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Scottish soccer fans drink Boston bars dry, forcing 'emergency' beer deliveries

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:38:07 -0400

Bars in the Boston area are running out of beer because Scottish soccer supporters are drinking them dry, according to reports.

Boston was selected to host two of Scotland's FIFA World Cup matches this year. Members of the "Tartan Army" have turned up in the city in droves to support their team and partake in celebratory drinks while there to enjoy the games.

"It's been a wild time in Boston as the Tartan Army has taken over," Boston Beer Co. manager of communications Devon Savage told Fox News Digital.

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"As large groups of Scots swarmed Boston this week to experience the best of American culture while cheering on their soccer team, they found the Samuel Adams downtown Boston taproom. And they happily stayed for more than one pint!"

Savage said the taproom ran out of Samuel Adams Boston Lager over the weekend because the Tartan Army drank them dry.

"For perspective, from Thursday-Sunday, the Tartan Army drank four times as much Boston Lager as we run through on a typical four-day holiday stretch, like the Fourth of July," Savage said.

"We've had to schedule four 'emergency deliveries' to the taproom. We sold more than 4,000 pints of Boston Lager for almost 90 empty kegs."

Savage said there are 20 beers on tap there, "including many you can only get at the taproom" — but the Scottish fans were basically only drinking Boston Lager.

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"We're trying to make the taproom their home away from home while in Boston," Savage added.

"We've been here for over 30 years, and we've never seen anything like it," Noelle Somers, chief operating officer of Hennessy's Bar, told the Boston Globe.

Hennessy's tripled its St. Patrick's Day sales last weekend and ran out of beer, NBC reported.

A refrigerator door at Federal Wine & Spirits broke from being opened too many times, per NBC. The store also had its Budweiser and Corona beer wiped out in one day.

Last Saturday, Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 at Gillette Stadium in nearby Foxborough, Massachusetts, the country's first World Cup win since 1990. The Tartan Army duly took a victory lap with kilts and bagpipes. About 5,000 fans marched to Fenway Park, NBC Boston reported.

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"You have a drinking kilt, for obvious reasons, because it might get some spillage on it," one Scottish fan told the outlet. "You have a dress kilt. So you always have two kilts."

Scottish supporters got a head start on their way over to America, OutKick reported, and "some airlines weren't even prepared for the sheer volume of drinking that they were hell-bent on doing."

"They drank all the beer on their plane, with some starting to booze as soon as they woke up at 1 in the morning."

A Reddit thread on the topic was generally supportive of the big-drinking tourists.

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"Not surprised," wrote one commenter.

"Was [at The Tam] Friday during the day, and it was bumping. Left for Beantown Pub 'cause it was way too hot at the Tam. Beantown was out of Coors, Modelo and a couple others by that time. Was just funny sitting at the bar, and every 10–20 mins hearing the staff bring up [it] was officially out or close to being out."

"Was at Beantown Pub Saturday, most taps were kicked, bottles weren't in fridges long enough to get cold, and this was during the day," wrote another Redditor. "Also, they apparently ran out of bottles the night before."

Someone else wrote, "We feel pride for a variety of reasons, but nothing swells the heart like hearing your fellow Scots have drunk another city dry."

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"Well that's just impressive, I ain't even mad," yet another person wrote.

"To be honest, I'm planning a trip to Scotland because of how fun the Scots are," someone else said.

Scotland is set to play Morocco on Friday in Boston and Brazil on June 24 in Florida.

"With Scotland set to face Morocco in Foxborough on Friday, Boston bars may want to start treating beer deliveries like emergency preparedness drills," the Morning Brew suggested in an Instagram post.

Tommy Paul's influencer fiancée Paige Lorenze teams up with Frankies Bikinis for 'bikini bride' collaboration

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:35:03 -0400

Tennis still has a power couple after the split of Taylor Fritz and his influencer girlfriend Morgan Riddle. And Paige Lorenze is out to make sure you don’t forget it.

She and Tommy Paul are getting married soon and if she hopes to snag the vacated "Most Famous Woman in Men’s Tennis" title, she has to keep the influencing pedal to the metal.

That’s not going to be hard for this content-creating entrepreneur to pull off. While Paul is out advancing to the next round of the HSBC Championships, Lorenze is rolling out "the bikini bride" collection with Frankies Bikinis.

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It’s a new collaboration on a swimsuit line ahead of her own wedding. The timing of which couldn’t be any better. It’s summer, it’s bikini season, there’s a vacant title on the line, and, of course, she’s about to walk down the aisle.

In other words, a brilliant move by all involved. But that should come as no surprise. Frankies Bikinis launched a swimsuit line with Sydney Sweeney on her way up too. They know elite talent when they see it.

"the bikini bride 🕊️ a collection created in collaboration with @paigelorenze 🤍," Frankies Bikinis wrote on Instagram. "forever yours on 6.23, get first access at the link in bio x"

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What more do you want from a power couple? When Paige Lorenze is not stealing the show after one of Paul’s wins, she’s running a business, pumping social media content and working on bikini collaborations.

He has the easy part. All he has to do is go out, compete and collect a few wins.

Tennis is in good hands as far as I'm concerned. Who knows if Tommy Paul has what it takes to get back into the top 10? What I think is obvious is that everything is setting up nicely for these two before they tie the knot.

Massachusetts Senate candidates trade sharp attacks in fiery debate as incumbent Markey skips event

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:34:20 -0400

The two candidates seeking to unseat Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey sparred during a fiery debate Tuesday night, exchanging sharp attacks on a range of issues.

Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton and Republican attorney John Deaton clashed over President Donald Trump, sanctuary policies, Israel and Markey himself, who did not attend the event.

During the debate, Moulton heavily sought to tie Deaton to President Donald Trump — who remains deeply unpopular in the blue state of Massachusetts — despite the Republican candidate's insistence that he has never voted for the president.

"You may say you're independent, you may say you haven't voted for him, but you're just going to enable his agenda," Moulton said, arguing that sending a Republican to Washington would be a mistake for Massachusetts voters.

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In response, Deaton said Massachusetts needs someone like him to "stand up for America and working people."

"'F' the Republican Party. 'F' the Democrat Party — they all suck." Deaton said.

The Republican candidate also slammed Markey for skipping Tuesday’s debate, calling him "too much of a coward to be here tonight."

Moulton defended Markey, while still urging a "new generation of leadership."

"He's not a coward — he's a lifelong public servant," Moulton said. "We should honor that service."

DEM SENATOR, 79, DRAWS PRIMARY CHALLENGE FROM REP. SETH MOULTON

Markey, who was first elected to the U.S. House in 1976, remains popular with the state’s most progressive voters.

Moulton trails Markey in Democratic primary polling, while Deaton is widely viewed as the clear underdog in the race. The Republican previously lost to Sen. Elizabeth Warren two years ago in a Senate bid.

On immigration, the candidates offered starkly different positions during the debate.

Moulton advocated for the prosecution of ICE officials who carried out Trump's mass deportation agenda, while Deaton said the U.S. should expand legal immigration but maintain "zero tolerance" for illegal immigration.

Deaton also rejected calls to abolish ICE, dismissing them as an election-year "slogan" akin to the push to "defund the police" in 2020.

On foreign aid, Deaton took a hardline stance, saying he would not support sending additional funding to Israel, Ukraine or other countries unless it is clearly "proven" to serve the interests of Americans and Massachusetts residents.

He also criticized Moulton, alleging the Democrat sought an endorsement from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) before later distancing himself after not receiving it.

Moulton, meanwhile, backed conditional aid to Israel, saying the U.S. should not blindly support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also said he returned donations from AIPAC, arguing the organization’s positions have shifted in recent years.

Hillary Clinton breaks with Democratic critics by backing Trump’s Gaza plan as the 'only game in town'

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:30:59 -0400

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered surprising praise for President Donald Trump’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war while appearing in New York City earlier this week.

The unexpected show of support came as Clinton spoke with The New Yorker's David Remnick at 92NY on Monday, during a conversation in which the former Democratic presidential candidate touched on topics ranging from the Israel-Iran conflict to former President Joe Biden’s decision to run for re-election.

Remnick then turned the conversation to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and pressed Clinton on her longtime support of a two-state solution in the region.

"But if I look at the Israeli polity, they don’t want a two-state solution, certainly not now. And if you look at the Palestinian polity, which is an even more complicated set of geographies and population, a two-state solution is not anywhere near the offing there," Remnick said.

HILLARY CLINTON CUTS DOWN CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE ON 'THE VIEW'

He went on to ask Clinton if the concept of a two-state solution is still viable within the region, as officials push for peace.

"So other than some constituents — now it’s diminishing — in the West and elsewhere, a two-state solution, which was fought for so hard but began going out the window many years ago, seems impossible," Remnick added. "Am I wrong?"

"You might be, but you might not be," Clinton said. "And here’s why. I’m going to say something positive about Trump — so hold on."

"Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza is actually a pathway to security for Israel, reconstruction for Gaza, and the possibility of self-determination — however defined — for the Palestinians," Clinton continued. "There are a lot of people who reject it because Trump did it, but it’s the only game in town. There’s nothing else."

TRUMP STAKES GAZA PEACE HOPES ON 21-POINT PLAN AS ISRAEL, HOUTHIS CONTINUE DEADLY FIGHTING

Clinton said that if officials take Trump’s 20-point peace plan and implement it in its entirety, it may provide a feasible solution to end the war overseas.

"But I really believe if we took this 20-point plan, which starts with the disarmament of Hamas — a huge, important step yet to be accomplished — but took all of the 20 points so that it wasn’t just disarm Hamas, and maybe do some reconstruction and build some hotels, resorts on the coast," Clinton said.

"But if you really took the whole approach that is embodied in that 20-point plan — and I know there are people who are working to try to move forward on that — there is a glimmer of a possible path forward."

ISRAEL ACCEPTS TRUMP-LED CEASEFIRE PLAN THAT COULD END GAZA WAR WITHIN 60 DAYS

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Trump’s 20-point plan was introduced late last year, and includes granting Hamas terrorists who give up their weapons in favor of peace "amnesty," establishing Gaza as a "deradicalized terror-free zone" and redeveloping the area commercially.

"If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed-upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal," the document reads.

In January, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff announced that the second phase of the plan was underway, while describing the efforts as transitioning the region "from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance and reconstruction."

