEST ADMITS 'GREAT TREPIDATION' ABOUT CELEBRATING AMERICA'S 250TH, CLAIMS COUNTRY IS BEING DESTROYED However, Meacham, who has previously written speeches for former President Joe Biden, revered America's Founding Fathers as proof that "imperfect people can push us toward more perfect outcomes." "Let’s remember that we have to honor them by following them. We can’t just preach. We have to practice," Meacham said. MS NOW HOST ROASTED FOR QUESTIONING IF MIKE JOHNSON IS PUTTING 'GOD OVER THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE' In the months leading up to the 250th anniversary of America's founding, several current and former MS NOW hosts have expressed trepidation about the holiday over the nation's history with slavery. "They're going to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the country July 4th, but that's not our celebration," Rev. Al Sharpton said in April. "We were slaves then, and they celebrate signing the Declaration of Independence 1776. We were not even emancipated until 1863. So I don't know what everybody getting ready for a celebration [for]. You know that it seems crazy for me to have on the birthday hat at your birthday party. That ain't my party." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Joy Reid, who previously worked for the network, noted last month that no one she knows who is Black will celebrate Independence Day, adding that Juneteenth is the real beginning of America. "Whereas Juneteenth to me is the real thing that Fourth of July is, because we really were not a democracy until we ended slavery," Reid said. "And then we were really not a democracy until the people who lost the Civil War were finally forced to affirm and act upon the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, which they were not forced to do until the '60s." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45b83fc2ca79de2362cce5 Stephen A Smith shows his privilege by mocking Lakers' roster for having too many 'White dudes' te 2026-07-02T01:00:47.448Z Stephen A Smith shows his privilege by mocking Lakers' roster for having too many 'White dudes' ESPN host Stephen A. Smith says the Los Angeles Lakers have too many White guys to succeed in the NBA. On Wednesday, he mocked the team's trade for Walker Kessler, pairing him with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. "Where the hell the Los Angeles Lakers think they are going with a bunch of White dudes?" he asked on his podcast. "Your three top players are White dudes. Really? This is basketball." ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! He then asked, "In NBA history, when has a team led by three White dudes ever gone to the promised land? Somebody gotta say it." To answer his question: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Danny Ainge. Smith then declared, "You ain't going anywhere with three White dudes. Ain't no way." OutKick asked Smith via email why he believes White basketball players are inferior and whether he believes there are any cases in which Black athletes are inferior. He did not respond by the time of publication. We will update this story if he does. We want to stress that Smith not only made these comments on-air but also had his team post the clip on social media. He and his team appear proud of his racist remarks. Like many Black members of sports media, Smith takes pride in his anti-White bigotry. And that's exactly what this segment was: anti-White bigotry. CAITLIN CLARK HARD CONTACT TIMELINE: WNBA'S GROWING HISTORY OF BRUTAL HITS AGAINST THE FACE OF THE SPORT Imagine the outrage if Smith heard someone question how far an NFL team could go with a Black quarterback, Black head coach and Black general manager. In fact, Smith has long argued that the NFL has overlooked Black candidates at those positions because of racial bias. Yet in this case, he's the one reducing athletes to their race. Apparently, that's okay, so long as the athletes who are reduced are White. The comments also make Smith look uninformed. Luka Doncic led the NBA in scoring this past season at 33.5 points per game. Austin Reaves averaged 23.3 points. Walker Kessler averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds. While this newly formed Big Three is hardly LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Lakers' trio compares favorably with the top three players on most NBA teams, including teams led by three Black players. More broadly, the idea that White players are inherently inferior no longer matches reality. While the race idolaters had hoped Victor Wembanyama would surpass him, Nikola Jokic is still the best player in the NBA. He's White. Cooper Flagg is a highly promising rookie. He's White. Caitlin Clark is a phenom. She's White. This reality seems to bother people like Stephen A. Smith, who appears uncomfortable with the infusion of White star players in basketball. He's not alone. Kendrick Perkins, Jemele Hill, Monica McNutt and Gilbert Arenas have all made comments suggesting a similar discomfort at various points. We would add Sheryl Swoopes to that list, but as she once told us, "Black people can't be racist." Yes, they can. Look at the racial hostility that Caitlin Clark faces from Black players and media members on a nightly basis. The worst part is that there are no repercussions for directing blatant racism toward White people. Nothing will happen to Smith. It's called privilege. But imagine the message ESPN could send by suspending him for remarks that, by any ordinary definition, are racist. It would certainly make others think twice before making similar comments about White athletes. Finally, as OutKick has reported, "First Take" has posted sluggish ratings for months compared to other ESPN programming. Pat McAfee has surpassed Smith as the face of the network. Uninformed, low-IQ commentary like this is a big reason why. We predicted that ESPN could soon regret agreeing to give Stephen A. Smith a five-year, $100 million contract last year. We suspect that is now officially the case. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45b5ccc2ca79de2362c9e0 Immigrant Arrests Surge to 10,000 in 5 Days as ICE Clamps Down te 2026-07-02T00:50:20.344Z Immigrant Arrests Surge to 10,000 in 5 Days as ICE Clamps Down The agency has doubled its daily arrest numbers without the fanfare of last year’s large urban operations, sowing fear in immigrant communities. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45b38ac2ca79de2362c960 Nine Arrested in Federal Crackdown on L.A.’s Sex-Trafficking Corridor te 2026-07-02T00:40:42.370Z Nine Arrested in Federal Crackdown on L.A.’s Sex-Trafficking Corridor Federal officials in Los Angeles described gang members’ yearslong scheme that relied on social media and physical violence to recruit and maintain control of the girls. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45b376c2ca79de2362c957 How Trump Made ‘Y.M.C.A.’ His Anthem, Despite the Village People and Victor Willis’s Mixed Feelings te 2026-07-02T00:40:22.412Z How Trump Made ‘Y.M.C.A.’ His Anthem, Despite the Village People and Victor Willis’s Mixed Feelings On social media, he said the Village People’s lead singer, Victor Willis, was with him “right from the beginning.” But the president has a more complicated history with the group. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45b130c2ca79de2362c8d5 Khamenei body in cold storage as feared Basij mobilizes ahead of historic Iran funeral te 2026-07-02T00:30:40.956Z Khamenei body in cold storage as feared Basij mobilizes ahead of historic Iran funeral Tehran is preparing for the July 9 burial of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, more than four months after his death, as authorities mobilize the Basij militia and mount a massive security operation ahead of what is expected to be a "historic" turnout. The lengthy delay to the funeral has raised questions about how Khamenei's remains have been preserved, as Islamic tradition, anaylsts say, generally calls for prompt burial and discourages chemical embalming. "The mechanism is almost certainly refrigerated cold storage, not embalming, as Islam bars chemical embalming," counterterrorism expert Dr. Mohammed Omar told Fox News Digital. MOJTABA KHAMENEI USING ‘BIN LADEN TEMPLATE’ TO SURVIVE, LEARNED FROM ABBOTTABAD: ANALYST "Shia law allows delayed burial and preservation by cold in exceptional cases, and a clerical exemption for a Supreme Leader is easy to get," he added. "Iran's forensic morgues already hold bodies for months, so four months in freezing is not exotic. That is what 'religious and legal standards' cover," Mohammed said. Operation Epic Fury began on Feb. 28 with a targeted U.S. strike that killed Khamenei at his compound in Tehran. He had ruled the Islamic Republic for 36 years. "There may not be much of a body to present. Khamenei was killed by a bunker-penetration strike, and others killed with him were recovered weeks later and identified by DNA," Mohammed explained. "A regime holding an intact body does not cancel the farewell, shift the burial site repeatedly, and confirm that he can be buried only days out. "It reads less like reverence and more like remains they could preserve but not display," he said. WAVE OF ATTACKS ON IRAN'S IRGC RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT RENEWED KURDISH INSURGENCY With that, Iranian authorities are portraying the funeral as both a farewell to the leader and a show of strength under the slogan "We Must Avenge." According to Iranian state media, Yaqoub Soleimani, deputy for cultural and educational affairs at the Martyrs Foundation and one of the funeral's organizers, said Wednesday the ceremony would be conducted "with full grandeur." Soleimani said a turnout of 1 million people would make the event "a historical occasion" and "a national epic in the memory of the Islamic Republic of Iran." The schedule starts with public viewings Saturday and Sunday in Tehran. A funeral procession is scheduled for July 6, where local authorities estimate 15 million to 20 million people could attend. Another procession is planned the following day in Qom, one of Shiite Islam's holiest cities. "The numbers the regime is putting out — up to 20 million mourners in Tehran, 35 million nationwide, more than 90 countries represented, 14,000 journalists credentialed — are not logistics," Mohammed, of the George Washington Program on Extremism, said. "They are the message. Tehran is spending everything it has to project continuity and strength because after the war both are in question." IRAN'S UNPRECEDENTED 'WHOLE-REGIME' DELEGATION AT US DEAL TALKS SIGNALS ONE GOAL: EXPERT According to Iran International, Tehran is also preparing a massive security operation for the funeral. "The Basij and the IRGC running this is the story, not a detail," Mohammed said. "The Basij is coordinating logistics — highways turned into parking, each Tehran district assigned a province, five public holidays declared — and the Guard has crowd control. "This is a mobilization dressed as a funeral. The same apparatus organizing the grief this week is the apparatus that put down the January protests and denied funerals to the families of the people it killed then. American readers should hold those two facts next to each other," he added. While senior Iraqi officials will attend the funeral, representation from other major powers will be limited. Although Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian personally invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India will instead send a lower-level official delegation. Reports on June 30 also confirmed that Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili will attend the ceremony. "No major power is sending its top leader," Mohammed said. "For a regime that claims to lead a front stretching from Beirut to Sanaa, a regional turnout at its founder-successor's funeral is the isolation showing through the pageantry. "For Washington, it is a useful readout: the war left Tehran's axis smaller and more regional than the regime advertises," he added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45aef2c2ca79de2362c86d What the SCOTUS Title IX ruling could mean for lawsuits seeking damages for women impacted by trans athletes te 2026-07-02T00:21:06.015Z What the SCOTUS Title IX ruling could mean for lawsuits seeking damages for women impacted by trans athletes The Supreme Court’s Tuesday decisions on trans athletes in women's sports did not award damages to any female athletes impacted. But for women suing the NCAA, universities and athletic conferences over past transgender-athlete policies, the ruling may prove to be an important turning point. Riley Gaines' lawsuit against the NCAA and Brooke Slusser's lawsuit against San Jose State and the Mountain West Conference each cases seek damages for female athletes who say they lost equal opportunities, privacy, safety or fair competition under policies that allowed transgender-identifying male athletes to compete in women’s sports. SUPREME COURT MAKES RULING ON TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S SPORTS Bill Bock, an attorney leading both cases for the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS), said the Supreme Court ruling is "huge" because it "absolutely shredded" the reasoning used by lower courts and athletic bodies that had argued Title IX required schools to allow biological males who identify as female to compete in women’s sports. All nine Supreme Court justices agreed that Title IX and its regulations allow federally funded schools and states to separate athletic teams based on biological sex and to exclude transgender females from participating on girls' and women's teams. Bock said that because of that sentiment by all nine justice, the NCAA, Mountain West and the institutions his side is suing now "had no basis for what they did to women." "In all of their arguments, they said, 'We had to, we had to do this because Title IX required us to do this,'" Bock told Fox News Digital. "The NCAA's first defense is, 'Well, Title IX doesn't apply to us.' The second defense is, 'Well, we had to do it because Title IX required us to.' They're wrong on both counts." Bock said he will account for the ruling when filing future briefs in the lawsuits. "We'll be submitting a brief relatively soon in the Mountain West case, that will be required. In the Georgia case, we're waiting for the judge's ruling on the first question, which is whether Title IX applies to the NCAA." LAWYERS FIGHTING SJSU OVER VOLLEYBALL SCANDAL RESPOND TO FEDERAL TITLE IX PROBE FINDINGS He described the NCAA’s position as twofold: "Title IX doesn’t apply to us" and "we had to do it because Title IX required us to." "They’re wrong on both counts," Bock said. For Gaines' lawsuit, current and former female athletes sued the NCAA and others over the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, where former UPenn trans swimmer Lia Thomas competed in women’s events. The plaintiffs sought compensatory and punitive damages, along with other relief, on behalf of themselves and a proposed class of women who competed at those championships. That case has already been narrowed. A federal judge dismissed claims against Georgia defendants and Georgia Tech Athletic Association, finding that the challenged policy decisions came from the NCAA. What remains are Title IX claims against the NCAA, and the next key question is whether the NCAA is covered by Title IX because of alleged federal funding ties, including a concussion-research partnership with the Department of Defense. For Slusser's lawsuit, female volleyball players sued over San Jose State and Mountain West policies tied to a transgender player on San Jose State’s women’s volleyball team. A federal judge dismissed the Mountain West defendants and most claims, but Bock said he will appeal that decision. The judge left pending Title IX damages claims against the California State University Board, which oversees SJSU, and specifically delayed ruling on those damages claims until after the Supreme Court decided B.P.J. That delay now looks significant. In March, the federal judge, S. Kato Crews, wrote that his earlier preliminary-injunction ruling had relied in part on Bostock v. Clayton County, the 2020 Supreme Court employment case involving gay and transgender workers. He said that reading of Bostock was "now called into question and might be upended" by the Supreme Court’s women’s-sports case. The Supreme Court has now said Bostock does not control the Title IX sports issue. The majority said Title VII employment law and Title IX athletics are "vastly different" contexts, and that Title IX authorizes separate men’s and women’s teams. Former University of Arizona swimming star Marshi Smith, co-founder of ICONS, said the Supreme Court ruling was a "huge battle won," but not the end of the fight. "We’re lacking accountability still," Smith said, pointing to women and girls who say they lost "titles, national championships, even up to world championships, records, roster spots, scholarships." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Fox News Digital reached out to the NCAA and the Mountain West Conference for comment. Former University of Kentucky swimmer and Gaines' old teammate Kaitlynn Wheeler, a plaintiff in Gaines, said the ruling was "a super validating moment" after female athletes had been "asking for fairness for years." "I think a lot of women, including myself, woke up today feeling an immense amount of hope," Wheeler said. Kaylie Ray, who is involved in the Mountain West case, said the ruling felt "incredibly validating" after athletes in the conference felt their leaders had not protected them. "Women do matter," Ray said. "Their spaces do matter. Equality does matter. And their opportunities deserve to be protected." For female athletes seeking damages, the ruling does not guarantee victory. But it does give them a new answer to one of the central defenses they have faced for years: that institutions had no choice. The next stage of the fight will be whether courts treat that answer as enough to hold the NCAA, universities or other athletic bodies financially accountable for past seasons. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45aedec2ca79de2362c864 Mexican soccer fans celebrate advancing in the World Cup by wailing on each other in impromptu boxing match te 2026-07-02T00:20:46.557Z Mexican soccer fans celebrate advancing in the World Cup by wailing on each other in impromptu boxing match One of the best parts of the World Cup has been watching all the fanbases having the time of their lives, and while there have been some real standouts (shoutout Tartan Army), I don't think anyone celebrates like they do down in Mexico. It's no secret that Mexican fans are about as passionate as they come — speaking from experience having watched a Mexico-Brazil 2014 World Cup match in a Cancun bar — and they love a good celebration. On Tuesday night, after harassing them the night before at their team hotel, Mexico sent Ecuador packing in a Round of 32 match at Mexico City Stadium. It was their first knockout-stage win since 1986. FORMER MAYOR ISSUES STATEMENT ABOUT HER BOOBS AFTER HER WORLD CUP CELEBRATION GOES VIRAL If that isn't a cause for celebration, then I don't know what is. And what better way to celebrate than by having two women throw on boxing mitts and wail on each other in the middle of a street? Yeah, I can't think of one either. Maybe dunking your head in a cotton candy machine, but it's been done. At first, given the way those two women squared up, I thought maybe they actually knew how to box. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Then, after the first punch, it became clear this was probably the first time either one had ever put on a pair of boxing gloves. It was obvious that No. 22 won that one, but I don't think there were any losers last night in Mexico. The place was electric. The celebration can't go on forever (or maybe it can, who knows?) because Mexico has a big match coming up against England, which defeated DR Congo on Wednesday to advance to the Round of 16. That match will take place on July 5 at Mexico City Stadium. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45aca8c2ca79de2362c811 Early voting protection effort falls short in Arizona te 2026-07-02T00:11:20.111Z Early voting protection effort falls short in Arizona PHOENIX -- Arizonans aren't going to get to decide whether they want to enshrine the right to vote early and by mail into the state constitution. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45ac94c2ca79de2362c7ff Mail-in voting initiative fails to make the November ballot te 2026-07-02T00:11:00.143Z Mail-in voting initiative fails to make the November ballot Photo by Jim Small | Arizona Mirror A Democratic campaign to ask voters to enshrine the right to vote by mail into the Arizona Constitution has failed to gather enough signatures to make it on the November ballot.  The political action committee behind the campaign, Protect the Vote Arizona, announced a day before the deadline that its 2,000 volunteers had gathered 439,000 signatures, not enough to withstand inevitable challenges to and disqualifications of thousands of those signatures.  GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE Spokeswoman Stacy Pearson said the campaign would instead focus on a legal challenge to the Republican ballot referral that Protect the Vote Arizona was created to compete with in November.  With a requirement to gather 383,923 valid voter signatures before the July 2 deadline, Protect the Vote Arizona’s Free, Fair and Secure Elections Act faced an uphill battle since volunteers began collecting signatures in the spring. The ballot initiative was filed with the secretary of state in March and had only gathered 50,000 signatures as of May 6.  “Facing an impossible 88 percent validity requirement, the campaign made a strategic decision to not turn over the signatures of hundreds of thousands of mail-in voting supporters to the very election-denying politicians (i.e. Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap) that this measure was designed to protect against,” Stacy Pearson, spokeswoman for the campaign, said in a statement. Citizens initiatives typically try to gather 25% more signatures than necessary, to account for signatures that are disqualified.  State Rep. Alexander Kolodin, who authored the Republican ballot referral that the Protect the Vote campaign was designed to challenge, celebrated its failure in a social media post. Kolodin did not respond to a request from the Mirror for additional comment.  “It isn’t November yet but I just beat Democrat Adrian Fontes at the ballot box!” Kolodin wrote.  Kolodin is running in the Republican primary for secretary of state, in hopes of facing incumbent Fontes, one of many Democrats who backed the Protect the Vote Arizona initiative, in November.  In the post, Kolodin called the failed initiative the “California-Style Elections Act” and asked readers to donate to his campaign.  Kolodin’s ballot referral would prohibit foreign nationals from spending money to influence elections, require every voter to show government identification before casting a ballot in every election and require all polling locations to provide on-site tabulation of ballots for voters who want it. Voters who cast a ballot in person are already required to present ID, but those who vote by mail use signature verification to confirm their identities. When Democratic lawmakers questioned how Arizonans who vote by mail would produce ID, as required in House Concurrent Resolution 2001, its Republican supporters brushed that concern aside.  Republicans repeatedly said that HCR 2001, dubbed the “Fast Accurate Secure Transparent Election Results Act,” would not impact vote by mail, despite concerns from county recorders, elections officials and Democrats.  Kolodin has been trying to pass similar legislation, based on Florida’s voting practices, for two years. The final, pared down version of his House Concurrent Resolution 2001 was passed via a final party-line vote during the marathon last day of this year’s legislative session, which began in the late morning of June 12 and lasted until 4:45 a.m. the next day.  According to Kolodin, HCR2001 is intended to restore trust in the state’s elections and to speed up results, both stated concerns of Republicans who made baseless claims that the 2020 and 2022 elections were stolen.  Pearson said in the statement that Protect the Vote Arizona “remains committed to disqualifying the Arizona legislature’s democracy-eroding referral (HCR2001) in court, and ultimately electing a slate of pro-democracy candidates in November.” HCR2001 is one of five controversial last-minute ballot referrals that the Republicans who control the Arizona Legislature sent to voters that are now facing legal challenges to keep them off the ballot.  Randy Keating, a member of the Tempe City Council, filed the challenge to Kolodin’s elections overhaul, arguing that it violates the state’s single-subject rule because it addresses multiple election processes.  “While it is disappointing that the Protect the Vote initiative will not be submitting signatures for ballot consideration, the issue of protecting vote-by-mail remains top of mind for Arizonans,” Patti O’Neil, chairwoman of the Maricopa County Democratic Party said in a statement. “More than 85% of voters, regardless of party, use vote-by-mail and have done so for the past 30 years.” No-excuse mail-in voting was enacted by Arizona Republicans in 1991. YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45ac80c2ca79de2362c7de White House fires back after 'slob' JB Pritzker says Trump is suffering from 'dementia' te 2026-07-02T00:10:40.188Z White House fires back after 'slob' JB Pritzker says Trump is suffering from 'dementia' Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker attributed President Donald Trump’s attacks on the growing influence of socialists within the Democratic Party to "dementia." Pritzker’s remarks come after Trump classified socialism as the "biggest threat" to America since its founding – including World War I, World War II and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "Look, the man is continually suffering from dementia. I don't think he really understands what he's saying," the Illinois governor told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. TRUMP MARKS 80TH BIRTHDAY, NOW SECOND OCTOGENARIAN SITTING PRESIDENT: 'SEEMED TO UTTERLY DEFY AGE' "I’m not a doctor. I haven’t diagnosed anything," he continued. "I’m just suggesting to you that just look at the way he puts words and sentences together and thoughts and they’re almost divergent in the same sentences." Pritzker pointed to what he described as a decline in Trump’s public appearances to support his dementia assertion. "Look at any of the videos from 2015 or 2016 and look at how he responded to questions and how he was at press conferences and then you fast forward and look at him now, I really think that there's something genuinely wrong with him," he said. In a statement to Fox News Digital, the White House called Pritzker's comments a "desperate" attempt to stay relevant. BILL MAHER'S DIRE MIDTERM ELECTION WARNING TO DEMS AFTER 'REALLY CRAZY' SOCIALISTS WIN PRIMARIES "JB Pritzker is a slob and an incompetent governor who pushes blatantly false narratives like this in a desperate attempt to stay relevant. Instead of lying in media interviews, Pritzker should focus on fixing his broken state and do his job," a White House spokesperson said. The White House also defended Trump's health, telling Fox News Digital in part: "Unlike the Biden White House, President Trump and his entire team have been fully open and transparent about the President’s health, which remains exceptional." Trump recently reupped warnings of socialism’s growing influence within the Democratic Party after several socialist candidates secured primary victories, indicating an increasing acceptance of the far-left movement within the party. All three congressional candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani – Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalie – won their respective Democratic primaries. "It’s too easy to get elected, giving everything away," Trump said Monday. "It’s easy for them to get followers because they make promises they know they can’t keep." Pritzker also slammed Trump for "regularly" threatening to use the powers of the federal government to target political opponents and said the president often speaks without thinking. "[Trump] has these concepts in his head and he blurts them out without really thinking," Pritzker said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45aa8fc2ca79de2362c79a Scene pkg July 1 NDS te 2026-07-02T00:02:23.317Z Scene pkg July 1 NDS Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45aa7bc2ca79de2362c78c Scene pkg July 1 te 2026-07-02T00:02:03.342Z Scene pkg July 1 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45aa50c2ca79de2362c744 Coalition of 25 states sues Trump admin over Medicaid work rule designed to prevent fraud te 2026-07-02T00:01:20.848Z Coalition of 25 states sues Trump admin over Medicaid work rule designed to prevent fraud A coalition of blue states and jurisdictions is suing the Trump administration over new Medicaid work requirements designed to prevent fraud, arguing the policy unlawfully restricts access to health care coverage. The lawsuit, filed by at least 25 states and the District of Columbia, alleges the newly implemented Interim Final Rule (IFR) — issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — violates federal law and departs from Congress' original intent and early CMS guidance.  The IFR requires certain individuals to provide documentation proving they are exempt from Medicaid rules requiring enrollees to work, volunteer or attend school due to severe medical conditions.  Before the rule was issued in early June, highly vulnerable Medicaid recipients were set to be automatically exempt from such requirements. Agencies would have granted those exemptions by reviewing existing health records, without requiring individuals to complete additional paperwork ahead of the requirements taking effect in January 2027. DR. OZ UNVEILS MEDICAID OVERHAUL, CLAMPS DOWN ON $2B FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND MANDATES WORK FOR ABLE-BODIED The lawsuit names Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which issued the IFR, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), as defendants. Oz previously argued that such guardrails are designed to prevent programs from being "defrauded into a turmoil," adding that able-bodied enrollees receiving American tax dollars should contribute to society.  "If you can work, you should get up and work," Oz said.  "If we put guardrails around these programs, we'll allow them to thrive. I'm here because I love Medicaid. The president has already said he loves and cherishes Medicaid and Medicare. … We cannot allow these programs to be defrauded into a turmoil that they cannot pull up from. If we love these programs, we will make the difficult decisions." The new rule would require able-bodied individuals to work 20 hours a week, volunteer, or pursue education while enrolled in free healthcare coverage. Fox News reached out to the White House and HHS for comment.  FED AUDIT, EMERGENCY MEDICAID UNDERCUT DEMS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HEALTH COVERAGE The plaintiffs involve California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin and Kentucky.  "People with disabilities, patients in the middle of cancer treatment, or those struggling with another serious or complex health condition, shouldn’t be at risk of losing the care that helps maintain their health," the suit stated.  REPUBLICANS PRAISE 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’S' WORK REQUIREMENT FOR MEDICAID: ‘WE’VE GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK’ According to the suit, CMS’s own projections estimate that 2.3 million enrollees will lose Medicaid coverage in the first year alone.  The agency also estimates that 7% of enrollees who are working or qualify for an exemption will lose coverage due to confusing paperwork requirements, strict deadlines or missing documentation, according to the document.  Beginning in 2028, enrollees who do not have immediate medical records on file would be limited to a single opportunity to submit a "self-attestation" form declaring, under penalty of perjury, that they are too sick to work. Under previous guidance, enrollees were allowed to use self-attestation multiple times as their medical needs evolved. In addition, plaintiffs said the new rules would force states to abandon automated systems they have already invested in and instead build more complex and costly manual review processes.  As the Aug. 31 deadline to mail notices to Medicaid enrollees approaches, the plaintiffs are seeking a temporary stay and a preliminary injunction to block CMS and HHS from enforcing the rules. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45aa29c2ca79de2362c72a Bureau of Prisons Will Close Facilities Housing Thousands of Inmates te 2026-07-02T00:00:41.423Z Bureau of Prisons Will Close Facilities Housing Thousands of Inmates The agency pointed to crumbling infrastructure, chronic staffing shortages and budget shortfalls as it moved to cut costs. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45aa14c2ca79de2362c708 Apple is reportedly planning new iPad Pro and MacBook Pro releases early next year te 2026-07-02T00:00:20.516Z Apple is reportedly planning new iPad Pro and MacBook Pro releases early next year Apple is readying several new iPad Pro tablets, and a budget-friendly MacBook Pro, reports suggest. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45a7f7c2ca79de2362c6a5 DNA from soda bottle allegedly links Massachusetts woman to 1985 murder of 'Baby Boy Doe' te 2026-07-01T23:51:19.858Z DNA from soda bottle allegedly links Massachusetts woman to 1985 murder of 'Baby Boy Doe' DNA from a soda bottle allegedly has linked a Massachusetts woman to the 1985 death of her newborn son, who was found dead in the woods by a father and son hunting rabbits, authorities said this week. Dianne Curry Peck, 59, appeared in court on Tuesday, where she pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in connection with the death of her son, who became known as "Baby Boy Doe" of Mansfield, Massachusetts. "Few cases are more heartbreaking than one involving a newborn baby, allegedly abandoned and left to die in the woods by his mother, deprived of the care, love and protection every child deserves," FBI Boston Special Agent-in-Charge Ted Docks said outside the courthouse. "For 41 years, this child was known simply as Baby Boy Doe. He entered this world with limitless promise, but was denied the most basic right to live." COLD CASE CRACKED AS ILLINOIS SUSPECT CHARGED IN BRUTAL 1993 KILLING OF MOTHER FOUND SLAIN IN FIELD The newborn's body was discovered on Jan. 26, 1985, by a father and son who noticed a set of footprints in the snow. The pair initially thought the child was a doll before realizing it was a naked infant lying on the ground, WCVB reported. An autopsy determined the child was born alive before dying a short time later. "It was naked, lying on its back; the umbilical cord was still attached to the baby," Kenneth Martin, who at the time was working as a Massachusetts State Police trooper assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, told the outlet. The Mansfield Police Department, along with former New England Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan, paid for the baby's funeral, Boston 25 News reported. The case went cold until Bristol County investigators reopened it in 2022, partnering with the FBI and state authorities. DNA FROM CHEWING GUM NAILS LONGTIME SEXUAL PREDATOR DECADES AFTER REIGN OF TERROR: REPORT Using forensic genetic genealogy, investigators analyzed the baby’s DNA, which eventually led them to Peck. DNA recovered from a soda bottle taken from her trash ultimately linked her to the child, authorities said. At the time of the birth, Peck was a 17-year-old student at Mansfield High School. She allegedly admitted to investigators that she had given birth to a child in the back seat of her ex-boyfriend’s car, Boston 25 reported. She claimed she gave the baby to him because he said he knew someone who would adopt the infant. Peck told investigators she believed she had given birth to a girl and never spoke to her ex-boyfriend again. He died in 2020, according to the FBI. COLD CASE CRACKED AS ILLINOIS SUSPECT CHARGED IN BRUTAL 1993 KILLING OF MOTHER FOUND SLAIN IN FIELD Prosecutors also noted there is no evidence that anyone — including Peck’s ex-boyfriend — knew she was pregnant, according to the news outlet. Peck allegedly told police she gave birth on Jan. 20, 1985, but prosecutors argued in court that the timeline is inconsistent with the condition of the baby’s body and the freezing temperatures at the time. According to a medical examiner, the infant had likely been in the woods for only about 12 hours before being discovered. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office and Peck's attorney. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45a7e4c2ca79de2362c693 Captain Aaron Judge calls out Yankees' 'lack of focus' before team drops 7th straight game te 2026-07-01T23:51:00.413Z Captain Aaron Judge calls out Yankees' 'lack of focus' before team drops 7th straight game New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge may not be able to play for his squad right now, but that doesn’t mean he’s looking away from the poor performances they’ve had of late. Judge was straight-forward with his response to the Yankees dropping six games before their series finale against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx. "Well, it’s not great," he said after his team’s woes. "Just a little lack of focus. We just gotta dial it in. Our ultimate goal is to win a World Series. I think guys have to remember that every single day they show up here, we’re here to win a World Series." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Judge didn’t specifically go into what the lack of focus is, but he followed up by saying, "I think you guys see it." Judge, who has been on the injured list with a rib injury, believes getting that elusive 28th world championship for the franchise should be enough motivation to right the ship. ANTHONY RIZZO CALLS OUT JAZZ CHISHOLM'S 'IMMATURITY' AFTER EJECTION DURING YANKEES' FENWAY PARK SWEEP "That should motivate you every single day you step on that field, no matter what happens, no matter what happens the day before," he added. "I got a job to do. We’ve got an important sign when you walk out on the field. It’s the last sign you see before you’re out there: it says 'do your job.' Guys are here to do their job." Unfortunately for the Yankees, Judge’s pre-game speech didn’t result in snapping that losing streak on Wednesday. They fell to Detroit 6-2 in 11 innings, where four runs were scored in the top of the 11th by the Tigers. The Yankees have dropped seven straight and eight of their last 10 games to fall three games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for the lead in the AL East. Yes, the Yankees remain in clear playoff position, sitting atop the American League Wild Card standings despite the skid. But, while the AL has been mediocre this season, it’s still a tight race as other teams are starting to get right. New York could certainly use their captain back on the field, but there’s no timetable for his return and he didn’t have anything positive to say about his rehab in terms of putting the pinstripes back on soon. "You know how it goes around here — guys can feel good, feel bad, but you’ve got to wait on images," Judge said about his rib. The Yankees said when he was diagnosed with the injury that they would get additional imaging done roughly four-to-six weeks later. "There’s no need to talk about this now," Judge said. "I know it’s an important topic and a big issue, but I want to give you guys the full story." The story right now for the Yankees is a bleak one, but there’s a lot of season left to play. Perhaps the All-Star break, which begins July 13, could be a good reset as they look to get back to their winning ways. 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/6a45a7bdc2ca79de2362c67a Ruling on Trans Athletes Gave the G.O.P. a Win. Most Democrats Looked the Other Way. te 2026-07-01T23:50:21.498Z Ruling on Trans Athletes Gave the G.O.P. a Win. Most Democrats Looked the Other Way. While Republicans celebrated the ruling, many Democrats stayed quiet on an issue that had proved divisive in the last election. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45a5d9c2ca79de2362c60c Service member among 2 arrested after missing man probe leads cops to body dump site on Army base te 2026-07-01T23:42:17.396Z Service member among 2 arrested after missing man probe leads cops to body dump site on Army base A missing person investigation in Washington state has escalated into a homicide probe after human remains were discovered on military property, leading to the arrest of two people, including an active-duty service member. The investigation began on June 12, when the Tacoma Police Department received a missing person report for local resident Caelick Bradley, 28, who was last seen June 8, according to Washington State Patrol. Tacoma detectives soon discovered an unauthorized person was actively using Bradley's credit card, which led them to a suspect identified as Humberto Rodriguez Hernandez. During police questioning, Hernandez provided details about a murder that took place on Addision Street SW in the neighboring city of Lakewood, Lakewood Police Department (LPD) officials told Fox News Digital. HIKER DISCOVERS BODY OF MISSING NEW MEXICO NUCLEAR LAB WORKER, POLICE SAY He subsequently led detectives to human remains in a publicly accessible training area on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) property near Spanaway, Washington. Authorities said Hernandez also implicated a second suspect, Aydee Casado-Dominguez, who was later detained outside her home. NAVY SAILOR SENTENCED TO 44 YEARS FOR STRANGLING FELLOW SERVICE MEMBER IN VIRGINIA BARRACKS ROOM Both Hernandez and Casado-Dominguez have been charged with homicide and booked into the Pierce County Jail, LPD officials said. In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Joint Base Lewis-McChord confirmed the discovery of the remains and revealed that one of the two suspects taken into custody by the Tacoma Police Department is a service member currently assigned to JBLM. The Army Criminal Investigation Division is now working closely with both the Tacoma and Lakewood police departments on the ongoing investigation. While the remains were found following the investigation into Bradley's disappearance, official identification and the cause of death are pending an examination by the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office. The exact date of the homicide remains unclear. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45a5c5c2ca79de2362c603 Internal emails expose how July 4th bash is being derailed by Dem-run county: 'Offensive' te 2026-07-01T23:41:57.942Z Internal emails expose how July 4th bash is being derailed by Dem-run county: 'Offensive' San Diego County's officials and its Democratic-led Board of Supervisors are facing backlash after an America 250 Fourth of July celebration originally pitched as a tribute to the Declaration of Independence was reshaped with DEI-focused sponsorship rules. The celebration's main programming is expected to feature a tribal blessing, a land acknowledgment, and nearly two-hours of community-story segments centered on "historically underserved populations." Bill Wells, the mayor of San Diego County's City of El Cajon, and other critics pointed out that America's founding appeared to be sidelined in tentative plans for the upcoming countywide Fourth of July event held along a San Diego-area waterfront. The event, which is lacking funds needed for a full setup, saw at least one sponsor drop after it was mandated they attest to a series of DEI principles as a condition of participating, according to county board materials and internal county emails obtained by Fox News Digital.  "I have an alternative plan: 1. Acknowledge America and its greatness. 2. Celebrate with fireworks and the American National Anthem," Wells posted on X, alongside a copy of the 4th of July celebration's planned schedule, which matches an internal county "run of show" obtained by Fox News Digital. CALIFORNIA DEMS ACCUSED OF PUTTING SANCTUARY LAW OVER MIGRANT CHILD WELFARE CHECKS: ‘REAL CHILDREN’ The rundown obtained by Fox News Digital lists a "Tribal Intimate blessing welcoming to land" shortly after guest arrival and sound check, followed by a "Welcoming and Land Acknowledgment" led by the emcee, then a "Tribal Invocation," the Black national anthem and regular national anthem, and then nearly two hours of community-story segments focused on local tribal, Latino, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, LGBT, and Black and African communities. The event, which will also feature music, food trucks, booths and other "cultural presentations," then concludes with closing remarks, fireworks and clean-up. "The official government July 4th itinerary of San Diego reads like the opening ceremony of the Democratic Socialists of America convention," quipped David McIntosh, President of the conservative political advocacy giant Club for Growth. DEMS PUT ON BLAST OVER POLL THAT SHOWS RECORD-LOW PATRIOTISM IN US: ‘TEAR OUR SOCIETY APART’ Back in February, Jim Desmond, a Republican San Diego County Supervisor, introduced an agenda item to bring forward a Fourth of July event "commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence," citing the area's "deep-rooted relationship to the nation’s defense and civic institutions." Subsequently, the board, which is controlled by a 3-2 Democratic majority, introduced and passed a motion to amend weeks later, which directed the county’s chief administrative officer to coordinate with the Office of Equity and Racial Justice and the county’s Tribal Liaison to incorporate community engagement focused on tribal nations, immigrant communities, LGBT communities and other "historically underserved groups." "Supervisors Desmond and Anderson brought forward a 250th celebration for the whole region. The three Democrats rewrote it, tied it to the county's ‘equity, inclusion, and racial justice goals,’ and handed planning to the Office of Equity and Racial Justice," Wells explained on X, posting images of the meeting minutes that showed the Democrats' amendments. "Independence Day, especially this one, is about celebrating and honoring America," the mayor added in comments to Fox News Digital. "What the county of San Diego has created ignores this in favor of grievance and a sense that our country is not great or worthy of pride. That’s just offensive, especially in light of the fact that they’re using taxpayer money to do so." ‘JESSE WATTERS PRIMETIME’ QUIZZES BEACHGOERS ON AMERICAN HISTORY FOR JULY 4TH Among the changes was a requirement for event donors and sponsors to commit themselves to supporting the county's woke DEI principles, which led at least one to drop out, according to internal county emails obtained and reviewed by Fox News Digital.  The sponsor's pending $2,500 donation did not move forward after the donor declined to complete a required form mandating they show alignment with the county's values on DEI and support for immigrant communities, the county staff emails indicated. Meanwhile, staff separately said in the emails that the event was short thousands of dollars needed for a full stage, lighting and sound setup. "Democrats are essentially excluding White community members from the Fourth of July" anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck contended in response to the event's planned schedule and "equity" focus on "underserved populations," describing it as "vile." Fox News Digital reached out to San Diego County, as well as its Department of Parks and Recreation, for comment on the criticism, but did not hear back. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45a59fc2ca79de2362c5ec Trump on the Range: A Presidential Visit to the Roosevelt Library in North Dakota te 2026-07-01T23:41:19.027Z Trump on the Range: A Presidential Visit to the Roosevelt Library in North Dakota President Trump flew into town on the new Air Force One and spent time touring the library dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt, who he called “a great he-man.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45a58bc2ca79de2362c5e3 Trump Administration Delivers Lucrative Win for Its Kratom Allies te 2026-07-01T23:40:59.572Z Trump Administration Delivers Lucrative Win for Its Kratom Allies In moving to ban a potent synthetic version of kratom, the president’s team paved the way for more sales for makers of rival botanic supplements, who had aggressively lobbied for the change. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45a578c2ca79de2362c5d7 Clock runs out on Sun Tran talks; Union to vote on contract next weekend te 2026-07-01T23:40:40.118Z Clock runs out on Sun Tran talks; Union to vote on contract next weekend Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45a564c2ca79de2362c5cd Without sustained funding or coordination, Az’s push to boost postsecondary enrollment falls short te 2026-07-01T23:40:20.667Z Without sustained funding or coordination, Az’s push to boost postsecondary enrollment falls short Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45a0c9c2ca79de2362c4f6 Here's why the Toronto Maple Leafs work is far from over after signing Sergei Bobrovsky te 2026-07-01T23:20:41.353Z Here's why the Toronto Maple Leafs work is far from over after signing Sergei Bobrovsky The first few hours of NHL free agency saw a flurry of signings, but one of the most intriguing involved the Toronto Maple Leafs putting pen to paper with two-time Stanley Cup champion Sergey Bobrovsky. The 37-year-old is headed to Toronto on a three-year deal worth $7 million a year, which, for a goalie who has won two Cups in the last three years, is one heck of a deal. However, this deal may not be as foolproof as you'd think given Bobrovsky's resume, which includes a pair of Vezina Trophies. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! For starters, Bobrovsky is coming off what was statistically the worst season of his career. His .877 save percentage this year was the lowest of his career, while his 3.07 GAA was tied for the highest. Of course, that's not a total surprise considering the banged-up Panthers missed the playoffs this season. However, according to Statmuse, they were still in the top third of the league in limiting shots. MAPLE LEAFS TOP PICK GAVIN MCKENNA KICKS OFF HIS TIME IN TORONTO WITH A ROUGH CEREMONIAL PITCH The problem, though, is that Bobrovsky is headed to the Leafs, who led the league in shots allowed last season. It stands to reason that Bobrovsky got at least a little help from playing behind a fairly solid defensive team, and still, the numbers were pretty rough. The Leafs have to know that this is an issue. Bobrovsky should still have tread on the tires, and maybe last season was an anomaly. But, regardless, the Leafs can't just say, "We've got a Stanley Cup-winner in net; mission accomplished!" and then dust off their hands. Nope. They've got to beef up their blue line and make sure that they have some defensively responsible forwards in the mix too. If they can do that, then this could work out nicely, especially if they use a tandem of Bobrovsky and fellow former Panther Anthony Stolarz. If they don't? Well, it's hard to imagine next season — the rookie campaign for top pick Gavin McKenna — being kind to the Leafs. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459efbc2ca79de2362c4bd Fireworks stands are Fourth of July mainstays, but the people running them might not be who you expect te 2026-07-01T23:12:59.571Z Fireworks stands are Fourth of July mainstays, but the people running them might not be who you expect TEMPE – Every year around the Fourth of July, pop-up fireworks stands begin to dot parking lots. Their vibrant signs and multiple options are a staple of the patriotic celebrations in metro Phoenix. However, the range of people selling in them, from individual vendors to massive fundraisers, can be surprising. Gibrael Atiyeh runs a SanTan Fireworks stand on Rural and Guadalupe roads in Tempe, in the parking lot of a Burger King. He started running the stand four years ago, when his friend asked him if he wanted the job. “I found out his father was the main owner of it, and was giving me the opportunity,” he said. Atiyeh, 29, is an immigrant who was born in Jordan and grew up in Dubai. Now in Arizona, he owns a car dealership in addition to the fireworks stand. The grueling process of running the stand has helped him learn what is necessary to run his own business, he said. “Every item, every piece comes out on the table, and then I set up pricing and everything,” Aityeh said. “And then when it comes to the end of the night, we literally pack up everything in the boxes back in the container. And it’s like this for two weeks.” Gibrael Atiyeh holds a bag of fireworks inside a storage container next to his display tent in Tempe on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) The take-home pay is nothing to slouch at, either. Atiyeh said he has taken home as much as $12,000 in profit from a single Fourth of July sales period, which helps him continue to pursue other business endeavors. He also thinks the standalone locations have a sales advantage over the ones in grocery stores because they have bigger options available. “They make it sound like it’s a lot, but it’s not as big as what we have,” he said. Daniel Gonzalez, a salesman at a Bellino Fireworks stand on Rural Road and Southern Avenue, is part of a group giving the profits to a men’s home run by Christian Redemption Center Church. “We’re part of a men’s home, people that are trying to restore their lives. So this is a fundraiser for us,” Gonzalez said. “We’re doing it for a good cause.” The profits from the stand go back to the charity to help with basic amenities, Gonzalez said. But the money is not the only reason the church puts on the stand. “It kind of teaches them how to be a hard working man, it teaches them trades,” he said. “The beneficial factor out of it is to gain knowledge and learn something from it to, you know, help you grow.” Gonzalez has worked the stand for three years, and he has seen it benefit him personally in his skillset. “I do a lot of different work, but learning sales, being a sales representative, is cool,” he said. “Maybe one day they’ll want me to run my own stand.” Gregory Davis shops at a Ballino Fireworks stand set up in a Fry’s parking lot in Tempe on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) The looseness of how the stands function allows a variety of people from all walks of life to run them. Gonzalez said that he knew of a football team running a Bellino stand in Peoria. Atiyeh said once his wife returns from seeing family in Colombia, he will give the stand he runs to her. It represents a vast number of opportunities for those involved.  “It’s just a blessing overall to be able to be here and to experience it,” Gonzalez said. Fireworks in Arizona are heavily regulated because of the state’s chronic fire danger. For Fourth of July, people are only allowed to set off fireworks between June 24 and July 6. Both Gonzalez and Atiyeh said their stands stay clear of illegal  mortar-style fireworks, and stressed that when people set them off, safety is of the utmost importance. “Please be safe,” Atiyeh said. “Please have a hose and a bucket of water, and do not jump over them.” Both men said they also felt honored to contribute  to one of the cultural touchstones of celebrating Independence Day in America during the country’s 250th anniversary. “I’m helping families and it’s Fourth of July, so it’s nice,” Gonzalez said The post Fireworks stands are Fourth of July mainstays, but the people running them might not be who you expect appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459ed2c2ca79de2362c480 One of the most prominent pro-mask mandate studies during the COVID pandemic was a misleading failure te 2026-07-01T23:12:18.094Z One of the most prominent pro-mask mandate studies during the COVID pandemic was a misleading failure One of the lasting side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and our catastrophically incompetent response to it is the decrease in trust in public health experts and their advice. The media has repeatedly warned about the dangers of "doing your own research" or not blindly following whatever those experts claimed. Despite the long list of examples of those same scientists either purposefully misleading the public — for instance, Anthony Fauci and his efforts to downplay U.S. government involvement in gain-of-function research under his leadership — or getting major policy decisions completely wrong, the assumption has long been that subject matter health researchers are essentially infallible. When revisiting some of the most important and influential research on major policies like mask mandates, it’s easy to see why those institutions no longer deserve the reverence they’ve been enthusiastically handed by their media partners. One such study came within the first few months of the pandemic, and was used to inform and create masking policy for years to come. Even though a closer look at their methodology and outcomes shows how inaccurate and misleading this research proved to be. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! This study, published in June 2020, was quite literally used by the CDC to inform public policy and masking recommendations. It covered the supposed effects of mask mandates on the growth rate of COVID cases in the post-mandate period through the early part of the pandemic. The Association of American Medical Colleges referenced it in their "Consensus Guidance on Face Coverings" document. Several other research papers by pro-mask advocates referred to it as "proof" that masks were effective. And it's hopelessly wrong. Essentially, the two authors attempted to arrive at some sort of evidentiary basis for justifying the policy they supported. They, however, failed. Yet the CDC supported it anyway, using the ridiculous and disproven conclusions to then enthusiastically promote masking. The first flaw in this study? How they chose to calculate the data. "The reference period for estimating the face cover mandate effects was 1–5 days before signing the order. We examined how effects change over five post-event periods: 1–5, 6–10, 11–15, 16–20, and 21 or more days," they explain. This is an absurd way to calculate the impact of a policy on outcomes. You might recall during the pandemic that we were repeatedly told that the effect of a policy or mandate wouldn’t actually be visible for several weeks afterward. Remember the "wait two weeks" mantra? So why would the post-event period include 1-5 days, 6-10 days, or even 11-15 days afterward? What possible justification can there be for using those date windows, when there’s no reasonable way to ascribe any of the trends to a policy that has not yet been able to see results, due to the lengthy incubation period? The data coming from the 1-5 or 6-10 day window would reflect people who got sick with COVID before the order was even signed. This would be the first bit of data malpractice. There’s plenty more. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Sure enough, researchers setting out to prove masks work were able to torture the data to show what they wanted the public to see. "State policies mandating public or community use of face masks or covers in mitigating the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are hotly contested," they write. "This study provides evidence from a natural experiment on the effects of state government mandates for face mask use in public issued by fifteen states plus Washington, D.C., between April 8 and May 15, 2020. The research design is an event study examining changes in the daily county-level COVID-19 growth rates between March 31 and May 22, 2020. "Mandating face mask use in public is associated with a decline in the daily COVID-19 growth rate by 0.9, 1.1, 1.4, 1.7, and 2.0 percentage points in 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, and 21 or more days after state face mask orders were signed, respectively. Estimates suggest that as a result of the implementation of these mandates, more than 200,000 COVID-19 cases were averted by May 22, 2020. The findings suggest that requiring face mask use in public could help in mitigating the spread of COVID-19." What the decline in daily COVID-19 growth rate in that 1-5 or 6-10 day post-signing period actually shows is that it’s likely COVID spread was decreasing before the mandate was signed. They are also hopelessly confounded by other policy changes that occurred in that window. The authors even acknowledge that limitation, accidentally. "The early declines in the daily growth rate over the course of five days after signing the order are broadly consistent with the timing of the effects of other social distancing measures such as business closures," they say. Then there’s another problem. That several large counties within the mask mandate states they examined already had such policies in place before a statewide expansion. They used county-level trends to estimate the effect size, based on statewide mandates. It’s absurd. So, if other polices were enacted around the same time, it takes two weeks to account for major changes in policy, the data is confounded, there are seasonal effects that were not considered, and they were unable to account for the importances in county-level mandates, what value does this study have? The answer, of course, is none. But there’s more. "We were unable to measure face cover use in the community (that is, compliance with the mandate)," they admit. "As such, the estimates represent the intent-to-treat effects of these mandates—that is, their effects as passed and not the individual-level effect of wearing a face mask in public on one’s own COVID-19 risk. Related, we did not measure enforcement of the mandates, which might affect compliance. We also did not have data on county-level mandates for wearing face masks in public." Essentially, they acknowledge that virtually all important ancillary factors were spuriously ignored or downplayed. Most of these early mandate states were centered around the Northeast, where viral spread started decreasing as a result of normal season patterns. For example, in New York state, the mask mandate on April 15th came after COVID cases had already started declining. A decline in growth rate does not reflect any impact in policy if the decline in growth rate had started before the mandate came into effect. Not to mention that this supposed collective effect was visible in states that did not have mask mandates. And did not remain consistent over time. No mandate states, predominantly centered around the South, had lower COVID case rates initially, then saw more spread over the summer, patterns that remained consistent over several years. In spring 2021, for example, northern states with mask mandates performed worse than southern states without mandates. Just like they did in spring 2020, despite having likely higher levels of natural immunity thanks to being hit harder earlier on. And overall numbers throughout the pandemic were remarkably similar. While Hawaii is included in the "early mandate" states, in April 2020, being situated on an island made for wildly different COVID outcomes than the rest of the country. Still, those early mandate states averaged roughly 327,000 cases per million over the pandemic period. States that never had mandates averaged around 335,000 cases per million. Removing Hawaii, a significant outlier, compresses the data even further. The early mandate states in that set then averaged around 335,000 cases per million. Nearly an identical number to the never mandate states. And wound up with a higher mortality rate. Even when focusing in on 2020 specifically, while the early mandate states enjoyed the benefits of seasonality throughout the summer, by December, they had once again passed the states that never had mandates in daily population adjusted case rate. Not to mention that their estimate of 200,000 prevented cases is false, considering COVID is an endemic virus that infects everyone. To sum up, then, this "study" was woefully misleading. It inaccurately attributed effects to mask mandates without considering other ancillary factors and used cherry-picked dates. There was no supporting data afterward that aligned with their results, and no mandate states performed similarly throughout the pandemic. That’s one of the sources of research the CDC used to justify further masking. And that’s why, despite the media’s best efforts, trust in public health is at an all-time low. Because it deserves to be. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459ebec2ca79de2362c477 Liberal faculty still hugely outnumber conservatives in higher education: report te 2026-07-01T23:11:58.637Z Liberal faculty still hugely outnumber conservatives in higher education: report FIRST ON FOX: Liberal faculty members continue to vastly outnumber their conservative colleagues on college campuses, according to a new report exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital. The report, released by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), revealed that liberal faculty members outnumber conservatives nearly 7-to-1 nationwide — a massive shift from 1969, when the ratio sat at less than 2-to-1. "Having helped build a university founded on open inquiry, I've seen what higher education is supposed to be, and this report documents how far the academy has drifted from its primary purpose," said Michael Shires, Ph.D., vice chair of Center for Education Opportunity at America First Policy Institute. TOP FEDERAL PROSECUTOR CALLS CALIFORNIA A 'FRAUDSTER'S PARADISE,' WARNS STATE OFFICIALS COULD FACE CHARGES "When an institution weaponizes academic freedom to purge the views it dislikes, it forfeits the very principle it claims to defend. Reviving genuine viewpoint diversity isn't an attack on academic freedom — it is its restoration," Shires added. According to AFPI, the left-wing dominance over campus culture carries deeper implications for academic freedom and hiring practices. The data shows that 40% of surveyed faculty members openly admitted they would oppose hiring a Trump supporter, while over 80% of Ph.D. students acknowledged they would discriminate against a conservative job candidate. "At many elite universities, registered Republican faculty are now more underrepresented than African American faculty," the AFPI report states. "More than half of conservative professors say they hide their views to keep their jobs." CAMPUS GRADUATION CHAOS SHOWS HIGHER EDUCATION NEEDS A SERIOUS MORAL RESET The findings come amid a broader push by the Trump administration to rein in viewpoint discrimination, antisemitism, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices across higher education. The administration previously identified civil discourse as one of four key areas of "national need" through its competitive grants program. Following that directive, the Department of Education unveiled seven priorities under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) for the FY 2025 competition cycle to target those needs. As part of the initiative, $60 million in federal grants is being distributed under "one absolute priority" specifically titled "Promoting Civil Discourse on College and University Campuses." Colleges and universities qualifying for the FIPSE funding are required to support initiatives designed to "foster respectful deliberation and debate on college and university campuses, where free expression has too long been eroded by censorship, harassment, and even violent unrest." The approved campus programs include seminars, speaker series, conferences, debates, and alternative learning opportunities designed to welcome a broader range of political viewpoints and encourage open dialogue. TEXAS’ LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT SEES TEST SCORES SOAR AFTER STATE TAKEOVER DESPITE RACISM CLAIMS AFPI argues that aggressive policy interventions are necessary to break the current ideological monopoly, pushing back against critics who argue federal involvement threatens university independence. "Many well-meaning reformers nonetheless oppose government-led efforts to address viewpoint discrimination on ‘academic freedom’ grounds," the AFPI report states. "In practice, this elevates institutional autonomy over individual academic freedom, allowing one of higher education’s means to obstruct its ends." The report concludes by urging a shifting of priorities to protect vulnerable faculty: "Education reformers should instead prioritize the public interest in higher education by defending individual academic freedom and supporting all viable efforts —internal and external — to restore viewpoint diversity and equal treatment to viewpoint minority scholars and students." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459eabc2ca79de2362c46e Boyfriend accused of stabbing defense tech engineer 15 times denied bond after 911 call played in court te 2026-07-01T23:11:39.183Z Boyfriend accused of stabbing defense tech engineer 15 times denied bond after 911 call played in court A Florida man is accused of stabbing his girlfriend 15 times inside their home before later admitting to killing the defense technology engineer in a recorded 911 call played in court, according to local reports. Kyle Sanchez, 35, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with a weapon in the death of his girlfriend, Amanda Roark, 37, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies were called just after 3 p.m. June 19 to a home on Tuscan Loon Drive in the Palm River area after a 911 call reported an emergency at the residence, authorities said. 'HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER' ACTOR NICK PASQUAL CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR STABBING EX-GIRLFRIEND When deputies arrived, they found Roark dead with upper-body trauma. Sanchez, who was also at the home, was taken to Tampa General Hospital with minor injuries and was listed in stable condition, the sheriff’s office said. Detectives later determined Sanchez killed Roark while the two were inside the home together, according to authorities. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL FOX 13 Tampa reported that Sanchez is accused of stabbing Roark 15 times. During a pretrial detention hearing, prosecutors played Sanchez’s 911 call, in which he told a dispatcher, "I murdered my girlfriend." After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge denied Sanchez bond. He will remain in custody as the first-degree murder case moves forward. Authorities have not released a motive or additional details about what led up to the fatal attack. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS Roark worked at SOFWERX, a Tampa-based technology organization that describes itself as "an innovation platform for the United States Special Operations Command," which remembered her as a cherished teammate and "a light in the Tampa community." "We are heartbroken by the loss of our Teammate Amanda Roark," SOFWERX said in a statement. "Amanda was a cherished member of the SOFWERX family and a light in the Tampa community. Her warmth, her dedication, and the genuine care she brought to everyone around her made a lasting impact that words cannot fully capture." NFL STAR'S BROTHER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF MOTHER AFTER POLICE FOUND HIM SELF-BARRICADED NEAR BODY Roark’s college friend, Talia Landman, told FOX 13 that Roark was "an absolute light" who welcomed everyone with a "gigantic smile." "She was taken from us in such a horrific, tragic, and just, I mean, terrible, scary way," Landman told the station. SEND US A TIP Landman said Roark was a talented engineer who mentored young women pursuing careers in math, technology and engineering. "He didn’t just kill or murder his girlfriend. He took away Amanda Roark," Landman said. "He took her life as this woman who had so much going for her." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE The sheriff’s office said the case appeared to be domestic-related. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459e97c2ca79de2362c465 Belgium completes stunning World Cup comeback against Senegal to set up potential showdown with USA te 2026-07-01T23:11:19.728Z Belgium completes stunning World Cup comeback against Senegal to set up potential showdown with USA The United States now knows which team could be waiting in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. Belgium rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Senegal, 3-2 in extra time, in Wednesday's World Cup Round of 32 match, earning a potential matchup with the Americans if the United States takes care of Bosnia and Herzegovina later in the night. HOW TO WATCH USA VS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: LIVE STREAM THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP ROUND OF 32 A win over Bosnia would not just send the Americans into the Round of 16 for the second straight World Cup. It would set up a meeting with a Belgium team that just completed one of the wildest comebacks in the tournament. Belgium finished third in the 2018 World Cup and failed to advance past the group stage in 2022, but the roster still had the star power to make another deep run. Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois gave the Belgians the kind of skill that makes a team dangerous in any tournament. It's why Belgium was favored to defeat Senegal. But games aren't played on paper. Senegal got on the board first in the 25th minute, when Habib Diarra cleaned up a rebound after Ismaila Sarr hit the post to give Senegal a 1-0 lead. The match was briefly interrupted in the 32nd minute when at least three pitch invaders made their way onto the field, forcing officials to stop play while security responded. Security personnel swarmed the field during the interruption as Belgium defender Maxim De Cuyper held onto the ball while the scene unfolded. Photos from the match showed multiple people being apprehended or escorted away by security during the bizarre stoppage. It was a strange interruption in the middle of a match Senegal had largely controlled. And it didn’t do much to change the flow of the game. Senegal doubled the lead early in the second half. Sarr, who had already helped create Diarra’s opener by hitting the post, made Belgium pay again in the 51st minute off a pass from Moussa Niakhaté to put Senegal firmly in control. At that point, Senegal seemed like a lock to advance to the Round of 16 for the second straight World Cup. But the talented Belgium squad refused to go down easily. Lukaku cut Senegal’s lead in half in the 86th minute, finishing off a setup from Thomas Meunier to give Belgium life. Moments later, Youri Tielemans completed the comeback, scoring off a pass from Leandro Trossard to make it 2-2 and throwing what looked like a Senegal upset into complete chaos. Perhaps surprisingly, Belgium mounted its wild comeback without two of its stars on the field. De Bruyne and Doku were both subbed off in the 56th minute with Belgium trailing 2-0. The immediate replacements did not factor directly into either goal, but Belgium’s bench still played a major role: halftime substitute Lukaku scored the first, and Thomas Meunier, who came on in the 78th minute, assisted it. After scoring the equalizer late in regulation, Tielemans stepped to the penalty spot in the 120+5th minute and buried the go-ahead goal to complete Belgium’s stunning comeback. Senegal went from leading 2-0 in the 86th minute to watching its tournament run come to an end less than an hour later. Now the focus shifts to the Americans. The U.S. enters Wednesday night's match at Levi’s Stadium with a chance to keep its World Cup run alive in front of a home crowd. The reward is clear: beat Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Belgium is next. The USMNT was favored to advance to the quarterfinals on its side of the Round of 32 draw, with Belgium as the second favorite. For most of the match, it looked like the Americans might avoid Belgium altogether. Not anymore. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE The Belgians survived and are riding high off a heroic comeback, perhaps making the U.S. path that much more difficult. But before the Americans can even think about that, they have to take care of business against Bosnia. If they do, their Round of 16 opponent is set. Belgium will be waiting. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459e70c2ca79de2362c450 The Key Ways Trump’s Financial Interests Intersect With Government Policy te 2026-07-01T23:10:40.813Z The Key Ways Trump’s Financial Interests Intersect With Government Policy President Trump’s business holdings, which garnered him more than $2 billion last year, create potential conflicts of interest surpassing any predecessor. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459e5dc2ca79de2362c447 Does Trump Worry About Conflicts of Interest? ‘I Found Out Nobody Cared.’ te 2026-07-01T23:10:21.363Z Does Trump Worry About Conflicts of Interest? ‘I Found Out Nobody Cared.’ American presidents have generally tried to avoid appearing to profit from the office. President Trump has chosen a different path. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459c56c2ca79de2362c41d ICE moves ahead with plan to convert Surprise warehouse for immigrant detention, but review delays project te 2026-07-01T23:01:42.875Z ICE moves ahead with plan to convert Surprise warehouse for immigrant detention, but review delays project WASHINGTON – Federal efforts to convert a Surprise warehouse to an immigration detention center will be stalled pending an environmental review, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Wednesday. Her office predicted a minimum 9-month delay and characterized the agreement with  Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security as a major win. But it’s also confirmation of something many Surprise residents had feared – that  ICE is going ahead with plans to convert this site to a detention center, unlike many other warehouses around the country that it decided to sell just months after buying them. ICE purchased the 418,400-square-foot warehouse in Surprise for about $70 million in January. In all, it bought 11 warehouses for just over $1 billion as part of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda – in Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah. This July 1, 2026, photo shows the warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, that the Department of Homeland Security purchased in January 2026, with plans to convert it into an immigrant detention facility. (Photo by Gentry Roberts/Cronkite News) But since Markwayne Mullin took over as DHS secretary in March, the administration has scaled back on its initial plan. According to the New York Times, DHS is now seeking to offload seven of those warehouses by selling them or by giving them to other federal agencies. The government paid $700 million for those sites.  DHS has spun the change of plans as a way to save money and deliver on Trump’s promises faster. “These heinous criminals, once arrested, should be removed at lightning speed, not housed on American soil at the taxpayer’s expense. DHS is moving swiftly to utilize EXISTING detention space with our state and county partners,” the department said in a statement provided to Cronkite News. In April, Mayes filed a lawsuit against DHS for failing to comply with a review process required under the National Environmental Policy Act. NEPA requires federal agencies to identify potential environmental, social and economic effects of a proposed project.  Under the deal between Arizona and DHS, the department will complete an environmental assessment or, if necessary, a more thorough Environmental Impact Statement. In the meantime, ICE will not “initiate construction, demolition, retrofitting, or physical changes,” though it can install fencing and security cameras and do other preliminary work. “This agreement is a significant win for the people of Surprise and for the rule of law,” Mayes said in a statement. “Federal agencies must complete the environmental review process required by federal law before moving forward with these types of projects. My office will keep fighting to ensure the law is followed.” An EIS typically takes one to four years, according to the White House Council on Environmental Quality, though the process can be as short as a couple of months. Under the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act, completion is generally required within two years. Mayes’ office told Cronkite News that environmental assessments “take on average 9 months or so.” The warehouse, located near Sweetwater Drive and Dysart Road, is less than a half-mile from residential neighborhoods and just over a mile from Dysart High School.  Roughly 60% of the students at the school are Hispanic, and some Surprise residents have expressed concern that federal immigration authorities would harass local residents.  Residents and city officials learned that DHS bought the Surprise warehouse six days after the deal was finalized, thanks to reporting by the Arizona Republic.  The revelation triggered a community uproar. Residents and Dysart school alumni expressed deep concern about what it would mean to have an ICE detainment facility in the neighborhood.  William Coniam, a Marine Corps veteran who is running for a seat on the District Governing Board of Dysart Unified School District, said he has raised the issue of safety with local officials. “I feel like they should have a formal agenda item to be investigating this issue,” Coniam said. “Our school board has refused to, even though it’s a very clear impact on school safety.” Coniam is also unhappy with the city’s handling of the proposed detention facility.  On May 5, the City Council wrote Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and asked him to ensure that ICE complies with state law and local zoning ordinances. Coniam called it a “very, very soft letter. … I think they have a fear that they don’t want to be seen as opposing the current administration. So that’s why they stay quiet.” The post ICE moves ahead with plan to convert Surprise warehouse for immigrant detention, but review delays project appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459c2cc2ca79de2362c3e1 Celtics agree to send Jaylen Brown, 2024 Finals MVP, to 76ers in blockbuster NBA trade: report te 2026-07-01T23:01:00.397Z Celtics agree to send Jaylen Brown, 2024 Finals MVP, to 76ers in blockbuster NBA trade: report Jaylen Brown is being traded by the Boston Celtics after all. The Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers reportedly reached an agreement to send Brown to the Sixers in exchange for veteran All-Star Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks, according to ESPN. Trade rumors were heating up earlier this offseason, as Brown was already at the center of a potential trade with the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo before the Miami Heat landed "The Greek Freak." Since then, the Celtics were reportedly increasing efforts to get a deal done involving Brown. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Brown was named Finals MVP just two years ago, helping Boston secure yet another NBA title for their vast trophy case. But the Celtics were reportedly close to getting something done, and were actively shopping the dynamic 6-foot-6 guard to 8-10 teams across the NBA. "The Celtics have actually started strongly shopping Jaylen Brown, soliciting offers from a market of about eight to 10 teams in the last several days," ESPN’s Shams Charania said on "First Take" Wednesday morning. "It is unclear whether a deal is close or where they necessarily stand, but there has been a high price threshold." GRIZZLIES TRADE JA MORANT TO TRAIL BLAZERS, ENDING TUMULTUOUS TENURE IN MEMPHIS: REPORT Charania added that it was his "understanding" Brown never requested a trade, making this a move the Celtics wanted to get done. They do so with an Eastern Conference rival that gets a tremendous boost on an exciting roster that could have their own "Big Four" locked in now. Brown arrives in Philly with former league MVP Joel Embiid, All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey and 2025-26 All-Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe already in place. All four players have a knack for scoring no matter the situation and will surely be a problem for defenses next season. Brown is in the middle of his five-year, $285.39 million extension he signed with the Celtics, carrying a $57.08 million cap hit for the 2026-27 season. While Brown has been a five-time All-Star during his 10 years in Boston, including four straight since the 2022-23 campaign, there has been some controversy surrounding him this offseason. Brown said that this past season was his "favorite year" despite blowing a 3-1 First Round series lead to the 76ers in the NBA Playoffs. It was a comment that didn’t sit well with some, including ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, and his public thoughts on the matter ultimately led to a back-and-forth feud between the two. It’s unknown if that has anything to do with the Celtics wanting to move forward from Brown, but his inclusion in the failed trade with the Bucks for Antetokounmpo showed how willing they were to switch up the roster. Boston has been active prior to the trade, signing New York Knicks backup center Mitchell Robinson to a four-year deal, shoring up their frontcourt. Robinson likely falls into the Celtics’ starting five as of now, which includes Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Sam Hauser and perhaps Payton Pritchard at point guard. For the 76ers, they add more firepower with a player in Brown coming off a career year with 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game to lead the Celtics. 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/6a459c18c2ca79de2362c3d8 Walz, Minnesota Board of Pardons clears convicted illegal alien child sex offender facing deportation te 2026-07-01T23:00:40.925Z Walz, Minnesota Board of Pardons clears convicted illegal alien child sex offender facing deportation Minnesota officials, including Democrat Gov. Tim Walz, last month pardoned an illegal immigrant who was previously convicted of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl and who was slated to be deported. With the recommendation of the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission (CRC), the Minnesota Board of Pardons — led by Walz, state Attorney General Keith Ellison and state Chief Justice Natalie Hudson — granted a pardon for Laos national Tou Lue Vang, 42, at its June 10 meeting, according to a letter informing Vang of the decision from Carli Stark, the executive director of the state CRC. The pardon essentially gives Vang a clean slate. "Being granted a pardon is a notable achievement and a reflection of the work you have done since your conviction," Stark wrote in her letter to Vang. TIM WALZ PARDONS ILLEGAL ALIEN CONVICTED OF ARMED ROBBERY BEFORE ICE DEPORTATION TO LAOS Vang was convicted in 2006 of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Between 2002 and 2006, he repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl. At one point, he offered her $10 to keep quiet about the abuse, according to DHS. He pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct in a plea deal that spared him from going to prison. "Governor Tim Walz's decision to pardon an illegal alien convicted child rapist so he can remain in our country is disgusting," DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement. "These are the criminal illegal aliens he and his Minnesota sanctuary politicians are protecting." COLOMBIAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS FOR RAPING, IMPREGNATING 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN MISSOURI Bis noted that Vang lost his legal status following his conviction. Fox News Digital has reached out to Walz, the White House and the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted Vang for the assaults. When he was arrested on charges in 2005, Vang admitted to having sexual contact with the girl but blamed cultural norms in Thailand, according to the complaint obtained by the New York Times. The CRC, which includes nine members, voted to approve Mr. Vang’s petition in April. Four members voted in favor, two voted against, and three were absent, the Times reported. The board takes the commission’s review into account but retains the ultimate authority to grant or deny pardons. In his application, Vang cited his years of rehabilitation and argued that he has taken full responsibility for his actions. WALZ POST CALLING SCOTUS GIRLS' RULING 'CRUEL' BACKFIRES ONLINE AS CRITICS REVEAL WHAT'S EVEN CRUELER Vang entered the U.S. through California in 1994, and was granted legal status by the Clinton administration. That status was revoked upon his conviction and final order of removal in 2006. He was detained by federal authorities last year as part of the Trump administration’s "Operation Metro Surge" in Minnesota. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized Walz and Minnesota officials over sanctuary policies that protect illegal immigrants, even those convicted of violent crimes, from federal authorities. DHS noted that the Review Commission has granted pardons to undocumented immigrants before. In May, the state pardoned Jai Vang, a Laotian citizen whose criminal history includes convictions for robbery, armed robbery of a business, and driving under the influence of liquor. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459a0ec2ca79de2362c36a DSA co-chair pushes back on Soviet Union comparisons, wants prisons to be 'less necessary' te 2026-07-01T22:51:58.263Z DSA co-chair pushes back on Soviet Union comparisons, wants prisons to be 'less necessary' Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) co-chair Ashik Siddique defended the organization against comparisons to the Soviet Union while outlining a vision to make police and prisons "less necessary" in the United States. "Our goal is democratic socialism, which we think is distinct from the Soviet Union, which ended decades ago," he told "The Will Cain Show" Wednesday. Siddique's comments come as socialism surges in influence within the Democratic Party, with socialist candidates securing major primary victories and unseating established Democrats. DSA’S THIRD MAJOR PRIMARY WIN DEEPENS DEMOCRATS’ FIGHT OVER THE PARTY’S FUTURE All three congressional candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani – Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier – won their respective Democratic primaries, reflecting an increasing acceptance of the far-left movement within the party. "We're winning candidates all over the country and uniting people across differences. The DSA is led by working-class people across the country," Siddique told host Will Cain. President Donald Trump recently renewed warnings about socialism’s growing influence within the Democratic Party, labeling it the "biggest threat" to America since 1776. Meanwhile, many prominent Democrats have embraced candidates aligned with the movement, arguing the Democratic Party is a "big tent" coalition. BILL MAHER'S DIRE MIDTERM ELECTION WARNING TO DEMS AFTER 'REALLY CRAZY' SOCIALISTS WIN PRIMARIES "We have a big tent of all sorts of ordinary people who have many different ideas about what the pathway is or what the horizon is," Siddique said. The DSA advocates for Medicare for all, tuition-free college for all and a 32-hour work week. When asked whether the DSA supports open borders, Siddique asserted the U.S. has "open borders for capitalists" and CEOs. "We have people who've run major companies that have hollowed out cities all over the country, taking jobs out of communities, outsourcing jobs, pushing trade deals that are bad for workers," the DSA co-chair said. MAMDANI WALKS BACK PLAN TO INCREASE NYPD HEADCOUNT FOLLOWING DSA PRESSURE The DSA states on its website, "Capitalism is a system designed by the owning class to exploit the rest of us for their own profit. We must replace it with democratic socialism." "We would not have open borders tomorrow, but we want a world in which all working people are taken care of," Siddique said. The DSA co-chair went on to address whether America’s "destruction" is the left-wing organization's goal, arguing that the movement advocates for improving the lives of working Americans. "Our goal is to expand possibility in America and expand the promise of America. So many people have come to the United States for centuries in search of a better life, in search for opportunity," Siddique said. "Today the United States is the wealthiest country in the history of the world and yet more people than ever are struggling to get by," he continued. "So we believe that workers deserve more in the United States. Everybody deserves a basic floor for a good life." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4599fac2ca79de2362c361 ICE surges enforcement, makes 10,000 arrests in five days amid Supreme Court birthright citizenship decision te 2026-07-01T22:51:38.808Z ICE surges enforcement, makes 10,000 arrests in five days amid Supreme Court birthright citizenship decision FIRST ON FOX: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is ramping up arrests as a Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship delivered a blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to curb immigration policy. Fox News Digital obtained figures from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) source that showed more than 10,000 arrests have been made in the last five days alone. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s bid to end birthright citizenship, upholding the long-standing policy that most children who are born in the U.S. will automatically become citizens, even if the child’s parents are living in the country illegally. TRUMP SUFFERS MAJOR SUPREME COURT DEFEAT AS JUSTICES UPHOLD BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP A source familiar with ICE operations said the agency is currently ramping up operations using funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill as the passage of the legislation nears its one-year anniversary. The court cited the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution as the basis for the decision, saying "Children born in the United States to parents unlawfully or temporarily present are 'subject to the jurisdiction' of the United States and are citizens at birth under the Fourteenth Amendment's Citizenship Clause." Trump punched back at the ruling, urging Congress to amend the Constitution to pave a path to abolishing birthright citizenship. REPUBLICAN ACCUSES SCOTUS OF BETRAYING US, PUSHES BILL RESTRICTING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, PREGNANT VISITORS "No long and unwieldy Constitutional Amendment is necessary! Congress should start TODAY to work on ending expensive and unfair to our Country, Birthright Citizenship," Trump posted on Truth Social. "They will have my Complete and Total Support!" As ICE seeks to increase arrests, agitators have been mobilizing across the country, demanding better living conditions for those detained in federal facilities and calling for reforms to ICE operational protocols. In late May, agitators flooded the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey, in a violent clash between rioters and ICE agents alongside local law enforcement officers. FBI ARRESTS PROTESTER WHO THREATENED TO KILL ICE OFFICER'S FAMILY AT NJ DETENTION CENTER PROTEST, BLANCHE SAYS A Fox News Digital investigation, based on reporting from the ground in Newark, in secret Signal group chats, a number of tax filings, strategy documents, and social media posts, found that the protests outside Delaney Hall were not a spontaneous grassroots uprising. Instead, they were the product of years of coordinated planning by a network of well-funded, highly organized groups that used a local controversy as a platform to challenge federal immigration policies and, more broadly, the United States. The network behind the Delaney Hall protests includes about 100 groups, some of them big names like the ACLU, Indivisible and Democratic Socialists of America. Together, these organizations report collective annual revenues of about $825 million, approximately equal to the annual budget of Newark. Despite the organized resistance, ICE operations continued, and DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement that a majority of arrests involve illegal migrants who have previously been charged or convicted of a crime. "Since Day One, DHS law enforcement has been delivering on President Trump’s promise to the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists," Bis explained. "Nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S. More than 3 million illegal aliens are out of the country and counting. Our message is clear: if you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you," she added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4599e7c2ca79de2362c358 Families sue Maduro in US, accuse ex-president of directing police unit tied to extrajudicial killings te 2026-07-01T22:51:19.352Z Families sue Maduro in US, accuse ex-president of directing police unit tied to extrajudicial killings Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is facing a new legal challenge in the United States after the families of five Venezuelan men filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of overseeing a Venezuelan police unit responsible for extrajudicial killings and torture during his presidency. The complaint alleges Maduro created Venezuela's Special Action Forces, known as FAES, and exercised command over the unit as it allegedly carried out a campaign of extrajudicial killings between 2017 and 2021. The families are seeking compensatory and punitive damages under the Torture Victim Protection Act. The lawsuit opens a second legal front for Maduro in the United States, where he is already awaiting trial on federal drug trafficking and weapons charges. The complaint says venue is proper in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York because Maduro is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. TRUMP 'SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING' PLAN TO MAKE VENEZUELA AND ITS $40 TRILLION IN OIL PERMANENT PART OF USA According to the complaint, FAES officers routinely entered homes before dawn wearing black clothing and face coverings, separated young men from their families, forced many to their knees, executed them and then staged crime scenes to make it appear the victims had "resisted authority." Plaintiffs also allege officers looted homes, planted weapons and transported victims to hospitals after they had already died in an effort to conceal the alleged killings. The lawsuit details five incidents between 2017 and 2021 involving six victims and also accuses FAES officers of torturing three relatives by beating, detaining or forcing them to witness the killings before they were denied justice through Venezuela's judicial system. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs, Maduro's attorney Barry Pollack and Amnesty International did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. STATE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES 'TOTAL COMPLIANCE' FROM VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT IN RELIEF EFFORTS AFTER MADURO ARREST The lawsuit alleges Maduro established FAES in 2017 as a special tactical unit within Venezuela's National Bolivarian Police and later publicly defended the force despite criticism from the United Nations and other human rights organizations. It cites reports from the United Nations, Human Rights Watch and the U.S. State Department documenting allegations of widespread human rights abuses by the unit. The families argue they have been unable to obtain justice in Venezuela because prosecutors either refused to pursue investigations or failed to hold senior officials accountable, leaving them without an effective legal remedy in their home country. The Torture Victim Protection Act allows civil claims in U.S. courts over alleged torture and extrajudicial killings committed under the authority of a foreign government. Maduro served as Venezuela's president from 2013 until 2026, according to the complaint. He has pleaded not guilty in his criminal case and has previously described himself as a "prisoner of war." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4599c0c2ca79de2362c344 Colorado Governor Fires Officials Who Opposed Freeing Election Denier te 2026-07-01T22:50:40.440Z Colorado Governor Fires Officials Who Opposed Freeing Election Denier Gov. Jared Polis commuted the sentence of Tina Peters, who tampered with voting machines in an attempt to show that the 2020 election had been rigged against President Trump. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4599acc2ca79de2362c328 Bending Spoons defies SaaS slump, surges 40% on first day of trading te 2026-07-01T22:50:20.480Z Bending Spoons defies SaaS slump, surges 40% on first day of trading The company has grown rapidly by acquiring and revamping last-generation tech brands like AOL, Eventbrite, Evernote, Meetup, and Vimeo. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459525c2ca79de2362c273 American F1 team just did the funniest thing ever with their British Grand Prix livery te 2026-07-01T22:31:01.799Z American F1 team just did the funniest thing ever with their British Grand Prix livery This weekend, we'll be celebrating the 250th anniversary of our independence from Great Britain, and one Formula 1 team is celebrating with one heck of a troll move, whether it was intentional or not. The British Grand Prix takes place this weekend at Silverstone. It's one of the marquee races on the F1 calendar that just so happens to fall on Independence Day weekend, with the Sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying taking place on the fourth. Of course, Cadillac, F1's newest team, is American and leaning into it, so, naturally, they want to celebrate their first Fourth of July on the grid. CADILLAC F1 TEAM'S NEW MOTORHOME IS SO NICE, IT WAS WORTH DEMOLISHING AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL They're doing that with a special stars-and-stripes livery — their second of the season after running a black-and-white one in Miami — all weekend long. It looks spectacular, and let's not pretend that running it all weekend long in Great Britain on the U.S.'s 250th birthday isn't absolutely hilarious. That's a great splash of red, white and blue on the grid, and I feel like decking the car out in an American-ified livery and letting it cruise around Silverstone is a nice victory lap for the U-S-of-A. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Unfortunately, the last lap laugh might go to the British, because there's a very good, almost certain chance that this car — as lovely as it is — will not be anywhere near the front in any session. Even for a team with substantial backing like Cadillac has, starting an F1 team from scratch is a tall order, and there have been plenty of growing pains. In fact, just this past weekend, both cars retired from the Grand Prix — Valtteri Bottas after just two laps, and Sergio Perez after four — and that came after a weekend of reliability issues. But Cadillac is not the only American team on the grid. Haas — which has been in F1 since 2016 — is the other American team, and started the season strong, only to cool off as of late. They're currently sitting P7 in the constructors' standings. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4594fcc2ca79de2362c24d After $18B IPO, Bending Spoons founder says success comes from minimizing luck te 2026-07-01T22:30:20.853Z After $18B IPO, Bending Spoons founder says success comes from minimizing luck The co-founders of Bending Spoons, the Italian company quietly buying beloved, ailing Internet brands, learned big lessons from their own startup's failure. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4592e0c2ca79de2362c1f9 McConnell was found 'unconscious' in home last month as condition remains unknown te 2026-07-01T22:21:20.206Z McConnell was found 'unconscious' in home last month as condition remains unknown Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was reportedly found "unconscious" in his Washington, D.C. home last month before being taken to the hospital, as his condition and timetable to return to the Senate remain a mystery. Audio from an emergency dispatch from a call on June 14, the day McConnell was sent to the hospital, released Wednesday by reporter Desirée Townsend and later reported by PunchBowl News revealed that the longtime Senate Republican was "unconscious," and that the dispatcher requested an Advanced Life Support (ALS) response. McConnell, 82, has been absent from the Senate ever since, and it is unclear when he will return. His office did not return a request for comment on his condition, why he was hospitalized and when he would return to the upper chamber. HOUSE DEM URGES TRANSPARENCY BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS AFTER GOP COLLEAGUE REVEALS REASON FOR EXTENDED ABSENCE The day of McConnell’s hospitalization, his office released that the lawmaker "was admitted to the hospital this morning" and was "receiving excellent care." David Popp, his spokesperson, later said that McConnell was "working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery." Senate Republican leadership said they had spoken with McConnell after the incident, too. SUPREME COURT RULING SPARKS RACE TO KILL A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR LOOPHOLE IN CONGRESS Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who replaced McConnell after his historic run as leader of the Senate GOP, said that he "is clearly dialed in to what’s going on." "He’s following along with stuff we are doing this week up here," Thune said. "Very much so." SOROS NETWORK TARGETS DEEP-RED MISSISSIPPI IN BID TO FLIP SENATE SEAT McConnell, who is retiring from the Senate at the end of this year, is in his second stint in the hospital of 2026 — he was hospitalized for eight days in February dealing with flu-like symptoms. And over the last few years, he’s suffered medical episodes publicly and privately. He fell and cracked his rib and got a concussion in 2023. He fell again in July of that year and shortly after had two different episodes where he froze up in front of cameras. In 2024, he fell at a Senate Republican lunch, and last year he tripped and fell in the Senate basement. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4592b9c2ca79de2362c1e2 'Finally going to go down': Ground breaks on Tucson's Cushing Street Skate Park te 2026-07-01T22:20:41.298Z 'Finally going to go down': Ground breaks on Tucson's Cushing Street Skate Park Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4592a5c2ca79de2362c1d7 Without sustained funding or coordination, Az’s push to boost postsecondary enrollment falls short te 2026-07-01T22:20:21.846Z Without sustained funding or coordination, Az’s push to boost postsecondary enrollment falls short Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459100c2ca79de2362c1ae Sembrando la semilla: El USMNT de 1994 preparó el camino para la oportunidad del Mundial 2026 te 2026-07-01T22:13:20.983Z Sembrando la semilla: El USMNT de 1994 preparó el camino para la oportunidad del Mundial 2026 This story was translated from English to Spanish using ChatGPT. A Cronkite News editor reviewed the translation. Find the original story here. See any errors? Please let us know. Contact cronkitenews@asu.edu Este reportaje fue traducido del inglés al español usando ChatGPT. Un editor de Cronkite News revisó la traducción. Encuentra el reportaje original aquí. ¿Ves algún error? Por favor, déjanoslo saber. Contacta a cronkitenews@asu.edu PHOENIX – Brian Dunseth creció en la sombra del Rose Bowl. Mucho antes de convertirse en defensor de la MLS y, más tarde, en comentarista de alcance nacional, el nativo del sur de California era apenas un adolescente que se apoyaba contra los muros de concreto del escenario más grande del fútbol en el país. Tenía 16 años cuando la Copa Mundial de 1994 llegó a Pasadena. No podía pagar una entrada, así que se quedó afuera del Rose Bowl solo para sentir el estruendo que atravesaba aquellos gruesos muros. Del otro lado estaban los jugadores que marcarían ese verano y el futuro de varias generaciones del fútbol en Estados Unidos. Años después, esos mismos futbolistas serían sus compañeros de cancha. “Poder compartir un vestidor, una comida o una habitación de hotel con esos tipos fue un sueño hecho realidad”, recordó Dunseth. “Éramos, de alguna manera, los guardianes del legado del 94. Éramos como los Dick Butkus del fútbol: los albañiles que sentaban las bases de lo que siempre pensamos que sería un futuro difícil de definir”. Hoy, como comentarista de partidos de la MLS y de otros grandes torneos como la Copa Mundial de Clubes de la FIFA y la Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026, “Dunny” observa el deporte desde una perspectiva distinta. “En algún momento del partido siempre me detengo, respiro hondo y pienso: “Carajo, de verdad estás aquí””, dijo. Treinta y dos años después de aquel inolvidable verano de 1994, Estados Unidos vuelve a ser anfitrión de una Copa del Mundo. Las Barras y las Estrellas se enfrentan a Bosnia y Herzegovina en los dieciseisavos de final este miércoles a las 5 p.m. (MST) en el Levi’s Stadium de Santa Clara, California. La selección estadounidense de 2026 ya ha llamado la atención dentro del país por su desempeño en la fase de grupos, pero la ronda de eliminación directa representa una oportunidad para demostrar que la inversión, el desarrollo y el impulso cultural que generó el equipo de 1994 pueden, por fin, traducirse en un impacto duradero para el fútbol estadounidense y permitir que U.S. Soccer haga realidad el potencial del que tanto se ha hablado. Una odisea del fútbol estadounidense Antes de 1994, el fútbol en Estados Unidos avanzaba a trompicones. En la primera Copa Mundial, competida en Uruguay en 1930, la selección estadounidense terminó en tercer lugar. Desde entonces, el equipo nunca ha superado los cuartos de final y no logró clasificarse al Mundial en 10 ocasiones. Leander Schaerlaeckens, autor de The Long Game: U.S. Men’s Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts, describe las décadas posteriores al Mundial de 1930 como un período “caótico y disfuncional”. “Después de 1930, la American Soccer League desaparece y el deporte queda prácticamente relegado a ligas regionales de comunidades inmigrantes”, explicó. “No existía una estructura nacional coherente y, cuando la televisión llegó e impulsó la industria deportiva en Estados Unidos, el fútbol simplemente no estaba presente”. Jeff Crandall, historiador de U.S. Soccer, tiene su propia forma de describir esa época. “Yo llamo al período comprendido entre 1951 y el gol de Paul Caligiuri los años en el desierto”, dijo. “No logramos clasificar a nueve Copas del Mundo consecutivas”. La North American Soccer League convirtió brevemente al fútbol en una moda durante la década de 1970, pero la liga desapareció en 1984. “No fue algo positivo para el futbolista estadounidense”, afirmó Schaerlaeckens. “No estaban desarrollando al jugador estadounidense en absoluto”. A finales de los años 80, la selección nacional sobrevivía gracias a los salarios del fútbol de salón y a jugadores universitarios. “Casi ninguno de esos jugadores jugaba profesionalmente al fútbol al aire libre”, dijo Crandall. “Muy pocos.” Por fortuna para Estados Unidos, todo cambió gracias a un solo disparo con la pierna izquierda de Paul Caligiuri en Trinidad en 1989. Su gol le dio al conjunto estadounidense una victoria por 1-0 sobre Trinidad y Tobago en el Estadio Nacional de Puerto España, asegurando la clasificación del USMNT a la Copa Mundial de la FIFA Italia 1990. “1989 representa el gol más importante en la historia del fútbol de Estados Unidos”, dijo Crandall. “Si Estados Unidos no se hubiera clasificado para 1990, la FIFA estaba dispuesta a quitarle la sede del Mundial. Si 1994 no ocurre, la MLS no existe”. Aun así, la selección de 1994 llegó al torneo con pocos antecedentes y con todavía menos confianza por parte del mundo exterior. “Nadie apostaba por nosotros”, dijo Marcelo Balboa, exdefensor del USMNT e integrante del Salón Nacional de la Fama del Fútbol. “Todo el mundo esperaba que fracasáramos. Si miras ese once titular, siete de nosotros no teníamos equipo. Siete nunca habíamos jugado fútbol profesional”. Cobi Jones, el jugador con más partidos disputados en la historia de la selección estadounidense, recuerda la responsabilidad que enfrentaban. “El fútbol seguía siendo un deporte en pleno crecimiento en Estados Unidos”, dijo. “Sabíamos que el Mundial siempre representaba una oportunidad para crecer de manera exponencial”. Nadie esperaba que avanzaran más allá de la fase de grupos, pero desafiaron todos los pronósticos. “Sorprendimos a mucha gente”, afirmó Balboa. “Le abrimos los ojos a muchas personas y sentamos una base muy sólida para la siguiente generación”. Jones recuerda cómo lo consiguieron. “Fuimos competitivos en todos los partidos”, dijo. “Ganamos encuentros que nadie esperaba que ganáramos. Y siempre jugábamos nuestros mejores partidos cuando nos estábamos divirtiendo”. Estados Unidos comenzó la fase de grupos con un empate 1-1 frente a Suiza, pero rápidamente cautivó al país tras una histórica victoria por 2-1 sobre la favorita Colombia. Aunque cayó 1-0 ante Rumania en el último partido de la fase de grupos, el rendimiento del equipo fue suficiente para clasificar a los octavos de final. En esa instancia se enfrentó a Brasil, que posteriormente se coronaría campeón del torneo. Estados Unidos perdió por un ajustado 1-0, pero el impacto de haber competido con el futuro campeón despertó algo que cambiaría el rumbo del fútbol en el país. El país se dio cuenta, y los uniformes de mezclilla de Adidas con estampado de estrellas, las largas cabelleras de todos los estilos y colores, y un plantel lleno de personalidades extrovertidas y sin filtros se convirtieron en un fenómeno cultural de la noche a la mañana. Para un país que aún buscaba definir su identidad futbolística, aquel equipo le dio al deporte un estilo auténticamente estadounidense con el que la gente pudo identificarse. “Los medios estadounidenses reaccionaron como diciendo: ‘¡Mierda!, ¿quiénes son estos tipos? Tenemos que convertirlos en figuras'”, dijo Schaerlaeckens. “Necesitaban nombres a los que pudieran asociar todo esto”. El ex seleccionado estadounidense Earnie Stewart no fue consciente del impacto de aquel momento mientras lo vivía. “Era joven y no lo veía de esa manera”, dijo. “Pero, viéndolo en retrospectiva, sí, fuimos parte de un pedazo de la historia”. El nacimiento de una liga nacional Cuando la FIFA le otorgó a Estados Unidos la sede de la Copa Mundial de 1994, lo hizo con la condición de crear una liga de primera división. “La Major League Soccer es el legado de la Copa Mundial de 1994”, afirmó Dan Courtemanche, vicepresidente ejecutivo de la MLS. “Empezamos sin un solo estadio específico para fútbol. Muy pronto tendremos 30 construidos exclusivamente para clubes de la MLS”. Las cifras son impresionantes. Según Courtemanche, se han invertido “11 mil millones de dólares” en estadios, academias y centros de entrenamiento. Además, destacó que “desde 2018, la MLS ha incorporado siete nuevos clubes, nueve nuevos estadios y 12 nuevos centros de entrenamiento, mientras que la asistencia a los partidos ha aumentado un 33 %”. Al mismo tiempo, aseguró que el valor de las franquicias de la liga es ahora “tres veces mayor”. En cuanto al desarrollo de jóvenes futbolistas, Courtemanche destacó el compromiso de toda la liga. “La propiedad de los clubes está realmente comprometida con el crecimiento sostenible del deporte en las comunidades locales, y una parte fundamental de eso es el sistema de desarrollo de jugadores”, dijo. “Los 30 clubes de la MLS cuentan con academias juveniles que comienzan desde la categoría Sub-12. Además, tenemos MLS NEXT, nuestro sistema de desarrollo juvenil, que se extiende por Estados Unidos y Canadá y cuenta con más de 43,000 jugadores”. Dunseth ha sido testigo de esa inversión de primera mano. “Entré a las nuevas instalaciones del Real Salt Lake y pensé: ‘Caray, qué envidia me da'”, dijo. “Estos chicos reciben desayuno, almuerzo y refrigerios… hasta sus licuados de proteínas están diseñados específicamente para sus cuerpos. Es un mundo completamente diferente”. Schaerlaeckens también ve el potencial del sistema de desarrollo de la MLS. “La MLS ha democratizado el desarrollo del fútbol juvenil”, afirmó. “Evita el sistema de pago por jugar, en el que las familias llegan a gastar 5,000 dólares al año. Pero solo tenemos 30 academias en un país de 380 millones de habitantes. Si vamos a depender de la MLS, necesitamos 300”. Mientras tanto, Crandall señala cómo ese desarrollo ya se refleja en la selección nacional. “Apostaría a que entre el 75 % y el 80 % del plantel actual pasó en algún momento por una academia de la MLS”, dijo. Según Courtemanche, ese porcentaje es aún mayor en las selecciones juveniles de Estados Unidos. “El 95 % de los jugadores de las selecciones juveniles nacionales se forman a través del sistema de la MLS”, afirmó. “Veintiuno de los 26 futbolistas que integran la plantilla de Estados Unidos para el Mundial surgieron del ecosistema de la MLS”. Con una nueva era de crecimiento, inversión y desarrollo del fútbol en Estados Unidos, también está floreciendo una cultura futbolística, algo que Jones ha notado de primera mano. “Ahora ves estadios llenos”, dijo. “Ves a la gente usando camisetas de fútbol como usan las de la NBA o la NFL. Lo veo todo el tiempo en las calles de Los Ángeles”. Jones se enorgullece del vínculo generacional que ha servido de base para muchos de los jóvenes aficionados de hoy. “Ves a niños con la camiseta de (Christian) Pulisic o (Weston) McKennie, mientras que sus papás o sus mamás llevan una de Jones o Stewart”, dijo. “Eso es importante. Así es como se crean aficionados de generación en generación”. Stewart también reconoce el potencial de ese cambio cultural. “La gente que ama el fútbol quiere sentirse representada e identificarse con algo”, dijo. “En un país tan grande y con tanta gente apasionada por este deporte, hay muchos países que envidiarían eso”. Por su parte, Dunseth compara la afición por el fútbol con las subculturas alternativas. “Siempre he visto al fútbol de la misma manera que el skateboarding y la música punk”, dijo. “Pueden golpearnos todo lo que quieran, pero seguimos teniendo nuestro propio espacio, ¿no? Hay cosas que no son negociables cuando se trata de proteger nuestro deporte”. A pesar de todos los avances, quienes están más cerca del fútbol siguen atentos a lo que no ha cambiado y a los factores que todavía frenan el crecimiento del fútbol estadounidense. Aunque Schaerlaeckens reconoce el potencial, tampoco maquilla la realidad del proceso. “Llevamos 30 años tratando de encontrar atajos”, dijo. “Project 2010, Generation Adidas, los programas de residencia… intentando ser más inteligentes que otros 210 países. Al final, resulta que la única forma de lograrlo es haciendo las cosas bien”. El sistema de pago por jugar también sigue proyectando una larga sombra sobre el crecimiento del deporte. “Me estremece pensar en todo el talento que hemos dejado escapar”, afirmó. “Somos el único país donde el fútbol es un deporte para la gente con recursos”. Incluso en 2026, la Copa del Mundo llega acompañada de obstáculos nunca antes vistos. “El fútbol estadounidense ha quedado al margen de la Copa del Mundo”, dijo. “La FIFA tomó el control de todo. Las entradas son tan caras que ahora es mucho más difícil que nuevas personas descubran este deporte”. Crandall subrayó las consecuencias históricas de esas barreras. “En toda nuestra historia solo hemos ganado un partido de eliminación directa”, dijo. “Uno. Esa es la realidad”. Y aunque el plantel actual es el más talentoso que ha tenido Estados Unidos, el camino hacia un éxito sostenido es más complicado de lo que parece. “Todavía no tenemos el lujo de preocuparnos únicamente por el rendimiento del equipo en la cancha”, dijo Schaerlaeckens. “También tenemos que pensar en cómo impacta en la cultura, en si empieza a dejar una huella allí. “Si llegan a los cuartos de final y al país no le importa, eso sería menos exitoso que alcanzar los dieciseisavos o los octavos de final, pero lograr que todo el país se contagie de la fiebre por el fútbol”. Balboa fue una pieza clave de esa fiebre futbolística que recorrió el país en 1994 y recuerda el impacto inesperado de aquel verano. “Estar aquí ahora, 32 años después, con Estados Unidos organizando otra Copa del Mundo, demuestra que lo que hicimos en el 94 fue un paso enorme”, dijo. Los jugadores que hicieron posible aquel verano recuerdan la presión de representar a un deporte que todavía buscaba abrir paso en la cultura estadounidense. Ahora observan cómo una generación dorada, formada en academias y respaldada por grandes inversiones, cosecha los frutos de la pasión y la determinación que ellos sembraron. Probablemente el jugador más emblemático de aquella selección de 1994, Alexi Lalas, lo resumió con un estilo que solo él podría tener. “Me llena de orgullo, en lo más profundo de mi corazón estadounidense y pelirrojo, ver todo lo que hemos avanzado”, dijo Lalas. “Es algo sin precedentes cuando lo comparas con cualquier otro país y su cultura. Todavía nos queda mucho camino por recorrer, pero espero que este verano sirva para hacer una pausa y celebrar todo lo que hemos logrado. “A veces, en el fútbol estadounidense, nos castigamos por lo que no somos o por lo que no hemos conseguido. Y creo que este verano puede servir para celebrar cuánto hemos avanzado y lo bueno que realmente es nuestro fútbol, tanto dentro como fuera de la cancha. Al final, deberías poder decir: ‘Ese equipo me hizo sentir orgulloso’. Orgulloso de la cultura del fútbol estadounidense. Orgulloso de Estados Unidos”. La Copa Mundial de 2026 tiene el potencial de convertirse en un nuevo catalizador para el fútbol en Estados Unidos. Y aunque los pasos dados hasta ahora han dado resultados alentadores, Schaerlaeckens sabe qué hace falta para llevar al deporte al siguiente nivel. “El fútbol simplemente tiene que convertirse en parte del tejido de la sociedad”, dijo. The post Sembrando la semilla: El USMNT de 1994 preparó el camino para la oportunidad del Mundial 2026 appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4590c3c2ca79de2362c172 Fox News Channel leads CBS and NBC in weekday primetime, dominates cable viewership in second quarter ratings te 2026-07-01T22:12:19.023Z Fox News Channel leads CBS and NBC in weekday primetime, dominates cable viewership in second quarter ratings Fox News Channel dominated all of cable among viewers across total day and primetime and also finished June by leading CBS and NBC with weekday primetime viewers. Fox News was the only basic cable option to surpass the one-million viewer benchmark, crushing the competition with an average audience of 1.6 million during the second quarter. ESPN finished second with 664,000 average viewers, followed by MS NOW’s 655,00 and 496,000 for CNN. During primetime, Fox News averaged 2.5 million viewers to finish No. 1 in all of basic cable by a wide margin, as runner-up ESPN managed only 1.7 million average viewers during the sports-heavy quarter. MS NOW managed 1.1 million average viewers and CNN settled for 711,000. FOX NEWS CHANNEL DOMINATES ABC IN WEEKDAY PRIMETIME, DELIVERING HIGHEST-RATED MAY FOR A MIDTERM ELECTION YEAR Fox News has now finished No. 1 among primetime viewership for 98 consecutive quarters, dating back to the first quarter of 2002. Along the way, Fox News attracted nearly 60% of cable news viewers among both total day and primetime. Fox News also obliterated MS NOW and CNN among the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults ages 25-54, averaging 149,000 total day viewers from the key group, compared to 75,000 for CNN and only 67,000 for MS NOW. It was much of the same during primetime, as Fox News averaged 230,000 demo viewers to outdraw CNN’s 120,000 and MS NOW’s 107,000 combined. Throughout Q2, FNC delivered 13 of the top 15 shows on cable news with "The Ingraham Angle," "Jesse Watters Primetime," "Hannity" and "FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher" leading the competition in their respective hours. FOX NEWS CHANNEL WALLOPS CNN, MS NOW VIEWERSHIP DURING FIRST QUARTER OF 2026 "Special Report with Bret Baier" scored more than 2.7 million viewers and 245,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating "CBS Evening News" in 18 major markets including New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. while continuing to close its gap with the CBS series. "Gutfeld!" continued its strong performance during the quarter, averaging 2.8 million viewers and 299,000 adults ages 25-54 during the 10 p.m. ET hour, outdrawing every broadcast late-night show, including CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," CBS' "Comics Unleashed," NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers." "The Five" remained the highest-rated show in cable news for a 19th consecutive quarter, extending its record as the first non-primetime program to do so. "FOX & Friends" also remained the most-watched morning lineup in cable news for the second quarter. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Fox News maintained its lead over the weekend, with Kayleigh McEnany’s "Saturday in America," "Fox News Live," "The Big Weekend Show" and "My View with Lara Trump," the latter coming in as the most-watched show in primetime. "FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla" and "Life, Liberty & Levin" also followed with approximately 1.3 million viewers each. Maria Bartiromo’s "Sunday Morning Futures" also became the top-rated show of the weekend with 1.9 million viewers. "The Sunday Briefing," hosted by Peter Doocy and Jacqui Heinrich, also earned 1.6 million viewers with "Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy" averaging 1.7 million viewers. "Life, Liberty & Levin" and "One Nation with Brian Kilmeade" each also saw 1.5 million viewers. During June, Fox News averaged 2.6 million weekday primetime viewers to outdraw both NBC and CBS. Fox News also secured the top spot in cable among Hispanic, Asian and upscale audiences in total day for both second quarter 2026 and the month of June. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4590afc2ca79de2362c169 Pro wrestler Scarlett Bordeaux shares advice she tells women's wrestlers about online safety te 2026-07-01T22:11:59.594Z Pro wrestler Scarlett Bordeaux shares advice she tells women's wrestlers about online safety Major League Wrestling (MLW) star Scarlett Bordeaux has been in the industry for quite some time. She previously talked to Fox News Digital about how she ditched prom to go to a pro wrestling show, fell in love with the sport and has been making her way to the top since then. In any business, the rise of fame and talent comes with rabid fans who may sometimes cross the line. COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL Ring of Honor and All Elite Wrestling star Deonna Purrazzo recently mentioned a scary situation she had to deal with in a post on X. WWE star Jordynne Grace sent a message to anyone trying to come to her house that she has "seven dogs and a gun." In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Bordeaux shared some advice she gave to some of her fellow women’s wrestlers to help protect their privacy. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "This is something I would tell all of the girls in the locker rooms when they would say they were having an issue where it’s some fan that’s crossing the line," she said. "I would tell them there’s different websites where you can actually have them remove your info off the internet. So, they would remove your phone number, they’ll remove your address. "I had recommended to all of my friends that way fans cannot send you mail, they can’t find where you live because I feel like with our data being sold right now it’s easy to find people. It’s easier than it’s ever been. So that’s just something I’ve recommended to many of the girls who have been having issues. That’s the main thing I think I would recommend to everyone. Just get your data off the internet." Bordeaux is one of the leaders in the women’s division in MLW. She, and her husband Killer Kross, re-joined the company following their departures from WWE. She’s among the top contenders for the MLW Women’s World Championship. She previously expressed that while she has love for current champion, Shotzi, she’s not going to back down from a fight. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45909cc2ca79de2362c160 Rams' Sean McVay and his model wife put the rest of the NFL on notice with nothing but swimsuits on te 2026-07-01T22:11:40.110Z Rams' Sean McVay and his model wife put the rest of the NFL on notice with nothing but swimsuits on Sean McVay is still the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams thanks to his model wife Veronika Khomyn McVay. She challenged him on the kind of leader he wanted to be after he started contemplating calling it quits. He was burned out. The Rams were coming off of a rough 5-12 season following the franchise's Super Bowl LVI win, and he almost quit coaching, he told Bussin' With The Boys back in May. That's when McVay says Veronika got him back on track and made him realize that he would only be walking away from the NFL because he couldn't handle losing. He said, "She’s like, 'You know, that never really sounded like the kind of leader you wanted to be.' Boom. It hit me like a ton of bricks." NFL IS BECOMING THE NBA: RAMS TRADE FOR MYLES GARRETT RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT SUPERTEAMS, PARITY AND TANKING That forced McVay to take a look at the kind of leader he wanted to be. He didn’t want to be the guy who ran to the broadcast booth for a bunch of money due to the fact that he lost a few games. He wanted to bounce back and turn the Rams around. He also wanted to be the kind of leader that was in phenomenal shape and could hop on a boat and hold his own with his bikini-clad wife. McVay has accomplished that. Veronika posted a picture on Instagram of the two on a boat, which has since gone viral, and it's put the rest of the NFL on notice. FORMER RAMS STAR SAYS HE'S KEEPING TABS ON AARON DONALD RETURN AFTER MYLES GARRETT TRADE McVay is in incredible shape and there's probably not a head coach-significant other duo in the NFL that can compete with these two. This is a whole new level of winning and of leadership. To think he was seriously thinking about leaving it behind for the comfort of a broadcast booth. McVay, at 40, looks like he could take a few snaps still if his team needed him to. That's setting a standard. That's the type of leadership that can only come from being challenged when you're the head coach of a five-win team. The Rams are going to be a team to contend with this season. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459088c2ca79de2362c157 Fox News Poll: An early look at the Georgia Senate race te 2026-07-01T22:11:20.656Z Fox News Poll: An early look at the Georgia Senate race Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff narrowly won his Senate seat in a January 2021 runoff, defeating Republican David Perdue by just over a percentage point. New Fox News polling suggests a different dynamic this time, as Ossoff holds a double-digit lead over GOP challenger Mike Collins in the 2026 Georgia Senate race. After receiving a last-minute endorsement from President Trump in the June GOP primary runoff, Collins defeated Derek Dooley, who was backed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Trump carried the Peach State by about 2 points in 2024 after losing it by less than a point in 2020. He won the state by more than 5 points in 2016. The Fox News survey, released Wednesday, finds Ossoff receives 56% support from Georgia registered voters compared to 43% for Collins. The incumbent Democrat enjoys strong support from Black voters (87%), those under age 30 (68%), independents (68%), moderates (66%), and women under 45 (66%).  Among the 82% of Georgia voters who say they are motivated to vote, Ossoff leads by 11 points (55% vs. 44% Collins). Collins’ best groups include White evangelical Christians (79%), White men without a college degree (65%), and rural voters (55%). About half of gun-owner households (53%) and veterans (50%) also favor him. FOX NEWS POLL: MAINE SENATE RACE IS TIGHT, WITH CONCERNS ABOUT BOTH CANDIDATES Ossoff benefits from greater party loyalty, as nearly all Democrats (96%) back him and more than 8 in 10 of his supporters say their vote is for him rather than against Collins. For Collins, 9 in 10 Republicans back him (89%) but only 56% of his supporters say their vote is for him, while 44% say it is primarily against Ossoff. FOX NEWS POLL: LOOKING AHEAD TO AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY Notably, nearly a quarter of non-MAGA Republicans say they will back the Democrat compared to just 4% of MAGA supporters. Ossoff is mostly matching his numbers among demographics in the 2021 Georgia Senate Runoff Fox News Voter Analysis (FNVA) election survey, while Collins is underperforming Perdue. There are similar levels of enthusiasm for both candidates. About 8 in 10 Ossoff supporters say they are certain to vote for him (81%) and are extremely or very motivated to cast a ballot (81%). Among Collins supporters, 78% are certain to back him and 84% are motivated to vote.  Nearly 6 in 10 voters have a favorable opinion of Ossoff (58%), much higher than the 4 in 10 for Collins (44%) and Trump (42%). Trump’s favorable rating is down 5 points from 47% in the 2024 Georgia FNVA.  Georgians are 6 points more likely to say they are extremely or very concerned that Collins is too close to Trump (53%) than that Ossoff is too liberal (47%). Inflation dominates voter concerns, with 40% saying the issue will be most important to their Senate vote. Healthcare ranks a distant second (13%), followed by political divisions (11%), immigration (11%), and jobs and unemployment (11%). Fewer say the Iran conflict (5%), crime (5%), or abortion (3%). Ossoff holds large advantages among voters who are most concerned about inflation (+21), healthcare (+40), and political divisions (+18), while Collins has a significant lead among those focused on immigration (+45). "As Brooklyn Dodgers’ announcer Red Barber used to say, Ossoff is ‘sitting in the Catbird seat’" says Daron Shaw, a Republican who conducts the survey with Democrat Chris Anderson. "My hunch is the race will become much more competitive, but Collins has work to do convincing Republicans and independents that he and the president can make things more affordable for rank-and-file Georgians." Despite concerns about inflation, half say their finances are holding steady (51%), while 35% say they are falling behind. Only 14% feel they are getting ahead financially. In the Georgia governor’s race, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has a 5-point edge, with 52% support compared to 47% for Republican Rick Jackson. That is within the poll’s margin of error. The results show some ticket splitting: 11% of Ossoff supporters cross party lines to back Jackson for governor, while 5% of Collins supporters back Lance Bottoms. Lance Bottoms' supporters are more certain of their vote than Jackson's (80% vs. 75%). Both candidates have net-positive personal favorability ratings. Lance Bottoms is viewed favorably by 52% and unfavorably by 38%, while for Jackson it is 43% favorable and 38% unfavorable. Roughly 1 in 10 voters have never heard of each candidate. CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE Conducted June 23-27, 2026 under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News Poll includes interviews with a sample of 1,002 Georgia registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file.  Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (39) and cellphones (710) or completed the survey online after receiving a text message (253).  Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ± 3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher.  In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data.  Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population.  Results among subgroups are only shown when the sample size is at least N=100. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a459075c2ca79de2362c14e Fox News Poll: A close Senate contest is brewing in Iowa te 2026-07-01T22:11:01.199Z Fox News Poll: A close Senate contest is brewing in Iowa The race to succeed Iowa’s retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is on track to be one of the closest Senate contests in 2026. Ernst, the first woman senator to represent the Hawkeye State, won by 6.5 points in 2020, and President Donald Trump carried it by 8 points that year and by 13 in 2024. A new statewide Fox News survey finds Iowans now view Trump negatively by 13 points (42% favorable vs. 55% unfavorable). That’s a 19-point swing compared to his +6 rating (52-46%) in the November 2024 Iowa Fox News Voter Analysis (FNVA) election survey.  The last time Iowa elected a Democratic senator was Tom Harkin nearly 20 years ago (2008).  As it stands, Democrat Josh Turek has an early 4-point advantage over Republican Ashley Hinson: 50% vs. 46%.  It’s an edge that’s within the poll’s margin of error. Among voters who say they are extremely motivated to vote, Turek holds a 15-point lead, coming largely from greater enthusiasm among Democrats (67% extremely motivated) than Republicans (53%).  FOX NEWS POLL: MAINE SENATE RACE IS TIGHT, WITH CONCERNS ABOUT BOTH CANDIDATES Hinson’s net favorability is more positive than Trump’s, yet still negative by 7 points (42% favorable, 49% unfavorable) while Turek is much more popular with a net positive rating of 18 points (51%-33%).  Sixteen percent have no opinion of Turek while 9% say the same of Hinson. In the head-to-head, Turek benefits from the support of women with a college degree (65%), independents (59%), urban voters (59%), and voters under age 30 (55%). Hinson’s backing comes from White evangelical Christians (67%), men ages 45 and over (55%), veterans (52%), and men without a college degree (52%).  Her support is strongest among MAGA Republicans, who are 23 points more likely to back her than non-MAGA GOPers (95% vs. 72%). Overall, by 8 points, more Democrats support Turek (96%) than Republicans back Hinson (88%).  FOX NEWS POLL: LOOKING AHEAD TO AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY By a 10-point margin, more of Turek’s supporters (82%) than Hinson’s (72%) say they are certain to support their candidate in November. Nearly 3 in 10 Hinson supporters say they may change their mind. More Hinson supporters say their vote is for her rather than against her opponent compared to Turek supporters (77% vote is for Hinson vs. 60% for Turek). Trump endorsed Hinson last September and voters are divided over her ties to the president: 50% say they are extremely or very concerned she’s too close to Trump, while 48% say they’re not very or not at all concerned. Fewer voters are worried Turek’s positions on the issues are too liberal: 37% concerned vs. 59% not concerned.  "Iowa has turned red during the last decade, but these data suggest a reversion to swing status," says Republican Pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson. "A trifecta of issues helps Democrats: Iowans have been hit hard by rising prices, they are notoriously skeptical about foreign engagements, and the agricultural community isn’t happy about tariffs." In the 2024 FNVA, 31% of Iowans said they were falling behind financially. That number is now 42% — nearly 4 times as many as those saying they are getting ahead (11%).  Nearly half say they are holding steady (46%). Four in 10 Iowans say the most important issue to their Senate vote will be inflation (39%). Healthcare (14%), immigration/border security (13%), and political divisions (13%) lag behind, and even fewer say abortion (6%), jobs/unemployment (6%), Iran (4%), and crime (2%). Turek has the edge on voters who say their most important issues are inflation (+15 points), healthcare (+53), and political divisions (+20).  Hinson has a whopping 88-point advantage on the issue of immigration. Like Ernst, Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds opted not to seek a third term. The new survey finds Democratic nominee Rob Sand with a 9-point lead over Republican challenger Zach Lahn in the race to succeed Reynolds.  Sand benefits from some crossover support, as 11% of Hinson supporters favor him for governor compared to 7% of Turek supporters backing Lahn. More Sand supporters say they’re certain of their choice than Lahn backers (81% to 74%). Sand enjoys a +21 personal rating: 54% favorable, 33% unfavorable.  Lahn’s ratings are negative by 3 points, with 20% unable to rate him (38% favorable, 41% unfavorable, 20% no opinion). CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE Conducted June 23-27, 2026 under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News Poll includes interviews with a sample of 1,003 Iowa registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file.  Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (104) and cellphones (662) or completed the survey online after receiving a text message (237).  Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ± 3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher.  In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data.  Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population.  Results among subgroups are only shown when the sample size is at least N=100. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45904dc2ca79de2362c129 WhatsApp usernames are already raising impersonation red flags te 2026-07-01T22:10:21.784Z WhatsApp usernames are already raising impersonation red flags Meta says usernames improve privacy, but critics question whether its safeguards can prevent impersonation. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a458e44c2ca79de2362c0e1 Agreement stalls immigrant detention center in Surprise te 2026-07-01T22:01:40.805Z Agreement stalls immigrant detention center in Surprise Attorney General Kris Mayes announces a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Apr 24, 2026 that sought to stop the renovation of a commercial warehouse facility in Surprise, Arizona into an immigration detention center. Mayes reached an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to delay the warehouse conversion until an environmental study is completed. (Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez/Arizona Mirror) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security won’t start converting a warehouse into an immigration detention center in Surprise until an environmental review is completed, according to a new legal agreement between the agency and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.  Mayes filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in April to stop the conversion of a 418,400-square-foot warehouse into a detention center intended to hold at least 542 people. Mayes, a Democrat who has vocally opposed Trump’s mass deportation campaign, argued that federal law bars the warehouse from being turned into a detention center because it sits across the street from a hazardous chemical facility and accused the federal government of failing to conduct sufficient environmental assessments.  GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE In a written statement, Mayes celebrated the agreed-upon delay but warned that her office is willing to renew its legal challenge if the environmental review is flawed.  “This agreement is a significant win for the people of Surprise and for the rule of law,” she wrote. “Federal agencies must complete the environmental review process required by federal law before moving forward with these types of projects.”  Under the agreement, no one will be detained at the facility and no new construction to turn the warehouse into an immigration detention center will take place until a report about its environmental impact on the surrounding community is completed. Some construction is still allowed, including to install or repair fencing around the warehouse, install security cameras or to renovate office spaces for administrative use.  To increase detention space, DHS purchased 11 warehouses across the country earlier this year, including the one in Surprise in January. After former Secretary Kristi Noem was ousted, the agency reduced capacity limits for some facilities and later moved to sell or offload seven of them. While the Surprise facility was initially slated to hold up to 1,500 people, that capacity was decreased to 542, with plans to hold as many as 250 people by September.  Public backlash against the Surprise facility has been overwhelming over the past few months. Residents have packed city council meetings to voice their disapproval, including at one meeting that saw more than 1,000 attendees. Activists are now pushing to disincorporate the city to wrest control from city leaders who’ve proven unwilling to oppose the federal government on the issue. Brent Peak, the co-chair of Northwest Valley Indivisible, which has been an active part of protests, lauded the new legal agreement but called it a temporary reprieve in the effort to ensure the detention center never gets built.  “This is a real win,” he said. “It is not the end of the fight though, and we’re not walking away until this prison camp is shut down for good.”  YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a458e30c2ca79de2362c0c0 Music teacher accused of luring, killing PhD student sister-in-law after years-long obsession: report te 2026-07-01T22:01:20.838Z Music teacher accused of luring, killing PhD student sister-in-law after years-long obsession: report A New York music teacher is accused of killing his sister-in-law, a 25-year-old Ph.D. student, after allegedly obsessing over her for more than a decade, prosecutors say. Joseph Horner, 27, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Victoria Castle after Nassau County police found the Stony Brook University doctoral student unresponsive inside a North Massapequa home on June 29. A felony complaint filed in Nassau District Court alleges Horner intentionally caused Castle's death but does not provide details on the allegations. NFL STAR'S BROTHER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF MOTHER AFTER POLICE FOUND HIM SELF-BARRICADED NEAR BODY According to the New York Post, which cited statements made by Nassau County prosecutors during Horner's arraignment, prosecutors alleged Horner had been "obsessed" with Castle for more than a decade. Prosecutors also alleged he lured the Stony Brook University Ph.D. student by asking her to help move a piano while his wife was away on a bachelorette trip before placing her in a chokehold, sexually assaulting her and strangling her. The Post further reported prosecutors said Horner called 911 after the attack, remained at the home until police arrived and admitted to detectives that he committed the killing. NEW JERSEY MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING WIFE WITH BARBELL ALLEGEDLY CONFESSED IN MESSAGES TO RELATIVES: REPORT Fox News Digital has requested the arraignment transcript from Nassau County Court to independently review prosecutors' statements. The Nassau County District Attorney's Office declined to comment beyond the record made during the June 30 arraignment. According to Nassau County police, officers responded at approximately 8:44 a.m. Monday to a North Oak Street residence after receiving a 911 call requesting an ambulance for a woman who was not breathing. 🕵️ What story should we investigate next? 📩 stepheny.price@fox.com 📸 @fndstephprice 🎥 @StephenyPrice Whether it's a developing case, concerning trend, or something you think deserves attention, your information could help lead our next story or investigation. Officers found Castle unconscious inside the home. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Horner was arrested at the scene and charged with second-degree murder, police said. Court records show Horner is scheduled to return to Nassau District Court in Mineola on Thursday morning. According to information on her Facebook account, Castle was pursuing a Ph.D. at Stony Brook University and worked there as a research assistant. NFL STAR'S BROTHER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF MOTHER AFTER POLICE FOUND HIM SELF-BARRICADED NEAR BODY Less than three years before her death, Castle shared a heartfelt message celebrating her sister's marriage to Horner. "My sister, my person, my partner in chaos, is now married to one of the most wonderful people in the world," Castle wrote alongside a wedding photo. "I love you both forever!" Horner is employed as a music teacher in the Oceanside School District. Following his arrest, the district announced he had been placed on administrative leave. FOLLOW US ON X "We understand that this news is deeply disturbing," Superintendent Dr. Phyllis Harrington said in a statement. District officials said Nassau County authorities informed them the allegations "have no connection to the school district or its students." CLICK HERE FOR MORE U.S. NEWS "This staff member has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately, pending further review," the district said. "The Oceanside School District is committed to maintaining a safe, professional, and trustworthy environment for our students, staff, and community. We stand by that commitment at all times." GET BREAKING NEWS ALERTS Horner's attorney, Gregory Grizopoulos, acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but urged the public not to rush to judgment. "These are very serious and disturbing allegations, and there's a very stark contrast between the allegations and his beloved reputation that he had as a teacher, with both his students and his fellow teachers," Grizopoulos told News12 Long Island. GOT A TIP? "His family is devastated by the loss of their family member, Victoria, as well as the allegations against their son, Joe. We'll continue to evaluate the evidence as more details are disclosed to us." If found guilty of second-degree murder, Horner could be sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison. Horner's attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a458e09c2ca79de2362c0ae Judge Blocks Postal Service From Imposing Restrictions on Mail-In Ballots te 2026-07-01T22:00:41.924Z Judge Blocks Postal Service From Imposing Restrictions on Mail-In Ballots The ruling, based on agreements the service made in a 2021 legal settlement, was the second time a judge has blocked new curbs by President Trump on voting by mail. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a458df6c2ca79de2362c0a5 America Rings In 250th Birthday Amid Deep Polarization and Political Rifts te 2026-07-01T22:00:22.497Z America Rings In 250th Birthday Amid Deep Polarization and Political Rifts How does a deeply polarized country come together to have a birthday party? Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a458beec2ca79de2362c06b Harry Kane rescues England from shock World Cup exit with two goals in 11 minutes against DR Congo te 2026-07-01T21:51:42.131Z Harry Kane rescues England from shock World Cup exit with two goals in 11 minutes against DR Congo England were on the cusp of one of the biggest World Cup upsets in recent memory — until the heart and soul of the program came up more than clutch. Trailing for most of the game, Harry Kane scored both of England's goals in the game's final 21 minutes to advance to the round of 16 with a 2-1 victory over DR Congo. Brian Cipenga had given Congo a surprising lead after scoring in just the seventh minute of the game, and its defense kept England at bay all the way through the second-half hydration break. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM But then, England's all-time leading scorer evened the score with a header in the 75th minute on a cross from Anthony Gordon, despite goalie Lionel Mpasi getting a hand on it. Eleven minutes later, Kane scored the decisive goal after evading defenders and letting one rip with his right foot and finding the top-right corner. The goals were Kane's 83rd and 84th for England, extending his country's record, in his 118th match. In World Cup play, he now has 13 goals, surpassing Pelé's 12, in 16 matches played. He's found the back of the net five times in four matches in this tournament. HOW TO WATCH USA VS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: LIVE STREAM THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP ROUND OF 32 "It was just about pounding the rock, keep pounding the rock and our moment would come," Kane said. "We spoke about people having hero moments. It can be anyone in the team … Whoever it is, we have hero moments, and for me it was the day." England had previously only ever won one game at the World Cup after conceding the first goal, and that came in the 1966 final against West Germany at Wembley Stadium. DR Congo entered the game as 12-1 underdogs against a team that has advanced to at least the round of 16 in six of the last seven World Cups. England was knocked out in the quarterfinals in Qatar and finished fourth in 2018 in Russia. England will now face quite the task, going up against Mexico on its own home soil in Mexico City on Sunday. The United States could meet England in the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — but of course, a lot would have to go right. 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/6a458b9cc2ca79de2362c035 Promising Much to Many, Johnson Loses His Grip on the House te 2026-07-01T21:50:20.727Z Promising Much to Many, Johnson Loses His Grip on the House Republicans are growing frustrated with Mr. Johnson’s approach to governing with a razor-thin majority, saying that he promises more than he can achieve, frustrating the disparate groups in his caucus. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a458958c2ca79de2362bfcb Police remind public not to jump off London Bridge te 2026-07-01T21:40:40.621Z Police remind public not to jump off London Bridge Lake Havasu City boating officers were passing beneath the London Bridge last month, when their attention was drawn to a splash of water about 12 feet in front of their vessel. A Colorado resident emerged seconds later - just in… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a458700c2ca79de2362bf5b Large US flag returns to Havasu, London Bridge for July Fourth ‘drop’ te 2026-07-01T21:30:40.569Z Large US flag returns to Havasu, London Bridge for July Fourth ‘drop’ After seven years, Lake Havasu City will see a grand, patriotic display on July 4. An oversized U.S. flag will arrive ahead of Saturday evening’s fireworks show. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4584bec2ca79de2362bedb World Cup Success Is Giving Americans ‘Permission to Be Patriotic’ te 2026-07-01T21:21:02.628Z World Cup Success Is Giving Americans ‘Permission to Be Patriotic’ Heading into the World Cup, many Americans had mixed feelings about the tournament and their nation. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4584abc2ca79de2362bed1 FGSLL All-Stars Roundup: 10s win district title, Majors lose in championship, 11s drop opener te 2026-07-01T21:20:43.164Z FGSLL All-Stars Roundup: 10s win district title, Majors lose in championship, 11s drop opener The FGSLL All-Star 10s win the district championship and will go to the state tournament in Avondale starting on July 6. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a458497c2ca79de2362bec8 FLL All-Stars Roundup: 11s reach district final, juniors lose in championship te 2026-07-01T21:20:23.202Z FLL All-Stars Roundup: 11s reach district final, juniors lose in championship The FLL All-Star 11s will play in the district championship game on Thursday in Holbrook. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4582c8c2ca79de2362be91 ‘Lethal Weapon’ star Danny Glover reveals Alzheimer’s battle at 79 te 2026-07-01T21:12:40.652Z ‘Lethal Weapon’ star Danny Glover reveals Alzheimer’s battle at 79 Danny Glover is sharing one of the most difficult chapters of his life. The 79-year-old Hollywood icon has revealed that he is living with Alzheimer's disease, opening up about his diagnosis in a deeply personal interview while reflecting on his legendary career, his family and the road ahead. "I've been diagnosed with Alzheimer's," Glover said on the "Today" show. BRUCE WILLIS' WIFE FELT 'LOST AND ISOLATED' CARING FOR HIM AFTER DEVASTATING DEMENTIA DIAGNOSIS The "Lethal Weapon" star said the disease has begun affecting his movement, speech and memory, but he is choosing to face the diagnosis head-on. "I can live with it, in a sense," Glover said. When asked whether he fears losing his memories, the actor acknowledged what lies ahead. "I'm sure as it advances, things are going to be… different and changing." Glover received an honorary Oscar in 2022, shortly before his diagnosis, recognizing a career that spans nearly 200 movie and television credits.  While he continues making public appearances and staying involved in his community, he acknowledged Alzheimer's is taking an increasing toll. BRUCE WILLIS, WIFE SHARED ‘MONUMENTAL HIGHS,' 'DEVASTATING LOWS’ IN 16-YEAR MARRIAGE AS ACTOR BATTLES DEMENTIA The actor said he and his family decided to share his diagnosis publicly to help raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding Alzheimer's disease. "We all get old. It happens," Glover's daughter, Mandisa, said during the "Today" show segment. She added, "That's what I think is important, you know, that he tells his story. That he has ownership of his life." According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 7 million Americans ages 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's, a progressive brain disease that gradually destroys memory and cognitive function. Before becoming a Hollywood fixture, Glover discovered acting while attending San Francisco State University after encouragement from acclaimed playwright Amiri Baraka. "He came in… so-called revolutionaries come up and new plays… I had never been on stage before," Glover recalled. His career exploded with acclaimed performances in film and television, but it was his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the blockbuster "Lethal Weapon" franchise that made him an international star. The actor laughed while recalling one of the more unusual consequences of the franchise's popularity. "I've had… where somebody would bring their toilet up, and I would sign it," Glover said. Despite a career filled with iconic performances, Glover named 1984's "Places in the Heart" as the movie that means the most to him. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "'Places in the Heart' with Sally Field, a wonderful cast," he told the media outlet. The role carries lasting emotional weight. Glover revealed his mother was killed in a car accident the same day he learned he had been cast in the movie, and he has long dedicated his performance to her memory. Outside Hollywood, Glover has become equally known for being involved in his community, co-founding a production company, Louverture Films, focused on supporting socially conscious stories from underserved communities. "We have challenges in the world, and I think art becomes a refrain, a way of looking at that," he said. Even as he navigates Alzheimer's, Glover said he still has work left to do. "Talking to young people and their responsibility," he said when asked what he still hopes to contribute. When told he still had a lot to teach, Glover replied, "Well, and lots to learn as well." Even as Alzheimer's changes the course of his life, Glover isn't stepping away from the causes closest to his heart.  The Hollywood veteran said he still hopes to inspire young people and use his voice for good. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4582b5c2ca79de2362be88 Pentagon consolidates drone oversight as Trump administration pushes rapid unmanned warfare expansion te 2026-07-01T21:12:21.198Z Pentagon consolidates drone oversight as Trump administration pushes rapid unmanned warfare expansion The Pentagon announced Wednesday it is consolidating oversight of all military drones and autonomous systems under a newly created office as the Department of War moves to accelerate development and fielding of the technology across the armed forces. According to a War Department memo, the newly established Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems will report directly to Deputy Secretary of War Stephen Feinberg, and oversee unmanned and autonomous systems across the land, sea and air domains. The office also will oversee funding, acquisition and policy for unmanned systems programs currently spread across the military services, the Defense Innovation Unit, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group. CHINA’S GRIP ON RARE-EARTH MAGNETS COULD CRUSH US DRONE INDUSTRY BEFORE IT GROWS The move is intended to centralize oversight of the Pentagon's rapidly expanding drone and autonomous systems programs. "Drones and autonomous systems represent the most consequential battlefield innovation of this generation," Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement announcing the reorganization. "Adversaries collectively produce millions of unmanned systems each year across all domains," he continued. "While global military production has skyrocketed over the last three years, the United States must move at the speed this moment demands to field these capabilities at scale and secure our tactical and strategic edge." 'A NEW KIND OF WAR': INSIDE UKRAINE'S HIDDEN FACTORIES MASS-PRODUCING COMBAT DRONES The announcement follows the Trump administration's broader push to expand the military's use of drones and autonomous systems. In December, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth touted the administration's "Drone Dominance" initiative, calling it "a billion-dollar program funded by President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill." "We cannot afford to shoot down cheap drones with $2 million missiles. And we ourselves must be able to field large quantities of capable attack drones," Hegseth said in a video message. ARMY TRAINS FOR MODERN BATTLEFIELD WITH TEXAS EXERCISE FOCUSED ON SPEED, TECHNOLOGY Hegseth said the Pentagon plans to deliver tens of thousands of small drones to U.S. forces in 2026 and hundreds of thousands more by 2027 while reshaping warfighting doctrine to integrate unmanned systems throughout combat units. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has also repeatedly argued that drones will dominate future battlefields. "Drones are the future of warfare. Manned aircraft are not," Musk wrote in a post on X last year. The department said the new office will consolidate specialized expertise under a single leadership structure to speed the development, procurement and fielding of autonomous capabilities and help preserve the U.S. military's tactical and strategic advantage over potential adversaries. Fox News' Liz Friden contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4582a1c2ca79de2362be7f Supreme Court ruling sparks race to kill a multibillion-dollar loophole in Congress te 2026-07-01T21:12:01.753Z Supreme Court ruling sparks race to kill a multibillion-dollar loophole in Congress FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., has a plan to snuff out a multibillion-dollar global industry. Scott is one of several Republicans racing to ram birthright citizenship tweaks through Congress after the Supreme Court’s bombshell ruling blocking the Trump administration’s effort to limit the right and President Donald Trump’s call for lawmakers to quickly respond. Despite an increasingly crowded field of legislation, Scott argued in an interview with Fox News Digital that his approach to halt birth tourism could work, even with Democrats. TRUMP SUFFERS MAJOR SUPREME COURT DEFEAT AS JUSTICES UPHOLD BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP "The whole concept of the 14th Amendment, that ‘under the jurisdiction thereof,’ if you are on vacation in America, you certainly should not have a child while you're here and think in any way, shape or form that kid is going to somehow, some way be an American citizen," Scott said. "That's just illogical. I would just say look at it from the mirror perspective," he continued. "If you did that in any other country, would that child in that country become a citizen of that country? The answer is no." Scott’s legislation, which is still being drafted, would target tourism visas and any child born in the U.S. to a woman with said visa from becoming an American citizen. REPUBLICAN ACCUSES SCOTUS OF BETRAYING US, PUSHES BILL RESTRICTING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, PREGNANT VISITORS His legislation is "designed specifically to get to the president's desk to sign into law," a tacit acknowledgment that in the Senate, he will need Democratic support to put a dent into the issue. "That means that Democrats cannot have any opposition to this notion that thousands of companies having hundreds of thousands of women come to this country to have a baby so that they leave with an American citizen," Scott said. "We should break that whole cycle, destroy it in its infancy by not allowing it to exist at all," he continued. "And that to me is the best approach." Trump said he would prefer legislation over a "long and unwieldy" constitutional amendment, which has been floated by a handful of Senate Republicans, including Sens. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and Rand Paul, R-Ky. Tackling the 14th Amendment completely is something Scott said he’d do, but he acknowledged that it’s not "possible in the current political environment." "What is possible is for us to recognize that if you're here temporarily, and you know you're here temporarily, you should not leave with an American citizen as your child just because you gave birth on our soil," Scott said. Meanwhile, in the House, there's another approach led by Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn. Ogles, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, unveiled legislation Wednesday that would allow the government to bar pregnant foreigners from entering the United States. SOROS NETWORK TARGETS DEEP-RED MISSISSIPPI IN BID TO FLIP SENATE SEAT The Tennessee Republican says the measure, dubbed the Anchors Away Act, is necessary to crack down on the birth tourism industry, in which foreigners give birth on U.S. soil so that their children obtain U.S. citizenship. However, the legislation faces steep obstacles to clearing Congress, and it is unclear whether the bill would get a floor vote in the House amid Republicans’ razor-thin majority. "This is a conversation that I'm starting that I'm a champion of," Ogles told Fox News Digital in an interview. "I’m working with the White House. And as long as it takes to get it done, I'll be here to fight for it." Ogles has also authored the Assimilation Act, legislation that would impose vast changes to the legal immigration system by ending birthright citizenship, requiring employers to implement E-Verify and scrapping the green-card lottery, among other provisions. The Tennessee lawmaker’s recently introduced Remigration Act would allow the government to denaturalize individuals convicted of certain crimes, including defrauding the government. "What we've seen over the last several decades is that Congress, quite frankly, has delegated its right to legislate to the Supreme Court," Ogles said. "So this actually creates the opportunity for Congress to do its job. To define what it is to be a naturalized citizen, to define who can and cannot come into this country, because as the legislative body, we are the ones that are supposed to make those decisions." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45828ec2ca79de2362be76 Chiney Ogwumike claiming that A'ja Wilson is 'greater' than Tom Brady exposes ESPN's WNBA credibility problem te 2026-07-01T21:11:42.287Z Chiney Ogwumike claiming that A'ja Wilson is 'greater' than Tom Brady exposes ESPN's WNBA credibility problem ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike made headlines this week for downplaying Alyssa Thomas throat-punching Caitlin Clark on the basketball court. She claimed Clark "embellishes" contact while Thomas simply "plays hard." Ogwumike then suggested the punch was only visible in slow motion, as if replay speed somehow alters reality. "When narratives are created based off of a freeze-frame, that can create a huge problem. The league was reacting to the optics of that image," Ogwumike said. CAITLIN CLARK HARD CONTACT TIMELINE: WNBA'S GROWING HISTORY OF BRUTAL HITS AGAINST THE FACE OF THE SPORT As it turns out, that segment might not have been Ogwumike's most embarrassing performance of the week. On ESPN, she hosted a segment asking whether WNBA star A'ja Wilson's greatness surpasses, wait for it, Tom Brady's. "Safe Space: Is A'ja Wilson's greatness more impressive than Tom Brady's?" the chyron asked. Ogwumike didn't hesitate. "Tom's winning is boring," she said. "That don't apply to A'ja. A'ja is more interesting than Tom. A'ja is that girl." She argued that the "dynamic nature of basketball" gives Wilson the edge over Brady, adding that Wilson can "step off the court like she's in Fashion Week." Look, we understand it's July, but come on. Greater than Tom Brady? The fact that ESPN devoted airtime to this debate is quite curious. A'ja Wilson is a phenomenal basketball player. We agree. She is the best women's player in the world (though not the face of the WNBA). Many analysts believe she has a chance to become the greatest player in league history. The operative word is chance. LET'S HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT CAITLIN CLARK, RACISM, AND MEDIA COWARDICE | BOBBY BURACK Tom Brady already occupies the pinnacle of his sport. He won seven Super Bowls, more than any NFL franchise. His dominance of professional football spanned more than two decades. Brady reached such a rare level of excellence that the list of American athletes with comparable legacies is minuscule. The list includes the likes of Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Muhammad Ali. By contrast, many all-time WNBA rankings still place Wilson behind Diana Taurasi, Sheryl Swoopes and Tamika Catchings. At least for now. Further, there are 32 teams in the NFL. There are 15 active WNBA teams. Comparing Wilson's championship wins, which still trail Brady's by four, is not exactly an adequate exercise. Oddly, Ogwumike invoked Brady to elevate Wilson. Instead, she invited a comparison that Wilson simply cannot win. That is precisely why the segment came across as pandering, a critique that increasingly defines Ogwumike's media career. After a promising start as one of ESPN's true rising stars, Ogwumike has grown increasingly preachy and uninformed. Her coverage of Caitlin Clark is especially difficult to defend. Last year, she urged the WNBA to investigate a Clark fan for allegedly directing "monkey noises" at Angel Reese. No evidence ever substantiated the accusation. Ogwumike later posted an apology video, which OutKick was told ESPN encouraged her to record due to the reckless nature of her remarks. Now, just days after defending a player who drove her fist into Clark's neck, Ogwumike tells ESPN viewers that A'ja Wilson's greatness surpasses Tom Brady's because Brady is "boring" while Wilson wears fashionable clothes. If the strongest case a commentator can make for elevating a current WNBA player above the greatest quarterback in NFL history rests on personality and wardrobe, perhaps it's time to give someone else a try on set. Ogwumike's commentary has eroded the credibility of ESPN's WNBA coverage through what increasingly appears to be a deliberate effort to diminish not only Caitlin Clark, but now, apparently, even Tom Brady. ESPN should demand more from its analysts. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45827ac2ca79de2362be6d Mets owner Steve Cohen backs team's architect of brutal season, says team will 'live that contract out' te 2026-07-01T21:11:22.837Z Mets owner Steve Cohen backs team's architect of brutal season, says team will 'live that contract out' Just about everything that David Stearns has touched with the New York Mets has turned to you-know-what. Stearns took over as the Mets' president of baseball operations in 2024 and made it to the National League Championship Series, but after blowing the best record in baseball last year en route to an epic collapse and following it up with a 36-50 record thus far, Stearns is public enemy No. 1 in Queens. The Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza, who also joined the team in 2024, last week, but Mets owner Steve Cohen said Stearns will hold his post through the duration of his contract, which expires in 2028 (Mendoza's contract was expiring after this season). CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "We’re two and a half years into a contract. Everyone forgets — does he get any credit for ’24? Does that not count? We almost made it to the World Series. And that was just two years ago. It’s a mixed record," Cohen said to the New York Post's "The Show" podcast. "I’m not gonna say it’s going great, but it’s too early to really make evaluations. And I feel really strongly that if we’re going to burn and churn, that’s a terrible place to be. Every time you burn and churn, guess what, the next time nobody wants to come. Is someone going to put their career in your hands if you’re going to be short term-oriented? METS FIRE CARLOS MENDOZA AMID NIGHTMARE SEASON DESPITE HAVING BASEBALL'S LARGEST $330M PAYROLL "I have a contract. It’s a five-year contract. And we’re going to live that contract out." This was nearly impossible to predict because the Mets have the largest payroll in baseball at nearly $330 million, but a 12-game losing streak in April has been impossible to overcome. Following last year's collapse, Stearns overhauled the roster, but none of it has worked. The Mets let Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz walk in free agency while trading Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo, and brought in Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert, Bo Bichette, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. Polanco has not played since April 14 and Robert since April 26, while Bichette is on pace for, by far, the worst full season of his career. Williams owns a 4.13 ERA after struggling with the New York Yankees last season, but Luke Weaver's 2.00 ERA is a lone bright spot. The Mets' offense has the second-worst OPS in the league, at .673, and their starting pitchers' 4.75 ERA is the fourth-worst mark. They also have the third-most errors in the league, despite Stearns opting for "run prevention" in the offseason. 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/6a458025c2ca79de2362be06 White House to still welcome viral Germany fan Freddy for visit despite backlash, Nick Adams says te 2026-07-01T21:01:25.539Z White House to still welcome viral Germany fan Freddy for visit despite backlash, Nick Adams says Freddy, the Germany superfan who stole the hearts of Americans by live-tweeting his experience in the United States for the first time, will still be heading to the White House despite receiving backlash that ultimately led to him deactivating social media.  Ambassador Nick Adams, who is the Special Presidential Envoy for American, Tourism, Exceptionalism and Values in the Trump administration, confirmed to Fox News Digital last month that Freddy had been invited to the White House. Now, Adams released a statement to Fox News Digital saying that, "despite the hateful and angry radical Left’s vicious attempts to doxx Freddy," he will still attend his visit to the West Wing.  "Freddy’s only ‘crime’ was loving America and documenting his travels in a completely non-partisan way. This is what they do. They try to scare and silence anyone who doesn’t conform," Adams’ statement read. "As the Special Presidential Envoy for Tourism, I am proud that Freddy enjoyed his trip here. I refused to let the radical left turn something positive for our country into another victory for their politics of hate.  "In the true spirit of 250, I lifted Freddy up and made sure their mob tactics would not win. The visit will go ahead as planned. America remains open for business and open to visitors who simply want to experience the greatest country on Earth. We will never let the mob dictate who gets to enjoy it." This is a developing story. More to come. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a457da2c2ca79de2362bd5b Arizona still pursuing nuclear energy despite hurdles te 2026-07-01T20:50:42.142Z Arizona still pursuing nuclear energy despite hurdles Key Points: Arizona utilities have begun a siting study to explore building a nuclear facility The project hit a setback when the utilities were denied a Department of Energy grant  Dwindling Colorado River water supplies could also challenge new nuclear growth Arizona leaders are forging ahead with plans for new nuclear energy generation despite ongoing funding woes and water hurdles.  At a June 25 Arizona Corporation Commission workshop, utility companies, universities, local governments and private industry stakeholders demonstrated their preparedness and commitment to turning the state’s dreams for a new nuclear power plant into reality. Arizona’s three largest electric utilities announced ahead of the workshop that they have commenced a siting study to find a potential location for the project.  Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project and Tucson Electric Power are surveying a range of potential sites for a new nuclear plant, including decommissioned coal-fired plants. Commissioners celebrated that announcement at the workshop.  “With the recent announcement that APS, SRP, and TEP have launched a preliminary siting study for potential new nuclear generation in Arizona, we’re seeing real momentum translate into meaningful action,” Commission Chair Nick Myers said in a statement. “The expertise and collaboration shared throughout this workshop will help ensure we’re prepared to seize the opportunities ahead and build a strong foundation for Arizona’s energy future.” If all goes according to plan, the companies expect to hold community stakeholder meetings later this year near the potential nuclear sites. The companies will then “evaluate technical, financial and other factors” to determine whether to submit an early site permit application to the federal government. However, the utility companies did hit a snag in their process. They did not receive a U.S. Department of Energy grant they applied for in order to help finance that early site permit application, which would need to be submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  The utilities “will continue to work together to explore future funding opportunities to help mitigate the costs of evaluating potential new nuclear generation,” according to a joint statement. The companies stressed that a new nuclear plant is not a foregone conclusion, and they have not decided whether the potential project would use small modular reactors or large reactors like those at Arizona’s Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station west of Phoenix. The June 25 workshop also identified a few other potential obstacles that could slow Arizona’s nuclear energy progress, like supply chain constraints, community backlash and dwindling Colorado River water supplies.  Cuts to Arizona’s Colorado River water allocation could be the most difficult obstacle for the state to overcome in order to pursue a new nuclear plant. Representatives from the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association told commissioners that the Colorado River is no longer a reliable water supply and alternatives will likely require significant investments. Palo Verde uses recycled wastewater to cool its three nuclear reactors and APS has explored using low-quality groundwater for cooling at the plant. But with water likely to become more scarce and more expensive in Arizona, a cooling source for any new nuclear plant could be a significant hurdle.  Proposals attempting to clear the way for new nuclear technologies, like small modular reactors, also did not fare well during this year’s legislative session. Lawmakers introduced six bills that would have preempted local authority or streamlined environmental review processes for small modular reactors, but only one made it to Gov. Katie Hobbs’ desk. Senate Bill 1418 from Sen. Frank Carroll, R-Sun City West, would have allowed utility companies to bypass the commission’s traditional environmental review process for project siting if the company planned to replace a coal generation unit with a small modular reactor. That bill could have benefited the joint project from APS, SRP and TEP if the companies eventually select small modular reactor technology for the new plant.  However, Hobbs vetoed the bill, arguing it was not in line with the state’s goal to “responsibly reduce barriers to deploying new energy projects quickly.” “We are not in the business of picking winners and losers in the energy landscape, and while advancements in small modular reactor technologies are promising, they are still emerging,” Hobbs wrote in a veto letter. “Deploying such a catch-all approach for an emerging technology, as laid out in this bill, is irresponsible.”  Nevertheless, a potential new nuclear power plant has broad, bipartisan support in Arizona. And some communities are chomping at the bit to bring the technology to their areas, as Navajo County Supervisor Jason Whiting told commissioners on June 25.  “Northeastern Arizona’s energy communities… want to be part of it,” Whiting said. “They want to be involved with it. They will embrace this discussion and decision with open arms.” The post Arizona still pursuing nuclear energy despite hurdles first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a457bb4c2ca79de2362bd15 West Coast state sheriff's bait bike sting snares dozens of alleged thieves in just months te 2026-07-01T20:42:28.938Z West Coast state sheriff's bait bike sting snares dozens of alleged thieves in just months At least 34 people have been arrested after Oregon sheriff’s deputies deployed bait bikes in an effort to catch suspected thieves targeting stolen property, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) said Tuesday.  The operation was launched in mid-April 2026, placing the specially equipped bikes in multiple locations across Aloha, a community west of Portland, as part of an effort to combat theft. Officials said the tactic has proven effective in less than three months, with the bait bikes repeatedly stolen and quickly recovered by deputies — resulting in dozens of arrests. "The bait bike has been repeatedly stolen and, shortly after, recovered by deputies, leading to arrests," the sheriff’s office said in a statement. CALIFORNIA COUPLE SAYS MOVING COMPANY DOUBLED THEIR PRICE AND IS NOW HOLDING BELONGINGS 'FOR RANSOM': REPORT The program reportedly used traditional mountain bikes equipped with concealed GPS tracking devices and alarms, which were placed in high-traffic areas where thefts were more likely to occur.  Graveyard deputies monitored the bikes during their overnight shifts, allowing them to quickly respond when the bait bikes were taken.  "When the bike is taken, the alarm notifies the deputies monitoring the beacon, and they move in to recover the stolen bike," the sheriff’s office said.  AMERICAN DRIVERS WARNED ABOUT RED FLAGS TO AVOID ‘PREDATORY TOWING’ TARGETING MOTORISTS ACROSS US Nearly three dozen people have been arrested during the operation, with several suspects allegedly found to have outstanding arrest warrants or in possession of controlled substances. WCSO encouraged bicycle owners to secure their bikes in safe locations and keep records of their serial numbers to assist deputies investigating thefts. "Sheriff’s Office deputies continue to look for ways to keep Washington County safe and embrace technology as a tool to improve public safety," WCSO said.  Residents who witness suspicious activity can contact non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 or call 911 when appropriate. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a457ba1c2ca79de2362bd0c Rory McIlroy turns heads at Wimbledon by sporting his Masters green jacket at Center Court te 2026-07-01T20:42:09.481Z Rory McIlroy turns heads at Wimbledon by sporting his Masters green jacket at Center Court Rory McIlroy had quite the flex during his appearance at Wimbledon on Wednesday afternoon. Fashion is a key piece for spectators at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and McIlroy decided to show out with his latest Masters Tournament victory green jacket while sitting next to his wife, Erica Stoll. McIlroy and Stoll were alongside the Northern Irishman’s Ryder Cup teammates to watch top men’s player, Italy’s Jannik Sinner, who was facing Nuno Borges in the second round of the tournament at Center Court. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM McIlroy was with Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Team Europe captain Luke Donald as well as vice captains Thomas Bjorn, Edoardo Molinari and Francesco Molinari. Sinner, the No. 1 player in the world, took care of business, defeating Borges in straight sets, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4. SERENA WILLIAMS DROPS WIMBLEDON COMEBACK MATCH TO 20-YEAR-OLD MAYA JOINT AFTER FOUR-YEAR ABSENCE Wimbledon fashion is also something that can get patrons in trouble, with Andy Samberg saying he was reprimanded for wearing black jeans in the Royal Box. He was eventually given khakis to wear. But there’s no denying McIlroy was looking sleek with his Masters jacket, which was accompanied by a white shirt and green tie to match. McIlroy, who finally secured the career Grand Slam last year by defeating Rose in a playoff to win the Masters, returned to Augusta National Golf Club clearly looking to retain the jacket. He needed to score just 1-under par in his final round on Sunday to hold off Scottie Scheffler with a victory by one stroke (12-under). Russell Henley also made a 4-under push on Sunday to finish 10-under, while Cam Young faltered in the final pairing with a 1-over round to finish 10-under as well. The stars will all be out at Wimbledon throughout the tournament’s days, and there are sure to be some fun fashion statements made. But McIlroy’s Masters piece is a statement piece that only a few can say they have in their closet. 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/6a457b5fc2ca79de2362bcde Advocates push Fair Chance Employment policy for formerly incarcerated people te 2026-07-01T20:41:03.389Z Advocates push Fair Chance Employment policy for formerly incarcerated people Key Points: A new criminal justice advocacy group plans to work on policy that will help former prisoners get careers, not just jobs Arizona currently has two laws and one executive order that help felons get jobs Advocates say the state can do more to help former prisoners and workforce shortages Finding jobs after prison can be difficult. Finding a career that supports a stable life can be even harder.  But a new civil justice organization has plans to make things a little bit easier for Arizona’s formerly incarcerated people.  The newly established Arizona Advocates for Justice is making fair chance employment one of its top priorities for the state’s next legislative session, arguing that helping formerly incarcerated people build careers – not just find a job – can make a big difference for the state. Fair chance employment policies are meant to reduce the barriers that prevent people with criminal records from being considered for jobs. Director Erika Ovalle said watching family members struggle after incarceration convinced her that employment was one of the biggest barriers to successful reentry.  “I’ve had to see so many terrible things happen to our loved ones while incarcerated and helping people find stability when they come home is a really big deal for me,” she said. “I was seeing a lot of people come home, a lot of people get out of prison, in particular women, and we wanted to build a support group.” Arizona Advocates for Justice also works with kids to educate them on lived experiences and the consequences of bad decisions.  “Sometimes young people need to speak to someone who knows what it’s like to possibly make a bad decision,” Ovalle said. “It’s just really important for them to tell their stories … especially when it comes to politicians. Politicians, they go back and forth, the political football about us. But once we get lived experience in the room, that is invaluable.” Once the group started identifying the issues, Ovalle realized they could build legislative strategies. The group has a steering committee of people who are formerly incarcerated and plan to work on policy. Their goal is to get people on the pathway to careers.  Arizona currently has two laws that help formerly incarcerated people get job interviews before their background is checked.  In 2021, Arizona passed a law that allows people convicted of certain criminal offenses an opportunity to set aside a prior conviction and seek a Certificate of Second Chance. If granted, the certificate removes some barriers in seeking occupational licenses and allows recipients to apply for jobs and housing opportunities that would not have been available to them.  Another law, passed in 2018, provides limited liability protections for employers and independent contractors who hire ex-offenders. The law bars the introduction of an employee’s prior criminal convictions as evidence in negligent hiring lawsuits.  Former Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order in 2017 that criminal history cannot be checked until after an interview for state agency jobs.  On the federal level, President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which included the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019. The law prohibits federal agencies and contractors from requesting someone to disclose their criminal history record before a conditional offer of employment is made to someone applying for a federal job.  Arizona has also joined such efforts as Reentry 2030, a national initiative that helps strengthen the state’s reentry system by reducing barriers and expanding access. Gov. Katie Hobbs signed an executive order to join the effort in 2025.  The program is helping Arizona increase educational opportunities, apprenticeships, career readiness programming, workforce development programs, and vocational training for currently incarcerated people before release, according to a news release.  Another goal includes expanding access to physical and behavioral healthcare services for incarcerated people before release and upon reentry.  “People who have served their time, taken accountability, and put in the work to better themselves deserve a second chance and the opportunity to contribute to their families and our economy,” Hobbs said last year in the news release.  Sen. Analise Ortiz, D-Phoenix, said she supports these efforts.  “I’m very proud of the progress we’ve made over the years on bipartisan legislation like the independent prison oversight committee and waiving certain fines and fees,” she said via text message. “We have much further to go and I know this coalition will play a key role in advancing important policies to help people get a second chance.” Ovalle mentioned a woman who got a promotion at a Taco Bell location to be the manager, but the corporation ran her criminal background check. She was demoted and lost her job. Another woman felt like she relived court trials because of the questions they asked during the hiring process, Ovalle said.  “She felt super vulnerable, like she felt sick, almost like it was physically, spiritually draining for her, because of the amount of questioning they did on her, like even traffic violations were pulled up,” Ovalle said.  And it’s not just about jobs either. Arizona Advocates for Justice want careers for people who were formerly incarcerated, she said.  “We want to be able to get that amazing job that’s going to sustain us for the rest of our lives, and right now, because there’s so many limitations, folks are not getting careers,” she said. The post Advocates push Fair Chance Employment policy for formerly incarcerated people first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a457b4bc2ca79de2362bcd5 Supreme Court ruling against transgender athletes in womens sports could change Arizona laws te 2026-07-01T20:40:43.937Z Supreme Court ruling against transgender athletes in womens sports could change Arizona laws On Tuesday, the United States Supreme Court ruled to uphold laws from West Virginia and Idaho excluding transgender female athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports teams. The decision will likely have a ripple effect on other states, including… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a457958c2ca79de2362bc91 DOJ targets Spanberger, Newsom gun laws with twin lawsuits after SCOTUS affirms Second Amendment rights te 2026-07-01T20:32:24.022Z DOJ targets Spanberger, Newsom gun laws with twin lawsuits after SCOTUS affirms Second Amendment rights The Justice Department escalated its push against state gun restrictions Wednesday, filing lawsuits against California and Virginia just a week after the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Second Amendment is not a "second-class right" in its decision in Wolford v. Lopez. The coordinated legal challenges target Democratic-backed firearm laws in both states, with the department seeking to block California's restrictions on the sale of new Glock-style semiautomatic pistols and Virginia's ban on the manufacture, sale, transfer and purchase of certain semiautomatic firearms classified as assault weapons. The California lawsuit was filed hours after the state's new handgun restrictions took effect, following Attorney General Rob Bonta's refusal to negotiate with the Justice Department over what federal officials contend are unconstitutional limits on gun rights. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said the administration is taking alleged infringements of the Second Amendment seriously. COMER PROBES ALLEGED BIDEN COLLUSION WITH GUN CONTROL ACTIVISTS IN GLOCK LAWSUIT "This lawsuit is yet another example of this Justice Department enforcing the Second Amendment by protecting citizens against unconstitutional state regulation of firearms," Dhillon said in a press release. Bonta revealed Tuesday that the Justice Department had sent California a notice of intent to sue, arguing the law violates the Second Amendment. In a response letter, Bonta rejected the Department's legal position and refused to negotiate. "The Unsafe Handgun Act and Penal Code section 27595 are commonsense handgun design safety laws that help to prevent accidental discharges by experienced and non-experienced firearm users as well as the conversion of semiautomatic pistols into deadly automatic firing weapons," Bonta wrote. "If the U.S. Department of Justice decides to file the lawsuit described in your letter, it will not be breaking any new ground." Dhillon responded on X with a brief message: "See you in court." The Justice Department soon afterward announced its lawsuit against California, naming Dhillon and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jesus Osete as counsel. SPANBERGER'S LATEST 'GUN-GRABBING NONSENSE' PROMPTS ACTION FROM TRUMP DOJ: 'STAY TUNED!' Gov. Gavin Newsom's office accused the Trump administration of attempting to dismantle California's gun safety laws. "Our response is simple — these laws save lives," Newsom spokeswoman Diana Crofts-Pelayo said. "California has proven that strong, evidence-based gun safety measures can reduce gun violence while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners." Crofts-Pelayo said California would not be "intimidated" by what she called politically motivated litigation and would continue enforcing laws designed to keep dangerous weapons off the streets. California has some of the nation's strictest firearm regulations, which state officials credit with helping produce one of the country's lowest gun death rates. The California lawsuit came shortly after the Justice Department sued Virginia over a newly enacted ban on so-called assault firearms. The lawsuit challenges Senate Bill 749, sponsored by state Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Dunn Loring, and signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger in May. The ban took effect Wednesday, making it a misdemeanor to import, sell, manufacture, purchase or transfer certain semiautomatic firearms defined as assault weapons under state law. SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN BLUE STATE'S 'VAMPIRE RULE' IN MAJOR WIN FOR GUN RIGHTS Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Constitution "is not a suggestion" and that the Second Amendment is not a "second-class right." Dhillon said she warned Spanberger in April that the Justice Department would sue if she signed the legislation and said Wednesday the administration was following through on that pledge. A spokesperson for Spanberger defended the law, saying the governor "firmly believes that firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong in our communities, near our kids and schools, or on Virginia's streets." "The Governor signed this commonsense legislation to save lives and protect law enforcement officers, kids, and families from gun violence — and the Governor remains committed to making the Commonwealth a safer home for every family," the spokesperson said. Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, welcomed the lawsuit, saying the state is now using taxpayer dollars to defend "an unconstitutional gun ban against the United States itself." "That is where the Richmond Democrats' agenda has led — into court, on the wrong side of the Constitution," Kilgore told Fox News Digital. "House Republicans said this law could not stand. A Virginia court has already blocked it, and now the Justice Department agrees. It should be repealed." SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER The National Association for Gun Rights also praised the department's actions. "Thank God a small number of committed individuals in DC realize we only have a few years of opportunity to make moves like this, and they're seizing it," the group said. Hannah Hill, executive director of the National Foundation for Gun Rights, said the Supreme Court's ruling in Wolford v. Lopez, which she said strengthened Second Amendment protections, gave the Justice Department additional legal support for its latest lawsuits against California and Virginia. "The timing is perfect for the Department of Justice to begin to be filing these lawsuits to strike out gun bans all across the country, it's a really bad time to be a gun grabber," Hill told Fox News Digital. The lawsuits came the same day the Supreme Court agreed to hear two Second Amendment cases next term challenging state and local bans on certain semiautomatic rifles. Fox News Digital reached out to Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a457944c2ca79de2362bc7d The run for political office: The Jay Feely story te 2026-07-01T20:32:04.049Z The run for political office: The Jay Feely story SCOTTSDALE – Jay Feely once missed three game-winning field goal attempts for the New York Giants in a game against Seattle. The performance was considered so egregious that a Saturday Night Live skit aired in the aftermath, titled “The Long Ride Home: The Jay Feely Story.”  “You can look at it. You can have a laugh at my expense,” Feely said, “but I do think that has prepared me for this opportunity. “It took away that fear of failure. I had a lot more fun. I enjoyed myself more, I played better, and I try to take that into all areas.” The opportunity Feely is referring to is running for the House of Representatives in Arizona’s First Congressional District as a Republican candidate with an endorsement from President Donald Trump.  After the 2005 SNL embarrassment, Feely’s football career carried on. In total, he played 14 seasons in the NFL. Four of those seasons were with the Arizona Cardinals from 2010-2013.  During that time he followed the direction of special teams coach Kevin Spencer, but Spencer remembers a man with presence.  “I don’t think he was in Phoenix for more than 24 hours and he was already having lunch with Senator John McCain,” Spencer said. “I mean, people would probably wish to have that happen to them at any moment in your life, and Jay shows up and next thing you know, he’s with Senator McCain.” Feely averaged an 85.2 field goal percentage over his four seasons with the Cardinals. He finished his career in 2014 playing for the Chicago Bears. His wife and he returned to Arizona with their four kids, settling in Gilbert. In 2015, Feely began his broadcast career as a game analyst and sideline reporter for CBS’ NFL broadcasts.  To begin his career in politics, Feely announced a campaign for the Fifth Congressional District in April of 2025. It is the district in which he has lived for 12 years.  In December 2025, he announced a switch to the Scottsdale district at Trump’s request. Trump hoped to clear the field in the 5th District for candidate Mark Lamb, and he enticed Feely to shift to CD1 with the promise of an endorsement. “He would be a great leader for a community,” Spencer said. “So, it doesn’t surprise me in the least that this is the new venture in his life.” The First Congressional District seat has been occupied by Republican Congressman David Schweikert since 2023. Schweikert has been in Congress for 16 years, but he is not seeking reelection and is instead running for Arizona Governor. Feely is running for the Republican nomination against State Representative Joseph Chaplik and businessman John Trobough. The Democratic primary for the district is between Marlene Galán-Woods, Rick McCartney, Amish Shah and Jonathan Treble.   According to the Arizona Secretary of State, CD1 had 526,614 active voters in the 2024 general election: 144,611 registered Democrats, 202,808 Republicans, and 179,195 independent or other party voters. Schweikert won by 16,572 votes in 2024.  With no incumbent in the race, the tight voting record of the district has created the expectation that the seat could be won by a Democrat or a Republican, which could help the Democrats take the House majority.  “I think the importance of this seat is why the President reached out to me and said, ‘Hey, we need you to run in this seat,’” Feely said. “Then Speaker (Mike) Johnson called and said the same thing.” Feely and his wife, Rebecca, have a charitable grassroots background. They lead the private fundraising for House of Refuge in Mesa, an 88-home nonprofit for single, homeless mothers. They also volunteer regularly at Hacienda Healthcare, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that provides residential and medical care for infants, children, teens and young adults with chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities and medical fragility  “Everything that my wife and I have tried to do is to utilize the blessings that we’ve been given,” Feely said. “First through football, then broadcasting to impact other people’s lives. Of course, that’s what politics is supposed to be about. You’re supposed to be sacrificial.”  Feely and his wife took a volunteer trip to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake to help rebuild homes and run a feeding program for 100,000 Haitians a day. They worked with two young men they met there to go through the immigration process and get visas to enter the U.S. and attend college. “I said ‘This is your chance. If you screw up, you go back to Haiti, I can’t help you, but this is your chance to change not only your life but future generations of your family,’” Feely said.  The matter of Feely’s support of the two Haitians has been continually challenged by Chaplik, who has posted aggressive tweets on the matter, and launched the nojayfeely.com website. Unfortunately for Jay Feely — illegal Haitian migrants will no longer be able to eat dogs, cats & swans in America! Listen as Jay justifies and laughs about this depravity⬇️ https://t.co/Vj5xP87e3L pic.twitter.com/ZFFx2FZVd8 — Rep. Joseph Chaplik 🇺🇸 (@JosephChaplik) June 25, 2026 Feely said he has tried to avoid a similar approach. “I prayed about it,” he said. “I said, ‘We’re not going to run campaigns that way. We’re not going to run based on slandering people, or lying about people, or trying to use things about their personal lives to tear them down.’” Feely referred to Chaplik as “No Show Joe” in May during an appearance on PBS’ AZ Votes, which Feely and Trobough attended. There is also a website domain noshowjoechaplik.com that is paid for by Feely for Congress. Chaplik sent a cease-and-desist to Feely in May regarding the nickname, claiming the Feely for Congress campaign was spreading libelous statements with malicious intent about the Representative’s state legislature voting record. The Chaplik campaign has not responded to a request by Cronkite News for comment on their campaign against Feely. The third Republican candidate, John Trobough, is a tech businessman also running for his first political office. He calls himself a Reagan conservative. According to a flyer, Feely’s campaign promises include: “Securing our border, deporting illegal immigrants. Protecting our constitutional liberties. Keeping boys out of girls’ sports. Jump-starting our economy. Cutting taxes for the middle class. Always putting America first.” Feely knew he needed guidance for his campaign so chose Taylor Zanazzi to manage it. Zanazzi has worked in campaigns since 2018. He was the political director for Young Kim’s 2020 California’s 39th District win. He managed Mayra Flores South Texas special election campaign in 2022, as well as Congressman Ken Calvert’s southern California 2024 campaign for the state’s 41st congressional district.  “The one thing I knew was that I hadn’t been in politics before,” Feely said. “So you needed to have people that had experience, that had been through this process.” Zanazzi’s experience flipping Democratic districts to Republicans will come in handy in the tight First District race.  “There’s three to five seats that are going to determine the House of Representatives majority, this being one of them,” Zanazzi said at an event hosted by the Huber family in North Scottsdale. It was an intimate gathering at the family’s home on a Sunday afternoon. Joined by neighbors, they drank ice tea and ate pizza while Feely shook hands and addressed the group from bar stools in the front of the living room.  Greg Huber builds, remodels and sells parts for swimming pools. He found out about the Feely campaign by attending a friend’s similar event a month before he hosted his own.  “We’re hearing it twice now,” Huber said. “Even more, it just kind of sets in stone, I really do want to see him succeed.”  The Arizona Primary is July 21. The post The run for political office: The Jay Feely story appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4578f2c2ca79de2362bc57 Sea Hawk Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing in Arabian Sea, Navy Says te 2026-07-01T20:30:42.640Z Sea Hawk Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing in Arabian Sea, Navy Says Three crew members were rescued, though a fourth remained missing. There is no indication that the landing was caused by “hostile action,” the Navy said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4578dfc2ca79de2362bc4e Who Can Sell ‘6 7’ Chicken Nuggets? One Company Is Asking a Court to Decide. te 2026-07-01T20:30:23.189Z Who Can Sell ‘6 7’ Chicken Nuggets? One Company Is Asking a Court to Decide. The meat and poultry giant Perdue said in a lawsuit that Soules Foods copied its packaging that is based on a meme popular with children. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a457698c2ca79de2362bbdf JD Vance Defends Iran War in Speech to Military Members te 2026-07-01T20:20:40.731Z JD Vance Defends Iran War in Speech to Military Members The vice president, a staunch critic of foreign wars, accused the president’s detractors of trying to prolong a conflict the administration was trying to end. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a457685c2ca79de2362bbd6 Crypto Brought Trump a Huge Windfall, Even as Many Investors Lost Big te 2026-07-01T20:20:21.282Z Crypto Brought Trump a Huge Windfall, Even as Many Investors Lost Big President Trump and his family reaped vast financial rewards from a memecoin that generated losses for hundreds of thousands of investors. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4574a6c2ca79de2362bb93 Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson branded a coward by Hollywood stars after refusing to speak out on politics te 2026-07-01T20:12:22.083Z Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson branded a coward by Hollywood stars after refusing to speak out on politics Hollywood stars began lashing out at Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on Monday after he reiterated his stance to keep his personal politics out of the public eye. After telling Esquire earlier this month that he hates the "slinging" of modern politics, "Star Trek" alum George Takei and "Stand By Me" actor Wil Wheaton took to social media to slam Johnson, with Takei arguing that his silence makes him "complicit." "Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson's recent comments to Esquire about wanting to ‘keep my politics to myself’ have divided fans, with some calling out his silence," Takei wrote on Threads. DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON REJECTS HOLLYWOOD’S POLITICAL OBSESSION, BLASTS CELEBRITY ATTACK CULTURE He then replied to his post on Monday, writing, "Silence is complicity." Wheaton also called out Johnson in a Threads post, later deleted, that was reported by Entertainment Weekly, writing, "So disappointing to find out he is such a coward." However, some came to Johnson’s defense online, including comedian Matt Rife, who took to X to mock Wheaton’s "coward" comment. 'CRIMINAL MINDS' STAR PAGET BREWSTER APOLOGIZES FOR TELLING REPORTER 'YOU SUCK' IN DELETED POST "I love how he’s a ‘coward’ but could quite literally tear Wil’s throat out through his a--hole," Rife wrote on Wednesday, adding, "This internet comment world is so bold." The controversy stems from Johnson's Esquire interview for the magazine's Summer 2026 cover story. The actor, known for starring in the "Fast & Furious" franchise as well as the "Jumanji" films, explained why he’ll be keeping his political views private from now on. "What I have learned through experience is that I need to keep — need, not want — the main thing the main thing," he said. "And the main thing for me, the thing that in the morning I swing my legs out of bed and I run towards, is creating. It’s art. It’s storytelling. I’ve learned I’m going to keep my politics to myself." He added that there may be moments in the future when he takes a stand or shares an opinion, but he warned that politics is "forever." "Politics is omnipresent and it’s forever," he added. "I don’t like it. I hate it at times. I hate the slinging. I hate all the bulls--- that comes with it." BILLY BOB THORNTON PUSHES BACK ON CELEBRITY ACTIVISM: ‘I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT POLITICS’ Johnson has not been shy about speaking his mind on politics in the past, endorsing former President Joe Biden during the 2020 election, despite identifying as an Independent.  However, in April 2024, Johnson joined Fox News’s Will Cain to explain why he would not be endorsing a candidate for the 2024 presidential race. "The endorsement that I made years ago with Biden was what I thought was the best decision for me at that time," Johnson told Cain, adding that the division it caused "tears me up in my guts back then and now." "The takeaway after that months and months and months, I started to realize like, ‘Oh man, that caused an incredible amount of division in our country.’ So I realize now going into this election, I'm not going to do that. I wouldn't do that because my goal is to bring our country together. I believe in that, in my DNA. So in the spirit of that, there's going to be no endorsement," he continued. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE "Not that I'm afraid of it at all, but it's just I realize that this level of influence — I'm going to keep my politics to myself, and I think it's between me and the ballot box," Johnson added. Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson's representatives for comment, but did not immediately receive a response. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a457492c2ca79de2362bb8a Mamdani walks back plan to increase NYPD headcount following DSA pressure te 2026-07-01T20:12:02.135Z Mamdani walks back plan to increase NYPD headcount following DSA pressure New York City's new budget does not include a potential police department headcount boost authorization that had been on the table, reports indicate. Big Apple Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic socialist, said during a Tuesday press conference, "So, I've been talking to all agency heads about ways to find savings, and Commissioner Tisch and I were able to identify ways to keep the NYPD headcount at the originally authorized 35,000 while also meeting all of our crime-fighting needs and implementing the new programs that were announced earlier this year." Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor's office on Wednesday. TRUMP WARNS ‘GODLESS COMMUNISTS’ WILL TURN CITIES INTO SLUMS AS DEMS FAIL TO FIGHT SOCIALIST SURGE The NYPD provided Fox News Digital with the following statement on Wednesday: "It is no secret that the city is facing serious financial challenges, and the mayor has asked every agency head to find efficiencies. Commissioner Tisch has led three city agencies over the course of her career, and few public servants have a stronger record of finding efficiencies, modernizing operations, and delivering results for New Yorkers even under the most difficult budget conditions. For now, the department is able to police effectively with the budgeted headcount we have, driving crime down month after month. That headcount and our hiring plan gives us the flexibility we need to maintain that balance over the next fiscal year." The New York City Democratic Socialists of America had spoken out against the prospect of an increase earlier this month. Part of a statement posted on the left-wing group's X profile, which appeared to also have been joined by several other groups, declared, "We are calling on Mayor Mamdani to reverse this proposed expansion of the NYPD and invest the money in community safety programs instead." MAN DEAD, ANOTHER CRITICAL AFTER DOUBLE STABBING AT BROOKLYN PARK AS POLICE DETAIN PERSON OF INTEREST: NYPD The NYC-DSA reposted City Council member Tiffany Cabán's statement hailing the news about the budget on Tuesday. "I am proud too have worked closely with the Mayor and public safety advocates to ensure there was no increase to the NYPD's headcount in this budget," Cabán said. "Every dollar we spend on policing and incarceration means money we can't spend on housing, mental health care, substance use treatment, and economic stability: the proven policies that actually keep our communities healthy and safe." MAMDANI RIPPED FOR CLAIMING VICTORY OVER CAPITALISM AFTER NYC'S MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR TAXPAYER FUNDED BAILOUT "This budget is an important check on the failed policy of broken windows policing and will allow us to build a public safety infrastructure rooted in care, not punishment and incarceration. And we will keep building on it," she added. Fox News' Matthew Donnell contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45747ec2ca79de2362bb81 West Nile virus detected in southern state as health officials warn residents about mosquitoes te 2026-07-01T20:11:42.659Z West Nile virus detected in southern state as health officials warn residents about mosquitoes Health officials in Nashville are urging residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites after West Nile virus was detected in mosquitoes for the first time this year. The Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) announced the virus was found in a mosquito pool collected near Cass Street in North Nashville, marking the city's first detection of West Nile virus in 2026 and the earliest positive mosquito sample of the season. The detection comes after health officials reported elevated West Nile virus activity in mosquito pools during 2025, when one human case of the virus was confirmed. "We can all play a role in reducing the presence of mosquitoes in our community, making our outdoor areas both more pleasant and safer from mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus," Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of health at the Metro Public Health Department said in a statement to Fox 17. MEASLES-INFECTED TRAVELER MAY HAVE EXPOSED PASSENGERS AT LAX AND NEARBY HOTEL, HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN "As our team educates those in the area where West Nile virus was found, we hope the rest of our community does what they can to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes this summer." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, West Nile virus is the leading mosquito-borne disease in the United States. Most people infected with the virus do not develop symptoms, but about one in five experience fever, headaches, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash. Fewer than 1% develop a serious neurological illness that can affect the brain or spinal cord, with older adults and people with weakened immune systems facing the greatest risk. Public health officials routinely trap and test mosquitoes throughout the summer to monitor for West Nile virus activity. A positive mosquito sample does not necessarily mean people in the area will become infected, but it serves as an early warning that the virus is circulating locally. In response to the positive test, MPHD said crews are distributing educational flyers in the affected neighborhood, increasing mosquito trapping, monitoring standing water and applying larvicide where needed to help reduce mosquito populations. The department said it does not spray insecticide to kill adult mosquitoes. POTENTIALLY SEVERE MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRUS SURGES IN US ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS Residents can also request a free backyard inspection from the department's Pest Management team to identify areas where mosquitoes may be breeding. Health officials recommend eliminating standing water from bird baths, flowerpots, buckets, old tires, children's toys and other outdoor containers where mosquitoes lay eggs. Trimming overgrown vegetation around homes can also help reduce mosquito activity. To help prevent mosquito bites, the health department recommends using EPA-approved insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, wearing long sleeves and pants outdoors during peak mosquito hours around dusk and dawn, and making sure window and door screens are in good repair. Officials said reducing mosquito breeding around homes can help lower the risk of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses throughout the community. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45746ac2ca79de2362bb6e Sowing the seeds: The 1994 USMNT laid the groundwork for this 2026 World Cup opportunity te 2026-07-01T20:11:22.700Z Sowing the seeds: The 1994 USMNT laid the groundwork for this 2026 World Cup opportunity PHOENIX – Brian Dunseth grew up in the shadow of the Rose Bowl. Long before he became an MLS defender and, later, a national broadcaster, the Southern California native was just a teenager pressed up against the concrete walls of the country’s biggest soccer stage. He was 16 when the 1994 World Cup came to Pasadena. He couldn’t afford a ticket so he stood outside the Rose Bowl just to feel the noise through those thick walls. Inside were the players who would define that summer and future generations of soccer in the United States. They became the same players with whom he would one day share the pitch. “To be able to share a locker room, to share a meal, to share a hotel room with these guys later, it was a dream come true,” Dunseth said. “We were kind of stewards for the legacy of ’94. We were like the Dick Butkuses of soccer, the bricklayers laying the groundwork for what we always thought was the ineffable future.” Now, as a commentator calling games for MLS alongside other major events such as the FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, “Dunny” sees the sport from a different vantage point. “I find myself somewhere during the game just taking a deep breath and thinking, ‘Go——-, you actually are here,’” he said. Thirty‑two years removed from that fateful ’94 summer, the United States is hosting the World Cup again. The Stars and Stripes face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the knockout round of 32 at 5 p.m. MST on Wednesday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The 2026 team has already raised eyebrows domestically with its performance in the group stage, but the knockout rounds provide the U.S. with a chance to prove that the investment, development and cultural momentum sparked by the 1994 team can finally deliver a lasting national impact in which U.S. Soccer realizes its long-discussed potential.  An American soccer odyssey Before 1994, American soccer existed in fits and starts. In the inaugural World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay, the United States finished third. Since then, the team has not made it past the quarterfinals and has failed to qualify for the World Cup 10 times. Leander Schaerlaeckens, author of “The Long Game: U.S. Men’s Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts,” calls the decades following the 1930 World Cup “chaotic and dysfunctional.” “After 1930, the (American Soccer League) collapses and the sport is basically relegated to ethnic regional leagues,” he said. “There’s no national coherent structure and when TV comes along and supercharges our sporting industry, soccer’s just absent.” Jeff Crandall, U.S. Soccer’s historian, has his own special description for that era. “I call 1951 through to Caligiuri’s goal basically the wilderness years,” he said. “We didn’t qualify for nine consecutive World Cups.” The North American Soccer League briefly made soccer a fad in the 1970s, but it collapsed in 1984.  “It wasn’t great for the American player,” Schaerlaeckens said. “They weren’t developing the American player at all.” By the late ’80s, the national team was held together by indoor‑soccer paychecks and college players.  “Almost none of those players were playing professionally outdoors,” Crandall said. “Very few.” Luckily for the U.S., everything changed on a single swing of Paul Caligiuri’s left foot in Trinidad in 1989. His goal gave the U.S. a 1-0 victory against Trinidad and Tobago at the National Stadium in Port of Spain, putting the USMNT into the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. “(The year) 1989 is the most important goal in U.S. soccer history,” Crandall said. “If the U.S. didn’t qualify for 1990, FIFA was willing to pull the World Cup from us. If 1994 doesn’t happen, MLS doesn’t happen.” Even so, the 1994 team entered the tournament with little pedigree and even less belief from the outside world. “No one gave us a chance,” said Marcelo Balboa, former USMNT defender and National Soccer Hall of Famer. “Everybody was expecting us to fail. When you look at that starting 11, seven of us didn’t have club teams. Seven of us had never played pro soccer.” U.S. soccer’s all-time appearance leader, Cobi Jones, remembers the duty they faced.  “It was a burgeoning sport still within the United States,” he said. “We knew the World Cup was always an opportunity to have exponential growth.” They weren’t expected to get out of the group state, but they defied the odds. “We surprised a lot of people,” Balboa said. “We opened a lot of people’s eyes, and we laid a pretty solid foundation for the next generation.” Jones recalls how they did it. “We were competitive in all the matches,” he said. “We won games we weren’t supposed to. And we always had our best games when we were having fun.” The U.S. started the group stage with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland, but quickly drew the nation in after a monumental 2-1 win over heavy favorite Colombia. Despite falling to Romania 1-0 in the final game, the team’s performances were enough to propel them to the Round of 16. Matched up against Brazil, the eventual champions, in the knockout stage, the U.S lost in a narrow 1-0 result, but the implications of such a close game led to an awakening. The country noticed, and the star-patterned denim Adidas kits, flowing locks of all lengths and colors and a roster full of loud, unfiltered characters became an instant cultural phenomenon. For a nation still figuring out what its soccer identity was, that squad gave the sport an All-American style to rally behind.  “American media was like, ‘Oh s—, who are the guys? Let’s make some guys,” Schaerlaeckens said. “They needed names to attach this to.” Former USMNT star Earnie Stewart didn’t realize the impact of the moment at the time.  “I was young, you don’t look at it that way,” he said. “But in hindsight, yeah, we were part of some sort of history.” The birth of a domestic league When FIFA awarded the 1994 World Cup to the United States, it came with a condition to build a first‑division league. “Major League Soccer is the legacy of the 1994 World Cup,” said Dan Courtemanche, MLS’s executive vice president. “We started with zero soccer stadiums. Soon we’ll have 30 built specifically for MLS clubs.” The numbers are staggering, with “$11 billion” having been “invested in stadiums, academies and training facilities,” Courtemanche said. Furthermore, he boasts that “since 2018, (MLS) has had seven new clubs, nine new stadiums, 12 new training facilities and attendance has increased 33 percent,” while the valuations of the league’s clubs are now “three times more valuable.” On the youth development side, Courtemanche highlights the commitment leaguewide. “Ownership is really committed to building the sport sustainably in the local communities, and part of that is certainly player development ecosystem,” he said. “All 30 of our clubs have youth academies, really starting at the under-12 level. But we also have our MLS Next League (the league’s youth development system), which goes throughout the United States and Canada and has more than 43,000 players.” Dunseth has experienced that investment firsthand.  “I walked into Real Salt Lake’s new facility and thought, ‘Man, I’m so jealous,’” he said. “These kids get breakfast, lunch, snacks … their protein shakes are cultivated for their body. It’s a different world.” Schaerlaeckens sees the potential of the MLS system. “MLS democratizes the youth scene,” he said. “It circumvents the $5,000‑a‑year pay‑to‑play system. But we only have 30 academies in a country of 380 million. If we’re going to rely on MLS, we need 300.” Insert US youth soccer participation graphic Meanwhile, Crandall notes the results of that development on the national team.  “I bet 75 to 80% of the current roster came through an MLS academy at some point,” he said. The number is even higher for current national team, Courtemanche said. “Ninety‑five percent of youth national team players are coming up through the MLS system,” he said. “Twenty‑one of the 26 players on the U.S. World Cup roster came up in the MLS ecosystem.” With a new era of soccer growth, investment and development in the United States, a rising culture is also being cultivated, and Jones has noticed. “You see sold‑out stadiums now,” he said. “You see people wearing soccer jerseys like they do NBA and NFL jerseys. I see it in the streets of L.A. all the time.” He takes pride in the generational connection that has laid the foundation for many young fans today.  “You have kids wearing the (Christian) Pulisic or (Weston) McKennie jersey, and their dads or moms wearing a Jones or a Stewart jersey,” he said. “That’s important. That’s generational fans.” Stewart also recognizes the potential cultural shift.  “People that love soccer want to represent and identify with something,” he said. “With a country this big and that many people that love the game, a lot of countries would be jealous.” Insert MLS franchise value growth graphic  Dunseth, on the other hand, compares soccer fandom to alternative subcultures.  “I’ve always looked at soccer similar to skateboarding and punk music,” he said. “You can batter us as much as you want, but we still got our own lane, right? There are non‑negotiables when it comes to protecting our game.” Despite all the progress, the people closest to the sport are still keen to notice what hasn’t changed, and what still threatens to hold American soccer back. While Schaerlaeckens sees the potential, he also doesn’t sugarcoat the process thus far.  “We’ve been trying to find shortcuts for 30 years,” he said. “Project 2010, Generation Adidas, residency programs, trying to outsmart 210 other countries. It turns out the only way you can do this is properly.” The pay‑to‑play system also casts a long shadow on the growth of the game.  “I shudder to think of the talent we missed out on,” he said. “We are the only country where soccer is the sport of the well‑off.” Even in 2026, the World Cup comes with previously unseen roadblocks. “U.S. soccer has been frozen out of the World Cup,” he said. “FIFA took control of the whole thing. Tickets are so expensive, it’s much harder for new people to discover the sport.” Crandall underscored the historical consequence of these barriers.  “We’ve only ever won one knockout game in our history,” he said. “One. That’s the reality.” And while the current roster is the most talented the U.S. has ever produced, the path to sustained success is harder than meets the eye.  “We do not yet have the luxury to only worry about how the team performs on the field,” Schaerlaeckens said. “We also have to think about how it performs in the culture, whether it starts to make a mark there.  “If they reach the quarterfinal and the country doesn’t care, that’s less successful than if they reach the round of 32 or the round of 16, but the whole country gets swept up in soccer fever.” Balboa was a big part of that soccer fever sweeping over the nation in ‘94, and reminisces on that summer’s unexpected impact. “Sitting here now, 32 years later, hosting the World Cup again, that shows what we did in ’94 was a big step,” he said.  The players who cultivated that summer remember the pressure of a sport still trying to carve out its place in American culture. Now they watch a golden generation built through academies and lofty investments reap the benefits of their passion and determination. Arguably the most memorable player from the ‘94 squad, Alexi Lalas framed it in a way only he can.  “It warms the cockles of my red-headed American heart to see how far we’ve come,” Lalas said. “It’s unprecedented when you compare it to any country and culture around. We’ve still got a ways to go, but I hope that this summer is used to kind of take a step back and celebrate how far we’ve come. “Sometimes in American soccer, we kick ourselves for what we aren’t or what we haven’t done. And I think this summer can be used to kind of celebrate how far we’ve come, how good it actually is, both on and off the field. At the end, you should say that team made me proud. Proud of American soccer culture. Proud of America.” The 2026 World Cup has the chance to be a catalyst for the game in the United States, and while the steps taken so far have been relatively fruitful, Schaerlaeckens knows the one thing needed to take the sport to the next level. “Soccer just has to get in the groundwater,” he said. The post Sowing the seeds: The 1994 USMNT laid the groundwork for this 2026 World Cup opportunity appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a457213c2ca79de2362bb0c Alleged Cuban influence operative, family in federal custody after Rubio revokes legal status te 2026-07-01T20:01:23.515Z Alleged Cuban influence operative, family in federal custody after Rubio revokes legal status Three Cuban nationals, including a man the Trump administration says spent more than a decade working for a Cuban government influence organization in the United States, were apprehended by federal agents this week after Secretary of State Marco Rubio terminated their legal status. The State Department announced Wednesday that Carlos Antonio Lloga Dominguez, along with his wife and son, are in federal custody pending removal from the U.S. Lloga Dominguez spent more than a decade as a "foreign subversive" employed by the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the People (ICAP), the communist Cuban regime’s "premier influence and intelligence front group in the United States," according to the State Department. He is accused of continuing to maintain ties to the transnational communist subversion network throughout his time residing in the U.S. "This is America First leadership in our region," a senior State Department official told Fox News Digital of the apprehensions. FEDS INVESTIGATE NONPROFITS AND LEADERS ALLEGEDLY COORDINATING WITH CUBA IN INFLUENCE CAMPAIGN ICAP was sanctioned earlier this month. The group has denied any wrongdoing and says it's a civil society organization. The State Department maintains that ICAP "maintains an outsized footprint across the United States, trafficking in vile anti-American propaganda, cultivating pro-Havana regime activists and politicians, and lobbying federal, state and local politicians on behalf of the Cuban dictatorship." FIRST ON FOX: POWERFUL HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR THROWS HAMMER DOWN ON 'FOREIGN-ALIGNED INFLUENCE NETWORK' ICAP, which was founded in Fidel Castro in 1960 to spread Marxism all over the world, was accused of working with far-left groups in America to "export Cuba’s Communist revolution to the United States." The State Department describes ICAP as the "the central node in a sprawling Cuban intelligence and influence operation, claiming to span more than 2,000 organizations across more than 150 countries." The sanctions against ICAP, enacted by Rubio, froze all its U.S.-based assets and generally banned Americans from doing business with the organization. "America will never become home for foreign communists who peddle propaganda, run subversive influence operations, or support radical anti-American movements within the United States," Rubio said in a statement on social media. "Transact with ICAP and you will be sanctioned, prosecuted or deported from our country." A Fox News Digital investigation found that over the last decade, ICAP officials have closely coordinated with American nonprofits to support the Communist Party of Cuba. PROBE INTO 'SUBVERSIVE' ANTI-AI SINGHAM NETWORK IS 'ENORMOUS,' FORMER TREASURY ADVISOR SAYS These nonprofits — many of them funded by businessman and far-left activist Neville Roy Singham — include the People's Forum, Breakthrough News, Tricontinental, CodePink, the ANSWER Coalition and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Altogether, there are 145 nonprofits, labor groups, advocacy organizations and activist collectives across the U.S. that are mobilizing in support of the Cuban government, Fox News Digital reported. The organizations report about $1 billion in combined revenue. The DOJ and the Treasury Department is investigating this alleged influence campaign. CodePink, founded by Jodie Evans, Singham's wife, led a convoy to Cuba earlier this year to deliver aid to the country. The trip came after President Donald Trump imposed an oil blockade on Cuba earlier this year. The convoy has since attracted federal scrutiny, with CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin confirming she received questions from federal officials who were investigating whether she violated American sanctions on Cuba. Fox News Digital's Danielle Wallace and Asra Nomani contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456fe2c2ca79de2362baa0 Olivia Dunne sends message to fans who followed her into the bathroom, Caitlin Clark narrative & Maggie Sajak! te 2026-07-01T19:52:02.727Z Olivia Dunne sends message to fans who followed her into the bathroom, Caitlin Clark narrative & Maggie Sajak! First day of a new month and it's a Hump Day? That can only mean good things, right? Mercifully, June is OVER. That felt like the longest month ever, didn't it? Gee, I can't imagine why! July is here, though. We made it. And we've got a massive few days in front of us. Long weekend. Our 250th birthday. Summer in full swing. We actually get football back this month. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Who has it better than us? Nobody. And hey! We even get a USA soccer game tonight, for those interested. Let's go knock out some Southern Europeans, fellas! Not literally, of course. Have some class. Welcome to a Hump Day Nightcaps — the one where Olivia Dunne sends a message to all you fans who won't leave her alone. Lordy, fellas, get a grip. Have an ounce of self-respect. Please. What else? I've got the Caitlin Clark narrative taking a predictable turn (racism!), the viral German soccer fan fleeing social media (also predictable), and Wilson Contreras finally getting to hit someone last night after begging for it all season. Trust me. As a miserable Red Sox fan who has suffered through every game this season, this was bound to happen. OK, grab you some fruity red, white & blue mix drink to celebrate the start of our birthday month, and settle in for a Hump Day 'Cap! Before we dive in, I'd like to ask the readers a question ... How does your town look this week ahead of America 250? I was driving around yesterday and noticed a couple different things in my town that I hadn't seen before. They hung a big banner on Main Street celebrating our 250th year. Someone pained a giant "America 250" mural along one of the hangers at the airport. I'm fairly certain 80% of the houses around town are flying Old Glory at the moment. Heck, they even had George Jones singing the national anthem on the FM dial yesterday! True story. They just started the top of the hour with an old George Jones rendition of our national anthem. Amazing. I'm curious if your town(s) look like this? I hope so, but you never know nowadays. I'd imagine a lot of it depends on where you live. Extra credit for anyone that includes pictures! CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE OK, let's get this class started with Olivia Dunne hip-checking the weirdo fans who wouldn't leave her alone at the airport this week: "Should women have to change their behavior because men can’t handle the word ‘no?’" Dunne asked while detailing her latest airport encounter, which included fans waiting outside her gate with giant signs and some, allegedly, trying to follow her into the bathroom. "Last night, I didn't feel safe at the airport. If I wasn't coming back from family vacation, and my sister didn't stop these people from coming into the women's bathroom, then I don't know what I would've done." Lordy. Look at that video. Imagine walking off a plane, which is already a miserable experience, into THAT pack of wolves. I hate flying, and I think I'd just turn right back around and go back onto the plane. Do you think these people know how pathetic this looks? They have, right? Clearly, they're just trying to make a quick buck by selling Olivia's John Hancock, but it just can't be worth it, right? A quick check of eBay (which still exists!) tells me signed Livvy Dunne posters go anywhere from $100-$500. To each their own, I reckon. I instead choose to spend my $450 on a used sectional couch from Facebook Marketplace, which we bought yesterday. Different worlds. PS: purchasing a WHITE couch with two toddlers in the house was just an awful choice. It hasn't been in the house for 24 hours yet and it's already a mess. Goodness, we're stupid. OK, speaking of dumb things, let's check in on Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White's press conference from earlier today: "Before we start with questions I just want to address what is going on with AT," she said, referring to Alyssa Thomas. "It's absolutely unacceptable. As a league, as a whole, there's been so much more toxicity, racism, homophobia. Straight out nonsense. Hate-nonsense. It's absolutely unacceptable. Most of this coming from the online community." Lordy. It's happening, folks! The predictable narrative shift is underway in the WNBA. They gave Caitlin Clark six days. Now, it's time to flip the script, and it's right out of the playbook. Step 1: Alyssa Thomas speaks for the first time since using Caitlin Clark to mop the floor, and pulls out the victim card. "And death threats out on us, so it's really unacceptable," she said yesterday. "It is something that needs to change in this league, and I'm just really sick and tired of it." Check! Step 2: WNBA commish Cathy Engelbert condemns said behavior with a boilerplate statement. "The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate," she said. Check!! Step 3: Opposing team's coach lectures America on racism and homophobia in three-minute statement to begin practice. Check!!! A tale as old as time. By this time tomorrow, Clark will probably be suspended and Thomas will be elevated to league president. And I ain't kidding. OK, let's rapid-fire this Hump day class into a big night. First up? Speaking of things that everyone should have seen coming from a mile away, the viral German soccer fan, Freddy, that everyone was obsessed with last month? He deleted his Twitter account yesterday because people got pissed when they realized this actually wasn't his first time in America: "Don’t worry guys, we’re still gonna enjoy our time here and obviously celebrate Fourth of July. Our route now is Boston to Dallas," he said over on the much less-rigid Instagram. "We can’t wait to get back into the South. Just not gonna update on Twitter anymore because it’s just too toxic over there." I have no idea who this Freddy guy is, but I've been a little suspicious since Day 1. The guy NEVER shows his face in any of the pictures. Nobody knows his real name. He could very well be harmless. Or, you know, he could be a CIA plant. Regardless, this was bound to happen. As former Red Sox manager Alex Cora always said before getting canned earlier this year, you take a job in Boston knowing you'll eventually get fired. Speaking of my Red Sox ... I love Wilson Contreras. I'm so angry he's on this crappy Red Sox team, because man, he'd be fun to watch at Fenway in October. That being said ... you can't hit a nuke like that and launch the bat a MILE into the air and NOT expect to get chirped at the next game. Like the Caitlin Clark and Freddy stories, this was always how this one was going to end. And that, apparently, wraps up our Hump Day class on predictability. You're welcome. On the way out, here's a predictable post about Maggie Sajak enjoying life with her new Banana Ball boyfriend. See you tomorrow. OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. (roughly, we’re not robots). How does your town look ahead of America's birthday? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456fcec2ca79de2362ba81 Without sustained funding or coordination, AZ’s push to boost postsecondary enrollment falls short te 2026-07-01T19:51:42.242Z Without sustained funding or coordination, AZ’s push to boost postsecondary enrollment falls short Students celebrate their graduation from Boulder Creek High School on May 14, 2026, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. In 2022, 63% of Boulder Creek graduates continued their education after high school, above the statewide rate but below Arizona's 70% goal. (Photo by Molly Bohannon/AZCIR) In 2016, Arizona leaders set an ambitious goal: By 2030, 70% of high school graduates would continue their education after graduation, whether at a university, community college or trade school. Despite a decade of initiatives and millions of dollars invested to boost postsecondary enrollment since then, the state’s rate has actually gone down. Only half of Arizona high school graduates continue their education within a year of graduation, a three-point drop since the effort began, according to data from Education Forward Arizona and the Center for the Future of Arizona. The decline is widespread, affecting nearly every demographic group and most counties. It puts Arizona well below the national average, with the most recent federal data showing 63% of students enrolled in college within months of finishing high school. With almost three-quarters of Arizona jobs expected to require some form of postsecondary education or training by 2031, researchers say lower enrollment rates could leave students with fewer economic opportunities—and make it harder for Arizona to build the skilled workforce state leaders have spent years trying to create. For Jack Parrish, a recent graduate of Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, the decision to continue his education came down to a question he wasn’t sure how to answer: Was college worth the cost? “I hear a lot of personal accounts of people who didn’t exactly regret college, but regretted taking out so many loans to go,” he said. Though he once thought he would study engineering at Arizona State University, Parrish decided to spend at least one more year working in food service while considering his next move. Education leaders say that kind of hesitation is becoming increasingly common as rapid changes in the job market, including the growing use of artificial intelligence, leave many unsure of whether a degree is worth the investment. Arizona students also face structural challenges beyond their control, including longstanding inequities in the state’s public education system. The state has put at least $166 million toward boosting postsecondary enrollment since 2017, an AZCIR analysis of Arizona’s education spending shows, funding a range of programs backed by the Governor’s Office and largely administered by the Arizona Board of Regents and Department of Education. But those investments to expand dual enrollment, increase access to financial aid and launch the Arizona Promise Program—a scholarship that covers tuition and fees at the state’s public universities for qualifying low-income students—have done little to improve the state’s postsecondary enrollment trajectory. Part of the problem, researchers and education leaders told AZCIR, is that Arizona has had neither sustained funding nor the centralized leadership needed to drive meaningful change. No single entity is responsible for coordinating the work and measuring whether it’s effective. “There is growing concern that Arizona’s systemic design is not built to hold somebody accountable for this, or to even provide a clear signal of who should be in charge of solving this problem,” said Rich Nickel, president and CEO of Education Forward Arizona. Compounding the challenges of the state’s decentralized approach, students and their families are struggling to justify the cost and time of a college degree or postsecondary credential, according to high school graduates, administrators and counselors who spoke with AZCIR. A Gallup survey from September found that just 35% of people thought a college education was “very important,” down from 75% in 2010. That skepticism is increasingly translating into students’ decisions after graduation. A recent study from education research firm EAB found the share of students who chose not to attend college and cited cost of living as a primary concern jumped from 51% in 2025 to 67% this year. Researchers also found fewer students taking gap years and more prioritizing immediate employment, underscoring what they described as a growing emphasis on short-term economic needs. “It’s not always clear what a college or university degree gets you,” said Patrick Denice, a researcher studying postsecondary enrollment at the University of Western Ontario. As relatively well-paying jobs remain available to high school graduates, he said, more young people are questioning whether additional education is worth delaying their entry into the workforce. Jacob Dominguez, a recent graduate of Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, was one of them. As a freshman, he imagined attending college and playing football. But injuries, academic struggles and the desire to make money pushed him in another direction. He considered a welding credential, but found that even trade school tuition could run into the tens of thousands of dollars. He opted to take a job at Discount Tire and was promoted to assistant manager shortly after graduation. “If I can work my way up pretty fast in the past five, six-ish months, just imagine what I can do in, like, five years,” Dominguez said. Still, the economic case for higher education remains strong, with college graduates about half as likely to be unemployed as peers with only a high school diploma. Typical earnings are 86% higher for bachelor’s degree holders, and median lifetime earnings are $1.2 million greater. Research from the Helios Education Foundation estimated that increasing Arizona’s college-enrollment rate by 20% would also generate $1.82 billion in economic gains per high school cohort. “Postsecondary enrollment is the key that unlocks all the locks,” Nickel said. “It is, again and again, the only proven method to transform somebody’s socioeconomic future.” Education leaders and researchers agree there isn’t one “silver bullet” that can get more students to pursue education after high school. But half a dozen of them told AZCIR there is one important element Arizona lacks: coordination. When the state adopted its 70% enrollment target in 2016, no lead agency was designated to oversee the initiative. It was envisioned as a collaboration between K-12 schools, public and private universities, community colleges and career and technical education institutions. Today, the Governor’s Office, Board of Regents and Department of Education all support programs aimed at increasing postsecondary enrollment. In written statements to AZCIR, representatives highlighted work ranging from college and career planning to financial aid outreach and data collection. None, however, identified who is responsible for ensuring progress toward the state’s goal. “A lot of places are putting a really good effort in, but it’s disjointed,” said Lydia Ross, a professor at ASU’s teaching college whose research focuses on postsecondary pathways. “We have all of these different arms trying to do things,” she said, but “they’re not working in tandem.” In a statement, a spokesperson for Gov. Katie Hobbs said there is “no single ‘right’ model” for states to coordinate higher education efforts, and that the state’s investments in postsecondary enrollment are having a “real impact for real Arizonans.” One of the state’s most significant interventions has been the Arizona Promise Program, launched in 2022. It covers tuition and fees after other aid has been applied at ASU, Northern Arizona University or the University of Arizona for students who meet academic requirements and display exceptional financial need. Promise programs exist nationwide and are generally considered an effective way to improve enrollment, despite varying in design and scope. Programs in Pennsylvania, New York, Arkansas and Connecticut recorded enrollment jumps of 5% to 14% in the years following implementation. Such gains have yet to materialize in Arizona, though the program has served a growing number of students each year it’s been offered. Undergraduate resident enrollment across the state’s three public universities increased by just 2.4% between the year before the scholarship’s implementation and fall 2025. ABOR executive director Chad Sampson said the scholarship “is a strong access tool” that has shown encouraging results, but “right now, it’s largely an unfunded commitment.” Universities have shouldered most of the Promise Program’s cost, contributing about $734 million between academic years 2022 and 2025 compared with $87.5 million from the state, according to Board of Regents data. Though lawmakers upped program funding to $54 million last year, this year’s budget slashed that by roughly a third. A new community college promise program received just $3 million in startup funding last year and no additional money in the most recent budget. “Culture change takes time, it takes sustained effort, and it takes additional revenue,” Sampson said. He said the Board of Regents holds the state’s public universities accountable for expanding access but has no authority over other parts of Arizona’s education system. “We’ve made strides where we can,” Sampson said. “In other areas that involve creating a stronger college-going culture in Arizona, we do everything we can to reach out to our partners.” On the dual enrollment front, the state has put roughly $5.9 million toward helping students earn college credit while still in high school. Research from Helios found students who participate are more than twice as likely to attend college and ultimately more likely to earn degrees. Nationally, more than 80% of high schools have provided dual enrollment opportunities, yet only half of Arizona high schools offered them as of last year. Other state investments have focused on increasing completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Students who complete the form are 84% more likely to immediately enroll in college, and ABOR has tied scholarships and initiatives to FAFSA completion. Though 44% of Arizona seniors completed the form this year, up about 16% from last year, the state’s completion rate still ranks second to last nationally. Many of these efforts are worthwhile on their own, experts told AZCIR. But without a clear strategy to connect them, Arizona is unlikely to see the broad enrollment gains officials envisioned. Some district leaders are building their own coordinated systems to counteract the state’s fragmented approach—and are seeing results. Santa Cruz County has seen the strongest postsecondary enrollment increases of any Arizona county. In 2016, just under 49% of graduates continued their education. By 2024, the most recent year with county data available, that figure had climbed to almost 60%. Rio Rico High School, one of the county’s largest schools, saw its postsecondary enrollment rate rise from 44% in 2016 to 52% in 2022. Kayli Muñoz, one of four counselors there, attributed some of that growth to a sustained effort to reach students and families early with information about financial aid and college planning. Muñoz said she’s noticed students “are very concerned about the money aspect,” including taking out loans. To combat those fears, counselors regularly host information nights and begin discussing scholarships, grants and other aid opportunities long before students start applying to colleges. “A lot of our students and a lot of our families just don’t know what’s out there,” she said. “It is a messaging issue.” Rio Rico’s principal, Dagoberto Lopez, said staffing has also played a crucial role. Through grant funding, the school maintains four counselors for its 1,352 students, a ratio of nearly 340 students per counselor. Though still above the nationally recommended 250:1 ratio, it is much better than Arizona’s statewide ratio of 570:1—the worst in the country. “With that number of counselors, we can definitely be intentional and strategic about our work,” Lopez said. “Students feel that they can really see their counselor as that resource where they can come and be supported.” Nearby, the Nogales Unified School District has also seen substantial gains. Between 2016 and 2022, the district’s postsecondary enrollment rate rose from 58% to more than 69%. Superintendent Angelina Canto said the district’s approach has evolved over time. Early strategies focused on helping students—many of them first-generation college-goers—understand how to apply to college. More recently, the focus has shifted toward helping families navigate the financial barriers. The district has student ambassadors who serve as peer counselors and answer questions about the application and financial aid processes. It also offers monthly FAFSA information nights, partners with foundations and agencies to connect students with scholarships and works to educate the whole community about the importance of education, not just the students. Canto hopes state leaders take note of what districts like Nogales have been able to accomplish through sustained outreach and support, and consider additional funding to help other districts enact change. “I think if we value that role of K-12 more, the more support to get kids successfully educated and into the workforce will only benefit our state,” she said. This article first appeared on Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: "https://azcir.org/news/2026/07/01/az-postsecondary-enrollment-rate-declines/", urlref: window.location.href }); } } Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456f7cc2ca79de2362ba5f Downtown Tucson museums team up for summer night out te 2026-07-01T19:50:20.839Z Downtown Tucson museums team up for summer night out Four of downtown Tucson's museums are teaming up the last Friday of each summer month, with three extending their hours for a special evening of art, history and culture. The Downtown Experience brings together four local museums for special summer programming, including after-hours activities, exhibits and cultural experiences. Participating museums include Children's Museum Tucson, Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum, Tucson Museum of Art and the Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center. Three of the four museums will extend their hours for each event, while the Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center will welcome visitors during its regular Wednesday through Sunday hours of 1 to 5 p.m. The series aims to bring the community together to celebrate the area's largest museums and enjoy a night out on the town. Downtown Tucson Partnership President and CEO Crystal Moore said the vision for the experience is "embracing the community with a collaboration in the arts and history and engaging people downtown in a way (they) wouldn't normally do." Moore said the hope is that people will take the opportunity to visit each museum and finish off their night with dinner at one of downtown's many restaurants. The experience is a partnership between the Downtown Tucson Partnership and museum owners, who had already been interested in hosting a summer event series. "The partnership was very organic and quickly gained momentum," Moore said. During the Presidio San Agustin Museum's Fire and Ice Night on June 26, attendees enjoyed blacksmithing demonstrations with Xerocraft. Courtesy of Presidio San Agustin Museum. The series kicked off June 26, with Moore saying the first showcase set the tone for the rest of the summer events. Tucson Museum of Art rolled out Momentos, a celebration of the intersection of art and community, and visitors to Children's Museum Tucson were treated to a family-friendly Bubble Bash. Over at the Presidio San Agustin Museum, attendees were treated to a Fire and Ice Night, which included docent-led lantern tours, blacksmithing demonstrations with Xerocraft and special themed events from the adjacent Brandylion Tea and Spirits. Moore said the Downtown Tucson Partnership has already begun working on a Downtown Experience for the fall, which would include even more area museums. "I think that it could become seasonal," she said. Moore hopes the experience will bring together community members to enjoy the museums while building momentum for an even larger partnership in the future. One of Moore's favorite downtown museums is Children's Museum Tucson, where she loves to bring her own grandchild. She said she believes it's entertaining for visitors of all ages, not just children. "I love seeing adults become children again and children getting excited," she said. Moore and her colleagues at the Downtown Tucson Partnership are excited to see the outcome of the first Downtown Experience, as well as those still to come. She hopes the community will take advantage of the cooler evening weather and explore creativity and history while enjoying a night out. Remaining Downtown Experience dates include July 31 and Aug. 28, with Momentos and Fire and Ice Night returning for both dates. Children's Museum Tucson's July 31 theme is "splash," with water play in the courtyard, reusable water balloons, sprinkler games and an ice pop station. Aug. 28's "slime smash" invites attendees to play with all things smashable and slimy, from oobleck to dough to good old-fashioned slime. Zaida Josephene-White  is a Sahuaro High School student and Tucson Spotlight intern. Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation. Donate to Tucson Spotlight Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456db1c2ca79de2362ba20 Airport business geniuses are doing whatever they can to ensure World Cup fans get their ranch fix te 2026-07-01T19:42:41.512Z Airport business geniuses are doing whatever they can to ensure World Cup fans get their ranch fix One of the biggest off-pitch stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was the watershed moment for the rest of the world that was the discovery of ranch dressing. You know, we always joke about the "European mind" not being able to comprehend things like the Pop-Tarts Bowl, but it turns out even a bottle of Hidden Valley can be tough to wrap those Euro noggins around. However, as more fans leave North America as the World Cup knockout stage progresses, business-minded folk are doing their best to ensure those who developed a ranch dependency while in the US can courier a bottle home without running afoul of the TSA. Reddit user u/supermav27 shared a photo to the r/mildlyinteresting subreddit (a personal favorite, because it doesn't over-promise) showing a tower of ranch dressing alongside World Cup merch at John F. Kennedy International Airport. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE Now, talk about vindication, because a certain very handsome writer (*raises hand*) suggested this very tactic when people started having trouble muling ranch — or as they should call it now, "white gold" — in their carry-ons. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! I said your Hudson News-es of the world should order ranch and start selling it because you can take anything you buy there onto the plane. Plus, Hudson News is the ultimate impulse buy store. It's hard to walk in there without coming out with a pack of gum, a Gatorade, and a mass-market paperback. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS I just wish my obvious business sense could be harnessed to create the next Microsoft or SpaceX instead of just coming up with semi-obvious ways to move a few bottles of ranch dressing. Well, everyone has to start somewhere, I suppose. But in the end, it was always about one thing and one thing only: making sure fans who fell in love with ranch dressing could take a bottle home to slather over whatever they normally eat. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456d9ec2ca79de2362ba17 New Fox Nation show blows open the wild secrets inside the ‘impossible’ White House UFC fight te 2026-07-01T19:42:22.050Z New Fox Nation show blows open the wild secrets inside the ‘impossible’ White House UFC fight A new behind-the-scenes documentary launching this Thursday will reveal how UFC CEO Dana White and President Donald Trump pulled off the "impossible" task of hosting a fight on the White House lawn. The two-part documentary, "UFC Fight House: The Making of the Biggest Fight in History," lands exclusively on Fox Nation and takes viewers through what it took to put on the UFC Freedom 250 event. It chronicles the unprecedented effort to stage an event on the South Lawn and features both White and Trump describing the all-out push to bring it to life. TRUMP SHOWS RENDERINGS FOR UFC WHITE HOUSE EVENT: 'GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH' "More than a year ago, we set out to do the impossible—build the Octagon on the White House South Lawn—for the biggest and most historic event in sports history," White said. "From constructing an arena from scratch, to navigating weather challenges, and a team working around the clock—it was an incredibly surreal experience. I can’t wait for fans to see the behind-the-scenes story of this event," he added. White noted that the documentary gives Americans a look at the "craziness" behind an event that drew an estimated 34 million global viewers. TRUMP MARKS 80TH BIRTHDAY WITH PATRIOTIC UFC FREEDOM 250 SPECTACLE ON WHITE HOUSE SOUTH LAWN "It’s a look at the craziness that went on behind the scenes making this once-in-a-lifetime event happen and a true tribute to America’s 250th celebration. If you wrote a script of what happened, you wouldn’t believe what REALLY happened was possible!" he added. Produced by the Emmy Award-winning UFC Originals team, "UFC Fight House" tracks White from the earliest planning stages all the way to the big event. It also gives exclusive access to the Oval Office meeting where Trump and White spoke about the event. Viewers will experience the intense pressure behind coordinating military flyovers, security planning and rapidly changing weather, all before the president makes his entrance. FBI DISRUPTS ALLEGED EXPLOSIVE-DRONE PLOT TARGETING WHITE HOUSE UFC EVENT, OFFICIALS SAY Other featured voices include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ivanka Trump, UFC Chief Content Officer Craig Borsari, UFC commentator Jon Anik and more. Fox Nation President Lauren Petterson described the "historic event" and partnership with UFC. "We’re excited to partner with UFC to bring our subscribers an exclusive look behind one of the most ambitious live sporting events ever produced. UFC Fight House showcases the incredible teamwork, innovation and perseverance that transformed an extraordinary idea into a historic event." Following the event last month, the FBI and Justice Department announced there had been a planned terror attack on the event, and that multiple suspects had been arrested in connection. CLICK HERE TO JOIN FOX NATION The FBI and its law enforcement partners disrupted the plot, which was meant to target the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14. Major figures, including Vice President JD Vance, were in attendance. According to authorities, the plot called for explosive drones to hit buildings near the event, force an evacuation, and steer crowds toward a team of snipers.  "UFC Fight House: The Making of the Biggest Fight in History" drops exclusively on Fox Nation July 2. Fox Nation programs are viewable on demand and from your mobile device app but only for FOX Nation subscribers. Go to Fox Nation to start a free trial and watch the extensive library from your favorite FOX Nation personalities. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456d8ac2ca79de2362ba0e Peter Thiel stuns liberal Aspen crowd, warns democratic socialists will take over their party te 2026-07-01T19:42:02.621Z Peter Thiel stuns liberal Aspen crowd, warns democratic socialists will take over their party ASPEN, COLORADO — Billionaire Peter Thiel stunned a largely liberal audience Tuesday at the Aspen Institute's Ideas Festival with a warning that democratic socialists are taking over the Democratic Party. During a panel discussion about the direction of humanity, Thiel lamented the cultural, technological and economic "stagnation" that has taken place in recent years, something he considered to be "very destabilizing" in the long term. He argued that the "haywire" effects of that stagnation trickled into politics. BLACKROCK CEO LARRY FINK 'WORRIED' ABOUT NYC UNDER MAMDANI, FLOATS INVESTING ELSEWHERE UNDER WEAKER CONDITIONS "My generation was the first one where things felt really stuck," Thiel said. "I think millennials are doing less well than their boomer parents. It's even more deeply felt in Gen Z."  "And then, if we think about this in political terms, it's what's pushing us to try to find solutions outside this sort of very narrow, very narrow box," he continued. "And then, there was the Republican version that manifested with Trump and a repudiation of Bush-neocon consensus." "And I think the Democratic version, to those of you who are, you know, the liberal Democrats in the audience, that I ask you to take more seriously, is I think there's going to be a democratic socialist takeover in the Democratic Party," Thiel said. "And it's not just a irrational, angry outburst. It is this really, really deep frustration at this stagnation." DAVID MARCUS: THE AGE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BLOCKING FRINGE OUTSIDERS IS OFFICIALLY OVER The billionaire's comments drew audible gasps among the progressive attendees. "And the Republican Party doesn't matter that much because it's the less important one. When the Democratic Party goes, this country is over," Thiel added. The comments come just weeks after three democratic socialist House candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swept their races in the New York primaries. And hours after Thiel's comments, another Democratic socialist named Melat Kiros won the Democratic primary in Colorado's first congressional district, unseating 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette. Thiel, who first made waves on the political scene as a primetime speaker at the 2016 RNC convention, has become a prominent donor to Republicans in recent election cycles. He notably was a major backer of Vice President JD Vance during his 2022 Senate run. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST MEDIA AND CULTURE NEWS The PayPal founder also spoke passionately about the importance for the U.S. to lean into AI and repeatedly attacked those who he sees are obstacles to societal and economic progress. "If we just have this economic stagnation, that's the road towards total catastrophe," Thiel said. "I'm extremely alarmed about a tendency to slow it down or stop [AI] because I think the alternative is not the world ending with a whimper. It is zero-sum, Malthusian, deranged politics. People get angrier and angrier. It's not going to work." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456d76c2ca79de2362b9fc ‘We’re Americans, too’: Bosnians in Phoenix reflect on their difficult past as World Cup clash looms te 2026-07-01T19:41:42.627Z ‘We’re Americans, too’: Bosnians in Phoenix reflect on their difficult past as World Cup clash looms PHOENIX – When Ismet Murtic realized the Bosnian national team had qualified for the World Cup and would play Switzerland in Los Angeles, he already knew he wanted to go.  There was one major problem. It wasn’t ticket prices, transportation or even accommodation. It was the fact that he needed surgery after recently testing positive for lung cancer. Given the approaching date of the game, he had to make a choice: get the surgery now or miss the match. The decision was a no-brainer. “No matter what happens I want to see the game,” Murtic said, recalling what he told his doctor. “He told me, ‘You still have time to recover and go to the game,’ and I said ‘OK then, schedule that surgery.’” Bosnia and Herzegovina faces the U.S. Men’s National Team in the round of 32 of the World Cup at 5 p.m. MST on Wednesday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. For many Bosnian-Americans, it’s a match over 30 years in the making. Decades after arriving in the United States in the aftermath of a brutal regional war, the World Cup offers a unique chance for two deeply connected nations to compete on the world’s biggest stage. A Bosnia national team scarf is on display at the Old Town Sarajevo restaurant in Phoenix. (Photo by Richie Meno/Cronkite News) Memories of war Wars in Slovenia and Croatia broke out during the early 1990s as Yugoslavia began to break apart. By 1992, it trickled down into Bosnia, whose population was split between three main ethnic groups: Bosnian Serbs, Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) and Bosnian Croats. Over three years of war ensued, causing over 100,000 casualties, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “What went down stemmed from a collapse in the political institutions of part of the Yugoslav state, which Bosnia was a part of,” said Arizona State University Barrett Honors Faculty Fellow Robert Niebuhr, whose scholarship has focused on the political and military history of the former Yugoslavia. “People had a lot of things to fear in the 1980s. A lot of nationalist rhetoric began to re-emerge. There were what we would call hate crimes. There were a lot of memories of atrocities from World War II, finger pointing and all sorts of things were emerging that made it uncomfortable for folks.” One of the darkest chapters of the war happened in the town of Srebrenica in July 1995, an enclave in eastern Bosnia where many Bosniaks fled for safety. Despite the area being declared a United Nations safe zone, Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladić led his army past UN peacekeepers and into the town of the stranded Bosnian Muslims. “When the Serbian forces decided to take (Srebrenica), they surrounded and the UN didn’t have the means to do anything about it,” Niebuhr said. “They were intimidated by the Serbian forces, and the Dutch peacekeepers were the ones (who) famously stood down.” The UN’s efforts weren’t enough as women and girls were separated from their families while Muslim men and boys were taken by Serb forces. Eight thousand of them were executed in what is now considered the worst atrocity in Europe since the Second World War. Fighting ended in late 1995 with the signing of the US-backed Dayton Accords, but scars still remained. And accountability wasn’t immediate. Mladić evaded authorities for 16 years until being arrested in Serbia in 2011. Six years later, he was sentenced to life in prison by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia after being found guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war.  The former president of the Republika Srpska between 1992 and 1995, Radovan Karadžić, also evaded arrest until 2008. He was later found guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war. “There are definitely still folks who have committed war crimes who are still loose,” Niebuhr said. “A lot of them found refuge in either neighboring Croatia or neighboring Serbia, or Montenegro.” Old Town Sarajevo waitress Edita Cermelj cleans a table at the restaurant. (Photo by Richie Meno/Cronkite News). A new home and dual allegiance The United States took over 100,000 Yugoslav refugees in the aftermath of the conflict. Almost 7,000 Bosnian refugees settled in Phoenix between 1993 and 2004, according to the Arizona Department of Economic Security. Now 30 years later, the memory of war still lives on, but soccer is affording an opportunity to bring people together. This especially rings true for the younger generation who were born during or after the war, like Edita Cermelj, who settled in Phoenix after leaving her home town of Banja Luka at age 5. “Our generation doesn’t want a repeat of history, we don’t want war to continue,” said Cermelj, who is now a waitress at the Old Town Sarajevo restaurant in Phoenix. “Our country was very united at one point in time.” Bosnia and Herzegovina’s team competing in this World Cup is made of 26 players; a mix of Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs. “It goes to show you that sometimes things in history can be a lesson,” Cermelj said. “We learned through the immigration process through many of us coming here at 3 to 6 years old. In that toddler prime time when you’re supposed to be starting kindergarten and start your roots, we weren’t starting our roots. We were cutting every single root we knew and to start new roots.” The team qualified for its second World Cup after shocking Italy in the UEFA playoffs in March. For Bosnians in the Valley, it was a core memory and a reminder of what sport offers to a community. “It’s very big for us, it’s one of the main vocal ways to get out of that poverty and farming lifestyle,” said Manojlo Ilić, a 32-year-old Bosnian who settled in Phoenix in 1999. “We’re very passionate about teams we support, local small teams back home. People are very passionate, they get tattoos on them.” This summer, the Dragons finished third in Group B which sealed one of the best-third place finishes in the tournament, advancing to the knockout stage for the first time. Their opponent? The United States – a country which has given so much to a community following a bloody conflict.  Murtic, now 60, grew up in northwestern Bosnia and lived his life like any other young adult in the region. He worked in a bar, completed his mandatory army service and never thought he’d live anywhere else but his homeland. But when he decided to visit his brother in Germany, his life changed forever. War broke out in the Balkans, meaning he couldn’t return to his country. So in 1996, one year after fighting ended, he moved to Phoenix as one of the nearly 7,000 Bosnian refugees arriving in the Valley. He only spoke two words of English: “hello” and “bye.” He had difficulties integrating with American society, which is why 30 years later, Wednesday’s game feels like something out of a movie. “I was never thinking that this was coming,” he said of the idea of a USA vs. Bosnia game. “It’s going to be a win-win, I’m just excited for the game.” Murtic planned on making the six-hour car journey to Southern California for Bosnia’s second match at SoFi Stadium, but something happened in early 2026 that changed everything. While at a doctor’s appointment, the medics revealed that his son needed a kidney transplant. Murtic described it as “the hardest day” of his life. Even for a man who lost family members and lost friends in war, this was one of the biggest shocks he faced. But that moment led to something even more shocking. Murtic tested positive for lung cancer soon after, which required immediate surgery. This development jeopardized the World Cup trip, but Murtic was determined to make it to Los Angeles, which meant having to do the surgery weeks before the match. The plan worked out. Murtic and his two sons drove through the Southern California traffic and arrived in LA. His youngest son, who needed the kidney transplant, brought a dialysis machine and used it while staying in their hotel room. All the uncertainty lifted when they arrived at SoFi Stadium in a sea of blue shirts and Bosnian flags, while music by the late Halid Bešlić blasted through the arena. Bosnia fans gather outside SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. before the Dragons’ group stage match against Switzerland on June 18, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Ismet Murtic). “Around 8 a.m. we were ready to leave the hotel,” Murtic said. “We were ready to go out and we heard a lot of noise. We got to the street and there was a line of Bosnian people marching through the neighborhood. It was at least 10,000 people, probably. And we just joined that group. “To be in that, you cannot explain to someone that feeling. You have to be there to feel that.” Murtic planned on going to Wednesday’s game in Santa Clara, but had to pull out at the last minute. He will be watching the game on the TV like many Bosnians in Phoenix, across the United States and even in Bosnia, despite the 2 a.m. local time kickoff. By the end of the night, one nation will advance to the round of 16 while the other’s World Cup dream will be crushed. For Bosnians in Phoenix, however, they’ve already realized their American dream. No matter the outcome, they will always be grateful for the country they now call one of theirs. “Bosnia is my motherland, but I left 30 years ago. I’m staying here in this country and I’m going to die in this country,” Murtic said. “My kids, we will all die in this country. This is our country and we are Americans too.” The post ‘We’re Americans, too’: Bosnians in Phoenix reflect on their difficult past as World Cup clash looms appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456d38c2ca79de2362b9da Arizona’s AI education bill deserves a second chance te 2026-07-01T19:40:40.683Z Arizona’s AI education bill deserves a second chance Conner Huey This year, Arizona lawmakers correctly took an important first step toward preparing students for a future with artificial intelligence. They shouldn’t let that effort end with a veto. House Bill 4005, which passed the Arizona Legislature this session, would have introduced instruction on the ethical, moral and educational uses of AI for Arizona’s students in grades three, six, eight, ten and twelve. Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed the bill on June 19, arguing that charter schools should be held to the same standards as district schools and that curriculum should be developed by education experts rather than politicians. Those are reasonable concerns. That is why lawmakers should return next session with a stronger version of HB4005 — one that addresses the governor’s objections while preserving the bill’s central mission of preparing Arizona students to use AI responsibly. AI is already transforming how people learn, work and communicate. AI-powered tools are becoming commonplace in classrooms and workplaces, and today’s students will graduate into an economy where understanding these technologies will be as important as knowing how to use the internet today. Whether we embrace it or not, AI will become a permanent part of our lives. That is why Arizona should teach students not only how to use AI, but also how to use it responsibly. Responsible AI education does not just mean teaching students how to write effective prompts, but rather how to identify fabricated content, recognize bias in AI systems, evaluate AI-generated information critically, and appreciate the ethical consequences of relying on these tools. During my time as a Fulbright scholar studying educational policy, researchers and international bodies have made one lesson increasingly clear: AI literacy must include these ethical and civic dimensions. Arizona has an opportunity to become a national leader in preparing students for this new reality. There is also a compelling economic reason to act. AI is reshaping industries across Arizona. Employers increasingly expect workers to understand AI and use it productively. Students who graduate with AI literacy will be better prepared to compete in a rapidly changing economy, while those who lack these skills risk falling behind before their careers even begin. Fortunately, the governor’s objections are not difficult to address. First, a revised version of HB4005 should once again include charter schools. Hobbs correctly noted that charter schools receiving public funding should meet Arizona’s academic standards. Excluding them from the AI instruction requirement created an unnecessary inconsistency. The original version of the bill included charter schools before later amendments removed them. Restoring that language would ensure that all publicly funded students receive the same preparation for an AI-driven future. Second, lawmakers should broaden who develops the curriculum. In her veto, Hobbs argued that the curriculum should be written by experts rather than politicians. To be fair to the Legislature, that characterization overlooks how the bill was already structured. HB4005 established criteria for a university school, not politicians, to develop the curriculum. Those criteria appear to point to Arizona State University’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. Still, this is an opportunity to improve the legislation further. Rather than effectively designating a single school, lawmakers should authorize a broader collaboration among Arizona’s universities and academic experts. For instance, Arizona State University’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society, together with faculty in computer science, education, ethics, and related disciplines across the state, could develop a curriculum that reflects both the technical realities of AI and the ethical questions it raises. Such an approach would strengthen the bill while addressing the governor’s desire for expert-led curriculum development. Arizona’s students will graduate into a world where AI is increasingly woven into professional and civic life. The longer we wait to teach them how to use it responsibly, the greater the disservice we do to the next generation. Lawmakers took an important first step this year. Next session, they should finish the job. Conner Huey was a Fulbright scholar at the University of Groningen where he focused on education policy. The post Arizona’s AI education bill deserves a second chance first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456b32c2ca79de2362b99d One crew member missing after US Navy helicopter makes emergency landing in Arabian Sea te 2026-07-01T19:32:02.651Z One crew member missing after US Navy helicopter makes emergency landing in Arabian Sea A U.S. Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea early Wednesday, leaving one crew member missing. The incident happened at about 3:30 a.m. ET, according to the U.S. 5th Fleet. Three of the helicopter's four crew members were successfully recovered and are currently in stable condition aboard the George H.W. Bush, officials said. SHIPPING GIANT WARNS STRAIT OF HORMUZ CHAOS IS 'NEW NORMAL' AS TEHRAN SHIFTS 4M BARRELS U.S. Navy assets in the region are actively conducting search and rescue operations for the remaining crew member, who has not yet been publicly identified. Military officials said there is no indication the emergency landing was the result of "hostile action." EIGHT BELIEVED DEAD AFTER B-52 CRASHES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE The cause of the incident is currently under investigation. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456ae0c2ca79de2362b96a Arizona joins Democratic-led states to sue Trump administration over Medicaid work requirements te 2026-07-01T19:30:40.717Z Arizona joins Democratic-led states to sue Trump administration over Medicaid work requirements Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456acdc2ca79de2362b961 Western governors establish multi-state task force to update region’s transmission lines te 2026-07-01T19:30:21.270Z Western governors establish multi-state task force to update region’s transmission lines Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4568c7c2ca79de2362b900 Government watchdog targets 'weapons of mass reproduction' after Supreme Court ruling te 2026-07-01T19:21:43.581Z Government watchdog targets 'weapons of mass reproduction' after Supreme Court ruling A top government watchdog group released a multipoint plan to protect the homeland and the integrity of U.S. citizenship after the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling affirming birthright citizenship as enshrined in federal law. Conservatives across the country criticized Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, along with the court’s three liberal justices, arguing that the ruling opens the door to citizenship for children born to foreign nationals illegally present in the U.S. and dilutes American citizenship. The Oversight Project shared its "Keeping Families Together Plan" with Fox News Digital, arguing the ruling did not grant legal status to the parents of so-called anchor babies, a premise central to its proposal. "Now that the illegal alien community has achieved weapons of mass reproduction… you need to turn off that multiplying effect. And if the goal of mass deportation is quantitative, which of course it is, you need go [to] places where legal immigration spreads the most or is concentrated the most," said Mike Howell, an attorney and president of the Oversight Project. SUPREME COURT’S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAU.S.E AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS "That's why I've advocated so long for worksite enforcement," he said, noting farms and factories need enforcement rather than "playing onesies and twosies" in sanctuary cities. An increase in deportations, particularly of the parents of potential anchor babies, is key now that unfettered naturalization is a real possibility, he added. BIDEN JUDGE OVERRULED ON KEY TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICY "Go to ‘red’ places and deport." By deporting parents of so-called "anchor babies," in most cases the child would be deported with the parent — and if not, that parent would have the "moral onus" of abandoning the child, Howell said. "If you are truly committed to the idea that birthright citizenship is absurd in its application, then it should be preventative," he added, saying part of the plan to keep foreign families together would entail throwing roadblocks up to pregnant foreigners having children in the U.S. Positioning ICE at certain hospitals would help prevent that, he said. Turning to combating "birth tourism" — in which organizations help foreign nationals travel to the U.S. for the purpose of giving birth to U.S.-citizen children — Howell said China is the biggest source of the practice and other economic threats. Asked how to thread the needle with the U.S.’ economic reliance on Beijing, Howell said Tuesday’s ruling shows it is time to play "hardball." He criticized President Donald Trump’s blessing of thousands of Chinese students continuing to study in America, which, in Howell’s words, would "prop up our failing university system." "The elite regions of [China's] upper class love access to the U.S. financial system and coming here and taking advantage of it. And so if you're negotiating and it's the art of the deal… take away the thing they want." Howell claimed one Chinese billionaire has been "shipping his sperm" to California to inseminate women, resulting in children being born with U.S. citizenship. "What kind of serious country allows [that]," he said. Reports from outlets including Fortune have described wealthy Chinese businessmen engaging in repeated surrogacy arrangements involving American women. Howell said that despite talk of President Donald Trump’s "mass deportation" agenda, the numbers don’t match the boasts so far. "The fact remains there isn't a mass deportation campaign underway. And that's why we've been pushing this Mass Deportation Coalition, which has so many members across the country and a policy framework for them to do it," he said, acknowledging that Trump has had "special interests" buffeting his attempts because they don’t want their workforces deported, and setbacks like the public outcry over agent-involved shootings in Minneapolis that led to "cold feet." Asked about the Oversight Project's plan and Howell's comments, the White House said Trump remains "totally committed" to protecting the "value of natural-born citizenship." "[That] is why, following yesterday’s ruling, he directed Congress to take immediate action to address this. Simultaneously, the administration will double down on our efforts to keep the border secure and deport illegal aliens." Spokesperson Abigail Jackson added that the DOJ will prioritize birth-tourism schemes, some of which Howell laid out. Howell’s plan also includes a veiled shot at Roberts — who, despite being a Republican’s appointee, is often the swing vote in favor of the court’s liberal minority as he was Tuesday. The George W. Bush appointee famously roiled Republicans after deeming ObamaCare constitutional by defining its no-insurance penalty as a "tax," while writing in the same 2012 ruling that Congress could not force Americans to buy insurance. "The question is not whether that is the most natural interpretation of the mandate, but only whether it is a ‘fairly possible’ one," Roberts wrote in NFIB v. Sebelius. Howell said lawmakers could therefore create a mechanism through congressional reconciliation to punish birth-tourists — but define the penalty as a "tax." "Much like the ObamaCare plan being upheld as a tax by the Supreme Court, this would survive constitutional scrutiny," the Oversight Project’s plan read. The plan also goes farther, calling on DHS to suspend all visas for countries like China that engage in birth tourism. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER The key, Howell said, is to start ignoring the noise from the left and from critics and power through the end of the congressional term with attainable goals in mind no matter how controversial critics say they are. "We took a hit today, a big hit, but the damage can be mitigated and the overall problem can be solved with a lot political backbone and using the money from the Big Beautiful Bill quickly and without fear of what the left-wing media might say about it," he said. "Reconciliation is a beautiful vehicle to achieve those kind of cost-cutting measures. ObamaCare was a tax. The rule is a tax, so why can't we use a tax here? I'm sure the legal pundits will have much to say about that one," Howell remarked. "But by any hook, nook, or cranny, we need to fight this policy," he went on, adding the mainstream media and some moderates will be lambasting the social repercussions of the plan. "If the administration's going to take to the airwaves and say this is like a disgraceful ruling that undermines our sovereignty, then they need to act." "The suburban moms will be angry. They will say all that kind of stuff. But I want them to follow through because there's 77 million Americans who sent Trump back to the White House after everything we went through." In the interim, Rep. Andy Ogles IV, R-Tenn., and Sens. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., have unveiled constitutional amendment proposals to overturn the court's ruling, though observers say the efforts appear politically untenable at present. When asked about characterizations of DHS' efforts, an agency spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "we disagree with the ruling. Congress must get to work to end birthright citizenship immediately." "In President Trump’s first year back in office, more than 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. because of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations. As of June 24, we have now deported over 948,000 illegal aliens and arrested over 981,000 illegal aliens," the spokesperson said, adding that since the first day of Trump's administration, DHS has been delivering on the promise to "Make America Safe Again" and more than 3 million have been deported. "Our message is clear: if you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4568b4c2ca79de2362b8f7 Dan Dakich rips Alyssa Thomas after Caitlin Clark hit, says WNBA stars dodge blame again te 2026-07-01T19:21:24.124Z Dan Dakich rips Alyssa Thomas after Caitlin Clark hit, says WNBA stars dodge blame again Alyssa Thomas says WNBA players are being unfairly painted as villains after the latest controversy involving Caitlin Clark. Dan Dakich says Thomas' response is part of a larger pattern of WNBA players refusing to take responsibility for their own actions. The Mercury forward addressed reporters after the league suspended her one game for "recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area" of Clark during Phoenix's June 24 win over the Indiana Fever. Thomas said some players, including herself, didn’t even know the play had become a major controversy until after the game. "And now we’re being painted as thugs," Thomas said, adding that there are "death threats out on us." SUSPENDED ALYSSA THOMAS RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM TEAMMATE & COACH AFTER CHEAP SHOT ON CAITLIN CLARK Dakich isn't buying it. During Tuesday’s episode of "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich," the OutKick host reacted to Thomas’ comments and said her response was predictable. "Say you’ve gotten death threats, blame the fans," Dakich said. "You've got to blame the fans because you can’t take personal responsibility." But he wasn’t done. "Because for 30 years, angry lesbians, African-American lesbians in the WNBA haven’t had to take any personal responsibility," Dakich continued. "Everybody else, Diana Taurasi, you see it with Paige Bueckers and others, go along to get along. "Well, you know what the only person not talking is? Caitlin Clark." Exactly. DAN DAKICH BLASTS WNBA, FEVER ORGANIZATION AFTER LATEST CAITLIN CLARK CONTROVERSY: ‘JOKE OF A LEAGUE’ Clark took the hit and mostly stayed quiet. Everyone else did plenty of talking. That’s become a familiar pattern around the WNBA. Clark brings the attention, the crowds and the money. Then when things get ugly, the conversation somehow shifts away from what happened to Clark and instead focuses on how it affects the players attempting to injure her. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert happily played along with the game, releasing a statement supporting Thomas while remaining silent on Clark. "The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate. The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league’s top priority," Engelbert said in a statement. "We are aware of Alyssa Thomas’ comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization and remain committed to protecting all players." Of course, Thomas didn't think that was good enough. "The league needs to put a stand on it," Thomas said. "They came out with no hate speech, but what is that gonna do? "I’m sick and tired of it. It’s time for them to stand up and have our backs in these instances." No one is defending social-media death threats. But Engelbert managed to issue a statement for Thomas pretty quickly. So where was the statement for Clark? That’s the question trailblazing women’s sports reporter Christine Brennan had when she joined Dakich. "Is the league going to speak out at all about the visual that will live with this league, I believe forever?" Brennan asked. "I think that picture, the fist to the throat, is that big of a deal," Brennan continued. "Caitlin Clark, with all the TV ratings, all the attendance figures, everything that she has brought, she has made Alyssa Thomas’ life better. She’s making more money, she's not in the middle seat anymore in coach... And instead, you’ve got the fist to the throat." That’s a pretty brutal, but accurate, summary of the WNBA's Caitlin Clark era so far. Clark made the WNBA bigger, richer and more famous. Not just for herself, either. Players, coaches and owners all benefited. She especially helped the other players, turning charter flights from a talking point into reality and becoming a major reason the WNBPA had leverage for massive pay increases in the new 2026 CBA (an agreement that doesn't even fully benefit Clark, who signed her rookie contract prior to its adoption, making her incredibly underpaid from a salary standpoint). And yet, the league still seems woefully unprepared for everything that comes with her. Brennan said the WNBA failed from the beginning. "It’s just the lack of anticipation of the moment when you could see it coming a mile away," Brennan said, pointing to the massive audience Clark brought to women’s college basketball before she ever entered the WNBA. "And then the WNBA was completely and utterly unprepared for the moment," Brennan said. That seems pretty obvious at this point. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The WNBA wanted attention, money, TV viewers and mainstream relevance. Clark delivered all of it. Now, the league has to figure out how to handle everything that comes with having a true superstar. Nearly three years in, it apparently still doesn't have the slightest clue. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45688dc2ca79de2362b8ec Minnesota Pardons Sexual Abuser Who Was Set to Be Deported te 2026-07-01T19:20:45.212Z Minnesota Pardons Sexual Abuser Who Was Set to Be Deported Tou Lue Vang has expressed regret for abusing a 10-year-old two decades ago. The Trump administration accused Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, of shielding an immigrant who committed a serious crime. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456876c2ca79de2362b8d1 Apple’s Hide My Email feature has a bug that’s been exposing real email addresses, researcher claims te 2026-07-01T19:20:22.692Z Apple’s Hide My Email feature has a bug that’s been exposing real email addresses, researcher claims Research appears to reveal a bug that could render the feature effectively useless. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4566aac2ca79de2362b764 Needles 9-11 team competes at District 9 Tournament in Kingman te 2026-07-01T19:12:42.959Z Needles 9-11 team competes at District 9 Tournament in Kingman The Needles Little League 9-11 All-Star Team traveled to Kingman over the weekend to compete in the District 9 Tournament at Southside Park. The team faced Kingman in the first game, falling 15-0. They then faced Blythe, who lost to… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456696c2ca79de2362b75b Bullhead City, Mohave Valley compete at District 9 Tournament te 2026-07-01T19:12:22.997Z Bullhead City, Mohave Valley compete at District 9 Tournament The Bullhead and Mohave Valley Little League All-Star Teams traveled to Kingman this week for the District 9 Tournament at Southside Park. The Bullhead City teams all faced Lake Havasu City with the Seniors falling 14-13, the 10-12 team fell… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456656c2ca79de2362b718 Rock star Sly Stone's 20,000-guest MSG wedding set the precedent for Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce nuptials te 2026-07-01T19:11:18.994Z Rock star Sly Stone's 20,000-guest MSG wedding set the precedent for Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce nuptials Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding may potentially mirror nuptials by another world-famous rock star. The "Lover" singer and her professional football player fiancé are reportedly hosting 1,000 of their closest friends and family at Madison Square Garden on July 3 for a multi-day extravaganza. Nearly 50 years ago, Sly Stone made his own vision come to life at MSG and transformed the venue for his star-studded wedding, which included 20,000 guests and a live concert with The Family Stone. In June 1974, Sly and his bride, Kathy Silva, said "I do" at the legendary venue before his own concert on the same evening. TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE NUPTIALS CALLED A 'ROYAL WEDDING' BY NFL PALS DROPPING MAJOR TIMING HINTS Stone recalled the idea behind planning the big day at the arena in his memoir, "Thank you (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)." "I could do a gig, get paid, and get married at the same time," he wrote. "We set the date for June 5, a Wednesday. We’d have a ceremony just before the concert, right there on the stage. Then a concert, then a party afterward at the rooftop lounge of the Waldorf Astoria." Fashion designer Halston agreed to dress the bride, groom, and members of the wedding part in glittering gold ensembles to the tune of $10,000, according to the New Yorker. TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE WEDDING BUZZ GROWS AS STEVIE NICKS AND TIM MCGRAW ARE TAPPED TO PERFORM: REPORT Following the on-stage nuptials, Sly and Katie hosted guests at the Starlight Roof of the Waldorf-Astoria with guests including Diane von Furstenberg, Andy Warhol and Judy Garland's daughter Lorna Luft. "We had twenty thousand guests at least, with some of the estimates as high as twenty-five," Stone wrote. "Years later I saw a picture of a ticket someone kept: $8.50 for a wedding and a concert both. A bargain." Nestled in the heart of midtown Manhattan above Penn Station, "The World's Most Famous Arena" hosts millions of visitors each year through sports, concerts and special events. With a capacity for upwards of 20,000 people, the home of the New York Knicks has hosted a number of significant cultural events through the years. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER In 1971, MSG set the scene for arguably the most famous sporting event, the Fight of the Century between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Both heavyweights walked in undefeated to a packed arena including Frank Sinatra, Woody Allen, Burt Lancaster, and Diana Ross in the stands. Frazier won by unanimous decision after knocking down Ali in Round 15. In 1985, WrestleMania launched its first annual event and established itself as a global entertainment brand. Marilyn Monroe famously sang "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to John F. Kennedy at MSG in 1962, while John Lennon's final live performance was at the legendary venue in 1974. Elvis Presley's only New York shows were over a four-concert series at MSG in 1972, which reportedly drew in 80,000 guests. Billy Joel holds the record for most performances at the garden with a decade-long residency which wrapped in 2024. The "Uptown Girl" singer has more than 150 performances under his belt at MSG with approximately two million tickets sold. TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE WEDDING BETTING FRENZY REVEALS ONE OVERWHELMING PREDICTION New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani seemingly confirmed the nuptials during a press conference Tuesday as he addressed the sweltering weather conditions heading into the holiday weekend. "My recommendation to all New Yorkers is to stay inside and stay cool," Mamdani said. "And if you happen to be getting married at Madison Square Garden, you will be staying inside and you will be staying cool." The couple's potential July 3 wedding would come weeks after Forbes announced the global pop star had surpassed a net worth of $2 billion after becoming a billionaire in 2023. Swift's fortune included roughly $800 million earned directly from her music and touring along with a $600 million music catalog, according to the outlet. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS The Swift-Kelce wedding festivities will reportedly kick off with an intimate gathering of about 100 people before a much larger celebration for roughly 1,000 guests on July 3. The New York Times reported that a permit was filed to close streets around Madison Square Garden from July 2 through July 4, alongside additional arrangements suggesting a multi-day private event. Music legends Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw are set to perform at what insiders are calling a "Wedding-palooza" reportedly planned at Madison Square Garden, according to Page Six. "There's going to be multiple performances" at the reported Friday MSG event, sources said. Some even floated the possibility of a surprise appearance by Paul McCartney, who previously shared the stage with Swift during the "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary celebration in 2015. Two NYPD officers patrolling Madison Square Garden on June 24 confirmed to Variety that they had been warned about a possible influx of Swift fans and paparazzi during the alleged wedding weekend. Neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly commented on the latest wedding rumors, but that hasn't stopped fans from scrutinizing every potential clue. Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456643c2ca79de2362b70f Court keeps ‘Decoy Dan’ on Alaska ballot as expert warns ranked-choice system creates voter ‘traps’ te 2026-07-01T19:10:59.538Z Court keeps ‘Decoy Dan’ on Alaska ballot as expert warns ranked-choice system creates voter ‘traps’ Alaska’s highest court ruled that a same-name Republican challenger to Sen. Dan Sullivan can remain on the ballot, a decision an election expert says exposes glaring flaws in Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system and top-four primary. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled Monday that Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher, is eligible to appear on the Republican primary ballot alongside incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, affirming a lower court's decision keeping him on the ballot despite Republicans and the Division of Elections arguing that Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy is a "sham" attempt orchestrated by Democratic operatives to potentially trip up voters and siphon off votes from the incumbent. "It very clearly is an attempt to mislead voters," Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, told Fox News Digital. "When you look at the facts, they've been pretty clearly established." Snead pointed to Alaska’s ranked choice voting (RCV) and jungle primary as especially vulnerable to any nefarious tactics with same-name candidates because, unlike a traditional partisan primary, Alaska advances the top four finishers from a single primary election to the general election, regardless of party. DAN SULLIVAN ACCUSES SAME-NAME CHALLENGER OF TRYING TO 'RIG' ALASKA SENATE RACE Snead argued that under a conventional Republican primary, a candidate he described as a "decoy" would be unlikely to eliminate a legitimate contender before the general election. Instead, he said, voters face a crowded top-four primary ballot in this year's Alaska Senate race, roughly 16 candidates are running, and confusion over nearly identical names could have significant consequences. GOP FIGHTS TO STOP MULTIPLE DAN SULLIVANS FROM APPEARING ON ALASKA BALLOT, CALLS CANDIDACY A 'SHAM' "You've really got two problems in one," Snead said. "You don't have any party primary. There's no Republican nominee or Democratic nominee. You have this jungle primary where everybody runs together, and the top four candidates advance to the general election." Snead argued that under a traditional partisan primary, a candidate he described as a decoy would have little chance of preventing a legitimate Republican nominee from advancing to the general election. Instead, he said, Alaska's crowded all-party primary creates more opportunities for voter confusion. "If enough of them pick the wrong Dan Sullivan, then he makes it into the general," Snead said. "Now you've got two people named Dan Sullivan on the ballot." Snead said the ranked-choice system can compound the problem because ballots are redistributed as candidates are eliminated. "If you only rank one person, then your ballot is eliminated if that person is eliminated," he said. ALASKA'S BLOCKBUSTER SENATE RACE THROWN INTO CHAOS AS SAME-NAME CHALLENGER FIGHTS DISQUALIFICATION IN COURT He said another possibility is that voters could mistakenly rank the wrong Dan Sullivan first and Democrat Mary Peltola second, causing those votes to transfer to Peltola if the decoy candidate is eliminated during tabulation. "There are lots of different traps here," Snead said. "At a minimum, I think this speaks to the fact that ranked-choice voting plus jungle primaries is especially vulnerable to these sorts of games." "It is definitely not an idea that is ready for prime time, no matter what the people that push ranked choice are trying to sell us on." The Alaska Supreme Court did stipulate that election officials could add additional identifying information to the ballot to distinguish between the two candidates, leaving those design decisions to the Division of Elections. Dan J. Sullivan, known to his critics as "Decoy Dan," has come under scrutiny over ties to Democratic consultant Amber Lee, who was revealed as the author of his campaign launch announcement in metadata reviewed by Fox News Digital. Lee has notably supported Peltola’s prior runs for office and expressed optimism to The Hill in January that the Alaska Democrat would unseat the incumbent Sullivan. According to Alaska Director of Elections Carol Beecher, Dan J. Sullivan requested to appear on the primary ballot under the name "Dan Sullivan" despite previously registering as "Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr." Beecher also noted that his campaign materials are visually similar to the incumbent Republican's campaign and that he had no affiliation with the GOP prior to jumping into the race shortly before the filing deadline. The fate of his candidacy could prove decisive in the state’s hotly contested Senate race in which Sen. Dan S. Sullivan is seeking a third term in the Republican-leaning state. Democrats are hoping that former Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, whom Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., helped recruit into the race, will unseat Sullivan in November. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Dan J. Sullivan's campaign said, "Mr. Sullivan has been buoyed by yesterday’s decisive victory at the Alaska Supreme Court.  To the extent that the Division of Elections is still grappling with how it will properly effectuate ballot design in a manner consistent with Alaska law and past practice, he has no comment, and looks forward to running his campaign." Fox News Digital’s Adam Pack contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45661cc2ca79de2362b6ef Sun Tran averts strike as Tucson rolls out safety plan te 2026-07-01T19:10:20.118Z Sun Tran averts strike as Tucson rolls out safety plan Sun Tran avoided a strike when its five-year contract expired June 30 without a new deal, with bus service continuing as normal while union members prepare to vote on the company's final offer July 11 and 12, even as Teamsters Local 104 says the safety concerns at the heart of the dispute remain unresolved. Teamsters Local 104 and Sun Tran bargained through the night June 30 without reaching a new contract agreement, according to a post on the union's Facebook page. The company's final offer will be presented to union members July 11 and 12, when members will vote to accept or reject it. The union said workplace safety remains one of its highest priorities. "Our operators continue to face unacceptable safety risks, and Teamsters Local 104 will continue to advocate for the protections our members and the community we serve deserve," the statement said. The city's $2.15 million transit safety plan, approved by the council in June as part of the broader Safe City Initiative, is designed to address many of the same concerns the union has raised at the bargaining table. Pima County voters approved the RTA Next plan in March, which set aside $51 million for transit safety and security over its 20-year lifespan, or about $2.15 million per year. That funding is now being used to implement the city's transit safety and security action plan, which the council adopted in December 2025 and which was developed with input from the Tucson Police Department, Sun Tran, the Department of Transportation and Mobility, the Community Safety, Health and Wellness team, bus drivers and Teamsters Local 104. The $2.15 million first-year budget covers transit ambassadors, contracted security, training, outreach, technology and vehicles. The largest expenditure is $700,000 for a contract with Off-Duty Management to hire eight special duty police officers, each estimated to work 25 hours per week. The Tucson City Council discusses the $2.15 million Sun Tran transit safety plan at its June 9 meeting, where Mayor Regina Romero expressed opposition to continued funding for a private security contractor. Other major ongoing expenses include $221,580 for transit stop improvements such as lighting and sleep-deterrent benches, and $200,000 for general maintenance including graffiti removal. At the city council's June 9 meeting, Mayor Regina Romero expressed opposition to continued funding for the city's long-standing contract with a private security company, which is included as a $187,200 expenditure in the budget. "I really don't see the value or the return on investment in additional dollars for that private security company right now," Romero said. "I would much rather spend those funds for additional operator security investments." Romero said she would rather see funds directed toward the transit ambassador program, since ambassadors have the ability to connect people to services in ways that private contractors cannot. Of the total, $214,000 is in one-time costs, including $104,000 for mounted cameras, $70,000 for transit ambassadors and outreach teams and $40,000 for cameras at the city's Community Safety and Response Center. Because this is a first-year budget, the Department of Transportation and Mobility said spending will shift year by year based on what the data shows is needed. Since March 9, TPD has deployed two teams of two officers each across five priority corridors to improve safety at transit stations and coordinate hotspot response. The deployments originally ran Monday, Wednesday and Friday but have since expanded to six days a week on the same resources, resulting in 730 warnings, 127 arrests, 88 citations, 28 referrals for services and 15 deflections. Romero reflected on the progress made since the Safe City Initiative launched, emphasizing the importance of including voices beyond law enforcement in the Safe City Task Force. The cross-department effort includes DTM, TPD, the Community Safety, Health and Wellness team, Sun Tran management, bus drivers and Teamsters Local 104, the union representing Sun Tran employees. The Tucson Transit Advisory Committee has also expressed its support for the draft, with Department of Transportation and Mobility Deputy Director Andy Bemis saying the city is working on recruiting transportation ambassadors. The plan also addresses driver and operator safety. An upgrade to the radio system is already underway with grant funding, and the city plans to use additional funds to upgrade barrier systems on buses. All Sun Tran buses currently have driver barriers, but newer models and technologies have emerged since they were installed. The city plans to procure sample barriers to test on select buses, gather feedback from drivers and the union, and then consider a broader rollout. The plan also includes a repeat offender recognition system to keep "bad actors" off buses, as well as de-escalation training for drivers, according to Bemis. Sun Tran has increased cleanups at its stops, with roughly 275 of its 2,200 stops cleaned each day and all stops receiving service at least once a week. Additional plans include establishing reporting metrics to track the success of these efforts and publishing a quarterly report through the RTA Citizens Accountability for Regional Transportation Committee. "I appreciate all of the time that has been spent in making sure that the stakeholders, both writers and operators as well as our community and advisory and our Safe City task force. All of them, including Teamsters, SunTran and others, have spent time really defining what the needs are for our community," Romero said. "As your mayor, the safety of our community is my number one priority." Ian Stash is University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist in Tucson. Contact him at ianjgs16@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/6a456414c2ca79de2362b6bf US Supreme Court to review Arizona’s ‘proof of citizenship’ voter law te 2026-07-01T19:01:40.535Z US Supreme Court to review Arizona’s ‘proof of citizenship’ voter law Key Points: US Supreme Court to review Arizona’s proof of citizenship law for presidential voter registration Lower court rulings have limited states’ ability to enforce citizenship and residency requirements Arizona’s 2022 law requires election officials to regularly check voter eligibility The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether Arizona can legally block people who do not provide “documented proof of citizenship” from registering to vote for president. In a brief order, the justices said they want to review a lower court ruling restricting the ability of states to enforce the citizenship and residency requirements. Nothing in the June 29 order guarantees that justices as a whole are interested in overturning Arizona’s 2022 law, but what it does show is that there are at least four who are willing to hear arguments.  Still, the order opens the door to the possibility that more than 43,000 Arizonans who are currently registered to vote could lose that right. None of that is expected to change in time for the November election as the earliest the justices could hear the case is October. But Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, in a statement, still sought to reassure voters. “Arizona voters should continue registering and voting under current rules,” he said. But a decision from the courts could make a difference in 2028. Arizona has required proof of citizenship to register since voters approved a ballot measure in 2004. At the same time, though, the National Voter Registration Act requires states to accept and use a registration form prepared by the Federal Election Assistance Commission. And that form requires only that applicants avow, under penalty of perjury, that they are U.S. citizens. Then came the changes approved in 2022 by Arizona’s Republican-controlled Legislature. Most notably, one requiring that anyone registering the vote must provide proof of citizenship, regardless of how they register and what form they use. Mi Familia Vota and several rights groups filed suit, calling the requirement “a baseless assault on Arizona’s election system based on a conspiracy theory that non-citizens are voting, despite a persistent lack of credible evidence.” In a 2024 ruling, the 9th Circuit agreed to allow Arizona to enforce the proof-of-citizenship requirement — but only for those who try to register using the state form. The judges also barred the state from imposing such a requirement on those who use the federal form. Those who use the federal form and don’t also provide proof of citizenship, however, are precluded from voting in state elections. What’s significant, though, is they are permitted to vote in federal elections. That includes both the presidential race as well as for members of Congress. The Republican National Committee, in its petition to the Supreme Court, contends nothing in the NVRA precludes Arizona from requiring such citizenship proof, even for federal elections, regardless of the form someone has used to register. Overall, the number of Arizonans entitled to vote only in federal elections is small — 43,385 as of the most recent statistics from the Secretary of State’s Office. But what is also true is that in 2020 Joe Biden outpolled Donald Trump by just 10,457 votes, winning the state’s 11 electoral votes and, ultimately, the presidency. In fact, Trump’s loss by that margin was cited by Republicans when they pushed through the 2022 law to expand the proof-of-citizenship requirement to all voters. And while there were claims that the election was affected by votes from noncitizens, none of them were ever proven. Instead, state and county election officials have said that most of those who choose to use the federal form do so because they do not have easy or immediate access to things like a birth certificate which can be used to prove citizenship. And that, they said, often involves college students away from home and members of Native American tribes. What the justices decide about federal-only voters could end up being moot if Congress approves the SAVE Act — short for Safeguard American Voter Eligibility — being promoted by Trump. If approved, it would amend federal laws to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote, regardless of the method. But the measure has stalled in Congress. The post US Supreme Court to review Arizona’s ‘proof of citizenship’ voter law first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456400c2ca79de2362b69a Ex-CIA chief John Brennan sues Trump administration, demands court preserve investigation records te 2026-07-01T19:01:20.057Z Ex-CIA chief John Brennan sues Trump administration, demands court preserve investigation records Former Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan is suing the Trump administration and demanding a court order to require officials to preserve records of the criminal investigations against, which he alleges amount to "phantom criminal conduct." According to the lawsuit reviewed by Fox News Digital, Brennan, who served as CIA director from 2013 to 2017, is seeking preliminary injunctive relief to "protect his constitutional rights as the current target of two federal investigations that the U.S. Department of Justice." Brennan asserts that the DOJ has launched its investigations "at the direct urging of President Trump." FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS BLUE STATE'S LAW PROHIBITING ICE AGENTS FROM WEARING MASKS ON THE JOB The suit says that, "Regrettably, some in the current DOJ and Federal Bureau of Investigation leadership have acceded to that direction, and are converting the Justice Department into a tool of retribution against Director Brennan and the President’s other perceived adversaries." Fox News' Jake Gibson contributed to this report. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4563ecc2ca79de2362b691 FBI official pushes back on claims that Nancy Guthrie kidnapping ransom demands are fake: report te 2026-07-01T19:01:00.601Z FBI official pushes back on claims that Nancy Guthrie kidnapping ransom demands are fake: report Apparent ransom demands and other notes sent in the wake of the unsolved abduction of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie may still be real, according to a new report, despite recent claims to the contrary. As Fox News Digital reported previously, sources close to the investigation appear split regarding the notes' potential authenticity — or lack thereof. Now, an unnamed official is telling ransom demand recipient TMZ that some investigators view the demands as potentially "more legitimate than not." EMAILER IN NANCY GUTHRIE CASE CLAIMS TO POSSESS VIDEO OF 'MAIN GUY' WITH SAVANNAH GUTHRIE'S MOTHER "It is more likely than not that the two ransom notes are real," TMZ's executive producer Harvey Levin said Wednesday, citing an unnamed FBI official with knowledge of the case. "Further in that conversation, this person said, 'They are more legitimate than not.' That's a quote." FOX TRUE CRIME IS NOW ON FACEBOOK He made the remarks in a video in response to a new report suggesting that the FBI deemed all of the ransom demands in the Guthrie investigation inauthentic. Some investigators said they were confident that the ransom demands are all bogus, while others are cautious about reaching that conclusion while Guthrie's whereabouts remain unknown, federal law enforcement sources told Fox News and Fox News Digital last week. NANCY GUTHRIE RANSOM NOTES DON'T MATCH SUSPECT'S BEHAVIOR, PROFILER SAYS: 'I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE REAL' "They definitely have not determined it is, for sure, fake," Levin said. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Authorities have not publicly confirmed the legitimacy of the first two notes that have been deemed possibly authentic — or a series of separate emails believed to be unrelated claiming to have knowledge about what happened to Guthrie. "It is less likely that those letters are real, but they have not discounted that either," Levin added. SAVANNAH GUTHRIE PLEADS FOR TIPS AS RANSOM NOTE CLAIMS MOM IS DEAD: 'SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMETHING' Guthrie's daughter, "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie, has said she believes at least two of the notes could be real. She and her siblings responded to those on videos posted to her Instagram back in February. Meanwhile, state and local authorities have both declined to discuss the latest developments regarding the ransom demands publicly. When asked about the new reporting at a news briefing Wednesday, FBI Director Kash Patel declined to comment. SEND US A TIP HERE "I'm not going to comment on that," he told reporters during a Justice Department news briefing. "We are continuing to assist that investigation. We've always been in an assist role. It's a state matter being led by the state authorities." LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, whose agency is leading the investigation into Guthrie's suspected abduction, told Fox News Digital last week that it was the FBI at the forefront of the probe into whoever sent the ransom demands. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB "All ransom notes are being handled by the FBI," he said. "We’ve been pretty consistent with that. So I would have to defer you to them." The family is asking anyone with information on Guthrie's case to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can be provided anonymously to Tucson's Crime Stoppers affiliate, 88-Crime, at 1-520-882-7463. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4563c4c2ca79de2362b673 SpaceX has an AI device prototype, and it sure sounds phone-ish te 2026-07-01T19:00:20.071Z SpaceX has an AI device prototype, and it sure sounds phone-ish SpaceX reportedly showed investors a "handset-like" AI device before going public. It could be another signal SpaceX wants to expand into wireless. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456271c2ca79de2362b65c Dear Abby: Sister has revealed her true colors time and again te 2026-07-01T18:54:41.352Z Dear Abby: Sister has revealed her true colors time and again DEAR ABBY: When I was 16 and my sister "Daisy" was 18, I found out she was in a sexual relationship with my boyfriend, "Tyler" (also 18). I broke it off. She then asked if I minded her dating him.… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456248c2ca79de2362b647 Little Loki finally running free te 2026-07-01T18:54:00.392Z Little Loki finally running free Sweet and curious, Loki loves meeting new people and is extremely cuddly once he opens up to those around him (photo courtesy of Arizona Humane Society). At first glance, no one would guess the strength and resilience sweet Loki possesses to still be here today. A month ago, the four-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier was brought to the Arizona Humane Society after a Good Samaritan found him in dire straits. Upon arrival at the shelter, it was immediately clear that Loki had been tethered up using a thick plastic wire that he had become entangled in and chewed his way out of. Loki was immediately sedated and taken into the Arizona Humane Society’s trauma hospital, where veterinarians found that the plastic-coated wire lead had wrapped twice around his neck along with his nylon collar. Both of which were deeply embedded and encompassed approximately 60 percent of Loki’s ventral cervical region. Loki underwent surgery and subsequent daily medical procedures where his wounds were clipped, cleaned and fresh honey bandages were put on. Luckily, this sweet boy was found and treated in time, but his story serves as a great reminder that tethering is not only dangerous due to the extreme weather of Arizona, but can also be deadly when pets entangle themselves. Sweet and curious, Loki (pet number 849954) loves meeting new people and is extremely cuddly once he opens up to those around him. Loki’s adoption fee includes his neuter surgery, current vaccinations, a microchip and a follow-up wellness exam with a VCA Animal Hospital. Visit this handsome boy at the Arizona Humane Society’s Papago Park Campus or learn more at www.azhumane.org/adopt to give him the loving forever home he deserves. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456234c2ca79de2362b63e Public School Briefs – July 2026 te 2026-07-01T18:53:40.933Z Public School Briefs – July 2026 Glendale Union High School District District gets ready to welcome students The Glendale Union High School District (GUHSD) is preparing to welcome students for the start of the 2026-27 school year on Monday, Aug. 10. Before the first day of school, GUHSD campuses will host Walk-Through Registration during the week of July 27. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend walk-through registration alongside their students to ask questions, complete essential back-to-school steps and receive campus information. Because each campus may have different registration schedules, families should continue checking their school’s website for specific dates, times and additional details as the school year approaches. Families seeking enrollment information are encouraged to contact their school beginning July 6, when campus offices reopen for the school year. Glendale Union High School District looks forward to another year of academic achievement, student involvement, and community connection as GUHSD continues its commitment to keeping the promise of every student’s potential. To learn more, visit www.guhsdaz.org. Class of 2026 garners scholarships, awards The Glendale Union High School District celebrated the Class of 2026 for earning more than $121 million in scholarships and awards. “This achievement reflects the dedication, aspirations and opportunities pursued by students across the district as they prepare for their next chapter after graduation,” the district said. “As the Class of 2026 takes its next steps into college, career and life, this milestone highlights the value of supporting student growth, expanding access to opportunities, and preparing students for future success. Their accomplishments reflect the Glendale Union High School District’s continued commitment to ensuring every student graduates ready for what comes next.” GUHSD to host job fair in July Glendale Union High School District will host the Support Staff Job Fair on Thursday, July 16, at Moon Valley High School, with in-person screening interviews from 3 to 5 p.m. for applicants interested in joining the district ahead of the 2026-27 school year. At GUHSD, every role is important, the district said, and employees are encouraged to grow within their current position or pursue new opportunities across the district while building meaningful careers. GUHSD supports thousands of students across Glendale and Phoenix and is hiring across all nine schools for the new school year, with current openings including bus drivers, food service employees, custodians, maintenance staff, clerical staff and instructional assistants. Positions offer competitive pay and benefits, including health, dental, and life insurance; paid time off; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System; and short-term disability coverage. Interested candidates can apply online via the Employment tab on the GUHSD website: www.guhsdaz.org. For more information or to RSVP, call 623-435-6010. Student joins exchange program Nina Whaley A Washington High School student is representing both her school and the city of Phoenix this summer in Grenoble, France, through the Phoenix Sister Cities Youth Ambassador Exchange Program. Nina Whaley was selected as one of only 17 Phoenix high school students chosen to participate in the international exchange experience, which provides students with the opportunity to build global connections through cultural immersion. In the Youth Ambassador Exchange Program, students develop leadership skills, expand their global awareness, and gain experiences that encourage connection across communities and cultures. The Madison No.1 coed varsity flag football team celebrated a championship season during the 2026-27 school year (photo courtesy of Madison School District). Madison School District District celebrates student, staff accomplishments On May 13, the Madison School District held its annual recognition event, honoring students, staff and volunteers for their achievements, contributions and dedication during the school year. Student-athletes were recognized for their championship-winning performance in the Valley Athletic Conference, including Madison No.1’s coed varsity flag football team; Madison Park’s boys varsity soccer, girls varsity soccer, girls varsity softball and boys varsity track & field 4×4 relay teams; and Madison Meadows’ boys and girls varsity cross country, coed varsity cheer, girls varsity soccer, boys varsity volleyball, girls varsity track & field, girls varsity softball, boys varsity baseball, and girls varsity track & field 4×400 relay teams. Madison Simis and Meadows Odyssey of the Mind teams were recognized for their strong performances at the regional and state competitions, with six teams from Madison Meadows qualifying for the World Finals competition. Student artists from across the district were showcased for their work during the school year. Student Mattias Pulido from Madison Meadows was recognized for his first-place win at the Invention Convention state competition and Meadows student Ella Basham was recognized for receiving the National Junior Honor Society Outstanding Achievement Award. Community Education Site Coordinator Bianca Byrd was recognized for being awarded the National Afterschool Association Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders Award and nine individuals were awarded the district’s highest recognition, the Truly Extraordinary award, for their commitment and contributions to the students, district and their school communities. Parents and community members were thanked and honored for their volunteer and service hours during the school year, and retiring staff members were celebrated for their years of service to the district and its students. Madison hosts hiring fair Madison School District will host a job fair on Wednesday, July 15. Individuals will have the opportunity to meet with school and district leaders to learn about available positions, benefits and more. Madison is hiring a variety of positions, including teachers, guest teachers, bus drivers, before and after school program staff, custodians as well as other school and student support positions. The hiring fair will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. in the boardroom at the Madison district office, 5601 N. 16th St. More information about working for Madison School District is available at www.madisonaz.org/jobs. Osborn School District Montessori microforest continues to thrive Since planting the Montecito Montessori microforest in November 2025 through a grant partnership with the Lifetime Foundation and SUGI, there has been remarkable growth and transformation. Created using the Miyawaki method, this innovative approach to reforestation has proven highly successful, with many of the native plants growing at nearly ten times their typical rate. The microforest has become a living classroom for students. Like the Monarch butterflies that visit the forest, this outdoor learning environment continues to metamorphize and includes plans to add seating areas and a shade canopy where students can learn both about and within the forest itself. The growth of the microforest mirrors the changes taking place at Montecito. Construction on school expansion continues to move forward, with phase one scheduled to open during the upcoming school year. Phases two and three will follow over the course of the 2026–27 school year with completion scheduled for spring 2027, further enhancing the learning environment and supporting the future of Montecito Montessori. Montecito Montessori is located at 715 E. Montecito Ave. Learn more about the school by visiting https://montecito.osbornschools.org. New superintendent begins role on July 1 Felipe Carranza After its May 19 board meeting, the Osborn School District announced that Felipe Carranza will serve as the next superintendent of the district. Carranza is an educational leader with more than 26 years of experience serving students, families and school communities in Arizona, the district said. He most recently served as principal of Solano Elementary in the Osborn School District, where he led school turnaround efforts focused on academic achievement, instructional leadership, positive school culture and student support systems. Prior to that role, he served as the district’s director of Leadership and School Improvement, supporting principals and school leaders in strengthening instructional systems, developing leadership capacity and improving student outcomes across the district. Throughout his career, Carranza has served as a teacher, instructional coach, behavior interventionist, assistant principal, principal and district leader, bringing a broad and comprehensive understanding of public education systems and school improvement. Carranza currently is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership at Northern Arizona University, where his research focuses on school and district leadership and organizational improvement. He will commence his duties on July 1. Phoenix Union High School District Camelback welcomes incoming Spartans Families of incoming ninth graders, now is the time to enroll at Camelback High School for the 2026-27 school year. Students who enroll early have the best access to classes, sports, clubs and programs, the school said. To learn more about the school, visit www.pxu.org/o/chs. Families who need enrollment assistance can stop by the campus, 4612 N. 28th St., Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first day of school is Aug. 3. For more information, call 602-764-7000. Student excels at SkillsUSA event Juan Viveros Juan Viveros, a recent graduate of Metro Tech, placed first at the SkillsUSA National Conference in June in the Internet of Things (IOT) Smart Home category. Viveros equipped with his own tools, had to set up various devices for a Smart Home, doing all of the wiring and mounting himself. He is mainly self-taught, but credits the Computer Maintenance and Cybersecurity and the Software Development CTE programs at Metro Tech for supporting his skillset. In the fall, he will attend Carleton College in Minnesota to study Computer Science. He hopes to have a career as a repair technician because he loves working with hardware. Washington Elementary School District Schools selected for USDA program WESD announced that 16 schools have been selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for the 2026-27 school year, including four within the North Central Phoenix corridor – Desert View Elementary School, Moon Mountain Elementary School, Richard E. Miller Elementary School and Sunnyslope School. Thanks to the program, the WESD Nutrition Services Department will provide students at these campuses with free fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school year. The program not only encourages healthy choices, but also helps students develop a greater appreciation for nutritious foods while supporting their present and future health. The FFVP is designed to promote healthier school environments by encouraging nutrition education and increasing students’ access to fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables. Through the program, students are introduced to a variety of nutritious produce options that help build healthy eating habits and support lifelong wellness. Enrollment is open for 2026-27 Whether it’s free, full-day kindergarten, premier special education and gifted services, or engaging programs in art, music, PE, STEM and online learning, the WESD says that it offers opportunities designed to meet the individual needs of every student. With multiple A+ Schools of Excellence, a National Blue Ribbon School and a National Title I Distinguished School, WESD continues to be recognized for excellence. The district is also a top 20 school district in the country in student growth and has been named a top 10 elementary school district in Arizona by AZ Big Media. Additionally, 87 percent of WESD schools earn an “A” or “B” rating. The district currently is enrolling kindergarten through eighth grade students for the 2026-27 school year. To begin the enrollment process, visit the WESD Welcome and Registration Center at 3200 W. Cholla St., or enroll online at www.wesdschools.org/families/registration. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456221c2ca79de2362b635 Park-and-ride site set for redevelopment te 2026-07-01T18:53:21.474Z Park-and-ride site set for redevelopment The city is moving forward with the redevelopment of the Montebello Park-and-Ride at the southeast corner of 19th and Montebello avenues with the goal of bringing mixed-use residential and commercial to the site (photo by Kathryn M. Miller). With no discussion, the Economic Development and Arts Subcommittee of the Phoenix City Council on June 10 voted to proceed with the issuance of an RFP (Request for Proposal) to redevelop an existing park-and-ride location at 19th and Montebello avenues, a decision that was approved by the Phoenix City Council on June 17. The City of Phoenix Public Transit Department owns the approximately 10.2 acres of land that includes a 794-space park-and-ride facility and transit center serving the 19th and Montebello avenues light rail station. The site, which includes multiple parcels, was rezoned at 12.4 acres in 2025 to a Walkable Urban Code, Transect 5:6 District, Transit Solano Character Area. The Walkable Urban Code allows mixed-use, commercial and residential uses; the “Transect 5:6” zoning allows up to 80 feet in height; however, Stipulation No. 2 of the approved rezoning states that “The maximum building height shall not exceed 56 feet, except that the maximum building height may be increased to 80 feet, if a minimum of 30% of the dwelling units are provided as Affordable Housing, as approved by the Planning and Development Department and Housing Department.” The site was developed as the initial light rail end-of-line park-and-ride location and opened in 2008; however, subsequent light rail system extensions have moved the end-of-line further north and the park-and-ride is now underutilized. The RFP will seek proposals that provide mixed-use commercial and residential redevelopment supporting transit-oriented land use; capitalize on the site’s strategic location adjacent to a light rail station; support the long-term vision established in the Solano Transit-Oriented Development Policy Plan; and incorporate pedestrian-oriented design, public access, and site activation consistent with the Walkable Urban Code. In the subcommittee report, the city stated that “Some parking spaces may need to be maintained on site, which will be determined by the Public Transit Department before the RFP is issued.” The bus loop at the north end of the property will be retained. They added that additional public outreach will be completed prior to releasing the RFP. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45620ec2ca79de2362b62c Find shades of Nashville at Horse & Hyde te 2026-07-01T18:53:02.028Z Find shades of Nashville at Horse & Hyde Scott Hibler digs into a pulled pork sandwich – smoked pork on Hawaiian buns with crispy onion strips served with vinegar slaw and pickles – at Uptown’s Horse & Hyde (photo by Darryl Webb for North Central News). At Horse & Hyde, you get the Nashville vibe as soon as you walk in the door. There’s a stage upfront, with “For the Love of Country” spelled out in big letters on the wall. A local artist is playing country songs – their own or popular favorites. Guests are chowing down on smokehouse sandwiches, barbecue platters, beer and signature cocktails, and the aroma of smoked meats lingers as servers bring plates of food to tables. Black matte walls back up a compact dining area with tables and banquette seating, watched over by a large, mirror-encrusted steer skull. There’s a long bar with more seating, as well as a few tables in front and a patio just outside the big open front window. The setting encourages cross-table conversation. And that’s exactly the way Scott Hibler and his partner Korey Boals, who opened Horse & Hyde a year and a half ago in Uptown Plaza, want it. “We love country music and we love homestyle barbecue,” Hibler said. “It’s a special, unique place. If you’ve ever gone to Nashville and seen the changes that have happened up there, that vibe and that energy has really blown up around the country.” While some of those Nashville venues can be sprawling, “we wanted something that’s smaller, more intimate, with great food, amazing drinks and high energy,” Hibler said. “We try to make it comfortable with a modern flair. You can’t help but talk to the people next to you. We’ve designed this place to be more of a family-friendly place. We get a ton of families with kids here.” The idea behind Horse & Hyde was to focus on young artists who are up-and-coming, Hibler said. “My fear when we opened was that we weren’t going to have enough talent but there are so many musicians in town who love country music.” Open-mic nights encourage unknowns, he said. “We want to bring that new artist in, give them a venue and a chance to master their craft while at the same time they bring their family and friends in for food and drinks. It’s a win-win for everyone.” Hibler and Boals have a decade of experience in the Valley bar scene, including the original Arcadia Tavern and working with The Porch restaurant group. When the original Horse & Hyde opened in Arcadia, Hibler and Boals invested. While they remain as part owners of the original, they decided to open and operate their own, in North Central Phoenix. They also own and operate the Phoenix location of Dirtbag’s. Neither of the partners had culinary experience before they took the plunge into taverns. “I was in the signage and real estate development business, and Korey was a CPA, and we evolved into taking this on,” Hibler said. “You learn a lot.” Hibler credits some of their success to others who shared their expertise and experiences. “As soon as we bought Arcadia Tavern, we got calls from all the other big bar owners in town. You become friends with them and learn from them. It’s a cool network to be a part of.” And he credits Chef Damien Johnson, who goes by “Shark,” who developed the menu. The focus is on barbecue, including meat smoked offsite. That will allow the partners to select locations as they expand over the next few years, without a need for traditional restaurant-size kitchens, Hibler said. The focus at Horse & Hyde is on barbecue, including meat smoked offsite, along with dishes like Cowboy caviar, Cowboy Cobb salad, Spinach and artichoke dip, Wild West nachos and Smokehouse quesadilla (photo by Darryl Webb for North Central News). The Triple Threat BBQ Platter includes a choice of pulled pork, chopped brisket, hot link or shredded chicken, served here with Texas toast, coleslaw and BBQ beans (photo by Darryl Webb for North Central News). Deserts at Horse & Hyde include apple crumble and brownies with ice cream (photo by Darryl Webb for North Central News). “What Korey and I are good at is we know our roles,” he said. “We let our chef make the food and we let our beverage manager, Charles Malone, come up with our cocktails. We wanted them light, not heavy or syrupy. We wanted some color and of course, a great old fashioned.” What Malone came up with was cocktails with good scents, Hibler said. A case in point is the Lavender French 75, with Empress gin, lavender and prosecco, garnished with a sprig of lavender. “Right before you drink it, the lavender notes hit you. It’s refreshing.” For the old fashioned, Hibler said a twist of orange is swirled around the rim. “The scent of that sweet citrus right before you taste a really good whiskey elevates it, makes you want to sip it.” Key to the menu is a variety of choices. “What we wanted is every time you come here to be a different experience,” Hibler said, “so we have barbecue sauces from four different regions of the country: our house sauce, Texas, Memphis and Carolina. You can come in and have the brisket, pork or chicken and try it with a different sauce. Every time you come it’s something unique and new.” Cowboy caviar – peppers, corn, onions, tomatoes and beans, chopped to consistent size – shows up on several dishes including a cobb salad and the smokehouse quesadilla. It’s cowboy/country comfort food, and it blends well with the atmosphere at Horse & Hyde. “We’ve tried to create that comfort, home feeling,” Hibler said. “It’s so intimate that it invites you to make new friends. You feel like you’re in your house, and then the live country music comes on.” Bringing that to life wasn’t without roadblocks, Hibler said. Initially, there was resistance to live music, that it would be too loud for the neighborhood. “The biggest fear we had was whether they were going to accept us.” Hibler, who lives in the neighborhood, lobbied for acceptance, and they got permission to open. “The people here at Uptown, and North Central in particular, have embraced us and love what we brought to this neighborhood,” he said. “If they haven’t been here, I want them to come and experience it.” Horse & Hyde, 100 E. Camelback Road, is open Tuesday and Wednesday, 3 to 10 p.m.; Thursday, 3 to 11 p.m.; Friday 3 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For information, call 480-914-4868 or visit www.hhuptown.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4561fac2ca79de2362b623 Urban farm inches closer to fruition te 2026-07-01T18:52:42.563Z Urban farm inches closer to fruition Located at the southeast corner of Glenrosa Avenue and 28th Street, The Farm at Los Olivos will bring a 2-acre working farm and associated amenities to the west portion of the 54-year-old park (photo by Kathryn M. Miller). A plan to convert 4.5 acres of Los Olivos Park into an urban working farm – complete with a full-service farm-to-table restaurant, market and educational space – received a fresh boost of momentum in May. Some residents, however, still have questions about how the project will benefit the neighborhood. The project had stalled since the Parks and Recreation Board at its March 22, 2018, meeting approved city staff to enter into lease negotiations with Greenbelt Development LLC to develop and manage an urban working farm on the west end of the 26.5-acre park at 28th Street and Glenrosa Avenue. It stalled because the park is a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) assisted site – a federal grant program that preserves public outdoor recreation in perpetuity. LWCF allows assisted sites to be “converted” when a non-recreational use on the site is proposed. The catch is that the converted land needs to be replaced with an alternative. A large parcel in far North Phoenix was approved in 2020, but it has since been sold and developed. It seems, however, that the city has found a replacement. A May 2026 update on the project website stated that a proposed replacement property has been submitted to the National Park Service (NPS) for review and potential approval. A spokesperson for the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department said that the replacement property is located near South Mountain, but did not provide any specific details. And while the department waits for a response from NPS, some residents continue to wonder if this project is a good fit for their neighborhood park. James Mathien has lived across the street from the park for 36 years. The retiree actively uses the park for exercise and engaged in the public meeting process when the farm was first proposed. He doesn’t support The Farm at Los Olivos. “It is a good project to teach city kids where food comes from, but the wrong location.  The proposed farm will take up almost one-fifth of the park,” Mathien said. He added that the park serves a diverse social and economic population. “In 2020, the city produced an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the park service area for the National Park Service.  The EA noted that 48 percent of the population in the area was minority and that 16 percent of the households earned less than $15,000 per year.” He added, “The General Plan for the City of Phoenix Land Use Map identifies many nearby and adjacent areas to the park for medium and high-density multifamily housing: townhouses, condos and apartments. Redevelopment has occurred and is continuing to occur in the area with new two-, three- and four-story multifamily units close to the park. These replace former single-family homes and one-story multifamily units built after World War II.” He pointed to one parcel on 32nd Street that had been a single-family home for decades; now it is a 41-unit townhome development. “All of this new housing does not have lawn areas for play or recreation. So new residents need the park to walk their dogs, toss a Frisbee or teach their young children how to catch. Locating the proposed farm in the park appears contradictory to the city’s vision of creating a more dense urban neighborhood. More people with less usable park land does not seem rational.” At this point, however, residents likely won’t have an opportunity to collectively air their concerns in a public forum – the Parks spokesperson said that no further public meetings are scheduled. There are some as yet unanswered questions regarding whether an updated EA was completed and why that process was not made public. But for now, it is just a waiting game to see when and if this nearly decade-long process bears fruit. Find updates on the project website: www.phoenix.gov/parks/los-olivos-park. Learn more about Greenbelt Development at https://greenbelthospitality.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4561e7c2ca79de2362b61a From the Editor: July 2026 te 2026-07-01T18:52:23.116Z From the Editor: July 2026 Pictured by row — “Urban farm inches closer to fruition” (On the Cover); Café Chat: “Find shades of Nashville at Horse & Hyde” (see Food for Thought) | “Acacia Heights completes third phase” (see Community); Pet of the Month: “Little Loki finally running free” (see Community/Pets); “Park-and-ride site set for redevelopment” (On the cover) | “New ‘third space’ focuses on fitness” (see Community); “District celebrates student, staff accomplishments” (see School Days) As America prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding, I am reflecting on the preamble of our founding document: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Powerful words. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, and a new nation was created, with its principles and identity established. Abraham Lincoln called the Declaration “a rebuke and a stumbling-block to tyranny and oppression.” It is a document that has inspired people around the world to fight for freedom and equality. I write this on Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation – issued more than two years prior – and free the last enslaved people in that state. Nearly 100 years after this nation’s founding, it was clear that “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” was meant for some, but not others. America’s founding documents declared lofty and worthy ideals. Now, as we celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary, the work towards attaining freedom and equality continues. This Independence Day, I encourage you to explore our history, reflect on how far we have come and how far we need to go to actually realize the ideals upon which we were founded. We hope you enjoy our July issue, and until next month, all my best, Kathryn M. Miller Editor, North Central News editor@northcentralnews.net Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4561d3c2ca79de2362b611 On the Town in July te 2026-07-01T18:52:03.656Z On the Town in July Things to do in Phoenix in July, left to right by row: Desert Oasis: Garden After Dark at Desert Botanical Garden; Tesoro at Valley Bar | “First Friday: Rhys Montanarello at The Nash; Phoenix Fabulous 4th at Steele Indian School Park; Riff Wood at Crescent Ballroom | Live From Laurel Canyon at The Van Buren; Meet Me @ The Altar at The Rebel Lounge It’s hot outside, but the Valley’s venues, museums and gardens have you covered with cool things to see and do. Enjoy family-friendly events, free First Friday happenings, live bands, farmers’ markets, the Phoenix Fabulous 4th and more. See you on the town in July! Check out our Local Events page for things to do throughout the month. All event dates are current at time of publication. Check with individual venues for up-to-date show information. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4561a7c2ca79de2362b5db Republican accuses SCOTUS of betraying US, pushes bill restricting birthright citizenship, pregnant visitors te 2026-07-01T18:51:19.105Z Republican accuses SCOTUS of betraying US, pushes bill restricting birthright citizenship, pregnant visitors Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., accused the U.S. Supreme Court of betraying the nation on Tuesday and introduced a proposal to crack down on birthright citizenship. The nation's high court on Tuesday ruled against an executive order President Donald Trump issued last year that took aim at the notion that infants born on U.S. soil are entitled to American citizenship. The 14th Amendment states, in part, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." VANCE CALLS SCOTUS BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP RULING A 'MAJOR MISTAKE,' WARNS OF MORE BIRTH TOURISM Trump's order declared it to be U.S. policy "that no department or agency of the United States government shall issue documents recognizing United States citizenship, or accept documents issued by State, local, or other governments or authorities purporting to recognize United States citizenship, to persons:  (1) when that person’s mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth, or (2) when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States was lawful but temporary, and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth." Ogles slammed the Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday, asserting in part of a post on X that the Supreme Court had "betrayed America." In a statement that his office provided to Fox News Digital on Wednesday, Ogles asserted, "Yesterday, the Supreme Court cheapened the most valuable thing on planet Earth: U.S. citizenship. Not only is birthright citizenship clearly not in the U.S. Constitution, but this broken system has allowed foreign nationals to take advantage of our country, our benefits, and our generosity. These foreigners have embedded themselves into our society and are being trained by foreign governments to corrupt our culture." SUPREME COURT LAMBASTED OVER 'DESTRUCTIVE' AND 'OUTRAGEOUS' BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP DECISION He added, "I refuse to let these anchor babies colonize our country. Save our sovereignty. Anchors away!" The congressman's "Anchors Away Act" aims to crack down on the issue. The proposal would amend U.S. law — which states that those born in the U.S. and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens at birth — to stipulate that for a child to be considered under U.S. jurisdiction one of the parents must be "a citizen or national of the United States," " an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States whose residence is in the United States" or "an alien with lawful status under the immigration laws performing active service in the armed forces (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code)." TRUMP SUFFERS MAJOR SUPREME COURT DEFEAT AS JUSTICES UPHOLD BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP The measure would also amend U.S. law to stipulate, "Any alien seeking admission to the United States as a nonimmigrant who is pregnant and is not married to a citizen of the United States is inadmissible." Though it also notes, "Nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to render inadmissible an alien seeking legitimate medical treatment relating to childbirth." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a456180c2ca79de2362b5d0 Trump Administration Sues Over New Gun Bans in Virginia and California te 2026-07-01T18:50:40.192Z Trump Administration Sues Over New Gun Bans in Virginia and California The Justice Department is challenging a ban on semiautomatic assault rifles in Virginia and a ban on Glocks and Glock-style pistols in California, arguing they are unlawful under the Second Amendment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45616cc2ca79de2362b5b5 Ashton Kutcher leaving Sound Ventures to launch new VC firm with Morgan Beller te 2026-07-01T18:50:20.234Z Ashton Kutcher leaving Sound Ventures to launch new VC firm with Morgan Beller The actor and investor is joining forces with Morgan Beller, who was previously a GP at NFX, to invest in early-stage startups. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455f3cc2ca79de2362b560 Alito warns Supreme Court made 'serious mistake' that could have national security consequences te 2026-07-01T18:41:00.099Z Alito warns Supreme Court made 'serious mistake' that could have national security consequences Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito warned that the Court's ruling in Trump v. Barbara, which upheld birthright citizenship for most people born in the United States, threatens America's national security by extending citizenship to children born to illegal aliens and temporary visitors, including "birth tourists." "This is one of the most important decisions in the history of the Court, and in my judgment, the Court has made a serious mistake," Alito wrote in his dissent. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to strike down President Donald Trump's executive order, issued on his second day in office, restricting automatic United States citizenship for people born in the United States whose parents did not have permanent legal status in the country. Alito railed against the majority's ruling in a forceful dissent, arguing the justices misinterpreted the 14th Amendment. He wrote that only people who owe their full allegiance to the United States, and not another country, should automatically receive citizenship at birth. THESE 11 UPCOMING SUPREME COURT DECISIONS COULD MAKE OR BREAK TRUMP'S SECOND TERM AGENDA But beyond his constitutional objections, Alito warned the ruling could be exploited by foreign nationals from enemy nations seeking U.S. citizenship for their children. "The Court's interpretation is not only contrary to the original meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment, it produces grotesque results," Alito wrote. "While foreigners who wish to immigrate lawfully must sometimes wait for many years, a child born here to a birth tourist is automatically a citizen." SUPREME COURT'S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAUSE AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS Alito described a hypothetical scenario in which a foreign national gives birth in the United States before promptly returning to her home country as part of a larger plot to eventually harm the United States. "Suppose the child never visited the United States while growing up and was inculcated with hatred of this country," Alito wrote. "According to the Court, that person is a citizen of the United States. He can enter and leave the country as he pleases. He can travel the world on a United States passport. Even if he plots to harm this country, he cannot be deprived of his status as a citizen, at least under current precedent." Michael Hough, co-president of NumbersUSA, sided with Alito, arguing that expanding birthright citizenship risks diluting the value of U.S. citizenship and exposing the United States to foreign adversaries. He pointed Fox News Digital to a Wall Street Journal investigation reporting that a Chinese tech billionaire fathered roughly 100 children born in the United States through surrogacy, despite never having entered the country. "Look at what's happening with Chinese birth tourism and IVF. The people who drafted the 14th Amendment in the 1860s obviously weren't contemplating wealthy foreign nationals creating children in the United States through modern reproductive technology," Hough said. "Those kinds of questions should be left to Congress, not decided by judges stretching constitutional language." SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Border czar Tom Homan echoed Alito's concerns over national security to Fox News, calling for greater investigations into birth tourism. "I agree with Judge Alito," Homan told Fox News. "Birthright citizenship has always been a major driver for illegal immigration." "But more importantly its a national security concern," Homan said. "We have nationals from China and Russia coming in the thousands, having a baby and leaving. Now we have citizens in the thousands, and if this continued, in the millions in countries that I think are adversaries to us. That could come here and have an impact on how this country is run." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455f28c2ca79de2362b557 DOJ charges 8 alleged Tren de Aragua members in Texas, Illinois murder and kidnapping cases te 2026-07-01T18:40:40.648Z DOJ charges 8 alleged Tren de Aragua members in Texas, Illinois murder and kidnapping cases The Department of Justice announced murder and kidnapping charges on Wednesday against eight illegal migrants who are allegedly members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang. The charges were filed for two separate crimes. In one case, four men allegedly murdered a father in front of his teenage daughter outside Dallas, Texas, said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. In the other case, three men were accused of kidnapping a man in Chicago before beating and shooting him to death. All eight defendants crossed the U.S.-Mexico border between December 2021 and April 2024, according to Blanche. TRUMP SAYS US MILITARY ELIMINATED ‘INFAMOUS’ TREN DE ARAGUA LEADER IN LETHAL STRIKE "None of these men should have been in this country. The father in Texas should be alive today. His daughter and nephew should have never been kidnapped. The young victim in Chicago should be alive," Blanche said, before placing blame at the feet of the Biden administration for its "open border" policies. U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould, who leads Texas' northern district, said the victims outside Dallas were a man, along with his 13-year-old daughter and 12-year-old nephew. On August 24, 2024, the four alleged TdA members kidnapped them all in the middle of the night and demanded money from the father, Raybould said. "Once the TDA members realized the man could not pay them any money, they pulled over by a bridge in Dallas and told the man to jump off. When he refused to do so and attempted to flee, a TDA member gunned him down execution style in front of the two children," Raybould said. VENEZUELAN GANG MEMBERS WHO ENTERED US ILLEGALLY PLEAD GUILTY TO GUNNING DOWN TWO UNARMED AMERICANS Local police found the man on the side of the road, bleeding through a single gunshot wound in the head, Raybould said. A Texas grand jury indicted the four men involved — as well as a fifth man involved in other related crimes — for murder, kidnapping and ATM jackpotting. One of the men indicted was a high-ranking TdA official, Raybould said. Separately, the U.S. Attorney's office in Chicago filed charges against three alleged TdA members who are accused of murdering a man in May. Andrew Boutros, the top prosecutor in the Northern District of Illinois, said at the Wednesday news conference that the three defendants forced the victim into their car while he was walking in a park. ICE ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ILLINOIS TEACHER LINKED TO TREN DE ARAGUA MASS SHOOTING They drove him to a Chicago apartment, Boutros said, where they tied his wrists and left him for hours. After that, the men transported him to an abandoned building, where they shot him in the head and body, Boutros said. "I want you to think about those facts for a moment. A man kidnapped from a park in Chicago in broad daylight, beaten, held against his will, taken to an abandoned building and shot multiple times and left in a bathtub. All in the name of Tren de Aragua," Boutros said. Boutros added: "And to show just how brutal and merciless this gang is — someone then went and called the victim's mother and told her where she could find her lifeless son's body." FBI Director Kash Patel, also present at the news conference, praised federal law enforcement in his remarks for increasing arrests of violent gang members under President Donald Trump's second administration. "We've arrested 29,000 violent gang members since President Trump was sworn in," Patel said. "We have seen, specifically as it relates to Tren de Aragua, a 519% increase in arrests." According to the federal government, Tren de Aragua was formed around 2014 inside the Tocorón Prison in Aragua, a state in Venezuela. It has since grown into a transnational criminal organization. U.S. authorities have tied the gang to sex trafficking, drug trafficking, kidnappings, murders and other crimes. TdA has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department since February 2025. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455d3bc2ca79de2362b531 Phoenix libraries use dinosaurs and prizes to fight a national reading slump te 2026-07-01T18:32:27.438Z Phoenix libraries use dinosaurs and prizes to fight a national reading slump PHOENIX – Kids in the Valley have fallen in love with reading again, thanks to a dinosaur-themed reading program. “I just like them getting exposed to reading,” said Astra Pfeiffer, a regular at Mesa Public Library. “It enhances their minds and furthers their educational potential.”  For years, Pfeiffer’s kids have been enrolled in the Summer Reading Game, hosted by the Maricopa County Library District. This year’s dinosaur-themed game, “Unearth a Story,” is designed for players of any age who can earn one point for every minute they read. They also can earn points for attending library events. Recently, Pfeiffer’s family attended  an event where a library staff member dressed up as a dinosaur, parading around the library. Kids laughed and followed the dinosaur around — a lighthearted introduction to  the program. Stacey Akahoshi, a librarian at the Mesa Public Library, has seen programs like this rising in popularity. She believes the participation rates are more about the experience than the reading itself. “The way their faces lit up and got excited was so cool to see,” Akahoshi said of the dinosaur event. “We’re here to provide that extra entertainment that might get you to stay in the library and get some more air conditioning a little bit longer, but then also check out some books, find some books, ask questions,” A young library visitor looks at a picture book while sitting on the floor at the Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) Akahoshi said rates have been rising significantly since the pandemic. In the Mesa district, there are already 12,376 registered summer reading participants — a 3% increase from last year.  The game, which has been based online since 2013, is available to all ages — but kids are a target demographic as parents use prizes to incentivize their children’s reading. A parent reads to a toddler in the children’s area of the Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) Parents have a reason to search for incentives.  The National Literacy Trust declared an official literary crisis in 2024. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 37% of 9-year-olds read for pleasure almost every day, compared to 53% in 1984.  Still, libraries across the Phoenix metropolitan area stay busy. Kiyoshi Parke, a branch manager at Glendale Public Library, also said that she’s seen Summer Reading Games participation go up since she started her position in 2021. “Even though people think the written word may be dead or it’s dying … our book circulation is just as strong as it’s ever been, and we get requests for new books all the time,” Parke said.  Parke thinks it might be because of the prize incentive, which is based on location and can include anything from free books to zoo tickets.   “We also buy additional things to go with the county prizes, so I think you have a nice offering of incentive to do it,” Parke said. “We do have highly excited staff about it, and they are constantly talking about it and promoting it. So, I would like to think that word of mouth is getting out there.”  Players redeem prizes in person at their local library based on points. Readers sign up online under an individual or family account and log points. They can win up to 1,000 points for reading books and participating in library events.  