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Woman opens fire on Maryland gas station clerk during attempted robbery

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:22:42 -0400

The Howard County Police Department in Maryland released surveillance footage of a suspect opening fire inside a gas station during what investigators believe to have been an attempted robbery.

In the footage, which does not include any sound, the woman can be seen holding the gun and speaking before eventually shooting.

The incident occurred on Friday. The police shared the video on Monday, offering up to $2,500 for information that leads to the suspect.

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A reward of up to $1,000 had previously been offered.

"At approximately 7:43 p.m. April 17 police were called to the Shell gas station in the 7200 block of Cradlerock Way in Columbia for a report of a shooting," police said in a statement.

2 KILLED IN NORTH CAROLINA WHEN 'PLANNED' FIGHT ESCALATES INTO SHOOTING NEAR MIDDLE SCHOOL

"An adult male gas station employee was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center with serious injuries," the department continued. "Through preliminary investigation detectives believe a single suspect fired shots during an attempted robbery before fleeing the scene. No one else was injured."

The update issued on Monday noted, "The victim is currently listed in serious condition at Shock Trauma."

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The police department did not provide any new information to Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

More naps, higher risk? Research links daytime sleep to health warnings in aging adults

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:16:24 -0400

Excessive daytime napping is associated with higher mortality risk in older adults, according to new research from Mass General Brigham.

Between 20% and 60% of older adults take naps, according to the researchers.

While occasional naps have been shown to be refreshing, frequent or prolonged daytime napping in this group has been associated with a variety of health concerns.

The study followed 1,338 older adults for up to 19 years, tracking the timing and duration of their daytime napping habits using a wrist-worn tracker. They then examined all-cause mortality rates.

Taking longer, more frequent naps — or napping in the morning — were all associated with increased mortality risk and may be early warning signs of underlying health decline, as shared in a press release from Mass Brigham.

Morning naps were linked to about a 30% increase in mortality risk, and each additional hour of daily napping was associated with about a 13% higher risk, the study found. Each additional nap per day increased risk by roughly 7%.

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"Excessive napping later in life has been linked to neurodegeneration, cardiovascular diseases and even greater morbidity, but many of those findings rely on self-reported napping habits and leave out metrics like when and how regular those naps are," said lead author Chenlu Gao, PhD, an investigator in the department of anesthesiology at the Mass General Brigham, in the press release.

"Our study is one of the first to show an association between objectively measured nap patterns and mortality, and suggests there is immense clinical value in tracking napping patterns to catch health conditions early."

There were some limitations to the study. As it was observational in design, it only showed that napping may reflect underlying illness, but did not prove that it caused mortality.

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The research did not take into account any contributing health conditions, and the sleep trackers only measured movement and not brain activity. This means rest could be misclassified as sleep in some cases.

Also, because the study population was limited to older, White adults in the Midwest, the results may not apply to other groups.

"It is important to note that this is correlation, not causation. Excessive napping is likely to indicate underlying disease, chronic conditions, sleep disturbances or circadian dysregulation," said Gao.

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"Now that we know there is a strong correlation between napping patterns and mortality rates, we can make the case to implement wearable daytime nap assessments to predict health conditions and prevent further decline."

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and affiliated research programs.

Dept of Interior compares Trump to Teddy Roosevelt amid Hall of Fame reports

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:11:24 -0400

The U.S. Department of the Interior has addressed a recent report that Secretary Doug Burgum is pushing for former President Teddy Roosevelt to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the department compared Roosevelt's impact in saving American football to President Donald Trump's recent executive action to reforming college sports.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the department compared Roosevelt's impact on American football to President Donald Trump's recent executive action to reforming college sports

The New York Post reported Saturday that Burgum made the comments about Roosevelt's Hall of Fame candidacy at a Bank of America reception on Thursday.

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"Roger Goodell was in the White House in the Oval Office, I had a chance to be with him there, because we, the National Park Service, control the National Mall," Burgum reportedly said. "The draft for the NFL is being held on the Mall a year from now (and) the Capitol will be in the background.

"Keep it a secret. Keep your fingers crossed, but I think we’re going to see Theodore Roosevelt inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame….it’s going to be announced on the Mall when Roger Goodell is conducting the draft."

Teddy Roosevelt is credited with saving football in 1905–1906 by forcing college leaders to reform the game's rules after frequent injury-related deaths of players.

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The reforms led to the creation of the forward pass and the banning of dangerous formations.

Meanwhile, Trump has passed several executive orders aimed at regulating NIL, while protecting non-revenue sports and women's sports amid growing financial pressure for universities to invest in revenue programs like football and basketball.

Trump signed executive order on April 3 titled "Urgent National Action to Save College Sports," aimed at curbing the influence of NIL collectives and transfer portal freedom. The order proposes strict five-year eligibility limits, caps transfers, and threatens to pull federal funding from institutions not following NCAA rules to establish a uniform national framework.