The administration also implemented a Board of Peace, chaired by Trump, with a goal of "providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development," according to a previous statement from the White House.

How alleged White House UFC attack plotters organized across four states

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:09:19 -0400

The men accused of plotting a mass-casualty attack at the UFC event held on White House grounds allegedly met through a TikTok group before moving their discussions into encrypted messaging apps, where prosecutors say they allegedly developed plans to kill government officials and other attendees, according to court records reviewed by Fox News Digital.

Federal authorities have arrested five men accused of plotting a mass-casualty attack targeting UFC Freedom 250, the Sunday event held on White House grounds that was attended by President Donald Trump and other senior government officials.

According to federal court records, members of the group first connected around March through a TikTok community called "Vanguard of the Old," where participants allegedly vetted one another through identification documents, workout videos and tactical content before moving into private Signal chats. The filings do not further describe whether Vanguard of the Old was a formal organization or simply an online chat community.

The filings identify five arrested participants in Ohio, California, Missouri and Nebraska and describe a network that prosecutors say evolved from online discussions into operational planning for an attack targeting UFC Freedom 250. Investigators allege members discussed using explosive-laden drones to trigger an evacuation before opening fire on politicians and other targets as crowds fled the area.

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While prosecutors allege the group had developed operational plans, some officials, like Vice President JD Vance, have suggested the conspiracy never advanced to the point of becoming an imminent threat.

"There was a lot of security there," Vance said during an appearance on Fox News' "The Five." "And it turns out the plot was like, not that advanced. They weren't in town."

Court documents identify an Omaha, Nebraska, man known online as "Shepherd" as the group's alleged leader. Prosecutors say Shepherd helped build the organization's tiered structure, directed planning discussions and coordinated members across multiple states through encrypted communications.

Once inside those encrypted chats, prosecutors say members organized themselves into a tiered structure that assigned participants to specific functions. Court records describe Tier 1 members as frontline operators expected to carry out missions and acquire firearms and body armor, while other tiers included drone operators, getaway drivers, recruiters, logistics personnel, technical support and social media advocates.

Court records repeatedly reference military-style training and organization.

Tycen Proper, the 19-year-old Ohio defendant whose phone helped investigators identify other members of the alleged network, told investigators he believed many participants had prior military experience, according to court documents, while his mother said some members represented themselves online as former military personnel. The filings, however, do not identify any defendant as having verified military service.

According to investigators, members also split into smaller chat groups based on operational assignments and locations.

Investigators say the network extended well beyond the five men charged. According to court records, Proper's phone contained a primary Signal chat with approximately 19 participants, along with smaller operational chat groups organized by role and location.

Tensions boiled over between federal agencies over the decision to make the case public. Two senior U.S. officials told Fox News that Secret Service leadership wanted to delay disclosing the investigation until additional arrests could be made, fearing that publicizing the probe could alert other subjects and complicate the ongoing investigation.

The disagreement surfaced publicly Tuesday when Deputy Secret Service Director Matthew Quinn, responding to questions about the case at an unrelated event, emphasized that the Secret Service had "led that investigation from the beginning" and suggested investigators intentionally avoided public disclosure while the case remained active.

"In order to maintain the integrity of the investigation and the security plan we chose not to leak it," Quinn said.

DANA WHITE DENIES AMERICA 250 UFC FIGHT AT WHITE HOUSE WILL BE 'POLITICAL,' 'NOT AT ALL' ABOUT POLITICS

"I'll tell you a phrase I learned early in my career in the New York field office and that's don't choke on your own smoke," he said.

The investigation began June 10 when Proper's mother contacted local authorities after becoming concerned about his recent behavior, according to court records.

Proper's father told investigators his son had allegedly recently met people online, was planning "recons" with them and intended to travel that weekend to meet members of the group. Family members also reported that Proper allegedly had purchased firearms, body armor, ammunition and tactical gear and had quit his job in preparation for what he described as "missions" and "recons."

After investigators obtained a warrant for Proper's phone, they allege they discovered Signal chats containing maps of Washington, D.C., proposed sniper positions, drone launch sites and discussions about escape routes.

Prosecutors say members allegedly discussed potential congressional targets, power infrastructure and other political figures before focusing on UFC Freedom 250.

Proper's mother told investigators members of the group allegedly expressed anger about government corruption and the Epstein files.

According to court records, members of the group allegedly believed the United States was headed in the wrong direction and needed to be "torn down" and rebuilt. Some participants allegedly argued that people connected to Jeffrey Epstein should not govern the country.

Prosecutors also allege that discussions increasingly focused on U.S. support for Israel and lawmakers viewed by group members as aligned with pro-Israel interests.

According to the filings, members discussed targeting politicians they believed were tied to pro-Israel lobbying organizations, while other conversations referenced billionaires and what participants described as "capitalist elites."

Bryan Omar Roa and Michael Alan Thomas, both of California, allegedly met up for a training session in late May, according to messages obtained by law enforcement and shared in court records.

"Noble and I trained on vehicle dismount, cover vs concealment, bounding, and basic marksmanship today," Thomas wrote to the group on May 25, according to court records.

By early June, according to court records, discussions inside the group's encrypted chats had shifted toward operational planning surrounding UFC Freedom 250, which took place last Sunday.

Court records show members discussing a rendezvous point in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where participants from multiple states were allegedly expected to meet before traveling to Washington.

Investigators also say members allegedly exchanged information about safe houses, fallback locations and escape routes that included traveling south along the Potomac River.

According to court records, the group's alleged plan centered on creating chaos inside the White House event before targeting government officials and other attendees as they fled.

Prosecutors say members discussed using drones carrying explosive devices over the north side of the UFC venue, triggering panic and forcing crowds to evacuate. Investigators allege members of the group planned to position shooters and snipers along anticipated evacuation routes south of the venue, where politicians and other targets would be vulnerable.

According to court records, a participant interviewed by the FBI in West Virginia said members of the group allegedly had canceled the operation by Friday, two days before the event. The reported cancellation came after authorities had already begun investigating the group following a June 10 call from Proper's mother.

Authorities arrested suspects in Ohio, California, Missouri and Nebraska Saturday and Sunday after executing a series of search warrants tied to the investigation.

"They had not really done that much planning," Vance said. "And so, I get why people are so fascinated by it. I do think the political violence and rhetoric in this country is out of control. But thank God we have good law enforcement. We've got good FBI because it didn't even get close to the point of execution."

Fox News' David Spunt contributed to this report.

Teenage phenom Miles Russell makes entire golf world feel old with eye-popping quote ahead of US Open debut

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:05:16 -0400

Miles Russell is the youngest player in the 2026 U.S. Open field at just 17 years old. A young man who has been driving a car for less than two years teeing it up in a major championship is a tough reality to grasp, and, understandably so, the Florida State commit's story heading into Shinnecock Hills has been a popular one in the build-up to Thursday's opening round.

Russell, the No. 1 junior player in the world, opted for a formal press conference on Wednesday ahead of what will be his first start in a major championship. In a rather predictable fashion, he almost immediately made everyone in the golf world feel incredibly old.

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When asked if he had any memory of watching the 2018 U.S. Open, which marked the last time the tournament was held at Shinnecock, he responded with an answer that swiftly put things into perspective.

"Maybe bits and pieces, but that's probably more from seeing highlights from it. I don't know. I don't really remember watching any U.S. Opens when I was that little," Russell began. "I think my first kind of golf memory from watching it was maybe Spieth in 2015 at the Masters. I think really remembering it was Tiger in 2019."

Russell isn't talking about Tiger Woods in the 2019 U.S. Open, where he finished T-21. He's referring to Woods winning the 2019 Masters.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER TELLS ONE TRUTH AND A LIE AHEAD OF WHAT COULD BE A HISTORIC US OPEN AT SHINNECOCK HILLS

Imagine that being your first real memory of watching major championship golf.

It not only shows how incredibly young Russell is, but his comments show how this next generation of players soon to make a name for themselves don't have much recollection of any happenings before 2020.

That doesn't mean Russell's comments don't make complete and total sense, because they do, given that he was born in 2008, but it doesn't make it any easier for millennials and boomers out there to grasp with just how quickly time has passed.

Russell qualified for this week's U.S. Open after advancing in the final stage of qualifying in a three-man playoff vying for two spots in the field. He had Charlie Woods, Tiger's son, on the bag as his caddie during the qualifier. Both Woods and Russell have committed to play college golf at Florida State.

In 2024, Russell became the youngest player in Korn Ferry Tour history to make the cut in a tournament, eventually finishing T-20.

Only 27 percent of Democrats will display American flag on July 4: Poll

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:00:15 -0400

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, a new poll finds Republicans and Democrats sharply divided on patriotism, flag displays and the meaning of the July 4 holiday.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey, conducted June 12–15 among 1,537 U.S. adults, asked Americans how they planned to celebrate Independence Day, including whether they intended to display the U.S. flag, attend patriotic events and what the holiday represents to them.

The poll found 64% of Republicans said they would display an American flag or flag bunting outside their home this July 4, compared with just 27% of Democrats.

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The survey also found major differences in how Americans view the significance of the national holiday. Nearly two-thirds of Republicans (65%) said July 4 is "a day where I celebrate the United States of America," while only 24% of Democrats said the same.

Democrats and independents were also more likely than Republicans to describe July 4 as "just like any other day," with both groups registering 11 percentage points higher than Republicans on that measure.

How Americans choose to celebrate the holiday also broke along party lines. Republicans were considerably more likely to take part in traditional patriotic activities, such as wearing red, white and blue (52% compared to 20% of Democrats), attending a fireworks show (46% vs. 28%), and attending a parade or festival (20% vs. 9%).

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Nearly one-quarter of Democrats and independents (24%) said they do not plan to celebrate Independence Day at all, compared with 8% of Republicans.

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The survey also found significant differences in how Americans view the United States. The Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 11% of Democrats believe the United States is the greatest country in the world, compared with 62% of Republicans.

These findings reflect other recent surveys which have documented declining patriotism and growing ideological differences between Americans.

A recent Fox News survey ahead of America's 250th anniversary found a large number of voters believe America is divided by different values (58%) rather than shared values (42%). Majorities of Democrats (62%) and independents (65%) think Americans are separated by different values, while views among Republicans are split (49% shared vs. 50% different values).