Glendale and Mesa aren’t the only locations getting attention. Brittany Parkhouse, a youth services librarian at Chandler Public Library, also noticed an uptick in library traffic. “I see a lot of kids like checking books out,” Parkhouse said. “You see the excitement on their face when they come in to get their coupons, and they’re seeing the importance of their work paying off.” A young reader gets information about the Summer Reading Program at Burton Barr Central Library on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) The reading program gives kids less rules, and more reasons to read. At Mesa Public Library, Akahoshi said one of her program participants initially had no interest in reading. By the end of the summer, she found a love for graphic novels and Choose Your Own Adventure series— books that are different from traditional school reading catalogs, but helped her fall in love with reading nevertheless. “I had (her) tell me recently that reading was better than Minecraft,” Akahoshi said. The post Phoenix libraries use dinosaurs and prizes to fight a national reading slump appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455cfdc2ca79de2362b4fa 16 children found living in 'deplorable' Ohio home conditions, 4 arrested: 'Pure evil' te 2026-07-01T18:31:25.482Z 16 children found living in 'deplorable' Ohio home conditions, 4 arrested: 'Pure evil' Four people have been arrested after 16 children were found living in "deplorable" conditions and in need of medical treatment in a rural Ohio home, officials said Wednesday. The children were found during a search of the home in Hamden, 60 miles southeast of Columbus, Ohio, state Attorney General Andy Wilson said at a news conference. "Conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in," Wilson said. FLORIDA TODDLER DIES AFTER FATHER REALIZES CHILD WAS LEFT IN SUV DURING DAYCARE PICKUP The children were removed from the home. Wilson called it the worst scene he had encountered in his career, describing it as "pure evil." Several were in serious condition when found, and two were flown to Level 1 trauma centers because of their injuries. "If they had waited 24 hours, there is a very high probability that we’d be dealing with a death, or multiple deaths, of these children," Wilson said. Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain described horrid conditions, saying there was a high presence of feces and bacterial matter. FBI AND TEXAS AUTHORITIES ARREST 276 SUSPECTED CHILD PREDATORS, RESCUE 89 CHILDREN IN SWEEPING OPERATION "Most of the livestock was kept in better condition than the children," Cain said. The suspects — Gary Siders Sr., Gary Siders Jr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders — were charged with 16 counts of second-degree child endangering. A judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf during a Wednesday court hearing and set a $300,000 bond for all four. Officials didn't confirm if the children were related, but said they ranged in age from 18 months to 18 years old and included both boys and girls. WASHINGTON TEACHER CHARGED WITH INCEST AFTER ALLEGEDLY HAVING SEX WITH TWO TEENAGE BOYS SHE ADOPTED "Justice will be served for these children," Wilson said. Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer clarified that the suspects are not originally from Vinton County. "This is an intra-family situation. This is not human trafficking. There is nothing to put our other children at risk," Archer said. On Tuesday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he was being kept informed on the case. "It is heartbreaking to learn the conditions that these children were living in, and to learn of their medical conditions," he said. "Attorney General Wilson is an experienced prosecutor, and he has told me he has never seen anything like what he saw today. Fran and I pray for these children, and thank the children's services workers, law enforcement officers, and medical personnel who are helping them." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455cd1c2ca79de2362b4de Lime begins life as a public company after years of uncertainty te 2026-07-01T18:30:41.964Z Lime begins life as a public company after years of uncertainty The nine-year-old scooter and bike-share company has said it needs the funds to help pay down around $1 billion in liabilities. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455cbec2ca79de2362b4d5 Neocloud Together AI raises $800M, leaps to $8.3B valuation te 2026-07-01T18:30:22.513Z Neocloud Together AI raises $800M, leaps to $8.3B valuation The AI neocloud provider, which specializes in hosting open source models, last raised at a $3.3 billion valuation in early 2025. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455a9fc2ca79de2362b48b Tourists shown in stampede for pool lounge chairs after endless wait at holiday resort te 2026-07-01T18:21:19.427Z Tourists shown in stampede for pool lounge chairs after endless wait at holiday resort In a wild and viral moment, dozens of vacationers can be seen sprinting for poolside lounge chairs at a Spanish resort after waiting in line for an hour before the gates even opened. A man named Chris, 34, from Glasgow, Scotland, witnessed the early-morning rush while vacationing in Salou, Spain, last week, according to news agency SWNS. Video taken on June 24 shows more than 40 hotel guests gathered outside the pool entrance before it opened at 9 a.m. CHAIR-HOGGING WARS HEAT UP AS CRUISE TRAVELERS USE SNEAKY TACTICS AMID CRACKDOWNS Moments after the doors were unlocked, the crowd is seen hurrying toward the loungers, racing to claim the most desirable spots with their towels and bags. The scene was not unique to one morning, Chris told SWNS. During his week-long stay, he noticed guests lining up outside the pool entrance every day, often arriving an hour before the opening. Many would reserve a lounge chair before returning to their hotel rooms or heading inside for breakfast, leaving rows of loungers occupied long before anyone actually used them. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "It was a manic race and scramble for the sunbeds surrounding the pool at the hotel," Chris said. "I don't judge, but found it funny, so had to film it," he also said.  The process quickly became part of the morning routine — with many guests seemingly following the same strategy each day. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES "Some people just rolled out of their bed, queued up, mad-dashed to secure the bed — then they were seen going back to their hotel rooms or off for breakfast," Chris said. While he found the spectacle entertaining, the same source said he couldn't help but feel for guests who chose not to join the line. "It doesn't leave room for those who don't queue for an hour," he said. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ The scramble for poolside loungers has become a familiar sight at many resorts during the busy summer travel season. Fox News Digital previously reported that cruise lines have also been dealing with a similar battle over poolside loungers, as passengers use towels, bags and other belongings to reserve chairs for hours without actually using them. Norwegian Cruise Line recently began enforcing its no-reserving policy by placing time-stamped stickers on unattended loungers and removing personal items if guests did not return within about an hour. The crackdown drew praise from many travelers, who said the policy helped free up poolside seating and discouraged so-called "chair hogs" from monopolizing the most desirable spots. Jessica Mekles of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455a8bc2ca79de2362b482 Jewish California congressional candidate says harassment from Gaza agitators went ‘beyond free speech’ te 2026-07-01T18:20:59.970Z Jewish California congressional candidate says harassment from Gaza agitators went ‘beyond free speech’ California State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, a Jewish Democrat who is running for the congressional seat long held by Nancy Pelosi, said Monday that Gaza activists who surrounded him at the city's Trans March crossed the line from protest into intimidation. "This went beyond free speech," Wiener told CBS News' Major Garrett on his podcast "The Takeout." Wiener was confronted Friday in Dolores Park while trying to attend a trans-led Pride Shabbat service before the Trans March, an event he said he had attended every year since its 2004 launch. Video aired by CBS showed activists screaming and cursing at the longtime LGBTQ advocate over Gaza as he walked away. "You’ve been wonderful for trans people, and you’ve been terrible," one protester said. "You’ve been terrible at Gaza." PRO-ISRAEL DEMOCRAT CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR HECKLED AT TRANS MARCH OVER GAZA, ‘WE F---ING HATE YOU’ CBS News’ Major Garrett asked Wiener whether the confrontation was protected First Amendment speech or something menacing. "People will challenge my views. We’ll have conversations. People will sometimes record me. And that’s all fine," Wiener said. "That’s all protected First Amendment speech." Wiener said Friday's confrontation was different because protesters ran toward him, surrounded him, and made physical contact with him. "A few of them touched me, and they were, you know, screaming at me while they were doing it and trying to bully me and intimidate me out of the park," Wiener said. "I decided just to keep walking through and out of the park because if I stayed in the park, I was fearful for my own safety." HUNDREDS OF RABBIS DEMAND MAMDANI APOLOGIZE FOR PUTTING 'TARGET' ON AMERICAN JEWS WITH AIPAC 'MONSTER' REMARKS The protesters accused Wiener of being insufficiently critical of Israel. Wiener told Garrett the confrontation included language he viewed as antisemitic. "They were also lying about my record on Gaza," Wiener said. "They were talking about how I have, quote, unquote, ‘Israeli handlers,’ which is a classic antisemitic trope about Jews having dual loyalty." "Targeting Jewish elected leaders in ways that you are not targeting non-Jewish elected leaders and saying that they have, quote, unquote, ‘Israeli handlers.’ That is definitely anti-Semitic." San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie condemned the confrontation over the weekend. "As mayor, I can never accept hate directed at a member of our community," Lurie said. "This language directed at Sen. Wiener yesterday was targeted, hateful and antisemitic." The California Senate Democratic Caucus and California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus also condemned the "verbal harassment and attacks" against Wiener. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE MEDIA AND CULTURE NEWS Wiener defended Israel's existence while criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and opposing U.S. military funding for Israel. "Israel is home to half of all Jews on Planet Earth. It matters to Jews globally. I want it to exist and to be successful," Wiener said. Wiener then described the Israeli government as an "abomination" and said he believed its actions in Gaza amounted to genocide. "I don’t think that we should be funding the Israeli military," Wiener said. "We shouldn’t be funding the destruction of Palestinian communities." Wiener finished first in the June 2 top-two primary for California’s 11th Congressional District, with 40.7% of the vote. Connie Chan finished second with 29.7%, setting up an all-Democratic November race. Fox News Digital reached out to Sen. Wiener for comment, but did not immediately receive a response. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455a64c2ca79de2362b464 Republican write-in Weasel runs in LD20 House race te 2026-07-01T18:20:20.555Z Republican write-in Weasel runs in LD20 House race Katherine Weasel is the only Republican candidate in Legislative District 20, running as a write-in in a district that has voted predominantly Democratic. Weasel will face the two Democrats who advance from the July 21 primary in the November general election. Democratic candidates include incumbent Betty Villegas, Genoveva Diaz, Sally Ann Gonzales and Ben Koehler. Weasel's website describes her as an archetypical Republican and a Christian Conservative. Legislative District 20 covers parts of Tucson's south and west sides and is a majority Latino district, with 53% of residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino. Tucson Spotlight asked all candidates their positions on water policy, school vouchers and affordable housing. The state's Empowerment Scholarship Account voucher program, which allows parents to redirect per-student funding that would otherwise go to their local public school and use it for tuition and resources at private or alternative schools, has drawn criticism since its expansion, with many citing a lack of transparency and high potential for misuse of funds. Weasel takes a different stance. "I do not believe (the) school voucher system is being drained by private education," Weasel said. "It's being questioned because of the low performance of the public schools. Why are they getting more money?" Weasel argued that public schools' underperformance is intentional, saying she believes administrators and teachers unions exist only to enrich themselves rather than provide a quality education. "TUSD (is the) lowest performer in the public schools. Students that graduate from there cannot read, write, (and) comprehension is ridiculous," Weasel said. "They can't count back change, tell time on a regular clock. That's a total waste of taxpayers' money." Weasel said she has worked for the Amphitheater, Tucson Unified and Henry County school districts, as well as in private education. On water, Weasel said Arizona has significant challenges but disagreed that the situation is dire. "Arizona has many basins, and they appear to be doing quite well," Weasel said. "The biggest problem is with growth abuse. Too many areas withdrawing the water to build too fast, too many all at once." Weasel suggested bringing back recirculating water towers, structures that were largely decommissioned due to rising maintenance costs and the increasing reliability of ground pumps. She also said residents should be collecting and treating more rainwater for personal use. "I believe that (through) the management of maintained washes and rivers properly, (we) would help the water get to the underground basins with the least resistance," Weasel said. Republican write-in candidate Katherine Weasel's campaign website says she's a Christian conservative who wants to make America great again. Courtesy of Weasel 4 LD20. Poor management of Colorado River contracts is another reason Arizona is struggling with water, Weasel said. Affordable housing is another concern for Tucsonans. Without stable shelter, Tucson's summer heat poses a serious risk of heat-related injury or death for those who cannot avoid it. Weasel called the idea of a housing crisis "ridiculous," attributing it instead to a crisis of "non-compliance of laws." Weasel argued that there are "no jobs coming to Pima County," saying that undocumented individuals and people with substance use issues are provided with housing but choose not to use it. She suggested that current programs meant to alleviate the housing crisis have very low turnover rates and that the solution should be to bolster local police forces. "I think we need more cops, more money for their tools of the trade, a new (county) attorney (and) consequences for bad behavior," Weasel said. "Consequences for bad behavior, stop the free crime buses and cashless bails." 💡 The LD20 primary is July 21. Early voting began June 24, with a mail ballot deadline of July 14. Pima County voters can register, check their registration or request a mail ballot at recorder.pima.g Quentin Agnello is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist in Tucson. Contact him at qsagnello@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/6a455835c2ca79de2362b3c5 Dunkin's America 250 eagle cup sparks collector frenzy as fans race to snag one te 2026-07-01T18:11:01.168Z Dunkin's America 250 eagle cup sparks collector frenzy as fans race to snag one Dunkin' is celebrating America's 250th birthday by offering a limited-edition Dunkin' eagle cup, designed with a clear base topped with a sculpted eagle lid. "Whether you're sipping a vibrant Refresher or a classic iced coffee, this collectible turns every drink into a celebration," Dunkin' said in a news release. The cup quickly gained traction online. Even before it appeared in stores, Dunkin' announced that guests "may have already spotted the eagle cup taking flight across social media." STARBUCKS BRINGING BACK VIRAL MENU ITEM DESPITE 2017 BARISTA REVOLT: 'MAY GOD SAVE US ALL' "Run to Dunkin' because today is the day!" Instagram user @rebeldealz captioned a clip showing a visit to Dunkin' to secure a cup. Multiple other users on the platform commented on the post saying they bought several of the cups. "I also got 3 because they are already reselling on eBay for 50 bucks," one user wrote. A Reddit thread focused on users missing out on the limited-edition Barbie pink pineapple cup that Dunkin' dropped earlier this summer showed many celebrating getting their hands on the eagle cup. "When the pineapple cup dropped, my job had me away from my usual Dunkin' (or any Dunkin' really), and every location I tried after work were long sold out," one Reddit user wrote. "My job did the same thing to me today, but I managed to get to my morning Dunkin' spot today and snag one. Hurray." TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Dunkin' is having fun with the cup's rollout. A company Instagram post comparing facts about a real eagle with the eagle cup garnered 21,000 likes and more than 400 comments. "Dunkin' eagle cup can be spotted across any room," the Massachusetts-based company wrote alongside a picture of the cup, next to a picture of an actual eagle and the message, "The bald eagle can spot prey from over two miles away." "Thankfully, I read this before poking my straw into a bald eagle. Whew," an Instagram commenter wrote. Dunkin' has rolled out a special "star-spangled lineup of limited-time beverages and bakery treats inspired by the flavors, colors and traditions of summer's biggest holiday," the company announced. It's also selling an "Americana-themed summer merch collection." "Dunkin' is bringing the energy of America's 250th birthday to every part of the menu," Anthony Epter, vice president of menu innovation at Dunkin', said in a news release. "Inspired by Fourth of July traditions, we've created a lineup of beverages, bakery treats and the collectible eagle cup that make every Dunkin' run a little more festive and every sip a celebration." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The "Star-Spangled Sips and Summer Flavors" features "nostalgic flavors, colorful toppings and indulgent twists," according to Dunkin'. Some of the offerings include variations of fruity lemonades and a selection of flavored frozen coffees. The Dazzleberry Coolatta, which is blue-raspberry-flavored, is topped with whipped cream and "patriotic sprinkles." Dunkin's bakery case is filled with limited-time treats, including doughnuts and Munchkins (doughnut holes), dressed in red, white and blue. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS The Rocket Pop Donut features "a star-shaped yeast shell with Rocket Pop-flavored filling, topped with blue icing and a stars-and-stripes sprinkle blend," while the Stars & Stripes Donut is "dipped in blue icing and topped with festive red, white and blue sprinkles." The eagle cup is priced at $10.99 and available nationwide while supplies last. Twenty cups are available at each location, according to Dunkin'. Each eagle cup purchase includes a medium beverage. Fox News Digital reached out to Dunkin' for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455821c2ca79de2362b3bc Red-state capital city sparks conservative fire over Somali flag-raising at city hall: ‘Excuse me?’ te 2026-07-01T18:10:41.702Z Red-state capital city sparks conservative fire over Somali flag-raising at city hall: ‘Excuse me?’ The city of Columbus, Ohio, home to one of the largest Somali populations in the United States, is facing backlash on social media over a post celebrating the raising of the Somali flag. "Happy Somali Independence Day!" The Columbus Rec & Parks department posted on X on Wednesday. "As we celebrate the unification of the Trust Territory of Somaliland and the State of Somaliland into the Somali Republic in 1960, City Hall will be raising the flag of Somalia. " The post was quickly picked up by conservatives on social media, with many wondering why the city of Columbus would celebrate Somali independence so strongly, particularly given the proximity to the 250th anniversary of American independence. "Columbus, Ohio raising the flag of Somalia for America 250," White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller posted on X. BILL MAHER TELLS LIBERALS TO STOP 'PARTISAN SULKING' AND JOIN AMERICA 250 PARTY "No American government building should ever be raising another country's flag," journalist Mark Hemingway posted on X. "Ugh." "City Hall is not a foreign embassy," attorney and political commentator Mehek Cooke posted on X. "As an Ohioan, I am repulsed by the anti-Americanism here. Our leaders treat foreign nationalism as sacred while treating American patriotism as controversial. America’s public buildings should honor America." JACOB FREY PRAISES SOMALI COMMUNITY AS MINNESOTA FACES RENEWED SCRUTINY OVER FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS "This is AMERICA, not Little Somalia," ACT for America founder Brigitte Gabriel posted on X. "Flying the Somali flag at City Hall isn’t ‘celebration.’ It’s cultural surrender. Other nations aren’t parallel cultures here to dominate ours. Remove that flag. Remove the officials who demand it." "Excuse me?" Daily Wire investigative reporter Luke Rosiak, who has reported extensively on emerging fraud concerns within the Somali community in Columbus, posted on X. "Why the f--- is Columbus, Ohio celebrating ‘the unification of the Trust Territory of Somaliland…’ when America turns 250 this week?" Federalist reporter Brianna Lyman posted on X. "They all need to go back. They love their third world country so much, send them back. Denaturalize and deport." "One more way in which we encourage the refusal to assimilate." Ohio Republican State Rep. Brian Stewart posted on X. Fox News Digital reached out to the city of Columbus for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4555b4c2ca79de2362b35b The Democratic Incumbents Most at Risk of Losing to Progressive Primary Challengers in 2026 te 2026-07-01T18:00:20.911Z The Democratic Incumbents Most at Risk of Losing to Progressive Primary Challengers in 2026 A wave of outsider fervor has already knocked out a number of incumbents in primary races. Several more face spirited opposition. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455397c2ca79de2362b2ed Public library removes children's Pride display after local official sounds alarm on 'sexual grooming' te 2026-07-01T17:51:19.460Z Public library removes children's Pride display after local official sounds alarm on 'sexual grooming' A Pennsylvania public library removed a Pride Month display from its children's section after local officials requested it be taken down, prompting criticism from some community members and reigniting debate over who should influence library programming. "On Friday, I received word from the library that the municipal manager had directed our library director to take down the display in the children's room," Kelly Meredith, president of the Monroeville Public Library Board of Directors, said in a statement, local ABC affiliate WTAE reported Monday. The outlet reported that the Pride display had been up since June 1 and was removed last week despite opposition from Meredith. DRAG QUEEN INVITED TO BALTIMORE ORIOLES PRIDE NIGHT TAKES A SHOT AT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION In a June 19 Facebook post resharing the library's photo of the Pride display, Monroeville Councilmember Bill Krut wrote, "Should these books be available for children at the Monroeville Library? I think not… I don’t care what adults do. This is child, sexual grooming." Some of the books featured in the Pride display shown in the photo shared by Krut included "The GayBC’s," "A Kid’s Book About Gay Parents," "Pride Puppy!," "Rainbow: A First Book of Pride," "My Two Moms," and "Sparkle Boy." Lindsay White, a pastor at Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Monroeville and a parent, called Krut’s comments "incredibly offensive." "We utilize the library every week, and the Pride display is an incredible resource in helping my children learn about the reality of the world that we live in. And we are very supportive of the LGBTQ community," White said during a library board meeting. BLISTERING REPORT EXPOSES HOW NATIONAL K-12 GROUP'S DEI AGENDA IS TRICKLING DOWN TO LOCAL SCHOOLS In a statement posted on Facebook Monday, Monroeville Mayor Dennis Biondo Jr., said, "As Mayor, I represent all residents of the Municipality of Monroeville, and I affirm our community’s values of safety, dignity and respect for all residents, including the LGBTQIA+ community. The Monroeville Public Library has served this municipality and surrounding communities for over 60 years, and we are blessed to have such a trusted public institution and its employees, locally accessible for information, community gathering, and literacy." He added, "Libraries must remain safe, welcoming spaces free from intimidation or censorship, so that all patrons have access to the books and resources that they need or want. I will continue to support the library, the Library Board, and the library’s employees to use their expert discretion in creating displays and activities that represent this community." THE ONLY MLB TEAM WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL PRIDE NIGHT HOLDS A FAITH & FAMILY NIGHT IN JUNE INSTEAD WTAE reported that Monroeville Municipal Manager Alex Graziani said the display could be removed due to the upcoming July 4 holiday. "I advised that the June Pride Month display in the children’s section of the Monroeville Public Library could be removed and replaced with a patriotic America 250 display in advance of the Independence Day holiday and our community celebration," Graziani said. Meanwhile, Meredith said that library staff, not public officials, make decisions regarding displays, WTAE reported. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Meredith said, "On Friday, June 26, I was notified of a directive from the municipal manager to the library director to remove the 'Love is Love' display in the children's room. This was following pressure from some members of council, who wanted the display removed. While we do not want to set a precedent that allows council or the municipality to dictate library displays, we ultimately decided to take the display down early to ensure a safe and comfortable working environment for the library staff." Meredith added, "Library displays fall under the library's board-approved collection development policy. The display met all criteria and standards set forth in this policy. The Board of Directors is grateful for all the support the library has received from community members and patrons throughout this." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455384c2ca79de2362b2e4 Angel mom warns Democrats 'we're not going to stop' after emotional House hearing on sanctuary policies te 2026-07-01T17:51:00.019Z Angel mom warns Democrats 'we're not going to stop' after emotional House hearing on sanctuary policies Angel mom Tammy Nobles warned lawmakers Wednesday that families of Americans killed by immigrants in the country illegally will continue confronting Congress until lawmakers take action on sanctuary city policies and illegal immigration. "If you guys don't do anything, it will continue to happen, and we will continue having those meetings, and we'll not be quiet and shut up about our children that were killed by illegal immigrants," she said on "America's Newsroom." "We're not gonna stop, and you're gonna listen to us every single time if you want to or not." GRIEVING MOTHERS SCORCH DEM LAWMAKER AFTER HE PIVOTS DURING HEARING TO ATTACK 'MAGA REPUBLICANS' Nobles' remarks came after fellow angel mom Jessica Gorman drew media attention for her tearful testimony before a House Judiciary subcommittee Tuesday. Gorman's daughter, 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago freshman Sheridan Gorman, was allegedly shot and killed by an illegal immigrant after going to the Chicago lakefront with friends to see the Northern Lights earlier this year. Sheridan's grieving mother accused sanctuary city leaders and politicians of failing to protect her daughter and begged lawmakers to "choose" American citizens over illegal immigrants. "I'm just asking you to choose us. We choose you," Gorman pleaded. GRIEVING PARENTS OF SLAIN STUDENT SHERIDAN GORMAN SPEAK OUT: 'WE CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO ANOTHER FAMILY' "Why does my child matter less than an illegal immigrant...? Every day, I wake up with unimaginable pain. I wake up in the middle of the night and I think, 'Did my daughter cry for me?' She made it 40 feet... running for her life. Did she cry out for me? She died on that pavement all by herself, lonely, bleeding on that pavement, and I will never, ever rest..." Nobles expressed similar pain and frustration with the status quo. Her daughter, Kayla Hamilton, was raped and strangled by an MS-13 gang member in 2022. Since then, Nobles has advocated for families like hers and appeared before Congress to challenge lawmakers she says have been flippant about the policies she believes contribute to such crimes. "I had been sharing Kayla's story to prevent this from happening, and the Democrats on the panel just say the same thing: 'I'm sorry for your loss' and 'We're tired of being [there].' Well, I'm sure you're tired of being in there. It's going to continue to happen [unless something changes]." Fox News' Elizabeth Heckman and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45535cc2ca79de2362b2b8 Cloudflare’s new policy pushes AI companies to pay for publishers’ content te 2026-07-01T17:50:20.584Z Cloudflare’s new policy pushes AI companies to pay for publishers’ content Cloudflare is giving AI companies until September 15 to separate web crawlers used for search from those used for AI training and agents, or risk being blocked by default on many publisher sites. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45518dc2ca79de2362b291 States gird for new Medicaid ‘medically frail’ rule te 2026-07-01T17:42:37.370Z States gird for new Medicaid ‘medically frail’ rule Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, speaks at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., in December. CMS last month released guidance on how states should implement new Medicaid work requirements. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) State Medicaid agencies are concerned that many sick and disabled enrollees will lose their coverage because the Trump administration is narrowing the definition of who is “medically frail” enough to get an exemption from new work requirements. Under the tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed a year ago, states that have expanded Medicaid to cover more adults under the Affordable Care Act — 40 states plus the District of Columbia — must mandate that those adults work, go to school or volunteer for at least 80 hours a month. The so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act exempts Medicaid recipients who are “medically frail,” with serious illnesses or disabilities. However, on June 1 the Trump administration published interim guidelines for implementing the law that specify that in order to qualify for the “medically frail” designation, a person must have a significant health condition and be significantly impaired in their ability to work. “This rule helps Americans build skills and independence through work, education, job training, or community service, creating new opportunities for themselves and their families,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, director for the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in a statement earlier this month announcing the new guidance. But states had been operating under the assumption that they would use the federal government’s traditional “medically frail” designation, which includes five distinct categories of disabilities and illnesses but does not require Medicaid agencies to determine whether the person can work. States already were scrambling to set up systems to enforce the new work rules by the January 2027 deadline, according to Jocelyn Guyer, managing director at Manatt Health, a consulting firm that advises state Medicaid agencies. “Now, it’s not enough just to have that diagnosis. You may need to go to your doctor and get a special note,” Guyer said. “So, it’s turned it from a very straightforward protection of people with disabilities and significant health conditions into a paperwork morass, where all of a sudden they have to get their healthcare providers involved in documenting and assessing their capacity to work.” Earlier this week, 25 Democratic-led states plus the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration over the work requirement, largely on the basis of the changed “medically frail” guidelines. Several state Medicaid agencies said they’re struggling to understand what they’ll have to do to comply. Even before the “medically frail” change, states were hiring consultants and creating IT systems to verify and track enrollees’ working status, which they never had to do before. “Most states were working on identifying a number of diagnoses that may be able to meet that definition in hopes that that would align with what the final guidance said,” Melanie Bush, deputy secretary for the North Carolina Medicaid Division of Health Benefits, said. “But the layering in of impaired ability to work — there’s not necessarily a data source that aligns with that.” Bush said states are focused on figuring out how to prevent eligible people from dropping off the rolls just because of paperwork and logistical challenges. One analysis estimates that five million people could lose coverage from the original work requirements alone. State leaders and consultants worry that figure could rise significantly with the new guidance. Healthcare providers are worried, too. “This is not what we’re trained to do. Most of us do not do disability determinations and employability assessments regularly, and even if we do feel comfortable with that role, we don’t have time, we’re not like we’re not paid to do that,” said Dr. Benjamin Sommers, a health economist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “Primary care providers, in particular, are already overworked and burning out.” Still, Medicaid directors have experience in dealing with major shifts within the program, according to Michael Heifetz, a managing director at consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal and a former Medicaid director in Wisconsin. Heifetz said states regularly face major rule changes and tight timeline challenges, and with greater access to advanced technology to help automate some tasks, he’s confident they will be able to mitigate enrollment losses. Another big help, he said, is that Medicaid enrollees will be allowed to “self-attest” to their eligibility for an exemption through 2027. “States will work through it, and they will again work with the advocacy community to minimize the impact on beneficiaries,” Heifetz said. “There is still some ambiguity in the rule about how self-attestation will work in 2027, because the rule reads that other sources of information and documentation must still be sought, but in the end, self-attestation will prevail.” Jennifer Tolbert, an expert on state health policy at health research group KFF, said there are several data sources states might tap to determine a person’s ability to work, such as insurance claims, prescriptions and a person’s use of durable medical equipment. She cautioned, however, that it will be a challenge to use such data to make thoughtful determinations, especially for people with substance use disorders and mental health issues. To keep eligible people enrolled, California will use text message alerts, mailed notices, and electronic reminders to make sure recipients meet verification deadlines, according to Anthony Cava, a spokesperson for California Department of Health Care Services. Nevertheless, Cava said, the state is concerned that people, including those with serious illnesses and disabilities, will drop off the rolls “solely due to paperwork barriers.” Adela Flores-Brennan, Colorado’s Medicaid director, said states could come under fire for making errors. “We’re also worried about audits,” Flores-Brennan said. “There are new penalties for states, bigger penalties for states related to error rates, and the level of complexity that is being introduced into eligibility right now is making an environment that is ripe for errors because it’s confusing and it’s complex.” Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani can be reached at schatlani@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/6a455179c2ca79de2362b274 NPR’s Alito retirement blunder raises eyebrows after reporter's ‘not plausible’ explanation stuns media world te 2026-07-01T17:42:17.395Z NPR’s Alito retirement blunder raises eyebrows after reporter's ‘not plausible’ explanation stuns media world The strange explanation surrounding NPR’s erroneous story about Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito retiring has raised more questions about the journalism debacle.  NPR was forced to retract a story Tuesday by legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, who wrongly reported that Alito was retiring. NPR published the story headlined, "Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, retires," but quickly replaced it with an editor’s note insisting it was "erroneously published."  NPR top editor Thomas Evans issued a statement calling the botched report a "misunderstanding," and said Totenberg would appear on "All Things Considered" to explain how the gaffe occurred.  NPR RETRACTS FALSE REPORT CLAIMING JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO IS RETIRING FROM THE SUPREME COURT But NPR Public Editor Kelly McBride addressed the situation before Totenberg appeared on-air and wrote that Totenberg "misheard" an announcement by Chief Justice John Roberts and simply thought he said Alito was retiring.  Totenberg then appeared on "All Things Considered" Tuesday and provided a different explanation for the "rookie mistake" that contradicted her own public editor. The 82-year-old Totenberg, who has been a working journalist for over five decades, read a letter she wrote to Alito apologizing for the mistake. "Dear Justice Alito, there are no words to adequately apologize for today's error in reporting your retirement. It was entirely my fault," Totenberg said. "I rushed out of the courtroom after the opinion announcements, and when I realized that the usual rush of folks after a few minutes had not happened, I asked somebody what was going on inside, to which the answer was, 'retirement announcements.' I didn't hear the 's' on 'announcements,' and I assumed, something no reporter should ever do, that you were retiring," Totenberg continued. "It was the worst professional mistake of my more than 50 years in journalism. I could go on, but I don't know what else to say, except that I am so, so sorry."  NPR REVEALS HOW A MISHEARD ANNOUNCEMENT LED TO IT FALSELY CLAIMING JUSTICE ALITO WAS RETIRING NPR was then forced to issue its second correction of the day, this time to McBride’s story about Totenberg’s misstep. McBride initially wrote that Totenberg misheard Justice Roberts, but the veteran reporter admitted on-air that she instead heard "somebody" say a retirement was being announced.  "This story was updated to include Totenberg's description of her error, as broadcast on ATC. She did not personally hear the announcement from the chief justice," the correction stated.  Alito's retirement would have massive implications if it happened, as President Donald Trump would be in position to have a fourth Supreme Court pick over his two terms. Totenberg's puzzling explanation not only contradicted McBride but also stunned media observers from across the industry. CNN media reporter Brian Stelter posted her apology on X and was promptly met with confusion.  Axios reporter Alex Thompson replied, "I don’t understand," to which Stelter added, "I don’t either." Others suggested that Totenberg might have jumped the gun on a looming announcement and many wondered why a veteran journalist would have published a pre-written bombshell without clear confirmation.  SUPREME COURT'S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAUSE AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS Bethany Mandel added, "Her version of events is not plausible. She heard the word retirement and assumed Alito and published a whole story?"  "That is not an explanation. It's either a lie or unforgivable incompetence for which she must be fired," journalist Miranda Devine responded.  Former CBS News reporter Scott MacFarlane wrote, "This is staggering. Just… gobsmacking." "The Press Box" host Bryan Curtis added, "This is a different level of screw-up than a pre-write accidentally getting pubbed." Many others took to X with thoughts: NPR has said the process for posting breaking news will be reviewed. In the meantime, McBride blasted her colleague.  "As Totenberg said on air later in the day, ‘It was a rookie mistake.’ But had a rookie made such a mistake, he or she would have been dismissed. To make such an assumption is inexplainable," McBride wrote.  NPR did not immediately respond to a series of questions, including whether Totenberg would be disciplined and how the process for posting breaking news will change. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Alito, an appointee of then-President George W. Bush, has fueled speculation about his retirement because of two factors: his age and the length of his tenure on the bench. The 76-year-old justice has been part of the Court for more than 20 years.  Republicans currently control the U.S. Senate and White House, so a hypothetical Trump nominee wouldn't need Democratic support to get confirmed. Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf, Alec Schemmel and Ashley Oliver contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455165c2ca79de2362b26b JK Rowling confronts the BBC for pushing 'propaganda' over its transgender sports headline te 2026-07-01T17:41:57.938Z JK Rowling confronts the BBC for pushing 'propaganda' over its transgender sports headline "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling publicly called out the BBC on Tuesday for pushing "propaganda" in its coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling upholding bans on transgender athletes participating in women’s and girls’ sports. Replying on X to a BBC News headline about the high court’s ruling, Rowling argued the British broadcaster was pushing an ideological position that the public "overwhelmingly rejects." The BBC headline read: "US Supreme Court upholds bans on transgender women in female school and college sports." Rowling immediately pushed back on the framing. "You mean men, men who claim to be women," Rowling wrote, taking issue with the network's refusal to use biological terms in its headline. ANDREW GARFIELD WARNS FANS AGAINST WATCHING 'HARRY POTTER,' CALLS ROWLING ‘SHE THAT SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS’ "You are a national broadcaster that consistently obfuscates facts around sex because you’ve taken an ideological position the public overwhelmingly rejects. This isn’t news, it’s propaganda," she added. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a BBC spokesperson defended the network's reporting by pointing to the context provided within the story itself. "This article states clearly that a transgender woman is a biological man who identifies as a woman," the spokesperson said. The BBC spokesperson also added that the organization recognizes the strong feelings around the subject, and said it continues to review coverage to reflect legal developments, like the Supreme Court ruling. In a 6-3 ruling authored by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of West Virginia and Idaho, which were being sued by transgender athletes to gain access to girls’ sports. The court upheld state laws requiring student athletes to compete on teams and in leagues that match their biological sex, not gender identity, a move that secures similar protections passed in over two dozen other states. WNBA PLAYER OPPOSES NEW OLYMPICS TRANSGENDER POLICY, SAYING THEY DO 'ANYTHING BUT' PROTECT WOMEN Rowling has faced criticism for her views on biological sex, frequently calling for the exclusion of transgender athletes from girls' and women’s sports. She has donated to campaign group For Women Scotland, which legally challenged how the word "woman" is defined by law in the United Kingdom. The BBC article later explained that, "Under those state bans, a transgender woman — a biological male who identifies as a woman — is not permitted to compete in female sports at schools and colleges." On Tuesday, LGBTQ+ advocates and social media users criticized Queen Camilla for posting a photo alongside Rowling with the caption on the Royal family’s Instagram page reading: "With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure, The Queen and author J.K. Rowling have met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh." "Her Majesty and Ms Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations." Social media users criticized the decision to meet Rowling during June, which is widely recognized as Pride Month. ROYAL FAMILY FACES BACKLASH FROM CRITICS AFTER QUEEN CAMILLA HOSTS J.K. ROWLING Earlier this year, Rowling praised the International Olympic Committee’s decision to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports. "Today's ruling by the IOC means a welcome return to fair sport for women and girls, but I'll never forget the scandal of Paris 2024, when people who consider themselves supremely virtuous and progressive publicly cheered on men punching women," she wrote on X. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Her outspoken views on the issues of transgender athletes have frequently put her at odds with other celebrities. Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the original films, and his co-star, Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger, have both condemned Rowling’s opinions. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455152c2ca79de2362b262 Ex-Democrat reveals why he ditched party and is running as Republican in blue stronghold te 2026-07-01T17:41:38.484Z Ex-Democrat reveals why he ditched party and is running as Republican in blue stronghold Micah Jones, a former self-described JFK Democrat-turned-Republican, hopes to capitalize on a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity as he looks to flip Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District. "The last time this seat was open was 47 years ago," Jones said. "I think that Massachusetts suffers when we have a one-party congressional delegation that, in my opinion, is less inclined to work across the aisle than representatives of other states." Jones’s campaign is a bet that the district’s independent voters — and maybe some Democrats — will see the benefit Massachusetts could reap from having even just one Republican representative. Coupled with the precedent of the occasional Republican success is the Bay State, Jones believes his race can beat past odds and help decide the balance of power in the House of Representatives. LONE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FINDS HIS EDGE AS A DOZEN DEMOCRATS CLASH IN RACE TO REPLACE MIKIE SHERRILL Before running for Congress, Jones served in the military in the 82nd Airborne Division, deploying on a tour in Afghanistan from 2014 to 2015. Later, after going to law school, he became an attorney. It was in law school that I began to have doubts about the Democratic Party's direction, describing a "shock" at its trajectory. "This was back in 2016. That was kind of the incubator before everything that we've now dealt with the last few years in regards to more progressive ideologies," Jones recalled. "In particular, when it came to support for law enforcement — this was during the defund the police movement. When it came to a worldview that tried to classify people between oppressors and oppressed, I felt that was fundamentally different than President Kennedy's vision. And at that point, I left the Democratic Party, became an independent." Although Jones believes a portion of the state’s 63% registered independents may share that view, his pitch to them is more pragmatic. He believes Massachusetts is missing out on Republican representation that can coordinate with the GOP administration and Congress. NEW YORK REPUBLICAN IN TOSS-UP DISTRICT GAINS MOMENTUM IN KEY RACE TO DETERMINE HOUSE CONTROL "Our two senators, our nine congressional members — none of them are Republicans. And I think that they have taken a resistance-only mindset," Jones said, referring to their posture towards the Trump administration. "And so, I think that we lose out on significant federal funding, billions of dollars in federal funding. I could be the sole Republican on that delegation, to work with the administration when it makes sense, push back when it doesn't, call balls and strikes, really focus on what's best for not only my district, [and] advocate for Massachusetts as a whole." When asked about the Republican label and why not just run as an independent, Jones said he believes he needs the party’s campaign infrastructure to meaningfully wage a campaign to flip the district. "You do need a party apparatus. And I am a Republican. I would say I’m center-right, especially on fiscal issues," Jones said. "The ‘R’ next to my name is going to be challenging. I fully acknowledge that. I do, however, think there is another 15% to 20% [of voters] that really are independents and really do care about candidate quality." As evidence, Jones pointed to other Republicans who have run successfully in Massachusetts. "People forget, Gov. Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts. You have Gov. Bill Weld; you have Gov. Charlie Baker. And so, I think that the Massachusetts Republican model is one to emulate and one that works very well here," Jones said. DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE APOLOGIZES FOR PAST PRO-POLICE, PRO-GUN POSTS IN KEY BATTLEGROUND RACE The district’s current occupant, Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., announced he would pursue a Senate seat rather than reelection. He last won reelection in a 62.9% to 35.2% victory over Republican challenger Robert May Jr., a mechanical engineer. Jones, who is running unopposed in the state’s Sept. 1 primaries, will likely advance to the general election on Nov. 3. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45513fc2ca79de2362b259 Southern Poverty Law Center's money women allegedly used major bank to fund pay-to-hate operation te 2026-07-01T17:41:19.029Z Southern Poverty Law Center's money women allegedly used major bank to fund pay-to-hate operation FIRST ON FOX: A pair of former top executives at the Southern Poverty Law Center used a network of checking accounts to secretly funnel $4.1 million to extremists, including one nicknamed "The Aryan Barbarian," in a long-running pay-to-hate scheme, federal officials told Fox News Digital. The SPLC's former chief financial officer Teenie Hutchison and ex-Intelligence Project chief Heidi Beirich allegedly created the accounts at Synovus Bank in 2008, making the beleaguered nonprofit’s trusted bank a hub for diverting supporters' donations to sketchy groups, sources said. The network ultimately supported secret payments to as many as 50 confidential "field sources," called "Fs," embedded within extremist organizations around the country. Some 13 field sources have so far been identified in court filings. "The SPLC found its niche, and its leaders built a fiefdom with donations they got like crazy," former NYPD intelligence official, attorney and Fox News contributor Paul Mauro said. Former SPLC Chief Executive Officer Margaret Huang allegedly signed a letter acknowledging the operation to Synovus bank officials in September 2021 before ending her tenure at the SPLC in July 2025. SPLC supporters have characterized the payment recipients as "informants," and they included a right-wing extremist behind the infamous 2017 "Unite the Right" protests in Charlottesville, Va. "The government can run informants," said Mauro. "Private industry cannot." The new revelations show the federal investigation of the SPLC is significantly larger than initially reported and was orchestrated at the organization's highest level. Beirich was previously believed to be involved in the alleged payments, but this is the first time federal officials have confirmed her involvement. The new details about the SPLC case emerge as the Trump administration's Justice Department intensifies scrutiny of influential nonprofit organizations. Earlier this week, Fox News Digital reported exclusively that federal prosecutors launched a grand jury investigation into Shanghai-based Marxist tech mogul Neville Roy Singham over possible illegality in his funding of left-wing activist groups. Together, the two federal investigations signal an aggressive effort by the administration to examine whether certain organizations are using their nonprofit status to conceal financial operations. A spokesperson for Synovus Bank told Fox News Digital that the lender, based in Columbus, Ga., is working with federal investigators in the "ongoing investigation."  "As a matter of policy, we do not comment on specific client relationships," the spokesperson said. "We have cooperated fully with the ongoing investigation and will continue to do so." Hutchison, Beirich and Huang didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. In late May, the SPLC filed a motion to dismiss the case. On June 9, days after the U.S. government filed a superseding indictment against the SPLC, the nonprofit's interim president and chief executive officer, Bryan Fair, denied any wrongdoing by the SPLC during a fiery hearing before the House Judiciary Committee. The allegations sit at the center of a federal case accusing the SPLC of bank fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Sources familiar with the investigation say additional charges will likely be filed against individual executives and former executives of the nonprofit. Fox News Digital's investigation unpacks the government’s theory of the alleged operation through the traditional three stages of money laundering: placement, layering and integration. In the first stage of placement, U.S. officials say Hutchison and Beirich created and controlled a hidden financial infrastructure at SPLC that became the entry point for $4.1 million in allegedly illicit payments made to so-called field sources. In the second stage, layering involves moving money through multiple accounts, transactions and entities, like a series of bank accounts Hutchison and Beirich allegedly set up for fake companies, designed to obscure the money's origin. Finally, in the third stage, integration occurs when the proceeds or products of an operation become absorbed into legitimate activities, like the organization's "Extremist Files," and become difficult to distinguish from ordinary business operations. According to federal prosecutors, the SPLC's alleged operation involved all three stages. DOJ LAUNCHES GRAND JURY PROBE INTO MARXIST MOGUL NEVILLE ROY SINGHAM'S FUNDING OF LEFTIST GROUPS Without naming the finance and intelligence chiefs, a grand jury indictment made public in April revealed that "Employee-1" and "Employee-2" in 2008 created a secret network of nine bank accounts at "Bank-1" and "Bank-2" that funneled millions of dollars to far-right extremists from 2014 through 2023. The initial indictment put the amount at $3 million, but it was increased to $4.1 million in a superseding indictment. The indictment notes that "individuals at the SPLC" were the ones who "secretly funneled donated money to the Fs," including "Employee-1," a "person who would become the Chief Financial Officer, and "Employee-2," a "person who would become the Director of the Intelligence Project." Federal officials told Fox News Digital that Hutchison, who moved from the position of treasurer and corporate secretary to chief financial officer, is "Employee-1." They said "Employee-" 2 is Beirich, who started in 1999 as a newly-minted Ph.D. student, and was named deputy director of the Intelligence Project in 2004 and later director of the Intelligence Report. The duo allegedly created a banking account structure under names that didn’t identify the SPLC. The nine shell entities were dubbed "Center Investigative Agency," "Fox Photography," "Imagery Ink," "J&J Electronics," "Kelly's Marine," "North West Technologies," "Tech Writers Group" and "Turner Personnel" and "Rare Books Warehouse." Federal prosecutors allege the accounts were used to pay informants while concealing the source of the money. The government's theory is that the accounts became the financial infrastructure supporting a sprawling money laundering operation. Federal prosecutors allege the accounts remained active for years, surviving leadership transitions and internal turmoil at one of the nation's most influential civil-rights organizations. TOP SPLC OFFICIAL ALLEGEDLY FUNNELED $1.2M TO NEO-NAZI INFORMANT WHO WAS SECRET ROMANTIC PARTNER Over two decades, Beirich became one of the nonprofit’s most influential figures, shaping how "far-right extremism," "White supremacy" and "neo-Nazi hate" were documented, defined and communicated. She testified before Congress, and appeared regularly on television and radio. Journalists, academics and policymakers frequently turned to her for analysis of White-nationalist groups, anti-government movements and domestic extremism. By 2017, ABC News described her as "the woman tracking hate in America." In contrast, Hutchison maintained a low profile and was rarely photographed, working quietly behind the scenes. In 2017, she was on the renewal document for the nonprofit’s "Mississippi Charitable Registration" as the SPLC’s treasurer and secretary, the custodian of financial records and one of the nonprofit’s two "check signers." The SPLC listed its official bank as Sterling Bank, a Synovus Bank subsidiary based in Montgomery. In October 2019, Beirich co-founded a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit, "Global Project Against Hate and Extremism," with a mailing address just three miles away from SPLC headquarters in Alabama's capital. Two months later, Beirich left SPLC after 20 years, according to her LinkedIn profile, just as the dragnet was closing in on the alleged pay-to-hate operation she’d been running for years. According to the SPLC's tax filing that year, she last earned a salary of $173,090 and a bonus of $25,721. The alleged violations continued after Beirich's and Hutchison’s tenures at SPLC. FIRST ON FOX: SPLC'S TAX-EXEMPT STATUS UNDER THREAT AFTER FIERY CAPITOL HILL HEARING One of the alleged recipients of secret SPLC payments was Erich Gliebe, the former chairman of a neo-Nazi organization, National Alliance. Known as "The Aryan Barbarian" during his time as a boxer, Gliebe allegedly received more than $140,000 from the SPLC between 2016 and 2023. At the same time he was allegedly collecting payments, Gliebe was featured in SPLC materials describing extremist figures and organizations. An SPLC "Extremist Files" profile dedicated to Gliebe contained a link through which visitors could donate to the organization. Gliebe didn't respond to requests for comment. Daniel Harvill, a Virginia attorney who represented National Alliance members in litigation involving Gliebe, described Gliebe as an ineffective leader. "Gliebe was a joke," Harvill told Fox News Digital. "He didn't know how to run a business or political organization. There was a large pile of stupid among them." Harvill said bitterness from that litigation may have contributed to Gliebe becoming an SPLC informant. Court filings indicate that larger accounts associated with the alleged operation remained active until August 2020, when the hidden account structure finally drew scrutiny from bank officials. Synovus Bank did an internal investigation, according to court filings. That review became a pivotal moment in the government's case. According to the indictment, around Sept. 9, 2021, the SPLC "President and Chief Executive Officer" and the SPLC "Board Chair" admitted in writing to Bank-1 – Synovus Bank – that the fictitious accounts were "opened for the benefit of the Southern Poverty Law Center operations and operated under the Center’s authority." They signed a document also stating that "pursuant to the discussion we had earlier this week…the accounts had been opened and operated for the benefit of the organization." The CEO was Huang, federal sources told Fox News Digital. Huang's acknowledgment now sits near the center of the government's legal theory that the account structure wasn’t the work of rogue employees but operated under organizational authority. The nonprofit and its sister organization, the SPLC Action Fund, had hired Huang the year earlier, describing her as an "internationally renowned human and civil rights leader," previously serving as executive director of Amnesty International USA. It isn’t clear who the board chair was at the time of the signing, but former Goldman Sachs executive Bennett Grau was a board member at the time. Grau didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. Huang’s role in signing the admission hasn’t been publicly disclosed before. SPLC INDICTMENT BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR BESSENT'S TREASURY TO PROBE PARTISAN NONPROFITS SPLC last listed Hutchison on its IRS 990 filing for the period ending on Oct. 31, 2022. According to that IRS filing, she last earned $237,749 and a bonus of $32,697. In early July 2025, Huang announced her resignation as president, stepping down "to prioritize family life." The board of directors named constitutional scholar and former SPLC Board Chair Bryan Fair as interim president and CEO. The role of senior SPLC officials in this alleged operation raises significant red flags for law enforcement, federal officials told Fox News Digital, saying the alleged activity reflects a structured ecosystem directed from the top. Investigators describe an operation in which financial flows, informants, public content and political work by the SPLC and its sister organizations were closely linked, with senior officials like Hutchison and Beirich positioned to control the money, narrative and influence of the SPLC. INDICTED SPLC CHIEF FACES HOUSE GRILLING OVER ALLEGED SECRET PAYMENTS TO KKK MEMBERS The court proceedings represent a form of vindication for some targets of the SPLC.  Back in October 2017, the SPLC and three other groups – Media Matters, ReThink Media and the Center for New Community – released a publication titled "Field Guide to Anti-Muslim Extremists." In interviews at the time, Beirich confirmed that Democratic billionaire George Soros's Open Society philanthropy had provided funding for the production of the report. The report included Maajid Nawaz, a British Muslim reformer who founded the Quilliam Foundation to combat Islamist extremism. The next year, in 2018, he sued the SPLC for defamation, winning a $3.375 million settlement and a public apology. Nawaz recently told Fox News Digital that the SPLC’s alleged system of paying extremists is corrupt, and he feels vindicated by the federal prosecution against the nonprofit. "They were funding both sides," Nawaz said. "If you control the rules of the game… you’re able to control where the hate comes from… and then control the reaction." "They were taking money to fight hate," he said, "and then funding the very hate they took money to fight." As the SPLC mounts its defense, Nawaz said, "This indictment demonstrates clearly that the SPLC should now cease to exist. It should come to an end." Fox News Digital's Bonnie Chu and Adriana James-Rodil contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45512bc2ca79de2362b250 Fever head coach lectures America on racism and homophobia as Caitlin Clark narrative starts to shift te 2026-07-01T17:40:59.570Z Fever head coach lectures America on racism and homophobia as Caitlin Clark narrative starts to shift Well, the narrative has officially been changed. Well done, WNBA. Well done, Alyssa Thomas. Well done, Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White. One day after Alyssa Thomas played the predictable victim card — saying she's received death threats over the incident with Clark — White further fueled that narrative during her opening statement to the media on Wednesday. SUSPENDED ALYSSA THOMAS RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM TEAMMATE & COACH AFTER CHEAP SHOT ON CAITLIN CLARK And by "statement," I mean a three-minute lecture on how racist and homophobic people are being towards Thomas, and the WNBA. That's right. Nothing on Clark. Nothing on the non-call. Nothing on the league's refusal to do anything about these incidents. A statement, from the opposing team's coach, about inclusivity. Amazing. "Before we start with questions I just want to address what is going on with AT," she said, referring to Thomas. "It's absolutely unacceptable. As a league, as a whole, there's been so much more toxicity, racism, homophobia. Straight out nonsense. Hate-nonsense. It's absolutely unacceptable. Most of this coming from the online community. MERCURY COACH CLAIMS ALYSSA THOMAS SUSPENSION WAS BASED ON 'SOCIAL MEDIA SCREENSHOTS' AFTER CAITLIN CLARK FOUL "Most of this, in my heart of hearts, I believe, not coming from WNBA fans, Indiana Fever fans, I believe it's coming from people using our league, using our players to further divisive agendas. It's not acceptable." Goodness, gracious. Like I said, the story has completely changed. And it's so predictable. This was always the path forward, right? Lord knows the WNBA couldn't allow the Caitlin Clark empathy to continue on for much longer. Nope. If the last few days have taught us anything, it's that we are the problem. The fans. The media. Not Alyssa Thomas. Not the refs. Not the WNBA turning a blind eye. Us. Or, as White put it, the "online community." So, trolls. Internet trolls. That's what Alyssa Thomas and Stephanie White are focused on. Keyboard warriors who mean nothing, and have been around since the dawn of social media, are now the focus. "It's crazy, you know, playing the game, being suspended, just the whole narrative that's being painted out there," Thomas said earlier this week. "It's unfortunate that it's come to this over basketball. A lot of us, myself included, didn't even know the play took place until after the game and now we're being painted as thugs. "And death threats out on us, so it's really unacceptable. It is something that needs to change in this league, and I'm just really sick and tired of it." Give me a break. Internet trolls are a dime a dozen. Social media is a toxic place. I get it. I hate it. But playing the victim card and acting like the WNBA is the only place that deals with this behavior is absurd. It's also, unfortunately, so predictable. This was always where this story was going to go. First Alyssa Thomas puts it out there. Then, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert dusts off the boilerplate statement that every league has saved on their computer: "The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate." Right on cue, she put that out yesterday evening. And now today, Indiana head coach Stephanie White opens up her presser with a lecture on how America is racist and homophobic. Perfect. Right on schedule. Don't be surprised if we get an apology from Caitlin Clark next. Spoiler alert: That's how this movie always ends. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a455104c2ca79de2362b241 Trump Remakes Washington, D.C., Into a Maze of Fences and Guard Members te 2026-07-01T17:40:20.666Z Trump Remakes Washington, D.C., Into a Maze of Fences and Guard Members President Trump seems to have turned swaths of the city into either a construction zone or an armed camp as he seeks to prove that he alone can improve it. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a454ed6c2ca79de2362b1e6 Big Medicare change slashes weight-loss drug costs for eligible seniors te 2026-07-01T17:31:02.069Z Big Medicare change slashes weight-loss drug costs for eligible seniors Millions of Medicare beneficiaries struggling with obesity could soon see the cost of weight-loss drugs plummet, as a new federal pilot program launching July 1 expands access to GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound for eligible seniors. Through a new trial called Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, the federal government is now offering a selection of the brand-name medications to certain Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries for $50 a month, The Associated Press reported. The covered medications include drugmaker Eli Lilly’s Foundayo tablets and Zepbound KwikPens and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy injections and tablets, all of which have been FDA-approved for weight loss, according to the report. OZEMPIC USERS MAY BE MAKING A MAJOR WEIGHT-LOSS MISTAKE, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS The temporary program is set to run until the end of 2027. This is the first time GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) will be covered by insurance when used solely for weight loss. Prior to this new Medicare pilot, seniors who wanted to access GLP-1s for obesity alone paid about $1,350-$1,650 per month for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) and about $1,086 monthly for Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide). However, both manufacturers offered some cash-pay options that significantly reduced those prices for eligible patients. GLP-1 WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS ARE RESHAPING THE BRIDAL INDUSTRY AS SHOPS RUSH ORDERS AND REQUIRE NEW WAIVERS There are some parameters surrounding the coverage — older adults must have had a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher when they started GLP-1 therapy, or a BMI of 27 or higher alongside another health condition, such as a past heart attack or stroke or prediabetes. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Those who already have insurance coverage for other diseases, such as diabetes and sleep apnea, are not eligible for the program. There are more than 70 million Americans currently enrolled in Medicare, 10 million of whom are overweight or obese, according to Juliette Cubanski, vice president and director of the program on Medicare policy at the healthcare research nonprofit KFF. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER "For many older Americans living with obesity, this is a moment they and their families have been waiting for," Jamey Millar, Novo Nordisk’s executive vice president of U.S. operations, said in a press release. "The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program offers a new, affordable path to an FDA-approved treatment that was previously not covered." CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said he hopes the program can help his agency collect data to potentially work toward longer-term coverage, while providing immediate relief to cash-strapped older Americans, AP reported. "The sheer cost of these medications is a huge barrier to access," he said in a call with reporters. "That ends today." Oz told reporters that CMS plans to "carefully track participation and outcomes" to see whether an extension of the Bridge program or another solution is the best way to move forward. He told AP a federal law permanently allowing the coverage is "not essential right now" but something "for Congress to debate amongst themselves." "We can’t decide what’s going to happen long term with Bridge until we see some of the data," he said, adding that there are ongoing talks with drug companies to lower costs. One potential concern is that older patients tend to have more adverse effects to medication in general , according to Dr. Micah Eimer, a clinical assistant professor of cardiology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "Specifically, in our research, older patients on blood pressure medications were more likely to experience hypotensive side effects, such as fainting and dizziness, after starting a GLP-1," he said in a statement. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a454ec2c2ca79de2362b1dd Florida woman tells police she knows nothing about drugs that allegedly fell out of her ‘jail purse’ te 2026-07-01T17:30:42.625Z Florida woman tells police she knows nothing about drugs that allegedly fell out of her ‘jail purse’ How did that get there? That's what police in Florida say a woman asked over the weekend after the jail scanner picked up an abnormality in her "lower region" and a baggie of cocaine allegedly hit the floor while she was in a change out room. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office reported that Reagan Cox was arrested on charges of resisting an officer without violence during a traffic stop. There's not a mention of why she was stopped in the first place, but that's neither here nor there. The story picked up after she was transported to jail and the scanner noticed something in what Sheriff Wayne Ivey described in a Facebook post about the alleged incident as her "Jail Purse." CALLING 911 BECAUSE A BAR WON’T SERVE YOU A JELL-O SHOT IS WHAT POLICE REFER TO AS A MISUSE OF SERVICES "Our Corrections Deputies moved Cox to a change out room where she was observed trying to cover her buttocks area with her hand," the sheriff wrote about what took place after the abnormality was picked up by the scanner. "After moving her hand, a baggie dropped to the floor containing approximately 3.8 grams of cocaine!!" Cox is alleged to have said that "she knew nothing about the drugs." She then, according to Ivey, pointed the finger at someone who "must have put it in there during an 'intimate encounter!!'" ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! The accuracy of that version of how the alleged baggie of drugs made its way into the jail will more than likely have to be decided during a court proceeding of some kind, because Cox picked up another charge. On top of her resisting without violence charge, she was charged with introduction of contraband into a detention facility. Ivey ended the Facebook post with some knowledge for the public to keep in mind as they're navigating their way through daily life. He wrote, "Folks, if not realizing that someone left cocaine in your 'Jail Purse,' is not a good enough reminder to not do drugs, then I don’t know what is!!" Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a454c56c2ca79de2362b160 Even Honda is pivoting to data centers te 2026-07-01T17:20:22.221Z Even Honda is pivoting to data centers Honda wants in on the lucrative energy storage market. This week it began producing batteries destined for data centers, not driveways. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a454a24c2ca79de2362b118 A missing kitten rode under a car hood. AI brought her home te 2026-07-01T17:11:00.099Z A missing kitten rode under a car hood. AI brought her home Ame thought Lucy might be hiding upstairs. The family's kitten had missed dinner, which felt odd. Still, cats hide. They nap in strange places. Sometimes, they ignore everyone. But when breakfast came the next morning, Lucy still did not show up. "When we fed dinner one night, and she didn't come running, I thought maybe she was upstairs in the kids' bedroom, but when we fed breakfast the next morning, she didn't come running again, so then I knew for sure she wasn't in the house," Ame said. That is when a normal morning in Dayton, Ohio, turned into a frantic search. Lucy was less than a year old. Ame's two young children were devastated. And wherever Lucy had gone, her family knew she had already spent the night away from home. "If she had been out all night, we were really worried," Ame said. Ame's daughter, Evi, felt that fear immediately. "I was really sad and cried a lot. It was really heartbreaking," Evi said. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report PRO WRESTLING STAR KILLER KROSS SHARES SWEET, LIFE-ALTERING MOMENT WHEN A CAT CAME INTO HIS LIFE After the first wave of searching, Ame turned to Petco Love Lost. "I found out about Petco Love Lost through a friend of mine who also had a cat go missing. She said Petco Love Lost is a website where you can match from finders who have uploaded pictures of pets that they've found," Ame said. Ame created a lost pet profile and uploaded Lucy's picture. The free nationwide database uses AI photo-matching technology to compare lost pet photos with found pet reports. Petco Love says the system looks at more than 500 visual markers to identify pets by features that stay with them wherever they go. Then came the lead Ame needed. "It was actually very easy and quick. It was only about 10 or 12 hours before I got a lead on where Lucy might be," Ame said. A finder had listed a cat who looked like Lucy as found. Soon after, Ame received a photo match alert. The price surprised her, too. "I was really surprised that Petco Love Lost is not subscription-based like most things are. It's completely free, so it's accessible to everyone," she said. For a family already scared and stressed, that free access made a big difference. Then Ame learned where Lucy had gone. "She was stuck under the hood of somebody's car. This person had driven to a shopping center across the highway, got out of their car and heard meowing and realized that the meowing was coming from under the hood of their car," Ame said. The driver got Lucy out safely. Thankfully, the kitten had not been hurt. The finder kept Lucy safe and uploaded her photo to Petco Love Lost as a found pet. That report connected with Ame's lost pet profile. From there, Ame could finally arrange the reunion her family had been hoping for. "I connected with the finder on Petco Love Lost and was able to message back and forth. We organized a time to meet up and we were just ecstatic, and overjoyed, and in shock that we actually found her and also that we found her so quickly and in such a short space of time. Having Lucy home is a relief," Ame said. Ame's family brought Lucy home a little more than 24 hours after she disappeared. For Ame's children, Lucy's return changed the whole mood in the house. Ame's daughter, Evi, went from heartbreak to happy tears. "When she was found, my mom put her on my lap. I was having a little bit of some happy tears," Evi said. Then came the sentence every pet parent wants to hear after a scare like this. "When Lucy was found, I was so happy to have her back," Evi said. That is the kind of reunion that sticks with you. A tiny kitten vanished, rode under a car hood, crossed a highway and still made it home because a finder uploaded one photo. WOMAN’S CANCER BATTLE TAKES UNBELIEVABLE TURN WHEN HER DOG GETS SAME DIAGNOSIS Lucy's story also shows why lost pet searches need more than one safety step. The finder tried to get Lucy scanned for a microchip. But that did not solve the problem. "The finder took her to scan the microchip, they couldn't even find it, they couldn't locate it. Petco Love Lost was literally the only link between us and Lucy to get her back," Ame said. That is important because many pet parents assume a microchip will always lead straight home. A microchip can help, but someone still needs access to a scanner. The chip also has to be found and connected to current contact details. Petco Love Lost adds another option. Instead of relying only on tags or a scan, it uses a pet's photo and physical features. Chelsea Staley, president of Petco Love, explains it this way: "Collars break, tags can fall off, and microchip scanners aren't always immediately accessible. Petco Love Lost offers an additional layer of protection by using AI to recognize distinctive physical features that stay with pets wherever they go. You know your pet is one of a kind, and so does Petco Love Lost." In Lucy's case, that extra layer helped bring her back. Lucy's story hits at a time when many pet parents need the reminder. July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month. The month also brings holiday fireworks, which can scare pets and send them running. Petco Love says more pets go missing during the summer than during any other time of year, and fireworks help drive that spike. That makes Lucy's story a good reminder to prepare before your pet bolts. Petco Love encourages pet parents to register their pets on Petco Love Lost at petcolove.org/lost/register-pet/ while they are safe at home. Then, if something goes wrong, they can activate a search with a single click. Set it up before the fireworks start. Check it before guests come over. Take care of it before someone says, "I thought the cat was upstairs." A lost pet search can turn emotional really fast. You may be scared, tired and unsure where to start. Lucy's story shows why preparation can help. Ame already had a clear photo of Lucy. She created a lost pet profile. Then a finder uploaded a found pet report, and the system connected them. That does not mean you should skip collars, ID tags or microchips. Keep those in place. However, Petco Love Lost can give you another way to search when those tools do not work fast enough. The biggest lesson is timing. Registering your pet while everything is calm can save precious time later. Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free CyberGuy Live replay, Kurt the CyberGuy walks you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do at your own pace. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Watch the replay and get our checklist here: CyberGuyLive.com RIDGLAN FARMS RESCUE BEAGLES FIND NEW LIFE HELPING VETERANS OVERCOME WAR TRAUMA WITH PAWS OF WAR Lucy's story could have ended badly. She slipped out, hid under a car hood and rode across a highway without the driver knowing she was there. Instead, one uploaded photo helped bring her home. Petco Love Lost matched Lucy's image with Ame's lost pet profile, and the family had her back in a little more than 24 hours. That to me is the reason this story is worth sharing. Technology can feel cold, but in this case, it helped a family get their kitten back. Have you ever had a pet go missing, and what helped bring them home? 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/6a454a10c2ca79de2362b10f Police identify two teen suspects after Penn State student shot dead over stolen phone te 2026-07-01T17:10:40.649Z Police identify two teen suspects after Penn State student shot dead over stolen phone Philadelphia police have issued arrest warrants for two 16-year-olds who allegedly killed Billy Schmidt on June 6 while he was walking home from an NBA Finals watch party. A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department told Fox News Digital that the warrants were issued for two boys who are both 16. Fox News Digital is withholding their names because they are minors and haven't yet been charged. Schmidt, 22, was killed during an armed robbery attempt that happened June 6 at about 1:30 a.m. Officers found the Penn State student with a gunshot wound to his chest. He was taken to a local hospital but pronounced dead at 1:47 a.m. The teens are not yet in custody. MANHUNT UNDERWAY AFTER COLLEGE STUDENT FATALLY SHOT CHASING ROBBERS WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE HIS PHONE In surveillance video, Schmidt can be heard saying, "Give me my phone," before a gunshot could be heard moments later. The video shows a man throwing a cellphone before another individual can be seen running around a corner being chased by Schmidt, who was then shot in the chest. The shooter was described by police as a Black male between 5’3″ and 5’5″ "wearing all dark (black) clothing with a light gray camouflage-colored facemask." Officials said this person was armed with a handgun. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST The second suspect was described by police as 5’8″ with braids and was "wearing a light gray colored custom designed "KONFUSED" brand hooded sweatshirt with a design on the front that includes three skulls and crossbones with a bejeweled halo above each skull." The U.S. Marshals Service has also joined the search for the teens, offering $5,000 for information leading to their arrest. MANHUNT UNDERWAY AFTER COLLEGE STUDENT FATALLY SHOT CHASING ROBBERS WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE HIS PHONE Bill Schmidt, the victim's father, told ABC7 that his son was on his way home from a bar where he was watching the NBA Finals with friends. "He was a really good person who cared about everybody and never hurt or bothered a soul, never bothered anyone and for him to get shot like that is a travesty," Bill Schmidt said. "I'm shocked when they stole his phone that he chased them." SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Anna Schmidt, Billy's sister, told reporters she doesn't know how anyone could have killed her brother. MANHUNT UNDERWAY AFTER COLLEGE STUDENT FATALLY SHOT CHASING ROBBERS WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE HIS PHONE "I miss him so much, and I don't understand how someone can do this," Anna Schmidt said. Schmidt was a student at Penn State World Campus studying journalism, where he was set to graduate in December. SEND US A TIP HERE "We are heartbroken over the tragic death of William Schmidt and we share our deepest condolences with his family and friends," the university said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Police are urging anyone with information on the suspects' whereabouts to contact 215-686-TIPS. Fox News' CB Cotton contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4547e0c2ca79de2362b0a8 WWE star touts pro wrestlers tearing it up on independent circuit te 2026-07-01T17:01:20.941Z WWE star touts pro wrestlers tearing it up on independent circuit Matt Cardona knows a thing or two about the independent pro wrestling scene. After his release from WWE in April 2020, Cardona rebranded himself as the "Indy God" after spending years as Zack Ryder. He spent years cultivating his new look through several independent promotions and top companies in the U.S. whose names aren’t WWE or AEW. COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL There are several pro wrestlers on the indies currently who are finding success with their own branding and marketing as well. Cardona named a few in a recent interview with Fox News Digital when asked who he thought was the new "Indy God." "Who’s the ‘Indy God?’ Oh, I don’t know if anyone’s the ‘Indy God.’ But there are people who definitely have stepped up. For instance, Shotzi, who was in WWE at one time. When she left, I think she copied the Matt Cardona formula and good on her and we had some incredible matches together. She’s somebody who cares. I think effort is very, very important not just in independent wrestling but professional wrestling in general. If you aren’t doing whatever you can to succeed, like, if you don’t treat yourself like a big deal, I don’t think anyone else will. I would definitely put Shotzi on that list. "Two others to look out for on the independents – Richard Holliday. He’s another one who is always on social media. He’s always trying to force himself down your throat just like I did when I was gone. When you’re not in WWE, you can’t take a day off of being on your phone. Like, Chelsea (Green), would always yell at me for always being on my phone, ‘You’re posting too much on social media.’ I said, babe, if you don’t want to be on your phone, WWE will post about you, WWE Shop will post about you, USA Network will post about you, ESPN, Netflix. If I don’t post about myself, no one is going to post about me. So, Richard Holliday, he’s taking that to heart. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "Also, Ben Bishop, another guy. So, I would say, Shotzi, Ben Bishop and Richard Holliday, the three to look out for." Right now, Shotzi is the Major League Wrestling women’s world champion and has appeared in several different promotions around the world. Holliday and Bishop have also built up massive followings on social media, helping raise their profiles in the sport. Cardona shared some advice to those who were trying to follow his path. "It’s funny because guys and girls in the independents, they’d always ask me for advice. The answer was simple – don’t quit," he said. "Everyone has a different path. Everybody has a different journey but if you don’t quit … here’s what I would say, if you don’t quit, you might make it. If you quit, you definitely won’t. It’s as simple as that." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4547cdc2ca79de2362b09f NFL Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney calls out league for putting games on too many streaming services te 2026-07-01T17:01:01.500Z NFL Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney calls out league for putting games on too many streaming services Dwight Freeney understands why the NFL has leaned further into streaming. He also sees why many fans are frustrated. The Pro Football Hall of Famer said he believes NFL games should remain broadly accessible, even as the league continues to place more games across subscription platforms. Freeney, who played 16 NFL seasons and finished his career with 125.5 sacks, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024. "I don’t like it," Freeney said when asked about the growing number of services fans may need to follow the league. "Just to be honest with you, I think it should be accessible to all fans, no matter what your economic bracket is." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The issue has become a larger part of the NFL media conversation. The league’s 2026 schedule includes games across traditional broadcast networks, cable and multiple streaming platforms. According to the NFL, Prime Video will carry Thursday Night Football, Netflix will stream games in Week 1, on Thanksgiving Eve and on Christmas Day, and Peacock will exclusively stream a regular-season game in January. Freeney said the local fan experience should remain central. "If you can afford to get the local channels, you should be able to watch your favorite team on your local networks," he said. "And it shouldn’t be blacked out based on streaming and all of that." The NFL has noted that its games remain available free over the air in local markets. In its 2026 schedule announcement, the league said it is the only sports league that presents all regular-season and postseason games on free over-the-air television in local markets. But the broader access question has still drawn scrutiny in Washington. In June, the House Judiciary Committee released an interim staff report on the Sports Broadcasting Act and the NFL’s media model, saying fans increasingly need a combination of over-the-air, cable and streaming services to watch their favorite teams. The committee also said some fans must pay more than $600 per season to watch all of one team’s games. NFL ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL THANKSGIVING EVE GAME BETWEEN PACKERS AND RAMS WILL BE STREAMED ON NETFLIX Sen. Mike Lee also asked the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to examine whether the NFL’s current distribution practices still fit within the Sports Broadcasting Act’s limited antitrust protection. In that request, Lee said fans spent nearly $1,000 last season when cable, streaming and internet costs were combined. Freeney did not dismiss the business side of the arrangement. He said the league’s streaming and television deals have financial benefits, including for players. "I understand the money and the economics behind it," Freeney said. "A lot of money goes into signing those contracts with the Amazons and, you know, and I don’t even know if it’s Netflix now... I know it helps the players obviously, because the more money that you, the deals that you do off the field and TV deals, the more money the players are gonna get. And so I know it’s good for the league." But he is still concerned for the consumers. "The fans, I’m not so sure," Freeney said. That balance is where Freeney’s position sits. He recognizes that streaming gives some viewers more flexibility. Fans who have the right subscriptions can watch on tablets, phones and other devices, without being tied to a traditional television setup. "If you can afford it, great," Freeney said. "And then you have your iPad, you can bring it, you can stream everything, you don’t have to be at home, that’s great." But Freeney still believes the league should look for a model that keeps streaming available while preserving local access. "Maybe there’s a combination of things to whereas though they can do to whereas though you have the ability to stream, but it also is on your local networks," Freeney said. "I wish there was a way to figure that out." Freeney acknowledged that he is not personally shut out by the current system. He said he subscribes to the services he needs, and then some. But he knows that does not reflect the reality for every fan. "I’m a junkie," Freeney said. "I have all of them. I have every single streaming. Even if I don’t need it, I have it... "I’m blessed enough to be able to have that ability to get all of those things," Freeney said. "My cable bill or my streaming bill is probably one of the higher ones... Not everyone has that ability maybe," Freeney said. "So, you know, I think they should have some way of changing certain things." Even with every service, Freeney said the modern setup can still be difficult to follow. "Sometimes, you know, even me, I’m having a hard time finding games from time to time," he said. When asked what he is most interested in seeing during the upcoming NFL season, Freeney said he is looking for the team that exceeds expectations. "I think it’s just seeing what team is gonna be the new team this year that no one’s talked about," Freeney said. He said preseason predictions often miss on at least a few teams, even when the league’s most established rosters remain near the top. Every season, he said, there are teams that enter the year with little attention before emerging as legitimate contenders. "So I wanna see who those surprises are," Freeney said. As for Freeney's longtime team, the Indianapolis Colts, he saidIndianapolis Colts, saying Daniel Jones’ health will be a major factor in how far the offense can go. He praised head coach Shane Steichen’s ability to work with quarterbacks and said Jones could benefit if he trusts the system. "If Daniel can stay healthy, I mean, sky’s the limit," Freeney said. Defensively, Freeney said the Colts need to improve in key areas, particularly with the pass rush. As one of the best pass rushers of his generation, he said that will be one of the first things he watches. "My question is, are we gonna get the pass rush that we need?" Freeney said. "If we can kind of mix the coverage with the rush, I think we’re gonna be good." Freeney was more cautious when asked about the Seahawks’ chances of repeating. He said winning back-to-back championships is one of the hardest things to do in the NFL, especially in a competitive division. "I would bet against the fact that they’re gonna repeat," Freeney said. "But that doesn’t mean they’re not gonna have a good year." Freeney is making his return to the American Century Championship this month, saying he is trying to measure how much progress he has made since last year. "I’m trying to see if my golf game is up to par," Freeney said, adding that he believes he has "an opportunity to be better this year than last year." He described his previous performance as uneven, saying his game was "really good until it’s not." Freeney said the key for him is limiting the damage when a round starts to slip away. "My whole goal right now is just to get to a point where I can be consistent, and my bad can’t be that bad," he said. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS Freeney said he is not focused on beating one particular competitor. Instead, he wants to manage the course, avoid letting one bad stretch turn into several bad holes, and put himself in position for a respectable finish. "I’m not playing any individual, I’m really playing the course," Freeney said. "As long as I can stay steady, play golf the way that I know I can play, I’m gonna be in the top 15, hopefully." He said he does not believe his game is ready to win the event, but he thinks he can compete for a top-15 or top-10 finish. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4547bac2ca79de2362b096 DAVID MARCUS: Calling 9/11 'inevitable' is same as justifying it, and it is disgraceful te 2026-07-01T17:00:42.037Z DAVID MARCUS: Calling 9/11 'inevitable' is same as justifying it, and it is disgraceful The parade of Democratic Socialists ousting incumbent Democrats rolled on in Denver on Tuesday night with upstart 29-year-old, Ethiopian-born Milot Kiros defeating Rep. Diana DeGette, first elected to the seat before 9/11. Her would-be replacement justifies those attacks. Kiros and her commie allies may use the word "inevitable" as a euphemism for "justified," but in this context, they mean exactly the same disgraceful thing. In a recent interview, the socialist Kiros was asked if 9/11 was an inevitable consequence of American foreign policy. MUSLIM MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALIST PRIMARY WINNER SUGGESTED AMERICA DESERVED 9/11 IN UNEARTHED VIDEO "Inevitable in the sense that we destabilized a lot of the Middle East, which led people to believe that another act of violence was the only response," Kiros replied. "Our responsibility is to get rid of those conditions that lead to violence in the first place." Let’s be clear, by calling the cold-blooded murder of nearly 3,000 Americans "inevitable," Kiros is saying that Usama bin Laden had no other choice but to commit this massacre, and further, that if only the United States had acted differently, then maybe Bin Laden could have avoided it. That is absolutely a justification for 9/11, because if the United States created the conditions that made it impossible for anything but a 9/11 style attack to happen, then how can we blame Bin Laden? He had no choice, right? FIREFIGHTER BROTHER OF 9/11 VICTIM INCENSED BY 'RADICAL' MUSLIMS WINNING KEY DEM PRIMARIES Some will argue that Kiros is simply stating the cause of 9/11, not justifying that cause. Obviously, the cause of 9/11 was resentment and anger at U.S. foreign policy. But when you say that cause made the attack "inevitable," you are saying Al Qaeda only did what it had to do. With all due respect to Kiros, who was 4 years old when the attack on our nation that to this day still leaves searing emptiness in the hearts of the tens of thousands who lost loved ones, there was nothing inevitable about it. Not one thing. For decades before 9/11, America sought peace in the region time and again. In fact, it was in 2000 that former President Bill Clinton says then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arrafat "walked away from a once-in-a-lifetime peace opportunity." A year later, Clinton’s efforts would be rewarded in American blood. MUSLIM MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALIST PRIMARY WINNER SUGGESTED AMERICA DESERVED 9/11 IN UNEARTHED VIDEO I’m sorry, but Kiros and her purple-haired communist band of overeducated theater kids are not going to make America the bad guy of 9/11. We know exactly who the bad guy was, which is why we celebrated when former President Barack Obama took him out. In fairness to Kiros, while she is clearly saying that Bin Laden had justification for 9/11 based on America’s actions, she isn’t quite as ghoulish as podcaster and apparent kingmaker of the Democratic Party, Hasan Piker, who says America "deserved" 9/11. One can believe, as supporters of Israel do, that military action leading to civilian casualties is justified even though no civilian deserves to die, but clearly Piker does believe our 3,000 countrymen had that fate coming. This attempt by the far-left Marxists to make 9/11 a day of shame for Americans is not likely to work outside their small bubbles, even if they say "inevitable" instead of "justified." Because even 25 years later, what that day means to most Americans is pride in the sacrifice of those who gave their lives. Of course, for the Democratic Socialists, 9/11 is not about New York, or Washington, D.C., or Shanksville, Pa. Like everything else, it is about the poor terrorists in the Middle East who, in the DSA’s depraved minds, have no choice but to kill Americans. Just as, for those of us aged enough to remember the Cold War, it seems crazy that we must explain again why communism is bad, for those of us who truly remember 9/11, it seems crazy to blame the victims. But here we are. Not every act of murder and terrorism committed by jihadis across the globe is the inevitable result of American foreign policy, which by the way, has done more to uplift the freedom and prosperity of the global poor than any nation in history. Don’t let the communists get away with this shameful euphemism. Words mean things, and what Kiros and her ilk are clearly saying is that the attack on America was made inevitable and therefore justified, by America and its people. And it’s disgusting. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DAVID MARCUS Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45459bc2ca79de2362b03b Missing mom's remains found, suspect with rap sheet already in jail on different charge te 2026-07-01T16:51:39.821Z Missing mom's remains found, suspect with rap sheet already in jail on different charge Deputies discovered the remains of a young mother buried at a home in North Carolina. Jordan Wishon was reported missing by the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office on Friday. Two days after she vanished, investigators pivoted the search to a murder investigation after making the grim find while executing a search warrant. In a post to social media, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said in part, "At approximately 5:17 a.m., investigators executed a search warrant at a residence on Pebblestone Lane in Rutherfordton. During the search, human remains were discovered buried on the property. Investigators were able to positively identify the remains as Jordan Wishon." FITNESS TRAINER TOLD FRIEND SHE WAS 'SCARED FOR HER LIFE' WEEKS BEFORE BODY WITH MATCHING CLOTHING FOUND 📩 Want me to investigate? kelsie.cairns@fox.com 📸 Instagram: kelsiecairns_tv 🎥 Facebook: Kelsie Cairns The man accused of killing her has had prior run-ins with the law, reports show. Jaydakis Kashaune Hamilton, 25, of Rutherfordton, North Carolina, is now facing a first degree murder charge. Hamilton was already in jail on another unrelated charge. WLOS reported Hamilton was arrested for an alleged vehicle theft in Polk County, and prior to that the North Carolina State Highway Patrol charged him with reckless driving offenses and resisting arrest. COLD CASE CRACKED AS ILLINOIS SUSPECT CHARGED IN BRUTAL 1993 KILLING OF MOTHER FOUND SLAIN IN FIELD Hamilton is currently in jail in Polk County awaiting his newest charge. According to her obituary, Wishon was a 30-year-old mother who had one child and a fiance. Casandra Toney, who said she is Wishon's sister, made a post to Facebook that said, "I’m gonna miss you so much. This is unfair. You did not deserve this, but I can’t promise you we will get justice for you." She went on to say, "I hope you know at the end of the day. I do love you and we’ll always love you. You’re my sister you’re my big sister at that." SAVANNAH GUTHRIE PLEADS FOR TIPS AS RANSOM NOTE CLAIMS MOM IS DEAD: 'SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMETHING' The murder investigation is ongoing. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a454574c2ca79de2362b02d Ex-C.I.A. Chief Asks for Order Forcing Trump Administration to Preserve Records te 2026-07-01T16:51:00.910Z Ex-C.I.A. Chief Asks for Order Forcing Trump Administration to Preserve Records Lawyers for John O. Brennan said they want the materials saved in anticipation of bringing a vindictive prosecution motion if charges against Mr. Brennan are ultimately filed. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a454560c2ca79de2362b00c Autonomous vehicle hype is back, and Humble Robotics is bringing it to freights te 2026-07-01T16:50:40.941Z Autonomous vehicle hype is back, and Humble Robotics is bringing it to freights The autonomous vehicle space is starting to feel like a repeat of the 2016 hype cycle. Travis Kalanick is back building a robotics company, and the talent wars and capital are heating up the same way they did the first time around. The money’s flowing back, and it’s the people who lived through that Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45454cc2ca79de2362b000 Arizona governor vetoes bill that would weaken referendums and empower data centers te 2026-07-01T16:50:20.981Z Arizona governor vetoes bill that would weaken referendums and empower data centers Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs recently vetoed a bill pushed by a data center developer lobbyist that would have significantly reduced the power of citizen initiatives statewide. HB 2873, passed by the state legislature in late April, would have allowed referendum petitions brought forth by Arizona citizens to be withdrawn before they are put to a vote. The Arizona Secretary of State defines referendums as the “method by which voters may veto a law (or part of a law) by gathering signatures from registered voters to place the issue on the ballot.” The bill was first introduced in the Arizona House of Representatives in January 2026 and after passing both chambers, the bill made its way to Hobbs’ desk in June for her rejection. According to Natali Fierros, executive director of Rural Arizona Action (RAZA), the organization assumed that Hobbs would most likely sign the bill. However, pressure from the public and advocacy organizations may have pushed her to veto. While the bill does not mention data centers directly, the referendum process was recently relevant in the Town of Marana, where construction of the controversial Project Blue is beginning. Earlier this year, residents collected signatures in an attempt to put the proposed data center to a vote. The residents later sued the town after their petitions were rejected. Had HB 2873 been signed, the grounds for appealing such rejections would have disappeared. “[This is] about self-determination,” Fierros said in an interview with CALÓ News. “The referendum process is empowering the people of Arizona and it’s been pivotal to our history. It’s a way for the public to really make their voice heard. Interfering with that referendum process, to us, is an attack on direct democracy.” The fight against HB 2873 began with Marana residents organizing, collecting signatures and challenging data centers being proposed in their backyards. At a Marana Planning Commission meeting in Dec. 2025, activists and residents booed the unanimous vote to rezone land for data centers. “We brought Marana residents to the Capitol,” Fierros said. “We helped mobilize — like literally carpooled — down to the Capitol so that residents could share with lawmakers directly.” Fierros also mentioned the environmental concerns associated with data centers and how they might affect the overall appeal of living in Arizona. While Marana residents currently face the worst of the data centers’ effects, other Arizona cities could also see environmental consequences. “If they did this to [the Marana] community, it could be replicated elsewhere,” Fierros said. “It would then become a tool in the toolbox of data center lobbyists.” Pressure from lobbyists helped pass HB 2873. “It continues to be a concern when lobbyists for developers or corporations can come in and throw their weight around with elected officials,” Fierros said. “Citizens come out on the losing end of that.” The upcoming midterm elections — which will take place in Arizona on July 21 — are expected to impact Arizona politicians seeking reelection. “You think about, ‘what is it that I want in my backyard where I’m raising a family?’” Fierros said. “It does mean being involved. It does mean casting a vote. It does mean civic participation. Whether you do politics or you don’t do politics, politics is going to do you.” As Fierros points out, politics is inevitable, and it is better to speak about the subject than to pretend it is not contentious or controversial. “These are not sexy conversations,” Fierros said. “They’re smack dab in the middle of the day, in the middle of a work week and people are still showing up. It matters to people. And if it matters to people, it should matter to the electeds who are representing them.” Most legislative processes in Arizona take place in Phoenix. Activists like Fierros, however,  encourage all Arizonans to unite against predatory practices by companies and governments. “You don’t have to live here to be concerned about the expansion of these data centers,” Fierros said. “The thing that connects us all is the water. There is not an unlimited supply of water in our state.” The post Arizona governor vetoes bill that would weaken referendums and empower data centers appeared first on AZ Luminaria. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a454309c2ca79de2362afc0 Two people climb to the top of Empire State Building with massive banner te 2026-07-01T16:40:41.379Z Two people climb to the top of Empire State Building with massive banner Two people climbed on top of the Empire State Building Wednesday afternoon holding a banner reading "when the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace." The New York City Police Department (NYPD) confirmed officers are responding. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4540b0c2ca79de2362af5c Russian generals' assassinations expose growing rift inside Putin's security apparatus te 2026-07-01T16:30:40.773Z Russian generals' assassinations expose growing rift inside Putin's security apparatus For the second time in little more than a year, a blast tore through the Moscow suburb of Balashikha, Russia, and left a Russian military figure dead. On June 9, explosives planted under a BMW detonated as the driver began leaving a parking lot, according to independent Russian outlet The Insider. The outlet identified the man killed as Lt. Gen. Damir Davydov, a Russian Defense Ministry official responsible for supplying missiles and artillery ammunition to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. The location was striking. The explosion occurred roughly 1,150 feet from the site where Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy chief of the Main Operations Directorate of Russia's General Staff, was killed in a car bombing in April 2025, according to the French newspaper Le Monde. 'PURE HELL' IN MOSCOW AS UKRAINIAN DRONES STRIKE MAJOR REFINERY SUPPLYING CAPITAL'S FUEL MARKET Months before Moskalik’s death, another senior Russian officer was assassinated in Moscow.  Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops, was killed when a bomb hidden in an electric scooter exploded outside an apartment building. A source in Ukraine’s Security Service, known as the SBU, told Reuters the agency carried out the operation. Together, the attacks are part of a broader pattern of assassinations and attempted assassinations targeting senior Russian military figures — a campaign that a European intelligence source says is now exposing tensions inside Putin’s own security system. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, senior Russian military figures have been killed in missile strikes, drone attacks, car bombings, crashes and frontline combat — a toll that, according to a European intelligence source, is now fueling internal tensions between Russia’s military and the FSB, Russia’s powerful domestic security service and successor to the Soviet KGB. "There are internal frictions between Russian security institutions," a European intelligence source told Fox News Digital. "The Russian military wants the FSB to guarantee physical protection for Russian generals, but the FSB is opposed to taking responsibility for the military." The dispute reflects a deeper rivalry inside Russian President Vladimir Putin’s system, where the security services have long held a privileged position over the armed forces, according to multiple sources. 'PURE HELL' IN MOSCOW AS UKRAINIAN DRONES STRIKE MAJOR REFINERY SUPPLYING CAPITAL'S FUEL MARKET "This goes back to Soviet times," the European intelligence source said. "The security services do not like the military, and the military does not like the security services." The central tension, according to the European intelligence source and Russian opposition figure Maxim Katz, is inside Putin’s own system: the war has elevated the importance of the military on the battlefield, while the political structure in Moscow still treats generals as a potential threat.    The result is a paradox for the Kremlin. Russia needs its military commanders to sustain the war, but the security services that dominate Putin’s system appear reluctant to take responsibility for protecting them.  At least 15 Russian generals have been confirmed killed since the full-scale invasion began, according to independent Russian outlet Mediazona.  The toll includes five lieutenant generals, seven major generals and three former generals. Some died far from Moscow, closer to the battlefield.  Lt. Gen. Oleg Tsokov, deputy commander of Russia’s Southern Military District, was killed in July 2023 in a Ukrainian Storm Shadow missile strike on the Russian-occupied city of Berdiansk. Maj. Gen. Sergei Goryachev, chief of staff of the 35th Combined Arms Army, was killed in June 2023 during Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia region. Maj. Gen. Vladimir Zavadsky, deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps, was killed near Krynky in southern Ukraine in November 2023. Others were struck inside Russia or in Russian-controlled territory.  Lt. Gen. Alexander Otroshchenko, a senior Russian air force commander, died in a military transport plane crash over occupied Crimea in March 2026. Retired Maj. Gen. Kanamat Botashev, flying for the Wagner Group, was killed in May 2022 after his Su-25 was shot down over Ukraine’s Luhansk region. 'PURE HELL' IN MOSCOW AS UKRAINIAN DRONES STRIKE MAJOR REFINERY SUPPLYING CAPITAL'S FUEL MARKET The losses began in the opening weeks of the invasion of Ukraine, when Maj. Gen. Andrei Sukhovetsky, deputy commander of Russia’s 41st Combined Arms Army, and Maj. Gen. Vladimir Frolov, deputy commander of the 8th Army, were killed. Katz said the military has long occupied a vulnerable position inside the Russian power structure. "In Russia, the FSB is the biggest and most powerful security organization, and Putin himself comes from that system," Katz told Fox News Digital. "The army, on the other hand, has always been viewed by these people as a threat." Katz said the Kremlin historically has feared popular military figures because the army is one of the few institutions with the capacity to challenge political power. "You will not find Russian military men in senior government positions," Katz said. "Since Stalin, they have been afraid of the army. Whenever there is a relatively well-known military figure with a name of his own, they deal with it somehow — legally, or like with Prigozhin, or like with other generals. In Russia, there is no such thing as a popular general." Katz argued that even during wartime, when the military might be expected to gain status, Putin’s system keeps the army politically weak. "The army does not take part in decision-making," Katz said. "It is funded now, but everything goes to the war. The generals are rich, but not like ministers or FSB people. Among the elites, they are the most deprived." UKRAINE LAUNCHES WHAT APPEARS TO BE ONE OF ITS LARGEST DRONE ATTACKS AGAINST RUSSIA: REPORT That dynamic, Katz said, helps explain why Russian generals may not want the FSB responsible for their protection. "For them, the FSB is a much bigger threat than the Ukrainian army," Katz said. "The Ukrainian army kills a general once in a while. The FSB puts generals in prison much faster." The European intelligence source said the killings matter not only because of the operational losses, but because of the psychological effect inside the Russian army. "Putin understands that losing prominent Russian generals can affect morale within the Russian army, which is already low from the Russian perspective," the source said. The apparent compromise, according to the European intelligence source, was to shift responsibility away from the FSB. "The FSB did not want to deal with military protection, so the security service of the Russian presidential administration would take care of those generals," the source said. Katz said the internal pressure on Putin may also collide with Russia’s parliamentary elections in September — a moment he believes Western observers are largely ignoring. RUSSIAN DRONES TEST NATO'S ARTICLE 5 DEFENSE GUARANTEE AHEAD OF FRIDAY SANCTIONS DEADLINE He said the vote will not be free, and the Kremlin is expected to manipulate the results.  But he argued that if public support for Putin’s United Russia party has fallen sharply, it may become harder for the regime to make the official results appear believable. "Everyone already knows what results they will announce," Katz said. "The question is whether anyone will believe those results." Katz said Putin’s system has long depended not only on control, but on the perception that the Kremlin still commands broad public support. "Putin has never ruled in a situation where he does not have a majority," Katz said. "His legitimacy rests on everyone believing that he has majority support. Once everyone believes he does not have a majority, and that he did not just cheat a little but simply drew the results, that is a different story." He compared the potential challenge to authoritarian systems that are forced to move from managed popularity to open coercion. "Putin cannot lose like Orban," Katz said. "But if everyone in Russia knows that everyone voted against him and he drew the results in his favor, that would be a new situation. He has never been in that position before." Fox News Digital reached out to the Russian and Ukrainian governments for comment but did not receive responses in time for publication. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a453e6cc2ca79de2362af03 WATCH: Obama, Harris advisor warns ‘betrayed’ Black voters could be Texas Senate candidate's kryptonite te 2026-07-01T16:21:00.414Z WATCH: Obama, Harris advisor warns ‘betrayed’ Black voters could be Texas Senate candidate's kryptonite Democratic strategists are worried that Senate hopeful James Talarico’s chances of flipping Texas blue are being jeopardized by what they see as a major vulnerability: a lack of enthusiasm on the part of Texas Black voters, who are feeling "betrayed" by the party. Veteran Democratic strategist Ashley Etienne, a former advisor to President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris, said that despite Talarico’s history of controversial statements, she believes he is "incredibly well positioned" to become the first Democrat to flip a Texas Senate seat blue in decades. However, she identified one major vulnerability, saying Black voters are "feeling like they were betrayed" by "what happened to Jasmine Crockett." Talarico, a Texas state lawmaker and Presbyterian seminarian, defeated Black congresswoman Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate earlier this year. Etienne explained that following Crockett’s defeat, "some voters, Black women in particular, are feeling as though the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates want our labor, but not our leadership." The "two biggest examples," she said, are "Kamala Harris' loss and Jasmine Crockett's loss." CARVILLE ADVISES TALARICO 'TO DEAL WITH' PAST CULTURE WAR COMMENTS IF HE WANTS TO WIN TEXAS Talarico’s history of hot takes, such as saying he "hates Christianity," calling God "nonbinary" and asserting that there are six sexes, has caused significant controversy. While Etienne believes that Talarico can swat away these resurfaced comments, she believes the feeling of Black voter "betrayal" could sink his Senate hopes. A Texas native, Etienne also served as a senior advisor to former President Joe Biden, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and several members of Congress from Texas. She now runs the communications firm, Etienne & Saint. She referenced an opinion piece she co-authored in the Houston Chronicle, in which she quoted one Black female voter, who said, "We as Black women give 92 percent of our vote to the Democratic Party, and we get nothing out of the deal." "That's one example of what I think is a larger sentiment across Black women," she explained. This, Etienne posited, is an "alarm warning for Talarico." JAMES TALARICO ADMITS PAST COMMENTS 'MISSED THE MARK' WHEN CONFRONTED ON CLAIMS LIKE GOD IS 'NON-BINARY' Why should Talarico be worried about this? According to Etienne, approximately 1.1 million registered Black voters in Texas are not voting. To pull off an upset in the traditionally solid red state, Etienne said Talarico will have to motivate that untapped voter base. The key to doing that, she said, is appealing to Black women. When it comes to motivating the Democratic base, Etienne posited that "Black women aren't just another constituency." "We are a force multiplier effect when it comes to Black voters," she said. "We have the ability to bring the entire community to – and we have proven that we do this every cycle after cycle – bring the entire community to the polls." In other words, Etienne explained that "if the mood of Black women is low, then you lose an opportunity … to really reach and mobilize and engage and energize the rest of the Black community." "That's the nut he's going to have to crack," she said. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Dallas Jones, a Democratic strategist who served as the Texas political director for the 2020 Biden-Harris campaign, echoed Etienne's assessment. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jones criticized Talarico supporters for pressuring Crockett to stump for him. Crockett has endorsed Talarico but has been notably absent from the campaign trail. "There's rhetoric that's being turned up that she has to come and support him, and a lot of that is coming from people that support him," he noted. "So, what it translates to is people basically telling this accomplished, decorated, Black female member of Congress what she ought to do. And all that does is stoke flames and fires for her supporters, who are saying, ‘She really doesn't have to do anything. You won, you're the nominee, you come earn our vote, she doesn't have to help you do that.’" DSA’S THIRD MAJOR PRIMARY WIN DEEPENS DEMOCRATS’ FIGHT OVER THE PARTY’S FUTURE "There are millions of black Texans out there ready for the taking, ready to support the campaign … [but] every day that goes by there's an erosion of that support," Jones continued. Jones said that he does not think Talarico’s controversial statements will have much of an impact on the Black vote in Texas "considering the alternative" is Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton. "There will be a lot of energy and effort to weaponize those types of statements," he said. "But I truly don't think that it's going to have a huge impact." "Black Texans that show up in November are not voting for Ken Paxton," Jones asserted. "The challenge is creating the enthusiasm to get enough of them to go and vote for him." "He himself has admitted that he cannot win the state without Black voters," he continued, adding, "It's not a persuasion game, it's an enthusiasm game." Fox News Digital reached out to Talarico's campaign for comment. Fox News Digital also reached out to Crockett's office and Paxton's campaign for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a453e58c2ca79de2362aefa RNC chair predicts first-ever midterm convention will turn Dallas into ‘Trumpapalooza’ for 2026 fight te 2026-07-01T16:20:40.967Z RNC chair predicts first-ever midterm convention will turn Dallas into ‘Trumpapalooza’ for 2026 fight EXCLUSIVE - Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters predicted Wednesday that Republicans will "knock it out of the park" at the party’s first-ever midterm convention, casting the Dallas gathering as a "Trumpapalooza" aimed at firing up GOP voters in a difficult midterm climate. Gruters spoke exclusively with Fox News Digital a day after President Donald Trump announced the Sept. 9-10 convention in Dallas, an unusual effort to put Trump and the GOP’s 2026 message center stage before voters decide control of Congress. "It gives us a chance to highlight all the wonderful things this president has done in our effort on this great American comeback to highlight the ideas, policies and people that's making it happen," Gruters said. TRUMP MAKES MAJOR 2026 ANNOUNCEMENT National political conventions, where party delegates from around the country formally nominate their party's presidential candidates, normally take place during presidential election years. But with Republicans facing a rough political climate as they aim to protect their narrow control of the Senate and their razor-thin House majority in this year's elections, they see the midterm convention as an effective vehicle to get their message out. "We can win. It's going to start here at the convention. I'm super excited about it," Gruters emphasized. And pointing to primary victories in recent weeks by far-left and socialist candidates over the Democratic Party establishment, Gruters said "we're going to be able to highlight and contrast where the Republican Party is versus what the left is, and the fact that they're getting pushed and now controlled and being run by these radical leftists that want to fundamentally change our country." SOCIALIST SURGE: DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES WIN AGAIN, THIS TIME IN COLORADO Party leaders are also hoping the convention will help to energize MAGA voters who don't always vote when Trump isn't on the ballot. Gruters called Trump the "best showman that's ever existed in politics, bar none... He knows how to deliver these low-propensity voters. He knows how to get people up, motivated, excited about the midterms, and that's what we're going to need." Currently, the president's approval ratings remain well underwater, with many Americans rating him poorly on his handling of the economy and on the issue of affordability. Democratic National Committee (DNC) Director of Rapid Response Kendall Witmer told Fox News Digital on Tuesday evening, "The American people can’t afford their bills or to fill up at the pump because of Donald Trump, and Republicans’ response is to throw a multi-million dollar televised celebration for Trump that will only remind Americans of his failed promise to them and tie already flailing Republican swing-seat candidates to a historically unpopular president." DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB The DNC, which significantly trails the RNC in fundraising, considered holding a midterm convention but decided earlier this year not to move forward with the costly event. Witmer emphasized that "Democrats are already hitting the trail and speaking directly with American voters about our plans to cut costs and make health care affordable. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a453c8ac2ca79de2362ae9d Sen Moreno pushes Congress to clarify birthright citizenship rules using Harry Reid's own 1993 legislation te 2026-07-01T16:12:58.792Z Sen Moreno pushes Congress to clarify birthright citizenship rules using Harry Reid's own 1993 legislation Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno announced plans to revive a decades-old proposal from former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid after Republicans' push to end birthright citizenship came to a screeching halt at the hands of the Supreme Court. "When I get back from recess on July 13th, [I'm going to introduce] the identical bill," Moreno said Tuesday, mere hours after the High Court's decision. "What it's going to do is highlight two things — the Democrats of today are nothing like the Democrats of 1993 and, if they choose to reject a bill sponsored by their majority leader that they named an airport in Las Vegas after, then I think to my Republican colleagues have no choice. We have to recognize that these Democrats want to systematically destroy this country." SUPREME COURT'S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAUSE AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS Moreno's remarks referenced the Immigration Stabilization Act of 1993, a proposal put forth by Reid, which would have revoked birthright citizenship, among other things. According to PolitiFact, Section 1001 of Reid's bill, entitled "Basis of Citizenship Clarified," said that children born to illegal immigrants on U.S. soil should not become U.S. citizens. A press release issued by the Nevada Democrat's office at the time expounded upon the idea, suggesting the bill "clarifies that a person born in the United States to an alien mother who is not a lawful resident is not a U.S. citizen." ‘ILLEGALS FIRST’: SENATE REPUBLICANS BLAST SCHUMER’S GAMBIT TO FORCE VOTE ON PROTECTING HAITIAN MIGRANTS Under this notion, PolitiFact wrote, the incentive for female illegal immigrants who are late in their pregnancies and seeking to give birth on U.S. soil would be quashed. The bill never advanced out of committee, however. Moreno indicated that his bill will be a carbon copy of Reid's. On Tuesday, he urged that Republicans work to "eliminate the filibuster" and "get this thing done." "[Justice Kavanaugh] said that what we have to do is clarify what citizenship means. We can do that through an act of Congress," he said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a453c77c2ca79de2362ae94 The best Fourth of July sales we're shopping right now: Wayfair, HexClad and more te 2026-07-01T16:12:39.344Z The best Fourth of July sales we're shopping right now: Wayfair, HexClad and more The Fourth of July brings more than fireworks and barbecues — it also marks one of the biggest shopping weekends of the summer. Retailers like HexClad, REI, Wayfair and Best Buy are offering major discounts on everything from outdoor furniture and kitchen appliances to camping gear. Standout deals include a HexClad barbecue pan for 44% off, a Ninja Slushi machine discounted by $50 and a six-person outdoor dining set for less than $1,000. READ MORE: Shopping for America 250? Here's what's actually made in the USA — and what's imported HexClad is offering deep discounts on cookware, knives and themed bundles. (Fox is in an investor in HexClad). Hybrid fry pan set with lids, 6-piece: $329 (38% off) Stainless steel mixing bowl set: $79 (20% off) Kitchen utensils set: $199 (20% off) Beechwood cutting board: $87 (20% off) Original price: $99 Get all the grilling essentials in one HexClad set, now on sale for $60. The rust-resistant collection includes a spatula, tongs and fork with soft-grip handles, plus four skewers and a basting brush for everything from burgers to kebabs. Original price: $199 HexClad's 12-inch fry pan features the brand's hybrid construction, combining stainless steel with a nonstick cooking surface for even heating and reliable browning. The stay-cool handle provides a more comfortable grip, and the pan is both oven- and dishwasher-safe for added convenience. Original price: $159 Grill vegetables, seafood and other smaller foods without worrying about them falling through the grates with this HexClad barbecue pan. Perforations along the bottom allow heat and smoke to circulate for even cooking, and right now it's on sale for $89 — a savings of $70. Original price: $654 Save $285 on this HexClad Damascus steel knife set while the deal lasts. The hand-sharpened blades are designed for precise slicing and chopping, while the green Pakkawood handles add a distinctive look to any kitchen. READ MORE: Brands still making cookware and kitchen tools in the U.S. — from skillets to spatulas Find deals on gardening essentials, patio furniture and grills during Wayfair's Fourth of July sale. Vertical planter boxes: $54.99 (62% off) Patio set with rocking chairs and loveseat: $173.99 (60% off)  Patio umbrella: $85.99 (46% off) Weber Genesis gas grill: $949 (14% off) Original price: $1,076 Add flexible seating to your outdoor space with this set of four Adirondack chairs, built from weather-resistant HDPE. They withstand sun exposure and summer storms without fading or warping, and they fold flat for easy storage. Original price: $1,142.82 This wicker patio set includes a loveseat, two armchairs and a coffee table for just $340. The modular design makes it easy to rearrange the pieces to fit everything from compact patios to larger decks. Original price: $1,599.96 Host family dinners and outdoor gatherings with this six-person dining set made from durable, all-weather materials. The gently curved chair backs are designed for comfort, and right now you can save more than $700. Original price: $139 Grow vegetables, herbs or flowers with this raised cedar planter, no digging required. The naturally weather-resistant cedar construction is built for outdoor use, while drainage holes in the bottom help prevent excess water from collecting around your plants. READ MORE: From grills to boots: American-made products worth every penny Gear up for summer adventures with REI deals on sneakers, camp gear and more. Patagonia Terravia Sacoche crossbody bag: $28.83 (41% off)  JetBoil cooking system: $107.93 (40% off) Nike Swoosh support bra: $28.93 (31% off) Darn Tough men's hiking socks: $18.93 (27% off)  Original price: $155 The Hoka Clifton 10 is designed for running but works just as well for everyday walks. A breathable knit upper helps keep feet comfortable, while the cushioned midsole and durable outsole handle miles on the road or around town. Original price: $75 Go from the beach to weekend outings with these Patagonia shorts. The quick-drying fabric helps keep you comfortable on hot days, while drainage holes in the pockets allow water to escape after a swim. Their versatile design makes them an easy choice for outdoor adventures and casual dinners. Original price: $275 The Coleman Cascade combines a grill and a griddle, so you can make burgers, steaks, pancakes, eggs and more on the same setup. The cast-iron surfaces provide even heat retention, while built-in wind guards help keep the burners protected when cooking outdoors. Original price: $89.95 Compact enough to fit in your backpack, the Flexlite camp chair sets up quickly and supports up to 250 pounds. The durable fabric withstands repeated use, making it a reliable companion for camping trips, hikes and outdoor events. Score discounts on appliances, lawn equipment, vacuums and more. Energizer 3-in-1 charging stand: $15.99 (60% off) Countertop nugget ice maker: $132.99 (56% off) Costway portable air conditioner: $229.99 (48% off) Car jump starter: $139.99 (46% off) READ MORE: This week's top Best Buy deals: Save on Ninja appliances, air conditioners and more Original price: $629.99 The Dyson V11 tackles both hard floors and carpets in a lightweight cordless design. Its Motorbar cleaner head helps reduce hair tangles as you clean, while the LCD screen displays real-time battery life and power mode information so you know when it's time to recharge. Original price: $799.99 Take the work out of floor cleaning with the eufy X10 Pro Omni vacuum and mop. AI-powered laser navigation helps it clean around furniture and tackle everyday messes, while the companion app lets you create no-go zones and customize cleaning schedules. Original price: $349.99 Beat the heat with the Ninja Slushi, which makes frozen drinks without the need for ice. The 88-ounce reservoir is large enough for entertaining, while five preset programs let you prepare slushies, frozen cocktails, milkshakes and more with the push of a button. For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals Original price: $299.99 Greenworks' battery-powered lawn mower weighs just 11 pounds, making it easier to maneuver than many traditional models. The cordless design can cover approximately 0.5 to 0.75 acres on a charge while delivering performance comparable to many gas-powered alternatives. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a453c63c2ca79de2362ae8b Kathy Griffin claims gatekeepers at Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show’ banned her for being 'too controversial' te 2026-07-01T16:12:19.895Z Kathy Griffin claims gatekeepers at Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show’ banned her for being 'too controversial' Kathy Griffin claimed in an Instagram post on Tuesday that she had been banned from "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon for being inappropriate and controversial. "I have not done the Jimmy Fallon show since it was on at 12:30 Eastern and Pacific, so I guess I’m banned from the Fallon show, or inappropriate, or too controversial," Griffin said in the video posted to Instagram. "I don’t even know. When you’re banned from a show — and if you guys know me, I’m banned from most of them. You’re welcome, America and Indonesia — they don’t usually tell you you’re banned. They just can’t seem to find room for you." In 2017, Griffin drew bipartisan backlash after posting an image of herself holding a Halloween mask covered in ketchup that appeared to resemble the severed head of President Donald Trump. In addition to facing condemnation, Griffin was investigated by the Secret Service over whether the image constituted a threat against the president. COMEDIANS DIG AT TRUMP AS BILL MAHER ACCEPTS MARK TWAIN PRIZE AT KENNEDY CENTER She said she liked Fallon, but then slammed him for having Conor McGregor on in her Instagram tirade. "I think the Fallon folks made a mistake by having Conor McGregor on," Griffin said. "I think it sends yet another message to women and marginalized folks everywhere that we’re not equal and you can do anything to us and the perpetrators are still going to be out there being glorified." Griffin said it reminded her of when Fallon had Trump on the show and it didn't sit well with her. MENTALIST OZ PEARLMAN PULLS OUT OF KIMMEL GUEST APPEARANCE, REPLACED BY LEFT-WING PODCASTER "I think it’s time we kind of make up our minds about who we’re going to cancel and who we’re not," she added. "Take it from the most canceled celebrity in history, look it up. As the kids say, do better." A source with knowledge on the matter told Fox News Digital that there is no ban on Griffin. Griffin recently addressed an old photo she had taken with Trump, who she regularly criticizes now. She clarified that an old image of her and Trump sitting amicably next to each other at an event was, in fact, "not an AI photo." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE At the start of a video posted to her YouTube channel in early June, Griffin claimed that several people had been sending her a picture of her with Trump, whom she described as "someone I used to know, but now I don’t care to know any longer." Griffin confirmed that the photo was real, adding that she previously had a friendly relationship with Trump. "I know. Can you f---ing believe it?" Griffin exclaimed. "There was a time I knew Donald as someone who would show up at the opening of an envelope, and I would sit next to him sometimes, and he’d laugh at my jokes. I’m not glorifying him in his last, final days in any way. I want to show you that is not an AI photo, and that's why I got the dress out, which I still fit into, by the way, because that picture's got to be 20 years old." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a453c50c2ca79de2362ae82 As American pride hits a 25-year low, a new 9/11 education platform urges the nation to never forget te 2026-07-01T16:12:00.425Z As American pride hits a 25-year low, a new 9/11 education platform urges the nation to never forget FIRST ON FOX — A new national push to preserve the memory of the September 11 terrorist attacks for generations too young to remember that day is launching this week ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. Starting July 1, the 9/11 Legacy Foundation will offer a free national curriculum on Freedom250.org to educate, increase awareness and encourage civic action. Built around an "Active Remembrance" model, the curriculum is designed to help participants not just learn about these historical events but also preserve these memories through community engagement. The website features modules designed from audiences of all ages that are customizable for elementary schools, universities, families, churches, and corporations, and it maps out more than 1,100 memorial sites across the nation. Dr. Chris Meek, founder of the 9/11 Legacy Foundation, told Fox News Digital the initiative is more important now than ever, citing educational gaps, alarming online trends and declining patriotism. Only 14 states currently mandate 9/11 education in schools, he said. Meek is also concerned by data showing American pride has hit a 25-year-low, according to Gallup, following other polling indicating many young people struggle to define the phrase, "Never Forget," along with TikTok videos sympathizing with Osama bin Laden’s 2002 "Letter to America" that racked up millions of views. MUSLIM MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALIST PRIMARY WINNER SUGGESTED AMERICA DESERVED 9/11 IN UNEARTHED VIDEO The release also comes just days after Colorado Democratic Socialist candidate Melat Kiros drew national headlines for saying that the 9/11 attacks were "inevitable" after U.S. and Israeli military actions in the Middle East. Meek told Fox News Digital this curriculum combats online misinformation by sticking strictly to the documented facts surrounding that day. "This is presenting all the facts, not the theories of conspiracy theories that are out there," Meek said. "We've just mapped out everything that's factual in nature... So it's allowing people to put their fingertips on the facts, and not listening to somebody's video or read a social media post based on theory or rhetoric." With over 100 million Americans born in the years after September 11, Meek says it's more important than ever to help new generations of Americans understand what these attacks cost America.  Terrorists hijacked four jets and crashed three of them into the World Trade Center and Pentagon; the fourth was forced down in a field in Pennsylvania by heroic passengers trying to prevent another building from being attacked.  Nearly 3,000 people were killed by the attacks. Thousands of deaths have also been attributed to illnesses related to toxic exposure at Ground Zero in New York City. 9/11 MUSEUM TO OFFER FREE ADMISSION FOR VETERANS AHEAD OF MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND "September 11 is not just a chapter in a history book, it is a living legacy that continues to shape who we are as a nation," he said in a statement. "Being part of the Freedom 250 platform on this milestone observance means that as Americans pause to reflect on 250 years of freedom, they will also have the opportunity to engage deeply with one of the most defining moments of the last 25 years." TUNNEL TO TOWERS ANNOUNCES 'STEEL ACROSS AMERICA' TOUR TO MARK 25 YEARS SINCE 9/11 ATTACKS Meek's mission is born out of his first-hand experience as a survivor of the terror attacks. On September 11, 2001, he was working as a trader for Goldman Sachs, less than half a mile from Ground Zero. The experience drove him to dedicate his life to giving back to U.S. service members, leading him to co-found SoldierStrong, a nonprofit that provides medical technology to help injured veterans. With the 25th anniversary of 9/11 falling 69 days after America's 250th, Meek hopes the resource will help Americans embrace the unity and patriotism that arose in the days following that tragic day. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE "More than ever this country is divided, for various reasons. We need to go back to the way we were on September 12, where everyone was the United States of America," he said. This Sept. 11 will mark the 25th anniversary of the attacks. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a453c29c2ca79de2362ae64 Trump Takes First Flight on New Air Force One te 2026-07-01T16:11:21.513Z Trump Takes First Flight on New Air Force One The Boeing 747-8, a gift worth $200 million from the Qatari royal family, has attracted considerable scrutiny over whether a foreign government was trying to influence the president. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a453c16c2ca79de2362ae5b Troop Casualties in Ukraine War Top 2 Million, Study Finds te 2026-07-01T16:11:02.059Z Troop Casualties in Ukraine War Top 2 Million, Study Finds Russia has borne the heavier toll, with 1.4 million troops killed or wounded since it invaded in February 2022. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a453c01c2ca79de2362ae36 Lime raises $167M in IPO after years of teasing a public debut te 2026-07-01T16:10:41.576Z Lime raises $167M in IPO after years of teasing a public debut The nine-year-old scooter and bike-share company has said it needs the funds to help pay down around $1 billion in liabilities. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a453bedc2ca79de2362ae2a TPD combate carreras callejeras tras alza de muertes te 2026-07-01T16:10:21.619Z TPD combate carreras callejeras tras alza de muertes Leer en inglés La policía de Tucson ha pasado de una estrategia reactiva de dispersión de multitudes a una basada en la inteligencia, cuyo objetivo es desmantelar las redes organizadas que organizan las carreras callejeras, según informaron las autoridades al concejo municipal en mayo. La jefa de policía de Tucson, Monica Prieto, habló sobre la nueva estrategia del departamento durante la reunión del concejo del 5 de mayo; señaló que esta pone énfasis en la aplicación proactiva de la ley y en el uso de tecnología avanzada, al tiempo que fomenta la colaboración con socios estratégicos y fiscales. Las cifras subrayan la urgencia de la situación. Prieto informó que ya se han registrado 38 muertes por accidentes de tráfico en lo que va de 2026. Esta cifra incluye 16 fallecimientos de peatones, un aumento exponencial con respecto al año anterior, y 14 muertes relacionadas con vehículos. En 13 de los 16 casos de peatones fallecidos, la víctima se encontraba, en promedio, a unas 128 yardas de un paso de peatones. "No podemos hablar de carreras callejeras sin abordar la cultura de conducción insegura que existe aquí en Tucson," afirmó Prieto. "Esto se hace especialmente evidente al analizar las cifras de muertes por accidentes de tráfico en lo que va del año." Prieto anunció que el departamento intensificará la vigilancia para asegurar el cumplimiento de las normas en los pasos de peatones. Entre las iniciativas recientes del TPD para la seguridad vial se incluye un operativo realizado el 4 de marzo, en el que los agentes dedicaron intervalos de al menos 20 minutos a tareas de vigilancia y educación vial, ayudando así a la ciudad a identificar los puntos donde se producían las colisiones. El TPD espera completar 10,000 operativos de este tipo a lo largo de 2026. Se llevarán a cabo operativos adicionales a través del Regional Traffic Enforcement Task Force, con la participación de agencias asociadas que se centrarán en los principales corredores viales donde suelen ocurrir accidentes. Un tercer enfoque utiliza 21 unidades de agentes motorizados, incluidas cinco nuevas incorporaciones, para realizar despliegues basados ​​en datos, ampliando así la cobertura a los horarios nocturnos. El Foco de Tucson es la única redacción del sur de Arizona dedicada a formar a periodistas diversos y emergentes para que informen sobre las comunidades a las que pertenecen. Reciba su trabajo gratuitamente en su bandeja de entrada. La jefa del Departamento de Policía de Tucson (TPD), Monica Prieto, habló sobre los esfuerzos policiales para combatir las carreras callejeras dentro de los límites de la ciudad durante la reunión del concejo municipal del 5 de mayo. Prieto señaló que el programa de tráfico más reciente del TPD es el de las "cebras de tráfico,” un grupo voluntario de seis agentes que realizan despliegues de tres a cinco horas cada dos semanas; estas operaciones combinan la educación vial y la aplicación de la ley, al tiempo que atienden quejas específicas de los agentes de patrulla. Un despliegue de este grupo resultó en 92 multas y dos arrestos por conducción a alta velocidad. Prieto informó que el TPD recibió información de inteligencia sobre una concentración planeada en Houghton Road y respondió con un despliegue que incluyó 22 paradas de tráfico. La operación se interrumpió cuando un conductor que circulaba en sentido contrario estuvo a punto de atropellar a los agentes antes de chocar contra una mediana. Dicho conductor fue acusado de 10 cargos de delito grave por poner en peligro a terceros y de conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol o drogas (DUI) como delito grave. Prieto calificó las tomas de calles para carreras clandestinas como actos "completamente imprudentes e inaceptables," señalando que, si bien organizar y asistir a tales eventos constituye un delito en sí mismo, estos a menudo atraen otras actividades delictivas, como el consumo de drogas, disparos y redes de carreras organizadas. "Nuestro enfoque anterior era predominantemente reactivo, con el objetivo principal de despejar las vías y dispersar a las multitudes," dijo Prieto. "Sin embargo, nuestra respuesta más reciente se basa en un sólido marco de trabajo orientado por la inteligencia, diseñado para identificar, rastrear y desmantelar las redes organizadas de carreras callejeras." A partir del 9 de enero, la Threat Mitigation Unit asumió la recopilación y gestión de inteligencia, reuniendo 88 pistas sobre delitos, además de información proveniente de patrullas y del monitoreo de redes sociales. Dicha inteligencia confirmó que las carreras callejeras en Tucson están altamente organizadas, con roles definidos para organizadores, espectadores y conductores. El TPD cambió a una estrategia de aplicación proactiva de la ley, centrada en los organizadores, los participantes y los infractores reincidentes. Prieto indicó que el TPD utiliza lectores automatizados de matrículas como parte de sus investigaciones, herramientas que, según afirmó, fueron fundamentales para sus esfuerzos. El TPD también ejecutó órdenes de registro para obtener pruebas e incautó 18 vehículos; estas acciones podrían sustentar cargos por asociación delictiva. El 22 de febrero, el TPD identificó siete vehículos, incautó seis y realizó múltiples arrestos por evasión ilegal a la autoridad; a uno de los sospechosos se le encontró portando una pistola modificada. El 15 de marzo surgió otra oleada de tomas de calles, durante la cual se efectuaron 45 disparos. El operativo de mayor envergadura tuvo lugar el 18 de abril en la intersección de South Kolb Road y East Valencia Road; allí, los agentes incautaron cinco vehículos, confiscaron uno y realizaron decenas de detenciones. Entre los arrestados hubo 23 personas por allanamiento de propiedad privada, tres por participación en una organización delictiva y dos padres acusados ​​de contribuir a la delincuencia de un menor por llevar a niños pequeños al evento. Se está creando un grupo de trabajo regional especializado en carreras callejeras para mejorar la coordinación con las entidades colaboradoras. La alcaldesa Regina Romero declaró que el concejo decidió intensificar las medidas contra las carreras callejeras tras la reciente muerte de Anna García, una niña de 3 años, en un accidente relacionado con esta práctica; asimismo, habló sobre la propuesta de ley conocida como Anna's Law, que ya ha reunido 23,000 firmas. Dicha ley busca imponer sanciones más severas para quienes participen en carreras callejeras. "Admiro profundamente el valor y la fortaleza de la familia para transformar su dolor en una fuerza impulsora y abogar por la Ley de Anna," afirmó Romero. "La petición a favor de la Ley de Anna envía un mensaje claro: las carreras callejeras no son inofensivas; son actos temerarios y violentos que destruyen vidas. Una sola muerte causada por carreras callejeras es demasiado, y la vida de Anna García importaba." El concejo también recibió información actualizada sobre otro desafío de seguridad pública: los tiempos de respuesta ante emergencias. Tucson creó el Departamento de Comunicaciones de Seguridad Pública en 2017 para unificar los servicios de despacho policial y de bomberos, principalmente la atención de llamadas al 911. Este departamento gestiona más de un millón de llamadas al 911 al año a través de más de 280 líneas, y reducir ese volumen de llamadas es una prioridad. Los retrasos en los tiempos de respuesta implican que hasta el 75% de las llamadas de emergencia de alta gravedad no llegan a un equipo de respuesta inmediata. Mike Garcia, director del Departamento de Comunicaciones de Seguridad Pública, atribuyó este volumen, en parte, a que las personas utilizan el 911 como primera opción incluso cuando otro servicio sería más adecuado. Garcia señaló que esta situación llevó al departamento a buscar alternativas mediante la iniciativa Safe City, incluyendo colaboraciones con la Autoridad Regional de Salud Conductual de Arizona y la Coalición para la Co-ubicación de Profesionales en Crisis. También se mejoró la conectividad entre las llamadas al 911 y al 988; anteriormente, las llamadas al 988 se desviaban a Phoenix antes de regresar a un centro local, un proceso que contribuía a que se perdieran llamadas. La alcaldesa Regina Romero respaldó una moción en la reunión del 5 de mayo para rechazar el centro de detención propuesto por el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) en Marana. El departamento también deriva las llamadas que cumplen con los requisitos al personal de centros de crisis; según García, esto reduce el número de intervenciones policiales y de bomberos en incidentes de salud conductual que pueden ser atendidos mejor por profesionales especializados en crisis. García señaló que las llamadas de emergencia, por ejemplo, para solicitar una ambulancia o reportar un robo, no deberían competir por la capacidad de la línea con llamadas que corresponden al servicio 311. García también habló sobre la función del 311 para conectar a los residentes con servicios que incluyen el reporte de campamentos de personas sin hogar y la derivación a programas de vivienda y asistencia alimentaria. La ciudad colabora además con MD Ally para redirigir algunas llamadas del 911 a proveedores de atención médica capaces de recetar o suministrar medicamentos; García mencionó que, en ocasiones, las ambulancias trasladan a pacientes al hospital solo para descubrir que, en realidad, lo que necesitaban era un dentista. García afirmó que estas iniciativas han permitido ahorrar tiempo y dinero: la derivación de 2000 llamadas a proveedores médicos en lugar de a servicios de emergencia supuso un ahorro de 1,700 horas de operación de bomberos y servicios médicos de emergencia (EMS), así como de 4,100 horas de espera en salas de urgencias. "Este programa es ya un modelo de eficacia comprobada que se está estudiando en todo el país; contar con un profesional de crisis presente aquí mismo significa que la persona que llama en medio de una crisis recibe mejores recursos y obtiene mejores resultados con mayor rapidez," declaró García. El concejo también votó por unanimidad a favor de una resolución que rechaza el centro de detención propuesto por el ICE en Marana. La concejal del Distrito 6, Miranda Schubert, señaló que en toda la región persisten vestigios de abusos gubernamentales, citando como ejemplo el campamento Gordon Hirabayashi en Mount Lemmon; este lugar lleva el nombre de un hombre que se opuso al internamiento de estadounidenses de origen japonés durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial y fue condenado a realizar trabajos forzados en ese mismo sitio. Schubert comparó la lucha contra el internamiento con los desafíos actuales que enfrentan los inmigrantes indocumentados, recordando que aquellos campos de internamiento eran administrados por el Servicio de Inmigración y Naturalización y custodiados por agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza. "El centro de detención en Marana ni siquiera debería ser un tema de debate [para el Concejo Municipal de Tucson], pero aquí estamos," dijo Schubert. "Al seguir adelante con el contrato, el municipio de Marana avala políticas federales que separan familias y permiten que las empresas privadas de prisiones obtengan beneficios bajo el pretexto de la seguridad nacional." Otros miembros del concejo expresaron su apoyo a esta postura de rechazo.  "No estaba dispuesta a aceptar esto sin más ni más, sin expresar mi firme oposición a estos centros de detención del ICE, especialmente a cualquiera que se ubique cerca de la ciudad de Tucson," dijo Romero. "Siempre hemos sido una comunidad acogedora, y esta resolución reafirma nuestros valores, la dignidad humana de los inmigrantes, la unidad familiar y el respeto hacia todas las personas, independientemente de su estatus legal." Ian Stash es egresado de la Universidad de Arizona y periodista independiente en Tucson. Puede contactarlo en ianjgs16@gmail.com. Esta nota fue traducida 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/6a453750c2ca79de2362acef USA Powerlifting, once in trans athlete lawsuit, supports SCOTUS ruling: 'Law has caught up with the science' te 2026-07-01T15:50:40.582Z USA Powerlifting, once in trans athlete lawsuit, supports SCOTUS ruling: 'Law has caught up with the science' USA Powerlifting "welcomed" the Supreme Court's ruling that upholds state laws regarding transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports. The Supreme Court ruled, 6-3, in favor of the states that were sued by biological males to gain access to girls' sports. USA Powerlifting had found itself embroiled in the battle when it was sued in 2021 by trans lifter JayCee Cooper after Cooper was rejected from the women's team three years earlier. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM And after Tuesday's historic ruling, it breathed a sigh of relief. "The highest court in the land has affirmed what we've argued for six years: protecting women's sports is common sense and not discrimination," USAPL past president Larry Maile said in a release. "The law has caught up with the science and now Minnesota is even more of a legal outlier. It is out of step with the U.S. Supreme Court, overwhelming public opinion and international sport governing organizations." A district court ruled in 2023 that the organization discriminated against Cooper, but after an appeal and then a cross-appeal by Cooper, the Minnesota Court of Appeals eventually decided that Cooper was not discriminated against. TRUMP REACTS TO SUPREME COURT RULING ON TRANS ATHLETES The federation opened an "open" category in 2021 "to serve all gender identities," according to Fox 9 in Minnesota. The states were backed by the law firm Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), while the trans athletes were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Cooley Legal. Now, more than half of the states in the U.S. are empowered to enforce protections for women's sports without fear of a legal challenge. However, there are still 23 states that don't have any such laws, and some of those states have laws to protect trans athletes in girls' sports. President Donald Trump continuously threatened to halt federal funding to states that did not abide by his executive order. Trump froze funds to Maine, but a federal judge ruled that the funds had to be restored. But now, those states are protected by law. Surveys have shown that roughly 80% of Americans do not believe biological males should compete against girls and women. Fox News' Jackson Thompson and 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/6a4534f7c2ca79de2362ac91 World Cup round of 32 soccer preview as England, Belgium and USA all seek regulation wins on a packed day te 2026-07-01T15:40:39.869Z World Cup round of 32 soccer preview as England, Belgium and USA all seek regulation wins on a packed day The Round of 32 has not disappointed for the World Cup. Yesterday we had three games, and while there were no upsets, it was a fun day of soccer. France dominated Sweden as expected, but if you saw some of the goals, you had to be impressed and think that no one will be able to beat them. Norway was able to escape the Ivory Coast, and that was a bit of a sweaty win, but a win nonetheless. The final game of the night saw Mexico win 2-0 over Ecuador, with Mexico's defense looking great and their speed unmatched. We went 2-1 in plays, and I'm looking for more today. ALEXI LALAS DREADING THOUGHT ENGLAND COULD WIN WORLD CUP ON AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY: 'CANNOT HAVE THAT' This is the game on the slate today that shouldn't be much of a mystery. England is a -1200 favorite to win in regulation, meaning they should absolutely dominate the Congo DR. That doesn't mean there is no betting value. We found a winner on France yesterday, and they were -900 on their three-way moneyline as well. England got two wins and one draw in the group stages, and while they didn't look great in every game, they do have more talent on their side in this game. Congo DR had a win, a loss, and a draw in their three games. They haven't allowed more than one goal in a game this World Cup. Portugal and Colombia are both talented teams, and they held both to just one goal (even though they played to a draw and a loss, respectively). I think the under 2.5 is the best look. I don't see Congo scoring, and I think England is going to score two or fewer. This is the closest matchup based on the moneyline on today's schedule of games. Belgium comes into this after playing Egypt and Iran to draws and destroying New Zealand in the group stage. Senegal made it after losing to France and Norway in their first two games, but beating Iraq 5-0. I think it is fair to say that Senegal had a significantly harder group than Belgium. Although their offense isn't the caliber of France and Norway, Belgium is talented and should be the aggressor in this match. I'm curious to see if Senegal can slow down the attack after struggling against two of the better offenses. I do think they should be able to get a goal on Belgium as well, especially if they can force a turnover. I like both teams to score, but it is pricey at -150. If you prefer, take the 90-minute draw at +230. I could see this going to extra time to decide who advances. TEAM USA FALLS TO TÜRKIYE IN FINAL SECONDS, STILL SET FOR ROUND OF 32 MATCH VS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA When the World Cup started, Team USA was billed as having a good path to advance and likely the potential to go far. As you can see, they've lived up to that expectation. They went 2-1 in the opening round, but the loss to Turkey was meaningless as they had already secured their group. There was also some controversy around the loss, but we can put that behind us. Bosnia-Herzegovina had a bit of everything in their three games. They played to a draw against Canada, then lost badly to Switzerland, and finally beat Qatar in their final match, 3-1. I think that both teams will score in this one as well. America has allowed a goal in two of their three matches, and if they have a concern, I'd say it is their defense. Give me both teams to score at -115. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4532dcc2ca79de2362ac26 Fake Verizon fraud call nearly stole his account te 2026-07-01T15:31:40.152Z Fake Verizon fraud call nearly stole his account A fake Verizon fraud call can feel real fast, especially when official-looking texts start landing on your phone. That is what makes this scam so dangerous. The caller creates panic, pushes you to "verify" your identity and then uses your own reaction against you. Chuck from New Braunfels, Texas, reached out after a frightening close call. "I usually am pretty savvy when it comes to scams, but I almost got fooled by a fake Verizon fraud investigator. He tricked me into giving him access to my account through text verification... he ordered an upgrade to my daughter's phone, which she would never do without me. In the end, thank God I figured it out and got a hold of the real Verizon fraud and stopped him before something bad happened. If there is any more information I can give to help someone else, let me know." Chuck's message should make all of us pause. He knew scams were out there. He still almost got caught because this one moved quickly and looked so convincing. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report ADT DATA BREACH EXPOSES CUSTOMER INFORMATION Chuck says the call came in around 7:15 p.m. The man on the phone claimed he worked for Verizon's fraud department. He gave a name, "John Rodriguez," along with the phone number 1-888-269-xxxx. That detail made the call feel more official. So did the extra pieces the caller supplied. Chuck says the scammer gave him a fraudulent number and a cancellation number. That is a common move in account takeover scams. The criminal gives you enough "case details" to sound legitimate. Then, while you feel like you are dealing with a real fraud alert, the scammer quietly tries to get control of your account. The messages Chuck received appeared to involve Verizon account security. One said there was a request to authenticate from the Verizon website. It asked him to confirm or deny through a link. Another message said there was a request to change the device associated with a line on the account. That message warned that the change could be tied to an upgrade or SIM change. Then came a more alarming message. It warned of a potential scam and said someone was trying to change the password from the Verizon website. It told Chuck to deny the request and call the Verizon fraud team immediately. Here is the scary part. Those alerts can make you feel safer while the scam is still unfolding. The caller keeps you on the phone and tells you what to click. That pressure can turn a security warning into a trap. Chuck says the caller asked him multiple times to verify. Then Chuck clicked a link to deny access. That moment changed everything. To Chuck, clicking "deny" felt like the safe move. To the scammer, it may have been exactly what he wanted. Once a criminal has you on the phone, he can walk you through alerts in real time. He may claim you are blocking fraud while he actually triggers account changes, resets credentials or pushes through an order. In this case, Chuck later saw that his daughter's line had been changed to a new iPhone 17 Pro Max. That caught his attention because his daughter would never make that kind of change without him. Chuck then received an email saying, "Your order is canceled." The email appeared to come from noreplay@vzreturn.com and the subject line said, "You've successfully canceled your order." The message listed an Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB Cosmic Orange and showed order details. Chuck described the sender as a non-verified email. That part deserves attention. A cancellation email can make you feel relieved. Yet it may also serve another purpose. It can make the victim believe the problem has been solved while the criminal keeps trying other account changes. WHAT SCAMMERS DO THE WEEK YOUR SPOUSE DIES Chuck says he knew something was off when his daughter's phone line changed to the new iPhone. Then he saw that his password had been changed. At that point, he took the right step. He contacted the real Verizon fraud team and changed the password again so he could regain control. Then the scammer tried to call him back twice. That is another major warning sign. Real fraud departments do not need to keep calling after you contact the company through a trusted channel. Chuck says the real Verizon fraud team checked the fraud case number and cancellation number the caller had given him. Both were bogus. After verifying his identity through a secure Verizon process, Verizon removed his My Verizon credentials and told him to re-register using two-factor authentication (2FA). That step deserves attention because the scammer had gotten too close to the account. When credentials, account access or device changes get involved, changing only the password may not be enough. This scam works because it borrows the language of real fraud prevention. The caller talks about account security. The texts mention authentication, SIM changes, password resets and fraud teams. That sounds protective. But the caller creates confusion and urgency. Once the victim follows instructions in real time, the scammer can steer the whole interaction. A phone upgrade also gives criminals a clear payday. A stolen device order can lead to theft of service, resale value or deeper account access. A SIM-related change can also put calls and texts at risk, including codes used to access other accounts. Several details stand out from Chuck's case. Any one of those should stop the conversation. Together, they point to an active account takeover attempt. After reviewing the details of Chuck's experience, Verizon said these kinds of social engineering scams have become a growing problem. "This type of fraudulent activity has unfortunately become all too common," a Verizon spokesperson told CyberGuy. "Verizon actively works against bad actors by tracking every case and identifying the hallmarks of social engineering events against our customers." The spokesperson added, "We incorporate these into real-time detections to prevent attempted fraud before the transaction is completed." Verizon also shared several steps customers can take to protect their accounts. Many line up with the same safety habits that can help stop fake carrier fraud calls before they turn into account takeovers. A few smart habits can make it much harder for a scammer to talk you into giving up control of your phone account. Use the number on your carrier's app, website or bill. Do not rely on a number the caller gives you. Verizon says it will never call you out of the blue asking for your password or a one-time security code. If you get that kind of call, hang up and call Verizon back using a publicly listed number, such as 611 from your Verizon phone. If a caller tells you to approve, deny, verify or authenticate through a text link, stop. Open the carrier app directly instead. A button or link that sounds safe can still help a scammer if they, in fact, triggered the request. Strong antivirus software can also help block malicious links and warn you before you land on a risky site. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com A new phone order, SIM change or line change should trigger immediate action. Verizon says customers should also watch for texts or emails about an unauthorized password change, transaction, SIM swap or port-out. If you see one, act fast to cancel the transaction and call Verizon immediately. Do this from a browser or app you opened yourself. Avoid links from texts or emails. Verizon says to treat your mobile and email accounts like bank accounts and never share passwords or security codes with anyone who calls unexpectedly. Also, do not reuse passwords across important accounts. Use a trusted password manager to create and store a strong, unique password for your carrier account. Use the strongest 2FA option your carrier offers, such as a passkey, authenticator app or account PIN. This adds another layer of protection so a scammer cannot get in with just your password. Verizon specifically recommends enabling two-factor authentication in the My Verizon app. Verizon says customers can enable Number Lock and SIM Protection in the My Verizon app. These extra protections can help stop unauthorized activity, including SIM-related scams and account changes. Many carriers let you add a PIN or security code for account changes. Make sure yours is unique and not something easy to guess, such as a birthday, address or repeated number. If criminals accessed the account, reduce what they can buy or change. Removing saved payment methods can limit damage while your carrier reviews the account. Make sure no phone numbers, devices, SIMs, shipping addresses or authorized users were changed. Also, check for pending orders or upgrades you did not request. Scammers often get names, phone numbers, addresses and family connections from people-search sites. A data removal service can help reduce what is exposed online, making it harder for criminals to build a convincing call around your personal details. 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 Ask for the fraud department, explain the attempted takeover and request a full account security review. Verizon says if you are scammed, call your bank or financial institution first, then call Verizon. Verizon also points customers to its account security page for more information: verizon.com/about/account-security/overview Move quickly, but do it through trusted channels you open yourself. CARNIVAL BREACH MAY PUT YOUR TRAVEL DATA AT RISK What gets me about Chuck's story is how real the scam felt in the moment. The caller had a name, a fraud number, a cancellation number and security texts were landing while he was still on the phone. That to me is scary. Once a scammer gets you reacting, your account can start slipping away fast. Chuck caught it before things got worse, but not before a phone upgrade appeared and his password was changed. The safest move is to hang up and start fresh. Open the official app yourself. Type the website yourself. Call the number on your bill yourself. Never let a stranger guide your clicks. Chuck said it best: " Please use my mistake to help others avoid losing potential thousands in theft of service and money." Have you ever received a carrier fraud alert that looked real, and how did you decide whether to trust it? 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/6a4532c8c2ca79de2362ac1d Ex-NFL reporter Dianna Russini interaction with police officer to dodge traffic ticket comes to light te 2026-07-01T15:31:20.694Z Ex-NFL reporter Dianna Russini interaction with police officer to dodge traffic ticket comes to light Police bodycam footage appeared to refute a claim made by former NFL reporter Dianna Russini earlier this year about what she did to get out of a traffic ticket. Russini, whose relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel led to her resigning from her role with The Athletic in April, said on the "Stugotz and Company" show back in February that she FaceTimed the NFL coach, though she didn't drop the name, of the officer's favorite team after being pulled over for being on her phone. It was a story that came up again during the New York Times' deep dive into the Russini-Vrabel controversy, and now police bodycam footage has confirmed that wasn't the case. However, she did name-drop a coach. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The footage went just over seven minutes long, as Russini was stopped in Ridgewood, New Jersey, for using her phone while driving. Not only did a FaceTime never happen, but no call at all occurred during the exchange between Russini and the officer. What did occur, though, was Russini showing the officer texts she had been having with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, and she showed the officer her phone with the texts on it. DIANNA RUSSINI PULLED PATHETIC MOVE WITH AN OFFICER TO GET OUT OF A TICKET, AND IT SHOULD HAVE THE NFL NERVOUS "I'm an NFL reporter, and I just broke that Seam McDermott got fired from the Bills," Russini told the officer almost immediately, understanding why she was being pulled over. "I was gonna pull over because I have to make calls. I know you don't care, but I'm just letting you know my reason why. It was a work thing and it was an emergency for what I do." McDermott was fired the morning of Jan. 19, which was the date shown on the bodycam footage, after the Bills' AFC Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos. The officer replied that Russini had been on her phone "for a while" before pulling her over, though he did acknowledge she had a job to do. Russini continued, telling the officer that former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll "wants the job" with the Bills. He was connected to the team given his history with Buffalo prior to joining the Giants, but they hired in-house with Joe Brady being promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach. Daboll ended up joining Robert Saleh's staff as offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans. Russini, then, asked if the officer was a Giants or Jets fan given the New Jersey ties. When he responded by saying he was a Vikings fan, it prompted Russini to seemingly show texts with O'Connell. The conversation, which included Russini saying the Vikings' quarterback "sucks" and "KOC's awesome" ultimately led to the officer letting her off with a warning. "I’m gonna cut you a break on the cellphone," the officer was heard saying. "I understand your job requires you to be on the phone a lot. Just try to wait until you get home, OK?" PATRIOTS SAY THEY 'FULLY SUPPORT' MIKE VRABEL AMID LATEST IN CONTROVERSY INVOLVING DIANNA RUSSINI The Center Square first reported Russini's interaction with the officer. Fox News Digital reached out to Russini and the Vikings for comment. Ridgewood Police Chief Forest Lyons issued a statement on the matter. "On January 19, 2026, at 9:40 a.m., a Ridgewood police officer conducted a motor vehicle stop on Godwin Avenue involving Ms. Dianna Russini for the use of a handheld cell phone while driving," the statement read. "After following department protocol during the stop, and reviewing Ms. Russini’s driving history, the officer exercised his professional discretion and issued a verbal warning to Ms. Russini. "The use of officer discretion in determining whether to issue a warning or a citation is consistent with Ridgewood Police Department policy and longstanding practice. Police officers are encouraged to use their judgment and, when appropriate, provide motorists with warnings as part of the Department’s commitment to fair, impartial and community-oriented policing." Russini resigned from her post at The Athletic amid mounting criticism over her relationship with Vrabel after photographs of them hugging and holding hands at a private resort in Sedona, Arizona, went viral. After initially trying to downplay it, saying "reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues," Russini ultimately released her resignation. After the original photos, others dating back to 2020 showed Vrabel and Russini kissing at a bar in New York City. The pictures exclusively obtained by the New York Post were taken in the early hours of March 11, 2020.  "They were kissing, and they were all over each other," an eyewitness told the outlet. "He had a ring on." While Russini resigned, Vrabel was back with the Patriots after a counseling visit, which fell on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Vrabel said he had difficult conversations with his family, while also speaking with his players about the situation. The Patriots said before the draft they "fully support" Vrabel, allowing him to seek the counseling he desired despite four rounds of the draft still remaining. 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/6a4532b5c2ca79de2362ac14 Melat Kiros becomes 28th far-left candidate to win a Democratic primary this year as socialists amass power te 2026-07-01T15:31:01.240Z Melat Kiros becomes 28th far-left candidate to win a Democratic primary this year as socialists amass power Melat Kiros has become the 28th candidate endorsed by a far-left group to win a Democratic primary election this cycle, according to a Fox News review. The 29-year-old Democratic socialist is now in the same company as Graham Platner, the scandal-plagued Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, as well as the trio of Zohran Mamdani-backed House nominees — Brad Lander, Claire Valdez, and Darializa Avila Chevalier. Kiros ran for Colorado's 1st congressional district and was supported by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the Working Families Party (WFP) and the Justice Democrats. DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS SEIZE THE MOMENT WITH EXTREME, ANTI-AMERICAN VIEWS THAT BADLY TARNISH THE PARTY Although not all 25 far-left House candidates who won Democratic primaries this year are guaranteed to win their general election bids in November, many of them, including Kiros, are in solidly blue districts where Republican challengers have little chance of being successful. If all the far-left House candidates tracked by Fox News were to win, they'd join another 18 like-minded colleagues, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. In the best case scenario for the far left, they'd have a 43-member bloc in the House of Representatives come January 2027. WATCH: PELOSI, OMAR STAY SILENT AS MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALIST VICTORIES SHAKE DEMOCRAT PARTY Seeing as there are just 10 Blue Dog Democrats, a left-wing sweep would substantially tip the balance of power in the Democratic Party, which is favored to retake the House majority next year. The Blue Dog Caucus is a coalition of House Democrats who describe themselves as fiscally responsible and focused on bipartisan dealmaking. They also support a strong national defense. With her victory on Tuesday, Kiros also became the sixth insurgent candidate this year to oust an incumbent. CARVILLE WARNS DEMOCRATS ANTI-ISRAEL ‘LOUDMOUTHS’ COULD COST ELECTIONS Kiros defeated Rep. Diana DeGette, who served 15 terms in Congress, by a nearly 10-point margin, according to The Associated Press. DeGette was sworn into the House in January 1997, four months before Kiros was born. DeGette supported abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and implementing Medicare-for-All, two key priorities of her opponent and leftists at large. Largely aligned on domestic policy priorities, Kiros and DeGette diverged on the issue of Israel. DeGette is a strong supporter of the Jewish nation and has also advocated for a two-state solution. Kiros took a harsher stance, accusing Israel of committing a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Kiros, who supports a full U.S. arms embargo on Israel, criticized DeGette for backing continued U.S. military aid to the country, including funding for defensive systems like the Iron Dome. Kiros's other foreign policy ideas have drawn significant criticism, including her view that the U.S. shares culpability in the horrific 9/11 terror attacks. 9News journalist Kyle Clark asked Kiros in a June 22 interview whether she believed 9/11 was an "inevitable consequence" of American intervention. "Inevitable in the sense that we destabilized a lot of the Middle East, which led people to believe that another act of violence was the only response. And again, just like I said before, our responsibility is to get rid of those conditions that lead to violence in the first place," Kiros said. Before her campaign, Kiros was fired from her position at the Sidley Austin law firm in 2023 after publishing an open letter criticizing law firms, including her own, that called for action against antisemitism on college campuses. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4532a1c2ca79de2362ac0b Mamdani ripped for claiming victory over capitalism after NYC's multi-billion dollar taxpayer funded bailout te 2026-07-01T15:30:41.816Z Mamdani ripped for claiming victory over capitalism after NYC's multi-billion dollar taxpayer funded bailout New York City's mayor is again under fire after spewing outlandish claims that his socialist policies are to credit for a balanced budget in the Big Apple, just after the city received a multi-billion dollar bailout from the state. "In January, our administration inherited a $12 billion budget deficit — a fiscal crisis greater than the Great Recession," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a Tuesday post on X announcing that the debt had been cleared. "We balanced the budget by taxing the rich and making government more efficient," Mamdani continued. "We did not balance this budget on the backs of working people, and we never will." MAMDANI ALLOCATES $500K FOR REPARATIONS TALKS AS NYC FACES $5.4B DEFICIT But the real reason the budget it balanced is because the city was handed $1.5 billion by the state of New York in January — funded by working class taxpayers across the state — as part of a multi-year plan to bail out the fiscally-challenged city. In late May, the city received another $4 billion. Of the combined $8 billion provided to the city's bailout fund under former Mayor Eric Adams' tenure and now Mamdani's mayorship, $5 billion was directly earmarked for the city to address fiscal measures. This includes allowing city government to defer pension contributions to close the budgetary gap. Mamdani's claims about socialist policies producing results — and his failure to mention the massive bailouts provided by taxpayer dollars — did not fly on social media. MAMDANI ALLOCATES $500K FOR REPARATIONS TALKS AS NYC FACES $5.4B DEFICIT "This is a lie," independent journalist Nick Shirley said in a reply to the mayor. "You balanced the budget by borrowing billions from the NY state government which pushed back pension payments, so you literally took money from 'the backs of hardworking people.' Don’t get it twisted," he added. Commentator and journalist Nick Sortor also flamed the mayor over the loan and his classification of the bailout. "Are you saying New Yorkers can 'balance their budgets' by taking out massive credit card loans?" he asked sarcastically. BROADCAST NETWORKS TOUT MAMDANI’S VICTORIES, PROCLAIM SOCIALISM IS ‘RESONATING’ "Mamdani balanced the budget by taking money from Albany, who in turn taxed Rochester and Buffalo" another social media user said. "That's who is paying for all of Mamdani's free crap." In a press conference earlier in the day, Mamdani claimed victory over capitalism. "Throughout this process I have been reminded of the words of the Austrian economist Friedrich Hayek: 'if socialists understood economics, they wouldn't be socialists.'" After the Republican National Convention (RNC) posted that clip, Mamdani also faced ridicule for that. "It always looks good at first until the chickens come home to roost," one person replied. "He'll soon 'deliver' bread lines instead," said another. Mamdani's office did not return Fox News Digital's request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a453085c2ca79de2362ab9d Harris reaches out to socialist mayor Mamdani in latest sign she's shoring up support for possible 2028 bid te 2026-07-01T15:21:41.623Z Harris reaches out to socialist mayor Mamdani in latest sign she's shoring up support for possible 2028 bid Former Vice President Kamala Harris is courting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and other progressive power players as 2028 speculation builds around another possible White House bid. The phone call with Mamdani last week, first reported by Axios and confirmed by Fox News Digital, along with other closed-door meetings with progressive groups, suggests Harris is trying to shore up support from factions of the party that didn’t support her during her 2024 run. Additionally, Harris met with progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., behind the scenes at a Black women empowerment summit in Chicago, Axios first reported, and Fox News Digital confirmed. Harris reportedly has also been reaching out to pro-Palestinian groups after she faced pushback from those groups during her 2024 presidential run. Harris reached out to at least one group that was part of the "Uncommitted Movement" that developed as a result of President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel and Gaza conflict. KAMALA HARRIS DROPS BIGGEST HINT YET ON 2028 WHITE HOUSE RUN Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani and Harris’ office for comment. News of the Harris and Mamdani call sparked criticism from conservatives online. "Kamala Harris 2020 was desperate, Kamala Harris 2024 was pathetic, Kamala Harris 2028 will be unhinged," GOP political strategist Nathan Brand posted on X. Mamdani's influence in the party has only grown since he was sworn into office in January, as highlighted by a clean sweep of socialist-aligned candidates he endorsed winning their races in the New York Democratic primary last month. CARVILLE WARNS DEMOCRATS ANTI-ISRAEL ‘LOUDMOUTHS’ COULD COST ELECTIONS "The fact that she's courting people like Mamdani, these socialists and communists, it goes back to the radical leftists, because the Democrats are in big trouble as a party," RNC chair Joe Gruters exclusively told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. "They're in the death spiral, because now they have these people inside their tent," he continued. "This is who the Democratic Party is today: these radical leftists that want to fundamentally transform our country. And that's why we have to fight. That's why we have to come together, unite, and we have to win. We have to win to save the country. We have to win to move our policies forward. There's a lot at stake. Certainly, Kamala Harris, the meeting with Mamdani and these radicals shows you where the left continues to go where they want to go, but listen, she has to kowtow to these radicals to try to win." Earlier this year, Harris made stops in the crucial primary state of South Carolina less than a week after she dropped a tantalizing comment at the first major cattle call of Democratic presidential contenders. "I might. I might. I’m thinking about it… I’ll keep you posted," Harris said in April at the National Action Network’s 35th Anniversary Convention, when asked by the event founder, the Rev. Al Sharpton, if she would seek the presidency in 2028. Harris, who replaced then-President Joe Biden as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee but later lost the election to President Donald Trump, was greeted by the crowd with chants of "run again." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a453072c2ca79de2362ab94 How 'Obsession' went from a sub-$1M horror film to a $371.2M box office phenomenon that dethroned 'Sinners' te 2026-07-01T15:21:22.166Z How 'Obsession' went from a sub-$1M horror film to a $371.2M box office phenomenon that dethroned 'Sinners' "Obsession" is absolutely tearing up the box office. Basic info: LOW-BUDGET HORROR FLICK 'OBSESSION' SHATTERS BOX OFFICE EXPECTATIONS AS NEW STAR WARS FILM COMES UP SHORT The low-budget horror film (it was made for under $1 million) has been taking the entertainment world by storm since it premiered on May 15th. It tells the story of a man who uses what he thinks is a gimmick to wish for a woman to fall in love with him. What unfolds is a unique horror story that is unbelievably entertaining, psychologically torturing and incredibly fun. Despite it receiving limited hype heading into the release, "Obsession" was pretty much an instant hit with fans and that now includes a new box office record. TAYLOR SHERIDAN REVEALS HOW HE CONVINCED SAM ELLIOTT TO JOIN THE 'YELLOWSTONE' UNIVERSE Obsession has now earned $371.2 million at the box office as of Sunday, making it the highest-grossing live-action English-language original movie of the 2020s, according to The Numbers (via ScreenRant). Its earned $233.9 million domestically and $137.3 million internationally. It broke the record previously held by Michael B. Jordan's "Sinners" – another excellent film, in my opinion. More than anything, the incredible success of "Obsession" should be an easy lesson for Hollywood. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS People don't want remakes or another franchise installment. They want fresh and original ideas to dig their teeth into. That's what "Obsession" gave fans, and it's now reaping the words. Now, will Hollywood actually learn anything from the success of the low-budget horror flick? That remains to be seen, but it definitely should. Have you already seen obsession? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45305ec2ca79de2362ab8b Taylor Swift's wedding secrecy went so far some guests still didn't know location days before ceremony: source te 2026-07-01T15:21:02.710Z Taylor Swift's wedding secrecy went so far some guests still didn't know location days before ceremony: source NEW YORK — Even some invited guests didn’t know the location of the wedding between Taylor Swift and her Super Bowl-winning beau Travis Kelce as recently as Sunday, according to a source with knowledge of the event — while New York City authorities are preparing for days of nuptials at Madison Square Garden this week. Details about the wedding remain scarce, but Fox News Digital reported Tuesday that the NYPD is preparing for an event spanning Thursday to the wee hours of Saturday morning and involving street closures, hundreds of VIPs and more, according to another source. While city leaders expect Swift and Kelce to wed at the Garden, according to the source, due to the pop star's wealth and affinity for "Easter eggs," there is still some speculation that the planned event at the home of the NBA champion Knicks could be a pump fake. TAYLOR SWIFT'S WEDDING RUMORS SPARK SPECULATION ABOUT CLOSE FRIENDS, INFAMOUS FALLOUTS AND BRIDAL PARTY "Let's see if Taylor actually turns up here, or if all of this is a diversion," said Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector who has worked on securing MSG events in the past. "She has the money to rent out the Garden and any place else she wants, and then to go get married someplace else." The arena, which sits atop the Pennsylvania Station commuter railroad hub, is surrounded by subway lines, New Jersey Transit, Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak service, making it one of the busiest transit hubs in the country. It already routinely hosts a large police and National Guard presence. "You'll see all the resources," Mauro said. "You'll see the horses. You'll see the ESU guys, that's SWAT, with the uniforms and the long guns. You're going to see all of that. But there will also be a lot of stuff you don't see...You're going to have a lot of intelligence assets that are deployed, things that are a little bit more clandestine. Together with the feds, there are likely going to be a lot of federal agencies represented because, as I said, you are going to be coming into the Fourth of July. Irrespective of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, this was going to be a hotbed of activity." SECRET SERVICE, TSA AND NYPD TRANSFORM MADISON SQUARE GARDEN INTO FORTRESS FOR TRUMP'S NBA FINALS VISIT Penn Station is also the city's gateway to World Cup games hosted nearby in New Jersey. Commuters and tourists come and go at all hours. And less than 10 blocks away, on Saturday, July 4, Times Square will host a celebration for the nation's 250th birthday. "You've got a lot going on under the ground here," Mauro said. "They have to consider all that as well. You've got to keep the trains moving. A big heavy lift for New York City. I have no doubt that they'll come through." The NYPD has been doing it for decades, after all. Mauro pointed to President John F. Kennedy's famous birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden — where Marilyn Monroe serenaded the president with her iconic rendition of "Happy Birthday" — as well as Mick Jagger's birthday celebration at the end of a Rolling Stones tour — and President Donald Trump held a campaign rally inside during the 2024 campaign. SECRET SERVICE, TSA AND NYPD TRANSFORM MADISON SQUARE GARDEN INTO FORTRESS FOR TRUMP'S NBA FINALS VISIT Derrick Parker, a former member of the NYPD's hip-hop intelligence unit who was tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of high-profile visitors in the 1990s and 2000s, told Fox News Digital that the police department is preparing what is expected to be a "crazy weekend" between the World Cup, Independence Day and now, Swift and Kelce's marriage. "A lot of it is gonna go into planning," he said. "Who’s attending [the wedding]? Who’s got problems with each other? That’s always a big concern. Are people gonna come to oppose it? She had stalkers too. I’m sure there are people they’re gonna be watching." Police preparations are expected to include shutting down 31st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, on the south side of the Garden, protecting the entrance to a parking garage where as many as 500 cars are expected to bring VIP guests to and from the wedding Friday. "One of the things you've got to consider when you're doing this level of security is who's picking up the tab," Mauro said. "The private security that goes on here, including what they call off-duty employment — those are cops who are allowed to work security on their own time, but they're allowed to wear the uniform...That gets paid by the Garden. But, of course, all the other NYPD assets that are deployed here, including some that are deployed now on 31st Street, those are paid by taxpayers. There's nothing unusual about that." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45304bc2ca79de2362ab82 NBC anchor forced to explain use of term 'biological male' during coverage of Supreme Court ruling te 2026-07-01T15:20:43.261Z NBC anchor forced to explain use of term 'biological male' during coverage of Supreme Court ruling NBC News issued an on-air explanation Tuesday about quoting the terms "biological male" and "biological female," language drawn directly from the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on transgender athletes in women's sports. "Just a quick note here," anchor Craig Melvin said during the morning broadcast. "The terms that we’re using here during our reporting, biological male, biological female, the high court put those terms in quotations in their decision and their dissent." "But just so you know, we’re using those terms from the decision itself, biological male, biological female," he added. DEMOCRATS REVOLT OVER 'BIOLOGICAL' WORDING IN WOMEN'S HISTORY MUSEUM BILL NBC News’ White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell had been on the air for a special report about the Supreme Court ruling to uphold state laws barring transgender girls and women from participating in school athletic teams, and she had used the "biological" terms several times. She went on to clarify and seemingly downplay the decision, telling viewers, "it is also notable that it is narrow in the sense of the numbers of transgender athletes who are seeking to compete — that that is a very small pool, in many ways." The decision by NBC to explain using the phrase drew ridicule online, with legal expert Jonathan Turley commenting, "This is how the press becomes a parody of itself." ABC’s Supreme Court reporter, Devin Dwyer, described the ruling as "a blow" to members of the transgender community "on this last day of Pride Month," and described the transgender-identifying plaintiffs who challenged the lower court’s ruling, saying they "bravely brought this case." EDUCATION SECRETARY LINDA MCMAHON RIPS CALIFORNIA TRANS ATHLETE ‘COMPROMISE,’ TELLS NEWSOM TO ‘PICK A SIDE’ Additionally, ABC White House correspondent Mary Bruce said of President Donald Trump, "Rarely does a day go by here at the White House when the president doesn’t rail against the participation of transgender female athletes in girls and women’s sports." The decision was handed down by the court’s six-justice conservative majority and determined that state bans in West Virginia and Idaho are not in violation of the Constitution — with 27 states throughout the country passing similar laws restricting transgender women in female sports and locker rooms. The court also unanimously agreed that banning transgender females from school athletic teams does not go against Title IX, a federal law which prohibits sex discrimination in education settings. Liberal Justices Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor partially agreed with the majority opinion, but dissented on other parts. TRUMP ADMIN CRACKS DOWN ON COLORADO SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT MAY HAVE ALLEGEDLY PUT UP TO 61 MALES ON GIRLS' TEAMS Justice Brett Kavanaugh penned the ruling, writing that "states may maintain women’s and girls’ sports for biological females," in the interest of both safety and fairness for athletes. "The Constitution and Title IX do not require an overhaul of women’s and girls’ sports throughout America," Kavanaugh added. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Trump took a victory lap after news of the landmark decision broke, marking a success for his administration after a 2025 executive order directed the federal government to withhold funding from any school that permitted transgender students to participate in female sports. "BIG WIN: The United States Supreme Court just RULED AGAINST MEN PLAYING IN WOMEN’S SPORTS," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. "Wow! That takes that ridiculous situation off the table!!!" Fox News Digital reached out to NBC and ABC News for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a452e03c2ca79de2362ab11 Vanilla Ice explains why he will always 'raise the flag' at his shows after doubling down on Freedom 250 show te 2026-07-01T15:10:59.637Z Vanilla Ice explains why he will always 'raise the flag' at his shows after doubling down on Freedom 250 show Vanilla Ice is all about sharing his patriotism with his fans. During an interview with Fox News Digital, the 58-year-old rapper once again defended his decision to perform at America 250's Great American State Fair, explaining "it's kinda shocking to me that we can't celebrate the birthday of our country" without backlash, saying he is "honored" to have been asked to perform and that "it's not about politics." "Man, I raise the flag at every concert I go to. You know that. And I'm proud because I know what we've gone through for 250 years to be where we are. And I am proud because I'm friends with so many soldiers," he said. "All the guys on the Vanilla Ice Project that do construction with me, they're all Marines. They teach me the code of ethics. They teach how, what it's like to be a real American. They teach what it is like to understand that the veterans that have lost their lives and everybody that has fought for this country, what it means." He went on to say that the celebrations are "part of our freedom" as well as "part of the fun that we are allowed to do these things and enjoy our freedom, and come together." DAVID MARCUS: LIBERAL ELITES SEETHE OVER AMERICA'S STATE FAIR When it comes to the backlash he received for agreeing to perform at the President Trump-backed events, the rapper said he is "just an entertainer" and that it isn't fair for him or any other entertainer "to be dragged into politics and stuff." WATCH: Vanilla Ice has the American Flag waving at all of his concerts "I think people are taking everything too serious, and you should enjoy this concert, this celebration of our country, and we should all come together. That's what music's for anyway, to bring people together," he said. "Music brings people together, and that's what it's all about." While other artists announced they were dropping out of the lineup, Vanilla Ice received backlash for not backing away, telling Fox News Digital that the critics only "reinforced" his resolve to perform. After the lineup was announced on May 29, several performers, including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Young MC, the Commodores, Morris Day and others announced they were dropping out. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "I don't think it's fair for all the other musicians. I respect them all too, that pulled out even, because they're still on tour with me, and they have their own reasons, and they live in different places, and it's different," he said. "They have to feel that heat. So for them, it's not fair and they just kind of like, 'Hey man, I don't need all this heat. I'm just here to play and enjoy.' But for me, I'm gonna celebrate my country and I don't think anybody should tell me I shouldn't, and I'm honored to be on this." WATCH: Vanilla Ice is 'shocked; that people were upset about entertainers celebrating America's birthday While he understands why the other artists chose to back out, he told Martha MacCallum on "The Story with Martha MacCallum" in June, that he chose not back out of the performance, because "I don't like anybody telling me I can't be proud of my country." "I'm born here. I'm raised here. I'm proud of it. I represent it everywhere I go. I wear the American Flag everywhere I go. It's just a shame that it's going down like this. I really don't think it's fair on us as musicians to have the pressure put on us like this, but it's a shame. It's a shame that we can't be proud." The rapper first shared his excitement over performing at the celebration, in an Instagram video posted in May, in which he said he was "honored" to be performing at the event, promising to "bring back the 90s." WATCH: Vanilla Ice doesn't blame the other artists for dropping out of the concert LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS In the caption, he promised that the concert will "bring us all together" in addition to being "an epic party," adding, "We are all one. This is not a political platform. This is celebrating America’s birthday." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a452ddcc2ca79de2362aafc Pima Treasurer Johnson was hit with sex harassment claims days before resigning te 2026-07-01T15:10:20.730Z Pima Treasurer Johnson was hit with sex harassment claims days before resigning Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a452bc0c2ca79de2362aa95 Pirates vs Phillies under bet looks compelling as Wheeler and Skenes set up a five-inning strikeout showdown te 2026-07-01T15:01:20.310Z Pirates vs Phillies under bet looks compelling as Wheeler and Skenes set up a five-inning strikeout showdown After a terrible week last week for sports betting in general, but specifically baseball, I found my way to get into the baseball gods' favor this week and have won four of the past five plays I've put out. When I do get hot, I want to ride the streak as long as possible, but you also have to stay grounded and make sure you don't unleash your bankroll because you never know when it can stop. I don't think it will stop in this game between the Pirates and Phillies. We are now more than halfway through the season, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are .500 for the season. That's an accomplishment for this team, but not where they ultimately want to end up for the year. They probably need to set their sights on a Wild Card spot at this point, though. They are 10.5 games back of the division, which isn't insurmountable. However, the Brewers are a very good team, and I think other teams ahead of them are going to have more resources to make moves at the trade deadline. The Pirates will need to find a way to get some pitching. Their offense has improved, but only one starter has been truly reliable, and he takes the mound tonight. Paul Skenes is on the hill today, and even though this is the worst ERA of his young career, he is still a top pitcher in the league. He is 6-7 for the season with a 3.10 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. He is also ninth in strikeouts in the league. The Pirates have not done well in his starts lately; they've lost eight straight games he has started. In fairness, he has allowed four or more runs in three of those starts, so it isn't just a lack of run support. The Phillies knocked him around to start this losing streak as he went five innings, allowed five runs on six hits. PHILLIES FIRE ROB THOMSON, MAKE DON MATTINGLY INTERIM MANAGER AFTER DISMAL START TO THE SEASON The Philadelphia Phillies are the poster child for showing what can happen if you make moves. They cut ties with their manager, and it instantly turned their season around. They come into today's game with a 48-38 record for the year. They were 9-19 on April 26th, which means they've gone from 10 games under to 10 games over .500. They have to be considered one of the favorites to win the World Series, and they are just 2.5 games back of Atlanta for the division crown at the moment. There is still a long time for both of these to be figured out, though. Before we get there, we have one of the reasons I think the Phillies should be considered a major threat to win the World Series taking the mound today. Zack Wheeler is going to take the ball against Skenes in what should be the best pitching matchup of the day. Wheeler is having yet another phenomenal season. He started the season on the injured list, so he doesn't qualify for the lead in anything, but he is 8-1 for the year with a 2.03 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP. The Phillies have been great in his starts, winning 10 of his 12 outings. He allowed just six earned runs over five starts in June, not allowing more than two earned in any game. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS Wheeler faced the Pirates in May and dominated. He went seven innings, allowed four hits, and no runs. Overall, he has been dominant against the Pirates, allowing just 24 hits to them over 128 at-bats in his career. Marcell Ozuna is a guy you'd want to fade today as he is just 12-for-64 with 25 strikeouts against Wheeler. The under is going to be something almost everyone wants to bet on today. I am a bit surprised that the total isn't lower, but that may be due to Skenes not pitching quite as well as he has in past seasons. I think he will be better in this game than he was the first time he faced the Phillies. He seems to learn well and make adjustments. I don't know who will win, but I think we should get under 3.5 runs through five innings at +105. If you want, I really like Wheeler under 2.5 earned runs allowed as well. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a452bacc2ca79de2362aa8c NFL star's brother charged with murder of mother after police found him self-barricaded near body te 2026-07-01T15:01:00.852Z NFL star's brother charged with murder of mother after police found him self-barricaded near body The brother of a perennial Pro Bowl defensive lineman was arrested and charged with his mother's murder after she was found dead. Calais Campbell's brother, Ciarre, is accused of killing his 71-year-old mother, Nateal, in Atlanta. Police said officers responded to a welfare check call when they spotted a man who "appeared to have barricaded himself inside the home." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The male was then detained by police before officers found the "unresponsive elderly female" inside the home, prompting homicide investigators to report to the scene. Ciarre Campbell now faces two counts of murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit a felony, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Calais Campbell's family released a statement to the NFL Network. AMAZON PRIME VIDEO NFL ANALYST DEFENDS STREAMING SERVICES BROADCASTING BUT UNDERSTANDS FAN FRUSTRATION "We are devastated to share that the Campbell Family has lost its matriarch, Mrs. Nateal Campbell. While the details of her passing are still being investigated, we take comfort in knowing she is reunited with our father, her beloved Chuck, and in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," the statement said. "We ask for privacy at this time so that we may honor her and share in our overwhelming grief privately and as a family." Calais Campbell is getting ready to play in his 19th NFL season after signing a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens. He has spent 10 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals in two different stints and had stops with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and also the Ravens. He has made six Pro Bowls in a seven-season span from 2014 through 2020. He is the active leader in games started with 259 and has 117.0 total sacks. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a452b99c2ca79de2362aa83 Beloved amusement park with no gate fee takes top spot ahead of theme park giants te 2026-07-01T15:00:41.404Z Beloved amusement park with no gate fee takes top spot ahead of theme park giants As America celebrates its 250th birthday, travelers are recognizing some of the country’s most beloved amusement parks. Now, one century-old Pennsylvania destination has taken the top spot, beating out Disney and Universal favorites. In an era of pricey theme parks and gated admission, Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, is still letting guests in for free. The family-owned park has been admission-free since it first opened on July 4, 1926. ICONIC DISNEYLAND ATTRACTION MUST SWITCH TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO COMPLY WITH BLUE STATE'S EMISSIONS STANDARDS The park ranked No. 1 in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards. The rankings are based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews submitted between Feb. 1, 2025, and Jan. 31, 2026. Eric Bowman, editor-in-chief of TravelPulse, based in Atlanta, told Fox News Digital that value likely played a major role in this year’s rankings. "Number one and two may surprise people on this list, but I think cost is playing a major factor here," Bowman said. Here's a look at Tripadvisor's five highest-ranked amusement parks in America. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, Knoebels is America's largest free-admission amusement park, allowing guests to purchase tickets only for the rides they want to experience instead of paying an admission fee. NEARLY 100 YEARS LATER, BELOVED AMUSEMENT PARK STILL REFUSES TO CHARGE ADMISSION The park features classic wooden roller coasters, family rides, camping, a large swimming pool, golf and picnic pavilions, making it a longtime favorite for multi-generational vacations. Bowman said the park's affordability and laid-back atmosphere help it resonate with visitors. "Knoebels Amusement Resort is free admission and a per ride cost," Bowman noted. "Knoebels doesn't get too busy," he said. "It also has a massive pool and large pavilions where many people often bring their own food." Dollywood earned the No. 2 spot on Tripadvisor's list after topping the rankings in recent years. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES The Tennessee theme park, co-owned by country music icon Dolly Parton, is known for blending thrill rides with live entertainment, Appalachian culture and traditional Southern cuisine. Bowman said its relatively affordable pricing compared with many larger destination parks likely helped keep it near the top. "Dollywood is much more affordable than the big parks of Florida," Bowman said. Magic Kingdom ranked as the highest-rated Disney park in the United States, continuing its reputation as one of the country's most iconic family destinations. The park is home to classic attractions such as Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Cinderella Castle. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ "No surprise at all [that] Magic Kingdom is the top Disney park here," Bowman said. Disney's Hollywood Studios continued its climb into Tripadvisor's top five after several years of major expansion. The park has added blockbuster attractions and themed lands in recent years, including Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Toy Story Land and Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. Bowman credited those additions with helping to boost the park's reputation among visitors. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "Hollywood Studios cracking the top five is a win for Disney given all the new changes and additions they've poured into that park over the recent years," he said. Universal Islands of Adventure rounded out the top five, remaining one of the country's premier destinations for thrill-seekers. The park is known for attractions based on major franchises, including Harry Potter, Marvel superheroes, Jurassic Park and Dr. Seuss, combining high-speed roller coasters with immersive themed lands. Although it narrowly missed the top four, Bowman said another Universal park deserved recognition, as well. "Not listed here but should be is Universal Volcano Bay Waterpark," he said. Completing the top 10 are Epcot, LEGOLAND California, Universal Studios Florida, Disneyland Park and Silver Dollar City. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4526d6c2ca79de2362a98d How the Iran War Ignited a Clash Between Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince te 2026-07-01T14:40:22.997Z How the Iran War Ignited a Clash Between Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pressed President Trump earlier to cripple Iran. But as Iran asserted its power, the prince urged a cease-fire, and is now pursuing his security priorities. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4524b7c2ca79de2362a923 EXCLUSIVE: Inside the secretive mine DOGE helped drag out of a decades-old bureaucratic black hole te 2026-07-01T14:31:19.638Z EXCLUSIVE: Inside the secretive mine DOGE helped drag out of a decades-old bureaucratic black hole BOYERS, Pa. — Deep inside a limestone mine more than 230 feet underground, the Trump administration marked what it called the "Last Day of Paper" for federal retirements Tuesday, giving Fox News Digital rare access to the long-secretive Pennsylvania facility where millions of government records helped keep the retirement process trapped in an analog system for decades. "It was unlike anything I'd ever seen before, which I think is the reaction that I generally hear from lots of people… I believe that many [government employees] have just been constrained by a system that does not allow innovation and does not allow some element of risk-taking," U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor told Fox News Digital in a sit-down interview. "The only thing I did that was different than any other predecessor was we gave people permission to actually solve the problems that I knew needed to be solved," he continued.  FEDERAL HR OFFICE PULLS BACK CURTAIN ON SWEEPING NDA PLAN AIMED AT CURBING GOVERNMENT LEAKS For decades, retirement applications were physically mailed between federal agencies before arriving at OPM's Retirement Operations Center in Boyers, where workers manually processed roughly 10,000 retirements each month and houses over 400 million paper records. OPM celebrated moving from the paper system to digitized records, explaining the millions of documents languishing in the mine will be shredded. OPM functions as the federal government’s human resources department, overseeing the policies, benefits and personnel systems that affect millions of civilian federal employees and retirees. Kupor said the Biden administration and previous officials had discussed modernizing the online retirement application, but the effort never gained momentum.  "The idea of the online retirement application was an idea," he said. "I think what happened was it never got traction." The federal retirement system has relied on a largely paper-based process since it opened in the 1980s.  Over the years, officials launched multiple modernization efforts, including pilot programs and attempts to digitize retirement applications. Despite those initiatives, the government remained dependent on paper until the Trump administration accelerated adoption of OPM's Online Retirement Application following Musk's public criticism of the system. The underground operation became a national symbol of government bureaucracy after Elon Musk revealed its existence last year, calling it "like a time warp," while in the Oval Office. "Now people can retire as soon as they want, instead of waiting 6 months for paper to be carried into a mine," Musk exclusively told Fox News Digital.  READ: DR. OZ PUTS ALL 50 GOVERNORS ON NOTICE OVER BILLIONS LOST TO MEDICAID FRAUD Kupor shared that both Musk and U.S. Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia deserve an "enormous amount of credit." "It's a great example to me of the more meta level of what Elon and the DOGE team was doing, which is rethink processes from ground zero, be creative in terms of what the solutions are and recognize that, look, you have to actually make significant change if you want to ultimately drive efficiency in the government," said Kupor. Iron Mountain provides secure archival storage for numerous museums, archives, cultural institutions and government agencies. Its holdings include materials for Getty Images, CBS, Disney, artifacts related to the Flight 93 National Memorial—near Shanksville, Pennsylvania—and Holocaust-related collections, Fox News Digital learned. TRUMP SAYS ANTI-FRAUD EFFORTS ARE UNCOVERING BILLIONS IN WASTE, CLAIMS SAVINGS COULD BALANCE BUDGET "We have a great team who does a lot of security, and obviously we're in a building here with other very highly secure agencies. There's a number of kind of three-letter agencies who also have records here," said Kupor. "I think by far the benefits of obviously getting off paper going to electronic records. Way outweigh any potential risks we might have from a security perspective," said Kupor when asked about any security concerns the physical copies presented. Kupor argued that government innovation is key to reducing costs for taxpayers. PENTAGON ANNOUNCES INVESTIGATION INTO LEAKS, WHICH COULD INCLUDE POLYGRAPH TESTS "I think the president has done and told us is take the skills that you have around innovation and creative thinking and apply that to modernization for the government and if we do that, we'll not only improve the quality of service, but that is where we get efficiency," said Kupor. "That's how we actually deliver more for the American people without constantly going to have to go back to the till and ask Congress for more money." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a452490c2ca79de2362a906 Gemini Spark, Google’s agentic assistant, is now available on Mac te 2026-07-01T14:30:40.217Z Gemini Spark, Google’s agentic assistant, is now available on Mac Google's 24/7 agentic assistant, Gemini Spark, comes to Mac alongside other improvements, like real-time tracking and support for more apps. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45247cc2ca79de2362a8fd Venice AI becomes a unicorn with $65M Series A as its privacy-first AI platform takes off te 2026-07-01T14:30:20.774Z Venice AI becomes a unicorn with $65M Series A as its privacy-first AI platform takes off Venice AI is already profitable, with annualized run-rate revenues of over $70 million, CEO Erik Voorhees said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45225fc2ca79de2362a8b2 Haley Cavinder is a happy wife on bikini honeymoon in the Bahamas, Giusy Meloni has soccer news & theme parks te 2026-07-01T14:21:19.696Z Haley Cavinder is a happy wife on bikini honeymoon in the Bahamas, Giusy Meloni has soccer news & theme parks It's hump day, it's July, and we have another packed Screencaps to get through. There's meat, there are sunsets, there's more hot Velveeta and peanut butter sandwich talk and I have some theme park updates. But before we get into all that, we're going to head down to the Bahamas where Haley Cavinder, who has been married for like two seconds, is already using the "happy wife, happy life" line to describe her bikini-filled honeymoon. This marriage is off to a good start. I hope in 20 years we get a "happy wife, happy life" update from the Cavinder twin showing her tired husband doing all he can to fake a smile while she is busy holding onto her youth. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Those are my favorite kinds of relationship updates. I'm not, like some of you, one for watching the breakups while stuffing popcorn into my face. I'm an old school romantic who prefers to watch two people grow old together. Two people who do all they can to not completely hate each other as they age. It's a beautiful process to watch unfold. Haley Cavinder and her husband, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson, have a long way to get to that point. They got married on Saturday, June 20, in a beachfront ceremony at The Biltmore Hotel in Miami. Congratulations to them. I'm looking forward to unselfishly, I might add, watching these two settle in. You know, have a few kids, make it through a home renovation or two, and find out exactly why it's called the honeymoon phase. - Brandon C See attached sunset. Third floor balcony of 3 Sisters brewery in Clearwater Beach. AMERICAN BEER DRINKERS LAMENT DEMISE OF ICONIC BRAND AFTER 177 YEARS AS MANY CITE 'MISTAKE' SeanJo There's something calming about a sunset, even a picture of one. Thanks for sending this one my way. - Chris B in Johnson City writes: Sean Jo I’ve been meaning to write. I spent Father’s Day and last week on the NC coast. We usually have simple meals and take it easy at the beach. I’m not one to gain weight on vacation. My wife didn’t know if the rental house had a grill, so we didn’t plan for it. However, when we arrived there was a "newer" Walmart grill under the house. After reading the Dad’s Day SC, I knew I had to fire it up.The next morning I stopped at the local IGA and tried to plan a meal on the fly. First, I grabbed some hotdogs and my wife found a can of ‘chili’ for dinner that evening. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but it filled our bellies after the beach. After grabbing some beer I passed the meat case. My eyes caught something called Surf City Sausage. I had to try the local fare. I ended up grilling patties in the morning for breakfast sausage on English muffins. They reheated well for the next few days. I’m looking forward to the 250th anniversary grilling. I plan to go pretty traditional. I may get creative for my wedding anniversary in a couple weeks. SeanJo Meat. Charcoal. A vacation at the beach. It doesn't get much better than that. This is exactly why I want to see your meat. Send the 250th my way. I imagine there will be a lot of traditional grilling going on this weekend. - CF (the Cheesy Cornhusker) writes: Sean, I had to respond to both you and Joe regarding cheese on sandwiches. The velveeta/pb sandwich was disgusting but good ol' Catholic guilt made me eat it all. I agree with Joe that cheddar cheese would have made the sandwich palatable. And this will warm the cockles of Joe's heart: In high school my lunch consisted of half a cheese sandwich, we're talking a thick hunk of cheese. Everything tastes better with cheese (except Velveeta)!! - CF continues: Thank you, Phil S. in Florida!!   Yes, please bring back Hank Williams Jr.'s Are You Ready for Some Football?! While I don't think it's the answer to solving the world's geopolitical problems, it is the perfect intro for Sunday/Monday night football. SeanJo I'm going to have to take your word on everything tasting better with cheese. I don’t think I could get through a PB&J with a slice or hunk of cheese on it. Also, I think you're underestimating the power of Hank Williams Jr's masterpiece. - Daren in GA writes: Having worked in restaurant service for a long time, service is a 2 way street. Folks need to understand the people in front of them are mostly hourly. I, well can be a semantic a**hole, "If I owned this place, do you think I'd be here now?" I know Joe's bashed on Wendy's, but regardless of hourly wages in hiring, you get what you get. And, sorry D non-economists, $25/hr minimum wage isn't putting better folks in the pot. With my experience I offer a suggestion to folks? Be semi-polite at least. The person may be : new, incompetent, untrained, or a total a'**hole. The first few, patience. The latter, F**ck em and walk away. Ain't worth your money-and time. Just my 2 cents. Oh, my last suggestion, find local. Better stuff and the employees know they have mgt at their backs. - D again: Managing a Corporate Domino's adjoining a franchise area. Very nice, sweet young girl/employee, taking, ah crap from a woman. Coupon from the franchise, not us. Got on the phone, short said no. Politely mind you. Hubby calls back later, equally unpleasant, said Five times he's a Very Successful Attorney and he'll sue our ass for not accepting the offer. Referred him to the Corp legal dept. My A'hole semantical part: He said, "I'm gonna have your job Dammit!" Said "You're a Very Successful Attorney, why do you want to manage a Domino's?" - Jim T in San Diego sends: - JS writes: I don't know about Canada, but there was a Flintstones Park around Custer, SD back in the day. As a Midwestern boy, the obligatory summer vacation to Mount Rushmore/Black Hills/Deadwood/Sturgis usually involved a stop there. SeanJo After reading your email response, I had to look it up. The Flintstones Park I'm thinking about was in Canada. It was called "Bedrock City" and was located in the Vancouver area. My grandmother drove us up there one summer. It opened in 1975 and after reopening in 1995 under non-licensed dinosaur theming, it permanently closed in 2010. Also an update for Brandon, who got this abandoned theme park discussion started. I have been to Boardwalk and Baseball. I was there as a kid. I talked to my parents last night. My dad said we visited the park when I was 9. We caught a few innings of a baseball game and rode on a rollercoaster. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS ########## That's all I have for the first day of July. This relief appearance has flown by. I toe the rubber one more time tomorrow, so keep sending me your emails sean.joseph@outkick.com. Joe will be back on Friday morning. You can also follow me on Twitter and over on Instagram if you'd like and slide into the DMs there if you'd like. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45224cc2ca79de2362a8a9 Viral German soccer fan who captivated America flees social media as story takes a predictable turn te 2026-07-01T14:21:00.239Z Viral German soccer fan who captivated America flees social media as story takes a predictable turn In the most predictable twist of 2026, the viral German soccer fan who has spent the past month traversing America and stealing hearts, has fled social media. That’s right. Freddy is gone. He deactivated his X (Twitter) account Tuesday because A) he’s sort of a fraud, B) folks grew tired of the act, and C) we can’t have nice things in this country. I’ve been shouting this from the rooftops for a month now. A MONTH. Ever since this Freddy guy came into our world at the start of the World Cup, I knew it was suspicious. I knew it was probably going to end poorly. And I was right. WHO IS THE GERMAN TOURIST WHOSE WORLD CUP ROAD TRIP THROUGH THE AMERICAN SOUTH IS WINNING OVER THE INTERNET And now, he’s gone. A tale as old as time. For those who haven’t followed Freddy (I don’t blame you), he’s basically a nameless, faceless guy from Germany who has been going viral on Twitter for simply sharing his trip across America. Nobody really knows who he actually is, which should’ve probably tipped us off, but we went along with it anyway. FREDDY, THE VIRAL WORLD CUP TOURIST, LINKS UP WITH COUNTRY SINGER ELLA LANGLEY AND THE INTERNET LOVES IT He documented his whole trip through Small Town USA, and folks fell in love with it. He saw a Buc-ee’s for the first time, and we all ate it up. He ate at Taco Bell, and went to Walmart, and enjoyed some cheesy eggs at Waffle House. Along the way, superstars from various different verticals got in on the action. Ella Langley invited him to a concert. JJ Watt put him up in a hotel room. He dined on Gordon Ramsay’s dime. All for free. All because this nameless guy who simply went by "Freddy," and covered his face in every single picture, was falling in love with America. Allegedly, of course. There’s always a "but" with these stories, you know. Things started to fall apart earlier this week, when the internet found out that Freddy had, in fact, been to America before. We were led to believe this was his first time in the US of A when this trip began, and that’s what made the whole thing click. That was the whole shtick. And then, BAM -- folks found out he had been here before. Not great. Now, to be fair, Freddy never said this was his first time here. He spent a year in Santa Barbara at some point in his life. Perhaps that’s the point he was trying to make? Spending a year in California versus a month traversing small town America is a big difference. Just last week, he went to Elmore, Ohio. Now, which place do you think is a better representation of America? Santa Barbara, or Elmore, Ohio? Come on. Stevie Wonder could answer that. And the LIBS hated this. They hated someone coming to Small Town USA for the first time and loving it. The optics were bad for them, and they pounced. Freddy deactivated his account Tuesday after the backlash. Some folks also went back and dug up some old posts, which is just the most insufferable thing we do as a society: The worst. I’m not even a Freddy fan, and this makes me want to pull my hair out. If you’re spending your day going back in time and trying to unearth old social media posts to "cancel" someone, you clearly live in your parents’ basement and own three cats. You’re basically Keith Olbermann. You never want to be Keith Olbermann. Do better. Anyway, it all came to a head Tuesday afternoon, when Freddy quit Twitter and moved over to the much less-rigid Instagram. He posted an update last night, saying all was well, but he needed something less toxic in his life. Seems like a cowardly move if you ask me, but I’ve also never had nearly 1 million followers observing my every move, so I’m not the best person to ask. "Don’t worry guys, we’re still gonna enjoy our time here and obviously celebrate Fourth of July. Our route now is Boston to Dallas. We can’t wait to get back into the South. Just not gonna update on Twitter anymore because it’s just too toxic over there," he said, via his Instagram story, before giving everyone a quick rundown of why he left. And just like that, he was gone. This vicious machine chewed him up and spit him out in predictable fashion. Part of me gets it. Again, this was always how this story was going to end. I’ve seen this movie before. What did Harvey Dent say? "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Part of it was Freddy’s fault, by the way. The shtick grew a little old, a little stale, and a little tired. The free gifts at every stop? The free Ella Langley concert? The free hotel rooms and meals? All because he was going viral on social media? That was NEVER going to last. Not in this world. Not in this current era. No chance. In a way, Freddy — whoever he really is — went out by experiencing the most American thing of all: Getting trolled to death on social media. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a452224c2ca79de2362a88b Sony to end physical PlayStation game discs in 2028 te 2026-07-01T14:20:20.821Z Sony to end physical PlayStation game discs in 2028 Sony will stop producing physical discs for all new PlayStation games beginning in 2028, as the company embraces an all-digital future. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a451fcdc2ca79de2362a830 Builders Stage agenda revealed: Practical strategies for scaling startups at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 te 2026-07-01T14:10:21.628Z Builders Stage agenda revealed: Practical strategies for scaling startups at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 The Builders Stage is returning to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, bringing together 10,000+ founders, startup operators, and investors for practical conversations. and Q&A on what it takes to build and scale successful companies. Register now to save up to $330. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a451e00c2ca79de2362a80b Cottonwood City Council kills rezoning for apartments by Sedona developer te 2026-07-01T14:02:40.196Z Cottonwood City Council kills rezoning for apartments by Sedona developer Council votes 5-2 against 252 apartment units Cottonwood City Council rejected the rezoning for the proposed 252-unit Spring Verde Apartments project with a 5-2 vote during its June 16 meeting. The real estate developer for the project is Sedona resident William Spring. Cottonwood Planning and Zonin Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a451dd6c2ca79de2362a7f3 Western governors establish multi-state task force to update the region’s transmission lines te 2026-07-01T14:01:58.727Z Western governors establish multi-state task force to update the region’s transmission lines Governors Brad Little of Idaho, Mark Gordon of Wyoming, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Spencer Cox of Utah, Josh Green of Hawaii, Jared Polis of Colorado and Joe Lombardo of Nevada stand together during a news conference in Park City, Utah on June 30, 2026. (Alixel Cabrera/Utah News Dispatch) A bipartisan group of 11 Western governors signed a letter endorsing the establishment of a multi-state task force to develop a study and action plan to update the region’s energy grid.  The effort was announced Tuesday in Park City during the last days of Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox’s tenure as chair of the Western Governors Association in which he pushed an “energy superabundance” agenda. Joining Cox, governors of Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, North Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico and Washington signed the letter endorsing the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition, or WestTEC.   “WestTEC is an industry-led effort that takes a new collaborative approach to one of our region’s most pressing infrastructure challenges, recognizing that this grid system is a team sport, we can’t just fix the grid in Utah. It won’t help everywhere else. We have to do it everywhere,” Cox said on Tuesday surrounded by a group of governors at the posh Deer Valley resort. The study, according to the governors’ letter, must “promote open, competitive markets by reducing bottlenecks that restrict choice and limit access to lower-cost power,” provide a thorough assessment of transmission needs across the region, and offer a roadmap for expanding transmission infrastructure “that will improve reliability, reduce congestion and dispatch costs, strengthen the regional grid, and achieve energy superabundance.” The hope is that a unified voice helps push permitting reform across the finish line, Cox said. While permits are being issued quicker under the second Trump administration, states can still coordinate better to expedite timelines. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks during a news conference at a Western Governors’ Association meeting in Park City on June 30, 2026. (Alixel Cabrera/Utah News Dispatch) “We cannot move enough electricity under the current national system,” New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “The West has already demonstrated that they can do transmission better and faster, and that demonstration means that we can alleviate some of the consternation about what is possible and what isn’t.” Much of the West’s power system was built more than 60 years ago, Cox said. And transmission lines are aging or expanding too slowly to meet new energy demands. “We often talk about energy and energy production, it’s of course paramount to everything that we need to do as a country moving forward,” Cox said. “But that energy production and generation really doesn’t matter if we can’t move those electrons across the grid.” The governors also committed to establishing a group that would start taking the first steps to coordinate between states and the federal government to accelerate the development of new transmission lines. “We’re going to cut through the red tape, we’re going to do this together, we’re going to get projects moving much more quickly, and we’re going to fix our grid. Modernizing our grid will show that we can continue to increase economic competition, ensure energy security, and mitigate environmental hazards,” Cox said.  This story was originally produced by Utah News Dispatch, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Arizona Mirror, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a451dc2c2ca79de2362a7d5 Taylor Sheridan reveals how he convinced Sam Elliott to join the 'Yellowstone' universe te 2026-07-01T14:01:38.755Z Taylor Sheridan reveals how he convinced Sam Elliott to join the 'Yellowstone' universe Sam Elliott was a little bit hesitant at first to join the "Yellowstone" universe. The world created by Taylor Sheridan has become a global entertainment phenomenon following the airing of the original neo-Western saga. There have been prequel series and multiple spinoffs. Elliott was a star of the prequel series "1883," and Sheridan is pulling back the curtain on how it all went down. TAYLOR SHERIDAN'S SECRETIVE 'YELLOWSTONE' PREQUEL '1944' IS STILL IN THE WORKS AT PARAMOUNT, REPORT SAYS Sheridan spoke with Howard Stern on Tuesday, and revealed it took a little convincing for Elliott to join the "Yellowstone" world. Why? He didn't like the series led by Kevin Costner. ALI LARTER DEFENDS TAYLOR SHERIDAN'S WRITING OF FEMALE CHARACTERS, CALLING CRITICISM A 'FALSE NARRATIVE' Sheridan stated the following, in part, when explaining how he cast Elliott in "1883": 'LANDMAN' STAR MICHELLE RANDOLPH STUNS IN BARELY-THERE METALLIC YELLOW BIKINI IN NEW SUMMER PHOTO DUMP You can watch Sheridan's full comments in the video below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com. I think I speak for fans everywhere when I say that it's a good thing Elliott agreed to join "1883." He was arguably the best part of the gritty Western series. His work has also continued with Sheridan since the hit "Yellowstone" prequel. The legendary actor also plays a major role in Sheridan's oil drama "Landman." Again, he's one of the best parts of the series. Let's hope the two continue to work together for a long time. It's great for entertainment. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a451dafc2ca79de2362a7cc Trump takes inaugural flight aboard new Air Force One ahead of library debut honoring famed outdoorsman te 2026-07-01T14:01:19.300Z Trump takes inaugural flight aboard new Air Force One ahead of library debut honoring famed outdoorsman President Donald Trump is taking his first presidential flight aboard a newly retrofitted Boeing 747 serving as Air Force One on Wednesday, traveling to Medora, North Dakota, to mark the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and promote a conservation push tied to America’s 250th birthday. "This will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built. I said to Boeing, what's the best one? He said, 'this is the best plane ever built, and you're going to have the privilege of flying it,'" Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. Trump is traveling aboard a $400 million Boeing 747-8i donated by the government of Qatar and refurbished for presidential use. Trump is also set to meet with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and other officials in Medora, where he will mark the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and promote Roosevelt’s conservation legacy. NEW AIR FORCE ONE TAKES FLIGHT AS TRUMP UNVEILS REVAMPED PRESIDENTIAL AIRCRAFT "I'm excited about the first flight. It's something nobody's ever seen anything like it. Even you people, with all your experience and all of your talents, you will never see anything like it. They just completed it. They made it appropriate for a president," Trump added. "That means the security and all of the different bells and whistles they put on very complex stuff." He said the previous plane was around 36 years old and Americans should be proud of the new plane. "It would be parked next to the new ones like this. It really didn't look appropriate for our country… you can do two things. You can low-key it or you can show it," added Trump. NEW AIR FORCE ONE TAKES FLIGHT AS TRUMP UNVEILS REVAMPED PRESIDENTIAL AIRCRAFT Trump and Burgum will arrive to the museum with a ceremonial Rough Riders horseback escort before touring the presidential center later on Wednesday.  Roosevelt was known for his passion for the outdoors – dramatically expanding federal protection of natural resources and public lands. He established national parks, created national monuments, and strengthened the U.S. Forest Service. "The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired," Roosevelt famously said, which is inscribed on the museum’s wall. BIDEN-APPOINTED JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP TO RESTORE SLAVERY, CLIMATE CHANGE REFERENCES AT NATIONAL PARKS Trump will sign the "Great American Outdoors Act Reauthorization," which centers around previous legislation signed by the 45th and 47th president but renews funding in honor of America’s 250th birthday. The act continues investing about $1.9 billion per year for deferred maintenance projects, such as repairing roads, bridges, trails, campgrounds, visitor centers, and water systems on public lands. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a451d9bc2ca79de2362a7c3 Smarter Systems, Safer Missions: AI, Autonomy and the Warfighter te 2026-07-01T14:00:59.846Z Smarter Systems, Safer Missions: AI, Autonomy and the Warfighter The future of autonomy is not defined by a single aircraft or system, but by how connected technologies work together to support the warfighter. In this video, experts from Lockheed Martin share how AI, the F-35, Lockheed Martin Vectis™, Matrix Autonomy and the U-Hawk are being used to help pilots and operators make better use of information in real time. The video highlights a practical view of autonomy: reducing workload, extending mission reach and helping keep people out of harm’s way. The emphasis remains on human-centered systems that support safer, more effective missions. Lockheed Martin is helping shape the next era of deep space exploration, from humanity’s return to the Moon to the long-term goal of reaching Mars. In this video, experts from Lockheed Martin share how the company’s legacy with NASA, from Viking 1 on Mars to Orion and Artemis, is helping build the technologies needed to send humans deeper into space and bring them home safely. The video explores how robotic missions, lunar resources, nuclear power, and advanced spacecraft systems are laying the foundation for future human missions. It also highlights the vision, teamwork, and engineering precision required to turn bold ideas into reality as Lockheed Martin helps NASA move from exploring the Moon to preparing for Mars.  Missile threats are evolving faster than ever, requiring defense systems that can see, decide, and respond at mission speed. In this video, experts from Lockheed Martin share how Missile Defense is being shaped by next-generation integrated systems, AI-enabled decision support, and open architecture that connects capabilities across land, sea, air, and space. As the global security landscape becomes more complex, Lockheed Martin is focused on building defense technology that can keep pace with emerging threats. Integration is central to modern missile defense, bringing together sensors, platforms, data, and decision-making tools into a more connected digital environment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a451d88c2ca79de2362a7ba Walz post calling SCOTUS girls' sports ruling 'cruel' backfires online as critics reveal what's even crueler te 2026-07-01T14:00:40.394Z Walz post calling SCOTUS girls' sports ruling 'cruel' backfires online as critics reveal what's even crueler Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz faced backlash from conservatives on social media after denouncing Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling on transgender athletes in women’s sports by calling it "cruel." "As the Supreme Court says states can be cruel to trans kids, my message is clear: Here in Minnesota, we stand with and value our trans neighbors and youth," Walz posted on X as the Supreme Court was ruling in favor of West Virginia and Idaho against trans athletes who sued to gain access to girls' sports. Walz’s comment was immediately blasted on social media by conservatives, many of whom are from Minnesota. "What’s cruel is making a teenage girl, already uncomfortable in her own skin, change in a locker room next to a naked boy," Minnesota Republican state Sen. Julia Coleman posted on X. "What’s cruel is letting our girls get the s--- kicked out of them by biological males on the field and lose out on scholarships and more chances to compete. What’s cruel is putting your base above female safety and opportunities." U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE MAKES NEW TRANS ATHLETE FINDINGS AGAINST USA HOCKEY "Once again you disregard the laws of America," retired Minnesota State Patrol Lt. John Nagel, running for Congress as Republican in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, posted on X. "You don't support women's rights. You don't stand for anything. You are the face of everything that is wrong with the Democratic party." "Which Minnesota girl deserves to lose her spot on a team to a male athlete?" True North Legal attorney Renee Carlson posted on X. MARTINA NAVRATILOVA SAYS SHE TRIED TO WARN KAMALA HARRIS' CAMPAIGN ABOUT TRANS ATHLETES: 'NOBODY WOULD LISTEN' "Tim Walz calls it ‘cruel’ that the Supreme Court ruled to protect young girls and keep men out of their sports," a Republican National Committee account posted on X. "What’s actually ‘cruel’ is advocating for the gender mutilation of children and letting men in their locker rooms you sicko." "True cruelty to these children is perpetuating the LIE that they can be a different gender," Minnesota Republican state Sen. Michael Holmstrom posted on X. "The consequence of which is the destruction of lives -- and the victimization of girls across the state. The DFL has lost reality." WALZ APPROVAL RATING CRATERS TO LOWEST LEVEL EVER AND TRAILS TRUMP AMID MASSIVE FRAUD SCANDAL: 'TIRED OF IT' "Worst Governor in America," Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X. "Thankfully we have exposed him and he’ll be headed to retirement soon. Good riddance, Tim." Fox News Digital reached out to Walz’s office for comment. Walz later in the day explained that his state’s position on girls in boys sports won’t change as a result of the ruling, Fox 9 Minneapolis reported. "The Supreme Court has allowed states to be as cruel as they want to be to transgender people," Walz told reporters. "They’ve also allowed states like Minnesota to be as kind and welcoming as they can, so I kind of view this as a mixed bag." "We’re going to view it as a positive considering what could have been done. In Minnesota, we can continue to treat our transgender athletes and youth with dignity and humanity and respect. We’ll continue to do that, nothing will change there. Anything that gets kids involved, I want them to be involved. This idea of folks who have never been to any youth event are hell-bent on making sure some kid doesn’t participate in bowling is ludicrous. I think Minnesotans find there’s a lot of other things to worry about than three little kids wanting to play sports somewhere." In the highly anticipated rulings in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, the high court upheld state laws requiring student-athletes to compete on sports teams that correspond with their biological sex at birth rather than their gender identity. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3. Now, more than half of the states in the U.S. are empowered to enforce the protection of women's sports without fear of a legal challenge. However, there are still 23 states, including California, New York and Massachusetts, that don't have any such laws, and some of those have laws to protect trans athletes in girls' sports. Fox News Digital’s Jackson Thompson contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a451b61c2ca79de2362a748 Flagstaff City Council considers ordinance prohibiting source of income discrimination in housing te 2026-07-01T13:51:29.335Z Flagstaff City Council considers ordinance prohibiting source of income discrimination in housing The council had voted to move forward with discussion about the topic in response to a citizen petition that had been brought to a meeting in April. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a451b4cc2ca79de2362a71f Soros network targets deep-red Mississippi in bid to flip Senate seat te 2026-07-01T13:51:08.854Z Soros network targets deep-red Mississippi in bid to flip Senate seat Mississippians haven’t elected a Democrat to the Senate in nearly four decades, but powerful backers of the Magnolia State’s underdog candidate believe that by dumping money into the race they can overcome the hump. Scott Colom, a district attorney, is squaring off against incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., in deep-red Mississippi, and some of his top backers, including billionaire philanthropist George Soros’ top advisor, believe that he is primed to flip the seat. During a call earlier this month with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., former Rep. Joe Kennedy, D-Mass., and Soros’ top advisor, Michael Vachon, Colom’s backers laid out his path forward. MISSISSIPPI'S GOP GOVERNOR DROPS ELECTION PLEDGE IN HUGE SETBACK FOR TRUMP’S MIDTERM PLAN "Scott can win in Mississippi," Vachon said on the call. "The conditions are right in a way that they've never been before at the national level and at the local level. He's a great candidate running against a very weak candidate, and people across the country are angry about the state of the nation." Vachon contended that there was one key hurdle for Colom, "Not enough people know who he is and that he’s running." "Once people know who he is and know his story and know he’s running, then they want to vote for him," he said. "And, you know, what stands in the way of that name recognition, honestly, is money, right?" TALARICO TOUTS TEXAS ROOTS AS OUT-OF-STATE CASH POWERS SENATE CAMPAIGN According to filings from the Federal Election Commission, members of the Soros family have donated nearly $30,000 to Colom’s campaign this cycle. "This comes as no surprise," Nathan Calvert, Hyde-Smith’s communications director, said. "Scott Colom has always relied on the backing of out-of-state liberal elites, and now George Soros’ political network and Elizabeth Warren are openly treating Mississippi as the next stepping stone to enacting their radical national agenda." Money from Soros also colored Colom and Hyde-Smith’s first clash, where the lawmaker torpedoed his nomination to serve as a district court judge in Mississippi under the Biden administration. WARREN TELLS TRUMP TO 'SIGN THE DAMN BILL' AS BIPARTISAN HOUSING PACKAGE REMAINS STALLED IN WASHINGTON At the time, she used the veto power each home-state senator has, known as a blue slip in the upper chamber, to weigh in on a judicial nominee — it’s a tradition that President Donald Trump has demanded be done away with to nullify Democratic resistance to his own judicial nominees. Colom argued that his record as district attorney was "proof of how I make decisions: based on the evidence and the law, not based on who's writing the checks." "I'm running a grassroots campaign powered by Mississippians, and the only voices I will ever listen to are theirs, not those of donors or special interests," Colom said. "That's the difference between me and Cindy Hyde-Smith, who answers to whoever cuts her the biggest check, while Mississippians pay the price." "Just ask the fertilizer companies under federal investigation, who gave to her campaign while Mississippi farmers are paying more for fertilizer," he continued. Indeed, Hyde-Smith has received $14,000 in donations from fertilizer industry donors since 2018, including $11,000 from Koch Industries and $3,000 from Nutrien, both of which are under federal investigation for allegedly inflating fertilizer prices. Meanwhile, Warren painted her vision of what a Democratic majority in the Senate could look like, aided in part by a hopeful Colom victory in November. "I know you've already talked about other things we can do here, but we need to deliver by passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act — guarantee the right to get your vote counted," Warren said on the call, "ending gerrymandering anywhere in the United States, and, my own personal favorite, it's time for D.C. statehood." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a451b1dc2ca79de2362a701 Meta, like SpaceX, looks to turn excess AI compute into cash te 2026-07-01T13:50:21.231Z Meta, like SpaceX, looks to turn excess AI compute into cash Meta is developing plans for a cloud infrastructure business, selling access to AI compute power and models. The move would pit it against the big cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4511f8c2ca79de2362a5ab STEVE FORBES: Mamdani’s socialist rent-control puts New York on the road to housing ruin te 2026-07-01T13:11:20.273Z STEVE FORBES: Mamdani’s socialist rent-control puts New York on the road to housing ruin New York City has just taken another giant step backward. The Rent Guidelines Board voted 7-1 to freeze rents on roughly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments, handing Democrat Mayor Zohran Mamdani a major political trophy. Mamdani called it a "historic victory." It is nothing of the sort. It is an act of economic vandalism dressed up as compassion. This is not housing policy. It is price control. And price controls have failed everywhere they have been tried. TRUMP WARNS ‘GODLESS COMMUNISTS’ WILL TURN CITIES INTO SLUMS AS DEMS FAIL TO FIGHT SOCIALIST SURGE The mayor’s philosophy is no mystery. Mamdani comes from the hard-left, Democratic Socialists of America school of politics: Government knows best, private property is suspect, landlords are villains and markets must be bent to political will. The language may be modern, but the outlook is old: socialize the benefits, demonize ownership, punish investment and then act surprised when shortages and decay follow. A rent freeze is a form of backdoor expropriation. City Hall does not formally seize the building. It simply tells the owner: your taxes may rise, your insurance may rise, your fuel costs may rise, your labor costs may rise, your repairs may rise — but your revenue may not. That is not fairness. That is confiscation by regulation. The board’s own process tells the story. One landlord representative, Christina Smyth, resigned before the vote, accusing the panel of disregarding its own evidence and saying the outcome had been predetermined. Mamdani appointed six of the nine members after campaigning on the freeze. The vote was then celebrated as though it were some independent act of civic wisdom. Please. This was political theater with a prewritten ending. AOC’S HOUSING AGENDA UNDER FIRE AFTER NYC HOTEL RATES JUMP 12% The facts are unavoidable. New York does not have too much housing. It has too little. The city’s vacancy rate has been near historic lows. Families, workers, students and seniors are not struggling because owners have too much freedom. They are struggling because decades of bad government have made it too difficult, too slow and too expensive to build. So, what does City Hall do? It attacks the people who provide housing. Older rent-stabilized buildings are not magical assets that operate without cost. Boilers break. Roofs leak. Elevators fail. Pipes burst. Insurance premiums climb. Property taxes keep coming. Labor and materials cost more every year. A mayor can freeze a legal rent increase, but he cannot freeze Con Edison, insurance companies, plumbers, roofers, interest rates or the tax collector. AOC ISSUES WARNING TO HER FELLOW DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS IN THE WAKE OF SOCIALISTS WINNING BIG IN NYC The inevitable result will be less maintenance, fewer upgrades, more distressed buildings and less new rental housing. The owner who was thinking about renovating will delay. The investor who was considering a new project will look elsewhere. The small landlord who has been barely holding on will sell, defer repairs or walk away. Tenants may enjoy a temporary political sugar high, but they will eventually pay in deteriorating buildings and fewer choices. This is the oldest lesson in economics: when you cap the price of something below its real cost, you get less of it. Freeze rents and you reduce the incentive to supply rental housing. Punish ownership and you get less ownership. Demonize profit and capital flees. And now the danger is broader than one rent vote. Last Tuesday’s primaries showed that the DSA wing is gaining strength. Mamdani-backed left-wing candidates, including Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez, scored major wins. Their success signals more pressure for the same failed formula: more government control, more hostility to private enterprise, more redistribution, more regulation and more contempt for the people who create jobs, build housing and pay the bills. If this ideology spreads, New York’s decline will accelerate. The city will become more expensive, not less. The tax base will erode. Construction will slow. Small businesses will suffer. Public services will weaken. More middle-class families will leave. The people hurt most will be the very tenants and working families the left claims to champion. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION New York became great because it was a magnet for ambition, enterprise, risk-taking and upward mobility. It was built by strivers, builders, entrepreneurs, immigrants, financiers, shopkeepers and workers who believed tomorrow could be better than today. It was not built by rent boards pretending arithmetic does not exist. The answer to New York’s housing crisis is not socialism. It is supply. Build more. Cut red tape. Reform zoning. Speed permits. Reduce taxes on housing. Encourage private capital. Make it profitable to create the homes New Yorkers desperately need. A rent freeze may win cheers in East Harlem. But cheers do not fix elevators, replace roofs or build apartments. New York needs growth, not grievance. It needs ownership, not class warfare. It needs housing, not socialist slogans. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4511e4c2ca79de2362a59d EXCLUSIVE: Millions of newborns to receive special Social Security cards celebrating America's 250th birthday te 2026-07-01T13:11:00.818Z EXCLUSIVE: Millions of newborns to receive special Social Security cards celebrating America's 250th birthday EXCLUSIVE: Millions of babies born during America's 250th anniversary celebration will receive a first-of-its-kind commemorative Social Security card under a new Social Security Administration (SSA) initiative obtained exclusively by FOX Business. The limited-edition cards, available only to children born in the United States between July 2 and Dec. 31, 2026, will feature the official Freedom 250 logo while functioning exactly like a standard Social Security card, according to an announcement from the Social Security Administration shared with FOX Business. Unlike commemorative coins, stamps or anniversary merchandise, these cards will become one of the very first official federal documents millions of American children ever receive. Only babies born during the six-month window will receive the Freedom 250 design, making it a once-in-a-generation keepsake tied to the nation's 250th birthday. FIRST ON FOX: BEHIND THE SCENES OF ARLINGTON’S MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE FOR AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY "Freedom 250 is a celebration of America's storied history and the monumental moments that have shaped our nation, including the creation of Social Security over 90 years ago," SSA Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said. "The next generation of Americans born during this historic year will receive limited-edition Social Security cards bearing the Freedom 250 logo. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, we are strengthening Social Security, improving service, and building an SSA to serve Americans today and in the future." The commemorative designation is reserved exclusively for original cards issued through the agency's Enumeration at Birth (EAB) program during the qualifying period. Babies born before July 2 or after Dec. 31, 2026, along with anyone requesting a replacement Social Security card, will receive the standard version instead. FIRST ON FOX: BEHIND THE SCENES OF ARLINGTON’S MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE FOR AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY Parents won't have to submit any extra paperwork, pay additional fees or sign up for the commemorative version. According to SSA, the commemorative cards will automatically be issued through the Enumeration at Birth program, which allows parents to request a Social Security number while completing birth registration paperwork at hospitals, birthing centers or through licensed midwives. The agency said the cards will be produced at no additional cost to families or taxpayers. The commemorative design does not change a child's Social Security number or the legal function of the card. Replacement and duplicate cards issued after the initial enrollment period will not include the Freedom 250 designation, according to SSA. WHAT SCAMMERS DO THE WEEK YOUR SPOUSE DIES SSA has issued Social Security numbers through the Enumeration at Birth program since 1987, a partnership with hospitals and state vital records offices. More than 3.5 million children are born in the United States each year, meaning millions of families could receive the commemorative card during the six-month rollout. The agency also warned parents to beware of scammers seeking to capitalize on the announcement. "SSA will never call, text, or email you requesting payment to obtain a commemorative card for your child or otherwise," the agency said, adding that parents do not need to register or provide any information beyond the standard birth registration process. The commemorative rollout comes as the Trump administration has launched other initiatives focused on young Americans, including Trump Accounts, tax-advantaged investment accounts intended to help eligible families begin saving for their children's futures. For most Americans, a Social Security card is among the first official federal documents they receive. For babies born during America's 250th year, it will also serve as a lasting reminder that he or she entered the world during a special moment in our nation's history. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4511d1c2ca79de2362a594 One of America's oldest manufacturers says AI is creating jobs — not replacing them te 2026-07-01T13:10:41.365Z One of America's oldest manufacturers says AI is creating jobs — not replacing them Before Henry Ford rolled out the Model T, before the Wright brothers took to the skies and before the Statue of Liberty welcomed millions to America's shores, Corning was already charting a course of innovation that continues today. Best known to many Americans for the glass products that have been fixtures in kitchens for generations, Corning has also spent decades developing technologies that quietly transformed the modern world. From the glass used in Thomas Edison's light bulbs to the durable screens protecting billions of smartphones. Nearly 175 years after its founding, Corning is once again helping shape a technological revolution. As demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure surges, the New York-based manufacturer is ramping up production of optical fiber, the backbone of the high-speed networks powering AI. The company is also partnering with NVIDIA, the chipmaker at the center of the AI boom, to create 3,000 jobs in two states. NVIDIA CEO JENSEN HUANG SAYS AI WILL RESHAPE WORK LIKE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND THE U.S. 'SHOULD ABSOLUTELY LEAD' At a time when many Americans worry artificial intelligence will replace human workers, Corning Chairman, CEO and President Wendell Weeks says the opposite is happening inside one of the nation's oldest manufacturers. "AI is a huge job creator, and it's a huge manufacturing job creator," Weeks told Fox News Digital. He said the AI boom is driving demand for Corning's optical fiber while fueling the company's fastest period of growth in nearly two centuries. "As a 175-year-old company, we're going through our fastest growth period," Weeks said. "We will probably double our size over the coming years and almost all of our new hires will be in advanced manufacturing, a significant part of them right here in America." That growth is already taking shape on Corning's factory floors. NVIDIA CEO JENSEN HUANG: WE ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE AI REVOLUTION "As the world develops and tells us what it needs, we're right there at the forefront," Emily Capek, planning supervisor at Corning’s Wilmington, North Carolina, facility told Fox News Digital. She said employees are seeing firsthand how demand for AI platforms is driving the need for Corning's products. "Right now, the world needs our glass optical fiber to support the AI demand we're seeing," Capek said. "It's a great feeling on the factory floor." Her comments reflect a much broader trend. While much of the attention surrounding AI has focused on chipmakers and software developers, companies like Corning are supplying the glass technology that connects AI systems and supports the industry's rapid expansion. That investment is already translating into the opening of new U.S. factories and creation of American jobs. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Earlier this year, NVIDIA partnered with Corning to build three advanced optical manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Texas. It's expected to create more than 3,000 jobs across both states while expanding Corning's U.S. optical manufacturing capacity tenfold. Having worked with innovators such as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs during his career, Weeks said he's proud to now partner with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang as Corning helps build the infrastructure powering the AI revolution. While companies like NVIDIA have become synonymous with artificial intelligence, Weeks said many people overlook the role optical fiber plays in connecting AI systems. "The common story is AI being powered by chips, but actually, those chips are connected by glass," Weeks said. The AI manufacturing boom isn't just fueling growth at longtime American companies like Corning. It's also attracting foreign investment into U.S. manufacturing. Wistron, a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer, is establishing AI supercomputer manufacturing operations in Texas for NVIDIA, bringing advanced manufacturing jobs to the state. "Building in America is essential for speed, resilience and strategic advantage," Wistron Chairman Simon Lin told Fox News Digital. "Texas offers the talent, industrial strength, and strategic location to help power the next generation of AI infrastructure, while creating durable, high-value jobs at scale for the local workforce," he added. As America marks 250 years of independence, Weeks said the country's next chapter of innovation will depend not only on breakthrough ideas, but on manufacturing them at home. "The tools change, but the approach doesn't," Weeks said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a450d20c2ca79de2362a385 Alaska state fair bars parental rights group due to 'extremist' group designation by far-left organization te 2026-07-01T12:50:40.968Z Alaska state fair bars parental rights group due to 'extremist' group designation by far-left organization A grassroots parental rights organization was barred from attending a state fair in Alaska after being accused of being a "hate group" by a local activist citing a controversial left-leaning watchdog organization. Moms for Liberty, a prominent national conservative group known for challenging public school library books and curricula they deem inappropriate for minors, was denied an application to set up a one-day booth at the Tanana Valley State Fair in Fairbanks—Alaska’s oldest state fair. "Defending parental rights and standing up for your children is not extremist," Moms For Liberty President Tiffany Justice told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. BEN CARSON, RILEY GAINES FIGHT SCRUBBING OF FAITH FROM KIDS' US HISTORY BOOKS FOR AMERICA'S 250TH According to Justice, the Fairbanks chapter run by Gail McBride received a rejection letter on April 27 from the fair's board rejecting their application to participate in the event. "It was pretty interesting," McBride, chair of the Moms for Liberty Fairbanks chapter, told the Alaska Watchman. "The community needs to know it’s another one of these attempts to cancel conservatives by screaming loudly." Scott Vance, the executive director of the Tanana Valley State Fair Association (TVSFA), told Fox News Digital that "members of and peoples associated with the local chapter have lacked decorum at board meetings, antagonized staff, and association members in the past several months." "The Tanana Valley State Fair Association reserves the right to deny any application at its sole discretion. Applications that, in the judgment of the Association, may reasonably be expected to create disruption, compromise the safety or comfort of attendees, or conflict with the Fair’s mission to provide a welcoming, family-oriented environment will not be accepted," Vance said. He continued, "Vendors are responsible for their own actions, as well as the actions of their agents, employees, volunteers, and supplier." Aiming to promote their mission of defending parental rights, the conservative group’s local chapter applied for a single-day table at the annual gathering. Historically, the fair has been known for family-friendly events, livestock exhibits, and local crafts. McBride reportedly attended a Tanana Valley State Fair Board of Directors meeting on April 15 to introduce the chapter and correct what she described as local misinformation about the group. Following her remarks, David Leslie, a former fair employee who remains heavily involved in the event, addressed the board to object to the group's presence. Leslie claimed that Moms for Liberty is an "anti-government, extremist hate group," pointing to its designation by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). "They target LGBT people specifically," Leslie claimed, according to local reports by the Alaska Watchman. "This is extremely dangerous. People die because of hate. People kill themselves." The SPLC released its Year in Hate & Extremism report in 2022, designating Moms For Liberty as an "extremist group." An official from the group claimed Moms For Liberty seeks "to undermine public education holistically," NPR reported in 2023. CONSERVATIVE GROUP TARGETED IN SPLC-INSPIRED TERROR ATTACK DEMANDS RESTITUTION AFTER DOJ INDICTMENT Leslie also used his time to criticize the fair board for previously canceling a local drag performance and urged current members to bar anyone associated with Moms for Liberty from ever running for a seat on the fair board. A few days after the meeting, the fair's board of directors officially rejected the chapter's application for a one-day table without publicly providing a formal reason for the denial. McBride responded to the board in a June 25 letter, writing that she was "surprised to have been rejected" and asserting that the board's decision "does not represent our community." In her response, McBride also fired back at the board's reliance on the SPLC's "hate group" label, pointing to the watchdog organization's own mounting legal troubles. The SPLC has faced intense national scrutiny following a federal grand jury indictment charging the organization with multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Justice told Fox News Digital that the organization is "exploring legal actions right now" after being rejected to participate in the fair. She added that the SPLC is used by government entities as a source to identify "hate groups" and that the incident in Alaska is not the first. "The one that comes to mind is in Williamson County, Texas … they can't participate because they're on the SPLC hate map. Yes, it is a continuing problem all across the country," Justice said. LOUDOUN COUNTY PARENTS NOT 'SATISFIED' AFTER SCHOOL OFFICIALS TESTIFY ON TRANSGENDER POLICIES Citing the TVSFA mission in his statement to Fox News Digital, Vance quoted "The Fair encourages and welcomes involvement by all" and claimed that "the reputation of the overall organization and actions of the local associates does not align with" their mission. "TVSFA reserves the right to deny applications for any reason, and all decisions are final. Ultimately, the final decision to approve vendors lies at the discretion of the TVSFA Executive Director," Vance said. He concluded, "I have the unenviable task of sorting through all grievances and reports from our staff, members, and the community. Based on multiple issues that have come to my attention, this is the best decision that aligns with the mission of the fair and fostering a welcoming environment." The Southern Poverty Law Center did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a450aefc2ca79de2362a32c Guardians rookie tosses ball into stands after making second out, costs team go-ahead run te 2026-07-01T12:41:19.962Z Guardians rookie tosses ball into stands after making second out, costs team go-ahead run Cleveland Guardians left fielder Cooper Ingle suffered some brain fog on Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers and pieced together a moment he will want to brush off and move on from. The Guardians and Rangers were tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh. The Rangers had a runner on second with one out – the key phrase, "one out." Texas batter Alejandro Osuna popped one to left field where Ingle made a routine catch for the second out of the inning. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Ingle seemed to have thought it was the third out and the inning was over. He took the ball and threw it into the stands at Progressive Field. The lapse of judgment allowed Rangers runner Ezequiel Duran to run home and give the Rangers the go-ahead run. Texas won the game, 4-2. Ingle was 0-for-4 at the plate with three strikeouts. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS The 24-year-old only made his major league debut on Friday against the Seattle Mariners. He came into the 2026 season ranked No. 99 on MLB’s list of the top 100 prospects in baseball and No. 65 on Baseball Prospectus’ list. He was also No. 3 among Guardians prospects. He took responsibility for the error and vowed that it wouldn’t happen again. "Obviously you feel terrible," he told reporters, via MLB.com. "It's a pretty embarrassing feeling." With the result on Tuesday, each team is now 44-42 on the year. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a450adcc2ca79de2362a323 House Dem urges transparency by public officials after GOP colleague reveals reason for extended absence te 2026-07-01T12:41:00.504Z House Dem urges transparency by public officials after GOP colleague reveals reason for extended absence Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., said Tuesday that public officials have an obligation to be transparent about lengthy absences, after Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J.,disclosed that his recent monthslong time away from Congress was for treatment for depression. Kean had been missing House votes for months before returning on Tuesday. "As someone who has lived with depression, I have deep sympathy for anyone struggling with mental illness. I might not be alive today were it not for a prolonged hospitalization and proper medication. I know the value of taking a medical leave firsthand," Torres wrote in a post on X. GOP CONGRESSMAN REVEALS MYSTERY ILLNESS THAT SIDELINED HIM FROM CONGRESS FOR NEARLY FOUR MONTHS "At the same time, public office carries a duty of transparency. When a public official is absent for an extended period, the public has a right to an honest explanation," he continued. "Transparency deepens the public’s empathy, whereas secrecy breeds suspicion. When in doubt, err on the side of transparency. Tell the truth, and tell it early. The public is often most forgiving of those who level with them," Torres asserted. Kean disclosed the reason for his months-long absence during a Tuesday House floor speech. MISSING GOP CONGRESSMAN REVEALS HE'S 'MORE ENERGIZED THAN EVER' TO RETURN TO WASHINGTON "Several months ago, due to health concerns, I entered the hospital for some testing. I did not believe that this would result in a long-term stay. I was given the diagnosis of depression," he noted. "But, as the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing. There is no timeline for recovery. Only the work of getting better one day at a time," Kean said later during the speech. SWING-SEAT REPUBLICAN SIDELINED BY 'SERIOUS' ILLNESS MISSES 88 VOTES AS MAJORITY HANGS BY THREAD Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., commented on Kean's announcement, declaring in a post on X, "While we can certainly have compassion for him, and should, being in congress is not a right. There are 700,000 other people in his district, and could have done the job. It’s absolutely unforgivable to pretend this wasn’t a dereliction of duty." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a450ac9c2ca79de2362a31a VP Vance says the US is in a great position with Iran, has accomplished 'core mission' te 2026-07-01T12:40:41.052Z VP Vance says the US is in a great position with Iran, has accomplished 'core mission' The U.S. holds the upper hand in negotiations underway in the Middle East, Vice President JD Vance said in an exclusive interview Tuesday. He argued the Trump administration has already achieved its core objective in Iran, regardless of how the high-stakes talks in Doha unfold. "We have all the cards in the negotiation," Vance told "The Ingraham Angle." "We obviously want it to be successful, but even if it's not successful, we've accomplished the core mission, which is to ensure that the Iranians never have a nuclear weapon," he said. VANCE SAYS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S KEY OBJECTIVES HAVE BEEN REACHED IN US-IRAN DEAL "In other words, it's a win-win outcome for the American people." The vice president said successful negotiations would mean Iran is "permanently transformed" — without nuclear ambitions and no longer funding proxies that have wreaked havoc across the broader Middle East. Under those conditions, he said, Iran could be "welcomed back into the world economy." "That's a great outcome for the American people. It's a greater outcome for the whole region," Vance said. IRAN'S UNPRECEDENTED 'WHOLE-REGIME' DELEGATION AT US DEAL TALKS SIGNALS ONE GOAL: EXPERT "But if, on the other hand, the Iranians don't behave, if they don't make the concessions in the negotiations that we need to see, their nuclear program is still destroyed, their conventional military is still destroyed and the United States is still in a much stronger position relative to the Iranians." Vance's remarks come after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Qatar for talks with mediators this week, though reports suggest there will be no high-level meeting between Washington and Tehran. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari told reporters Tuesday that, to his knowledge, "There are no direct meetings scheduled between the two parties in the coming days." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on "Fox & Friends" earlier this week that Iran had requested talks, and other members of the Trump administration, including President Donald Trump himself, have made similar remarks. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4503d3c2ca79de2362a1fc Prince Harry's security fight threatens highly-anticipated reunion with King Charles: expert te 2026-07-01T12:10:59.614Z Prince Harry's security fight threatens highly-anticipated reunion with King Charles: expert Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's trip to the United Kingdom is already marred by drama after reports circulated that the visit was canceled due to security concerns. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to return to Britain this month, marking the first return to the UK in four years for Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie. Issues surrounding official police protection for the Sussexes may damper their trek across the pond as Prince Harry fights for accommodations on a royal estate to best protect his family. While the Duke and Duchess stepped away from senior royal responsibilities in 2020, royal expert Kate Nicholl told Fox News Digital that there's a "real sense of frustration" from within the palace as the trip stays in limbo. PRINCE HARRY'S UK PLANS COULD SEND POWERFUL MESSAGE TO KING CHARLES AND PRINCE WILLIAM: EXPERTS "Harry knows that he doesn't have automatic right to taxpayer-funded police protection when he's over here in the UK," Nicholl said. "Now, this trip has been several months in the planning. The king was made aware of it. "The king was very happy to put Harry and Meghan and the children up in a royal residence where, by the way, they would have had full taxpayer police protection round the clock while they were a royal residence ... Where they don't get that taxpayer protection is if they're traveling around the country and Harry doing his Invictus Games. WATCH HERE: KING CHARLES WENT ‘ABOVE AND BEYOND’ FOR PRINCE HARRY: EXPERT' She added, "Now, Harry is a very wealthy man in his own right. He chose to step down from the royal family. He's not a working member of the royal family." PRINCE HARRY DEALT MAJOR BLOW AS UK COURT DENIES SECURITY APPEAL Nicholl, co-host of The Royals Uncensored podcast, said that the palace was "really going above and beyond" to accommodate the Sussexes. The Duke and Duchess were reportedly told that an official review over their request for security was scheduled for March, only to learn that the assessment was never conducted by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC), according to People magazine. In December, Prince Harry wrote privately to the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, requesting a full security risk assessment to reassess threat levels for the first time since 2020, according to The Guardian. MEGHAN MARKLE STANDS BY PRINCE HARRY AFTER SECURITY APPEAL LOSS, SHOWS SUBTLE SUPPORT WITH TENDER FAMILY PHOTO Last year, Prince Harry made a rare appearance at a two-day hearing for his appeal challenging the U.K. government’s decision to remove his security. In court, Harry’s lawyers said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex "felt forced to step back from the role of full-time official working members of the royal family as they were considered they were not being protected by the institution." Harry had "wished to continue their duties in support of the late queen as privately funded members of the royal family." In May 2025, the British royal lost his appeal. The Court of Appeal ruled unanimously that a committee had not treated the Duke of Sussex unfairly when it decided to review his protection on a case-by-case basis each time he visits his home country. MEGHAN MARKLE HAS ONE CONDITION FOR RETURNING TO THE UK WITH PRINCE HARRY: EXPERTS Archewell confirmed earlier this week that Prince Harry's UK visit includes "both public and private engagements across the country," before noting that safe accommodations are only "one element" of an effective protection plan because "risk follows the person, not the place." "The issue has never been accommodation," Archewell told Fox News Digital. "The issue is whether appropriate and proportionate protective security is being provided throughout the entirety of the visit. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "The independent Risk Management Board that RAVEC itself decided was necessary last November has still not taken place. It is therefore difficult to understand how the proportionality of the current arrangements can credibly be maintained without that independent assessment." PRINCE WILLIAM'S DOOR IS 'BOLTED SHUT' AS PRINCE HARRY PLANS UK RETURN WITH MEGHAN MARKLE, CHILDREN: EXPERT Archewell added, "The Duke continues to explore every available option to enable the visit to proceed safely and to give his children the opportunity to enjoy the UK." Nicholl noted that there was "a genuine sense of delight" at the palace surrounding Prince Harry's return to the UK with his children. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "You've got to remember that the king is getting older," she said. "He's living with cancer. He hasn't seen his grandchildren since the late Queens Platinum Jubilee in 2022." In 2020, Harry and Markle — who currently reside in California — made their royal exit, citing the unbearable intrusions of the British press and lack of support from the palace. On Sept. 10, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Harry spent time with the king, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, at Clarence House. It was the first time they had met in more than a year. "Putting aside his public position and his public role, he's just a grandfather who understandably wants to get to know his grandchildren," Nicholl said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4503c0c2ca79de2362a1f3 Hidden Revolutionary War bake house is uncovered after spending centuries underground te 2026-07-01T12:10:40.168Z Hidden Revolutionary War bake house is uncovered after spending centuries underground Archaeologists who were excavating an historic Connecticut town green have uncovered the well-preserved remains of an 18th-century bake house — an unusual remnant of the Revolutionary War. The structure, used to bake bread for French troops supporting the American Revolution, was found on the Lebanon Town Green in Lebanon, Connecticut. Archaeologists digging in the New London County town uncovered the bake house earlier in June. SECRETS OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLEFIELDS EMERGE 250 YEARS AFTER AMERICA'S FOUNDING Pictures from the excavation show the exposed bake house foundation, as well as various small artifacts. Relatively few artifacts were found at the site, said Sarah P. Sportman, Connecticut state archaeologist — but one discovery in particular stood out. Sportman told Fox News Digital that — on the last day of the excavation — archaeologists found a burned gunflint. "Gunflints were chipped pieces of stone used in flintlock firearms, like the ones used during the Revolutionary War," she said. "The stone is used to create the spark that ignites the powder and fires the weapon." VETERAN-LED DIG OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLEFIELD SEEKS TO SHED LIGHT ON HISTORY, EMPOWER DISABLED VETS Many of the excavation's other finds were more routine and reflected different periods of the site's history. "In the top layers of [soil], we found some ceramic and glass fragments that date to the late 19th century," she said, which suggested general landscaping work. "As we got a little deeper, we found some older [pieces] ... [plus] late 18th century ceramic fragments, a few pieces of animal bone, clay smoking pipe fragments and older bottle glass." She said that "overall, though, the number of artifacts was quite low." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Sportman said historians had long believed a French bake oven stood on the town green, with the suspected location marked by a commemorative plaque. While an amateur excavation at the site in 1896 reportedly uncovered masonry and bricks, there were no maps, photographs or preserved artifacts documenting the dig, making this the first modern archaeological excavation of the bake house. "As far as anyone knew, that 1896 exploration was the only excavation ever carried out at the site and our work bears that out," she said. "We were unsure if the 1890s dig might have damaged the foundation, but it appears largely intact and filled in with a great deal of stone rubble." CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES The structure was apparently meant to be "semi-permanent," Sportman added, as the encampment in the area lasted several months. "The foundation is not very robust and doesn’t exhibit tightly built stonework," she said. "However, it is certainly more permanent than the earth ovens that troops on the move used for a couple of days at a time ... It looks as though it used stone as a base and brick for much of the actual oven portion." The oven's discovery doesn't mean the investigation is over. Sportman said researchers are still working to identify the structure's style and better understand the surrounding site. "A ground-penetrating radar survey carried out prior to the dig indicates that the stone and brick structure we excavated was part of a possible complex of structures in this part of the green," she said. "We hope that additional testing in the fall will clarify some of those features and help us better understand the site." Sportman emphasized that the bake house excavation is just part of a broader archaeological and historical project in Lebanon as the nation marks its 250th anniversary. Experts have identified "numerous sites related to 18th-century militia training and the possible location of the French hospital, demonstrating the scale of Revolutionary War activities in Lebanon," she said. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ "The project is also important because the Lebanon encampment was part of the route of French troops under General Rochambeau who came to help the American colonists overthrow British rule," Sportman added. "It is an important reminder that the American victory required significant help from our French allies — and such partnerships have always made us stronger." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a45017bc2ca79de2362a16d Village People lead singer Victor Willis dead at 74 te 2026-07-01T12:00:59.382Z Village People lead singer Victor Willis dead at 74 he Village People singer Victor Willis died on Tuesday, his wife announced on social media. "It is with profound sadness that I must announce the death of my husband, VICTOR WILLIS. Victor passed away on Tuesday June 30, 2026 as a result of a short, but aggressive illness," a post on Willis' Facebook page states.  "The family request privacy at this time of great loss," the post adds. This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a450167c2ca79de2362a15b Pro wrestler Vinnie Massaro found his 'WrestleMania moment' in Japan, shares love for building sport's future te 2026-07-01T12:00:39.933Z Pro wrestler Vinnie Massaro found his 'WrestleMania moment' in Japan, shares love for building sport's future Pro wrestler Vinnie Massaro is a relative unknown to those who primarily dedicate their viewing experiences to what comes on their televisions and streaming services a few times a week. Massaro has been in the ring for nearly three decades starting in Hayward, California, and making it to the top promotions Japan has to offer. He’s been a mainstay on the independents and is helping to train and wrestle those on the come up in West Coast Pro, Pandemonium Pro Wrestling and elsewhere. While he understands that the dream of reaching WWE or All Elite Wrestling (AEW) may be dashed, he told Fox News Digital he’s fallen in love with helping the younger generation grow as professional wrestlers. COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL "Honestly, the dream is not WWE, the dream is not AEW. Those dreams have kind of gone. I realize that I’m not young," he said. "I’ve reached that stage and that age where nobody is going to hire me as a professional wrestler. But there are other things like training. I love teaching young people how to wrestle. I love helping out in the back. I love doing agenting and that kind of stuff. To me, that’s a better outcome for me. "Ten years from now, people may be like, ‘Oh you know Vinnie Massaro, he used to be a wrestler.’ You’d be like, ‘Oh I kinda saw him but he’s a good trainer. He knows how to teach people, he’s a good agent and he knows how to do that stuff.’ So, I think, eventually, that’s what’s going to end up being my calling card. Even if it’s just being here at West Coast Pro, teaching the students at West Coast Pro and being a professional wrestler in the independent circuit, I’ll be happy." Massaro said the dream, in the first place, was never to get to WWE or World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He wanted to be on Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) as the hardcore promotion was becoming popular in the Northeast. But that goal went sideways when WWE bought out ECW. As he started training, Massaro turned his attention to Japan and performing at the famed Korakuen Hall. "But after I started training, the main thing I wanted to do was wrestle in Japan," he said. "My favorite wrestler was (Mitsuharu) Misawa and I was like, I want to meet Misawa, hopefully, one day, I want to wrestle Misawa and I’d like to wrestle for All Japan Pro Wrestling and then when he started (Pro Wrestling) Noah, when it was at Korakuen Hall, I wrestled for Noah. And I got to wrestle Misawa. I’ve wrestled for All Japan Pro Wrestling and I’ve wrestled for Pro Wrestling Noah at Korakuen Hall. I tagged with his former tag team partner – (Yoshinari Ogawa). CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "So to me, yeah, ‘What about your WrestleMania moment?’ I don’t even care about the WrestleMania moment. Being at Korakuen Hall, wrestling for Pro Wrestling Noah, being on my first Japanese tour, my first Japanese wrestling match and looking down at the mat and it’s ‘All Japan Pro Wrestling,’ the logo that I’ve seen so many times at Korakuen Hall, those are my highlights. Getting a chance to wrestle at Arena Mexico, that’s my highlight. Getting a chance to wrestle at the ECW Arena, that was a big one for me because I grew up watching ECW. "I loved ECW, it’s the reason why I started wrestling. I stopped watching wrestling but I got back into it because I started watching ECW. Now, honestly, I think, the fact that I have students that I have trained from day one, literally, they’re like, ‘I’ve never done anything. I’m here, please teach me how to wrestle, and the fact that those students after I’ve trained them and taught them everything from their very first bump and now they’re wrestling for Korakuen Hall, like Miko Alana. She came with me, she came to the school and was like, ‘I’ve never done any of this before in my life,’ and I taught her how to roll, I taught her how to bump, I taught her how to do moves and she was just on the Monday Magic pay-per-view at Korakuen Hall that … People are like, ‘Oh, Vinnie, you never made it,’ I’m like, that’s bulls---. To me, that’s making it." Massaro admitted that his skills in the ring are limited to hitting hard and showing his strength in the ring. A Spanish Fly off the top rope was probably never going to happen. He said he could have gone down two paths. He said he could have been Ole Anderson, who was "set in his ways," or he could have been Terry Funk, who adapted to different styles of wrestling and performed all over the world. "To me, I’d rather be a Terry Funk," he told Fox News Digital. "I’ve gone to Japan and trained with them, with the Joshis I went to Marvelous Pro and went to train with Takumi (Iroha), I went to Lucha Libre and trained with Lady Apache. So to me, you could just do one thing and keep doing it and if you fail that’s on you, but I tried a lot of different things. It’s not lucky if you just keep going." Soon, Massaro will get to tag with Japanese wrestling star Shigeo Okumura as they go up against a team led by Lucha Libre legend Blue Panther. Massaro, Okumura and Andrew Cass will take on Blue Panther, Jiah Jewel and Seabass Finn in a six-man tag team match at Pandemonium Pro’s End of Summer Event on Sept. 5 in Phoenix, Arizona. "I’m very excited because I grew up watching a lot of the AAA and Lucha Libre and CMLL and Blue Panther one of the few ones that you recognize and you always saw his match," he told Fox News Digital. "My first time watching Lucha Libre was Worlds Collide, of course, he was there and he played a big part … Getting a chance to wrestle against Blue Panther, I don’t have too many bucket lists anymore of wrestlers, "I don’t have a list, but Blue Panther is definitely on that list. They have me tagging with Okumura, somebody who’s been doing this for so long. He’s basically like the guy that helped the guys from Japan be in CMLL. … It’s going to be cool to tag with Okumura and awesome on the other side, Blue Panther. But also on a grand aspect, I’d like to say I’m very proud I’m a big part of Pandemonium Pro Wrestling." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44ff11c2ca79de2362a0c7 Socialist ousts 30-year Dem incumbent in House primary and more top headlines te 2026-07-01T11:50:41.876Z Socialist ousts 30-year Dem incumbent in House primary and more top headlines 1. Socialist challenger ousts longtime incumbent Democrat 2. Trump reportedly asked if US should abandon negotiations with Iran 3. State Department announces 'total compliance' from Venezuelan government HATE FOR HIRE — New York woman who wished 'every day were Oct. 7' charged with funding Palestinian terror group. Continue reading … IRON PIPELINE — Feds dismantle alleged gun trafficking ring that funneled dozens of firearms from Georgia to Chicago gangs. Continue reading … AGAINST ALL ODDS — Boy, 2, pulled alive from rubble six days after Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes. Continue reading … SHOCKING FIND — Rotting human corpse found in chimney at school after report of foul odor. Continue reading … BOILING POINT — Thousands of police deployed across as deadly anti-immigration protests spread to multiple cities. Continue reading … -- WHY? — WATCH: Angel mom asks sanctuary politicians why they care more about illegal aliens than their own citizens. Continue reading … LEFT TURN — Socialism goes west as DSA-backed challenger ousts longtime Democrat. Continue reading … SOLE SURVIVOR — Boebert cruises to primary win, becoming last House Republican standing among Epstein files rebels. Continue reading … SUPREMACY CLAUSE — Federal judges blocks Virginia law prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks on the job. Continue reading … Click here for more cartoons…   BROADCAST ERROR — NPR reveals how a misheard announcement led to them falsely claiming Justice Alito was retiring. Continue reading … ESCAPE PLAN EXPOSED — Dave Portnoy claims 'Call Her Daddy' hosts planned false sexual harassment allegations to exit contracts. Continue reading … BIRTHRIGHT BATTLE — Vance calls SCOTUS birthright citizenship ruling a 'major mistake,' warns of more birth tourism. Continue reading … TRIAL AHEAD — Judge rejects Meta's effort to dismiss states' claims that it designed Facebook, Instagram to addict children. Continue reading … REP. ROGER WILLIAMS — 250 years of hard work pay off for Main Street businesses. Continue reading … ERICH PRATT — Trump’s push for national concealed carry reciprocity would protect good guys with guns. Continue reading … -- RESTAURANT RULES — Automatic tip or service charge? New state law requires restaurants to tell diners before they order. Continue reading … HOME TURF ADVANTAGE — How to watch USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32. Continue reading … QUIET LUXURY — Sephora joins Walmart, Target with new 'quiet hours' shopping experience. Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on cruise controversies, wedding whispers and more. Continue reading … Tune in as FOX News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream joins to discuss the intense 14th Amendment debate surrounding birthright citizenship. 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 Thursday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44f846c2ca79de23629f86 Stephanie Lueras: GMOs: More than a buzzword te 2026-07-01T11:21:43.000Z Stephanie Lueras: GMOs: More than a buzzword Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be sharing facts on some fear foods (aka: foods that are in the fear mongering wellness hotseat in popular culture). Kicking off with genetically modified organisms, better known as GMOs. Depending on… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44f808c2ca79de23629f48 American vaccines that transformed public health over 250 years: 'Outweighs harm' te 2026-07-01T11:20:40.030Z American vaccines that transformed public health over 250 years: 'Outweighs harm' Before the first successful vaccine was developed in 1796, Americans had little protection against deadly infectious diseases like smallpox, measles and diphtheria. Over the next 250 years, vaccines helped eliminate or dramatically reduce many vaccine-preventable infectious diseases, preventing millions of illnesses, infections and deaths. "There is a reason that vaccines are widely considered to be the greatest public health tool after sanitation," Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel told Fox News Digital. LATEST COVID VACCINE MAY HAVE UNEXPECTED HEALTH BENEFIT, STUDY SUGGESTS "They are designed to ‘fool’ the immune system into thinking it has seen a disease, creating an ‘immune memory’ to provoke an immune response to the pathogen when it actually does appear." "True vaccines have side effects, and there is the risk of vaccine injury, but overall, the benefit to the individual and society vastly outweighs any harm," Siegel added. As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, the following vaccines stand out among the most significant medical achievements in the country's history. Smallpox, a highly contagious viral disease caused by the variola virus, was one of the world's deadliest diseases before vaccination, killing about 30% of those infected, according to CDC data. The infectious disease had no cure and spread through close person-to-person contact, causing fever, fatigue and a distinctive rash that led to pus-filled blisters. Survivors were often left with permanent scarring or blindness. AI-DESIGNED 'UNIVERSAL VACCINE' PASSES FIRST HUMAN CLINICAL TRIAL, COULD PREVENT FUTURE PANDEMICS The first successful vaccine, developed by English physician Edward Jenner in 1796, eventually transformed public health in the United States. Jenner's smallpox vaccine ultimately led to the global eradication of smallpox, according to the World Health Organization. The vaccine is no longer given routinely to the public and is mainly used for select military, laboratory and emergency-response needs. "The first vaccine against smallpox eradicated a disease that killed 5-10% of all humans who had ever lived for almost all of human history," Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a San Francisco biotechnology company, told Fox News Digital. "Then the drumbeat began of relentless progress right at the eve of the 20th century." A viral disease that attacks the brain and nervous system, rabies spreads through the saliva of infected mammals, most commonly through the bites of dogs, bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. Once symptoms begin, rabies is almost always fatal, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Although there is no cure, vaccination immediately after exposure can prevent the disease. It can also be given before exposure for people at high risk. Researcher Louis Pasteur created the first rabies vaccine in 1885, according to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Today, prompt vaccination after exposure remains the standard way to prevent an otherwise almost universally fatal disease. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that can cause a thick coating in the throat. It was fatal for some, and survivors could face serious complications, including heart damage, paralysis and breathing problems, according to the CDC. Before the vaccine's introduction in the 1920s, diphtheria was one of the leading causes of illness and death among youth in the U.S. During that decade, there were 100,000 to 200,000 cases and 13,000 to 15,000 deaths recorded each year, mostly affecting children. The diphtheria toxoid vaccine was introduced in the 1920s. Diphtheria is now extremely rare in the U.S. due to widespread vaccinations, per the CDC. The vaccine remains part of the routine childhood immunization schedule as part of the DTaP series, with boosters recommended for teens, adults and pregnant women. Tetanus is a bacterial disease caused by Clostridium tetani, which enters the body through cuts or wounds, according to the CDC. The infection can cause severe muscle spasms, "lockjaw" and death. Before vaccination, tetanus was often fatal because severe muscle spasms could make it impossible to swallow or breathe. Although the disease is not spread from person to person, hundreds of Americans died from tetanus each year, records show. NEW WAYS TO PREVENT FLU REVEALED IN 'ACCIDENTAL' LAB BREAKTHROUGH, STUDY FINDS The tetanus toxoid vaccine was developed in the 1920s, according to CHOP. Tetanus vaccination remains part of the routine childhood immunization schedule, with boosters recommended every 10 years and as needed following certain wounds. Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes severe coughing fits, often making it difficult to breathe, eat or sleep. Infants are at highest risk, as they can develop pneumonia, seizures, brain damage or even death. Before widespread vaccination, the U.S. recorded more than 200,000 pertussis cases and thousands of youth hospitalizations each year, the CDC states. The first pertussis vaccine was introduced in the 1910s, followed by the combination DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccine in the 1940s. Following widespread vaccination, cases fell by more than 90% and deaths from the disease became uncommon. The pertussis vaccine remains part of the routine U.S. immunization schedule for children, teens and adults, and doctors recommend vaccination during pregnancy to pass protective antibodies to newborns. Influenza is a contagious viral respiratory illness that can cause serious complications, hospitalization and death, CDC data shows. Before the vaccine was available, seasonal flu epidemics caused widespread illness and death every year. During the 1918 influenza pandemic ("Spanish flu"), an estimated one-third of the world's population was infected and at least 50 million people died worldwide, including about 675,000 Americans. 'I THOUGHT I HAD THE FLU': MOM NEARLY DIED AFTER DISMISSING DEADLY SEPSIS SYMPTOMS The first U.S. flu vaccine was licensed in 1945, helping launch routine seasonal influenza vaccination programs. Widespread vaccination has significantly reduced the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older receives a seasonal flu vaccine each year, with rare exceptions. The vaccine is updated annually to target changing strains. Polio (poliomyelitis), a highly contagious viral disease caused by poliovirus, spreads mainly through contact with contaminated food, water or stool, per the CDC. For some, the virus can attack the nervous system, causing permanent paralysis, breathing difficulties and death. During the early 1950s, more than 15,000 cases of paralytic polio were reported each year in the U.S. In 1955, Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was introduced in the country, greatly reducing case counts. In 1979, the U.S. was declared free of wild poliovirus, according to the World Health Organization. Injected polio vaccination is still part of the routine childhood U.S. immunization schedule. Before vaccines, measles, mumps and rubella were common childhood diseases that infected millions of Americans and could cause serious complications. Prior to the measles vaccine, nearly all American children contracted the highly contagious viral disease by age 15, according to the NIH. About 400 to 500 Americans died of measles each year, while about 1,000 experienced brain swelling and 48,000 were hospitalized, records show. RARE TICK-BORNE VIRUS TURNS DEADLY FAST AS US CASES REACH RECORD HIGH, EXPERTS WARN Before the first mumps vaccine, about 186,000 cases were reported in the U.S. each year, and the disease was a common cause of children's meningitis, per the NIH. Rubella epidemics also regularly occurred in the U.S. before vaccination. Between 1964 and 1965, about 12.5 million Americans were infected, resulting in approximately 2,100 newborn deaths and 20,000 babies born with congenital rubella syndrome, causing blindness, deafness, heart defects and developmental disabilities. The measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, followed by mumps in 1967 and rubella in 1969. In 1971, the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine became available, protecting against all three contagious viral diseases in a single shot. Prior to the combined vaccine, children typically had to receive three separate shots, the CDC noted. Widespread vaccination has reduced cases of all three diseases by more than 99% in the United States, per NIH data. Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, meaning it was no longer spreading continuously within the country. Routine vaccination also led to endemic rubella being declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2004. Hepatitis B, a viral infection that attacks the liver, is spread through contact with infected blood and other body fluids, according to the CDC. Some people develop chronic hepatitis B, which can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. HEPATITIS B IN THE SPOTLIGHT: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRAL INFECTION Before vaccination, hepatitis B was a major public health threat in the U.S. In the early 1980s, an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 Americans contracted the infection each year, the NIH states. Infants infected at birth were at particularly high risk, with about 90% developing chronic infection. The hepatitis B vaccine was licensed in 1981, and the CDC began recommending universal infant vaccination in 1991. Since then, acute hepatitis B cases have declined by more than 80% in the U.S., and infections among children and adolescents have fallen by more than 95%, per the NIH. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a bacterial infection that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, bloodstream infections and severe throat swelling, per the CDC. Severe cases can lead to hearing loss or brain damage. Hib was once the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in young children in the U.S., with around 20,000 serious infections and 1,000 deaths reported each year in those 5 and younger. The first Hib vaccine was licensed in 1985, with routine immunizations reducing invasive disease by more than 99%, according to CDC data. The infection is now rare in the U.S. Chickenpox (varicella) is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus that causes an itchy, blister-like rash, fever and fatigue, according to the CDC. In some people, it can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation and bacterial skin infections. Before the first chickenpox vaccine became available in the U.S. in 1995, about four million Americans were infected each year, with around 100 to 150 deaths and up to 13,000 hospitalizations, according to the CDC and NIH. Since routine two-dose childhood vaccination began, hospitalizations and deaths have declined by more than 90%, and severe complications have become rare, CDC data shows. A highly contagious viral liver infection, hepatitis A spreads mainly through contaminated food or water or close contact with an infected person, per the CDC. While it does not cause chronic liver disease like hepatitis B, it can cause weeks or months of illness and, in rare cases, liver failure. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES Before vaccination, outbreaks led to as many as 30,000 infections each year. The first hepatitis A vaccine was licensed in the U.S. in 1995. Since routine childhood vaccination began, infection rates have dropped by more than 95%, according to the NIH. Pneumococcal disease, caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, bloodstream infections, ear infections and sinus infections, the CDC states. Before vaccination, pneumococcal disease caused thousands of cases of meningitis and bloodstream infections and hundreds of deaths among young children, per the NIH. Older adults also faced a high risk of hospitalization from bacterial pneumonia. The first pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was licensed in 2000. Routine childhood vaccination has dramatically reduced disease rates, and newer vaccines have been developed to protect against emerging bacterial strains. The most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S., the human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical, anal, penile, vaginal, vulvar and oropharyngeal cancers, according to the CDC. The HPV vaccine was licensed in 2006, becoming the first immunization designed to prevent multiple types of cancer. SHINGLES VACCINE CONNECTED TO ‘EXCITING’ HEALTH BENEFITS IN LARGE STUDY Since the vaccine became available, HPV infections, precancers and genital warts have declined significantly, CDC data shows. HPV vaccination is now part of the routine U.S. immunization schedule, with two doses recommended for those younger than 15 and three doses for those 15 and older. Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that primarily affects infants and young children, causing severe diarrhea, vomiting and fever. Before the vaccine became available in 2006, nearly every child contracted the virus by age 5, often leading to severe dehydrating diarrhea, the CDC states. Up to 70,000 children were hospitalized and 20 to 60 died each year in the U.S. Since routine rotavirus vaccination began, hospitalizations, emergency room visits and severe illness have declined significantly. Infants receive two or three oral doses as part of the routine immunization schedule. Shingles is a painful rash caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same one that causes chickenpox, per the CDC. It can cause severe nerve pain lasting months or even years. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Before the vaccine was available, about one million Americans developed shingles each year, with adults over 50 at highest risk. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER The first shingles vaccine was licensed in 2006, and the more effective Shingrix vaccine was introduced in 2017, greatly reducing the risk of shingles and long-term nerve pain, according to the CDC and FDA. Experts recommend two doses for adults 50 and older and certain immunocompromised adults ages 19 and older. When the COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide in 2020, there was no vaccine to prevent severe illness from the infection, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In the U.S., the contagious virus caused millions of hospitalizations and more than 1.2 million deaths, according to data from the CDC and NIH. The first COVID-19 vaccines received emergency authorization in December 2020. Multiple studies have shown that the vaccines significantly reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death, particularly among high-risk groups. "COVID vaccines saved millions of lives around the world during the COVID pandemic," Siegel said. Although the CDC continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccination, specific guidance varies by age, risk level and previous vaccination history. Glanville, whose company is currently working to develop a universal flu vaccine, among others, summed up the impact of these and other vaccines in America. "To truly understand the impact that vaccines have had in the last 100 years, read through the list of pathogens along the timeline until they become familiar to you, until they include things you or your family may have been infected by in your own life," he advised. "You may barely even recognize most of the pathogens in the first half of the list – because vaccines pushed them out of the human experience. That is the power of vaccines." People should contact a doctor to discuss individual recommendations for vaccines, which can vary by age, health status, medical history and risk factors. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44f5d6c2ca79de23629ecb Wisconsin student alleges school barred her from using Bible verse at graduation te 2026-07-01T11:11:18.940Z Wisconsin student alleges school barred her from using Bible verse at graduation A Wisconsin high school graduate is alleging religious discrimination after school officials barred her from including a Bible verse in a graduation ceremony slideshow due to the district's neutrality policy. Sarianne Beronja, a 2026 graduate of Arrowhead High School in Waukesha County, said she submitted Proverbs 3:6 as her personal message to appear beside her photo in a slideshow playing during the commencement ceremony. The verse reads: "In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path." Beronja said that less than 24 hours before the ceremony, an associate principal told her she could not use the verse because religious messages are prohibited. The student said school officials also told her she could not share an alternative message thanking God for being "beside me through these last four years." "My faith helped shape who I am," she told Fox News Digital. "Over the past four years, this verse was something I kept coming back to that kept me grounded and moving forward." COLORADO MIDDLE SCHOOLER SAYS SHE WAS BARRED FROM READING PRO-LIFE POEM IN CLASS Superintendent Conrad Farner told Fox News Digital that religious and political messages were barred from the graduation slideshow because it is considered "school-sponsored speech." He said students were given explicit instructions to limit messages to family thank-yous and future plans. "By defining the boundaries of the slideshow ahead of time (limiting the topic strictly to family thank-yous and future career/college plans), the expectations and limits were clearly articulated and established," Farner said. "The slideshow was never meant to be a forum for ANY religious or political viewpoints. It is an extremely brief picture of each graduate that allows for an extremely brief thank you or future plans. Again, the slideshow is district-sponsored speech, NOT a public forum." The school official cited the 1988 Supreme Court ruling in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, which gives school administrators the right to restrict school-sponsored expression if it is "reasonably related to legitimate educational concerns." Farner said opening the door to political or religious expression would create a disruptive environment at graduation, adding that the school wanted to avoid a situation where students and parents would want to bring "signs and buttons and flags" to express themselves.  NORTH CAROLINA TEEN SUES SCHOOL AFTER CHARLIE KIRK TRIBUTE SPARKED ‘CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION’ AND CENSORSHIP Going forward, Farner said the school will no longer utilize a slideshow at graduation. However, Beronja told Fox News Digital she did not believe the school consistently barred religious statements at graduation, claiming students had included Bible verses and expressions of faith in past ceremonies. The student and her mother are fighting the school district policy to protect future students' expression, seeking help from the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL). "We are celebrating our country’s 250th birthday, and, after all, the United States was founded on being a nation of religious freedom," Beronja said. "I think the school district should make sure that students of faith are not treated differently because their expression is religious. Students shouldn’t worry that a Bible verse will be rejected when other personal messages are allowed." WILL has accused the district of violating the student's First Amendment rights. "Once a school creates an opportunity for students to express their own views, it cannot exclude religious viewpoints while permitting comparable non-religious speech," WILL said in a press release. "The actions by Arrowhead appear to have done exactly that." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE The organization is asking the Arrowhead Union High School District to immediately alter its policy to allow students of faith to receive "the same constitutional protections afforded to every other student." Cory Brewer, WILL deputy counsel, stated, "‘Separation of Church and State’ is not an excuse to erase the viewpoints of students of faith. Arrowhead invited students to express themselves and approved countless secular messages, but when Sarianne shared a Bible verse that reflected her faith, school officials censored it. That’s unconstitutional." Brewer said WILL is prepared to take legal action if the district does not comply. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44f5c3c2ca79de23629ec2 America and Israel: A covenant, not a contract te 2026-07-01T11:10:59.485Z America and Israel: A covenant, not a contract The bond between America and the Jewish people did not begin with the creation of the modern State of Israel. It predates even the founding of our great country 250 years ago. This relationship has never been simply diplomatic. It is covenantal. Long before there was a United States, there was a people learning to govern themselves by the principles God gave at Sinai. The Puritan settlers read that story not as ancient history but as their own unfolding plot. In 1630, their leader John Winthrop preached a sermon, "A Model of Christian Charity," closing with the word of Moses to the Children of Israel who were about to enter the Promised Land, urging his followers "to love the Lord our God, and to love one another, to walk in his ways and to keep his Commandments and his Ordinance and his laws, and the articles of our Covenant with him." LIBERTY AND UNITY: WHAT AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY ASKS OF US TODAY The Mayflower Compact was understood to be a covenant, not a contract, because its signers understood that a contract is transactional while a covenant is consensual and is based upon freedom and personal responsibility. Scholar Os Guinness documents the source of the American Revolution not in the libraries of Greece or the common law of England, but the Jewish idea of a people who choose, freely and morally, to be bound to one another and to God. In his book America Agonistes, he writes, "America’s debt to the Jews is deepest when it comes to the Hebrew contribution to the founding genius of American freedom." Our founders repeatedly expressed admiration for the Jewish contribution to civilization. John Adams wrote, "The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation…. and have influenced the affairs of mankind more and more happily than any other nation, ancient or modern." Indeed, Adams was actually a Zionist. In correspondence, he declared, "I really wish the Jews again in Judea an independent nation." EXCLUSIVE: MEET THE MAN ISRAEL CHOSE TO BE ITS FIRST-EVER AMBASSADOR TO THE CHRISTIAN WORLD Walter Russell Mead’s The Arc of a Covenant explains that the pro-Israel conviction in America was never primarily a Jewish conviction. It was a Protestant one. In 1891, evangelical minister William E. Blackstone presented a petition to President Benjamin Harrison calling for the restoration of Palestine to the Jewish people, "According to God’s distribution of nations it is their home—an inalienable possession." Signatories included J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, members of Congress, governors, mayors, and other officials, publishers, educators and clergymen. Mead’s exhaustive argument is that long-held habits and cultural predispositions rooted in America’s identification with the Hebrew scriptures have shaped U.S. policy toward Israel far more than any organization or President. SIGN UP FOR ANTISEMITISM EXPOSED NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION In the modern era, since the Jewish people re-established their sovereignty in their own War of Independence, America’s relationship with Israel has been moored in shared interests and values. Their founding document is suffused with the same moral DNA as the American Declaration of 1776, the conviction that certain inalienable rights exist prior to government, are not granted by any king but instead are rooted in a higher authority than any legislature or army. The U.S.–Israel relationship does not begin with the intelligence-sharing, the joint military exercises, or the innovation Israel produces in water, medicine, and cybersecurity, though all of that matters enormously. It begins with our two nations, born out of the same audacious idea that people can covenant themselves to liberty and to law under God. This relationship is not merely strategic but is, in the deepest sense, a mirror. When America looks at Israel, at its tenacity, its survival against odds that have crushed far stronger empires, its insistence on being a democracy in a neighborhood that offers none, America sees a semblance of its own worthwhile struggle. This is what motivated me to found the U.S. Israel Education Association 15 years ago, to educate American leaders about this essential collaboration, to strengthen it, and to reap its benefits for our country well into the future. At 250, America does not necessarily need more allies, but it does need to remember and appreciate its origins and covenantal heritage. American and Israel both sprouted from the pages of the Jewish Bible and share a common script that reflects our identity and impacts our view of the world.  That is why our alliance with Israel runs deep and will endure even the strongest forces that oppose it. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44f5b0c2ca79de23629eb9 REP TOM BARRETT: It’s up to Congress to prevent another endless American war te 2026-07-01T11:10:40.036Z REP TOM BARRETT: It’s up to Congress to prevent another endless American war War is something we are all contemplating as tensions with Iran continue. It certainly keeps me up at night. After spending 22 years in the Army and deploying around the world, it still consumes a lot of my attention. Europe and America fought the "War to End All Wars" more than 100 years ago in the trenches of World War I. Of course, it didn’t really end wars, and it directly fed into World War II, which left millions dead and reset the global national hierarchy. In the book "1984," George Orwell wrote that "by becoming continuous war has ceased to exist." When we normalize war, it becomes a constant in our lives, like a chronic disease we try to manage but never fully cure. That’s why one of the proudest votes I took in my first year in Congress was to repeal the 2002 authorization for use of military force in Iraq — almost 17 years to the day after I came home from my own deployment in that war. This marked the first time in my life that Congress successfully repealed an authorization for use of military force. AIR FORCE REVEALS B-2'S HIDDEN SHIP KILLER CAPABILITY AS CHINA THREAT GROWS Earlier this year I introduced my own bipartisan reform plan to repeal another dormant authorization and require future authorizations to be reapproved at least every five years. This package would also give Congress more tools to quickly and clearly define future missions after the president uses force to confront urgent threats. Our Constitution is clear: Only Congress can declare war and decide to engage in the use of military force. In 1973, Congress passed the War Powers Act, which delegated some authority to the president for up to 60 days before Congress must give consent for the effort to continue. When that timeline expired for the conflict in Iran, I felt compelled to enforce it for one simple reason — the decision of when and how to go to war is perhaps the most consequential that a government can make. It literally involves life and death. TRUMP CAN SAVE HIS LEGACY WITH VETERANS AND MAYBE RESCUE THE MIDTERMS, TOO Decisions like this demand the highest level of constitutional scrutiny. Iran must never get a nuclear weapon, but the people’s representatives must have a say when American lives and taxpayer dollars are on the line. Decisions about war can’t be taken lightly. Sadly, I have encountered what feels like a growing mindset that some Americans think we can fight wars using other people’s sons and daughters with technology that keeps us far from the battlefield. We haven’t had a draft in over 50 years, so it’s easy to feel insulated from the effects of war. But an entire generation of Global War on Terror-era veterans see it differently. We lost friends and battle buddies who either didn’t make it home or came back physically or psychologically wounded, with thousands more losing the battle to suicide than to combat. At the end of two decades, it was easy to wonder if it was all worth it or not. Staff Sergeant Duane Dreasky was my friend and roommate on a deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was struck by an IED in Iraq and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, just three miles from where I now cast my votes as a member of the United States Congress. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Other friends were lost to suicide or overdose. I think about the total human cost of war as I carry their memories and the thousands of other War on Terror veterans with me as I make these decisions. While my time in the military has passed, I owe it to this generation of warfighters to set clear, unambiguous objectives, prevent mission creep and protect against endless conflicts and nation building. When we do need to use military force, a clearly defined mission allows for overwhelming force to defeat the enemy quickly and decisively. It’s time for Congress to step up and have the debate on the use of force and avoid the tragic mistakes of the past. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44f100c2ca79de23629dbd WATCH: Angel mom turns tables on sanctuary politicians with basic question about their priorities te 2026-07-01T10:50:40.981Z WATCH: Angel mom turns tables on sanctuary politicians with basic question about their priorities The mother of an 18-year-old college freshman killed in March by a criminal illegal immigrant asked lawmakers Tuesday to look her in the eye and explain why "people here illegally matter more" than American citizens, delivering emotional testimony during a congressional hearing on sanctuary policies. Jessica Gorman, whose daughter Sheridan Gorman was fatally shot after going to the Chicago lakefront with friends to see the Northern Lights, accused sanctuary city leaders and politicians of failing to protect her child during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on sanctuary policies. "I want you to imagine that little girl on the 'buddy bench,' that innocent college freshman with a heart full of compassion and a head full of dreams that was gunned down by an illegal immigrant," Gorman said. "I want you to imagine that was your daughter, not mine. What if she was yours?" CHICAGO MAYOR ASKED ABOUT CITY'S IMMIGRATION POLICIES AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ALLEGEDLY KILLED COLLEGE STUDENT Gorman's remarks came as she invoked a childhood story about Sheridan "stalking" the "buddy bench" at recess, waiting to help classmates who felt lonely or left out. She lamented that her daughter, who spent her life making others feel seen, had been failed by the people responsible for protecting her. "I bring this back to the buddy bench. I think Congress needs one. Yes, I think every governor, every mayor, every sanctuary city official and politician shifting blame and interest, hiding behind their slogans and talking points should have to all sit on one," Gorman said.  "I challenge you all to sit down with me. Take my hand, look me in the eye, and then explain to me, because I just don't understand. Explain why people here illegally matter more than your American citizens. Explain why sanctuary policies matter more than my Sheridan's life. Explain why cooperation with ICE was too much to ask for, but asking our American parents to bury our children is somehow acceptable. Ask me — I need you to tell me." BIDEN BORDER OFFICIALS RELEASED ALLEGED KILLER OF CHICAGO STUDENT 'DUE TO LACK OF SPACE,' DOCUMENTS SHOW Gorman identified the man accused of killing her daughter as Jose Medina, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who she said "should not have even been in this country." She said Medina had previously committed a crime and had an outstanding warrant before he was left on the streets of Chicago. "But this story is not about him," Gorman told lawmakers. "The story is about my Sheridan." The hearing focused on sanctuary policies and whether jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities are putting Americans at risk. Republicans argued those policies allow criminal illegal immigrants to be released back into communities instead of being turned over to ICE, while Democrats pushed back by arguing such policies preserve trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., who chairs the subcommittee, opened the hearing by saying Republicans would continue highlighting the families of victims until sanctuary policies are "rectified." Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., the ranking member, offered condolences to Gorman and another witness whose daughter was killed, but criticized the hearing as the committee’s fourth on sanctuary cities and argued Democrats should instead be examining the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. The hearing grew heated even before Gorman testified, when Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., introduced her and was interrupted by Democrats who said his remarks had turned from an introduction into a broader speech on immigration policy. Gorman later told lawmakers she had never expected to become a public advocate, but said her daughter’s death forced her into the fight. "I’m a lover, not a fighter," Gorman said. "I’m not a public speaker. I’m not someone who ever speaks out about things. I have to." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44eea8c2ca79de23629d44 Inside the Supreme Court battle to 'Save Women's Sports' te 2026-07-01T10:40:40.752Z Inside the Supreme Court battle to 'Save Women's Sports' It was a crisp day in January when Riley Gaines stood in front of a divided crowd on the Supreme Court steps. Right in front of her were her supporters, mostly women dressed in casual or formal clothing, clapping as she spoke. But just to their left stood a horde of pro-transgender activists, some wearing costumes and others partially unclothed, shouting curse words. "They're so angry," Gaines told Fox News Digital of the crowd that day. "On our side ... you saw people smiling and embracing and hugging each other ... but you look across the bike racks that were there separating us, and you saw anger, and you saw negativity, and you saw screaming, and you saw vitriol, and you saw colored hair, and you saw colored hair, and you saw piercings, and you saw what I would describe, honestly, just visually looking at it, was island of the misfit toys. Not to be like, mean, but just speaking pretty objectively here." SUPREME COURT MAKES RULING ON TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S SPORTS Nearly six months after Gaines stood on those steps, the pro-transgender activists now sit on the losing side of the court's decision. Gaines and her "Save Women's Sports" activists can look back on that rally, and the obscenities hurled at them while they spoke, as obstacles in a winning fight, after the Supreme Court justices ruled Tuesday to uphold state laws that ban trans athletes from girls' and women's sports. Six years before Gaines stood on those steps — and almost three years before her infamous tie with Lia Thomas — Idaho State cross-country runner Mary Kate Marshall was put in a position that would change her life. In 2019, she and teammate Madison Kenyon competed against a biological male from the University of Montana. The following year, they joined the lawsuit that would reach the Supreme Court. "I lost every race I ran against this male, and so did a lot of my teammates. And then at a championship, I watched my teammate pushed off the podium," Marshall told Fox News Digital. It was 2020. The issue of trans athletes in women's sports hadn't become the cultural lightning rod it is today. There was less of a support system for women like Marshall. But she took a leap of faith, signing on as a voluntary defendant to a lawsuit against her state. The lawsuit, filed by former Boise State trans athlete Lindsay Hecox, blocked the state's law to keep males out of women's sports. "Seeing that no parents were standing up, no coaches were saying anything, like, we knew we had to," Marshall said. She was joined by her teammate Madison Kenyan. Together with their state, they would suffer a series of courtroom losses over the course of multiple years. All the while, they dealt with the sacrifices that Gaines and all the other "Save Women's Sports" activists would have to deal with in a heated political climate. "It was difficult at first because we were afraid of some of the backlash that we might get, but we had to do the right thing," Marshall said, adding that interactions with people they were close to became "scary." "Teammates that we had on the team just disappointed in us for putting our school's name out there... "We had some teammates who were just afraid, um, afraid of going against the norm, and at the time, back in 2020, there, this wasn't talked about a lot. So people were just scared about what would come of it or getting in trouble." Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, who was just working as a legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) at the time, says their decision to join the lawsuit as defendants was essential to getting the case to the Supreme Court years later. "I think it made all the difference in the world," Labrador, who became AG in 2023, told Fox News Digital. "Their courage and their conviction and their ability and desire to make very unpopular decisions at the time, and to make public stances that jeopardize, you know, their friendships, their ability to participate in sports, maybe in some cases even their abilities to be on the team... their fight was important." Then in West Virginia in 2021, a transgender student who was still a minor filed a similar lawsuit after being told, before entering sixth grade, that she could not compete on the girls’ cross-country and track-and-field teams. The West Virginia case differed from Idaho’s in one crucial way: It did not begin with a college athlete who had tried out for a women’s team. It began with a middle schooler, represented by the ACLU, who argued that West Virginia’s law amounted to a categorical ban. The ACLU said the athlete had taken medication from the onset of puberty and had not experienced the physiological changes associated with male puberty. The courts initially gave the student room to compete. The district court first blocked enforcement of the law, and the Fourth Circuit later ruled against West Virginia on the Title IX claim while sending the Equal Protection issue back for more fact-finding. It meant that, as the Supreme Court fight dragged on, the athlete continued competing in girls’ sports. For West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, that was the hardest part. "The hardest part was getting the phone calls from the girls and the families who were being affected in West Virginia in real time," McCuskey told Fox News Digital. "There’s nothing you can do when the Fourth Circuit enjoins your law to overcome that until the Supreme Court decides what the Fourth Circuit did was wrong. And so there was this, what I knew to be an injustice happening in real time, and my hands were really tied." But the West Virginia story soon became about more than race times, throws and standings. In January, Fox News Digital reported that Bridgeport High School student Adaleia Cross, a former track-and-field teammate of the trans athlete at Bridgeport Middle School, had accused the athlete of making graphic sexual comments to her in the girls’ locker room during the 2022-23 school year. Cross said she later quit track at Bridgeport High School to avoid sharing a locker room again once the athlete reached high school. The ACLU denied the allegations on behalf of the athlete and the athlete’s mother, saying the school district investigated the claim and found it unsubstantiated. ADF, which represents Cross, said Cross had sworn under oath about the alleged incident and argued that she "had to step away from the sport she loved entirely" because of it. Jim Campbell, chief legal counsel for ADF, pointed to Cross’s alleged experience as one of the human costs behind the legal fight. "When we reject truth, the harm is real, widespread, and devastating," Campbell told Fox News Digital. "Across the country, girls have been losing medals, roster spots, titles, opportunities, and privacy. Consider our client, Adaleia Cross, who’s in the State of West Virginia. Not only did the plaintiff in the West Virginia case take her spot in a championship meet, that same plaintiff also sexually harassed her in the locker room, and she had to leave the sport that she loved as a result." The harassment allegation was not part of the Supreme Court case itself, but McCuskey said it affected how many people in West Virginia understood the broader stakes. "I think it is astronomically important that in the wake of this decision we make sure that we’re providing every single child a safe and fair place to play sports," McCuskey said. "And if you’re a biological woman, that means not competing against biological men." The trans athlete's legal representatives at the American Civil Liberties Union has denied the allegations. Then, as the Supreme Court weighed the case over the last six months, the West Virginia athlete was allowed to continue competing... then won a girls' state championship. 'SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS' 2025 CULTURE WAR TIMELINE — THE YEAR THE TIDES TURNED In May, just weeks before the ruling, the athlete won the West Virginia Class AAA girls’ shot put state championship with a throw of 38 feet, 11¾ inches, beating the runner-up by just over two feet. The athlete also finished fourth in girls’ discus. The Supreme Court’s own opinion noted the athlete had won the state shot put title and had also won the Region 2 championship in both shot put and discus during the litigation. The ruling did not arrive until after the girls’ track season had ended. Still, McCuskey prefers to keep his eyes forward and hopes his state can easily move on from the recent track title. "I think it’s most important to look at this going forward and to say it isn’t going to happen again," McCuskey said. "I think what we will see is that everyone will understand looking back on this that, that the time in which before this decision came down, that there was astronomical irrationality happening throughout the country, and that we finally came to a place of common sense." That "place of common sense" arrived in 77 pages on Tuesday. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the court’s six conservative justices, opened the majority opinion not with the transgender athletes who sued, but with Title IX itself — the law supporters of the state bans have long argued was being turned against the very girls it was written to protect. "Title IX transformed American sports and American life," Kavanaugh wrote, crediting the 1972 law with helping create the modern era of girls’ and women’s athletics. But the court said Title IX did not require schools to let biological males compete on girls’ and women’s teams. Instead, it held that schools may separate teams by biological sex, and that West Virginia and Idaho did not violate the Constitution by doing so. The majority framed sports as different from other school settings because of what is at stake every time a roster is made, a medal is awarded or a scholarship is offered. "Sports are generally zero sum," Kavanaugh wrote. For the women who had spent years telling their stories, that line sounded like recognition. "The decision really is astounding," Campbell said. "It’s very clear on issues like what Title IX means. It’s very clear on issues like whether the Equal Protection Clause prevents states from protecting women’s sports." "Across the board, the court ruled in favor of women and girls," he added, "recognizing that they deserve equal opportunities, that they deserve podium spots, that they deserve scholarships, and that they do not need to step aside and allow males to compete against them." The ruling was split in two. On Title IX, even the three liberal justices agreed the West Virginia student’s claim failed, though they objected to parts of the majority’s reasoning. On the constitutional question, the court split 6-3, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson saying the case should have gone back to the lower courts for more fact-finding. Campbell said that distinction mattered. "The justices that dissented only did so on the constitutional question," he said. "It’s really important to recognize that every single justice on the Supreme Court recognized that Title IX allows states to protect women’s sports." "So on that Title IX issue, the court was unanimous," he added. "On the equal protection issue, the majority of the court said that the 14th Amendment allows states to protect women’s sports." Sotomayor, writing for the dissenters, argued the majority had moved too quickly. She said unresolved factual questions about the West Virginia athlete’s medical history and athletic advantage should have prevented the court from ending the equal protection claim. She accused the majority of resolving a divisive issue "without knowing all the facts." McCuskey said that argument missed the girls on the other side of the case. "The biggest frustration that I have, just in general, is this idea that there is no victim on the other side of these cases," McCuskey said. "The sort of understating the arguments being made by the biological women and girls on our side of this case… undercuts what are the true reasons why competitive sports are so important to women and girls." "It is an avenue for them to achieve incredible greatness in their lives," he added. For Labrador, the decision closed a circle that began before he was attorney general. Back in 2020, when Idaho became the first state in the country to pass a law protecting girls’ sports, Labrador said the state was under intense pressure. The NCAA had threatened consequences. Idaho’s previous attorney general had warned the law could be unconstitutional. Labrador, then outside the attorney general’s office, joined ADF as local counsel for the female athletes who stepped into the case. He said the issue was personal. "I have a daughter who played volleyball in high school," Labrador said. "Every time I think about this case, I think about how significant that moment in her life was, how important playing sports was for her." "If there would have been several male athletes ahead of her," he added, "I’m not sure that she would have made the varsity team." But for the activists who turned the issue from an obscure legal dispute into a national cause, the ruling was not a finish line. Gaines said the decision felt like the culmination of the last several years of her life, but also a reminder of how far the debate had moved. "I feel excited, of course. This is long awaited. It’s long overdue," Gaines said. "It feels kind of like the culmination of everything that I have found myself fighting for over the past few years." "But there is a level of me that’s exhausted as well," she added. "It’s exhausting that in the year 2026, we are still having this conversation, that the highest court in the land is having to rule on such insanity." Gaines said that just 10 years ago, such a ruling would have been treated as obvious. "We wouldn’t have necessarily celebrated this ruling," she said. "We would have kind of been like, ‘Yeah, duh. This is, like, the default.’" Jennifer Sey, a former U.S. national gymnastics champion and founder of XX-XY Athletics, said the ruling was a big victory, but not the final one ."We won, but we are not done," Sey told Fox News Digital. Sey pointed to the 23 states without laws protecting girls’ sports and said girls in those states remain exposed. "Girls in every ZIP code deserve fair sports," Sey said. "My daughter is nine, and we live in Colorado. That is a blue state that does not have a law on the books protecting women’s sports. Hopefully, it will soon." Sey said she is chairing a Colorado ballot initiative that she expects to appear before voters in November. But she said the broader fight is cultural, not just legal. "It should be absolutely unacceptable to every human, every parent, that a boy would be fielded in a girls’ category," Sey said. "When that becomes culturally unacceptable, that’s when it will stop happening." Gaines said the next phase will require Congress, states, federal agencies and parents to act. "We need Congress to codify President Trump’s executive orders," Gaines said. "We need states, whether it’s through legislation, although I think we’re kind of reaching the cap there, so through ballot initiatives at this point." She also called for "real enforcement mechanisms" against states and institutions that refuse to comply. "I think that’s what is gonna make any of these people move, is when you hit them where it hurts, which is always going to be the pockets," Gaines said. "Whether you’re a corporation, whether you’re a government entity, doesn’t matter." Sey said the ruling also had implications beyond school sports. Title IX, she noted, does not govern every arena where female athletes compete. "Title IX doesn’t actually cover the Olympic movement. It doesn’t actually cover private club sports," Sey said. "The Boston Marathon has its own governance. Men can compete in the women’s category in the Boston Marathon." "So there’s still a lot of work to do," she added. "It’s why I keep saying we have to focus on changing the culture, because I think once we do that, all of the governing bodies will fall in line and protect the women’s category." As Gaines continues to lead the charge on the issue, she doesn't envision the finish line existing in a courtroom or piece of legislation, but in a broader cultural influence. "When people, your everyday person, so think of parents, coaches, et cetera, when they’re bold enough to defend their daughters or defend their athletes or defend themselves," Gaines said. "That’s when you see real change." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44e7eec2ca79de23629bca Let's all agree that dolphins are the 'smart kids who don't apply themselves' of the Animal Kingdom te 2026-07-01T10:11:58.643Z Let's all agree that dolphins are the 'smart kids who don't apply themselves' of the Animal Kingdom It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time to get what’s been eating at you off your chest in another edition of The Gripe Report. Now that it’s summer, more and more people will be going outside… unless, of course, it’s dangerously hot like it has been in parts of the country, in which case, maybe stay inside. And when you’re outside, your chances of encountering wild animals go up exponentially. I’ve always been fascinated by the animal kingdom, but it’s a part of the natural world that is far from gripe-proof. So, I decided to put together a few animal-related gripes so we could give some of the most frustrating fauna its due. I’ve got no problem with dolphins. I swam with them once, and they were cool to me. One even pulled me around a lagoon like a Jet Ski with a blowhole. I’m just tired of everyone telling me how smart dolphins are when obvious things are holding them back from realizing their full potential. That’s all I’m saying. BOY STUMBLES ON STRANGE BEACH OBJECT IDENTIFIED AS RARE 1.8M-YEAR-OLD FOSSIL The first thing I always point out when someone tells me what eggheads dolphins are is what smart animal would breathe air and decide, "Yeah, I’m going to post up in the water for my entire life." My French bulldog isn’t going to be writing any thesis papers, but he understands that you can’t breathe in water. Also, while they’ve shown they know how to smash crabs open with rocks, I feel like intelligence is only good if you can apply it, and it’s hard to apply it without hands. That might be the thing holding dolphins back the most. So, I guess if we’re talking water-dwelling mammals without hands, they’re like Einstein, Stephen Hawking, and Edison rolled into one… if they lived underwater and had no hands, of course. Just last week, I woke up to my wife on her hands and knees sweeping something by the front door. "Welp. They’re back," she said. "Aw, man; not poltergeists!" I said. "No, ants." "Oh… that’s bad too." We live in the bright, sunny free state of Florida, and when we get into the summer months, it doesn’t just become surface-of-the-sun hot; ants decide to saunter inside and cool off. In fact, just a couple of weeks earlier we had been remarking how well the guy we pay to make sure this very thing doesn’t happen had done… then it became ant season yet again. I understand the humble ant’s place in the ecosystem (although I’m still unclear on the fire ant’s place, unless it’s to bite my feet while I take the dog out to pee, in which case, I get it). I just don’t like that they want to come in my house. I’m not just anti-insect either. I’m anti-any animal that wants to come in my house. There are few things I hate more than having to try to catch small lizards inside by hitting them off the ceiling with a broom and then trapping them under a Ziploc container. Fortunately, after filling a small crack near the front door and calling our exterminator, we haven’t seen any ants… of course, I’m sure they're just plotting their next move as we speak. I think I’ve mentioned it before, but for my entire life, I’ve suffered from ornithophobia, or, to the layperson, the fear of birds. If it’s got feathers, a sharp beak, beady eyes, and creepy, spindly legs, then I steer well clear. But a subsection of birds I can’t stand are the ones that can talk. First of all, it’s creepy as hell. Maybe it wouldn’t be if more animals had it in their bag of tricks, but my skin crawls whenever a parrot starts getting chatty. I also don’t like that, despite this chattiness, these birds never offer anything insightful. It’s nothing but talk of wanting crackers, saying its own name, and repeating swear words you taught it as a goof. While I’m not big on these birds, I will say I’m all in on gorillas who can do sign language and dogs who communicate with an array of electronic buttons. Call it mammalian bias, but I’m a big fan. Of course, it’s always important to be safe around animals, and that’s why it drives me nuts that not only are we not getting clear messaging on what to do if you’re attacked by a bear, we’re getting conflicting reports. If I were to get attacked by a shark — let’s just pretend I was surfing and caught a really nice wave that impressed all the women on the beach and also I have really great surfer hair and a ripped physique — I would know what to do. I would start punching it in the nose and gouging its eyes. That is the guidance on sharks… although, I don’t think there’s an animal on Earth that this approach wouldn’t work on. But bears are different. I’ve heard that if you encounter one, you’re supposed to get really small. However, I’ve also heard that you’re supposed to make yourself as big as possible. You can’t do both, so in the moment, you have to pick one and hope it’s correct. The same goes for what to do about making noise. Some say you stay quiet; others say you make a ton of noise. Can we just decide once and for all if we should turn into church mice when we see bears or if we should put a Bluetooth speaker on full blast and play Slayer’s "South of Heaven" as loud as possible and blast it in their bear ears? Maybe the real answer is you can do pretty much anything you want to avoid a bear attack, but then what were the people who got attacked and didn’t live to talk about it doing? Pulling on its tail? Throwing sticks at it? Insulting its mother? … That’s it for this week’s edition of The Gripe Report! Be sure to send in your gripes for a future edition: matthew.reigle@outkick.com Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44e7dbc2ca79de23629bc1 Automatic tip or service charge? New state law requires restaurants to tell diners before they order te 2026-07-01T10:11:39.187Z Automatic tip or service charge? New state law requires restaurants to tell diners before they order People dining out in Florida should see fewer surprises when their check arrives beginning July 1. A new state law requires restaurants to clearly disclose mandatory fees and service charges before customers even place their orders. The updated law expands existing requirements beyond automatic tips to cover a broader category of an "operations charge" — including service charges, credit card surcharges, delivery fees and other mandatory charges added to a customer's bill, excluding taxes. Restaurant that impose those charges must disclose the amount or percentage of the fee and explain its purpose on menus, websites, mobile ordering platforms and, when applicable, written contracts. The information also must appear on customers' bills, according to details of the law.  CUSTOMERS HIT WITH AUTOMATIC 20% GRATUITIES AS RESTAURANTS COMBAT TIPPING CONFUSION The change is meant to give diners a clearer understanding of what they'll pay ahead of time. "Restaurants today are navigating rising costs and evolving customer expectations, particularly around tipping and service charges," Ashley Chambers, communications director at the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, told Fox News Digital. "We support increasing transparency around restaurant charges, and we believe it can enhance trust and understanding between restaurants and their guests — provided it is implemented in a way that is clear for consumers and practical for operators." Eric Douglas, a partner with BOL Hospitality Group, which operates several South Florida restaurants, said transparency benefits both restaurants and diners. "Anything that's good for the customer is good for us," Douglas said. "We're in the customer service business at the end of the day. We want to make sure there's transparency with any charges that we might have." AMERICANS ARE FED UP WITH TIPPING CULTURE, YET MANY STILL SHELL OUT 20% AT RESTAURANTS His group plans to implement an 18% service charge at one of its restaurants, Douglas said, with all proceeds going directly to employees. He believes restaurants should be equally clear if any portion of a service charge is used for operational expenses. "If I'm going to be charged a service charge, and it's not going to be used 100% toward the staff, I think I deserve to know where it's going," he said. Douglas said automatic gratuities also serve a practical purpose for larger parties, helping to ensure servers are fairly compensated for the additional coordination and service those tables require. Not every restaurant relies on service charges. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Vicki Parmelee, owner of Jumby Bay Island Grill in Jupiter, said her restaurant has long favored building costs into menu prices rather than adding fees at the end of a meal. "We have always been straightforward with our guests at Jumby Bay Island Grill in regard to what they are paying for," Parmelee said. "A diner should not have to decipher the bill at the end of the meal with extra fees. Transparency is always much more appreciated." While she supports being upfront with customers, Parmelee said she worries the new law could unintentionally leave some diners wondering whether restaurants have been misleading them. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES "I think this new law will unfortunately confuse diners, as they now may assume they have been being 'duped' in some way when they dine out," she said. Instead of adding service charges to offset rising costs, restaurants should simply price menu items accordingly, said Parmelee. "If expenses have increased for the restaurant, the menu prices should accurately reflect 28–35% food and beverage cost, not an added service charge," she said. "It's an honest way to present pricing to our customers and still make a marginal profit." TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Parmelee said she has encountered restaurants that replace traditional tipping with mandatory service charges, a practice she believes often creates confusion for both diners and employees. "I would never adopt this fee structure," she said. "Tipping is voluntary and earned by the staff." The new law in Florida does not prohibit restaurants from adding mandatory service charges or automatic gratuities.  Rather, it requires restaurants that choose to impose those charges to clearly disclose them before customers order. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44e7c7c2ca79de23629bb8 America's favorite beers — and the jobs tied to them — are at the center of a brewing trade fight te 2026-07-01T10:11:19.731Z America's favorite beers — and the jobs tied to them — are at the center of a brewing trade fight As the Trump administration weighs implementing tariffs on Mexican beer, a new report argues the move would hurt the very American workers it is intended to protect by squeezing one of the U.S. beer market's most profitable segments. The report, authored by Unleash Prosperity co-founder Stephen Moore and economist David Ozgo, comes as the Trump administration continues to expand its tariff agenda, which officials say is aimed at re-shoring manufacturing, reducing trade deficits and strengthening American industry. "There probably are some products for which tariffs are appropriate — products where there might be national security implications," Ozgo told Fox News Digital. "But obviously, beer is not one of those products." While Mexican beer is brewed south of the border, Ozgo said most of the jobs it supports, like distribution, wholesaling and retailing, are in the United States. ‘WE WERE RIGHT’: WINE IMPORTER TOOK TRUMP’S TARIFFS TO THE SUPREME COURT AND WON The report backs that claim with data showing the U.S. beer business supports roughly 1.74 million jobs, but only about 5% are directly involved in brewing. Most workers are employed by wholesalers, retailers, restaurants and suppliers that handle beer after it is brewed, jobs that remain in the U.S. even when the beer is imported. "If you end up slapping tariffs on Mexican beer, you're not protecting American workers," Ozgo said. "What you're really doing is cutting into the most profitable segment of the beer market right now and in turn putting U.S. jobs at risk." According to the report, Mexican beer already sells for about 52% more than mass-market domestic lagers in grocery and liquor stores. The authors say those higher prices mean bigger profits for U.S. distributors, retailers, restaurants and bars, helping support more American jobs than cheaper domestic lagers. Those higher prices create more value across the U.S. economy, the report notes. FROM BOURBON TO BORDEAUX: TRUMP'S TARIFFS SPILL INTO GLOBAL BOOZE MARKETS The authors estimate that every gallon of Mexican beer generates about $26.27 in economic value. About $19.42 of that — roughly 74% — goes to U.S. businesses and workers through distribution, retail, transportation, marketing, taxes and other domestic economic activity. By comparison, leading domestic beers generate about $15.76 in total value per gallon. Ozgo said tariffs would ultimately force brewers to either absorb the added costs, reduce investment, or pass the costs on to consumers through higher prices. "Either the company itself has to eat the cost of the tariff, or they pass the cost to the consumer," he said. "Either outcome isn't very good." The report also argues that moving production of Mexican beer to the United States could undermine the brands' authenticity and value, pointing to Anheuser-Busch InBev's decision to move production of Beck's beer from Germany to Missouri, which led to consumer litigation after the company continued marketing the beer as German. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER It also notes that Constellation Brands, which imports Corona, Modelo and Pacifico, operates under a Justice Department consent decree requiring those brands to be produced in Mexico. "Consumers really, really value authenticity," Ozgo said. "When you move an import into the United States and you continue to market it as an import, you end up losing value." The Trump administration has argued more broadly that tariffs are intended to encourage domestic manufacturing and strengthen American industry, though officials have not specifically outlined a final policy regarding Mexican beer imports. The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Read the full report: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44e7b4c2ca79de23629baf Harris-backed Democrat scrubs BLM-era posts as House campaign heats up te 2026-07-01T10:11:00.276Z Harris-backed Democrat scrubs BLM-era posts as House campaign heats up Dan Koh, a candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’s 6th Congressional District, deleted a handful of Black Lives Matter (BLM) posts from then-Twitter, according to the Wayback internet archives tool. Koh’s resurfaced posts, which come as he wages a campaign to become the next representative for Massachusetts’s 6th Congressional District, suggest efforts to distance himself from BLM even as Koh highlights other elements of "racial justice." "JusticeForGeorgeFloyd," Koh wrote on May 29, 2020. "Pretty sure centuries of systemic racism exemplified by the murder of George Floyd has something to do with the ‘situation,’" Koh said in one of the posts, reacting to a press briefing about the riots that had broken out in Minnesota in 2020 shortly after Floyd’s death at the hands of a law enforcement officer. The posts, which originally went up on May 29 and May 30 in 2020, have since been deleted. TLAIB-BACKED SENATE CANDIDATE IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER DELETING 'DEFUND THE POLICE' SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS In another post published on April 20, 2021, Koh wrote simply, "JusticeForGeorgeFloyd." Notably, Koh has not shied away from making racial equity an element of his campaign and displays it as a part of his platform on his website. "President Trump is using the power of the federal government to target people of color at every turn. We must confront every action that systemically erodes justice and equality in American life, from attacks on fair housing and labor protections to efforts that undermine public education, environmental justice and civil rights enforcement," the website reads. MAYOR OF SANCTUARY CITY ADVANCES TO NOVEMBER ELECTION AMID ICE CRACKDOWN RESISTANCE In the past, BLM has acted as a lightning rod issue, pitting criticisms of racial prejudice in law enforcement against support for police. It would later feed into sentiments like calls to "defund the police." Koh’s campaign did not say why he deleted the posts or whether he sees them as at odds with his current positions. A spokesperson for the campaign did say, however, that Koh intends to make racial representation a facet of his time in office, if elected. "For years, Dan has spoken up, including on social media and national TV, about the murder of George Floyd and the injustices Black Americans have faced — and as a Member of Congress, he will fight every day against Trump’s racist agenda that is trying to strip Black Americans of their rights and freedoms," Olivia Brandon, a campaign spokesperson, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. In his time before running for office, Koh worked in the Biden White House, holding multiple senior roles and advising the administration on infrastructure-related matters. He has also worked as chief of staff to the U.S. Department of Labor and chief of staff for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. Koh is running to replace outgoing Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass. The seat, which has been safely Democratic for decades, last went to Moulton in a 69.9% to 35.2% victory over Republican challenger Robert May. MASSACHUSETTS SENATE CANDIDATES TRADE SHARP ATTACKS IN FIERY DEBATE AS UNCUMBENT MARKEY SKIPS EVENT In turn, Moulton is pursuing a U.S. Senate seat in a primary challenge to Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. Massachusetts will hold its primaries on Tuesday, Sept. 1. If he clinches the Democratic nomination, Koh will face off against Republican candidate Micah Jones. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44e7a0c2ca79de23629ba6 Taylor Swift's rumored Madison Square Garden wedding faces one massive hurdle, celebrity planner warns te 2026-07-01T10:10:40.827Z Taylor Swift's rumored Madison Square Garden wedding faces one massive hurdle, celebrity planner warns Could Madison Square Garden trade sold-out concerts for wedding bells? If Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce really plan to walk down the aisle at Madison Square Garden on July 3, they'll first have to pull off the ultimate makeover. While reports and speculation continue to swirl over whether Madison Square Garden could play a role in the couple's wedding plans, luxury event designer Larry Walshe told Fox News Digital the iconic arena would require a dramatic transformation to shed its concert identity and become a romantic setting fit for a ceremony. TAYLOR SWIFT'S WEDDING RUMORS SPARK SPECULATION ABOUT CLOSE FRIENDS, INFAMOUS FALLOUTS AND BRIDAL PARTY "It would take a lot to make Madison Square Garden feel romantic, intimate and unforgettable, but there's a first for absolutely everything," the celebrity event planner, who has worked with Rihanna, Adele, Anna Wintour, the British Royal Family and more, emphasized. Unlike scenic destinations that become part of a wedding backdrop, Walshe said Madison Square Garden presents the opposite challenge because designers would first have to erase the venue's familiar arena feel before creating something entirely new. "Here, you need to hide the view, and you need to create basically a blank canvas before you actually begin to do anything," he said. "First, it's neutralize and then it's start to build." Fortunately, he said, the venue's existing production infrastructure gives designers a significant head start. "If I go into my, like, industry brain and start thinking about all the things I can do, you've got lighting and rigging galore," Walshe explained. "So those bits are really gonna help. But what you're otherwise looking at is how do you now soften that space? How do you make it smaller? How do you make it feel like there's a sense of femininity to it? How do you make it feel romantic? And there's the challenge." Walshe said the next step is layering in design elements that transform the arena into a more intimate setting. "And then, from there, you start looking at that now as a blank canvas and working in florals, looking at other scenic infrastructure that you can build in so that you're essentially creating almost, like, a residential-style quality to the surroundings." WATCH: CELEBRITY PLANNER REVEALS THE DRAMATIC MAKEOVER MSG WOULD NEED TO HOST A TAYLOR SWIFT WEDDING TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE WEDDING BETTING FRENZY REVEALS ONE OVERWHELMING PREDICTION Once Madison Square Garden is stripped back and softened, Walshe explained, its biggest weakness actually becomes one of its greatest strengths. "You have the potential to do something world-class," Walshe, founder of Larry Walshe Studios, said. "You have the potential to do something never seen before." The arena's soaring ceilings and built-in rigging open the door to design elements that would be impossible in most traditional wedding venues, allowing for dramatic installations and large-scale productions that could transform the space into an unforgettable experience. Beyond the design possibilities, Walshe said the venue offers another major advantage for someone with Swift's level of fame. "The wonderful thing about that is the venue itself does have an infrastructure that lends itself to security and to privacy," he explained. "And certainly, if this is happening here, that's probably been a very strong consideration. The actual way that the venue is created allows for that element to be controlled." WATCH: SPECULATION GROWS OVER TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE WEDDING RUMORS "So here, at least you have that ability to make sure that somebody of that notoriety can at least hopefully feel reassured, and relax and enjoy her own wedding day, which, quite frankly, anyone deserves the right to do." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Keeping a celebrity wedding private is one thing RoseMarie Terenzio knows firsthand after helping John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette pull off one of America's most famous secret ceremonies. "If you can, keep it small and intimate and don’t give details," she told Fox News Digital. "Tell your guests to save the date for something else and create a decoy event. If you’re choosing a venue, try to have it somewhere you frequent or way they know you well. The key is bringing everyone in on the secret, so they’ve invested in the surprise!" As John F. Kennedy Jr.'s former aide, she helped orchestrate the secrecy surrounding his 1996 wedding to Carolyn Bessette, relying on elaborate misdirection to keep reporters off the couple's trail. "I remember being so excited for them and wanting to help them have their wedding private," she recalled. "I was so nervous about it leaking and ruining it for them. We created fake itineraries to Ireland and left them around the office. A reporter called that day and asked me if he should book a flight to Ireland and I said, 'I wouldn’t if I were you.'" Terenzio said even seemingly routine wedding tasks became carefully guarded operations to avoid tipping anyone off. "Carolyn and I were in the ‘George’ offices late one night printing the programs for the wedding because we didn't want to go to a professional printer for fear they would leak it," the strategic communications expert said. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS She recalled the paper repeatedly jamming and later waking in the middle of the night, terrified that the programs had been left behind in the office printer. Terenzio eventually rushed back to the office to double-check in the middle of the night before finally breathing a sigh of relief. While Terenzio believes secrecy is essential for any celebrity wedding, she isn't convinced Madison Square Garden would actually host Swift and Kelce's ceremony. "I don’t think the actual wedding will be at MSG, but I think it could be a larger celebration Taylor and Travis are doing for friends and fans," she explained. "Taylor Swift has such an emotional connection to her fans, and I could see her doing some kind of watch party/celebration that they could see from outside the Garden." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44e59ec2ca79de23629b42 AZ Lawmakers Receive Briefing On Expanding Sedona-Area Wildfire te 2026-07-01T10:02:06.503Z AZ Lawmakers Receive Briefing On Expanding Sedona-Area Wildfire By Matthew Holloway | State Representatives Quang Nguyen and Selina Bliss (R-LD1) met Sunday with Pocket Fire incident command at the Sedona Airport air operations base as the wind-driven wildfire north of Sedona continued to grow and threaten nearby communities. The Pocket Fire had burned 5,547 acres as of Sunday morning, with 871 personnel assigned to the incident. The fire was first reported June 19 about seven miles north of Sedona and is burning in steep, rugged terrain that limits where crews can safely attack it directly. By mid-Monday, the fire had grown to 11,192 acres with zero percent containment. The fire more than doubled in size between Saturday evening and Sunday morning as strong winds pushed it northeast. Fire crews shifted resources toward threatened communities and continued using bulldozers and other heavy equipment to build defensive lines. By Monday, the blaze had roughly doubled again. Incident Management Team to Hold an Online Public Meeting Tonight for the Pocket Fire https://t.co/2qyreMDsYI pic.twitter.com/51F7S0INNC — AzEIN 📢 (@AzEIN) June 29, 2026 Coconino County’s Pocket Fire information page said the fire began on June 19 on the Coconino National Forest, is burning in difficult-to-access terrain, and is expected to remain active for several weeks. The county listed Oak Creek Canyon, Kachina Village, Forest Highlands and Pine Del under SET evacuation status and encouraged residents susceptible to smoke to take precautions. As of Sunday afternoon, Oak Creek Canyon Zones 14 and 15, Kachina Village and Forest Highlands remained under SET status. State Route 89A remained closed to nonlocal traffic between Sedona and Interstate 17, and portions of the Coconino National Forest remained closed. Nguyen and Bliss requested the briefing to hear directly from incident command, determine whether additional state assistance is needed, and provide residents with current information. Fire officials thanked Yavapai County, Coconino County, the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and other agencies assisting with the response. “This is our district, and we have a duty to know where the threat is moving, what crews need and whether the state can do more,” Nguyen said. “We came to hear directly from incident command and see the operation firsthand. The men and women fighting this fire are working in dangerous conditions, and we stand ready to help secure any state resources they need.” Bliss urged residents in SET areas to prepare before conditions worsen. “SET means prepare now, not later,” Bliss said. “Pack medications, important documents and supplies. Account for family members and pets. Know where you will go, monitor official alerts and leave immediately if ordered. Do not wait for GO status to start preparing.” Coconino County Emergency Management ordered activation of the county Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Friday due to critical fire weather in connection with the Pocket Fire and to assist with an APS Public Safety Power Shutoff. The county said the EOC provides support and coordination for multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional emergencies affecting residents, businesses, property, and infrastructure. The U.S. Forest Service said earlier in the incident that resources assigned to the Pocket Fire included Hotshot crews, engines, helicopters, air attack, and other firefighting assets, with the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2 ordered to assume command after initial response by a Northern Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team. Nguyen and Bliss also honored three federal firefighters killed Saturday in a burnover incident while assigned to the Knowles and Gore fires near the Colorado-Utah border. Two other firefighters were injured. “The deaths of three firefighters this weekend are a painful reminder of the dangers wildland firefighters face to protect others,” Nguyen and Bliss said. “We mourn them, pray for the injured and remember the six lost in the Dude Fire and the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots. At the height of fire season, the public must do its part: obey restrictions, prepare early and never interfere with crews on the line.” Coconino County has activated a Pocket Fire call center for questions about the fire, shelters or evacuation stages at 928-679-8525. County officials also said areas of Coconino County within and adjacent to the Coconino National Forest moved to Stage 2 fire restrictions effective Tuesday, June 30, at 8 a.m.. Officials urged residents to monitor Coconino County Emergency Management, Coconino National Forest, InciWeb, and AZ511 for current fire, evacuation, closure, and road information. They also warned the public not to fly drones near the fire because unauthorized aircraft can ground firefighting planes and helicopters. 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 Lawmakers Receive Briefing On Expanding Sedona-Area Wildfire first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44e589c2ca79de23629b39 Arizona Cities Prepare For Independence Day Celebrations Marking America’s 250th Anniversary te 2026-07-01T10:01:45.513Z Arizona Cities Prepare For Independence Day Celebrations Marking America’s 250th Anniversary By Ethan Faverino | Arizona communities are preparing for one of the most widespread Independence Day celebrations in recent years as cities across the state host fireworks, drone shows, and family festivals in honor of America’s 250th year since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. From major metro hubs to rural towns, residents will gather July 3-4 for coordinated events that highlight both patriotic tradition and modern light displays. West Valley Celebrations In Avondale, “Light Up the Sky” returns on Saturday July 4, at 7602 Jimmie Johnson Dr. Gates open at 6 p.m., with fireworks launching at 8:25 p.m. Admission is free. Buckeye will hosts its Independence Day Celebration, July 4, at Buckeye Airport from 6-9 p.m., culminating in an 8:30 p.m. fireworks show. Admission is free. Goodyear’s “Star Spangled 4th” runs from 6-9 p.m. at Goodyear Ballpark, July 4, featuring a drone show at 8:45 p.m. Admission is free. Peoria will host its All-American Festival at Peoria Sports Complex, July 4, from 5-9 p.m. Fireworks will follow the concert lineup. Free admission with VIP tickets available Surprise will hold firework displays at Surprise Community Park and Mark Coronado Park beginning at 8:45 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the event is free. Glendale kicks off Independence Day weekend early with “Firework Fest” on Friday, July 3 at Westgate Entertainment District from 6-9 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Tolleson will hold its Fourth of July Celebration on Friday, July 3 at Tolleson Veterans Park from 4-9 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is Free Central and East Valley Phoenix hosts “Fabulous Phoenix 4th” at Steele Indian School Park from 6-10 p.m., featuring one of the largest free fireworks shows in the state. Fireworks show time TBD Chandler presents “Chandler’s All-American Bash”, July 4, at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park from 7-9:30 p.m., with fireworks at 8:15 p.m. Admission is free. Gilbert hosts its 4th of July Celebration at Gilbert Regional Park from 5-9:30 p.m., featuring fireworks and a drone show. Free admission with VIP tickets available. Mesa will hold the Arizona Celebration of Freedom in downtown Mesa from 6-10 p.m., with fireworks and a drone show at 9:25 p.m. Tempe hosts its Fourth of July Celebration at Tempe Diablo Stadium from 6-10 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m. Admission is $2.50 Scottsdale will host its celebration at WestWorld from 5-9 p.m., on July 4, with fireworks starting at 9 p.m. Admission ranges from $25-$50 Queen Creek presents “Hometown 4th at Schnepf Farms” from 2-10 p.m., featuring live entertainment and fireworks later in the evening. Admission ranges from $22.80 – $161.74. Fountain Hills will host “Fourth at the Fountain”, July 4, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at 12925 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m with free admission. Northern Arizona Flagstaff will host a Fourth of July Drone Show at Foxglenn Park from 4-9 p.m., with the drone display beginning at 9 p.m. Admission is free Cottonwood offers the “Fantastic Family Fourth of July” at Cottonwood Kids Park from 4-9:30 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Parking is $1 Wickenburg hosts its Independence Day Celebration at Sunset Park from 6-9 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is free. Kingman holds an “Old Fashion 4th of July” morning celebration, July 4, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., with evening fireworks at 9 p.m. at 3333 Harrison Street. Admission is free Southern and Western Arizona Tucson hosts “Diamonds in the Sky: 4th of July Celebration”, July 4, at Kino Sports Complex from 5:30 -9:30 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is a $1 donation or one canned food item. Marana presents its Star Spangled Spectacular at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park from 5-9:30 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is free. Casa Grande hosts its 4th of July Celebration at Paul Mason Sports Complex from 7-10 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is free. Yuma presents the “4th of July Spectacular” at Desert Sun Stadium from 6-10 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is free. Oro Valley hosts its July 4th Celebration at James D. Kriegh Park from 6-9:20 p.m. with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is free Wellton will host a community Fourth of July Celebration at Butterfield Park. Fireworks timing will be announced. Admission is free. Across Arizona, most Independence Day events remain free to the public, with select communities offering VIP seating or premium access options. Organizers across the state encourage attendees to arrive early, plan for high temperatures, and check local city websites for parking updates and event advisories. Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link. The post Arizona Cities Prepare For Independence Day Celebrations Marking America’s 250th Anniversary first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44e575c2ca79de23629b30 Arizona GOP Leaders Praise Supreme Court Ruling Protecting Female Sports te 2026-07-01T10:01:25.033Z Arizona GOP Leaders Praise Supreme Court Ruling Protecting Female Sports By Staff Reporter | On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld state laws barring males from competing in female sports, even if they identify as female. The ruling drew praise from Arizona’s Republican leaders. In its opinion in West Virginia v. B.P.J. (inclusive of Little v. Hecox), the high court declared that biology defines sex, not gender identity, when considering federal regulations on sex-based discrimination.  “The term ‘sex’ […] cannot plausibly be interpreted to refer to anything other than biological sex,” stated the ruling.  Arizona participated in the lawsuit through its leaders in the Republican-led state legislature: Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (LD14) and Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro (LD29). The pair filed an amicus brief last September.  Petersen hailed the Supreme Court decision as a “landmark ruling.” In a press release responding to Tuesday’s ruling, Petersen said the ruling represented a win in both the intellectual and moral sense, calling it common sense justice for women and girls.  “Every young woman deserves the opportunity to compete on a level playing field and earn a roster spot, a championship, a record, or a scholarship based on her hard work. Girls shouldn’t have to lose those opportunities because adults are afraid to acknowledge biological reality. That’s not fairness, and it’s not what Title IX was created to do,” said Petersen. “Arizona has been leading on this issue for years, and we were proud to stand with West Virginia and Idaho before the U.S. Supreme Court to defend girls’ sports. Today’s decision makes it clear that states can continue protecting the integrity of women’s athletics and the opportunities generations of women fought so hard to secure. This is a victory for every girl who dreams big, works hard, and deserves the chance to compete fairly.” Arizona Superintendent of Schools Tom Horne — the lone elected leader to defend in court Arizona’s law prohibiting biological males from participating in female-only sports — declared the ruling a victory for female success and safety in competition. Attorney General Kris Mayes refused to defend the law in court (Jane Doe v. Warren Petersen).  “The news has been full of stories about girls who worked hard on their sports, hoping to make the team, or even earn a college scholarship or qualify for the Olympics. But then they had to compete against biological boys and their advantages in birth in size, speed and strength. The girls’ dreams were shattered and they were devastated,” said Horne. “Girls have also been injured, including a brain injury, from having to compete against larger and stronger males. I am committed to making sure that Arizona schools follow state law protecting girls’ sports.” Former Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, passed the “Save Women’s Sports Act” under the Republican-led state legislature in 2022. In a letter approving the legislation, Ducey called it fair and common sense. “This legislation simply ensures that the girls and young women who have dedicated themselves to their sport do not miss out on hard-earned opportunities including their titles, standings and scholarships due to unfair competition,” stated Ducey. “This bill strikes the right balance of respecting all students while still acknowledging that there are inherent biological distinctions that merit separate categories to ensure fairness for all.”  AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link. The post Arizona GOP Leaders Praise Supreme Court Ruling Protecting Female Sports first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44e548c2ca79de23629afe WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert condemns 'hate' against Alyssa Thomas while Caitlin Clark stays exposed te 2026-07-01T10:00:40.496Z WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert condemns 'hate' against Alyssa Thomas while Caitlin Clark stays exposed WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert folded under pressure late Tuesday night by issuing a reactionary statement after Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas publicly shamed her for a lack of support. It's a great reminder that behind every incompetent league is bad judgment. Engelbert capitulated hours after Thomas, a lightning rod for controversy following her latest violent on-court altercation with Caitlin Clark, cast herself as the victim. Thomas successfully deflected from the fact that she had just been suspended for striking the league's golden goose. SUSPENDED ALYSSA THOMAS BLASTS WNBA'S SILENCE AFTER CAITLIN CLARK FOUL, OFFERS NO ACCOUNTABILITY Despite earning the suspension that fueled the backlash, Thomas still turned herself into the victim, blasted Engelbert and the commissioner predictably folded. "The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate," Engelbert said in the statement on Tuesday. One has to wonder where fists to the throat rank on the commissioner's list of priorities. The statement amounted to a complete submission to Thomas, who used her Tuesday media availability to blast Engelbert. "The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league's top priority. We are aware of Alyssa Thomas' comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization and remain committed to protecting all players." Rather than hold Thomas to her action, Engelbert bent a knee to the wrong player. During a loose-ball scramble, Thomas struck Fever superstar Caitlin Clark in the throat with her fist. While officials on the floor inexplicably missed it, the league office later upgraded the play to a Flagrant 2 and slapped Thomas with a retroactive one-game suspension for a "non-basketball act." Fever coach Stephanie White called the initial no-call "absolutely unacceptable," and Clark ultimately exited the game with a back injury. Instead of answering for endangering a fellow player, Thomas displayed an astonishing lack of accountability, claiming, "A lot of us, myself included, didn't even know the play took place until after the game." She then complained that her team was being "painted as thugs," cited severe online harassment and attacked the WNBA for failing to properly notify her of the suspension. "Honestly, I didn't even know I was being suspended until 10 minutes before it was put on social media," Thomas said, taking a direct shot at the commissioner. "As usual, she remains silent." CAITLIN CLARK CALLS FOR 'GREAT LEADERSHIP,' SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM DOUBLES DOWN ON WNBA COMMISSIONER CONDEMNATION Engelbert took the bait. The league office showed it was more interested in validating Thomas' grievances than protecting its biggest gate attraction. Engelbert has consistently mismanaged the overt physical hostility directed at the league's biggest star. Hard fouls are routinely minimized, and meaningful discipline often arrives only after public outrage forces the league's hand. By validating the self-perceived victimhood of a player who had just been suspended for a "non-basketball act" against Clark, Engelbert's administration exposed its priorities. The WNBA continues to coddle veteran players who resent Clark's spotlight instead of enforcing a consistent standard of player safety. Engelbert made her choice. It wasn't Caitlin Clark. Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44da3fc2ca79de23629899 How American energy helped build 250 years of freedom and opportunity te 2026-07-01T09:13:35.783Z How American energy helped build 250 years of freedom and opportunity Two hundred and fifty years ago, a brave group of risk-takers believed that liberty was worth the cost and declared their future would rely not on the rule of a distant king but instead on the courage of free people. They had no guarantee of success. But they had conviction. And that conviction built a great nation. As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, it is worth asking what transformed a revolutionary idea into the most prosperous country the world has ever known. The answer has many parts: the rule of law, free enterprise and the ambition of generation after generation. Yet America’s story is not simply one of ideas. It is also a story of turning ideas into progress and achievement. And running through every chapter of that success is an often-overlooked force: abundant, affordable and reliable American energy. SENATE REPUBLICAN PUSHES OVERHAUL TO CUT RED TAPE AND SPEED UP AMERICAN ENERGY PROJECTS Time and again, ingenuity has transformed that energy into greater opportunity, greater prosperity and greater security. Energy is not a sidebar to the American story. It is one of the foundations. Throughout history, Americans have found new ways to harness energy for the benefit of our society. When Edwin "Colonel" Drakedrilled the world’s first commercial well in Titusville, Pa., in 1859, he did not simply strike oil. He unlocked a new source of human possibility. Within a few short years, kerosene refined from American crude replaced whale oil in lamps, lit homes and streets, and helped drive an industrial expansion unlike any the world had seen before. The age of American energy had begun, and our nation would never be the same. ANTARES REACHES REACTOR CRITICALITY UNDER TRUMP PILOT PROGRAM, MARKING MAJOR NUCLEAR MILESTONE Henry Ford put ordinary Americans behind the wheel. The Wright brothers gave us powered flight. Gasoline-powered tractors transformed farming to help feed a growing world. In each case, ingenuity supplied the vision and energy transformed bold ideas into reality. That energy proved decisive when the stakes were highest. During World War II, the United States produced nearly two-thirds of the world's oil and the overwhelming majority of the fuel that powered the Allied war effort. American fuel propelled the ships that crossed the Atlantic, the bombers that flew over Europe and Asia, and the tanks that rolled across North Africa. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower recognized that the war was, at the core, a war of logistics and fuel. Allied victory was forged in steel and powered by American oil. And energy helped build the peace that followed. The postwar boom was fueled, quite literally, at the corner service station. Millions of families bought their first car and took to the interstate, making America’s open roads synonymous with freedom itself. The decades that followed opened new frontiers. American energy powered the factories that built the middle class, fueled the airlines that shrank the globe and supplied the building blocks of modern-day innovation, from lifesaving medical devices to essential communication technologies. It even helped carry Americans to the moon. When the world needed reliable energy, American producers delivered. When markets shifted, they adapted. When technology advanced, they innovated. Today, the United States is the world’s largest energy producer. And we stand at yet another inflection point. A new technology revolution is underway. Artificial intelligence promises to transform how we work, learn, invent and create – with an almost insatiable appetite for reliable power. Data centers running these systems will consume electricity on the scale of entire nations. As with every great American leap forward — from industrialization to aviation to the internet — the technologies shaping tomorrow will rely on what powered our nation’s rise: abundant, affordable and reliable energy. For virtually all of America’s history, the men and women of my industry have quietly powered the nation’s progress. Their work is often out of sight and too often taken for granted. I have stood on platforms in the Gulf of America, walked oil fields in the Permian and refinery control rooms in California, boarded tankers carrying American energy across open water and traced the pipelines that connect it all. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION What strikes me is how invisible it is by design. Every day, millions of Americans flip a switch, board a plane, charge a phone or power a business without a second thought. That quiet reliability is one of the great achievements of modern America. The record is clear: American energy has fueled victory in wartime, prosperity in peacetime, and innovation at every turn. Two hundred and fifty years in, the American experiment continues. New challenges will arise. New technologies will emerge. New frontiers will open. The tools will change, but the formula remains the same. As it has been throughout our history, the future will be built by ingenuity and powered by American energy. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44da2cc2ca79de23629890 REP ROGER WILLIAMS: 250 years of hard work pay off for Main Street businesses te 2026-07-01T09:13:16.326Z REP ROGER WILLIAMS: 250 years of hard work pay off for Main Street businesses For 250 years, America's story has been written behind the counters of family-owned stores, on ranches and farms passed down through generations, and on Main Street where hardworking Americans take risks, open their doors and build something from the ground up. I know this because I’ve lived it. Before serving in Congress, I spent decades helping grow my family's business in Texas. I learned what it feels like to lie awake wondering how you're going to make payroll, and what it feels like the morning you finally can. It was grit, family, faith and a lot of long days. As America gets ready to celebrate its 250th birthday, I'll be thinking about the entrepreneurial spirit that has driven our country since its founding. Our Founding Fathers were entrepreneurs in their own right — visionaries and risk-takers who charted a new course for a nation built on freedom and opportunity. SECRETS OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLEFIELDS EMERGE 250 YEARS AFTER AMERICA'S FOUNDING I'll also be thinking about those who have always done the quiet work of building this country — the shopkeepers, tradesmen and family businesses. Those business owners who bet on themselves and, in doing so, helped build the most prosperous nation the world has ever known. Two hundred and fifty years later, they're still at it. And this Independence Day, I’m proud to say that the backbone of our economy is roaring back. I hear it when I talk to people back home in Weatherford, Texas. This past May, our economy added 172,000 jobs — more than twice what the so-called experts predicted, and unemployment held steady at 4.3%. That made for the best three-month hiring run we've seen in over two years. It didn’t happen by luck; it happened because of less government, allowing small businesses to do what they do best — create jobs! THE RED STATES RACING AHEAD IN AMERICA’S POWERFUL WEALTH BOOM — AND THE STATES FALLING BEHIND Recently, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce took a hard look at the data and found that small businesses have accounted for about 78% of all hiring in this country since 2001. Lately, it's even more. Since early last year, small businesses have created roughly 4 million jobs a month and more than three-quarters of all new job openings. If you're looking for your next opportunity, odds are it's waiting for you on Main Street. Thanks to congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump, a big part of that growth is attributable to one thing: the Working Families Tax Cuts. LABOR SEC CHAVEZ-DEREMER: TRUMP TAX CUTS DELIVER BIGGER REFUNDS AND A BIG BOOST FOR WORKING FAMILIES The Working Families Tax Cuts prevented a $5 trillion tax hike, the largest in American history, and one that would have negatively impacted every family and small business in America. Instead of costing taxpayers more of their hard-earned money, the Working Families Tax Cuts put it right back into their pockets. This past filing season, 97% of filers got a tax cut, and most of that relief went to Americans earning under $100,000. We delivered key priorities: no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and a doubled Child Tax Credit benefiting nearly 40 million families. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and my Republican colleagues, we provided real relief to hardworking American families when they needed it most. As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently noted, America's small businesses finally have greater tax certainty and relief from burdensome regulations. That means more confidence to invest, hire and grow — helping keep our economy moving forward. With Republicans in Congress and President Trump in the White House focused on getting Washington out of the way, the foundation is in place for a true American comeback — one built from the ground up by workers, families and entrepreneurs. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION And the timing could not be more fitting as America celebrates its 250th anniversary. This Fourth of July, somewhere between backyard barbecues and fireworks, take a moment to thank the small business owners in your community. Stop by their stores. Support their work. Cheer them on. They carry forward the same spirit of enterprise, independence and determination that helped build this nation in 1776. And they remain living proof that America's greatest days are still ahead. Happy 250th birthday, America. God bless those who continue to be the backbone of our economy — those who dream big, take risks and keep this great nation moving forward — from the small businesses on Main Street, from the mountains to the prairies and in every community they serve. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM ROGER WILLIAMS Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44da18c2ca79de23629887 Trump’s push for national concealed carry reciprocity would protect good guys with guns te 2026-07-01T09:12:56.878Z Trump’s push for national concealed carry reciprocity would protect good guys with guns When President Trump recently spoke at the Mack Trucks facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania, gun owners were encouraged to hear him call for national concealed carry reciprocity. He's right. Constitutional rights shouldn't end at a state line. And the need for reciprocity isn't theoretical. Armed citizens save lives every year. FLORIDA COURT SAYS 18-YEAR-OLDS HAVE SAME GUN RIGHTS AS OTHER ADULTS Just recently, a Marine veteran carrying a concealed firearm helped police in Massachusetts stop and apprehend a convicted felon who had illegally obtained a firearm and was randomly shooting at motorists. In Missouri, two armed citizens confronted and stopped an active shooter in a parking lot. According to police, their actions prevented even greater bloodshed. Stories like these happen all across America. Yet millions of law-abiding gun owners still risk becoming criminals simply by crossing an invisible state line. You can drive your car across all 50 states. You can take your family, your luggage — even your dog. But in many states, you can't bring the firearm you legally carry for self-defense back home. That makes no sense. There is legislation in Congress that would establish national concealed carry reciprocity. Unfortunately, the Senate has become the graveyard for too many pro-gun reforms. SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN BLUE STATE'S 'VAMPIRE RULE' IN MAJOR WIN FOR GUN RIGHTS The last time the Senate voted on reciprocity — in 2013 — the measure actually received 57 votes. A majority of senators supported it, but not enough to overcome the filibuster. Back then, there were still a handful of Democrats willing to vote for legislation protecting the Second Amendment. Those days are largely behind us. Fortunately, Congress isn't the only battlefield. While politicians argue, Gun Owners of America has been building a nationwide patchwork that allows law-abiding Americans to carry in more and more places. It started with Constitutional Carry. GOA was the first national organization to make permitless carry a legislative priority. Today, thanks to years of relentless work by GOA and our allies, 29 states recognize Constitutional Carry. In well over half the country, law-abiding citizens no longer need a government-issued permit to exercise a constitutional right. But GOA didn't stop there. We also turned to the courts. For decades, anti-gun states like New York and California refused to recognize the rights of visitors. If you lived somewhere else, they simply denied you any meaningful opportunity to carry legally. GOA challenged those policies — and won. As a result, both New York and California must now provide a pathway for qualified, law-abiding Americans from other states to obtain concealed carry permits. It's not full reciprocity, because applicants still have to navigate each state's permitting process. But those states can no longer slam the door on out-of-state residents simply because they don't live there. We're pursuing the same principle in Illinois. Right now, Illinois recognizes permits from residents of only six states: Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas, and Virginia. GOA is challenging that discriminatory system because the correct number isn't six — it's all 50 states. GOA's legal victories didn't happen in a vacuum. They were built on a constitutional principle that the Supreme Court emphatically reaffirmed in 2022. That was the Supreme Court's landmark Bruen decision , which made clear that the Second Amendment protects the right to carry firearms outside the home. Many anti-gun states complied — but only on paper. Unable to ban carry outright, they devised new ways to make the right practically impossible to exercise. One of the worst examples became known as the "Vampire Rule." Like the vampires of folklore who supposedly needed permission before entering a home, states such as New York and Hawaii required gun owners to obtain affirmative permission before carrying on virtually all private property open to the public. The result was predictable. Overnight, lawful carry became prohibited in most stores, restaurants, gas stations, and businesses throughout those states. GOA sued New York and won. Hawaii initially prevailed in its own litigation, creating a split among the federal circuits. That gave the Supreme Court the opportunity to step in. In Wolford v. Lopez, the Court struck down Hawaii's Vampire Rule, reaffirming that constitutional rights cannot be nullified by requiring Americans to beg permission before exercising them. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Freedom won. Law-abiding Americans do not need to ask permission before carrying into the neighborhood grocery store, gas station, or restaurant. Freedom wasn’t restored all at once. It has been won one lawsuit, one state, and one victory at a time . Even here in Virginia, GOA recently secured a temporary injunction against the Commonwealth's unconstitutional ban on carrying certain commonly owned firearms. National reciprocity remains an important goal, and we welcome President Trump's support for making it a reality. But until Congress acts, GOA will continue doing what we've always done — using the courts, the legislatures, and every lawful avenue available to ensure that the right to bear arms doesn't disappear the moment an American crosses a state line. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44d9f1c2ca79de23629864 Texas Stock Exchange Launches as Dallas Builds Y’all Street te 2026-07-01T09:12:17.960Z Texas Stock Exchange Launches as Dallas Builds Y’all Street City leaders are wagering that a growing cluster of Wall Street firms can cement Dallas as “Y’all Street,” even as marquee names head for the exits. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44d9dec2ca79de2362985b Despite Some Losses for Trump, Supreme Court Delivers Enduring Conservative Wins te 2026-07-01T09:11:58.502Z Despite Some Losses for Trump, Supreme Court Delivers Enduring Conservative Wins The justices pushed back on some of President Trump’s signature moves, but they also expanded presidential power and supplied victories on long-sought conservative goals. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44d9cbc2ca79de23629852 Trump’s Historical Yarns Often Stretch (or Disregard) the Truth te 2026-07-01T09:11:39.047Z Trump’s Historical Yarns Often Stretch (or Disregard) the Truth We fact-checked the president’s colorful — and inaccurate — accounts of American history from the Battle of Gettysburg to the Unabomber. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44d9b7c2ca79de23629849 Ohio and Iowa Governors Races Tight, New Polls Show te 2026-07-01T09:11:19.592Z Ohio and Iowa Governors Races Tight, New Polls Show Voters polled in the states, Iowa and Ohio, also voiced high levels of disapproval for President Trump’s performance. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44d9a4c2ca79de23629840 Control of the Senate Is Up for Grabs, Times/Siena Polls Find te 2026-07-01T09:11:00.135Z Control of the Senate Is Up for Grabs, Times/Siena Polls Find Republicans are defending seats in Alaska, Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas as they try to maintain their majority. Democrats are competitive in all six states — but not leading in enough to take the chamber. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44d990c2ca79de23629837 Crunchtime in the Air-Conditioning Business: Long Days and Hot Work te 2026-07-01T09:10:40.690Z Crunchtime in the Air-Conditioning Business: Long Days and Hot Work With Chicago and much of the country in the grips of a heat wave, air-conditioning technicians are enduring sweltering temperatures to keep systems working. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44d97dc2ca79de2362982e The Birthright Decision Was Surprisingly Close, Some Legal Scholars Say te 2026-07-01T09:10:21.229Z The Birthright Decision Was Surprisingly Close, Some Legal Scholars Say A bare majority of Supreme Court justices ruled that President Trump’s executive order was unconstitutional, reflecting a conservative shift on the issue. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44d767c2ca79de236297ff Rockets Over the River Fireworks Laughlin te 2026-07-01T09:01:27.625Z Rockets Over the River Fireworks Laughlin Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44d4f5c2ca79de23629762 Lake Havasu City Restaurant Inspections, April 2026 te 2026-07-01T08:51:01.221Z Lake Havasu City Restaurant Inspections, April 2026 Reported by the Mohave County Department of Health. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44d4e1c2ca79de23629759 Lake Havasu City candidate Q&A | Is the second bridge necessary, and are you happy with the project? te 2026-07-01T08:50:41.236Z Lake Havasu City candidate Q&A | Is the second bridge necessary, and are you happy with the project? As early voting for the 2026 primary election is underway, Today’s News-Herald is asking Lake Havasu City Council candidates one question each week. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44cb95c2ca79de236294ca Florida toddler dies after father realizes child was left in SUV during daycare pickup te 2026-07-01T08:11:01.287Z Florida toddler dies after father realizes child was left in SUV during daycare pickup A 23-month-old Florida boy was found dead Monday inside an SUV outside A World of Discovery Academy after his father mistakenly believed he had dropped him off at daycare, authorities said. The Plantation Police Department and Plantation Fire Department responded at approximately 5:39 p.m. Monday to a report of an unresponsive child inside a vehicle at the early childhood education center. Firefighters pronounced the child dead at the scene. Leslie Novoa, the owner of A World of Discovery Academy, told WSVN-TV she called 911 alongside the toddler's father after the child was discovered in the back seat of the family's SUV. HEARTBROKEN FATHER BLASTS ‘BROKEN’ SYSTEM THAT LET FAMILY MASSACRE TAKE HIS CHILDREN BEFORE THEY COULD REUNITE "This is hard for the parents, hard for us," Novoa told the station. "This is sad to see this family – a wonderful family – to go through so much pain." Novoa said the father arrived at the daycare to pick up his son before realizing the child had never been dropped off. "Unfortunately, the dad arrived to pick up his child, and when he arrived to the parking lot, he realized he forgot the child," she said. "He never dropped off the child at the school." PARENTS OF 7-YEAR-OLD WHO DIED WEIGHING 255 POUNDS CHARGED WITH MURDER IN SUSPECTED NEGLECT CASE Novoa said she has known the family for six years and described them as loving parents whose three children attended the daycare. "Like I said before, they’re a very loving family, and unfortunately, this happened," Novoa said. The daycare later released a statement expressing condolences and pledging support for the family. WISCONSIN TEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN BRUTAL SLAYING OF 5-YEAR-OLD BOY FOUND IN DUMPSTER "Our primary responsibility is the safety and well-being of our students and their families," the daycare wrote. "We communicated with our school community as soon as possible, and we remain in contact with our families to provide support during this incredibly difficult time," it continued. "This student and their family are beloved members of our community. At this time, our focus is on supporting those grieving this immense loss." According to Kids and Car Safety, formerly KidsAndCars.org, about 40 children die in hot cars each year in the United States. The organization says roughly half of those deaths occur after a parent or caregiver unintentionally leaves a child inside a vehicle. Plantation police said the circumstances surrounding the child's death remain under investigation. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44cb81c2ca79de236294c1 DSA’s third major primary win deepens Democrats’ fight over the party’s future te 2026-07-01T08:10:41.838Z DSA’s third major primary win deepens Democrats’ fight over the party’s future The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are taking their political playbook nationwide.  One week after DSA-aligned candidates scored ballot-box victories over establishment-backed contenders in two congressional primaries in New York City that grabbed outsized national attention, the group scored another major upset in a deep-blue U.S. House district in Denver, Colorado. Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette, who was first elected to Congress in 1996 and took office in 1997, was defeated by DSA-backed Melat Kiros, a first-time candidate and former attorney who is 29 years old. Kiros’ victory comes a week after Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old progressive community organizer in New York City, ousted incumbent Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and state Assembly Member Claire Valdez, another DSA-aligned contender, won a congressional primary to succeed retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez. VICTORIES BY MAMDANI-BACKED CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES SPOTLIGHTS GROWING RIFT IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY The victories by Chevalier and Valdez, who were backed by socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, coupled with the win this week by Kiros, are further emboldening the progressive left as it takes on the center-left establishment in a high-stakes battle for the future of the Democratic Party.  Hasan Piker, the controversial, far-left streamer, at the Kiros primary night event in Denver, told Fox News, "I think progressive politics, left populism, a politics that centers the needs of the working class, can work in every district, in every state. That's why I kept saying over and over again, it's coming to a city near you."  The latest DSA primary victory came in Colorado's 1st Congressional District, a Democrat-dominated seat anchored in Denver that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried by nearly 56 points in the 2024 election. "Another Democratic Socialist is going to Congress!," the DSA touted in a social media post. "Congresswoman Kiros will take the fight for a better world to D.C: to Abolish ICE, free Palestine, and win Universal Childcare and Medicare for All."  Kiros, who lost her job as a lawyer in New York after writing an essay critical of Israel, was also supported by Justice Democrats, the nearly decade-old political group known for heavily supporting "Squad" members Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib as they toppled entrenched incumbents in their initial elections to Congress.  DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB University of Colorado regent Wanda James, who jumped into the Democratic congressional primary in April and was described as a spoiler, finished third, in single digits.  Progressives also scored an impressive victory in the neighboring 8th Congressional District, a crucial swing seat which stretches along the I-25 corridor north of Denver.  State Rep. Manny Rutinel tallied a convincing double-digit victory over former state Rep. Shannon Bird, a more moderate candidate. Rutinel will now take on Republican Rep. Gabe Evans, who flipped the seat in the 2024 cycle.  The race is considered one of two or three dozen that will determine if the GOP holds onto its razor-thin House majority in the midterms.  Immigration was a top issue in the Democratic primary in a district where roughly 40% of the population is Latino. Rutinel criticized Bird for a vote she cast last year opposing a measure limiting cooperation between local and state law enforcement and ICE. And Rutinel was boosted by big spending from allies, including prominent Latino groups.  While Rutinel has tempered his previous support for top progressive issues, including Medicare for All and opposition to fracking, Republicans viewed him as the easier general election challenger than Bird. During the primary campaign, the right spotlighted pictures of him rallying alongside Mamdani. "Democrats have chosen a far-left, radical socialist, Mamdani-wanna-be extremist — someone who supports eliminating oil and gas, defunding law enforcement, calling farmers and ranchers horrific, and threatening the industries that power our economy," Evans charged in a statement.  Another primary showdown highlighting the split between progressives and moderates, as well as the party's generational divide, was the Senate nomination battle between incumbent Sen. John Hickenlooper, 74, and former state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a 43-year-old progressive.  Hickenlooper, a former Denver mayor and two-term governor, saw his once-large advantage over Gonzales, a one-time DSA member, narrow in the weeks ahead of the primary.  Hickenlooper prevailed and will now be the clear favorite in the general election against Republican state Sen. Mark Baisley, who was unopposed in his primary.  But Gonzales saw a silver lining in defeat, writing in a statement, "My heart is full, knowing that we've put the Democratic establishment on notice: keep taking folks like us for granted at your own peril."  Meanwhile, state Attorney General Phil Weiser topped U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in the expensive and combustible Democratic gubernatorial primary.  Weiser, who ran to Bennet’s left on certain issues, closed the gap with the senator as he spotlighted his efforts to take on President Donald Trump, including filing or joining dozens of lawsuits against the Trump administration as attorney general. Longtime Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo, a veteran of progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, told Fox News Digital that "it is undeniable that progressives have built a coalition and have a message that can serve to buoy a candidate when they are an acceptable alternative to the status quo."  While plenty of mainstream Democrats have racked up primary victories in recent weeks, it is the far-left that's grabbing the media spotlight. And that's giving Republicans more ammunition as they portray all Democrats as radicals.  "The socialist takeover of the Democrat Party is no longer confined to deep-blue strongholds. The radicals are taking over battleground districts, putting must-win seats out of reach for Democrats and sinking their chances of flipping the House," NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella said as he pointed to Rutinel's victory.  Fox News' Olivia Palombo and Matthew Donnell contributed to this report Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44c51ec2ca79de2362938c Gas prices July 1 te 2026-07-01T07:43:26.563Z Gas prices July 1 National average: $3.86 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44c50ac2ca79de23629383 Davis Dam releases for July 1 te 2026-07-01T07:43:06.597Z Davis Dam releases for July 1 Thursday Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44c4f6c2ca79de2362937a Best Bets: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 te 2026-07-01T07:42:46.625Z Best Bets: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Today Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44c4e2c2ca79de23629371 Bringing the Beat: Party Boyz DJs play to dance floors at the Laughlin Golden Nugget, weddings and more te 2026-07-01T07:42:26.660Z Bringing the Beat: Party Boyz DJs play to dance floors at the Laughlin Golden Nugget, weddings and more It’s a given that a DJ loves music. But to be a successful DJ, they must also love making people happy. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44c4cec2ca79de23629368 Party Boyz Productions 3 te 2026-07-01T07:42:06.691Z Party Boyz Productions 3 David Rivera Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44c4bac2ca79de2362935f Party Boyz Productions 2 te 2026-07-01T07:41:46.721Z Party Boyz Productions 2 Adriana and David Rivera Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44c4a6c2ca79de23629356 Party Boyz Productions 1 te 2026-07-01T07:41:26.762Z Party Boyz Productions 1 Adriana and David Rivera Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44c288c2ca79de236292cf Rollin' on the Colorado River: Commotion plays Creedence Clearwater Revival's all-American rock hits in Laughlin debut te 2026-07-01T07:32:24.536Z Rollin' on the Colorado River: Commotion plays Creedence Clearwater Revival's all-American rock hits in Laughlin debut Perhaps no band has been more associated with a specific time in American history than Creedence Clearwater Revival and the late 1960s/early 1970s. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44c274c2ca79de236292c6 Commotion: America's #1 Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival te 2026-07-01T07:32:04.565Z Commotion: America's #1 Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44c221c2ca79de23629285 Trump administration threatens Kansas school district funding over transgender student policy te 2026-07-01T07:30:41.632Z Trump administration threatens Kansas school district funding over transgender student policy The Trump administration on Tuesday said it would pursue enforcement action that could include withholding federal funding from Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools over its policies that the administration says prevent staff from notifying parents of a transgender student's gender identity. The Education Department said that Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools’ policy of not disclosing a student's transgender status to their parents violated the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The agency announced it was partnering with the Justice Department to take "appropriate enforcement measures," including applicable judicial proceedings and potential loss of federal funding. LOUDOUN COUNTY PARENTS NOT 'SATISFIED' AFTER SCHOOL OFFICIALS TESTIFY ON TRANSGENDER POLICIES "Kansas City Kansas Public Schools' sustained efforts to sidestep FERPA, conceal its true policies, and obstruct parents’ lawful access to their children’s education records represents a serious and deliberate breach of federal law," said Frank Miller, Director of the Student Privacy Policy Office at the Education Department. "A strong and coordinated enforcement partnership between the Department of Education and the Department of Justice will ensure districts are held accountable and fully honor parents’ rights," he added. According to the government, the district's policy affirms that school personnel "should not disclose information that may reveal a student’s transgender status or gender nonconforming presentation to others, including parents." "Despite the Department’s proposed Resolution Agreement, which outlined specific actions the District should take to remedy their FERPA violations, the District continues to ignore federal parental rights law," the Education Department said. Fox News Digital has reached out to the district for comment. SUPREME COURT MAKES MAKES RULING ON TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S SPORTS The administration has threatened to pull federal funding from several other districts across the country over transgender policies. Earlier this year, the Education Department said policies concerning transgender students in four Kansas school districts, including Kansas City and Kansas Public Schools, were violating federal law. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order aimed at barring transgender women and girls from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that states may bar transgender women and girls from girls’ and women’s sports, upholding Idaho and West Virginia laws while not requiring states without such bans to adopt them. Reuters contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44bd71c2ca79de2362918e Amy Coney Barrett draws backlash from conservative critics who want her to be a Trump partisan te 2026-07-01T07:10:41.570Z Amy Coney Barrett draws backlash from conservative critics who want her to be a Trump partisan The Supreme Court handed Donald Trump one major defeat and two lesser wins as it closed its session yesterday with a bang.  But the court, with three Trump appointees, also ruled against the president in some cases.  Trump, to no one's surprise, praised the favorable ones and ripped the adverse decisions.  So the atmosphere was ripe for all kinds of media spin.  SUPREME COURT'S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAUSE AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS Perhaps the ruling that generated the most anger was the court upholding a $5 million Trump payment to writer E. Jean Carroll for her claims of defamation and sexual assault in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in 1996.  Trump’s reaction: "Surprisingly, the Supreme Court declined to ‘review’ a Fake Case brought against me by a woman I never met (Decades old celebrity photo line, standing with her husband, does not count!) I will continue the fight against this weaponization and Lawfare Case against me, including the ridiculous claim of Defamation, with all of my power and strength."  But he’s out of appeal. The Supreme Court just turned him down. It’s over. SUPREME COURT LAMBASTED OVER 'DESTRUCTIVE' AND 'OUTRAGEOUS' BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP DECISION You know what's fascinating? Every judicial nominee testifies before the Senate that they'll only call balls and strikes, as John Roberts once put it, and the lawmakers nod sagely.  But as soon as the newly minted justice votes against Trump and his team, they denounce him or her for being off the reservation — in other words, failing a political loyalty test that they had dismissed during the confirmation hearings.  The target du jour is Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump appointee who wrote the opinion in a 5-4 case in which she and Roberts joined the liberals.  Days after Election Day. The right went haywire. Conservative author Hans Mahncke said on X that "the worst part is that she’ll be there pushing leftist policies for the next 40 years." Barrett dissented Monday on whether Trump could fire a Fed governor, saying it was wrong to narrowly base their decision on an emergency request by Trump. In that job, a lifetime appointment, you need thick skin. In the trio of major cases decided yesterday, the most important by far was the court shooting down Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship, in which anyone born on U.S. soil is automatically considered an American citizen. SUPREME COURT'S MAJOR END-OF-TERM RULINGS ON BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, TRANSGENDER ATHLETES AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE Barrett, along with the chief justice, joined the court’s liberals in saying that this is a violation of the 14th Amendment, which deals with equal rights for citizens and was ratified in 1868 to protect the rights of newly freed slaves. Barrett has deeply rooted beliefs based on her career as a Notre Dame law professor, and deep religious beliefs as a Catholic, who is also associated with a charismatic Christian community called People of Praise. Some Trump allies, says the New York Times, have called the justice, with seven children and two Black children adopted from Haiti, a DEI hire. Barrett wrote this week’s majority opinion, in that 5-4 case, in favor of a Mississippi law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted after Election Day.  The president, who despises mail-in ballots, called it a "tremendous loss." Of course, being a swing vote, as Sandra Day O’Connor was, enhances her influence during deliberations behind the white marble portico of Corinthian columns. In the other two major cases decided yesterday, the high court allowed political parties to coordinate directly with candidates, and upheld the right of states to bar biological males from competing in women’s sports.  "Once," Barrett wrote in her memoir, "when other justices joined a particularly tricky opinion of mine, my chambers celebrated with an impromptu bottle of champagne." She voted, for instance, to reinstate the death penalty for the Boston Marathon bomber, even though she is personally opposed to capital punishment. In the end, the conservative backlash against Amy Coney Barrett says more about her critics, and sometimes directed at other justices, than it does about her.  They feel betrayed because they want her to politically support the man who nominated her.  But that’s not judicial independence. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44b8acc2ca79de2362904a Professor Fired for Criticizing Charlie Kirk Wins $1.9 Million Settlement te 2026-07-01T06:50:20.601Z Professor Fired for Criticizing Charlie Kirk Wins $1.9 Million Settlement Tamar Shirinian, a former professor at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, was among those who lost their jobs over their posts about the slain conservative activist. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44b0c3c2ca79de23628e3f Panthers Trade for Former 1st-Round Goalie Amid Sergei Bobrovsky Uncertainty te 2026-07-01T06:16:35.123Z Panthers Trade for Former 1st-Round Goalie Amid Sergei Bobrovsky Uncertainty The Florida Panthers are clearly rebuilding their goaltending depth, and they acquired a former first-round net-minder on Tuesday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44b0afc2ca79de23628e36 New GM Has Clear Answer About Whether Angels Need to Rebuild te 2026-07-01T06:16:15.667Z New GM Has Clear Answer About Whether Angels Need to Rebuild The Angels' newly appointed interim GM, John Mozeliak, offered a clear answer about whether the team needs to rebuild its roster. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44b09cc2ca79de23628e2d Real Madrid Star Trolls Erling Haaland Before Brazil-Norway World Cup Clash te 2026-07-01T06:15:56.209Z Real Madrid Star Trolls Erling Haaland Before Brazil-Norway World Cup Clash Erling Haaland has put together a dream World Cup debut for Norway, but he'll have to go through Brazil next in the Round of 16. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44b088c2ca79de23628e24 Toronto Just Brought Kawhi Leonard Back — There's Only One Thing Left to Do te 2026-07-01T06:15:36.756Z Toronto Just Brought Kawhi Leonard Back — There's Only One Thing Left to Do The Raptors just pulled off the most stunning trade of the summer. But one move would turn this from blockbuster to legendary. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44b075c2ca79de23628e1b Maple Leafs' Gavin McKenna Surprisingly Not the 2027 Calder Trophy Favorite te 2026-07-01T06:15:17.299Z Maple Leafs' Gavin McKenna Surprisingly Not the 2027 Calder Trophy Favorite After being drafted No. 1 overall last week, Maple Leafs forward Gavin McKenna doesn't have the best odds of winning the Calder. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44b061c2ca79de23628e12 Map Shows Where 53 Million Donated Eggs Are Going After Settlement  te 2026-07-01T06:14:57.337Z Map Shows Where 53 Million Donated Eggs Are Going After Settlement  A new settlement over alleged egg price-fixing will send 53 million donated eggs to food banks across 17 states. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44b04dc2ca79de23628e09 Herb Dean Called Out by Yet Another UFC Fighter Over Recent Mistakes te 2026-07-01T06:14:37.363Z Herb Dean Called Out by Yet Another UFC Fighter Over Recent Mistakes Referee Herb Dean has been making some pretty big errors lately, and several UFC fighters aren't letting him get away with it. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44b039c2ca79de23628e00 'The Brave and the Bold’ Batman Casting Rumor Has Fans Divided te 2026-07-01T06:14:17.906Z 'The Brave and the Bold’ Batman Casting Rumor Has Fans Divided A new casting rumor about the actor playing Batman in the DCU's "The Brave and the Bold" movie brought mixed reactions. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44b025c2ca79de23628df7 Spain's Lamine Yamal Takes Shot at France During 2026 FIFA World Cup te 2026-07-01T06:13:57.939Z Spain's Lamine Yamal Takes Shot at France During 2026 FIFA World Cup France look like world-beaters at the 2026 FIFA men's World Cup, but Spain wunderkind Lamine Yamal isn't all that impressed. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44b012c2ca79de23628dee 10 Everyday Things You Didn’t Realize Are Quietly Endangering Your Dog te 2026-07-01T06:13:38.483Z 10 Everyday Things You Didn’t Realize Are Quietly Endangering Your Dog A dog's close encounter with stealing a knife off the counter prompted experts to warn owners about the dangers of everyday items. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44afffc2ca79de23628de5 Norway's Erling Haaland Goes Viral for Cowboy Transformation at World Cup te 2026-07-01T06:13:19.026Z Norway's Erling Haaland Goes Viral for Cowboy Transformation at World Cup Erling Haaland is winning over everyone at the 2026 FIFA men's World Cup, and it's not just because of his incredible goals. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44afebc2ca79de23628ddc Jalen Hurts, Eagles Get 'A' Grade for Offseason Moves te 2026-07-01T06:12:59.570Z Jalen Hurts, Eagles Get 'A' Grade for Offseason Moves Things are looking up for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44afd8c2ca79de23628dd3 Sabres Could Add Significant Offensive Boost With 500-Goal Scorer te 2026-07-01T06:12:40.121Z Sabres Could Add Significant Offensive Boost With 500-Goal Scorer The rumors linking the Buffalo Sabres to prolific scorer Patrick Kane are picking up steam. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44afc4c2ca79de23628dca Chargers Already Getting Glowing Reviews for Mike McDaniel Hire te 2026-07-01T06:12:20.667Z Chargers Already Getting Glowing Reviews for Mike McDaniel Hire The Los Angeles Charges are getting raves for Mike McDaniel. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44afb0c2ca79de23628dc1 Will Cameron Boozer Be the Hero for the Grizzlies? te 2026-07-01T06:12:00.691Z Will Cameron Boozer Be the Hero for the Grizzlies? The case for Cameron Boozer saving the Memphis Grizzlies. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44af9dc2ca79de23628db8 Pistons Made a 'Bold' Move in the NBA Draft — Was It Worth It? te 2026-07-01T06:11:41.233Z Pistons Made a 'Bold' Move in the NBA Draft — Was It Worth It? The Detroit Pistons mean business. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44af89c2ca79de23628daf Pacers Already Getting High Marks for Selecting Purdue's Braden Smith te 2026-07-01T06:11:21.779Z Pacers Already Getting High Marks for Selecting Purdue's Braden Smith The Indiana Pacers snagged a rising star in Braden Smith. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44af75c2ca79de23628da6 JD Vance Says US in 'Great Position' Whatever Happens in Iran Talks te 2026-07-01T06:11:01.316Z JD Vance Says US in 'Great Position' Whatever Happens in Iran Talks Vance's comments came as senior U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with a Qatari official in Doha on Tuesday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44af61c2ca79de23628d9d Brazil Lose Another Key Starter Before Norway Matchup at World Cup: Report te 2026-07-01T06:10:41.841Z Brazil Lose Another Key Starter Before Norway Matchup at World Cup: Report Brazil barely escaped Japan in the Round of 32, and they'll have to overcome key injuries against Norway in the Round of 16. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44af4dc2ca79de23628d94 Incumbents Are Having a Rough Primary Season  te 2026-07-01T06:10:21.881Z Incumbents Are Having a Rough Primary Season  Incumbent primary losses are piling up in the 2026 midterm elections. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44ad08c2ca79de23628d2e Thousands of beer cans spill across Connecticut highway after tractor-trailer overturns te 2026-07-01T06:00:40.611Z Thousands of beer cans spill across Connecticut highway after tractor-trailer overturns Thousands of beer cans spilled across a Connecticut roadway Tuesday after a tractor-trailer overturned, forcing authorities to shut down the highway for hours. Connecticut State Police said the crash took place around 5:39 a.m. on Route 44 near Twin Lakes Road in Salisbury. Police said the tractor-trailer veered off the roadway and overturned. The truck sustained significant damage, spilling its cargo of beer across the roadway, police said. WILD VIDEO SHOWS INMATES RIOTING INSIDE JAIL AFTER FRUSTRATIONS OVER ACCESS BOIL OVER Photos released by state police showed the tractor-trailer lying on its side, with cans of Michelob Ultra and Bud Light strewn across the roadway. The roadway remained closed for several hours while crews cleared the debris and removed the overturned truck, according to state police. Police said the closure was necessary because of the "large volume of debris" and to safely remove the damaged truck. CALIFORNIA COUPLE SAYS MOVING COMPANY DOUBLED THEIR PRICE AND IS NOW HOLDING BELONGINGS 'FOR RANSOM': REPORT "Thank you to all motorists for your patience and for seeking alternate routes during the closure," state police said in a statement. State police said local firefighters, EMS crews, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the Department of Consumer Protection and towing crews assisted with the cleanup. Police said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said it was not notified of the crash, according to local reports. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44aab2c2ca79de23628ca2 Another New Yorker says officers confronted him after he criticized ICE te 2026-07-01T05:50:42.246Z Another New Yorker says officers confronted him after he criticized ICE A second New York resident said on Tuesday that federal authorities served him with a warning over an email that authorities deemed threatening after he criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s tactics. David Streever, of Rochester, was on a trip to Finland last week when two officers showed up to his home and handed his wife a warning notice notifying him that an email he sent earlier this year was deemed a threat, his lawyer told The Associated Press. Streever sent an email in January to Todd Lyons, who was the acting director of ICE at the time, after an ICE agent shot and killed U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good during an immigration enforcement-related incident in Minneapolis. In the email, Streever told Lyons he was "a monstrous human being" who "will never know peace." MINNESOTA SENATE VOTES TO BAN ICE FROM WEARING MASKS, ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SUE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS "The way you are protecting the obvious execution in Minnesota, even as we see the videos, will lead to your downfall. Even Trump will turn on you before the end, and you will be a sad, despised man who eats himself alive with shame at your own pathetic weakness," Streever said in the email, according to Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression who is representing Streever. Federal officers also attempted to confront Streever at a New York City hotel after he returned from Finland, but hotel staff turned them away, Steinbaugh said. Steinbaugh argued the email was protected speech under the First Amendment and does not represent a legitimate threat. "A true threat is a serious expression of an intent to commit violence. This email doesn't even come close," Steinbaugh said. "It's political speech, it's an act of petitioning your government." Streever said he was shocked that federal officers came to his home to question him over his email. "Like many Americans, I was deeply upset after the shootings in Minnesota and I felt compelled to do something," he said in a statement to The Associated Press. "Writing a letter to the head of ICE seemed like the least I could do to express my sense of outrage. I never dreamed it would lead to a knock on my door by federal officers." Fox News Digital reached out to ICE for comment. "ICE investigates all credible threats towards its employees and officers, including threats to the ICE Director," the agency said in a statement to The Associated Press. The warning to Streever was presented the same week poll worker Paigelynne Gonyea, of Syracuse, said two federal officers confronted her at a voting site during New York’s primaries to question her about a social media post she made about Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer who killed Good. Gonyea said she believes the warning to her was because of a post she made in January in which she shared a picture of Ross along with the caption: "I think today is a great day for Jonathan to be indicted." Her post, which is still online, was made after Ross had already been identified by the media. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Lauren Bis, shared an image of a different social media post from Gonyea in which she said the woman shared Ross’ address, according to The Associated Press, although part of the post was redacted. Bis said in a statement last week that Gonyea "committed a federal crime by posting the address of an ICE law enforcement officer online" and "if you doxx our officers, we will investigate you, and you will be brought to justice." MISSISSIPPI LAW COULD CREATE STATEWIDE REGISTRY OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS Free speech advocates, including those at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the American Civil Liberties Union, have argued that these two incidents show federal law enforcement infringing on Americans' rights to privacy and free expression. Nathan Freed Wessler, deputy director of the ACLU's speech, privacy and technology project, said the First Amendment guarantees the right to criticize the government. "Nobody should be tracked down at their home or hotel room by federal agents in retribution for sending an email merely expressing frustration and opposition to the government’s actions," Wessler told The Associated Press. "This is an abuse of power and a gross attempt to chill Americans’ constitutionally protected speech." ICE and DHS have said they investigate credible threats and doxxing of law enforcement officers. The government has not publicly provided a fuller explanation of why Streever’s email was treated as a threat. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a449a48c2ca79de23628912 Socialism goes west as DSA-backed challenger ousts longtime Democrat te 2026-07-01T04:40:40.240Z Socialism goes west as DSA-backed challenger ousts longtime Democrat Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., a 30-year incumbent, lost to a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed challenger in a high-profile primary on Tuesday evening. Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old socialist, defeated DeGette in a Democratic primary for a deep-blue House seat anchored in Denver, according to The Associated Press, scoring a major victory for the socialist left on Tuesday evening. The DSA had been aiming to cast DeGette’s loss as evidence of its growing momentum after a slate of socialist candidates won Democratic primaries in New York City last week. "Today, the East Coast, next week the Mountain West," the DSA wrote in a social media post last week. SOCIALISTS CHEER ‘SHOCKWAVE’ PRIMARY NIGHT AS DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES WIN, ADVANCE ACROSS THE MAP If elected in November, Kiros, who was born in Ethiopia, will likely join the ranks of the far-left group known as the Squad and become one of a handful of the House chamber's outspoken socialists.  The millennial challenger was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and the anti-incumbent leftist organization Justice Democrats. Controversial socialist streamer Hasan Piker, who has said Hamas is "a thousand times better" than Israel and praised the Chinese Communist Party, also backed Kiros’ insurgent primary run. DeGette, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus who supports abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sought to win a 16th House term by flexing her leftist bona fides. She argued her seniority on an influential House committee would allow her to push for Medicare-for-All legislation — a longtime priority of the party’s far-left flank. DeGette, who was endorsed by former CPC Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., also spotlighted her experience as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021. Though DeGette and Kiros shared few policy disagreements, they diverged sharply over Israel and antisemitism. Kiros also sharply criticized DeGette for accepting corporate PAC contributions. Kiros, a PhD student and lawyer, was fired from a New York firm in 2023 after publishing an open letter, arguing that pro-Palestinian student protesters calling for the elimination of Israel were not antisemitic and appearing to defend Hamas. WATCH: HOUSE DEMS UNLOAD ON TEXAS DEMOCRAT OVER ‘DEMENTED’ ANTISEMITIC COMMENTS She has also described the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks against the Jewish state as the "inevitable consequence of apartheid" and declined to characterize the deadly firebombing of protesters in Boulder last year who were urging the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza as antisemitic.  "I don't know what was in the heart of the perpetrator," Kiros told Colorado's 9News in a recent television interview. "All I know is that he went and attacked innocent people because of what they might have believed." A June 2025 bipartisan resolution condemning the attack as part of a "rise in ideologically motivated attacks on Jewish individuals" won every present lawmaker’s support, except for Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who voted present. Kiros has also suggested the United States deserved 9/11. "Inevitable in the sense that we destabilized a lot of the Middle East that forced people to believe that another act of violence was the only response," Kiros told 9News when asked if she thought the terror attack was "the inevitable consequence of American foreign policy." "And again, just like I said before, our responsibility is to get rid of those conditions that lead to violence in the first place," Kiros continued. DeGette argued that Kiros' embrace of Piker and her comments about antisemitism and 9/11 were disqualifying.  "I’m shocked and disgusted that Kiros is doubling down on excusing terrorism and the murder of innocent people," the 30-year incumbent wrote on Facebook earlier this month. Colorado’s 1st Congressional District is the most liberal seat in the state and voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris by 56 points in 2024. The primary fight was further scrambled by University of Colorado Regent Wanda James, also running for DeGette's seat. Though James did not pose the same threat as Kiros, her vote share could ultimately have swayed the contest. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4495fcc2ca79de23628820 Blue Cross deadline arrives for LCMC patients te 2026-07-01T04:22:20.456Z Blue Cross deadline arrives for LCMC patients By Shawn White  Blue Cross Blue Shield patients in Winslow face a major insurance deadline today as Little Colorado Medical Center (LCMC) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona continue a contract dispute that could leave the region’s only hospital out of network for thousands of local patients.  LCMC Chief Executive Officer Travis Udall told the Winslow City Council last week that the situation was still moving and that a recent meeting with Blue Cross had gone better than prior talks. “We get a lot of questions on the Blue Cross negotiations,” Udall said. “We had a meeting today, which is probably the most positive meeting we’ve had in a year.” Udall said the hospital had sent its final proposal back to BCBS and was waiting for a response. He told council members he hoped the issue could be settled before the July 1 deadline. At the time of printing an agreement has not been announced.   For now, LCMC remains in network with Blue Cross for the time being and it is hoped any disruption would have minimal to no impact on patients. But the hospital administration also urged patients to prepare in case the contract lapses, because the financial difference between in-network and out-of-network care can be significant.  For local patients, the stakes are higher than they would be in a larger city. LCMC is Winslow’s only hospital and the next full hospital is over 50 miles away in Flagstaff. Residents on the reservation may have to travel even farther to Show Low or Flagstaff to receive in-network care. For many residents, especially those in an emergency or those receiving ongoing care, simply choosing another in-network hospital may not be realistic.  In a public notice to patients, Udall said LCMC’s Board of Directors concluded that the reimbursement levels offered by Blue Cross, “would not support the essential health services that our community needs.” The hospital says the issue is not just a business disagreement but a question of whether a small rural hospital can continue providing services that are costly, necessary and not always fully covered by insurance payments.  That concern was echoed in Udall’s broader report to the council. He said LCMC is trying to grow and stabilize services by hiring local people, bringing new care options to Winslow and keeping more patients in town rather than transferring them away.  “One of the things that I feel strongly about as the CEO is that we hire local people,” Udall said. “That our hospital, the strength of our facility will be based off the local people that we hire that stay here, build here, that live here.”  The insurance fight comes as LCMC is trying to preserve some of the most expensive services it offers. Udall told council members the hospital is seeking rural transformation funding from the state, including support for women’s health and obstetrics. He said LCMC loses nearly $1.5 million a year on obstetrics services because reimbursement rates do not cover costs and liability insurance is among the highest expenses in the hospital.  Udall told the council, “The liability insurance is the highest across the hospital. It’s very costly for the babies. But I think it’s something that we’re connected to because it’s something that this area needs.”  Udall said LCMC is one of only three small hospitals in the state continuing to provide OB care in that category and said the hospital is seeing more patients from the Show Low and White Mountain area as other regional options have become limited. Without the service in Winslow, he said, families would have to travel farther for care.  LCMC is also applying for funding for a mobile clinic that could serve Holbrook, Joseph City and Happy Jack, areas where Udall said a permanent clinic would be difficult to establish. He said he had spoken with Holbrook Mayor Kathleen Smith about the idea of taking a clinic to Holbrook a couple of days at a time to provide services and connect patients back to the hospital in Winslow.  Udall said LCMC has also regained its Level IV trauma designation, which had lapsed before he arrived. He said the designation matters because it can affect access to supplies, funding, equipment and state resources and the hospital now plans to pursue Level III trauma status.  Udall said another priority is keeping more patients in Winslow instead of transferring them to Flagstaff. “One of the things that I think is an issue for our hospital when I got here I heard loud and clear, is that a lot of times people come to the hospital and they get transferred away to Flagstaff,” Udall said.  Council members praised the hospital’s improvement during the meeting and one raised the issue of dialysis patients still having to be transferred out. Udall said LCMC had investigated dialysis, bought equipment and considered the service but could not get the necessary staff training and encountered complications involving the local dialysis center. He said dialysis remains on the list but the hospital must make sure it can provide services well before adding more.  Udall said LCMC has added seven or eight outpatient services in the last 18 months, including swing bed, pain management, stroke and telemental health programs. He also said the clinic has added 7,000 new visits this year, which he attributed to marketing, changes in patient service, better communication and efforts to rebuild trust.  “We’re seeing that volume come back from Holbrook, Joe City, the Snowflake areas, where we have lost that,” Udall said.  For BCBS patients, the hospital’s advice is to contact the insurer directly. Patients should call the member number on the back of their Blue Cross Blue Shield card and ask how services at Little Colorado Medical Center, the rural health clinic and the physical therapy clinic will be covered if LCMC is treated as out of network.  Patients should also ask about their specific deductible, coinsurance and out-of-network benefits and should request written confirmation from Blue Cross. If a patient is in active treatment, including pregnancy, post-surgical recovery, chemotherapy or other ongoing care, they should ask BCBS about continuity of care before receiving a bill.  Emergency care is different. Under federal patient protections, emergency care is generally billed at in-network cost-sharing levels even if the hospital is out of network. LCMC and patient advocates are stressing that patients should not drive to Flagstaff or another hospital during a true emergency because of the insurance dispute.  Non-emergency care may be different if the contract lapses. Scheduled visits, follow-up appointments, clinic visits, physical therapy or other non-emergency services could come with higher out-of-pocket costs depending on a patient’s individual plan.  LCMC has said it will work with affected patients and is offering a 40% discount on out-of-network cost sharing, along with cash and prompt-pay discounts, to help offset added costs during the dispute. The hospital also has financial assistance and sliding-fee programs and says no one is denied care because of inability to pay.  Patients with questions for BCBS can call 1-800-232-2345 or submit a request through. www.azblue.com. Patients with billing questions for LCMC can contact the hospital’s Billing and Patient Financial Services office at 928-289-6369 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday or by emailing businessoffice@lcmcwmh.com. The hospital’s main line is 928-289-4691.  Udall told council members that trust is central to the hospital’s future and said LCMC is trying to respond more directly when patients have problems. He said he and other hospital leaders are willing to meet with patients, hear what happened and try to fix what the hospital can fix.  The council also opened public hearings on the city’s final budget for fiscal year 2026-27 and the estimated tax levy, which was broken down in an article in the May 13, edition of The Tribune. City Manager David Coolidge said the final budget was identical to the tentative budget previously presented to the council, with “no changes, no reductions” and no members of the public spoke during either hearing. The budget was officially adopted during a special meeting held shortly after the regular meeting last week.  Coolidge also gave a legislative update after the end of the state session, saying the state budget signed June 13 includes tax conformity provisions tied to the federal H.R. 1 bill that are expected to reduce Winslow’s state-shared revenues by about $100,000 per year. He said that may not sound large in an $11 million budget but “that’s one to two employees,” and he also noted a state backfill for 911 system costs, a three-year moratorium on data center tax incentives and a November ballot expected to include 10 referendums, including one that would cap grocery taxes at 2%.   The city also received its May financial report. As of May 31, with 92% of the fiscal year complete, citywide revenues for May were $2 million bringing year-to-date revenues to $24 million while citywide expenditures for May were $2.7 million, bringing year-to-date expenditures to $23.5 million. General fund revenues were at 110% of budget and expenditures were at 98% of budget and total cash and investments stood at $16.4 million.  During the meeting the council also approved past meeting minutes, the check register and cancelled the Aug. 25, regular meeting. The post Blue Cross deadline arrives for LCMC patients first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4495e9c2ca79de23628817 Holbrook nonprofit offers a First Step toward employment for people with disabilities te 2026-07-01T04:22:01.000Z Holbrook nonprofit offers a First Step toward employment for people with disabilities By Shawn White  By the time payday comes around at First Step Workshop, some of the workers have already been talking about it for a week. For the adults with developmental disabilities who work at the Holbrook thrift store and training program, payday means a trip to the bank, a nice lunch out and the pride of having earned something of their own. It is a welcomed chance for normalcy and independence in the lives of people who have to fight harder than most to be seen as ordinary.   For Michelle Hale, director of First Step Workshop, payday is one of the clearest reminders of what the organization is really about: giving members the same ordinary experiences everyone else wants from work, independence and community.  “They may have some challenges, and they may have a different sensory input, the way they process things, but they’re still people just like everybody else,” Hale said. First Step Workshop is easy to mistake as just a thrift store. People drop off clothing, toys, household goods and other items. Shoppers come in looking for a bargain but behind the storefront is something much bigger.  First Step Workshop is a nonprofit program contracted through the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities. Its members qualify through the state and often live with developmental disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or cognitive disorders.  The thrift store is part of what the program calls center-based employment. Members learn how to show up for work, dress for work, follow expectations and build the habits needed to hold a job.  They work seven-hour days, 35 hours a week and the routine is not pretend work. It is work, with expectations, responsibilities, co-workers and a paycheck. “Our goal is to train them to eventually be able to go out into the community and hold a job in the community,” Hale said.  First Step Workshop also has group-supported employment contracts, including with the Navajo County and Holbrook High School, where members go out into the community and perform cleaning work for pay. Hale said those opportunities give members a sense of purpose, accomplishment and a visible role in the community.  The organization also operates a day program for members who are not in the work program, are waiting to become eligible or have aged out of work and want to retire. In that setting, members work on daily living skills such as hygiene, cooking, mobility and maintaining the abilities they already have.  For someone in the day program, success might not look like a job in town. It might be learning a new skill after months of practice, getting out of the house or being able to do one more thing independently than they could do before.  When those moments happen, Hale said, staff members feel them deeply. She spoke about members of the day program who practice the same skill over and over again for months, sometimes with very little progress. Then, “All of a sudden one day they just do it, and you’re like, you gotta leave the room because you want to cry,” Hale said. “It’s phenomenal when that happens.”  There are currently about 10 members between First Step Workshop’s two programs. Some come from Holbrook, while others are picked up from Winslow and Snowflake, making transportation one of the things that keeps the program possible for families across the region.  First Step is also one of the few work programs left in the area. Hale said similar programs have closed over the years, including programs in the Show Low area, leaving First Step Workshop as one of the only options on this side of the state.  That makes the small thrift store feel bigger than its walls. It is a workplace, a classroom, a social space and a bridge between members and the community around them. The bridge does not always go as far as Hale would like. The hope is to help members gain enough experience to work in the community, but Hale said the biggest barrier is not the members. “It is finding employers that are willing to hire someone that’s going to take a little extra supervision, a little extra coaching,” Hale said.  That frustration comes from knowing what the members are capable of. Hale described them as dedicated workers who take pride in being there and hate missing work. “These are some of the best workers you’ll ever see,” Hale said. “They’re very dedicated to their jobs.”  The work is also about changing old ideas. Hale has spent about 25 years in the field and said people with disabilities were once kept apart from the rest of the community in ways many people today may not fully understand.  That mindset has not disappeared completely. Hale remembered walking into a fast-food restaurant with a group of people with disabilities and watching people on one side of the restaurant get up and move away. “There’s still that old-school thinking,” Hale said.  “They have the same basic rights you and I have, and people don’t understand that,” Hale said. “They have the right to get married. They have the right to have those relationships. They have the right to live in a safe environment.”  The thrift store itself depends on the community. First Step is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and relies heavily on donations to keep the store running. Clothing and toys come in regularly, but Hale said the store especially needs household goods and other items in clean, working condition.   Still, the gratitude is real. Donations help pay wages, keep the store open and allow First Step Workshop to help others when the need is urgent. Hale recalled a family that lost everything in a fire and was told to come to the store and take what they needed. It’s that kind of community passion at the heart of First Step Workshop.  Hale said the one thing the board is in a real need of is new board members. Some of the organization’s board members have served for decades and some were there at the beginning, when the program opened in 1980 under a different name.  Now, Hale said, the organization needs younger members, new ideas and people willing to help carry the work forward. The most important requirement is that board members keep the members’ best interests at the center of every decision. That is what the story keeps coming back to. Not the thrift store, not the donations and not even the paycheck by itself. At First Step, a paycheck is proof that someone showed up, did the work and got to take part in the same ordinary life everyone else is trying to build. The post Holbrook nonprofit offers a First Step toward employment for people with disabilities first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4495d5c2ca79de2362880e Holbrook council debates budget priorities te 2026-07-01T04:21:41.546Z Holbrook council debates budget priorities By Shawn White  Over $1 million dollars that had been listed for updating the city pool in Holbrook’s proposed 2026-27 budget was moved into a general administrative contingency line after concerns were raised by council members about whether the city was moving too quickly toward a pool, civic center or multipurpose facility.  City Manager Randy Sullivan told the Holbrook City Council during a June 24, budget work session that the money was removed from the parks section of the budget and placed into contingency. He said the change keeps the money available for future needs, including possible grant matches, streets or design work, but does not commit the city to one project.  “The key thing about the pool is anything that we do for that is going to have to come to you guys anyways,” Sullivan said, addressing the council, adding that large design costs or other project expenses would still have to return to the council for approval.  Sullivan said the city is likely about a year away from making major decisions about how to finance a project, whether through bonds or another method. If the money is not spent in the coming year, he said, it would carry over into the city’s fund balance.  He also said the city has about $11 million in investments and that he generally tries not to budget the general fund balance. Savings from efficiencies, unfilled positions or other cost reductions are rolled into longer-term investments so the city has money available when large needs arise.  “Anytime that we find efficiencies throughout the year, or cost savings throughout the year, or we’re short guys in the department, those end up being cost savings that I end up rolling over into long-term savings accounts,” Sullivan said. “So that way, when we do run into an issue with the pool, we have $12 million in there that could help us.”  Councilmember Roxanne Pergesen, who participated by phone, said her concern was making sure limited city money is used in a way that produces the greatest benefit. She said money could be used for grant matches, infrastructure, tourism or other projects that help the city generate revenue.  “When you’re running on a very limited-type budget, money has to be extended to develop maximum effort,” Pergesen said. “If we can utilize whatever money we are utilizing for specific projects we have to have, then let that money make us money.”  Councilmember Robert Black said he remained uncomfortable with the change because he believed moving the money into contingency could still allow the city to continue toward the same project. He said he worried the council could approve the budget and then see the administration continue moving forward with plans for a pool or multipurpose center.  “I’m still not warm and fuzzy on this because I know what happens,” Black said. “We’ll move that over in contingency and then we’ll keep on going with the same plans.”  Sullivan said the money was not set aside for any specific project and that any purchase over $15,000 would have to come back to the council. Black was told he and other council members would have the ability to oppose any future proposal when it comes forward.  Black said his larger concern is that Holbrook should focus more on basic infrastructure before pursuing a large quality-of-life project. He said roads, sewer systems, schools and other public needs have to be ready before new residents or businesses arrive. “We have not done anything with our infrastructure.” He later clarified that he was referring to underground systems such as sewer and water lines, not bridges or other visible improvements.  Black said he liked the idea of a multipurpose center but questioned whether it was the right direction for the city. He called the project a “pipe dream” and said Holbrook should put money toward more immediate needs. “I think we’re heading the wrong direction. If you’re looking at doing something for Holbrook and trying to get on the right track for Holbrook, I think we’re on the wrong track.”  Mayor Kathleen Smith disagreed with the idea that the city was neglecting infrastructure. She pointed to the city’s recently completed general plan and said the civic center discussion did not mean other priorities had been abandoned. “For the accusation to be said that we’re neglecting the utilities and the infrastructure, that is an untrue statement,” Smith said.   “I think that we’re wanting to move forward, and also have to provide that quality of life for our residents,” Councilmember Karina Pack said. She said the city needs to take care of current residents while also preparing for the future.  Sullivan said the city’s current direction is to work with the Holbrook Unified School District, Northland Pioneer College and Navajo County but staff does not want to lose a year if those partnerships do not come together. In that case, he said, the city may need to keep moving on a pool-only option.   The meeting did not result in a vote because it was just a work session. However, beforehand the council met briefly in a special meeting to authorize the transfer of a right-of-way segment of land on the edge of the church’s parking lot at 1202 W. Hopi Drive from the city to Calvary Chapel of Holbrook Inc. The post Holbrook council debates budget priorities first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4495c0c2ca79de236287e5 Socialism goes west as DSA-backed challenger ousts longtime Democrat te 2026-07-01T04:21:20.040Z Socialism goes west as DSA-backed challenger ousts longtime Democrat Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., a 30-year incumbent, lost to a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed challenger in a high-profile primary on Tuesday evening. Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old socialist, defeated DeGette in a Democratic primary for a deep-blue House seat anchored in Denver, according to The Associated Press, scoring a major victory for the socialist left on Tuesday evening. The DSA had been aiming to cast DeGette’s loss as evidence of its growing momentum after a slate of socialist candidates won Democratic primaries in New York City last week. "Today, the East Coast, next week the Mountain West," the DSA wrote in a social media post last week. SOCIALISTS CHEER ‘SHOCKWAVE’ PRIMARY NIGHT AS DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES WIN, ADVANCE ACROSS THE MAP If elected in November, Kiros, who was born in Ethiopia, will likely join the ranks of the far-left group known as the Squad and become one of a handful of the House chamber's outspoken socialists.  The millennial challenger was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and the anti-incumbent leftist organization Justice Democrats. Controversial socialist streamer Hasan Piker, who has said Hamas is "a thousand times better" than Israel and praised the Chinese Communist Party, also backed Kiros’ insurgent primary run. DeGette, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus who supports abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sought to win a 16th House term by flexing her leftist bona fides. She argued her seniority on an influential House committee would allow her to push for Medicare-for-All legislation — a longtime priority of the party’s far-left flank. DeGette, who was endorsed by former CPC Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., also spotlighted her experience as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021. Though DeGette and Kiros shared few policy disagreements, they diverged sharply over Israel and antisemitism. Kiros also sharply criticized DeGette for accepting corporate PAC contributions. Kiros, a PhD student and lawyer, was fired from a New York firm in 2023 after publishing an open letter, arguing that pro-Palestinian student protesters calling for the elimination of Israel were not antisemitic and appearing to defend Hamas. WATCH: HOUSE DEMS UNLOAD ON TEXAS DEMOCRAT OVER ‘DEMENTED’ ANTISEMITIC COMMENTS She has also described the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks against the Jewish state as the "inevitable consequence of apartheid" and declined to characterize the deadly firebombing of protesters in Boulder last year who were urging the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza as antisemitic.  "I don't know what was in the heart of the perpetrator," Kiros told Colorado's 9News in a recent television interview. "All I know is that he went and attacked innocent people because of what they might have believed." A June 2025 bipartisan resolution condemning the attack as part of a "rise in ideologically motivated attacks on Jewish individuals" won every present lawmaker’s support, except for Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who voted present. Kiros has also suggested the United States deserved 9/11. "Inevitable in the sense that we destabilized a lot of the Middle East that forced people to believe that another act of violence was the only response," Kiros told 9News when asked if she thought the terror attack was "the inevitable consequence of American foreign policy." "And again, just like I said before, our responsibility is to get rid of those conditions that lead to violence in the first place," Kiros continued. DeGette argued that Kiros' embrace of Piker and her comments about antisemitism and 9/11 were disqualifying.  "I’m shocked and disgusted that Kiros is doubling down on excusing terrorism and the murder of innocent people," the 30-year incumbent wrote on Facebook earlier this month. Colorado’s 1st Congressional District is the most liberal seat in the state and voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris by 56 points in 2024. The primary fight was further scrambled by University of Colorado Regent Wanda James, also running for DeGette's seat. Though James did not pose the same threat as Kiros, her vote share could ultimately have swayed the contest. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a449599c2ca79de236287c5 Melat Kiros, a Left-Wing Insurgent, Ousts a 15-Term Congresswoman in Colorado te 2026-07-01T04:20:41.127Z Melat Kiros, a Left-Wing Insurgent, Ousts a 15-Term Congresswoman in Colorado Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old democratic socialist, unseated Representative Diana DeGette in a Democratic primary to represent the Denver area. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a449585c2ca79de236287bc Democratic Outsiders Keep Rolling: 5 Takeaways From Colorado’s Primaries te 2026-07-01T04:20:21.677Z Democratic Outsiders Keep Rolling: 5 Takeaways From Colorado’s Primaries A democratic socialist ousted a veteran congresswoman in Denver, and a U.S. senator lost his bid for governor. But the state’s other senator fended off a progressive primary challenger. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44937dc2ca79de23628777 Independence Day celebrations slated te 2026-07-01T04:11:41.181Z Independence Day celebrations slated Area residents and visitors in the region will have plenty of activities to choose from as they celebrate Independence Day. Holbrook  It’s parade time for the 4th of July and all are invited! Bikes, trikes, strollers, wheelbarrows, walkers, unicycles, etc. meet and gather beginning at 8 a.m. at Hunt Park, located at Park Road. Red, white, and blue decorations available and helpers willing to assist trimming participants wheels! Show up at 8:30 a.m. and join in with the parade at 9 a.m., led by the Holbrook Volunteer Fire Department fire truck.  There’s more fun after the parade with games and water activities happening throughout the morning. Treats will be provided too. Come support the traditional 4th of July in Happy Holbrook!    The annual Holbrook Volunteer Firemen’s Barbecue is scheduled from 12 p.m. until the food is gone at Fire Station No. 3, located at 100 Airport Road. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids. Takeout plates are also available. Tickets may be purchased from any fireman or at the door.  The Holbrook firemen will also present their free fireworks show after dark at the Navajo County Governmental Complex in southern Holbrook. Joseph City  The community of Joseph City has a full lineup of holiday festivities for the Fourth of July with all events at Tanner Park, located at 4560 Main St., unless otherwise noted. Beginning at 5:15 a.m., there will be a 5K Fun Run. Meet at the northeast corner of the park for registration beginning at 4:15 a.m.   At 8 a.m., a patriotic parade will make its way down Main Street from Hansen Street and ending at Tanner Park. Lineup is at 7:30 a.m.   At 8:30 a.m. the flag raising will take place, then at 9 a.m. the Bucket of Blood Re-enactors will present its “I do, I do” Old West shootout.  At 9:30 a.m. tournament registrations open (call Blaine for info and advance registration at 480-217-5476). Also at that time food and craft vendors open, the Kid Zone opens and tournaments begin on the 1/2 hour including a volleyball tournament at 10:00 a.m., horseshoes tournament at 10:30 a.m., Human foosball and cornhole at 11 a.m.  At 1 p.m. it’s the Color Blast, followed by basketball at 1:30 p.m. at the Joseph City High School Gym.   This event is hosted by the Joseph City Chamber of Commerce. Snowflake/Taylor  On Friday, the festivities begin at 12 p.m., at Rodeo Park in Taylor with the Snowflake/Taylor Chamber of Commerce hosting an arts & crafts event. The event will go on until 5 p.m. then begin again at 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Saturday.   Also on Friday, head to the rodeo grounds for super fresh calf roping beginning at 6 p.m. Cowboy poetry and country music will be held beginning at 7 p.m. at Rodeo Park.   On Saturday, the day begins at 5 a.m., with the annual firing of the anvil and band serenade beginning at Solomon Hill Ball Park, located at Center and 700 East Street, with stops at Old Center Street Church, the church at 309 W. Willow and concluding at Rodeo Park in Taylor at 6:15 a.m.   At 6 a.m. on Saturday, a free pancake breakfast will be held at the Rodeo Pavilion.   Beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, it’s the Fourth of July Freedom Run to begin at the Snowflake Bike Park, located at 1784 W. 7th S. St. in Snowflake. The cost is $30 for adults and $15 for youth 17 and under. Register in advance at www.rec.us/taylor.  At 10 a.m. a patriotic program will take place at the Town Hall of Fame, located at 309 W. Willow Lane in Taylor, featuring the Jennings Band and keynote speaker Brad Click.  That evening it’s the 72nd annual Fourth of July Taylor Rodeo at the Taylor Rodeo Grounds. The preshow begins at 7 p.m. with the rodeo events to begin at 7:30. Ticket prices are $15, with kids 5 and under free. Following the rodeo there will be team roping.  Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. followed by a dance beginning at 9:30 p.m. at the Rodeo Pavilion.  Winslow  From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.., (or when food runs out) the Winslow Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a community barbecue on the 4th of July. It will be at the Hayden Walton Memorial Park near the Route 66 Splash Pad. There’ll be a few games and a tattoo station for kids. There is no charge for this event. There will also be lots of activities at McHood Park/Clear Creek Reservoir such as swimming, tubing, paddle boarding, kayaking, picnics, etc.  The fireworks show will start when the sky is dark. Winslow’s fireworks show is funded by donations from the community and is directed by lifelong resident Dan Simmons. The show lasts about an hour and a half with a 15-minute intermission. The post Independence Day celebrations slated first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a449369c2ca79de2362876e Board of Supervisors finalize 2026-27 budget te 2026-07-01T04:11:21.729Z Board of Supervisors finalize 2026-27 budget By Talaina Kor  The Navajo County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting June 23, during which the board entered a special meeting to review and approve the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 budget, which had no changes from the tentative budget presented in the previous meeting.   Highlights in this year’s budget are capital improvements, IT and software enhancements, new positions and staff compensation. The general fund budget is $54.1 million, with an additional $18.5 million in contingency funds, totaling $72.6 millions. Special revenue funds totaled at $150.3 million, and the capital project funds totaled at $33 million. The FY 2026 budget totaled approximately $247 million, and FY 2027 totaled approximately $258 million.   A public hearing was held regarding the budget, during which no one spoke.  In the county business update County Manager Bryan Layton announced that the county’s website has a new webpage with information relating to the county’s economic and renewable energy developments. “We think this will be a valuable resource to educate, clarify misunderstandings and help dispel some of the misinformation that’s been circulating on those issues,” Layton stated. The new webpage is now live and can be found on the County Information Center page of the Navajo County website.  Recently retired county employee Ernie Neff was celebrated for over a decade and a half of service in the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. “He’s done over 24 years of service in the corrections world,” stated Sheriff David Clouse, “and he’s done 16 of those with the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office.” Clouse said that while Neff is a man of few words, he exhibited leadership and great work during his time with the county.  K-9 units Sejn and Zolton were also honored on their retirement. Sejn was responsible for the seizure of 138.7 pounds of methamphetamine, 28 pounds of marijuana, 18,573 fentanyl pills, 8 PCP blotters and 1.58 ounces of crack cocaine. Zolton was responsible for the seizure of 89.4 pounds of cocaine, 40.3 pounds of fentanyl powder, 757,330 fentanyl pills, 18 pounds of heroin, 1,819.6 pounds of marijuana, 1,316 THC vape pens, 600.4 pounds of methamphetamine, 600 ecstasy pills, 54 LSD blotters and $220,339.  County Supervisors Association (CSA) Executive Director Craig Sullivan presented on the activities of the CSA for FY 2025-2026, which included a discussion of the recent legislative session.   Personnel service awards were presented to employees for their continued service to the county, which included Elizabeth Whitehorne-Benally, Kayenta Constable, 10 years; Betty Starns, Sheriff’s Office, 10 years; Jerald VanWinkle, Jail Operations, 10 years; Katy Chee, Health Department, 15 years; Sheri Martinez, Holbrook Justice Court, 20 years; and Catrina Jenkins, Emergency Management, 25 years.   During the meeting, the board:  * Approved tax exemptions filed as requests for redemption of waiver.  * Approved the reissuance of stale dated checks.  * Approved updating constable salaries for January 2027. Salaries are Holbrook Precinct 1, $27,000; Winslow Precinct 2 $36,000; Snowflake Precinct 3, $50,000; Kayenta Precinct 4, $15,000; Show Low Precinct 5, $55,000; and Pinetop Precinct 6, $55,000.  * Approved to conduct an election for Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District, for a bond on the Nov. 3 election.  * Approved an amendment for the Vehicle Repeaters and Components contract with JC Cullen Inc. dba Niles Radio Communications to extend the contract for one year to July 14, 2027.  * Approved a professional services agreement with Stanley Consultants, Inc. for right-of-way services for the Shumway Road at Silver Creek Bridge Replacement Project in the amount of $72,098.  * Approved legal services for dependency cases for Public Defenders Office contract amendment to extend the contract with Belt Law Firm for one additional year to Aug. 11, 2027.  * Approved an amendment to the contract for on-call surveying services with Painted Sky Engineering & Survey, LLC. to extend for one additional year to July 30, 2027.  * Approved a contract for janitorial services for the Navajo County Holbrook Complex with WCD Enterprises, LLC.  * Approved a contract for janitorial services for the Navajo County Complex located at 1121 W. Pinedale Road in Taylor, with WCD Enterprises, LLC.  * Approved a letter of support for the Little Colorado Medical Center’s (LCMC) proposal for a residency program. Supervisor Alberto Peshlakai abstained from voting due to his new position on the LCMC Board of Directors.  * Approved a grant award from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, pass-through entity for the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Sheriff’s Office was awarded $75,165 for the salary and fringe benefits of the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program Coordinator. This grant requires a match of $18,791 which will be funded from opioid settlement monies.   * Approved the Robert Santos contract amendment for Law Enforcement Services for Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. Robert Santos is an independent contractor assigned to the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy (NARTA) as a Recruit Training Officer.  * Approved vehicle donations request by the Northeastern Arizona Training Center. Two retired law enforcement vehicles from the Sheriff’s Office will be donated to the NARTA. Due to their age, mileage, condition and anticipated repair costs, the vehicles have minimal market value and were not suitable for continued fleet service.  * Approved naming two existing unnamed roads in the Clay Springs area to “Ironstone Road” (East to West) and “Red Tail Way” (North to South) in Section 15, Township 11 North – Range 19 East in District IV.  * Approved a sympathy letter to Joel Ruechel.  * Approved the award of the contract for Starlight Pavement Reconstruction – Phase 2 to Jud Co, LLC, for just over $1.3 million. Funds were budgeted in FY 2027 under the Capital Improvement Projects. The work consists of removing existing pavement and subgrade, installing new geogrid, aggregate base course, three inches of asphalt concrete pavement and other related work. The board also received a presentation on the Starlight Ridge Estates Unit III development.  * Approved an IGA between Navajo County and Whippoorwill Chapter. Whippoorwill Chapter is responsible for supportive maintenance on public roads within the Whippoorwill Chapter service area supporting school bus routes, emergency medical access and daily transportation for residents of the Chapter. To ensure continued service, funding is needed for repairs on their backhoe, which is needed for backfilling, assisting with culvert replacements and other routine maintenance. With the support from Navajo County, Whippoorwill Chapter will be able to sustain their road grading efforts and continue collaborative service alongside BIA and NDOT — ultimately benefiting the health, safety, and mobility of the community members.  * Held a truth in taxation public hearing then approved the 2027 property tax levy with no change to property tax rates. Although the property tax rates did not increase, the amount of property tax paid will increase slightly due to increases in assessed valuations. These increases are $209,000 due to new construction and an additional $200,000 due to valuation increases. The rate is 0.8114. A public hearing was held, during which no one spoke.  Convening as the Navajo County Public Health Services District, the board:  * Approved the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) amendment between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Navajo County Public Health Services District for the COVID-19 expansion IGA. The amendment reallocates existing grant funds from the additional project costs budget category to the indirect costs, supplies and professional and outside services categories.   * Approved an IGA amendment between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Navajo County Public Health Services District for the Public Health Infrastructure Grant IGA. The amendment includes minimal changes, with no changes to the scope of work or budget.  * Approved the Child Care Health Consultation contract with First Things First for FY 2027 annual contract renewal.  * Approved an amendment to IGA Arizona’s Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention Program between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Navajo County Public Health Services District. The amendment includes minor revisions to the scope of work, primarily removing references to partnering entities and making minor adjustments to budget line-item allocations. No significant changes to the overall grant funding, program objectives, service delivery, or anticipated community impact.  Convening as the Board of Directors, the board:  * Approved adoptions of final FY 2026-27 budgets for: Navajo County Public Health Services District, Navajo County Library District, Navajo County Flood Control District including LCR Flood Control Zone, White Mountain Lakes County Recreation Improvement District, Silver Creek County Road Improvement District, Victory Heights Road Maintenance District, Porter Mountain Domestic Water Improvement District, Fawnbrook Domestic Water Improvement District, Joseph City Street Lighting Improvement District, Navajo County Jail District, Timberland Acres Special Road District, White Mountain Lakes No. 2 Special Road District and Silver Creek Flood Protection District. The post Board of Supervisors finalize 2026-27 budget first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a449356c2ca79de23628765 Supervisor Whiting proposes nuclear development in Navajo County to bring jobs te 2026-07-01T04:11:02.281Z Supervisor Whiting proposes nuclear development in Navajo County to bring jobs Determined to bring new jobs and economic development to the region, Supervisor Jason Whiting told state energy regulators last Thursday that Arizona’s next nuclear power plant should be built in Navajo County. “As Arizona plans for future energy demands, nuclear energy should be at the top of the list,” Whiting said. “Nuclear power offers unparalleled benefits, including 24/7 baseload power that ensures unmatched reliability and affordability.”  Whiting argued that Navajo County is the ideal location for a new nuclear power plant, whether it is a small modular reactor (SMR)—a newer, scalable nuclear technology—or a traditional large plant like the Palo Verde Generating Station west of Phoenix, which employs over 2,500 full-time employees. He specifically encouraged commissioners to consider the former Cholla Power Plant near Joseph City, noting that the site’s existing transmission infrastructure and experienced local workforce make it a compelling option for redevelopment.  “My constituents are tired of large-scale solar farms that don’t bring jobs and mar the landscape,” Whiting testified. “They want to see reliable energy projects that create jobs and economic activity for our schools and small businesses. Nuclear power can help deliver that future, and Navajo County is ready to play a leading role.”  The workshop and Whiting’s testimony follow recent announcements by Arizona Public Service, Tucson Electric Power, and Salt River Project that they are evaluating options for new nuclear generation, including possible early site studies at retiring coal plant locations such as Cholla. The utilities have emphasized that any new nuclear project would take several years to develop and construct. The post Supervisor Whiting proposes nuclear development in Navajo County to bring jobs first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a449341c2ca79de2362873b Feds dismantle alleged gun trafficking ring that funneled dozens of firearms from Georgia to Chicago gangs te 2026-07-01T04:10:41.285Z Feds dismantle alleged gun trafficking ring that funneled dozens of firearms from Georgia to Chicago gangs Federal authorities have dismantled an alleged firearms trafficking ring that prosecutors say funneled dozens of guns from Georgia to Chicago street gangs, with some of the weapons later linked to a juvenile murder and other violent crimes. Five people were charged in a 23-count federal indictment unsealed this month in the Middle District of Georgia following a Homeland Security Task Force investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Prosecutors said Anthony Edmond and Rafael Enriquez face the most serious charges, including conspiracy involving firearms trafficking, machineguns and drug trafficking. Both face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted, while three additional defendants also face federal firearms conspiracy charges. According to court documents, Edmond is allegedly a member of the Chicago-based Black Disciples gang and an associate of another Chicago street gang known as the Conservative Vice Lords. MORE ILLEGAL MIGRANTS BUSTED RUNNING MASSIVE GUN-RUNNING OPERATIONS According to prosecutors, Edmond was directed by co-conspirators to make straw purchases of firearms from Georgia gun stores that were later transported and distributed to gang members in the Chicago area. Prosecutors allege Edmond purchased dozens of firearms from Georgia gun stores between 2020 and 2021, including at least 22 firearms over a 10-month period. Some of those firearms were allegedly converted into fully automatic weapons and later used in multiple violent crimes, according to the indictment. MD, BALTIMORE MAYOR TARGET GLOCK FOR SELLING PISTOLS THAT CAN BE CONVERTED INTO MACHINE GUNS Prosecutors also allege Edmond purchased ammunition, extended magazines and drum magazines, and test-fired firearms before transferring them. Edmond is also accused of making multiple trips from Georgia to Illinois to deliver the firearms to gang members in Chicago. Authorities said police recovered 20 firearms allegedly purchased by Edmond in three states between 2021 and 2026. According to prosecutors, the Chicago Police Department recovered a Glock pistol in 2021 from the bedroom of a known juvenile gang member. Forensic testing later linked the firearm to three separate violent crimes. Prosecutors allege the pistol was used in a 2021 Chicago murder and later in the shooting of a rival gang member. Investigators said Edmond purchased the firearm in Georgia just 36 days before it was allegedly used in the homicide. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a448c38c2ca79de236285d8 Foul odor at NYC school leads police to body hidden in chimney te 2026-07-01T03:40:40.787Z Foul odor at NYC school leads police to body hidden in chimney Human remains were found in the chimney of a public school in Queens, New York, on Tuesday morning while officials were investigating a foul odor, according to police. The remains were discovered at P.S./I.S. 113 Anthony J. Pranzo shortly before 9 a.m. Police were called to the elementary and middle school, and authorities are now working to identify the deceased individual. The city’s medical examiner removed  the remains and will determine the cause of death. MYSTERY OF REMAINS FOUND INSIDE SLEEPING BAG IN OLYMPIC PARK SOLVED AFTER 26 YEARS It is unclear how long the remains had been there or how they ended up in the chimney. No students or staff were in the building when the remains were uncovered, as school ended for the summer on Friday and the school was closed for construction, police said. Contractors had been working on the building over the last few days, and police are now trying to confirm whether all the workers have been accounted for, according to the New York Daily News. Permits were obtained for wiring, hot water heating and other work, City Buildings Department records show. REMAINS FOUND IN UTAH DESERT 28 YEARS AGO WITH HELP OF PSYCHIC FINALLY IDENTIFIED THROUGH DNA GENEALOGY The City Department of Education described the discovery of the corpse as "deeply upsetting and concerning." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a448774c2ca79de236283fc The “Father of the Internet” is finally retiring te 2026-07-01T03:20:20.128Z The “Father of the Internet” is finally retiring Vinton Cerf, one of the creators of the protocols underlying the internet, will step down as Google's chief internet evangelist next week. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4482d9c2ca79de2362833e Boy, 2, pulled alive from rubble six days after Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes te 2026-07-01T03:00:41.438Z Boy, 2, pulled alive from rubble six days after Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes Emergency workers in Venezuela on Tuesday rescued a 2-year-old boy who had been trapped beneath the rubble for six days, marking the only reported rescue of a survivor on the sixth day of operations following last week's devastating earthquakes. Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez said in a Telegram post that Jordanian emergency workers pulled the child from a collapsed building in La Guaira, where the worst destruction from last week's earthquakes occurred. The child, identified by authorities as Klieber Moran, was rescued after spending six days trapped beneath the rubble, Rodríguez said. Moran was taken to a hospital for treatment, she added. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PLEDGES $150M IN AID, DEPLOYS NAVY WARSHIPS AFTER DEADLY VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKES National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said in a televised address Tuesday that officials remain hopeful more survivors will be found. "We ⁠must hold onto the hope of continuing to find people alive beneath the rubble," Jorge said. "Early this morning, a 2-year-old boy was rescued and is currently ​receiving care at ​a health ⁠center in Caracas." Rescue efforts have continued since magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck Venezuela's northern coast last Wednesday. DEATH TOLL FROM VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKES RISES TO AT LEAST 235, WITH THOUSANDS REPORTED MISSING The death toll from the twin earthquakes rose to 1,943 on Tuesday, with more than 10,500 people injured, according to Venezuelan officials. On Monday, the death toll stood at 1,719. Tuesday's rescue marked another glimmer of hope amid the disaster that has devastated the South American country. On Saturday, the U.S. State Department shared video showing American search-and-rescue teams pulling an infant alive from beneath the rubble in Venezuela. EX-MLB PLAYER SAYS WIFE DIED IN DEVASTATING VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKES The infant, who is 9 months old, was rescued along with her mother, the State Department told Fox News Digital. Both suffered only minor injuries, according to the rescue team. "Against impossible odds, hope endures," the State Department posted on X. On Tuesday, a shipment from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) containing 47 metric tons of humanitarian supplies arrived in Venezuela. FORMER METS PITCHER NARROWLY ESCAPES DEATH IN VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKES THANKS TO ELEVATOR MALFUNCTION The shipment includes emergency health kits for urgent medical care, including supplies for safe births, newborn care, disease prevention and treatment, according to the United Nations. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from Virginia, California and Florida were dispatched to Venezuela on Friday to help search collapsed buildings. According to the State Department, the three USAR teams include 312 personnel and 18 canine teams, made up of firefighters, physicians, structural engineers and canine search specialists, and deployed with more than 200,000 pounds of specialized rescue equipment. Reuters contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a448080c2ca79de236282b8 Willson Contreras at the center of benches-clearing scuffle, throws helmet at Nationals pitcher te 2026-07-01T02:50:40.316Z Willson Contreras at the center of benches-clearing scuffle, throws helmet at Nationals pitcher Absolute bedlam broke loose at Fenway Park Tuesday night. The Red Sox and Nationals turned a regular June game into the biggest baseball brawl of the season after Boston hothead Willson Contreras completely lost it. Commissioner Rob Manfred can't hop on the phone fast enough. BENCHES CLEAR AS DODGERS-PADRES RIVALRY BOILS OVER IN HEATED SHOWDOWN AFTER FERNANDO TATIS JR GETS DRILLED It all started in the fourth inning when Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli punched out a visibly frustrated Contreras and barked at him to "sit down." Contreras immediately erupted. He charged the mound, and the dugouts and bullpens emptied as the infield turned into a full-blown brawl. Contreras eventually broke free from the sea of players trying to hold him back, reigniting the chaos. WATCH: Things hit a boiling point when Contreras leaped into the air and hurled his batting helmet directly at Cavalli. The umpires issued a flurry of ejections. Contreras was tossed immediately, while Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton, interim manager Chad Tracy and Washington pitcher Miles Mikolas were all sent to the showers early. Tuesday night's explosion from Contreras had actually been 24 hours in the making. On Monday night, Contreras was ejected in the second inning after a check-swing strikeout prompted him to give a sarcastic ABS challenge gesture at the umpire, earning an instant boot. Earlier that day, Contreras had broken down in tears while talking about the deadly earthquakes that devastated his native Venezuela. RED SOX STAR WEEPS FOR EARTHQUAKE-HIT VENEZUELA AFTER HOME RUN, GETS TOSSED BY UMPIRE MINUTES LATER By getting ejected on consecutive nights, the 34-year-old capped one of the wildest 48-hour stretches of his career. But MLB isn't exactly in the empathy business. When you turn your batting helmet into a weapon, the suspension hammer is coming regardless. Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a447e2ac2ca79de2362823c DOJ says 11 migrants indicted in multi-state sex trafficking, drug, firearms case te 2026-07-01T02:40:42.544Z DOJ says 11 migrants indicted in multi-state sex trafficking, drug, firearms case Federal prosecutors have charged 11 Venezuelan and Colombian nationals — 10 of whom the Justice Department says are currently unlawfully present in the United States — in a sweeping, multi-state criminal case alleging the defendants trafficked a minor and an adult woman for sex while also dealing drugs and illegally trafficking firearms, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. Ten of the defendants were arrested Tuesday during coordinated law enforcement operations in Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida, while one remains at large. Prosecutors said 10 of the 11 defendants are currently in the United States illegally. A 30-count federal indictment, returned June 11 and unsealed Tuesday, alleges four defendants conspired between July and August 2025 to sex traffic a minor and an adult woman. The Justice Department’s announcement appears to contain conflicting references to the minor’s age, describing the alleged victim as 17 in one section and 14 in a quote from the U.S. attorney. DHS HAS ONLY 7 CHILD EXPLOITATION ANALYSTS, HAWLEY MEASURE WOULD FUND 200 INVESTIGATORS According to the Justice Department, the defendants traveled across state lines to promote prostitution and created online commercial sex advertisements in the central Ohio area. Beyond the alleged sex trafficking scheme, prosecutors say members of the group also sold ecstasy and trafficked firearms, including at least nine guns. Some defendants are additionally accused of illegally possessing firearms while in the country. "These defendants — ten of whom are currently illegally present in this country — allegedly engaged in a panoply of illicit trafficking activity, from drugs to firearms to human beings," U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said. "We have no tolerance for anybody who commits such crimes in our communities, and we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law." KASH PATEL TOUTS FBI 'FULL-THROTTLE MISSION' AFTER OPERATION SPRING CLEANING YIELDS 615 INDICTMENTS/COMPLAINTS The charges stem from an investigation led by a Homeland Security Task Force. "We will continue to work hard to keep Ohio safe and get narcotics, firearms, and violent criminals off the streets," FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie said. Acting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey said the indictment demonstrates the task force's commitment to protecting communities from transnational criminal organizations accused of exploiting vulnerable victims while trafficking drugs and firearms. BIDEN JUDGE OVERRULED ON KEY TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICY Among those charged are six defendants living in Ohio. They include Venezuelan nationals Jean Pierre Alejandro Guillen Salcedo, 30, and Taidin Adreina Ferrer Guillen, 34, both of Hilliard; Venezuelan nationals Pedro Angel Colls-Flores, 34, and Alismar Daniela Contreras-Arevalo, 20, both of Columbus; and Colombian nationals Briyi Daniela Ordonez-Iter, 21, of Hilliard, and Julian David Patino Pena, 33, of Columbus. Two additional defendants are Venezuelan nationals living in Tennessee: John Alexandre Fajardo-Ulzcategui, 27, and Jose Ruben Sanchez-Pena, 34, both of Smyrna. The remaining defendants are Venezuelan national Keivar Elian Guillen Salcedo, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina; Venezuelan national Therry Brayant Leon Gavida, 34, of Jacksonville, Florida; and Venezuelan national Dervin Alejandro Colmenares Quintero, 29, whose residence is listed as Mexico. The Justice Department said the case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established under President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The initiative is intended to target transnational criminal organizations, foreign gangs, human trafficking networks and violent criminal aliens operating in the United States. An indictment contains allegations only. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Justice Department seeking clarification about an apparent discrepancy in its announcement regarding the age of one of the alleged trafficking victims and will update this story if a response is received. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a447bd1c2ca79de236281be Anti-Trump senator defeated by far-left rival after heated gubernatorial primary te 2026-07-01T02:30:41.977Z Anti-Trump senator defeated by far-left rival after heated gubernatorial primary Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser defeated Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., in Colorado’s Democratic primary for governor Tuesday, blocking Bennet’s attempted move from the Senate to the governor's residence and putting Weiser in position as the favorite to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Jared Polis. Weiser’s win over Bennet, a three-term senator and former 2020 presidential candidate, marked a major upset in one of the most closely watched Democratic primaries of the year. The winner of the Democratic nomination is favored in November in a state where Democrats have dominated recent statewide elections. The result also means Bennet is expected to remain in the Senate, avoiding what would have been a major vacancy fight had he won the governorship in November. COLORADO DEPUTY COULD FACE MASSIVE FINE FOR SHARING INFORMATION WITH IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES "Phil has dedicated his life to the law, justice, and public service," says Weiser's campaign website. "As your Governor he will continue to advance the rule of law, protect our democracy, and promote justice for all. Phil Weiser will continue to defend and protect every Coloradan across the state." The primary battle pitted two high-profile Colorado Democrats against each other — Bennet, a three-term senator and former 2020 presidential candidate, and Weiser, the state’s two-term attorney general. Polis, a Democrat, is barred by term limits from seeking another term after eight years in office. MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALISTS LOOK TO TAKE NEW YORK PLAYBOOK NATIONWIDE AFTER PRIMARY VICTORIES Bennet entered the primary with support from much of Colorado’s Democratic establishment, with his campaign listing endorsements from more than 200 Colorado leaders, including Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Reps. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo., along with state legislative leaders and labor groups. Weiser’s campaign, meanwhile, touted support from former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, former Rep. Ed Perlmutter, former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, former Sen. Tim Wirth and a long list of local officials, state lawmakers and progressive organizations. Bennet argued during the race that he could be more effective fighting Trump and advancing policy as governor, while Weiser leaned on his experience as Colorado’s attorney general and his legal background as he made the case for his own campaign. Barb Kirkmeyer was leading the Republican primary for governor Tuesday evening as the Dem primary was called.  Whether Kirkmeyer or one of her trailing opponents, Victor Marx or Scott Bottoms, the GOP nominee faces an uphill battle against Weiser in November. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44798bc2ca79de23628149 Ex-talk show host will take on former chief advisor to Kamala Harris’ husband te 2026-07-01T02:20:59.725Z Ex-talk show host will take on former chief advisor to Kamala Harris’ husband Jessica Killin won the Democratic primary in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District on Tuesday, setting up a November match-up against incumbent Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo., for the Colorado Springs-based seat. Killin, a former Army captain and former chief of staff to second gentleman Doug Emhoff, defeated fellow Army veteran and nonprofit leader Joe Reagan, according to the Associated Press. The result means she will take on Crank, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary and is seeking a second term representing the district, which is centered on Colorado Springs and most of El Paso County, including several military-heavy communities. Killin entered the race as a first-time candidate with national support and strong fundraising, while Reagan, who ran for the seat in 2024, leaned on his local roots, combat service and nonprofit work helping veterans open businesses. PROGRESSIVE MOMENTUM HITS SPEED BUMP AS VETERAN DEMOCRAT FENDS OFF CHALLENGER IN COLORADO MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALISTS LOOK TO TAKE NEW YORK PLAYBOOK NATIONWIDE AFTER PRIMARY VICTORIES The general election will test whether Democrats can make gains in a Republican-leaning district that includes Fort Carson and the Air Force Academy, along with fast-growing Colorado Springs suburbs. The race drew national attention from Democrats because the Colorado Springs-based district, long a Republican stronghold, has shown signs of becoming more competitive. The Colorado Sun reported that Trump’s margin in El Paso County, which largely overlaps with the 5th District, fell from 22 points in 2016 to 10 points in 2024, while Republican margins in the House race have also narrowed over the past decade. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) added Killin to its Red to Blue program, signaling national Democrats viewed the Republican-held seat as a potential pickup opportunity, even though the district remains GOP-leaning. The district's current incumbent, Crank, is a former Capitol Hill staffer of seven years, who subsequently moved back home to Colorado where he served as Vice President for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, Chief Operating Officer at nonprofit Americans for Prosperity and president of his own real estate investment company, according to his campaign website. Crank's background in broadcasting includes hosting both The Jeff Crank Show in Colorado and the American Potential Podcast. Killin aligned herself with a centrist Democratic push shortly before the primary, signing onto an initiative that described its signatories as "capitalist, not socialist" and emphasized public safety, fiscal responsibility, secure borders and national pride. Meanwhile, Killin said during an online news conference that candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America "should not be the face of our party," according to local news outlet Colorado Politics. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a447964c2ca79de2362810d Trump drops restrictions on Anthropic’s Mythos and Fable models te 2026-07-01T02:20:20.308Z Trump drops restrictions on Anthropic’s Mythos and Fable models Anthropic said it would begin restoring access to the Fable on July 1. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44775ac2ca79de236280cd Mamdani comparisons follow Colorado Democrat into pivotal House race after primary win te 2026-07-01T02:11:38.748Z Mamdani comparisons follow Colorado Democrat into pivotal House race after primary win Manny Rutinel, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, won a primary race on Tuesday evening, securing his party’s bid to challenge incumbent Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo. Rutinel, a member of the state’s House of Representatives, faces one of the country’s most competitive races that could help decide the balance of power in Washington, D.C., where Republicans hold a governing trifecta across the House, Senate and Oval Office. Democrats see seats like this district as a prime opportunity to pry away the GOP’s narrow grip on the House, where they have a slim majority. Evans, the current seat holder, won the election in 2024 by just 0.8%. REPUBLICAN GABE EVANS WINS COLORADO'S 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, BEATING INCUMBENT YADIRA CARAVEO Rutinel, a former state legislator, has pitched himself as a Democrat ready to protect government programs against GOP cuts and protect minorities against government overreach. On his website, he lists protecting Social Security and Medicaid, expanding tax credits, ending Trump’s immigration crackdown, and lowering housing costs among his top priorities. "I was raised on Medicaid. It's deeply personal for me and now Donald Trump and Gabe Evans are trying to destroy it to give tax breaks to their billionaire buddies," Rutinel said in a campaign video posted to Instagram. "I’m afraid of Donald Trump continuing to destroy our democracy and our economy and making life impossible for working people and Latino immigrants across the country." REPUBLICANS TARGET 2 KEY DEMOCRATIC RACES WITH MAMDANI CONNECTION STRATEGY Because his platform includes elements like expanding taxes on the rich and universal healthcare, Republicans have made efforts to paint Rutinel as in the same vein as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. "Those policies may sell in New York, but Coloradans aren’t buying it," a spokesperson for Gabe Evans told Fox News Digital when asked about the similarities back in November. Moreover, the Congressional Leadership Fund, an arm of the House Republican fundraising apparatus, highlighted a video posted to Instagram of a Mamdani campaign rally, offering it as proof that Rutinel belongs in the same bucket as Mamdani. The video briefly shows someone who appears to be Rutinel standing behind Mamdani. SCOOP: HOUSE REPUBLICANS LINK MAYOR-ELECT MAMDANI TO VULNERABLE CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS "What does the CO-08 race have in common with the NYC Mayoral Race? Democrat Manny Rutinel is campaigning in both," CLF pointed out in one of its ads. Having secured his party’s nomination, Rutinel will face off against Evans in the general election on Nov. 3. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a447747c2ca79de236280c4 State Department congratulates Keiko Fujimori as Peru's president-elect following razor-thin vote count te 2026-07-01T02:11:19.292Z State Department congratulates Keiko Fujimori as Peru's president-elect following razor-thin vote count The State Department on Tuesday congratulated conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori after she was declared the winner of Peru’s presidential runoff election by a razor-thin margin. The statement marked a significant milestone in Latin American relations, with Washington signaling it expects to work closely with Fujimori’s administration on shared priorities. "The United States congratulates President-Elect Keiko Fujimori of Peru on her important electoral victory," the department said.  "The Trump Administration looks forward to deepening collaboration with the Fujimori Administration to advance security cooperation and to strengthen bilateral cooperation on investment and trade in our region." TRUMP ADMIN WARNS PERU IT COULD LOSE SOVEREIGNTY AS CHINA TIGHTENS GRIP ON NATION Her victory comes as Washington seeks to strengthen ties with pro-market allies in Latin America amid growing Chinese economic influence in the region. Beijing recently completed the Chancay deepwater port in Peru — a $1.3 billion mega-project that serves as China’s key logistics hub on the Pacific coast. Fujimori’s tough stance on organized crime also aligns with U.S. efforts to expand regional security and anti-trafficking cooperation. BIDEN, XI TO MEET ON SATURDAY IN PERU, US OFFICIALS SAY Fujimori was declared the winner Monday by Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), the electoral authority responsible for reporting vote count results. The country’s final authority on election matters, the National Jury of Elections (JNE), has yet to issue its official proclamation, according to Reuters. According to the ONPE, Fujimori secured 50.1% of the vote, winning by fewer than 50,000 votes out of roughly 18 million ballots cast. Her victory over leftist challenger Roberto Sánchez marks her fourth presidential bid and makes her Peru’s first female president-elect.  The result caps a deeply divisive election cycle in a country that has gone through nine presidents in the past decade. Fujimori is also the daughter of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who ruled the country during the 1990s. TRUMP VICTORY BOOSTS CONSERVATIVES IN LATIN AMERICA, WAKE-UP CALL TO DICTATORS: 'THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES' Fujimori’s presidency marks a return of her family’s political brand to Peru’s highest office — a movement that has long carried a complicated relationship with the United States. While Washington once backed her father for his fight against communist guerrillas and economic reforms in the 1990s, the U.S. later condemned his government over the dismantling of democratic institutions and allegations of human rights abuses. Keiko Fujimori has since spent more than two decades attempting to reshape "Fujimorismo" into a modern conservative, law-and-order political movement.   Peruvians voted in favor of Fujimori amid a surge in violent crime, extortion and years of political instability. Fujimori campaigned on an "iron fist" approach to security and a pledge to protect Peru’s free-market economy, while her opponent focused on rural economic grievances.  Reuters contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a447720c2ca79de236280a5 Colorado’s Attorney General Upsets Bennet in Primary for Governor te 2026-07-01T02:10:40.379Z Colorado’s Attorney General Upsets Bennet in Primary for Governor Phil Weiser beat Senator Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary, presenting himself as the stronger foil for President Trump. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44770cc2ca79de23628080 Wayve launches $85M employee tender offer at $8.5B valuation te 2026-07-01T02:10:20.419Z Wayve launches $85M employee tender offer at $8.5B valuation Wayve’s offering is part of a growing trend of AI startups using employee tenders as a strategic tool to attract and retain talent. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4474cbc2ca79de23628034 State Department announces 'total compliance' from Venezuelan government in relief efforts after Maduro arrest te 2026-07-01T02:00:43.297Z State Department announces 'total compliance' from Venezuelan government in relief efforts after Maduro arrest The Trump administration says it has complete support from the Venezuelan government amid humanitarian efforts just months after the removal of former dictator Nicolás Maduro, which sparked rage among the president's opponents. After magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck the northern part of the South American nation last week, the American government stepped in to help in a move that the administration says has been welcomed by the Venezuelan government and citizenry alike. "We have seen total compliance from the interim authorities in Venezuela as a result of the unprecedented response by the United States to these deadly earthquakes," a State Department official told Fox News Digital Tuesday. US MILITARY TOUTS WORK TO ASSIST IN VENEZUELA FOLLOWING DEADLY EARTHQUAKES The death toll from the natural disaster stands at nearly 2,000 and continues to rise. "Every request we have made has been immediately granted and in turn, we have seen an incredible outpouring of support from the Venezuelan people towards Americans on the ground," the official continued. TRUMP 'SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING' PLAN TO MAKE VENEZUELA AND ITS $40 TRILLION IN OIL PERMANENT PART OF USA On Jan. 3, U.S. special forces successfully took Maduro into custody after a daring nighttime mission that overwhelmed the dictator's armed guards. After penetrating Maduro's palace, they took him into custody. He was relocated to the United States where he remains in jail awaiting trial on narco-terrorism and gun charges. The progressive political left rushed to the defense of the brutal socialist authoritarian in the wake of his capture. US CAPTURE OF MADURO THROWS SPOTLIGHT ON VENEZUELA’S MASSIVE OIL RESERVES Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., warned that the event risked violating international law, while Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., called the United States a "rogue state." "Trump’s illegal and unprovoked bombing of Venezuela and kidnapping of its president are grave violations of international law and the U.S. Constitution. These are the actions of a rogue state," Tlaib wrote on social media. "The American people do not want another regime change war abroad," she added. "Maduro's illegitimate election does not give the president the power to invade without congressional approval, nor does it create a national security justification. That contention is laughable," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. The Trump administration has taken swift action to help the Venezuelan people amid the crisis, including mobilizing $150 million in humanitarian relief. It has assembled a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) composed of more than 250 people, including three specialized Urban Search-and-Rescue (USAR) teams. The administration says the teams have conducted critical life-saving measures. The U.S. military has assisted with logistics. Venezuela's Supreme Court installed Delcy Rodríguez as the country's interim president. Since then, diplomatic relations with the country have been restored, though officials in Washington have made it clear that such cooperation is temporary, while emphasizing the U.S. does not view her presidency as a permanent solution. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4472aac2ca79de23627f40 Kirk Herbstreit goes off with complaints about modern Major League Baseball, gets everything wrong te 2026-07-01T01:51:38.839Z Kirk Herbstreit goes off with complaints about modern Major League Baseball, gets everything wrong Major League Baseball, sometimes despite its best efforts, is in the best place that it's been in decades. Attendance has grown each year for the past several seasons, with some teams, like the White Sox, Blue Jays and Mariners seeing huge increases in 2026. Ratings are up, with the 2025 World Series being the most watched domestically since 2017 and Game 7 drawing a whopping 51 million viewers between the US, Canada and Japan. National television broadcasts have seen significant increases, pace-of-play is up, the new ABS challenge system has been mostly well-received and small market teams are outperforming big spending clubs through the first half of the season, undermining parity concerns. BREWERS HUMAN HOWITZER JACOB MISIOROWSKI BREAKS HIS OWN RECORD FOR HARDEST PITCH THROWN BY A STARTER Highlight reels are dominated by exceptional athletes doing exceptional things. Jacob Misiorowski hit 105 mph as a starting pitcher. Shohei Ohtani is dominating as a hitter and a pitcher, something virtually unprecedented over such a lengthy time frame. Kyle Schwarber is threatening home run records, even as pitching continues to improve. Mason Miller has been virtually unhittable. Young stars in small markets, like Jackson Chourio, Konnor Griffin, Bobby Witt Jr., Jackson Merrill, Kevin McGonigle, Colt Emerson and Samuel Basallo, are locked up for most of their primes, ensuring fans can go years without worrying over free agency. But if you ask football commentator Kirk Herbstreit, baseball is dying. Because there aren't enough athletes, apparently. In response to a complaint from former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, Herbstreit posted a lengthy diatribe on X completely misunderstanding the modern game. "THANK YOU!!!!! Where did the athletic ability go?," he said. "Clutch hitting in the 8th and 9th inning? Starting pitching that goes 8 or 9 innings? Base stealing-hell just good base running and SPEED?!? Sac bunts-moving runners over late in a game? Where’s Tony Gwynn? Rod Carew? Wade Boggs? Ichiro? Those guys wouldn’t exist in today’s ridiculous HR or K 'launch angle' game! The game has been dying with the youth of America for YEARS and now is losing the core fanbase as well with this ridiculous product we’ve had to digest for the last 7-10 years. Bring back Small Ball and athleticism…this s*** dreadful!!!" There's just one problem; virtually all of this is wrong. Athleticism in baseball has never been higher, which is why you see pitchers like Misiorowski and Mason Miller sitting well over 100 mph. And why hitters are still able to be successful when facing an average fastball velocity that's steadily increased year-over-year. ROYALS PITCHER DRILLED IN HEAD WITH TERRIFYING 107 MPH LINER, AND THE BATTER WHO HIT IT PULLED A RARE MOVE As recently as 2008, average fastball velocity was just 90.4 mph. Today? It's roughly 95mph. That increase is because pitchers have become more athletic thanks to improvements in training, nutrition, and biomechanical development. It's harder to hit now than it's ever been, yet Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh and others have had historically successful offensive seasons. So that's wrong. Pitchers don't go eight or nine innings because, over time, after analyzing years of data, it became clear that as pitchers tire and face the same hitters more times, they become less effective. That's regardless of their pitch mix, velocities, or athletic ability. The "third time through the order penalty" is very real, and has always been real, as hitters adjust to what they see, and front offices and managers realized that their best chance of winning games was to bring in fresh relievers instead of letting exhausted pitchers continue to prove some sort of point. Despite catchers specifically trying to optimize "pop times," stolen bases are also up. In 2024, there were 3,617 stolen bases league-wide. The most in any year during the 1980s was 3,585. But, to be fair, slightly larger bases have helped. Teams, though, have again realized that stolen bases are only valuable if you don't get caught. Take 1986, for example. That season, there were 3,312 stolen bases and 1,620 runners caught stealing. That's an atrocious 67% success rate. In 2024, the success rate was 80%. Teams in the 1980s gave away outs at an astonishing rate. Herbstreit is also wrong about the 1980s stars, too. Those types of players are still enormously valuable because many of their skills are always valuable. Boggs' career on base percentage is .415. Gwynn had a .388 OBP and .459 career slugging percentage. That's an .847 OPS, over his entire career, which would put Gwynn ahead of Witt Jr., Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger, Ketel Marte and Elly De La Cruz this season. Along with many other stars. Does Herbstreit think a player who hit .370/.447/.511 with 56 stolen bases, as Gwynn did in 1987, wouldn't have a job in 2026? Because they absolutely would. They'd probably win an MVP, in fact. The issue is that hitting now is harder than it's ever been because pitchers are better than they've ever been. And teams have realized that home runs are more valuable than other types of hits because they guarantee that runs score. Sacrificing some singles is worth it because home runs create more runs. In 1989, the time period Herbstreit lionizes, the league averaged 8.26 runs per game. Thus far in 2026, the league is averaging 9 runs per game. So scoring is up, athleticism is up, prior era stars would still be valuable today, small ball doesn't lead to more runs and baseball is not losing fans, but gaining them. Other than that, he nailed it. Ironically, the product that's actually tough to watch is the modern NFL, which Herbstreit broadcasts. Quarterbacks are protected to an absurd degree, to the point that late-hit penalties on Patrick Mahomes have become a running joke among fans. There's 10-11 minutes of in-game action over a 185-190 minute broadcast. Teams averaged 353 yards per game in 2015. In 2025? Just 326.6. Why doesn't the NFL lose fans? Gambling. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Herbstreit going full "old man yells at cloud" is one thing, but do it at the NFL. Nobody ever will, though, because that league is somehow above criticism despite its clear and obvious decline in excitement. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a447297c2ca79de23627f37 Trump-backed incumbent survives right-wing primary challenge after endorsement drama in Colorado te 2026-07-01T01:51:19.382Z Trump-backed incumbent survives right-wing primary challenge after endorsement drama in Colorado Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Colo., clinched the GOP nomination against a right-wing challenger Tuesday, as the freshman lawmaker seeks to hold a competitive House district Democrats are seeking to flip in November’s midterm elections.  Hurd defeated former state Rep. Ron Hanks, R-Colo., in the Republican primary for a sprawling House district covering nearly all of western and southern Colorado, according to The Associated Press. Hurd ran with President Donald Trump's endorsement after the president initially revoked his support, following Hurd joining Democrats in support of a largely symbolic measure terminating Trump’s Canada tariffs in February. TRUMP PULLS ENDORSEMENT FROM GOP LAWMAKER OVER ALLEGED LACK OF SUPPORT FOR ADMINISTRATION'S TARIFF AGENDA Trump later re-issued his endorsement in March and asked Navy veteran Hope Scheppelman, who was challenging Hurd from the right, to suspend her campaign and join his administration. Scheppelman, a former vice chair of the state's Republican Party and acute care nurse, now serves as a senior advisor on substance abuse in the Department of Health and Human Services. "I will be fully supporting Jeff’s Re-Election to the House of Representatives, giving him my Complete and Total Endorsement!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Every true MAGA supporter and Republican, if they truly care about saving our Country, will do everything in their power to unify together, and defeat the Crazed Radical Left Democrats this November."  Following Scheppelman's exit, Hanks entered the Republican primary to challenge Hurd. He previously ran against Hurd in the 2024 GOP primary, where the now-incumbent lawmaker won with just over 40% of the vote.  Hanks, an Air Force veteran, has alleged, without evidence, that former President Joe Biden was "fraudulently elected." He was also present during the Jan. 6 riots, though he said he did not enter the U.S. Capitol complex and was not criminally charged. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., previously represented the Republican-leaning district before moving across the state in 2024 to run for a more Republican-leaning seat in eastern Colorado.  GOP FIREBRAND LASHES OUT AT REPORTER OVER MASSIE ALLEGATION: ‘F--- YOU, FIRST OF ALL!’ Businessman Alex Kelloff and Army veteran Dwayne Romero are seeking the Democratic nomination. Democrats are hoping to unseat Hurd after he won Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District by just five points in 2024. The GOP-leaning district contains Democratic strongholds concentrated in several wealthy ski towns and Pueblo. Hanks cast Hurd as a "fake conservative" in an interview with The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel and insufficiently loyal to the president. Hurd has bucked Trump on tariff policy and a Russia sanctions package, but he has voted with the president on most high-profile pieces of legislation. He also joined Boebert in a failed vote to override Trump’s veto on a water pipeline project in Colorado’s Arkansas Valley. Hurd is a lawyer who previously served as chair of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce. He is a vice chair of the Western Caucus and is a member of the House Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a447283c2ca79de23627f2e Progressive momentum hits speed bump as veteran Democrat fends off challenger in Colorado te 2026-07-01T01:50:59.927Z Progressive momentum hits speed bump as veteran Democrat fends off challenger in Colorado A moderate Democrat mounting his last campaign staved off a progressive challenger in Colorado, marking a small speed bump in the rapid far-left evolution of the Democratic Party.  Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., a longtime fixture in Colorado politics, overcame a challenge from state Sen. Julie Gonzales, his progressive challenger, who has argued that Democrats need to be more aggressive in their pushback against President Donald Trump.  Hickenlooper, who is vying for a second term in the upper chamber, said this would be his final campaign for the Senate. Gonzales hoped to speed up his exit with a campaign that went after the lawmaker’s moderate position and votes in favor of some of Trump’s nominees.  DEMOCRATS TORN BETWEEN PROGRESSIVE FIRE AND CENTRIST CAUTION AS NOVEMBER ELECTIONS LOOM "John Hickenlooper has been in office for over 20 years," Gonzales said in her campaign launch ad. "I know that we’re not fooled by his so-called ‘commonsense approach,’ cause there is no sense in voting for Donald Trump’s nominees." Still, Gonzales’ defeat Tuesday night was a stumble for the progressive wave that has swept the Democratic Party during this midterm election cycle, which has seen new blood hungry for change challenging the old guard and party leadership in Washington, D.C.  Hickenlooper, 74, who served two terms each as Denver’s mayor and Colorado’s governor before launching a failed bid for president, has been a stalwart fixture in the Centennial State, while Gonzales, 43, positioned herself as part of the new wave.  THE PLOT TO STOP MAMDANI: DEMOCRATS SCRAMBLE TO BLOCK FAR-LEFT TAKEOVER IN NEW YORK Their battle for the Democratic nomination came just a week after a trio of progressive candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani clinched their Democratic nominations. Notably, Mamdani-backed Darializa Avila Chevalier, a community organizer and socialist, toppled five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y. And the battle between Hickenlooper and Gonzales was not the only intraparty fist fight between a moderate incumbent and progressive in Colorado.  'IT'S A MESS': GOP TURNS ON HOUSE CONSERVATIVES AS VOTER ID BLOCKADE STALLS TRUMP'S AGENDA Melat Kiros, a socialist, is squaring off against longtime Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado's 1st Congressional District. Kiros also sported the endorsement of one of Hickenlooper’s colleagues: Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Meanwhile, Hickenlooper will now face state Sen. Mark Baisley in November. Baisley, who ran unopposed in the Colorado GOP primary, initially launched a campaign for governor in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Jared Polis but dropped out of the contest to run for the Senate.  Fox News Digital did not immediately receive comment from the Hickenlooper and Gonzales campaigns. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44725dc2ca79de23627f10 Manny Rutinel, a Progressive, Wins Colorado Primary for Competitive House Seat te 2026-07-01T01:50:21.021Z Manny Rutinel, a Progressive, Wins Colorado Primary for Competitive House Seat Manny Rutinel, a state representative and former activist, will face Representative Gabe Evans, a Republican seen as vulnerable, in the fall. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a447018c2ca79de23627ea1 Conservative firebrand cruises to primary win despite clash with Trump te 2026-07-01T01:40:40.121Z Conservative firebrand cruises to primary win despite clash with Trump Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., clinched her Republican primary after running unopposed to represent Colorado's 4th Congressional District on Tuesday evening, setting herself up to pursue a fourth term. Despite notable clashes with House GOP leadership and President Donald Trump, Boebert emerged from her primary largely unscathed, separating herself from the three other Republicans who voted with Democrats to advance the Epstein Files Transparency Act. If reelected in the state’s Nov. 3 general election, she will be the only one remaining next Congress among fellow GOP rebels Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.; Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.; and Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. Greene, a once-outspoken backer of the president, resigned her seat at the beginning of the year when the two split on foreign aid, government transparency and federal spending. THE REVOLT OF MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, NOW DONALD TRUMP’S FIERCEST CRITIC Although he’s presently still in office, Massie lost a primary bid to a Trump-backed challenger earlier this year. And Mace, who ran for governor in the Palmetto State, fell woefully short of capturing the GOP nomination after Trump declined to endorse her. Despite outlasting her fellow GOP colleagues, Boebert hasn’t fully escaped Trump’s wrath. The president noted that Boebert had changed districts to run for a considerably safer seat and appeared ready to test the waters against her. TRUMP THREATENS TO PULL BOEBERT ENDORSEMENT, CALLS CONGRESSWOMAN ‘WEAK MINDED’ OVER MASSIE SUPPORT "Is anyone interested in running against weak-minded Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s fourth congressional district?" Trump said in a post to Truth Social in May. "You remember Lauren moved to the district when it became obvious that she couldn’t win in her original congressional district. Boebert is campaigning for the worst ‘Republican’ congressman in the history of our country, Thomas Massie. Even though I long ago endorsed Boebert, if the right person came along, it would be my honor to withdraw that endorsement and endorse a good and proper alternative." Boebert announced her decision to switch districts in December 2023, before her vote on the Epstein Files. Despite her disagreements with the White House, Boebert has said she remains an ally to Trump. "Below is my friend Thomas Massie," Boebert said in a post to X, posting a picture of Massie alongside Trump. "He loves America and is fighting to save it. Also below is my friend and President Donald Trump. He’s put his life on the line to save this great country. I support both of these men. I’ve worked with both to preserve freedom and liberty. And if that makes you angry, bless your heart," Boebert wrote. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a446dbfc2ca79de23627e2f Conservative firebrand cruises to primary win despite clash with Trump te 2026-07-01T01:30:39.956Z Conservative firebrand cruises to primary win despite clash with Trump Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., clinched her Republican primary after running unopposed to represent Colorado's 4th Congressional District on Tuesday evening, setting herself up to pursue a fourth term. Despite notable clashes with House GOP leadership and President Donald Trump, Boebert emerged from her primary largely unscathed, separating herself from the three other Republicans who voted with Democrats to advance the Epstein Files Transparency Act. If reelected in the state’s Nov. 3 general election, she will be the only one remaining next Congress among fellow GOP rebels Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.; Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.; and Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. Greene, a once-outspoken backer of the president, resigned her seat at the beginning of the year when the two split on foreign aid, government transparency and federal spending. THE REVOLT OF MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, NOW DONALD TRUMP’S FIERCEST CRITIC Although he’s presently still in office, Massie lost a primary bid to a Trump-backed challenger earlier this year. And Mace, who ran for governor in the Palmetto State, fell woefully short of capturing the GOP nomination after Trump declined to endorse her. Despite outlasting her fellow GOP colleagues, Boebert hasn’t fully escaped Trump’s wrath. The president noted that Boebert had changed districts to run for a considerably safer seat and appeared ready to test the waters against her. TRUMP THREATENS TO PULL BOEBERT ENDORSEMENT, CALLS CONGRESSWOMAN ‘WEAK MINDED’ OVER MASSIE SUPPORT "Is anyone interested in running against weak-minded Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s fourth congressional district?" Trump said in a post to Truth Social in May. "You remember Lauren moved to the district when it became obvious that she couldn’t win in her original congressional district. Boebert is campaigning for the worst ‘Republican’ congressman in the history of our country, Thomas Massie. Even though I long ago endorsed Boebert, if the right person came along, it would be my honor to withdraw that endorsement and endorse a good and proper alternative." Boebert announced her decision to switch districts in December 2023, before her vote on the Epstein Files. Despite her disagreements with the White House, Boebert has said she remains an ally to Trump. "Below is my friend Thomas Massie," Boebert said in a post to X, posting a picture of Massie alongside Trump. "He loves America and is fighting to save it. Also below is my friend and President Donald Trump. He’s put his life on the line to save this great country. I support both of these men. I’ve worked with both to preserve freedom and liberty. And if that makes you angry, bless your heart," Boebert wrote. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a446939c2ca79de23627d35 Riley Gaines and MyKayla Skinner send message to Simone Biles on women's sports debate after SCOTUS ruling te 2026-07-01T01:11:21.294Z Riley Gaines and MyKayla Skinner send message to Simone Biles on women's sports debate after SCOTUS ruling Just over a year ago, Simone Biles came at Riley Gaines. In now-infamous X posts, Biles called out Gaines for speaking up about a transgender pitcher who won a Minnesota girls' softball championship, and mocked Gaines' body saying "bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male." It ignited the biggest pop culture flashpoint in the "Save Women's Sports" movement. Now just over a year later, Gaines has a close ally in Biles' former US Olympic gymnastics team teammate, MyKayla Skinner. Gaines and Skinner celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to uphold state laws that protect women's sports on Tuesday, and sent a message to Biles one year after the infamous social media feud. SUPREME COURT MAKES RULING ON TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S SPORTS "Just being able to try to find my voice and how I could use my voice after Simone had come out against Riley, it had really affected me," Skinner said. "I have a little daughter, and we are hoping to put her in sports soon, and I just really want her to have everything that I got to have, all the opportunities." Skinner, who won an Olympic silver medal in vault at the Tokyo Games, said her own athletic career shaped her view of the issue. "I’ve broken records, I’ve been an Olympian, I was a college athlete, and I want her to have the opportunities that I had," Skinner said of her daughter. "And so this, for me, was a way that I felt like this is the time for me to come up and stand for what I believe in, stand with Riley, and to join in on this fight." Skinner then turned her attention directly to Biles. "I think it would just be really cool to see Simone stand with us," Skinner said. "She’s one of the best athletes in the world." Skinner said she wants to see more elite female athletes join Gaines, XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey and others in the movement. "To be able to see her as my teammate, as an Olympian, as an amazing athlete that she is, to be able to stand with us and fight alongside Riley and everyone else on this road," Skinner said. "I would just love, love to see my teams, especially Simone, in step with us." Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who became one of the most prominent advocates against transgender athletes in women’s sports after tying transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA championships, previously called on Biles to stand with her on the issue in a March interview with Fox News Digital, months before Biles' social media attack. Gaines renewed her call to Biles, alongside Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, to stand on her side, after Tuesday's SCOTUS ruling. "Let this be a clarion call, not just to Simone, but to every, I think especially elite female athlete, professional female athlete, the likes of Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, Serena Williams, to link arms," Gaines said. Gaines added that the ruling made her feel "absolutely vindicated." "I feel, of course, excited, I feel optimistic about the future," Gaines said. "But I think the feeling that I feel the most of is vindicated. "Being a mom, I look at her and I think of the country and the world that I want her to inherit," Gaines said of her daughter. "It’s a more fair, more safe, more prosperous, more opportunistic world, country." "Let it be known that you also think young girls are worthy of calling themselves champions one day," Gaines added. Biles’ feud with Gaines began June 6, 2025, after Gaines drew attention to a biologically male transgender softball pitcher who helped a Minnesota girls’ team win a state championship. Biles called Gaines "truly sick," a "straight up sore loser" and a "bully," and later suggested Gaines was the "same size" as a male, according to Fox News Digital. Biles later deleted the posts and apologized. The feud also became a turning point for Skinner. Skinner had already endured her own public clash with Biles after she posted a video about the 2024 U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team and made comments about the team’s "talent and depth." Biles responded at the time with the post, "Not everyone needs a mic and a platform," and Skinner later apologized while saying her remarks were misinterpreted. Skinner told Fox News Digital last year that the backlash included death threats and messages saying she "shouldn’t be a mom." Skinner later joined XX-XY Athletics as an ambassador in the brand’s "Gold Medal Campaign," aligning herself with Gaines, Sey, Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead and other prominent activists in the "Save Women’s Sports" space. 'SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS' 2025 CULTURE WAR TIMELINE — THE YEAR THE TIDES TURNED When asked whether she believes Biles truly meant what she said to Gaines last year, Skinner did not hesitate. "100% yes," Skinner said. "I’ve known Simone since I was 13 years old, and we’ve had our moments. There’s times where she has belittled me as an athlete, as a person, bullied. And so this wasn’t a shock to me when she came out against Riley." Skinner said she believes Biles "stands firm" in her position, but hopes that can change. "Being at this level and being a mom, we look up to these amazing athletes," Skinner said. "I really think that she’s not on this side with us, and I really would love to see her come forward and maybe change her mind." Gaines agreed that Biles’ initial comments reflected her real views, while suggesting the apology that followed felt more like public-relations cleanup. "You could even notice the very obvious tone switch between the initial tweet or two and the very ChatGPT-coded apology," Gaines said. Gaines said she accepted Biles’ apology and would still be willing to "link arms" with the Olympic gymnastics legend. "That’s kind of like water off the duck’s back to me," Gaines said. But Gaines said she believes the backlash Biles faced after her posts may have revealed a cultural shift on the issue. "I think it took that for her to realize, ‘Oh dang, I think I was living in my own little bubble here,’" Gaines said. "Maybe the people I surrounded myself with think this, but majority of Americans don’t." The Supreme Court’s ruling does not force every state or school to adopt bans on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports. The court said the cases did not present the separate question of whether schools may allow biological males who identify as female to compete on girls’ and women’s teams. But for Gaines and Skinner, Tuesday’s decision marked a defining legal victory — and another chance to pressure some of the biggest names in women’s sports to pick a side. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a446925c2ca79de23627d24 Royal Family faces backlash from critics after Queen Camilla hosts J.K. Rowling te 2026-07-01T01:11:01.331Z Royal Family faces backlash from critics after Queen Camilla hosts J.K. Rowling Queen Camilla faced a backlash on Tuesday after she posted a photo of herself with "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling. "With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure, The Queen and author J.K. Rowling have met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh," the caption on the royal family’s Instagram page said. "Her Majesty and Ms Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations." One critic wrote in the comments: "As an admirer of the Queen and her Reading Room I’m deeply disappointed in her giving a platform to JKR, any month but especially during Pride Month. There are many other admirable individuals to spotlight who champion reading for children and young people." KATE MIDDLTON SCALES UK'S 3 HIGHEST PEAKS IN 24 HOURS WITH A DEEPLY PERSONAL MESSAGE FOR CANCER SURVIVORS Rowling has put herself at odds with the transgender community in the past for comments she made about trans women not being women. In 2023, she captioned a photo on social media that said "Repeat after us: Trans women are women" with "No" and said she would "happily do two years — [behind bars] if the alternative is compelled speech and forced denial of the reality and importance of sex." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS This came after fans encouraged her to vote for the Labour Party, which was reportedly at the time considering making attacks on gender identity a criminal offense. In a 2020 essay, Rowling wrote: "So I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe."  PRINCE WILLIAM REFUSES TO QUIT HOBBY THAT TERRIFIES KATE MIDDLETON: EXPERTS After explaining that she was a victim of sexual assault, she added, "When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman...then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside." Another person commented on Tuesday: "During pride month, is a statement" and a third wrote: "Trans rights are human rights!" "Not during gay pride month," another commenter wrote. "If tone deaf was a picture," someone else quipped, and another called it "deplorable." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Others posted trans pride flags in the comments and: "protest trans youth." Still, the billionaire author had plenty of support in the comments. "J.K. Rowling is just as entitled to her opinion as anyone else," someone said, and other fans called the photo: "Beautiful," "Two remarkable and inspiring women," and another said that Rowling deserved a DBE, the female version of a knighthood. "She encouraged a whole new generation of children to read again, and she is such a supporter of women’s rights," the person wrote. Rowling previously revealed to fans she turned that honor down because she didn't want a title. Another fan added, "Rowling has done so much good for the UK and world. Few could ever dream of having that impact." Rowling has also been criticized in the past by some of the actors from the "Harry Potter" movie franchise, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, although Watson said she still treasures the time she spent with Rowling. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4468fec2ca79de23627d07 Trump’s Moneymaking Run: Unrivaled in Presidential History te 2026-07-01T01:10:22.421Z Trump’s Moneymaking Run: Unrivaled in Presidential History The president’s move to open new business ventures, rather than eliminate potential conflicts, defies a long-held tradition. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4466d1c2ca79de23627caa Detroit City Council narrowly votes to renew ShotSpotter gunshot detection contract despite opposition te 2026-07-01T01:01:05.872Z Detroit City Council narrowly votes to renew ShotSpotter gunshot detection contract despite opposition The Detroit City Council on Tuesday narrowly voted to renew the city’s contract with SoundThinking for its ShotSpotter gunshot detection system. The decision will allow the California-based company to continue providing crime-fighting technology through the end of March 2027.  The system will deploy acoustic sensors mounted above city streets to detect gunfire-like sounds and automatically alert law enforcement when a suspected shot is fired. According to Michigan Advance, the measure passed by a 5–4 vote, with several councilmembers and critics citing high costs and privacy concerns during Tuesday’s hearing. NORTHEASTERN CITY VOTES TO END SHOTSPOTTER CONTRACT FOR GUNFIRE-DETECTION TECH DESIGNED TO FIGHT CRIME Council President James Tate, who has historically supported ShotSpotter in Detroit, reportedly opposed the renewal, arguing that the $2.1 million price tag was difficult to justify.  "I have a challenge with that dollar amount. It’s not about the technology," Tate said.  "When asked, would they renegotiate the contract, the answer was no, because we’ve been giving you a deal in the first place, so that leads me now to a situation where I cannot support this particular amendment." HOW SURVEILLANCE TECH LED POLICE TO ACCUSE THE WRONG PERSON Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero, who voted against the measure, said her opposition stemmed from a lack of data showing the technology’s effectiveness, Michigan Advance reported.  "Frankly, I still have not heard enough support from the public, have not seen data that shows that this is working for the cost and that it’s actually protecting our information," Santiago-Romero said.  Gabrielle Dresner, a policy strategist for the ACLU of Michigan who testified against the extension, said false alerts can lead to unnecessary police responses and reinforce perceptions that minority communities are inherently dangerous, according to the outlet. SCHOOLS TURN TO AI GUN DETECTION FOR SAFETY Critics also questioned whether acoustic microphones monitoring public spaces could amount to a form of surveillance, as well as who would have access to any audio data collected.  However, the ShotSpotter technology has reported successful cases. According to Assistant Chief Franklin Hayes, a ShotSpotter alert on Detroit’s west side led officers to a gunshot victim who was found alive in a case where no one had made a 911 call, Michigan Advance said.  The technology has drawn public controversy since Detroit first signed a contract covering certain police precincts in 2020, and again in late 2022. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4466aac2ca79de23627c98 Bear Breaks Into Truck, Helping Itself to Handyman’s Lunch te 2026-07-01T01:00:26.452Z Bear Breaks Into Truck, Helping Itself to Handyman’s Lunch A handyman was returning to his truck when he opened the door and found a cub eating his lunch from the passenger seat in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a446477c2ca79de23627b67 BlackRock CEO Larry Fink 'worried' about NYC under Mamdani, floats investing elsewhere under weaker conditions te 2026-07-01T00:51:03.858Z BlackRock CEO Larry Fink 'worried' about NYC under Mamdani, floats investing elsewhere under weaker conditions ASPEN, COLORADO — BlackRock CEO Larry Fink expressed concern about the future of New York City under its Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, suggesting he'd do business elsewhere under "weaker" conditions. "I'm worried about New York," Fink said Tuesday at the Aspen Institute's Ideas Festival. Fink, who told CNN host Fareed Zakaria that he hadn't spoken with Mamdani since he was only mayor-elect, cited what he called a "great statistic" showing that 47% of the taxes that go into New York City come from the top 1%. "So if we lose 5,000 1-percenters, that's gonna offset all the other stuff this administration is going to do. And the look of it, we're gonna lose the 5,000 or more," Fink warned. NYC MAYOR MAMDANI CALLS THREAT OF REACH PEOPLE LEAVING NYC OVER TAXES 'IMAGINED' The billionaire CEO panned the city's "13 years of weak administrations," naming Michael Bloomberg "the last best mayor" of the Big Apple, which he calls his "adopted home." "The quality of life that's showing up in so many different areas, and it's sad to watch," he lamented. "I always said I have never had a problem with paying my full load of taxes as a New Yorker. But it's now asymmetric. I do not believe the amount of taxes I'm paying I'm getting the appropriate services." MAMDANI'S WALL STREET COURTSHIP SPARKS CRITICISM OF ANTI-BILLIONAIRE AGENDA Fink pointed to the tax system in the Netherlands where the highest wagers pay 50% in taxes but get free medical care and education, telling the Aspen crowd, "I don't get that in New York, nobody does," and that "mismanagement is the issue." "And here's one thing I tell every Democrat and every Republican, I tell it every administration, it is not about taxes. We need to find a way to grow the economy," Fink said. "The greatest problem we have in this country is we have just ungodly deficits... Both parties are guilty. And fortunately, we have a global capital market. We have AI. We're the engine of growth that people want to invest in this country. But if there's ever a moment where that value proposition is not here, then we have severe issues." "Are you thinking at BlackRock of moving jobs out of New York or of growing new jobs in other places?" Zakaria asked. "We have globally about 25,000, 26,000 employees. We have about 8,000 in New York. So we have systematically grown," Fink responded. "If the environment gets weaker in New York City, like other businesses, we will think about not moving, but even in deploying more of our U.S. resources to a different location." Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a446464c2ca79de23627b5e Vance calls SCOTUS birthright citizenship ruling a 'major mistake,' warns of more birth tourism te 2026-07-01T00:50:44.410Z Vance calls SCOTUS birthright citizenship ruling a 'major mistake,' warns of more birth tourism Vice President JD Vance condemned the Supreme Court’s "atrocious" birthright citizenship ruling, warning it could encourage more people to exploit the nation’s immigration system during an interview with "The Ingraham Angle" on Tuesday. The Supreme Court ruled against President Donald Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship, finding that the Constitution guarantees automatic American citizenship for most people born in the United States. "This is a very disappointing ruling from the Supreme Court," Vance said. "Of course, we respect it, but we also think that it was a major, major mistake." "One of the things that might invite is people to come here quite literally on a vacation, give birth and then all of a sudden, the child and their family have the full benefits of American citizenship. It's just a preposterous ruling." THESE 11 UPCOMING SUPREME COURT DECISIONS COULD MAKE OR BREAK TRUMP'S SECOND TERM AGENDA The Supreme Court struck down Trump’s Executive Order 14160, holding that it conflicted with the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship. The ruling means most children born in the United States will continue to receive citizenship regardless of their parents’ immigration status, an idea the Trump administration opposes. SUPREME COURT'S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAUSE AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS Vance identified a "silver lining" in the ruling, arguing the court’s narrow opinion suggests that birthright citizenship is on thin ice. "A lot of legal experts expected this case to go the wrong direction by 7–2, or even 8–1," Vance said. He added that the outcome of the case "effectively means that the concept of birthright citizenship, which is an absurdity to the 14th Amendment — that concept is hanging by a thread." Vance voiced his dissent toward birthright citizenship, which has been a constitutional right in the United States for more than 150 years, claiming it rewards illegal immigrants. MISSISSIPPI LAW COULD CREATE STATEWIDE REGISTRY OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS "I hate to call it birthright citizenship," the vice president told Fox News. "It's fundamentally a loophole that now exists in our immigration system that rewards illegal aliens just because they have a baby in the United States while they're in our country illegally." The vice president said the administration is considering "a number" of strategies to respond to the Supreme Court’s decision. Among them are potential restrictions involving U.S. territories such as the Northern Mariana Islands, which are located in the western Pacific near Asia. Senior administration officials have raised concerns over China sending women to the islands solely to give birth and secure U.S. citizenship for their children in a so-called "birth tourism" scheme. "We actually have an opportunity to reverse this decision, just as we reverse so many bad decisions throughout the generations," the vice president said. "We've got to fix the immigration system even more," he continued. "We have to be even more aware of who's coming into our country to make sure that they're not benefiting from this atrocious Supreme Court ruling." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a44620ac2ca79de23627b09 Arizona joins Democratic-led states to sue Trump administration over Medicaid work requirements te 2026-07-01T00:40:42.286Z Arizona joins Democratic-led states to sue Trump administration over Medicaid work requirements Attorney General Kris Mayes speaks to reporters on June 1, 2026, announcing a lawsuit accusing MultiPlan and health insurers of colluding on prices in violation of Arizona law. (Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy/Arizona Mirror) Twenty-five Democratic-led states plus the District of Columbia have sued the Trump administration over its new work requirements for people who get their health insurance through Medicaid. At issue is a “medically frail” designation that the states say is too narrow and will make it too difficult for ill and disabled people to remain on Medicaid. They’re challenging the administration’s guidance on who can be exempt from the work requirements included in the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the broad tax and spending measure President Donald Trump signed a year ago. Medicaid is the publicly-funded health insurance for people with low incomes. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, states that have expanded Medicaid eligibility to more adults under the Affordable Care Act — 40 states plus the District of Columbia — must require those adults to prove they’re working, going to school or serving their communities for at least 80 hours a month to receive Medicaid. Georgia, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, which have used federal waivers to expand their Medicaid programs, are also subject to the new work rules. The new lawsuit specifically targets new federal guidance that narrows the definition of who can qualify as “medically frail,” a key exemption used to excuse Medicaid recipients from work requirements if they have serious disabilities or illnesses. The guidance came in the form of an interim final rule published this month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Democratic attorneys general and governors who are plaintiffs in the suit claim the feds surprised them with this new rule months after they’d already been working with CMS on how to implement the work requirements. “This eleventh-hour attempt to further narrow protections for medically frail Medicaid recipients seeks to punish those who cannot fend for themselves,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, a Democrat, in a statement. “Further, this Administration is once again attempting to sidestep Congress by unlawfully reinterpreting the law, and coercing the states to rush to implement their last-minute changes or face penalties,” he said. To qualify as “medically frail” and therefore exempt from work requirements, the new guidance says, a Medicaid recipient must have a significant health condition and be significantly impaired in their ability to work. It’s a distinction the states say Congress did not make in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The states also claim the new guidance violates federal law by ignoring evidence that work requirements cause people to lose coverage due to red tape. For example, Arkansas tried instituting work requirements for Medicaid recipients in 2018, during Trump’s first term. A federal judge halted the policy less than a year later, after 18,000 adults had lost coverage. Studies later found that Arkansas’ work requirements didn’t increase employment. A recent analysis from the Urban Institute projects that 3-7 million people could lose coverage because of the new work requirements. Supporters of the new work rules say they are sufficiently flexible and that the category of who qualifies as “medically frail” remains broad. “This rule helps Americans build skills and independence through work, education, job training, or community service, creating new opportunities for themselves and their families,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, director for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in a statement earlier this month announcing the new guidance. The lawsuit says states have already invested significant resources into implementing the new work requirements based on the original law’s language and prior federal guidance. They’re staring down an August 31, 2026, deadline for notifying Medicaid recipients about changes to the “medically frail” designation, a timeline the states say is not workable. They face financial penalties for not meeting the deadline. States are expected to put the new work requirements into place by January 1, 2027, though the feds could choose to grant them temporary extensions through 2028. The lawsuit was filed by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@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/6a445fefc2ca79de23627ab2 Trump’s Great American State Fair: Modest crowds, $23 turkey legs, MAHA and controversy te 2026-07-01T00:31:43.954Z Trump’s Great American State Fair: Modest crowds, $23 turkey legs, MAHA and controversy WASHINGTON – The Great American State Fair underway on the National Mall is operating under a cloud of controversy.  The fair, a centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 initiative commemorating the country’s 250th anniversary, has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, state officials and performers who say it has become closely aligned with Trump’s political movement. Despite its atmosphere, with food vendors and exhibits, the event is steeped in Trump-era politics.  The schedule features MAHA Mondays, a reference to the “Make America Healthy Again” movement championed by vaccine skeptic and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as well as appearances from administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz and Superman actor Dean Cain. The temporary fairground is nestled between Smithsonian museums, with views of the Capitol at one end and the Washington Monument on the other.  Visitors had mixed reviews. Mario Beckles, 61, a deputy comptroller with the Army Reserve visiting from Dumfries, Virginia, 30 miles south, said all he noticed was “Americana” that embodies a celebratory spirit that anyone could enjoy, regardless of their political leanings.  He wasn’t going to miss it, since the next big celebration – the tricentennial – won’t be until 2076. “I’m not going to be here for the 300th anniversary,” he said.  Barbara Jurs, who flew to Washington for a day trip from Berkeley County, South Carolina, just to spend the day at the fair, called it “the best idea.” This is “an event that is to unify our country,” she said, adding, “If somebody isn’t participating, they are the ones not being unifying.” Josh Brulé, a resident of suburban Maryland, deemed the fair just “OK,” and not even as good as the annual Montgomery County Fair in Gaithersburg, 25 miles north. “The most disappointing part is that people are just kind of apathetic” about the fair and the 250th commemoration, he said, adding that he wished attendees “were more excited.” Invited guests wave flags at the kickoff celebration for the Great American State Fair with President Donald Trump on the National Mall in Washington on June 24, 2026. (Photo by Hayli Griffin/Cronkite News) Nonpartisan event turns partisan Trump led an “America is Back” kickoff event June 24 ahead of the fair’s opening last Thursday. At times it felt like a campaign-style rally, though flyovers by fighter jets and a B-2 stealth bomber took it to another level. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in one of the edgier speeches, addressed the well-publicized cancellations by musical acts, including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Young MC, The Commodores and Morris Day and The Time.  McBride wrote on Instagram that she had been “assured this was a nonpartisan event” but later concluded that characterization was “misleading.” Young MC and The Commodores cited similar concerns. “We have to give a big round of applause to our military band and singers. Way better than those libtards that canceled on us,” Duffy told a crowd where MAGA hats were a common sight, drawing cheers. Country singer Lee Greenwood performed “Proud to be an American,” the unofficial Republican anthem. Flag waving supporters erupted into chants of “USA” and prolonged applause as Trump took the stage. “Tonight, as we stand on the edge of our 250th year of independence, I am thrilled to declare that America is back,” he said in a speech laced with attacks on political opponents. Taking a poke at former President Joe Biden, he said: “A short time ago, we were a dead country. … Now we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world. We’re respected. … Nobody’s laughing at us anymore.” Freedom 250 spokesperson Julia Friedland told The Hill that the organization Trump created to oversee celebrations for the semiquincentennial is “inherently nonpolitical.” But to Trump’s critics, Freedom 250 is prime evidence that he has tried to hijack the anniversary. Congress created the America 250 commission a decade ago to organize the festivities.  Trump’s initiative has largely taken over, with events tailored to his tastes and those of his political base, such as mixed martial arts cage bouts on the White House lawn on his 80th birthday on June 14 and the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar race on the streets of the capital in late August. “By and large, I just see people just enjoying the day and just celebrating our country’s 250th anniversary,” Beckles said during his visit to the fair Monday, though he acknowledged that “there’s some of those people in here … maybe trying to have an agenda that they want to communicate.” Snubs by Democratic states The fair is designed to resemble a traditional state fair, with a 110-foot Ferris wheel with spectacular views of the Capitol; exhibits from states, territories and federal agencies; $23 turkey legs and other fair food; and live entertainment from rodeo demonstrations to concerts.  Unlike most state fairs, admission is free. That has not ensured big crowds so far, though. Attendance has been modest even on days with milder weather than the capital will see on July 4. Far bigger crowds are expected on the Fourth for a fireworks show that Trump has billed as 10 times bigger than anything the U.S. has ever seen.  The fair runs through July 10.  Each participating state operates a pavilion showcasing its identity through exhibits on scenic destinations, culture, signature foods and major industries. Many also offered interactive displays and souvenirs. Arizona contributed “Arizona Illuminated,” a multi-sensory pavilion designed to recreate the iconic landscapes of Antelope Canyon, a ponderosa pine forest and the Sonoran Desert at night. Alix Skelpsa Ridgway, director of the Arizona Office of Tourism, said the installation was intended to highlight the state’s beauty and encourage tourism. But 11 states controlled by Democrats declined to participate: Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Many cited costs. Some also cited concerns about the event’s MAGA tilt. The event had become more of a “partisan affair than originally presented,” a spokesperson for Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek told OregonLive. An aide to Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey told Cronkite News that the state remains “a proud partner in America250” – the nonpartisan entity created by Congress. The crowds included families, veterans and visitors from across the country, as well as some international tourists. Patriotic and Trump-themed apparel was a common sight throughout the fairgrounds. A volunteer with David’s Tent, a Christian ministry hosting a 24/7 worship and prayer at the fair, said the crowd seemed diverse to her.  Felicia Adeyinka of Towson, Maryland, a Baltimore suburb, said her favorite part has been “seeing the different people, the different cultures, and how everyone is so receptive and amazing.”  Whatever political frictions exist, she said, Americans can get past them ”if we keep loving on people and showing them goodness and showing them kindness.” The post Trump’s Great American State Fair: Modest crowds, $23 turkey legs, MAHA and controversy appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a445fb1c2ca79de23627a7f Federal judge blocks blue state's law prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks on the job te 2026-07-01T00:30:41.493Z Federal judge blocks blue state's law prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks on the job A federal judge on Tuesday blocked Virginia from enforcing a new law that would prohibit federal agents — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol — from wearing masks while carrying out enforcement operations, siding with the Trump administration in a dispute over federal authority. Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne granted the Department of Justice's (DOJ) request for a preliminary injunction, preventing the law from taking effect Wednesday while the legal challenge proceeds. The injunction will remain in place while the case is litigated. Payne found the federal government is likely to succeed on the merits because Virginia's law attempts to regulate how federal officers enforce immigration laws, violating the Constitution's Supremacy Clause. MINNESOTA SENATE VOTES TO BAN ICE FROM WEARING MASKS, ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SUE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS The judge also found the government demonstrated it would likely suffer irreparable harm because enforcing the law could expose federal employees to "real risk of physical harm" while carrying out immigration enforcement duties. The ruling stems from a lawsuit the DOJ filed last week challenging two laws signed by Democrat Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger. The DOJ argued the measures would subject masked federal agents to criminal penalties and threaten agreements between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement. DOJ ESCALATES BLUE-STATE ICE STANDOFF AFTER STATES REFUSE KEY FEDERAL REQUEST "Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe, and they do not deserve to be doxed or harassed simply for carrying out their duties," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said when the lawsuit was filed. "Virginia's anti-law enforcement policies regulate the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents," he added. "These laws cannot stand." The lawsuit argued Virginia was attempting to dictate how federal officers carry out law enforcement operations by restricting when they may wear face coverings, requiring them to display identifying information and placing conditions on cooperation agreements between local agencies and ICE. MINNESOTA SENATE VOTES TO BAN ICE FROM WEARING MASKS, ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SUE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS According to the DOJ, federal officers who violated Virginia's mask and identification law could have faced a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. The lawsuit names Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones and Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano as defendants. Payne's order applies only to Virginia's mask and identity law. The judge noted the Justice Department's separate challenge to another provision governing immigration enforcement agreements will proceed on a different briefing schedule, with a hearing scheduled for Aug. 3. Spanberger, Jones and Descano have all taken steps to counter the Trump administration's ICE agenda in Virginia. In February, Spanberger rescinded an executive order issued by former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin directing state law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Fox News Digital has reached out to Spanberger’s office for comment on the development. Fox News Digital's Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a445d6cc2ca79de23626633 Fitness influencer says Lufthansa told her she looked ‘naked,’ forced her to zip up before boarding flight te 2026-07-01T00:21:00.806Z Fitness influencer says Lufthansa told her she looked ‘naked,’ forced her to zip up before boarding flight Fitness influencer Edda Elisa Pilz says she was prevented from boarding a Lufthansa flight from Berlin to Austria until she covered up her athletic outfit, alleging an airline employee repeatedly called her "naked" during the encounter as temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). Pilz, 24, who boasts more than 500,000 followers on both Instagram and TikTok, shared a video describing the confrontation while preparing to board the Lufthansa flight during the summer heatwave. The video has since circulated widely on social media, where Pilz questioned whether the airline has a dress code for passengers and criticized what she described as the employee's treatment of her. Pilz said she was waiting to have her boarding pass scanned when a Lufthansa employee stopped her from boarding. POPULAR CRUISE LINE’S BIKINI CRACKDOWN COULD SURPRISE PASSENGERS AT ISLAND PORTS According to Pilz, the employee told her, "You cannot board like that," before repeatedly telling her she was "naked." Pilz said she was wearing a matching athletic top and shorts and questioned why the outfit was considered inappropriate in the summer heat. "What am I supposed to put on?" she said in the video. "What should I wear? It is clothing." POPULAR CRUISE LINE’S BIKINI CRACKDOWN COULD SURPRISE PASSENGERS AT ISLAND PORTS According to Pilz, the employee told her she was not wearing "normal clothes" and instructed her to put something over her outfit before she would be allowed to board the aircraft. Pilz said she put on a jacket but was then told she also had to zip it completely before being allowed to proceed. She alleged the employee then blamed her for delaying the boarding process. PASSENGER ALLEGEDLY BOARDS FLIGHT WITH FAKE BOARDING PASS, FORCING PLANE BACK TO GATE According to Pilz, the employee told her, "Because of you, we are now delayed. Because of you, the whole flight is delayed, because you are holding up all the traffic here." Pilz said she replied that she had simply asked for an explanation because she had never heard of an airline dress code. She also claimed men wearing shorts were allowed to board the same flight without being stopped. The influencer said the incident was less about whether Lufthansa has a clothing policy than the way she said she was treated by the employee. "I can accept rules," she said. "But the attitude was unacceptable." Pilz ended the video by directly questioning Lufthansa and asking whether the airline condones that type of customer service, adding that she was waiting for an official response. Lufthansa's General Conditions of Carriage do not appear to include a specific passenger dress code. The airline says it may refuse transportation under certain circumstances, including when a passenger's conduct could significantly affect the "safety and security, the health or wellbeing of other passengers," or for other operational or security reasons, but the policy does not specifically address athletic clothing. Pilz and Lufthansa did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Fox News Digital's Christina Shaw contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a445d45c2ca79de23626476 Lopez: Arizona businesses should have right to boycott Israel te 2026-07-01T00:20:21.307Z Lopez: Arizona businesses should have right to boycott Israel Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a445b3ac2ca79de23626050 Riley Gaines and MyKayla Skinner send message to Simone Biles on women's sports debate after SCOTUS ruling te 2026-07-01T00:11:38.296Z Riley Gaines and MyKayla Skinner send message to Simone Biles on women's sports debate after SCOTUS ruling Just over a year ago, Simone Biles came at Riley Gaines. In now-infamous X posts, Biles called out Gaines for speaking up about a transgender pitcher who won a Minnesota girls' softball championship, and mocked Gaines' body saying "bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male." It ignited the biggest pop culture flashpoint in the "Save Women's Sports" movement. Now just over a year later, Gaines has a close ally in Biles' former US Olympic gymnastics team teammate, MyKayla Skinner. Gaines and Skinner celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to uphold state laws that protect women's sports on Tuesday, and sent a message to Biles one year after the infamous social media feud. SUPREME COURT MAKES RULING ON TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S SPORTS "Just being able to try to find my voice and how I could use my voice after Simone had come out against Riley, it had really affected me," Skinner said. "I have a little daughter, and we are hoping to put her in sports soon, and I just really want her to have everything that I got to have, all the opportunities." Skinner, who won an Olympic silver medal in vault at the Tokyo Games, said her own athletic career shaped her view of the issue. "I’ve broken records, I’ve been an Olympian, I was a college athlete, and I want her to have the opportunities that I had," Skinner said of her daughter. "And so this, for me, was a way that I felt like this is the time for me to come up and stand for what I believe in, stand with Riley, and to join in on this fight." Skinner then turned her attention directly to Biles. "I think it would just be really cool to see Simone stand with us," Skinner said. "She’s one of the best athletes in the world." Skinner said she wants to see more elite female athletes join Gaines, XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey and others in the movement. "To be able to see her as my teammate, as an Olympian, as an amazing athlete that she is, to be able to stand with us and fight alongside Riley and everyone else on this road," Skinner said. "I would just love, love to see my teams, especially Simone, in step with us." Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who became one of the most prominent advocates against transgender athletes in women’s sports after tying transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA championships, previously called on Biles to stand with her on the issue in a March interview with Fox News Digital, months before Biles' social media attack. Gaines renewed her call to Biles, alongside Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, to stand on her side, after Tuesday's SCOTUS ruling. "Let this be a clarion call, not just to Simone, but to every, I think especially elite female athlete, professional female athlete, the likes of Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, Serena Williams, to link arms," Gaines said. Gaines added that the ruling made her feel "absolutely vindicated." "I feel, of course, excited, I feel optimistic about the future," Gaines said. "But I think the feeling that I feel the most of is vindicated. "Being a mom, I look at her and I think of the country and the world that I want her to inherit," Gaines said of her daughter. "It’s a more fair, more safe, more prosperous, more opportunistic world, country." "Let it be known that you also think young girls are worthy of calling themselves champions one day," Gaines added. Biles’ feud with Gaines began June 6, 2025, after Gaines drew attention to a biologically male transgender softball pitcher who helped a Minnesota girls’ team win a state championship. Biles called Gaines "truly sick," a "straight up sore loser" and a "bully," and later suggested Gaines was the "same size" as a male, according to Fox News Digital. Biles later deleted the posts and apologized. The feud also became a turning point for Skinner. Skinner had already endured her own public clash with Biles after she posted a video about the 2024 U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team and made comments about the team’s "talent and depth." Biles responded at the time with the post, "Not everyone needs a mic and a platform," and Skinner later apologized while saying her remarks were misinterpreted. Skinner told Fox News Digital last year that the backlash included death threats and messages saying she "shouldn’t be a mom." Skinner later joined XX-XY Athletics as an ambassador in the brand’s "Gold Medal Campaign," aligning herself with Gaines, Sey, Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead and other prominent activists in the "Save Women’s Sports" space. 'SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS' 2025 CULTURE WAR TIMELINE — THE YEAR THE TIDES TURNED When asked whether she believes Biles truly meant what she said to Gaines last year, Skinner did not hesitate. "100% yes," Skinner said. "I’ve known Simone since I was 13 years old, and we’ve had our moments. There’s times where she has belittled me as an athlete, as a person, bullied. And so this wasn’t a shock to me when she came out against Riley." Skinner said she believes Biles "stands firm" in her position, but hopes that can change. "Being at this level and being a mom, we look up to these amazing athletes," Skinner said. "I really think that she’s not on this side with us, and I really would love to see her come forward and maybe change her mind." Gaines agreed that Biles’ initial comments reflected her real views, while suggesting the apology that followed felt more like public-relations cleanup. "You could even notice the very obvious tone switch between the initial tweet or two and the very ChatGPT-coded apology," Gaines said. Gaines said she accepted Biles’ apology and would still be willing to "link arms" with the Olympic gymnastics legend. "That’s kind of like water off the duck’s back to me," Gaines said. But Gaines said she believes the backlash Biles faced after her posts may have revealed a cultural shift on the issue. "I think it took that for her to realize, ‘Oh dang, I think I was living in my own little bubble here,’" Gaines said. "Maybe the people I surrounded myself with think this, but majority of Americans don’t." The Supreme Court’s ruling does not force every state or school to adopt bans on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports. The court said the cases did not present the separate question of whether schools may allow biological males who identify as female to compete on girls’ and women’s teams. But for Gaines and Skinner, Tuesday’s decision marked a defining legal victory — and another chance to pressure some of the biggest names in women’s sports to pick a side. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a445b26c2ca79de23626047 Wild video shows inmates rioting inside jail after frustrations over access boil over te 2026-07-01T00:11:18.840Z Wild video shows inmates rioting inside jail after frustrations over access boil over Missouri officials have released video and a 100-page report documenting a February riot inside a local jail, where 34 inmates briefly took control of a housing unit and damaged property following phone and Wi-Fi connectivity issues. Surveillance cameras captured the February 7 incident, which began when inmates at the St. Louis County Justice Center expressed anger over phone access, Wi-Fi connections, and their allocated time outside of their cells, while refusing to return to them, FOX 2 Now reported. The incident began as a peaceful mass refusal of inmates to return to their cells before they became more physically disruptive, the report states. Officials directly blamed the unrest on severe staffing shortages. "This incident shows how unpredictable conditions are inside a jail and how important the role corrections officers play," said Captain Tim Ware, acting director of the St. Louis County Department of Justice Services. "The discontent of residents that resulted in this incident is all due to our understaffing in corrections officers which required limitations on the residents' movements." TWO CORRECTIONS OFFICERS HELD HOSTAGE AFTER INMATES TAKE OVER PORTIONS OF NORTH CAROLINA DETENTION CENTER As corrections officers tried to de-escalate the situation, inmates barricaded the entrance of the housing unit with common area furniture. "They tried to de-escalate with the residents and that was not working; the residents moved some furniture and barricaded the door," Ware said. ESCAPED NORTH CAROLINA INMATE HAS HISTORY OF TRYING TO FLEE LAW ENFORCEMENT At one point, an inmate used a basketball to knock down a mounted security camera. The inmates also broke televisions, a commissary kiosk, and parts of the ceiling, Spectrum News reported. Total damages climbed past $30,800, according to St. Louis County records. Authorities eventually deployed chemical agents to safely secure the area. Out of the 34 inmates involved, criminal charges for four "main actors" have been turned over to the Clayton Police Department and the county prosecutor for review, Ware noted. In response to the incident, county leaders approved $3 million in emergency funding for medical services to better support the nearly 1,200 inmates housed in the facility. In addition, officials are actively looking to fill approximately 80 correctional officer vacancies. To prevent future disturbances, the jail is shifting its operational approach. "We have started extra training... tabletop exercises and physical exercises... so the officers will be prepared to make decisions when something similar happens," Ware said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a445b13c2ca79de2362603e How to watch USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 te 2026-07-01T00:10:59.383Z How to watch USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 The United States men’s national soccer team (USMNT) did its job to begin this 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, winning Group D and moving on to the knockout stages. Now, the real run they’ve been looking forward to for the past four years begins on Wednesday night in the San Francisco Bay Area. The USMNT will be pitted against Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the great stories of this World Cup, in the round of 32 to determine who is moving on in the tournament, and who will be heading home. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM For the "visitors" in this case, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s journey not only knocked off Italy, an iconic country in terms of soccer, to get into this World Cup, but they’ve done enough to become a third-place team that moves on in this inaugural expanded format. WATCH USA VS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ON FOX ONE Their 3-1 win over Qatar on June 24 gave them the necessary three points needed to move on after drawing against Canada, a fellow host country alongside the U.S. and Mexico, which earned them one point. They fell to Switzerland, 4-1, as the winners of Group B moved on in their own right. But Bosnia and Herzegovina knew what they needed to do against Qatar, and now they carry momentum into a matchup against a Team USA squad that was hoping for a bit more themselves when they faced Türkiye in their final Group D matchup last week. Of course, the game meant nothing, but Türkiye’s late goal in stoppage time gave them a 3-2 victory that soured what appeared to be a 2-2 draw in Los Angeles. Granted, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t taking any chances, leaving many on his usual starting XI on the bench, though Christian Pulisic made his return in the second half after missing time due to a calf injury. However, that’s looking at it from the pessimist’s point of view. The patriotic optimist viewed that game as nothing because the USMNT already punched their ticket to the knockout stages with a 4-2 win over Paraguay, which just upset Germany on Monday afternoon in Boston with a penalty-shootout victory to move on to the round of 16, and a 2-0 win over Australia to win Group D. Now, with many starters well rested and the home crowd still on their side out in the Bay Area, the U.S. are strong favorites to get the job done against Bosnia and Herzegovina to cement their own spot in the round of 16. Here's how to watch the game, including start time, TV information and streaming options. When: Wednesday, July 1 at 8 p.m. ET Where: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California TV: FOX Stream: Watch on FOX One and FOX Sports 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/6a445affc2ca79de23626035 NPR reveals how a misheard announcement led to it falsely claiming Justice Alito was retiring te 2026-07-01T00:10:39.933Z NPR reveals how a misheard announcement led to it falsely claiming Justice Alito was retiring NPR was forced to retract a story on Tuesday after it falsely reported that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was retiring. The story, headlined "Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, retires," apparently started with a misheard announcement. The outlet said NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg was reporting on the final day of the Supreme Court session when, as she was leaving the court, she misheard Chief Justice John Roberts' announcement about upcoming retirements. NPR explained that it had a lengthy story about Alito's career already prepared, a practice that is common in the news industry that is often done ahead of notable retirements and deaths of important figures. Totenberg joined "All Things Considered" on Tuesday to explain what happened. The reporter said that the error was "entirely on me" and something she called a "rookie mistake." The reporter then read on-air a letter that she wrote to Alito apologizing for the mistake. She noted that she had not heard back from the justice, adding that she did not expect to. NPR RETRACTS FALSE REPORT CLAIMING JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO IS RETIRING FROM THE SUPREME COURT "Dear Justice Alito, there are no words to adequately apologize for today's error in reporting your retirement. It was entirely my fault," she said. "I rushed out of the courtroom after the opinion announcements, and when I realized that the usual rush of folks after a few minutes had not happened, I asked somebody was going on inside, to which the answer was, 'retirement announcements.' I didn't hear the 's' on 'announcements,' and I assumed, something no reporter should ever do, that you were retiring. It was the worst professional mistake of my more than 50 years in journalism. I could go on, but I don't know what else to say, except that I am so, so sorry," she added. "We profoundly regret the error and the confusion that this has caused and Nina has reached out to Alito to apologize personally," NPR Executive Editor Krishnadev Calamur told NPR Public Editor Kelly McBride. SUPREME COURT'S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAUSE AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS Calamur's statement about Totenberg's apologizing to Alito was echoed by top NPR editor Thomas Evans, who told Fox News Digital something similar on Tuesday. "Due to a misunderstanding, NPR’s Supreme Court and Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg incorrectly reported that Justice Samuel Alito had retired. Neither Justice Alito nor the Supreme Court Public Information Office has announced his retirement," Evans told Fox News Digital. In April, a source told Fox News Digital that Alito "is not stepping down this term and is in the process of hiring the rest of his clerks for the next term." Two other sources have told Fox News that Alito is not retiring this term, which lasts until the Supreme Court begins its new term in October. Evans said that once the outlet realized the error, which had been published on NPR's website and announced on its airwaves, there was a swift correction online and on the air. McBride said that NPR published the story on its website at 10:51 a.m. ET and that it was "live for about 5 minutes," though the outlet noted that the story remained live on some member station websites for longer periods of time. "It was taken down and replaced with an editor's note by 10:57 a.m. The error was corrected on the broadcast at 11:07 a.m. ET," the outlet reported. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Totenberg is a seasoned reporter who has been covering the Supreme Court for NPR since 1975. Calamur told NPR that Totenberg's status led him to believe what she reported was accurate. However, following the incident, Calamur said he would be reviewing the breaking news process. McBride admitted that "while there's really no excuse for this kind of error, it was a result of an honest mistake and a rush to publish. Had it been true, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post and many other newsrooms all would have published their stories within minutes of each other." Alito, a 2005 appointee of then-President George W. Bush, has fueled speculation about his retirement because of two factors: his age and the length of his tenure on the bench. The 76-year-old justice has been part of the Court for more than 20 years. Some have suggested that he may be waiting to make sure a conservative successor is confirmed by the Republican-led Senate before the upcoming midterm elections. Fox News Digital’s Julia Bonavita, Alec Schemmel and Ashley Oliver contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a445910c2ca79de23625fed Davis Dam decorates for July 4, Thunderbirds fly over Hoover Dam June 27 te 2026-07-01T00:02:24.341Z Davis Dam decorates for July 4, Thunderbirds fly over Hoover Dam June 27 BULLHEAD CITY — The south face of Davis Dam will display a 75-foot by 25-foot banner for the July 4, America250 holiday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4458fcc2ca79de23625fdf Drug cartels adapt as US boat strikes fail to curb cocaine, fentanyl supply te 2026-07-01T00:02:04.369Z Drug cartels adapt as US boat strikes fail to curb cocaine, fentanyl supply WASHINGTON – Stopping drug trafficking has been a key priority for President Donald Trump. But his policies – redirecting the focus from routine counter-narcotics operations to shows of military force – have made that goal harder to achieve, according to veterans of the U.S. war on drugs and other experts on drug smuggling. If anything, the experts say, strikes that put barely a dent in the flow of narcotics have been a gift to the cartels by impeding international cooperation to combat drug trafficking. And as they always do in the perennial game of whack-a-mole, cartels adapted to disruptions in the supply chain. Since September, the U.S. military has conducted 66 strikes in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean against vessels officials say were transporting narcotics, killing 215 people. But drug trafficking networks are far more complex than a few dozen boats.  Cocaine prices have stayed roughly the same since the first strike, at $60 to $100 per gram, according to addiction scientists. Fentanyl prices are also stable. Nor do police and federal authorities report shortages on the street.  All of which indicates that supply and demand remain in equilibrium. It’s impossible to know the quantity of drugs smuggled into the U.S., though both proponents and critics of the boat strikes cite Customs and Border Protection drug seizures as a good proxy. That data shows fentanyl interdiction on track to drop 6.3% in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, and cocaine interdiction on pace to drop by 5.4%. Those dips are big enough for Trump and his allies to claim success, and far too modest for critics to give him credit for solving the chronic problem. “These sporadic, high-profile, theatrical strikes are not really going to address that broader issue,” said Lee Schlenker, a research associate at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, adding there’s no direct evidence the boat strikes reduced the flow of narcotics into the U.S. Nor has the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January – as evidenced in part by the fact the boat strikes continue even as Maduro awaits trial in New York. Striking drug boats The first such strike was on Sept. 2, 2025, when the U.S. Southern Command sank a boat in international waters off Venezuela, killing 11 people. Trump asserted that the boat was transporting narcotics to the U.S., and that those killed were members of a group he described as “Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists.” “TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere,” he said on Truth Social. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized a follow-on strike against the disabled vessel, killing two survivors clinging to the boat. Reports of the “double-tap” strike provoked an uproar and allegations of unlawful military action. Hegseth ousted the four-star head of SOUTHCOM, Adm. Alvin Holsey, after he raised concerns about the strikes’ legality. Tren de Aragua is a Venezuelan transnational criminal organization that the Trump administration designated as a terrorist group in February 2025. Elements do traffic narcotics. But it is not a drug cartel in the usual sense, and no large cocaine shipments have been linked to it. Within a week of the double-tap strike, Trump announced that the military had conducted another strike on an alleged drug boat in international waters off Venezuela, killing three people. The most recent known strike was June 21 in the Eastern Pacific, killing two and leaving six survivors at large in the ocean. Derek Maltz, a 28-year veteran of the Drug Enforcement Administration who served as acting DEA administrator in the first four months of Trump’s second term, said the strikes show the world that the U.S. treats drug traffickers like other terror groups. “This is a big deterrent,” he said. Still, he said, “These bad guys are very knowledgeable on how they strategically move their products around the world.” A UH-1Y Venom crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 365 (Reinforced), Littoral Combat Force-24, fires a M240-D machine gun during an aerial gun range while over the Caribbean Sea, June 8, 2026. U.S. forces are deployed to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Southern Spear. (U.S. Marine Corps photo) No evidence The Defense Department has not provided evidence of drugs aboard any of the boats.  And there’s no indication that any drugs on most boats sunk so far are destined for the U.S. Instead, they’re most likely headed to Europe, Schlenker said. Drugs are smuggled throughout the Western Hemisphere by plane, rail, container ship and truck, in addition to the go-fast boats and semisubmersible vessels hit in the strikes. Drug cartels have increased their reliance on air transport and shipping containers since the strikes began, according to a March report on Operation Southern Spear from the Department of Defense Inspector General. At a House Armed Services Committee hearing that month, acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Joseph Humire testified that drug boat traffic has dropped 20% in the Caribbean and 25% in the Eastern Pacific since the first strike. Traditional interdiction efforts in the Caribbean involve the U.S. Coast Guard seizing narcotics and arresting traffickers. Airstrikes that kill the smugglers don’t leave that sort of intelligence behind, Schlenker pointed out. SOUTHCOM has not publicly released metrics of Operation Southern Spear’s effectiveness. Marine Gen. Francis Donovan, who took over SOUTHCOM in February, told the Senate Armed Services Committee in March that the strikes have led traffickers to change their patterns. He acknowledged that “the boat strikes aren’t the answer,” though, and said the military is moving toward a counter-cartel campaign targeting the full drug transit network. At a June 2 Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, pressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to explain the criteria for ordering a strike against a particular boat. Rubio said intelligence must show “true links” to criminal activity.  But he conceded that evidence that drugs are aboard is not one of the three criteria, all of which remain classified. “How odd it is that the presence of narcotics on a boat is not one of the targeting criteria,” Kaine said. Jonathan Caulkins, a professor of public policy at Carnegie Mellon University, said that destroying boats or seizing drugs make for good optics but are just a cost of doing business for traffickers. The boat strikes can certainly inconvenience cartels, he said – while also failing to deliver a significant blow to the trafficking network. “There are many other ways of moving the drugs from point A to point B,” he said. Much of a drug’s street price stems from the risks and costs of transportation. Early in the journey, the product is relatively cheap and the cartels can absorb losses fairly easily. “Often the more valuable contribution is destroying the throughput capacity of the network,” Caulkins said.  Unless authorities can make the business unprofitable, the revenue continues to fuel the drug trade, he said, so the key metric is whether a network remains intact after a seizure by authorities. If so, he said, “the network will continue to supply drugs.” Seizures also can’t eliminate drugs from the market if cartels can scale up production. South American cocaine production grew fourfold from 2014 to 2024, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Capturing Maduro Maduro’s capture is another element of Trump’s drug strategy that experts view as more theatrical than effective. Enrique Desmond Arias, a professor of Western Hemisphere affairs at Baruch College, said the institutional corruption that allowed drug trafficking to thrive in Venezuela persists. “Nothing in what’s happened in Venezuela suggests to me a more profound change,” Arias said. Annette Idler, a professor of global security at the University of Oxford, wrote in January that Maduro’s capture could even cause disorder that would benefit organized crime. “Decades of evidence show that militarized drug policies do not reduce supply or demand – they fragment violence and expand illicit networks,” she wrote. The wrong drug Another knock on Operation Southern Spear is that it almost exclusively addresses the flow of cocaine while ignoring fentanyl. That’s “the primary cause of overdose deaths in the U.S.,” the Government Accountability Office reported on the same day as the first boat strike. Synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, accounted for 69% of overdose deaths in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cocaine was responsible for 28%. Nearly all illicit fentanyl in the U.S. comes from Mexico.  Despite that, Trump claimed in an address to military leadership in Quantico, Virginia, in late September that the boats were “stacked up with bags of white powder, that’s mostly fentanyl and other drugs, too.” Following Maduro’s capture, the White House characterized him as “the kingpin flooding America with deadly fentanyl.” There is no evidence of that, and the claim has been debunked. Coast Guard announcements of drug seizures in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific routinely describe discoveries of cocaine and marijuana. The press releases make no mention of fentanyl. A check of Coast Guard press releases dating to 2022 find no mention of fentanyl interdiction in the region. Most fentanyl that reaches American streets is manufactured in Mexico with chemicals from China, according to the 2025 International Narcotics Control Strategy report. “The supply chains providing fentanyl to American consumers do not pass through South America,” Caulkins said. In general, Venezuela is not a major producer of illicit drugs. According to a 2024 DEA report, Colombia produced 84% of cocaine seized by the U.S., but the UNODC categorized Venezuela as a major transit country hotspot in its 2025 World Drug Report. International cooperation The boat strikes are also problematic because they have alienated key allies and partners in the war on drugs. “Whatever potential short-term benefits from a strike would be more than offset if that strike were to damage the willingness of the other country to cooperate with us in the long run,” Caulkins said. In November, reports emerged that the United Kingdom stopped sharing intelligence about suspected drug boats with the U.S.  Canada placed limits on how the U.S. can use its intelligence, and the Netherlands restricted information sharing over feared human rights violations. The strikes also created tensions between Trump and outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro. In October, Petro accused the U.S. of killing Colombian nationals in one of the strikes. When Trump threatened to raise tariffs and cut aid, Petro recalled Colombia’s ambassador. Petro ordered Colombia’s intelligence agencies to halt cooperation with U.S. counterparts  until the strikes end. He later clarified intelligence would still be shared if it is used only for non-fatal drug seizures. A new Colombian president backed by Trump, Abelardo De La Espriella, takes office in August. Maltz said that during his time at DEA, extensive intelligence sharing and cooperation with the U.K., Canada and Colombia was integral to U.S. counter-narcotics operations. He blamed the breakdown of coordination on shifting domestic politics in those countries, rather than on U.S. military action under Trump. Schlenker said antagonizing international partners is counterproductive. “These are comprehensive, complex public policy interventions that we’ve been studying for decades,” he said. “But those effective policies run up against and are contested by the spectacle and theatrics of drug war politics.” The post Drug cartels adapt as US boat strikes fail to curb cocaine, fentanyl supply appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4458a9c2ca79de23625f9f U.S. Mobilizes for Venezuela Despite Trump’s Disdain for Foreign Aid te 2026-07-01T00:00:41.935Z U.S. Mobilizes for Venezuela Despite Trump’s Disdain for Foreign Aid The State Department has promised $100 million in new funds to aid groups, after President Trump was criticized for an anemic response to an earthquake in Myanmar last year. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a445894c2ca79de23625f74 UA program blends arts and health to fight inequality te 2026-07-01T00:00:20.964Z UA program blends arts and health to fight inequality 💡 This story is part of Tucson Spotlight's solutions journalism coverage, which examines responses to community challenges — what works, what doesn't and what we can learn. Learn more at solutionsjournalism.org. A University of Arizona program is pairing nursing students with photographers, mechanical engineers and artists to reframe how the next generation of health professionals thinks about who is responsible for public health. The Health and Arts Community Collaboratory merges health sciences with the arts to build a broader understanding of what makes people well, drawing on what Associate Clinical Professor Lisa Kiser calls "an infusion of different expertise" rooted in the idea that health extends far beyond the health sciences alone. The program began as a single course, Health Equity: Connections, Community and Healing in Urgent Times. The course encourages students to think critically about health inequalities and is co-listed across the College of Nursing and health sciences to draw students from different majors. NURS/HSD 250 was not a traditional class. It did not include long lectures and quizzes. Instead, students learned from guest speakers and experiential learning days. "We've been out to the San Xavier Co-Op Farm, we've been out to Desert Survivors, we've been out to Mission Garden… We even had a climate activist in Costa Rica who talked directly with our students on a live session via Zoom," said Kiser, a professor in the School of Health Professions at the Zuckerman College of Public Health who teaches the class. "It's that the world then becomes your classroom, the community is your classroom." NURS/HSD 250 students visited Watershed Management Group to learn about water in the desert. Courtesy of Lisa Kiser. Arpit Kaur Sohi, a rising junior in pharmaceutical science at the UA, took the class last spring as a way to explore different health careers. She recalls when a nurse from Oro Valley Hospital talked to the class about the importance of listening and taking the necessary time when comforting patients. "I think that's a really valuable lesson that I'm going to take away in my future health profession, whatever I choose to do," Kaur Sohi said. Research has shown that arts-based learning is beneficial for nursing students to acquire social skills like empathy and compassion toward others, with a World Health Organization report finding that photography and digital storytelling can enhance a person's understanding of complex health issues. The Health and Arts Community Collaboratory views health inequality as not exclusive to health sciences, but as a complex social issue that needs to be addressed by every discipline and field. "Health equity is everybody's problem. It's not only a healthcare problem," said Tarnia Newton, an associate clinical professor at the UA College of Nursing who helped create the Collaboratory. "It's every scientist, it's the IT person, it's the mechanical engineer, civil engineer, chemist, pharmacist, it's everybody's problem." The Collaboratory was funded by UA Research, Innovation and Impact, Research Development Production and the Hispanic Serving Institution to create interactive pop-up exhibits exploring the relationship between health and arts in healing communities across the U.S.-Mexico border. Using Photovoice, a form of documentary photography, students in NURS/HSD 250 created visual narratives reflecting on their understanding of health. Graduate students in art education then reviewed the photos and curated exhibitions around themes designed to spark conversation about health inequalities in the community. One exhibit was displayed at the UA's Center for Creative Photography, where community members were invited to reflect on their own experiences with health and what it means to be well, including writing down recipes that made them feel cared for. Patrick Pinder-Newton's photo of stacked hands spanning generations became a reflection on reproductive health. Courtesy of HACC. Seeing his art exhibited at the Center for Creative Photography was surreal for UA alumnus Patrick Pinder-Newton, who said he felt a combination of pride and excitement when he saw the community engaging with his work. "To see our work out there. It's a tad bit vulnerable, but then also to see that it's positively taken by the community, it was also nice," said Pinder-Newton, who participated in HACC while studying mechanical engineering in his senior year. With no prior art experience, Pinder-Newton found meaning in photographing ordinary things that carried deeper significance. A photo of stacked hands, spanning generations from wrinkled to youthful, became Pinder-Newton's reflection on reproductive health. "We usually think that reproductive health is only a women's issue, but I wanted to show that everyone's involved," Pinder-Newton said. "If you only think it as to be an issue centered around women, it's going to just widen the gap to be a women's centric issue rather than a human centric issue." The Collaboratory also expanded across the border, with two exhibits displayed in Hermosillo and Guaymas, Mexico, through a partnership with the University of Sonora and the Inter-American Institute of Higher Education. The bilingual exhibits paired the work of NURS/HSD 250 students with that of Mexican nursing students reflecting on health resilience and migration. The decision to create exhibits was intentional, rooted in the Collaboratory's belief that healing happens in community. "It's one thing to read a journal article or see something on Instagram, which are very isolating individual activities. But an exhibit is a community event. You show up in person," Kiser said. Students from Mexico present at one of the HACC pop-exhibits at the University of Arizona College of Public Health. Courtesy of Lisa Kiser. The HACC hopes to collaborate with more community partners and present at conferences, teaching attendees how an interdisciplinary and binational model can shape a more holistic understanding of health and wellness. "There is no healthcare, if there's no equity," said Kiser, adding that 80% of a person's health comes from the social determinants of health. Social determinants of health are conditions in a community environment that influence quality of life outcomes and risks, like having access to grocery stores, clean water and reliable transportation, according to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. "We have to prepare people to go out and be healthcare providers and educators and promotoras. So that they understand that part of our work is building community and making change," Kiser said. "That you can't just go into the clinic and take care of the person in front of you. You have to say, why does every single person I take care of can't afford their medication?" Dominique Zuniga took NURS/HSD 250 in 2023 to bolster her nursing school application. Three years later, she's working at Tucson Medical Center as an operating room nurse. Zuniga said she wouldn't describe herself as a creative person, but the class showed her how health and arts can blend together. One of Zuniga's Photovoice images was a crowded bus stop, a reflection on how many people depend on public transportation to reach doctors' appointments and a meditation on the social determinants of health. "Art isn't just painting, it isn't just sculptures. It's also noticing small daily things that relate to health in people's lives," Zuniga said. Diana Ramos is a University of Arizona alum and Tucson Spotlight reporter. Contact her at diana@tucsonspotlight.org.   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/home