Trump has also taken executive action to mandate that revenue-sharing models implemented by universities must preserve or expand scholarships and opportunities for women’s and Olympic sports, preventing them from being reduced to pay football or basketball players.

In February of last year, trump signed the "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order that redefined Title IX to mean that "sex" is based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth. This explicitly banned transgender women from competing in women’s college sports.

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Nike criticized for walking back Boston Marathon ad following ‘pace shaming’ backlash

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:08:16 -0400

Nike is facing backlash after a now-viral Boston Marathon ad reading "Runners welcome. Walkers tolerated." drew criticism online for allegedly "pace-shaming" slower participants and those with disabilities.

"This is not OK. We should be building a more inclusive community, not isolating and belittling people that are a part of it," running coach Amy Gougler said in a TikTok post.

"As a run-walk runner, this is offensive," she added.

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"If I’m honest, [the ad] left me feeling uneasy..." wrote Boston-based Instagram user Dr. Hussain Al-Zubaidi.

"Many people taking on the marathon next week will walk all or part of it. For them, what does a message like this say? Does it inspire, or does it exclude?"

The sportswear giant responded to the backlash by emphasizing inclusivity, saying it wants more people to "feel welcome in running," regardless of "pace, experience or the distance."

"During race week in Boston, we put up a series of signs to encourage runners. One of them missed the mark," the company said.

"We took it down, and we’ll use this moment to do better and continue showing up for all runners."

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The controversy quickly spilled into the news cycle and became a flashpoint on Monday’s episode of "Gutfeld!," where panelists dismissed the backlash and criticized Nike for backing down.

"The only mistake Nike have made here is apologizing and climbing down," said Piers Morgan, host of "Piers Morgan Uncensored."

Morgan argued marathons are, by definition, for runners.

"If you’re in a marathon, you should do what it says on the tin. You should run," he added.

Others echoed Morgan's view, with comedian Jeff Dye saying the backlash is overblown.

"I support people that walk in marathons. I think that's fine," he said.

"The outrage is insane. It's insane they apologized..."

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Co-host Kat Timpf questioned the legitimacy of the outrage.

"I just am trying to decide if the offense at this is real. It could not possibly be real," she said, adding, "That's what the shoes are for [running]. Can you not describe the shoes?"

X users similarly sounded off on the decision to pull the ad, with some arguing Nike shouldn't have backed down.

Will Ahmed, founder of wearable tech company WHOOP, said he would have stood by the ad.

"Nike’s DNA is winning and competition. It’s an ad for the Boston Marathon which is a RACE that is very hard to qualify for in a city that has a winning sports culture. Those details matter," he wrote.

"The line was good in that it 'cut through' and got people talking about Nike. That’s the point of marketing. And I can guarantee you there’s a whole group of people in Boston who are runners and walkers alike that read it and loved it..."

Others struck a similar tone.

"People gotta lighten up," wrote former Forbes contributor and Ideasicle X founder Will Burns.

"That was a great ad coming from Nike. And I can't believe Nike backed down. Maybe their tagline should be updated to 'Just do it (unless it offends someone).'"

Nike has since replaced the ad with a more inclusive message: "Boston will always remind you, movement is what matters."

Indicted Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick to resign from Congress amid expulsion threat

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:03:04 -0400

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., said Tuesday she plans to resign from the House of Representatives after Republicans vowed to force a vote to expel her from the chamber.

"Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida's 20th District," she wrote on social media Tuesday afternoon. "I hereby resign from the 119th Congress, effective immediately."

"This fight is far from over," Cherfilus-McCormick, who was indicted by a grand jury last year for allegedly stealing COVID-19 emergency funds, added in her statement.

The announcement came after Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., pledged to file a motion to expel Cherfilus-McCormick, teeing up a vote later this week. It takes two-thirds of the House to remove a lawmaker, but a growing number of Democrats have voiced support for the expulsion effort.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s abrupt announcement came minutes prior to a House Ethics Committee hearing that was slated to recommended sanctions against her for committing a bevy of ethics violations involving financial misconduct.

House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., announced the committee lost jurisdiction over the matter with Cherfilus-Mccormick's decision to quit Congress.

The House ethics panel found "clear and convincing evidence" in March that the Florida Democrat misused federal disaster relief money that was improperly paid to her family’s healthcare company, among other misconduct.

Cherfilus-McCormick has denied any wrongdoing and repeatedly shot down speculation that she would resign if confronted with an expulsion vote.

The embattled lawmaker is facing a separate 15-count federal criminal indictment that carries a maximum sentence of 53 years in prison if convicted. The federal trial is not scheduled to begin until early 2027.

She filed to run for re-election, despite raising just $11,000 in the year's first fundraising quarter, according to recent Federal Election Commission filings. It is unclear whether she plans to suspend her campaign.