Jeanine Pirro calls out 'dirtbags' after 14 charged in alleged cocaine ring operating feet from a schoolyard

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:58:15 -0400

Fourteen suspects have been charged as part of a crack and powder cocaine trafficking scheme where dealers sold drugs near a Washington, D.C., elementary school — often in front of young children in broad daylight amid an open-air drug market, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.

A federal indictment charges each of the 14 defendants with conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base and 500 grams or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of Hendley Elementary School in the city's Washington Highlands neighborhood, an area plagued by crime, authorities said.

The drugs were routinely sold in the presence of school‑aged children walking to and from school, exposing them to persistent illegal activity and risking normalizing dangerous conduct, federal prosecutors said.

"This is poison that is being peddled during the day within feet of a schoolyard where our children learn, play, and grow," U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told reporters. "Selling cocaine near our kids isn't just illegal. It is an attack on the most vulnerable in our society. It endangers the children."

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"It destroys families, and it fuels the violence and the chaos in the district that we have suffered for far too long," she added.

The suspects, who were arrested Wednesday as part of a two-year operation, were identified as Tevin Moody, 32; Geraldo Landy, 38; Norman Moore, 36; Lenon Wright, 34; Ali McShay, 31; Lonnell Thomas, 27; Marquette Paris, 34; Jeremiah Prince, 21; Joseph Moore, 43; Raekwon Womak, 21; Kivarrie Greene, 22; De’Lonte Jackson, 32; Derrick Manuel, 34; and 25-year-old Malik Heard.

In addition to the drug charges, Kivarrie Greene is also charged with unlawful possession of firearms.

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Throughout the investigation, authorities executed multiple search warrants at locations associated with the suspects and recovered 28 firearms, the Justice Department said. Agents also recovered 2.4 kilograms of crack cocaine, one kilogram of powder cocaine, 29 grams of fentanyl and 12 pounds of marijuana.

"They have access to illicit drugs. They have access to firearms," said Christopher Goumenis, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent-in-Charge for the agency's Washington Division. "They're violent criminals, and most of them are recidivists in these communities."

On Wednesday, authorities executed 19 search warrants and made 20 arrests across Washington, D.C., and Maryland of members of a violent street gang that operated on 4th Street, the FBI said. The crew engaged in the trafficking of guns and drugs like fentanyl and cocaine, authorities said.

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Along with other neighborhood-based street crews, they are the primary drivers of violence in the city, officials said, noting that they have committed a litany of crimes, including armed carjackings, shootings, robberies and murder.

In one image released by the Justice Department, a woman is shown accompanied by a 5-year-old girl while purchasing cocaine before taking the child by her hand and walking off, Pirro said.

"Now, as far as I'm concerned, that's a crime," Pirro said. "It's one thing to have a prosecution of dirtbags who were selling drugs in the area of schools, 1,000 feet from a damn elementary school. It's a whole other level of crime, as far as I'm concerned, for this woman to bring a child to a cocaine sale and then walk along with the child while she's got the drugs on her."

Pirro said she plans to ask the City Council to enact a law to address child endangerment, which she noted the city currently lacks.

Authorities observed at least 165 drug buys during the course of the operation, Pirro said. She added that she was optimistic authorities will make a difference in D.C. communities plagued by crime and drugs, given the scope of the arrests.

A's fan brutally swings and misses with the ladies after trying to hand them a foul ball

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:57:46 -0400

There was a strikeout that took place during Tuesday’s Pirates and Athletics game that you’re not going to find in the box score. That’s because it was recorded by a fan who ended up with a souvenir he tried to give away to three ladies.

He was quick to his feet and jumped over his two buddies to retrieve a foul ball that landed on the grass nearby. He had great anticipation after a diving attempt by a fan in front of him came up empty. He pounced on it as soon as it stopped bouncing around on the hill.

It should be mentioned that it doesn’t appear as if he spilled a drop of his beverage on the play either. That, along with the athleticism displayed, should have helped him out for what was coming next. Unfortunately, it didn’t.

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After grabbing the baseball and making his way back to where he was sitting, he glanced up the hill and noticed three ladies sitting close to where he made his play. He gave the ball a toss in the air and started walking toward them.

Looking back at the replay, as I've done several times, the toss might be where he went wrong here. It was a little too much. You can’t fill your head up with arrogance before stepping up to the plate. You need a good balance of humility and confidence.

He extends the ball to the ladies and brutally swings and misses. Strike one, strike two and strike three. None of the three wanted the ball. All he could do was exactly what he did, turn back around and grab a seat.

Baseball is a game of failure. You’re going to swing and miss, and you’re going to do so in brutal fashion on three pitches sometimes. It’s part of the game. He can't take this failure into his next at-bat.

Mauricio Pochettino told USMNT players 'we're American, we don't take s***' ahead of World Cup

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:49:10 -0400

The U.S. Men's National Team had arguably the most impressive performance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in its opening game against Paraguay last week.

Winning the match was one thing, but how it played out was another. After years of frustrating, slow soccer, the USMNT played a brand of free-flowing, attacking football based on impressively accurate passing and relentless movement up the pitch.

Much of the credit goes to the players; Chris Richards had an incredible 100% accuracy rate on his passes, Folarin Balogun had several outstanding finishes, Malik Tillman was a consistent force, Christian Pulisic had a dominant first half, and Antonee Robinson made highlight-reel moves to get free. But the rest of the credit has been deservedly placed on manager Mauricio Pochettino.

After an often shaky start to his tenure leading the USMNT, the performance against Paraguay was a complete repudiation of his critics and validation of his tactics and managerial style. Most USMNT fans were struck by the sense that they'd never seen a U.S. team play with that style, that successfully.

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And with several other top teams, like Brazil and Spain, for example, looking generally unimpressive in their first matches, it's given rise to hopes that the USMNT may make a deeper run in the tournament than originally believed.

But it's one thing to see it from the outside, it's another to hear from the players what Pochettino is telling them. What motivation he's adding within the locker room. Thankfully, Sebastian Berhalter told us this week.

The midfielder and son of former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter spoke to the media on Tuesday about Pochettino's influence on their mindset.

USMNT CAPTAIN TIM REAM SAYS TEAM'S WORLD CUP MINDSET IS SIMPLE: 'LET'S WIN THE THING'

"I think one is, we’re American. We don’t take s***" Berhalter said. "That’s something he really put in.

"Even though he’s Argentinian, he has that mindset of, ‘Look, this is what we do. This is who we are. This is what America’s about.’ Even from an outside perspective, he showed us Americans what we’re about. He really drills that into us."

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

Winger Tim Weah agreed.

"I think we were super aggressive with how we played, how we pressed, and did other things," he said. "So it’s the buildup of all the games. And it’s been great to see and the mentality that coach Poch and his staff have brought to this team, that has been wonderful."

The USMNT is no stranger to tough tackles or physical play in CONCAF. But for years, it's seemed like they lacked the attitude or mindset to counter it. It's just one match, and there's a long way to go, but thus far, the results in the World Cup, the most important international tournament, are very, very different. And very, very encouraging. It's odd, and a bit funny, though, that it took an Argentinian manager with virtually no experience in the United States prior to 2024 to install that very American mindset.

They'll look to keep that aggression, flair and quality going in the second match of the group stage on Friday against Australia.

FOX News Deals Newsletter: America is turning 250 — and Prime Day deals are rolling in early

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:38:16 -0400

FOX News may be compensated for or earn a commission if you buy through our links.

Father's Day is this Sunday, Prime Day is just days away and America's 250th anniversary follows closely behind. Amid all the excitement, this patriotic baseball cap stands out as a surprisingly affordable find. On sale for just $15, it has an embroidered commemorative design complete with an eagle and American flag.

There's no shortage of impressive early Prime Day deals right now. I search through sales for a living and, this week, I found noteworthy discounts on home essentials, tech gadgets and patriotic gear worth shopping before the four-day sale kicks off on June 23. — Caitlyn Martyn, Commerce Editor

Upgrade your tech with early discounts on Apple AirPods, Blink home security cameras and Roku streaming devices.

Refresh your home with deals on storage solutions, mattress toppers and a dryer vent-cleaning kit.

Get ready for America's 250th anniversary with patriotic T-shirts, garden flags and limited-edition whiskey glasses.

If you're looking to get a head-start on Prime Day shopping, FOX News Deals writers and editors rounded up the best discounts you can shop right now. One deal stood out, though.

Their favorite: Lefant robot vacuum: $89.99 (55% off) from Amazon. Find more deals here.

This week, Commerce Editor, Christopher Hindenach, shares three products he recently bought and recommends.

Q: What's a product you bought that immediately solved a problem you had?

A: The Google Nest Thermostat is a budget-friendly smart home device that lets me control the temperature in my home with an app. I turn on the AC while I'm on my way home from work.

Q: What's a summer staple you’d recommend?

A: I needed to upgrade my golf shirt collection, and I got this polo on sale for $10. It's affordable and gears me up for the links this summer.

Q: What are you eyeing for Prime Day?

A: I'm considering a Google Nest Doorbell to add security in my busy neighborhood. It detects activity outside whether we're at home or away.

Check out our "Add to Cart" series to see what our full team is buying for Prime Day.

Car phone holder ($16.49) — now 50% off: This magnetic mount keeps your phone within view as you drive.

PGA Tour men’s golf shorts ($20) — now 50% off: Pick up a pair of popular golf shorts while they’re just $20.

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Satin pillowcase ($14.99) — now 50% off: Enjoy a more comfortable night's sleep with a pillowcase designed to help cool you down.

If you're looking for a range of deals, all in one place, check out this week’s most noteworthy shopping articles.

The best deals this week that rival Prime Day — up to 66% off Yeti, Ninja and more

Early Prime Day sleep deals to shop now: Up to 66% off mattresses and bedding essentials

Upgrade your routine with 40% off Laifen hair dryers and electric toothbrushes

Score up to 69% off Chefman, Ninja and Keurig with these early Prime Day kitchen deals

If you'd rather shop just one retailer, these three have some of the best deals we've found this week.

Get up to 70% off home, tech, tools and more, from brands like Carhartt, Craftsman and KitchenAid before Prime Day.

Score 50% off almost everything sitewide with code WANDER, plus take an extra 60% off sale and clearance items online.

Right now, you can save up to 30% off Coleman coolers, grills and more. Members can take an extra 10% off at checkout.

Colombian military neutralizes five terrorists accused in bus bombing that killed 20, injured 45 civilians

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:37:53 -0400

Colombian military forces announced on Wednesday they successfully neutralized five members of the militant group responsible for a devastating bus bombing that killed 20 civilians and left 45 others injured.

In a statement from the Military Forces of Colombia, officials said the neutralized suspects were members of the "Estructura Jaime Martínez," an organized armed group.

In addition to planting the explosives in the municipality of Cajibío, authorities claim the group's criminal activities included stealing vehicles along the Pan-American Highway and indiscriminately deploying drones loaded with explosives.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER CHARGED WITH HOLDING GIRL CAPTIVE FOR 12 YEARS

A video shared along with the statement appeared to show body bags laid out in front of a military helicopter and numerous seized weapons.

The military retaliation followed an April 26 terror attack, when an explosive device detonated on a passenger bus traveling along the Pan-American Highway in the volatile Cauca region.

The blast killed 15 women and five men, according to a report from The Associated Press.

COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT PETRO THREATENS MILITARY RESPONSE AFTER TRUMP WARNS COLOMBIA MAY BE NEXT TARGET

While initial local reports said 36 people were injured, including several children, the Colombian military's recent update noted that 45 civilians were wounded in the explosion.

Gen. Hugo López, commander of Colombia's armed forces, quickly condemned the bus bombing as a "terrorist act."

He attributed the attack to dissident factions of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), specifically pointing to the Jaime Martínez faction and the network of "Iván Mordisco," one of the country's most wanted figures.

The U.N. high commissioner for human rights previously urged authorities to "guarantee justice for the victims."

Southwestern Colombia has become a battleground for illegal armed groups vying for control over coca leaf cultivation areas and crucial drug trafficking routes leading to Central America and Europe.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt welcomes FIFA fans to America in a red dress, 8U baseball brawl & is this a catch?

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:35:23 -0400

Third, and penultimate, Hump Day of June. Time flies when you're having fun! We've got more College World Series action today, the U.S. Open is on deck, and that pesky soccer tournament is still chugging right along.

Sure, I wish it would end so I can get back to new episodes of "MasterChef" at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, but I realize I'm probably in the minority on that one. I hear there's a chance USA and England could play on July 4? If that's true, I'll lock in for that one. Until then, it's just not my wheelhouse.

I'm more of a football guy myself. Speaking of that ...

Welcome to a Hump Day Nightcaps — the one where Kansas City Chiefs Heiress Gracie Hunt shows the Europeans what a real FOOTBALL WAG looks like as they invade Arrowhead Stadium.

CHIEFS HEIRESS HUNT SISTERS INSPIRE TEAM USA TO INCREDIBLE WIN OVER PARAGUAY, BUY BULLS BANNER & BRISKET

What else? I've got a ton of action from last night in Omaha, including the age-old, 'What's a catch?' debate rearing its ugly head once again. I've also got Tiffani Amber Thiessen hitting the beach as we near the technical start of summer, and an all-time youth baseball fight down here in big, beautiful, FREE Florida.

This is what it's all about!

Grab you whatever you'd like — dealer's choice today! — and settle in for a Hump Day 'Cap!

Before we get this town hall going, I'd like to start this Hump Day with a question to the veterans in class:

How old were you when you realized the day-drink wasn't what it once was?

The First Lady and I celebrated our 10th anniversary yesterday. A big one! Because it was Tuesday and the world didn't quite slow down just because it was our anniversary, we're actually celebrating it this weekend. But, we did manage to sneak off to lunch yesterday to at least acknowledge the occasion.

ELLA LANGLEY CELEBRATES NO. 1 ALBUM LAKESIDE IN A BIKINI AND MIKE VRABEL (SORT OF) APOLOGIZES

I had two beers. Two. And I was wiped out by the time we got home. Just toast. Exhausted. I felt like I needed a nap, and I never take naps. Ever. But after two beers at 1 p.m., I got home and could've passed out for hours.

Now, obviously I do this regularly during football season on Saturdays and Sundays, and I'm fine. But how I felt yesterday has me concerned.

Am I getting too old to drink a beer during the afternoon? I'm 33. That can't be true, right? I figured I had way more time. I'm hoping this was a one-off.

Perhaps my body wasn't expecting a couple of beers at noon on a Tuesday? That's what I'm telling myself right now, but I am moderately worried. I'm hoping someone here can talk me off a ledge.

Or, perhaps, push me off of it. Either-or!

OK, let's go ahead and get this show on the road. I'm hoping to get this issue resolved soon, because football season is right around the corner.

A quick check of the calendar tells me that training camps are one month away, with the first regular season game in (woke) Australia just 84 days away.

On that note, here's Chiefs Heiress Gracie Hunt wearing her Sunday red at Arrowhead for yesterday's showdown between Argentina and Algeria:

I know we've got ... futbol ... going on right now, and I respect that. But goodness, I could use some real football this weekend.

What I would GIVE for some crappy Thursday night game between the Jags and Browns tomorrow night. Hell, I'd take an Akron-Eastern Michigan game at 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network right now. Something. Anything.

Oh well. It'll be here before you know it.

In the meantime, we at least have some College World Series action to keep us distracted. And buddy, we had a couple all-time moments in last night's elimination game between Georgia and Texas.

The Bulldogs won, 2-0, and will now face elimination again tonight against Oklahoma. But first ... was this a catch? It's all over the internet today, and — to me — it seems pretty cut and dry.

But is anything on the internet EVER cut and dry?

To me, that's not a catch. I didn't think it was a catch in real-time, and I certainly didn't think it was after the replay. Had the ball not been moving as he was lifting his glove up to show the umpire he caught it, I'd probably think otherwise.

But it was already moving. Everybody wants to compare it to the infamous Dez Bryant (non) catch a few years ago in the playoffs. That one was way more of a catch than this. If we want to think of it in football terms — and this class has been weirdly football-centric, so we might as well — then I think it's even clearer.

If this was a receiver diving for a ball, and he caught it and then rolled over and it started to wiggle, they'd review it and immediately overturn it. It would take two seconds. That's what we have here.

Easy call, and the right one, in my (always right) opinion.

Frankly, the more impressive part of that replay is the absolute NUTS on the third base coach to send the runner home on that pop-up. Perfect throw, but an even better slide.

What a tournament.

OK, two more on the way out. First? It's summer, which means it's officially time for youth travel ball parents to get AFTER it:

Lordy. What a scene. I played travel ball for years down here, and I can honestly say I've never seen things escalate to THAT point. What a brawl. Just anarchy, all in the name of 8U baseball.

I just couldn't imagine getting that worked up over an 8U baseball game. Possible pregame tailgates in the parking lot contributing here? Maybe. Certainly not out of the question.

Lord knows it wouldn't affect me! As I told you earlier, I'd be passed out on the bleachers while the suburban moms were all in a headlock.

OK, that's it for today. Good work, everyone. Good class.

Let's cool off and end the day with Tiffani Amber Thiessen at the beach.

See you tomorrow.

OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. (roughly, we’re not robots).

Where do we stand on the catch/no catch? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.

Subcontractors say they’re owed millions, face financial ruin, after helping build Obama Presidential Center

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:32:06 -0400

CHICAGO — The Obama Presidential Center was billed as a lasting legacy to former President Barack Obama, and its construction was touted as an ambitious model built with aggressive goals for minority-owned and local businesses.

But now, some of the very subcontractors who helped build the 19.3-acre campus on Chicago’s South Side say they are facing financial ruin as they race to recover millions of dollars they claim remain unpaid ahead of the center's grand opening Friday. Overall construction costs were reported to be $830 million in 2021, and have likely climbed past the $1 billion mark.

A Fox News Digital investigation identified multiple construction firms claiming losses ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to tens of millions. The allegations cut against one of the Center's defining goals: helping minority-owned businesses and local contractors grow through one of Chicago's highest-profile construction projects. Several of the complaints reviewed by Fox News Digital come from firms that were supposed to benefit from that mission.

Among them is Adamson Plumbing, whose owner Mike Owen says is nearly $4 million in the red after years of work on the project.

"That is a hole that no subcontractor, small business can survive," Owen said.

WATCH: Black subcontractors at Obama Presidential Center still seeking payment as Juneteenth opening nears, advocate says

OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER'S $470M SAFETY NET UNDER SCRUTINY AS SUBCONTRACTORS SAY THEY'RE OWED MILLIONS

Subcontractor owners interviewed by Fox News Digital described what they characterized as a chaotic work environment marked by repeated design changes, rework, scheduling disruptions, extensive oversight and years-long compensation disputes that still remain unresolved.

Several also described what they viewed as a wall of silence surrounding the project, with some declining to speak publicly or requesting anonymity because of confidentiality agreements or fears of professional retaliation.

The allegations emerge days after a Fox News Digital investigation reported that the Obama Foundation’s reserve fund — originally promoted as a $470 million financial safeguard intended to help protect taxpayers if the project encountered financial trouble — remains funded at roughly $1 million.

Nearly $4 million in the red

Standing outside the center on a gloomy Friday afternoon, Owen flipped through spreadsheets and financial records that he said documented millions of dollars in losses tied to the project.

Owen said the project stretched on for years longer than anticipated, forcing his company to absorb millions of dollars in labor and overhead costs as work demands changed and expanded.

He said the losses have drained the company's reserves, created uncertainty for employees and could ultimately force layoffs. Owen also said the years-long effort to recover what he believes is money owed has taken a significant toll on his mental health.

"I haven't had eight hours or six hours sleep in over a year," Owen said. "I'm cooked emotionally. I feel like an aluminum can that's been thrown in front of a steamroller. We're crushed. And I have to fight for my company and for my people."

OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER JOB LISTINGS PUSH ‘ANTI-RACISM’ PLEDGE AHEAD OF OPENING

As the center prepares for a star-studded pre-opening celebration on Thursday featuring performers including Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and John Legend, Owen said it has been difficult to watch the buildup and soft-opening events take shape over the past few weeks while his company struggles financially.

"It was kind of hard seeing some local and national celebrities high-fiving and back-slapping here about the work that's been done," Owen said. "The backdrop of a coming celebration is kind of hard to swallow for me and for some of my peers at the moment."

Owen, whose company is not minority-owned, said he decided to speak publicly only after months of failed efforts to recover losses he attributes to the project.

"As for me and my company, I’m at the end of my rope and I see no other choice than to have to tell my story," Owen said. "This is not to embarrass anybody, but this is just to make sure that the truth gets told out here of what has happened to the companies that poured their heart and soul into getting this job complete and operational."