Cherfilus-McCormick is the third lawmaker to resign from Congress in the past week. Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, stepped down last week to avoid their own expulsion threats related to sexual misconduct allegations.

At least five women have come forward with allegations against Swalwell of sexual assault and rape. Gonzales admitted to sexual misconduct in March with a former aide who later died by suicide.

COVID scientist accused of using ChatGPT in alleged poisoning plot against rival

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:55:34 -0400

A Japanese scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is facing felony charges after allegedly admitting to an April poisoning attempt on a colleague in the school's Influenza Research Institute (IRI), according to court documents obtained by Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR).

Investigators said 41-year-old Makoto Kuroda felt slighted after his friend received a promotion, and Kuroda felt he started treating him differently. It ended with Kuroda allegedly tainting his former friend's water bottle with numerous toxic chemicals and handing his co-worker a note that said "I did it" in Japanese.

Kuroda admitted to using chloroform, paraformaldehyde (PFA), and Trizol to poison his co-worker's water bottle and shoes, according to a Dane County Court criminal complaint.

A research scientist for IRI, Kuroda had published multiple papers on the Ebola virus and SARS CoV-2, better known as COVID-19. In his position, he handled and had access to a wide variety of toxic chemicals.

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In the days leading up to his alleged contamination, Kuroda reportedly used ChatGPT to "find the harmful amount of PFA and Trizol for both humans and animals," according to a police report cited in the complaint.

The alleged victim, identified in the document only as TM, was once a close friend to Kuroda, but their relationship had deteriorated.

Kuroda told police there were "multiple small things" that led to his decision to poison his former friend, including an incident in which Kuroda got upset with the victim for not wearing a lab coat and goggles in the lab, according to court documents.

But Kuroda also cited a promotion awarded to the victim, claiming after he got the promotion, TM's attitude toward Kuroda changed.

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"The defendant felt TM felt he was better than the defendant," according to the court document.

Kuroda allegedly told police TM "started treating subordinates as less than and supervisors as better than," court documents said. The defendant allegedly refused to wear a lab coat when supervisors were not present.

Kuroda mentioned other small incidents that rubbed him the wrong way as well.

"According to the defendant, there is an unwritten rule in the lab when people are walking down the center hall of the labs, you need to wait for the person to pass before you cross that hall. The defendant was walking down this hall and instead of TM waiting like everyone else does, TM crossed in front of the defendant like the defendant was not there.

"TM also had a piece of trash and threw it into the trash in front of the defendant making a loud noise. The defendant felt this action was intentionally disrespectful. The stress that TM was causing kept growing and growing making the defendant ‘do this.’"

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Kuroda used half a milliliter of 4% PFA in TM's water bottle, an amount he did not expect to kill the victim.

"My aim was just, he feel bad," he allegedly told police.

According to the police report, when asked how he'd feel if the victim died, Kuroda "sat silent for about 30 seconds before saying 'I, I shouldn't do that.'"

After police were called to investigate the matter, Kuroda came clean to both the victim and another employee who, like Kuroda, speaks Japanese.

In a letter addressed to this colleague, who the court documents list only as YK, Kuroda wrote, "I did it. I have also informed the person himself. I am very sorry."

Prosecutors charged Kuroda with one count of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and one charge of tampering with household products. If found guilty of both, he could face up to 16 years in prison and fines of over $35,000.

Fox News Digital contacted the University of Wisconsin for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

'Narco-terrorist' family members targeted in Rubio's latest visa crackdown

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:47:26 -0400

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa bans on 75 family members and associates tied to the Sinaloa cartel, expanding the Trump administration's crackdown beyond drug traffickers to those that profit from ill-gotten gains.

The Sinaloa cartel was one of eight drug cartels designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations in February 2025. The classification allows the United States to pursue tougher criminal penalties and greater military intervention against drug cartels and their members.

"The Sinaloa Cartel smuggles illicit fentanyl, which the President designated as a Weapon of Mass Destruction, and other deadly drugs that harm American communities," Rubio said in a statement. "Imposing visa restrictions on drug traffickers, their family members, and close personal and business associates will not only prevent their entry into our nation, but also serve as a deterrent to continued illicit activities."

MEXICO TO EXTRADITE 26 TOP CARTEL LEADERS TO US IN TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DEAL

Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Fla., celebrated Rubio's decision to place visa restrictions on those linked to one of Mexico's top drug cartels on X.

"For too long, narco-terrorists have built fortunes off the pain and deaths of innocent Americans while their families lived in luxury off blood money," Salazar wrote. "The era of impunity is OVER. No more hiding behind money, power, or family ties. If you profit from cartel terror, the consequences are coming. America’s safety comes first."