He said unnecessary rework, delays and more than 100 change-order requests left his company absorbing millions of dollars in additional costs.

OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER SLAMMED FOR PROMOTING ‘FAR-LEFT' AGENDA ON PUBLIC LAND

The Obama Foundation, Obama’s private nonprofit organization that oversees the construction, told Fox News Digital that it paid Lakeside Alliance as the project’s construction manager and that Lakeside was responsible for hiring, managing and paying subcontractors working on the center.

The Obama Foundation also said it has no outstanding disputed charges with Lakeside Alliance -- a joint venture involving multiple construction companies — and no contractural relationship with Lakeside's subcontractors.

Lakeside Alliance said projects of this scale are inherently complex and that outstanding project matters often continue long after construction ends. The alliance said approximately 475 contractors worked on the project, generating significant opportunities for local tradespeople and businesses, and that it remains committed to working through outstanding matters to successfully close out the project.

Neither Lakeside Alliance nor the Obama Foundation directly disputed allegations from some subcontractors that they incurred losses while working on the project.

Fears of speaking out

Advocates for Black subcontractor firms say those companies have been muzzled by a non-disclosure agreement and a reluctance to speak publicly because of the prestige surrounding the project in Obama’s adopted hometown, a Democratic stronghold, as well as concerns that speaking out could jeopardize payments.

"They are scared to death about talking about it," Omar Shareef, the president of the African American Contractors Association, told Fox News Digital outside the center on a recent Saturday. The group advocates for Black-owned construction businesses and was founded by Shareef in 1989.

"I've never seen this happen since I've been in business," Shareef said. "The building does look nice, but the fact doesn't matter that they're not paying our damn contractors."

Fox News Digital independently interviewed several contractors who described similar concerns.

OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER'S $470M SAFETY NET UNDER SCRUTINY AS SUBCONTRACTORS SAY THEY'RE OWED MILLIONS

Shareef said several Black subcontractor owners began privately approaching him about six months ago, claiming significant losses tied directly to the project. The concerns are particularly notable, he said, because the project was publicly promoted as an opportunity for minority-owned businesses and local workers.

"The promise was that this project was going to uplift minority contractors and uplift the community," Shareef said. "What sense is celebrating Juneteenth if our Black contractors are not getting their money?"

"Some of the people have put their mortgages up, they're going to lose their bonding... they are going to lose their relationship with their supplier as well as their banker."

Shareef said that being in the red not only puts them at financial risk, but it also makes it harder for them to secure future projects. Shareef said his group plans on staging a protest outside the center on Thursday at 10 a.m. CT.

"That's a bad signal to put out the fact that seven to eight to maybe 10 of our contractors in our community are going to be eliminated from doing business because of the debt that they incurred on this particular project," he said. "If they would have known it was a Trojan horse or a Pandora’s box, I don't know if they would have raced as much as they did to be a part of it."

Fox News Digital has not independently corroborated the claim that these subcontractors will be forced out of business as a result of their work on the Obama Presidential Center project.

Local companies on the brink

One minority-owned subcontractor owner told Fox News Digital his company was up to $2.5 million in the red but declined to speak publicly, citing non-disclosure agreements and ongoing efforts to resolve disputes. The owner said the contract for the job was originally expected to last 24 months but ultimately stretched to about five years.

Fox News Digital was unable to independently verify the company's claimed losses. Shareef said the owner told him the same story but the owner wouldn’t provide Shareef with documents due to the NDA.

The largest publicly known dispute tied to the project involved II in One Concrete, a Black-owned firm that was part of the Concrete Collective — a joint venture that also included Trice Construction and W.E. O’Neil Construction -- that was responsible for major structural concrete work across the campus.

The Concrete Collective filed claims exceeding $40 million, alleging it incurred substantial additional costs while working on the Center. The dispute later became entangled with a widely publicized racial racial discrimination lawsuit that brought national attention to diversity, equity and inclusion issues surrounding the project.

McGee alleged the project’s structural engineer unfairly blamed his company for delays and cost overruns and that the criticism contributed to the rejection of Concrete Collective’s compensation claims.

Defendants denied wrongdoing and disputed the allegations, arguing that portions of the concrete work had to be repaired or replaced because of cracking and other deficiencies. The owner of II in One Concrete declined to comment for this story. The case docket reflects that the case remains pending.

BUREAUCRATS HIDE TRUE PRICE OF OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER AS TAXPAYERS HIT WITH INFRASTRUCTURE BILL

Court records also show that at least two minority-owned subcontractors that worked on the project later sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to documents viewed by Fox News Digital. The filings do not establish that the Obama Presidential Center caused those financial difficulties.

Glass Management Services, which supplied glass for the project, filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2024 and later told the bankruptcy court it was preparing litigation related to the Obama Presidential Center that it said could yield millions of dollars in damages. Fox News Digital is not aware that such litigation has been filed and the allegations have not been tested in court. Its owner declined to speak.

Vision Painting & Decorating Services, another subcontractor that worked on the project, also filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2024 while listing the Obama Presidential Center contract in its bankruptcy schedules. Court filings reviewed by Fox News Digital do not state whether the company viewed the project as contributing to its financial difficulties. Fox News Digital was unable to get in touch with its owner.

Another subcontractor owner who worked on the project, told Fox News Digital that the job caused significant financial strain on his company too and he described the experience as a "nightmare" and one of the most difficult projects he had encountered.

He filed a mechanic’s lien for around $145,000, documents show, which was eventually paid to him, but he said his company was still down $200,000 for the project. A mechanic’s lien is a legal tool that companies file when they say they are owed money for construction work they completed.

"Literally, I've been doing this for 35 years, and it was the worst-run job I've ever been on," the subcontractor owner said.

He described repeated delays, extensive oversight and what he considered unnecessary construction requirements that forced contractors to spend additional time and money completing work.

"The stuff that they made everybody do was so over-the-top ridiculous," the owner said.

That view was echoed by Owen, who said his company was forced to redo portions of the Center’s stormwater system at a cost of nearly $900,000, expenses he believes should have been reimbursed. Owen said the work was unnecessary and pointed to correspondence reviewed by Fox News Digital in which Chicago’s chief plumbing inspector later wrote that Adamson’s original method complied with city code requirements.

Owen also provided records showing his firm submitted more than 100 change-order requests — requests for additional compensation for work performed beyond the original scope of the project — during construction. He said the unusually high number reflected constant revisions, rework and delays.

Owen said the company has been trying to recover money it says it is owed from parties involved and has not filed a lawsuit. Fox News Digital reviewed correspondence showing that Adamson’s attorney wrote to project representatives regarding the dispute.

Meanwhile, two additional companies filed mechanics’ liens for around $400,000 and $75,000 respectively. Fox News Digital was unable to contact company officials and it is not known if the liens have been paid.

Promise vs. reality

The concerns are particularly notable because the Obama Presidential Center was built around one of the most ambitious efforts to increase participation by minority-owned businesses and workers from historically underserved communities.

The Obama Foundation committed to awarding 50% of subcontracting packages to diverse vendors — nearly double Chicago’s goals for minority- and women-owned businesses — while requiring 35% of workforce hours to come from targeted South and West Side communities. Foundation officials said the effort was intended to serve as a model for future development projects and help create a pipeline of workers and contractors for projects across Chicago.

The Obama Foundation estimated the Center would generate as many as 5,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs during and after construction.

To deliver the project, the foundation hired Lakeside Alliance — a consortium led by Turner Construction and four Black-owned firms: UJAMAA Construction, Powers & Sons Construction, Brown & Momen and Safeway Construction. The partnership was frequently highlighted by the Foundation as evidence of the project’s commitment to minority-owned businesses and local economic opportunity.

Beneath that alliance sat dozens of subcontractors responsible for carrying out the actual work, from plumbing and HVAC systems to painting, insulation, glass installation and concrete construction. Many of the complaints reviewed by Fox News Digital came from firms operating at that subcontractor level.

The foundation said many subcontractors used the project to grow their businesses and noted that it implemented accelerated payment schedules, advance payments and a 15-day payment cycle to help support smaller firms. The foundation also said it worked with Lakeside Alliance to identify subcontractors in need of financial assistance and, when appropriate, provide additional support.

A landmark project

Whatever the outcome of those disputes, the center itself is nearing completion and preparing to open its doors to the public.

For many Chicago residents, the project remains a source of pride and a long-awaited investment in the city’s South Side. For some of the subcontractors who helped build it, however, the approaching opening date represents a shrinking window to resolve payment disputes they say have lingered for years.

The subcontractor tension was largely absent from the excitement surrounding the center over a recent weekend, when local residents touring the campus told Fox News Digital they were impressed by the sprawling development and its 220-foot-tall granite-clad museum tower.

Many posed with a statue of the former president and first lady and stopped to read slogans displayed on the perimeter fence, including "Bring Change Home" and "A Home For Action." Several described the project as a fitting tribute to Obama, who first rose to prominence as a community organizer before becoming the nation’s first Black president.

The center sits in historic Jackson Park, one of Chicago’s most iconic public parks. The Obama Foundation secured the site through a 99-year lease with the city for a one-time fee of just $10.

Once open, the campus will serve as the headquarters of the Obama Foundation and host leadership programs, community initiatives and public events.

It will feature a branch of the Chicago Public Library, a digitized presidential library -- though it will not be a traditional presidential library with physical papers -- an auditorium, an indoor sports facility, a playground and expansive green outdoor spaces.

Despite the financial losses, Owen said he still takes pride in the finished product.

"I've heard the criticisms of the design out here and maybe from an outsider's perspective, it might not be your cup of tea, but I can tell you the interior of this presidential center is quite beautiful and it's something to be proud of," Owen said.

"And we are still proud to have been part of this job. We just wish it would have gone a different way financially."

Israeli flag confiscated at Iran World Cup game while Palestinian flags remain in stands, video shows

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:31:44 -0400

A video from Monday's Iran-New Zealand World Cup game at SoFi Stadium outside of Los Angeles appeared to show a man's Israeli flag getting confiscated, while adjacent Palestinian flags were able to remain in the stands.

The Instagram reel, posted by @blackandjewishunity, showed a man, who later identified himself to Fox News Digital as Rony, with an Israeli flag draped over his shoulders approached by two members of Apex Private Security at the stadium. One staff member said that "the house, which is the facility here, is asking to remove this flag" for Rony's "safety."

"Why can't you remove that flag?" Rony asked, pointing to a Palestinian flag just two rows behind him. "You guys aren't removing this flag but you guys are removing my flag?

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"It seems like a little antisemitism is playing a part here."

Rony told security that if the Palestinian flag were removed, he would remove his Israeli flag. Another staff member said if Rony did not give up his Israeli flag, he would have to leave the stadium.

The second staff member said it was the "call" of apparent nearby FIFA employees to have the Israeli flag removed, while he and Rony both had their hands on the flag.

"I don't make the rules... I'm just doing what I'm told," the staffer said, adding that Rony would be able to get the flag back at a later time.

Later on in the video, a female Apex security member said, "The only flags that are allowed to be out are the teams that are playing." When she was notified that the Palestinian flag was not confiscated, she responded, "Oh, I don't know."

Neither Israel nor the Palestine men's national team are in the World Cup. Only Israel has qualified in each team's history, back in 1970.

When Rony attempted to get his flag back, he approached a first responder and said that security said they would give him his flag back. The first responder answered, "No they didn't. FIFA took it."

Representatives for FIFA and SoFi Stadium did not immediately respond to emails from Fox News Digital. The Los Angeles Host Committee deferred Fox News Digital to FIFA.

Rony told Fox News Digital he is a Los Angeles resident who surprised his father with World Cup tickets as "avid" soccer fans. Rony said he is rooting for Team USA and wants to attend a USA game at SoFi Stadium.

"We love our boys," Rony said.

Rony said that he did not expect backlash from fans aside from the usual "bad apples giving us a hard time."

"Even when we came into the stadium, we didn't have any problems with anyone...We were actually getting a lot of love and support. I was not expecting this outcome whatsoever," Rony said.

IRAN WORLD CUP TEAM FORCED TO LEAVE US AFTER TOURNAMENT OPENER IN APPARENT CHANGE OF PLANS

Rony said he was told that staff was "pointing at me and singled me out" in a sold-out stadium.

"I saw flags from all around the world. There's flags from Lebanon, Mexico, everywhere, from all walks of the world, there's flags. So it took me by surprise that they were doing that to me and singling me out."

Rony said he was also told by security that the "head of FIFA didn't care about" the Palestinian flag behind him, "and they only cared about my flag in particular."

"They said they don't have a problem with their flags, and they only have an issue with ours," Rony said, citing a double standard. "They had no marching orders in order to take their flag, or anyone else's flag. It was pretty embarrassing...

"We thought we lived in America in 2026, not Nazi Germany in the 30s."

Rony did mention that most of the stadium staff and security were "apologetic and on my side" and even "distraught myself."

"We're just proud, Israeli Jews who are just out there, just like everybody else, looking to have a good time and represent our country," Rony said.

Getty Images captured photos of a Palestinian flag at both the Brazil-Morocco and France-Senegal matches on Saturday and Tuesday, both of which took place at MetLife Stadium.

FIFA rule 4.2.23 states that World Cup attendees must only use flags "in a festive and friendly manner," and "upon the request of the Event Organisers, Ticket Holders must immediately remove, stop demonstrating and/or permit the confiscation of any flags, banners or poster." FIFA also prohibits "materials" that are of "political...nature." A Los Angeles judge upheld FIFA's ban on Iran's "lion and sun" flag that was used up until 1980, following the Islamic Revolution.

Many Israel flags were spotted throughout the Iran-New Zealand game amid the war between the two Middle Eastern countries. Iran's next game will be on Sunday, also at SoFi Stadium, against Belgium.

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

Hockey fans mourn the end of 'Hockey Night in Canada' after 75 years of being free over-the-air

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:31:02 -0400

Hockey fans are bumming hard this week with news that "Hockey Night in Canada," a bona fide broadcasting institution, is no more after 75 years.

Man... no more HNIC towels...

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Sportsnet made a joint announcement on Tuesday that, after 12 years of a partnership to keep "Hockey Night in Canada" available over the air through a sublicensing agreement, the CBC will no longer carry NHL games.

"After a successful 12-year partnership, Sportsnet and CBC today announced the public broadcaster will no longer carry NHL broadcasts after the current season as it moves forward with a new sports programming strategy following the unprecedented success of the Milano/Cortina Olympic Games," the statement reads.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

"Watching hockey on Saturday night is a time-honoured tradition for Canadians, and Sportsnet is privileged to continue delivering that tradition. This has been a terrific partnership, and both parties look forward to continued opportunities to collaborate in the future."

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

According to The New York Times, Rogers Sportsnet begins a new 12-year $7.9 billion deal with the NHL. The previous sublicensing deal involved the CBC not receiving any ad revenue from broadcasts, but also not having to pay for the rights to the broadcasts.

"Hockey Night in Canada" started as a radio broadcast in the early 1930s before moving on to television in the 1950s. It went on to become Canada's longest-running broadcast and helped make Don Cherry a household name among hockey fans, until he was fired in 2019.

And a common sentiment on social media was that this is when "Hockey Night in Canada" truly ended...

According to the Associated Press, the CBC retains the "Hockey Night in Canada" trademark and could find a way to use it moving forward.

Hunter Biden admits he shouldn't have taken Burisma board seat when pressed on accusations related to role

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:30:24 -0400

Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, said in an interview Monday that he should not have taken a job on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

Host Dax Shepard said on his podcast, "Armchair Expert," that Hunter Biden was being accused of brokering deals with a Ukrainian oligarch and more, adding, "Certainly your behavior couldn’t have been above board for 15 years while your own desperation was raging."

Shepard asked if there was any validity to some of the accusations regarding Biden's role on the Burisma board.

"Here’s the validity. The validity is that I should never have taken the board seat with Burisma. That’s the validity of it," Biden said.

HUNTER BIDEN CLAIMED HE DIDN'T 'STAND TO GAIN ANYTHING' IN CONTROVERSIAL BURISMA ROLE DESPITE MAKING MILLIONS

Hunter Biden joined Burisma in April 2014 and, at the time, reportedly connected the firm with consulting firm Blue Star Strategies to help the natural gas company fight corruption charges in Ukraine. During the time Hunter Biden was on the board of the company, his father Joe Biden was vice president and was running U.S.-Ukraine relations and policy for the Obama administration.

"It was not with Ukraine. Was not with a foreign government. It was not with an oligarch," Hunter Biden told Shepard on Monday. "I was public about going on the board. I served on 14 other boards before that. I was chairman of the board of the US World Food Program, the largest humanitarian organization in the world. I was vice chairman of the board of the largest railroad company in the world, which is the national passenger rail system, which is Amtrak. I was chairman of the board of the Truman National Security Project. Chairman of the board of the Center for National Policy."

"I was a professor of at Georgetown’s master’s program of the school of foreign service for four years," he continued. "I had my own business in consulting, and I had been in more places in the world than 99.9% of people."

HUNTER BIDEN DECRIES THE SUPER RICH WHO ALWAYS MANAGE TO 'AVOID THE CONSEQUENCES'

Biden argued that he wasn't recruited out of nowhere and that he had legitimate credentials as counsel at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP.

He told Shepard he initially declined a board seat and instead represented Burisma as a lawyer, but after a few months, former Polish president Aleksander Kwaśniewski persuaded him to join the board. Hunter says the company was under pressure because of Russia’s incursion into eastern Ukraine, where Burisma had natural gas interests, and that the board role was presented to him as public and transparent.

"It obviously turns out to be a mistake. But not because of anything that I did, and not because of anything that my dad did," he said.

The former president's son said there was no proof of him using his dad to advance interests.

"I mean there's a text message in which the board secretary of Burisma says it was nice meeting your dad and I know we were at a restaurant together, and he sat down and there were 10 other people at the table," Biden said. "He was in from Ukraine. I introduced him to my dad and that's it. Now they had an impeachment hearing over that. And so I take responsibility for doing something that could ever cause the perception of that."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Hunter Biden previously admitted it was a mistake to join the Burisma board in December 2025.

Ivory Coast player Elye Wahi arrested for fixing offenses before World Cup tournament

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:26:24 -0400

The Ivory Coast's quest for a World Cup got off to a great start with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador on Sunday, but a recent scandal involving one of its players may put a dark cloud over its entire tournament run.

According to The Athletic, Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi was arrested on suspicion of fixing offenses less than two weeks before the start of the tournament.

The arrest stems from an incident during a May 17 match in the French Ligue 1, in which Wahi, while playing for his club Nice, intentionally earned a yellow card against Metz.

Wahi was arrested on May 29 by French police, mere hours after scoring two goals in a win over Saint-Étienne.

FRENCH FOOTBALL MATCH DESCENDS INTO CHAOS AS FURIOUS NANTES FANS BREACH SECURITY, STORM PITCH

According to a spokesperson for the Marseille public prosecutor's office, Wahi was released from police custody after he was interviewed by authorities.

While the investigation is still ongoing, Wahi has traveled to the United States and even played in the Ivory Coast's win over Ecuador this past weekend.

The belief is that Wahi participated in a practice called "spot-fixing," which is essentially manipulating events within a match that gamblers with inside knowledge can then bet on.

FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE

The Athletic says suspicions were raised when Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), the governing body that runs the league in France, were tipped off about suspect betting patterns in Nice’s Ligue 1 fixture against Metz, involving wagers on Wahi to receive a yellow card.

A yellow card was shown to Wahi in the 35th minute of the match against Metz, and he was suspended on yellow card accumulation for the following match, the first leg of a relegation playoff against Saint-Étienne, which Nice drew 0-0.

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

Wahi has not been charged with any crimes as the investigation continues.

OutKick has reached out to FIFA for comment on the matter.

10,000+ shoppers bought the LifeStraw last month — get it on sale before Prime Day

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:25:35 -0400

Early Amazon Prime Day deals are here, and the LifeStraw is among the best. With this deal, you can save on single, two-, three- and four-packs of the portable water filter, which removes up to 99.9% of bacteria, parasites and microplastics from water found in lakes, streams and other natural sources. Tens of thousands of positive reviews have helped make it a favorite among Amazon shoppers.

Original price: $16.95

With more than 120,000 reviews and a 4.8-star rating, the LifeStraw ranks among Amazon's most popular outdoor products. Thanks to this early Prime Day discount, shoppers can pick one up for just $15. One reviewer called it an "indispensable companion" for travel and outdoor adventures, praising its filtration capabilities and portability.