The Sinaloa cartel is one of the two largest drug cartels operating in Mexico, with tens of thousands of members operating in more than 40 countries. A Drug Enforcement Administration operation last summer resulted in the arrests of 600 people tied to the cartel. Over the span of a week, federal officers seized 714,707 counterfeit pills, 926 pounds of fentanyl powder, 4,870 pounds of methamphetamine, 16,466 pounds of cocaine and 36.5 pounds of heroin.

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The State Department based its decision to prevent those tied to the Mexican drug cartel from entering the United States on a 2021 executive order signed by former President Joe Biden titled "Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade." More than 325 people, including members of the Sinaloa cartel, have faced sanctions under the Biden-era executive order, according to the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Last September, the Trump administration sanctioned a faction of the Sinaloa cartel known as Los Mayos, as well as 15 companies affiliated with the group.

The Treasury has sanctioned more than 600 Sinaloa cartel-linked individuals and companies that played "critical roles" in the cartel's operations, under the authority of the Foreign Narcotic Kingpin Designation Act of 2000 and Biden's 2021 executive order.

Feds arrest illegal immigrant repeat offender they say dodged deportation for decades amid sanctuary policies

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:46:15 -0400

An illegal immigrant from Cuba with multiple prior convictions is in federal custody after spending decades evading deportation due to relaxed sanctuary city policies, federal authorities announced Tuesday.

Eledoro Valenzuela Rodriguez was taken into custody from the Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Florida last month, according to officials.

At the time, Rodriguez was awaiting trial on charges of cocaine possession with intent to sell, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and trespassing, officials said.

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He previously had a final removal order lodged against him in 1980, but remained in the United States after "lenient sentences from sanctuary states New York and Maryland allowed this serial offender to keep preying on innocent people," ICE said in a statement.

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"Sanctuary policies protect criminals like Valenzuela Rodriguez and enable them to prey on generations of innocent Americans," ICE Director Todd Lyons said.

ICE did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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Authorities said Rodriguez "amassed numerous convictions and charges," including arrests for possession of controlled substances, marijuana possession, dealing cocaine, weapon possession and firearm possession by a convicted felon.

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Despite the litany of charges and past convictions, Rodriguez was released from jail multiple times while living in sanctuary cities, federal authorities said.

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"These policies don’t make communities safer," Lyons added. "They make enforcement more difficult and force federal officers into more dangerous — and more public — situations. ICE will continue to enforce the law, regardless of local politics."

It was not immediately clear if Rodriquez had retained an attorney following his arrest.

Minnesota man who shoved conservative reporter says he's second-guessing living in US after backlash

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:39:45 -0400

A Minnesota father accused of assaulting a conservative reporter at an anti-ICE protest says he has been overwhelmed by the "nonstop" backlash against his family.

"It's a little overwhelming and makes me second-guess even living in this country, to be honest with you, with all that's going on," Chris Ostroushko told One America News Network in an interview published Monday. "I've never had this happen in my life."

Ostroushko told the news outlet that his family, neighbors and extended family have been inundated with "hundreds of phone calls a day, text messages and social media messages" since the viral incident.

Ostroushko, his wife DeYanna and daughter Paige were seen on camera in an altercation with TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez outside the Whipple building in Minnesota on April 11.

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Hernandez was covering the protest for "F--- ICE Day" when she says demonstrators surrounded her after realizing she was affiliated with Turning Point USA, the conservative organization founded by Charlie Kirk.

She says protesters blew horns in her face and that Chris and Paige attacked her. A video clip of the incident shows Chris coming up behind Hernandez and appearing to shove her to the ground.

Chris Ostroushko said in a previous interview that he was defending his wife and daughter and described Hernandez as the aggressor in the incident.

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"We are absolutely not violent people. In fact, we tend to shy away from it," Ostroushko told podcast host Brian Shapiro last week.

The Ostroushkos' say they've been doxed and smeared after the video went viral and lost their jobs. They also claim that Paige suffered neck injuries from the police. They've started a GoFundMe with the goal of raising $8,000. It has raised over $300 so far.

Hernandez told Fox News Digital she sought medical treatment and was told she had a concussion and multiple sprains.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon and Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the FBI has opened an investigation into the incident.

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The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office previously told Fox News Digital that the case remains under investigation and that it recommended charges against Paige Ostroushko and Christopher Ostroushko in connection with the assault of a journalist.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has not announced charges in the case.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's office did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Cubs’ co-owner pushes back on woke backlash Matt Shaw received for attending Charlie Kirk’s memorial

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:38:16 -0400

Matt Shaw of the Chicago Cubs took on a stunning amount of hate for attending the memorial service of his close friend, Charlie Kirk, following his assassination. The liberal media, members of the woke mob, and plenty within the Cubs’ fanbase took exception to the then-rookie missing one regular-season game a year ago to honor his late friend, days after he was brutally murdered in front of the entire world.

Those living in reality, who understand meaningful relationships and realize baseball is very much just a game, completely understood Shaw stepping away from the organization to attend the service.