With more than 10,000 sold on Amazon in May alone, this low-cost investment makes for the perfect camping or hiking tool. To use it, simply dip the straw in a stream or other freshwater source and drink — that's it.

Reviewers said the LifeStraw is especially useful when traveling to areas where tap water may not be safe to drink. One shopper who used it overseas said it was particularly useful when they had no access to water during a trip. "It really came in handy for me when I arrived late at night and couldn't purchase water, but I was dying of thirst," the reviewer wrote.

Original price: $16.95

A single LifeStraw filters 1,000 gallons of water, giving you an affordable, long-lasting device. You can also grab two-, three- and four-packs to share with friends or stock up for yourself.

Also, since it was originally designed to help those in less developed countries, every purchase gives a schoolchild in need safe drinking water for a year. So, you get to make a difference for less than $20.

One reviewer, who generally had a positive experience with the LifeStraw, noted one minor setback: "If you need to filter large quantities (for your family campsite, for cooking, etc.), this is not what you need." Instead, the shopper recommends investing in a gravity filter or iodine tablets.

If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get your LifeStraw sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

Deep-red state wrapped race calls before DC started counting, despite same poll deadline

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:13:31 -0400

Voters in Alabama knew the outcomes of their Tuesday night elections hours before officials in D.C. began releasing results despite both jurisdictions officially closing their polls at the same time.

Both D.C. and Alabama were scheduled to officially close their polling stations at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday night. Alabama counted the vast majority of its votes within about an hour, with the Associated Press calling them at 8:40 p.m. and 9:31 p.m., respectively.

Officials in D.C., meanwhile, only began counting votes at 10:47 p.m., around the time the Associated Press declared Rep. Barry Moore the winner of Alabama’s GOP primary – the most hotly contested race in the state.

Democratic-led jurisdictions including California and Washington, D.C., have faced criticism from Republicans and election-integrity advocates who argue that prolonged ballot counting undermines public confidence and leaves major races unresolved for days or even weeks after Election Day. Election officials in those jurisdictions have defended the timelines, pointing to mail-in ballot rules, postmark deadlines and verification requirements they say are necessary to ensure every lawful vote is counted.

CALIFORNIA’S SLUGGISH VOTE COUNTING RIPPED ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM: 'EXTREMELY EMBARRASSING'

D.C.’s first results were delayed after long lines kept some polling places open past the scheduled 8 p.m. close. Long lines at some D.C. polling stations forced the district to wait almost three hours after polls officially closed to start the counting process.

Further delaying the count was the large number of mail ballots and the district’s move to ranked-choice voting, an election method that can require multiple rounds of counting.

NYC POLLS ARE CLOSED BUT RACE FAR FROM OVER DUE TO RANKED-CHOICE VOTING

"When you get [20,000 to] 30,000 ballots on election night through the mail, it is not possible to process that number on election night," D.C. Board of Elections executive director Monica Evans told a local media outlet on June 9.

As of publishing, less than 70% of ballots have been counted in D.C. more than a day after voting began. Roughly 400,000 people voted in Alabama’s Tuesday elections, compared to only around 100,000 ballots cast in D.C. that same night.

DEMS PICK POTENTIAL SUCCESSOR TO DC'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATE AFTER DECADES-LONG INCUMBENCY

D.C.’s pace of vote counting drew criticism on social media.

"It's now 10:30 pm, polls were supposed to close 2.5 hours ago, this is an absolute disaster from DCBOE," DMV New Liberals, a local group of centrist Democrats, wrote to X on Tuesday night in response to news that the city hadn’t begun counting votes yet.

"In the District of Columbia, just 64% of votes from yesterday's election have been counted. And there aren't even that many of them," conservative pundit Byron York wrote at 11:19 a.m. on Wednesday.

The D.C. Board of Elections did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

Trump says US may recover all the equipment left behind in Afghanistan by Biden admin

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:09:30 -0400

President Donald Trump suggested he may be able to get back the equipment the U.S. military left behind during Joe Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Trump made these comments at the G7 Summit while taking questions from reporters about the forthcoming agreement with Iran to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz.

In response to a question about how the deal will address Iran's nuclear program, Trump repeatedly said he would "bomb them" if they do not comply with proposed restrictions.

He then transitioned into criticizing Biden's foreign policy record, spotlighting the Democratic former president's decision to withdraw from Afghanistan and abandon dozens of military aircraft, thousands of ground vehicles and more than 300,000 weapons, according to the House Budget Committee.

TRUMP PUSHES TO RECOVER 'BILLIONS OF DOLLARS' OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT LEFT BEHIND IN AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL

"Our country has become the most respected country in the world," he said. "Look at what happened in so many different locations. Afghanistan, that horrible retreat that these people made. Leaving equipment behind. They weren't under any pressure. Take your time."

"I was going to get out," he continued. "We were going to get out with dignity and pride. Take 100% of the equipment. I was even taking the tents down. But then [Biden] got in and they just left. They left all the equipment. I may get all that equipment back. Now, here's the thing. It's more symbolic because it's a little old now, but we may get it all back. Afghanistan is kissing our a--."

In June 2022, the Department of Defense estimated that $7.12 billion worth of military equipment ended up in the hands of the Taliban, which quickly seized control of the country after American troops departed.

TRUMP: ‘WE DON’T RUN FROM ANYBODY’ IN BLASTING BIDEN OVER AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL

Trump and his allies have long been critical of what they view as Biden's hasty decision to end the war in Afghanistan, which lasted for nearly 20 years.

Biden officials at the time defended the withdrawal by pointing out that the equipment seized by the Taliban was in the hands of the U.S.-aligned government in Afghanistan that ended up surrendering.

Biden himself said he believed that the Afghan fighters supported by the U.S. were going to do a better job at holding the country.

"The assumption was that more than 300,000 Afghan National Security Forces that we had trained over the past two decades and equipped would be a strong adversary in their civil wars with the Taliban," he said on Aug. 31, 2021. "That assumption — that the Afghan government would be able to hold on for a period of time beyond military drawdown — turned out not to be accurate."

Under Taliban rule, women and girls remain repressed. More than 1 million girls have been banned from secondary school and university. An April UNICEF report claimed that Afghanistan risks losing more than 25,000 teachers and healthcare workers due to the new government's restrictions on female employment.

The country is also dealing with a hunger crisis, with roughly 17.4 million Afghans at risk for severe food insecurity this year, according to the World Food Programme.

Hasan Piker claims Israel has no ‘right to exist’ in its current form

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:00:02 -0400

Left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker told Charlamagne tha God on "The Breakfast Club" that Israel had no right to exist "in its current formation" during a Tuesday interview, responding to a question about whether Israel and a Palestinian state have a right to exist.

"I think Israel, in its current formation, given that it’s a settler colonial operation that’s seeking out the expulsion or complete extermination of the indigenous population as an apartheid state, does not have a right to exist," Piker said.

Piker compared the question to asking whether other historic regimes should have continued to exist.

FOX NEWS ‘ANTISEMITISM EXPOSED’ NEWSLETTER: WHO IS HASAN PIKER AND WHY CAN'T DEMOCRATS CONDEMN HIM?

"It’s like, for me, it’s like saying, does Nazi Germany have a right to exist, or does apartheid South Africa have a right to exist? Does Rhodesia have a right to exist? No, of course not," he said in a clip flagged by Mediaite.

He said he was referring to Israel's political structure rather than Israeli citizens.

"People have a right to exist. People do exist. Israel currently exists," Piker said. "It’s just a matter of, are they following international humanitarian laws? And they certainly are not. And I want to change that."

Charlamagne asked whether that was similar to saying MAGA "doesn't have a right to exist" as a movement, and Piker argued such claims are often mischaracterized by political opponents.

MEDIA TAPS TWITCH STAR WHO TOLD VIEWERS TO 'KILL' REPUBLICANS FOR COMMENT ON CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION

"That doesn’t mean kill all Republicans or whatever, right?" Piker said. "I’m sure that’s how people would present it as."

Piker said the "right to exist" question is used to move attention away from Israel’s conduct toward Palestinians.

"The 'does Israel have a right to exist' deployment as a statement, as a question, is a technique to shift the conversation away from Israel’s crimes against the Palestinians," he said. "To make it seem like the opposition is actually being crazy and they want, like, all Jews to be exterminated, all Israelis to be exterminated, which is not the case."

JERRY SEINFELD SLAMS 'FREE PALESTINE' MOVEMENT, COMPARING IT TO HISTORICAL HATE GROUP

The exchange began after Charlamagne asked Piker about Jerry Seinfeld, who was asked to say "Free Palestine" outside a New York Knicks NBA Finals game and responded, "It doesn't exist." Piker called Seinfeld "a gross racist" and said denying Palestine exists is a common pro-Israel talking point.

"Palestine existed under Ottoman occupation initially under the Ottoman Empire, and then it became a British holdover occupied state, British-occupied Palestine," Piker said. "It’s existed for far longer than Israel has. Israel’s only existed since 1948."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Fox News Digital reached out to Seinfeld for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

WATCH: ICE officer makes heroic rescue after 6-year-old girl has pool emergency

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:51:12 -0400

An ICE officer made a snap decision to leap into a Florida pool when he spotted a child struggling to stay afloat, an act of heroism that comes as the agency faces intense criticism and protests outside immigration detention facilities.

Gregory Simmonds was at a community pool in Pasco County on Florida’s Gulf Coast when he noticed a young child floating unconscious in the water.

Closed-circuit footage from the pool showed Simmonds look over at the child and, without hesitation, jump into the pool fully clothed and quickly reach the child to render aid.

Simmonds carried the child back to the edge of the pool where they were resuscitated on dry land.

HERO OFFICERS AND GOOD SAMARITANS WHO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND IN 2024

An officer with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Tampa, Simmonds administered CPR to the child until the child regained consciousness.

Law enforcement said the child is now expected to make a full recovery, according to ICE.

"This officer swiftly sprung to action and delivered life-saving medical care to this 6-year-old who drowned," said Acting Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis.

"Our agents truly are the best of the best. They put their lives on the line to arrest the worst of the worst. Instead of demonizing ICE law enforcement, sanctuary politicians should be thanking them for removing criminals from their communities."

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. J. Leathers added in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital that due to Simmonds’ quick thinking and decisive actions – and "willingness to place himself into action during a critical incident, the child survived and is expected to make a full recovery."