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Todd Ricketts, the longtime co-owner of the Cubs, falls into that camp.

Ricketts joined Tuesday’s edition of ‘Don’t @ Me With Dan Dakich,’ and described Shaw attending Kirk’s memorial as "normal," which is a word not often used when discussing the people who were up in arms about the situation.

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"I know that Matt and Charlie were pretty good friends. They knew each other in a world that had nothing to do with baseball, Turning Point, or politics," Ricketts told Dakich. "They met in Arizona, where they both lived, and they were always friends. I think it’s completely natural for someone to take a day off to attend the funeral of a loved one, whether that’s a close friend or a family member. I thought that was pretty normal.

"Charlie’s murder was something that shook a lot of us to the core. When things like that happen, we have to be generous in how we think about our own responses, and also generous toward others in how they respond."

The September game Shaw missed to attend the memorial service ended up being a 1-0 loss on the road to the Cincinnati Reds. With the Cubs in a tight playoff race at the time, the team losing the game added more fuel to the fire that members of the left had already blazed.

SNY’s New York Mets broadcaster, Gary Cohen, notably called Shaw missing the game against Cincinnati "weird."

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When Shaw spoke with the media about missing the contest against the Reds, the word ‘normal’ re-entered the situation.

Shaw explained that he and Kirk had become friends during the offseason when they lived in the same apartment complex in Arizona. He also went on to explain that they shared a bond through their Christian faith and that Charlie's wife, Erika, had personally reached out to him, asking him to attend the memorial.

Shaw simply missed a day of work to attend the memorial service for his friend at the request of his widow. Doing the opposite of that, showing up to work and ignoring Erika's request, would be disrespectful, outrageous, and the opposite of what the Christian faith Kirk and Shaw shared would lead him to do.

Basketball Hall of Famer Billy Donovan steps down as Bulls head coach after 6 seasons

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:36:49 -0400

After six seasons as the Chicago Bulls' head coach, Billy Donovan decided to step down from his role, the team announced Tuesday.

The Bulls, who fired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley two weeks ago, wanted Donovan back in the fold. But Donovan held an option in his contract for next season and opted out, according to ESPN.

"After a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organization, I have decided to step away as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, to allow the search process to unfold," Donovan said in a statement released by the team.

"I believe it is in the best interest of the Bulls to allow the new leader to build out the staff as they see fit. My gratitude for this community and this organization is permanent.

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"I owe so much to my players and staff over the last six years. You all have worked side by side with me, day in and day out, to drive the Bulls organization forward. And a huge thank you to Bulls fans. Your energy, passion and unwavering support provided a home-court advantage that is generally unmatched around the league."

Team owner Jerry Reinsdorf said he wanted Donovan to return for another season.

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"Billy Donovan is one of the finest people and coaches I have had the privilege of knowing and working with. He brought class and genuine care to this organization that made a real impact on people. We wanted Billy to continue as our head coach — that was never in question," Reinsdorf said in a statement released by the team.

"But through honest conversations, we all agreed that giving our new Head of Basketball Operations the right to build out his staff was the most important thing for the future of this franchise. That is the kind of person Billy is — he put the Bulls first. We are deeply grateful for everything he has given to this organization."

Donovan, 60, was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025. The New York native wants to continue his coaching career, according to ESPN’s report.

In six seasons with the Bulls, he went 226-256 and made the playoffs once, in the 2021-22 season, when the Bulls lost in five games. Prior to coaching the Bulls, Donovan coached the Oklahoma City Thunder for five seasons, going 243-157 and making the playoffs all five seasons.

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Missing scientists probe was sparked after 'UFO General' disappeared, Republican lawmaker reveals

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:26:57 -0400

A congressional probe launched this week into the string of missing scientists was sparked by the disappearance of a former high-ranking official who oversaw some of the military’s most classified research programs, one House Republican revealed.

Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital in an interview that he was particularly taken aback by the disappearance of retired Air Force Gen. William Neil McCasland, who vanished in February from his Albuquerque, New Mexico home. His phone and prescription glasses were left behind.

The Missouri Republican said his staff was already working to contact McCasland, who he described as the "UFO general" due to his deep expertise, about a separate congressional investigation prior to his disappearance.

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"He was on our list to talk to, and he disappeared, so that kind of piqued our interest," Burlison detailed.

McCasland is one of the 11 individuals working in nuclear or rocket technology who have died or vanished under mysterious circumstances since 2022. Some, including McCasland, have ties to UFO research.

The astronautical engineer's hiking boots, wallet and a .38‑caliber revolver were reported as missing, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico.

Though federal officials have not identified a connection between the missing scientists, their shared field and potential access to sensitive research have sparked growing concern.

Asked by Fox News Digital about whether he suspects foul play is involved in McCasland's disappearance, Burlison said, "I'm not going to jump to that conclusion, but it’s certainly suspicious."

"How many people walk out their front door without their phone, their wallet, their keys, or anything?" Burlison added. "I don't go anywhere without my phone. I don't even mow the lawn without my phone."

REP BURLISON DEMANDS FBI PROBE AFTER TOP US SCIENTISTS VANISH OR TURN UP DEAD

"So it's just really, really strange that in about a five-month period of time, four or five people walked out their front door and never returned, and were all doing advanced aerospace research," Burlison said.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Burlison, who helms the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs, opened an investigation into the missing scientists on Monday.

"I want them to determine if there's any kind of foul play," Burlison said, referring to the Trump administration.

The duo sent letters to the FBI, the Department of War, NASA and the Department of Energy requesting more information about Americans who have allegedly vanished. They have also asked for a staff-level briefing by April 27 — giving them only a week to prepare.

A spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee said the panel will be releasing updates as the investigation proceeds.

NASA said Monday that it would convene an interagency effort to probe the missing scientists, but cautioned that it had yet to identify any threats.

"At this time, nothing related to NASA indicates a national security threat," NASA spokeswoman Bethany Stevens wrote on X. "The agency is committed to transparency and will provide more information as it becomes available."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has also said that Trump is "actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI" to review the cases and identify any potential connections.

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel breaks silence on Dianna Russini photos that led to 'difficult conversations'

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:23:24 -0400

Mike Vrabel addressed the Diana Russini matter in person for the first time on Tuesday, as the New England Patriots began media availabilities during their offseason conditioning program.

To begin: No, he didn’t admit or deny anything.

There was an underlying tone of contrition. But there was no apology about anything.

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Yeah, too late

"I've had some difficult conversations with people that I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players. Those have been positive and productive, " Vrabel told reporters at the start of his first press conference since the saga and photos attached to it became public.

"We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make a good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. I never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction."

Vrabel and Russini were photographed together at a Sedona, Arizona private resort by an unknown person who sold the photos to the New York Post, which published them on Page Six.

The photos of the head coach and NFL reporter sunbathing by a pool, in a hot tub, and on the roof of a bungalow holding hands and embracing caused a league-wide uproar. Russini, the subject of an investigation by her employer The Athletic, resigned as a result.

The Athletic’s investigation into the matter is ongoing.

The NFL has no intention of currently starting an investigation into the matter as a possible violation of the Personal Conduct Policy. And the Patriots intend to keep the conversations between Vrabel and owner Robert Kraft and the players as private as possible.

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Although both Russini and Vrabel released statements claiming no wrong-doing and said other people were present when they were together, neither had spoken publicly about the issue – until Vrabel did.

The two-week delay in addressing the matter caused Vrabel to open his statement by addressing New England area reporters who cover the team on a daily basis.

"Let me first begin by saying thank you," the coach said. "Thank you for your patience, that you've shown in a personal and private matter for me, and obviously everybody involved. I know that that's not easy for you, and I respect that, and I appreciate your efforts in doing so.

"I understand I could have, you know, trusted you guys sooner, but it was important to me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday, very candidly, as we began our offseason program, which everyone is excited to be a part of."

Vrabel said that club vice president of media relations and communication Stacey James pointed out to him that players were scheduled to speak to reporters on Tuesday afternoon. And that would put those players in a position to address their head coach’s situation with a female reporter before the coach did.

That helped force Vrabel’s hand.

"It was never my intention to have them speak to you or address you before I did," Vrabel said. "And so I asked him to come in today and to talk with you.

"You know, I also don't want to take away from our, you know, the draft, the weekend of the draft. This is an important time for us, our organization and the excitement and the joy that those players are going to have that we bring onto our football team.

"They're starting an amazing journey, one that should be celebrated as we welcome them onto our team."

Skydiver who crashed into Virginia Tech scoreboard says jumbotron saved lives

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:22:13 -0400

A skydiver who crashed into the scoreboard at Virginia Tech on Saturday said the structure saved his life and the lives of fans after sudden wind gusts pushed him off course and left him hanging above Lane Stadium.

Pasha Palanker, a veteran parachutist and Purple Heart recipient, told "Fox & Friends First" on Tuesday that gusts of wind much stronger than anticipated nearly sent him, along with the massive American flag attached to him and its anchor, careening into the stands at the spring football game.

"That 1,100-square-foot flag is anchored by a 26-pound weight, which — that would have hurt some of the fans sitting in the stands," he said.

"And as I was looking for a way out to land somewhere outside the stadium, a crosswind shear gusting at 27 knots which is — our limit is 14 knots — picked up that flag as you see in the video and sent me into that jumbotron."

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A viral video shows Palanker crash into the scoreboard, where he remained suspended for about 20 minutes while awaiting rescue. He praised the fire department's quick response time.

Palanker said he has performed more than 1,100 jumps and has never experienced anything like this. He said the jump would have been canceled if the windy weather had been forecast.