"His actions directly contributed to saving the life of the child and reflect exceptional courage and selflessness."

NYPD OFFICERS SAVE CHOKING 2-YEAR-OLD BOY, BODYCAM VIDEO SHOWS

Simmonds' heroism is only the latest example of DHS officers saving lives on the spur of the moment.

In March, an agent who was supporting the Transportation Security Administration at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Howard Beach, New York, helped save the life of a 1-year-old experiencing a medical emergency.

When a father was heard screaming in the terminal, the agent "sprang into action and saved [their] life," according to Sen. Markwayne Mullin.

NEW JERSEY AGITATORS BITE, KICK AND PUNCH ICE AGENTS AS DELANEY HALL CLASHES CONTINUE; 9 MORE ARRESTED: DHS

"Despite the endless smears and lies told about them by sanctuary politicians and the media, our ICE officers show up every day to protect the Homeland and their fellow Americans."

In another case, multiple off-duty ICE agents saved another child from drowning in a hotel pool in February.

While dining in Plymouth, Minnesota, the agents were approached by a woman seeking help.

The agents swiftly went to the pool where they performed CPR for several minutes until police and EMS arrived.

The rescues come as ICE agents face protests outside facilities like New Jersey's Delaney Hall, where demonstrators have labeled them "fascists" and "mercenaries."

Fox News' Bill Melugin contributed to this report.

Israel launches 'Biblical Highway' amid campaign to erase Jewish history

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:50:05 -0400

The Israeli government on Tuesday approved designating Route 60 — the highway stretching from Nazareth in the north to Beersheba in the south and passing through some of the most significant sites in history—as the "Biblical Highway."

The designation is part of a broader initiative to create a Route 66-style experience for Bible enthusiasts, students and tourists.

The Biblical Highway has existed for more than 4,000 years. Running along Israel’s central mountain ridge, the route begins in Beersheba, the southern desert city where Abraham is said to have established an oasis and taught travelers about belief in one God.

CHRISTIAN LEADERS HOLD EMERGENCY SUMMIT IN JERUSALEM TO CONFRONT GLOBAL RISE IN ANTISEMITISM

David Parsons, senior vice president and spokesman for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, told Fox News Digital that a proper understanding of the Bible can help immunize people against what he described as the "virus" of antisemitism.

"You would better understand who the Jewish people are, the special relationship God established with them for the benefit of all mankind, and the fact that this includes a land where they could become a nation and deliver those benefits down through history," Parsons said.

"The more you examine the archaeological record in the Land of Israel, and the more objectively you look at the evidence, the more you realize that the Bible is not a collection of fables and fairy tales, but an accurate account of a people and a land that have given the world ideas and values of universal benefit and inspiration," he added.

The road continues from Beersheba to Hebron, home to the Cave of the Patriarchs, purchased by Abraham some 3,800 years ago and traditionally regarded as the resting place of the biblical patriarchs and matriarchs. The site is marked by a monumental structure built by King Herod some 2,000 years ago. Hebron was also King David’s first capital, where he was crowned king of Israel about 3,000 years ago.

HUCKABEE CONDEMNS EFFORTS TO ERASE JEWISH HISTORY TO THE HOLY LAND AS ‘ABSURD’

The route passes through Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus and where Jacob buried the matriarch Rachel and which serves as the setting of the Book of Ruth, before reaching Jerusalem, the capital of modern-day Israel and home to Mount Moriah — the traditional site of the Binding of Isaac — as well as the location of the First and Second Temples.

Continuing north, the highway reaches Bet El, where Jacob, while fleeing his brother Esau, experienced the prophetic dream of a ladder connecting heaven and earth and where, 20 years later, he returned with his family and received the name Israel. It then passes through Shiloh, which served as the spiritual center of the Israelites for nearly 400 years after their entry into the Land of Israel.

Farther north lies Shechem, where Joshua is said to have buried the bones of Joseph, which the Israelites carried from Egypt during the Exodus. The route then reaches Mount Tabor, where the prophetess Deborah sang her song of victory, and continues to Megiddo, the site of numerous battles involving the armies of Israel and invading forces throughout biblical history, before ending in Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus.

Yishai Fleisher, international spokesman for the Jewish community of Hebron, told Fox News Digital he has been working on the project for many years.

"Finally, the government is recognizing it. We have been advocating for this idea, which is similar to other roads around the world," he said.

"In Germany, they have the Romantische Straße, or Romantic Road. In Spain, they have the Camino de Santiago. And in the United States, there is the famous Route 66. For us, it’s Route 60, the Biblical Highway.

'SQUAD' MEMBERS 'DECIDE TO LIE AND TWIST FACTS' ABOUT ISRAEL'S HISTORY, SAYS PROMINENT ARAB ACTIVIST

"I think it has educational, heritage and tourism value," Fleisher continued. "The government views the Bible as an important part of Israel’s identity. We’ve been teaching it, we’ve been promoting it, and they’ve embraced the idea. Ahead of the elections, I think they want to show people that they are committed to branding Israel as the land of the Bible."

The initiative also carries significance amid what Fleisher described as efforts by the Palestinian Authority to assert claims over sites of Jewish historical and biblical heritage.

He said there have been attempts to "erase" Jewish historical and biblical narratives, including efforts to reinterpret or displace long-held traditions associated with sites such as the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, Rachel’s Tomb and the Cave of the Patriarchs.

"It makes perfect sense because if one undermines the biblical heritage of Israel and this land, they are undermining the pillars of the Jewish state and could replace it with a Palestinian one," he continued. "When we rename Route 60 or add the name ‘Biblical Highway,’ we are strengthening that pillar of our ancient identity in this land. Certainly, people who do not want to see Israel exist seek to remove that pillar."

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Ze’ev Orenstein, Director of International Affairs at City of David, said the initiative offers visitors an opportunity to experience biblical history through the geography where it unfolded.

"The Biblical Highway will enable millions of visitors to bring their faith, heritage, and identity to life by traveling through the very places where the Biblical story unfolded and where the values that continue to shape Western civilization were born," he told Fox News Digital. "It is an invitation to experience the Bible not only as a book, but as a living geography, as relevant today as it was millennia ago."

Parsons noted that there is also a King’s Highway in Jordan that the Israelites traveled along, which is marked as such by the Jordanians.

"So Israel is not doing anything different from what Jordan has done on its side. I don’t think there is anything particularly political about that; it is simply an acknowledgment of historical truth," he said.

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism spokesperson told Fox News Digital that it supports the name change and will work to incorporate "The Biblical Highway" into Israel’s marketing and branding materials. Visitor centers, observation points and multilingual signage are expected to be included.

OutKick defends NBA parity after ESPN argues that dynasties are better for the sport

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:47:59 -0400

Today, OutKick is going to defend the NBA against ESPN.

This week, ESPN commentator Vincent Goodwill argued that parity in the league is a problem. In his view, the NBA championship has become a "participation trophy."

"Dynasty is better for the sport," Goodwill said. "I like to know that greatness is validated. How do we know that any of the last eight champions are actually validated because they have not done it again? Giannis is itching to get out, Boston is thinking about trading Jaylen Brown, they don’t believe in their one championship. LeBron’s one championship in LA was not enough. So why would it be enough for us?"

For context, eight different franchises have won the past eight NBA titles. The Warriors were the last team to repeat as champions in 2018.

JEMELE HILL CLAIMS SHE'D HAVE A JOB SHE'S 'UNQUALIFIED FOR' AND A HIGHER SALARY IF SHE WERE WHITE

For decades, championship runs in the NBA were defined by sustained dominance. The Lakers and Celtics combined for eight championships in the 1980s. The Bulls won six titles in the 1990s. The Lakers and Spurs combined for 10 championships from 1999 to 2014. The Heat and Warriors accounted for six of the next eight titles.

Fans and media expected another team to follow that pattern this decade. At different points, the Bucks, Nuggets and Thunder each looked like candidates. Instead, every would-be dynasty has stalled before it could begin.

Which raises the question: Is the NBA weaker without dynasties?

Put simply, it depends on the dynasty.

The NBA was most popular during Michael Jordan's run in Chicago. It regained some of that interest when LeBron James' Cavaliers and Steph Curry's Warriors met in four consecutive Finals from 2015 through 2018. By contrast, the Tim Duncan Spurs won five championships across 15 seasons but were never box office.

An Oklahoma City run built around foul merchant Shai Gilgeous-Alexander probably wouldn't move the needle outside Oklahoma. A Knicks repeat, meanwhile, would have television executives and league partners celebrating behind closed doors.

NFL IS BECOMING THE NBA: RAMS TRADE FOR MYLES GARRETT RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT SUPERTEAMS, PARITY AND TANKING

The same is true in other sports.

The Chiefs' run helped fuel record NFL viewership. If the Seahawks and Sam Darnold reach the Super Bowl this season, don't expect the league office or ESPN to be nearly as enthusiastic.

That said, this is where we'll defend the current NBA product. Parity is fun. More importantly, it's rare.

Among the major American sports leagues, the NBA currently offers the most uncertainty. The last 10 Super Bowls have featured only nine franchises. Meanwhile, the Dodgers entered June as overwhelming favorites to win the World Series for the third consecutive year.

It's difficult to imagine the Dodgers not winning again, given the talent disparity between their roster and the rest of the league. In the NFL, there are a handful of contenders on paper, but they're largely the same teams that have won Super Bowls over the past decade: the Rams, Seahawks, Eagles, Chiefs and Patriots.

Recent history suggests that at least one NBA Finals team next season will enter the year with odds longer than +2000. That gives fan bases across the league hope, a feeling many didn't have during previous eras of the NBA.

While teams like the Spurs and Thunder are assembled to contend for years to come, the league's most recent collective bargaining agreement introduced a second-apron luxury tax that prevents teams from stockpiling talent the way the Heat and Warriors did in the 2010s.

"I believe that parity of opportunity is good for the league," commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN last year. "When more teams have a genuine chance at winning a championship, the competition on the court is more compelling, and fans in more markets are engaged.

"We didn't set out with the goal to have a different champion every year, and I'm not against dynasties so long as they are built within a fair system."

He's right.

We won't go full NBA fanboy like much of the media. That said, more teams are legitimate championship contenders today than at any point over the past 30 years. That's a positive.

It also doesn't make winning a title a participation trophy. If anything, parity has made winning a championship even harder.