"This is not something you can train for," he remarked.

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His arm is now in a sling due to shoulder injuries he sustained in the crash, but he said it could have been much worse.

"You can't see from this angle [in the video], but there's a road between the jumbotron and the stadium, and it's a long way down. It was a long way down and had I not stayed on that jumbotron, I would have fallen to my death."

He had to release the flag to prevent it from getting caught in the wind and dragging him to the ground, he told Fox News, and then he had to make sure the parachute itself didn't inflate again.

Despite his close brush with death at the Hokies game, Palanker said he will "absolutely" be skydiving again once his injury heals.

Prosecutors warn Anna Kepner’s stepbrother shouldn’t roam free after alleged cruise ship murder

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:19:50 -0400

Federal prosecutors are trying to put accused teen killer T.H., 16, behind bars as his case in the cruise ship death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner.

In a filing last week reviewed by Fox News Digital, prosecutors asked a judge to revisit the teenager's release and either jail him before trial or tighten the rules of his release, arguing the case has changed now that he is being prosecuted as an adult.

The 16-year-old, whom authorities have only identified by his initials, is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in Kepner’s November death aboard a Carnival cruise ship. Prosecutors allege he sexually assaulted and killed his stepsister during the family vacation.

The government alleges that he was originally released when the case was being handled under juvenile law, but now that he has been transferred to adult prosecution, the judge should take a fresh look at whether he should still be free. Meanwhile, the defense says he should remain free while the judge decides.

The move comes as Christopher Kepner, Anna's father, told the Daily Mail that he is outraged that the accused murderer is still allowed to live with a relative despite being federally charged as an adult.

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"We’re upset that he’s still out. We’re six months in, and he should already have been arrested, and yet he’s free to do whatever he wants right now," Christopher Kepner told the outlet. "That’s our problem. He’s been able to do whatever he wants and go where he wants, but the family’s been sitting here unable to do anything."

The filing also spells out the timeline of the case, previously unknown, saying T.H. was first charged in February, later indicted by a federal grand jury on March 10, and formally transferred to adult prosecution on April 10.

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If convicted, the teen faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

"I want to see him in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. He does not need to be free. He does not need to be in the general public, around any kids or women in general," Christopher Kepner said.

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"He’s a danger to himself and a danger to others."

The unfolding legal battle come months after Anna, affectionately called "Anna banana," was found dead onboard the cruise ship during a family vacation with her father, stepmother, grandparents and several siblings.

Authorities later ruled her death a homicide caused by "mechanical asphyxiation," according to documents previously reviewed by Fox News Digital.

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According to investigators, she was found under the bed in her cabin, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life jackets. The cabin was shared with her stepbrother.

Fox News Digital has reached out to T.H.'s attorneys for comment.

"Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss," U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said. "A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging serious offenses that allegedly occurred aboard a vessel in international waters. We will present the evidence in court and pursue this case with professionalism and care. As in every case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

Kamala Harris torches own party members invested in holding on to their 'title,' admits, 'I am exhausted'

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:18:24 -0400

Former Vice President Kamala Harris torched members of her own party on Sunday and said she was "exhausted" by those only concerned with their titles.

The former vice president was asked about how the Democratic Party could earn back the trust of Black women.

"First of all, the party has got to understand that the voices of true leaders in the community must be the priority and not those people who've been holding on to these titles and are full-time invested in preserving their title at the expense of actually getting anything done," Harris said at The Root's Power Rising event.

"I am exhausted by these people," she continued, noting that she was the second Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate. "AOC can tell you about the number of people, including Democrats, who will walk around the Capitol with their flag pin and all their interns running behind them, and they will just think they are so important."

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She argued that accountability needed to be part of the work.

"It's been a bit controversial, but one of the things I've been saying is this. As I have reflected on what has been going on, I've come to the realization that part of the issue is part of the frailty, I think, of human nature for some is they are purely transactional people," Harris said.

The former vice president said it was okay for Black women to be "transactional" too.

"They're not pretending to be grounded in morals or values or principles," Harris said. "They're not pretending. They're literally not pretending. They're in it for what they can get out of it. Their mantra is, 'I'm going to get mine.' I think it's okay for us to be a bit transactional, too, and to say, 'I'm going to get mine also.'"

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She went on to argue that Democrats shouldn't just count on Black women to be the backbone of the party because of their value system, ethics and sense of civic duty.

"They will vote because of high level of character, which is to say, I must conduct myself in a way that I honor the ancestors and all who have sacrificed before me. And so I will vote because it is my duty for all that paved the path for me to be here," she said. "But they count on that. And I'm saying, plus, they should count on the fact we're going to expect, and they're going to have to know when they start counting on the vote. It's because they better produce if they win."

Harris has recently revealed she is thinking about running in 2028.

The former VP made multiple stops in South Carolina last week, one of the key early-voting states in the Democratic Party's nominating calendar.

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When asked about why the U.S. has yet to elect a woman to the presidency and what the country needed to change, Harris touted the 2024 race results as the "closest presidential race in the history of the race for president."

"One of the top three closest races ever, and we had 107 days to do what we did, and it was that close," she continued.

She said the country is ready to elect a woman to the presidency.

"I just try to not let other people's problems be my problem, in terms of believing and knowing and acting on who can do what. And that's where I land on that," she said.

UK’s elite soldier unit faces exodus over ‘lawfare’ fears — warning sign for US military?

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:16:49 -0400

Britain’s elite Special Air Service (SAS) is facing a growing exodus as soldiers resign over fears they could face years of legal scrutiny for actions taken on the battlefield, according to a report in The Telegraph.

Several sources told the British newspaper that members of 22 SAS, the British Army’s most elite regiment, have applied for premature release amid anger over investigations into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, Syria and Northern Ireland.

The debate is not confined to Britain.

American troops could face similar concerns if political leaders fail to distinguish between legitimate investigations and politically motivated campaigns, according to John Spencer, executive director of the Urban Warfare Institute.

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"I welcome timely investigations of allegations of violations," Spencer told Fox News Digital, "but want our leaders to protect all our forces, special or not, from agenda or politicized ‘witch hunts.’"

In Australia, the case of Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith has become a rallying point for veterans who fear elite soldiers could face years of legal battles after serving in combat.

Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, has denied allegations that he committed war crimes in Afghanistan. Earlier in April, Australian authorities charged him with five counts of murder related to his service in Afghanistan.

To many British veterans, the Australian case reinforces fears that the same trend could spread across other Western militaries, including the United States.

At least two SAS squadrons have been affected, with several current and former members describing the losses as a "threat to national security." The paper did not publish the precise number of departures for security reasons.

The resignations come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government faces criticism over both defense spending and the treatment of veterans.

Britain’s armed forces have faced mounting scrutiny over their size and readiness in recent years. But the U.K. government says it is reversing that trend, reporting that total armed forces strength stood at 182,050 personnel as of Jan. 1, 2026, including 136,960 regular troops, an increase from the previous year.

The government also has pledged what it calls the largest sustained rise in defense spending since the Cold War, with military spending set to reach 2.6% of GDP by 2027, backed by an additional £5 billion this financial year and £270 billion in defense investment over the course of the current Parliament. Britain also has said it aims to raise defense spending to 3% of GDP by the end of the next Parliament.

Former and current soldiers said they believe Britain’s legal system has turned against troops who were sent to fight on behalf of the government.

"If a soldier discharges their weapon, they are almost certainly going to get a knock at their door one day," George Simm, a former regimental sergeant major of 22 SAS, told The Telegraph. "It feels like a betrayal and a break in the trust."

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The controversy centers on ongoing investigations into British special forces operations.

A total of 242 special forces troops, including 120 still serving, are currently involved in legal inquiries costing roughly £1 million per month. Those inquiries involve operations in Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and Syria.

Critics say those investigations have created a culture in which soldiers fear that decisions made in combat would later lead to prosecution.

Andrew Fox, a former British Army officer and senior fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, a London-based think tank, told Fox News Digital the relationship between soldiers and the government has been badly damaged.

"Soldiering contains a pact between the government and those they employ to use lethal force," Fox said. "Soldiers will take human life within the rules set for them by international law, and in return, their governments should support them.

"This has been inverted, and international law has been weaponized and exploited by our enemies to persecute our soldiers. All too often, governments are coming down on the side of those enemies, not our troops."

Fox said it was understandable that some soldiers would no longer want to serve.

"Of course, law breaking should be punished, but we are seeing a breakdown in trust between governments and their armed forces when politicians allow troops to be hounded through the courts unjustly," he said.

Spencer said professional militaries depend on maintaining public trust through a strong internal justice system.

"A professional military holds the trust of its society because it lives by a strict ethical code, its laws, and its rules," Spencer told Fox News Digital. "That trust is what gives soldiers the unique authority to use lethal force in the worst conditions a human being can face."

Spencer said allegations of wrongdoing should be investigated quickly and fairly.

"We need investigations that move quickly and fairly on any credible allegation," he said. "If there's real evidence of wrongdoing under the law of armed conflict or the rules of engagement, then both the military and society must act on it. That's how you keep the trust alive."

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At the same time, Spencer warned that some legal campaigns risk crossing the line into what troops perceive as politically motivated "witch hunts."

"I've seen too many human rights lawyers blur the line between basic human rights and the actual law of armed conflict," Spencer said. "They don't always understand the application of the use of force in context or the split-second chaos of combat. When that turns into what troops call witch hunts, it eats away at morale and readiness."

Spencer said governments have a responsibility both to investigate credible accusations and to protect troops from what he called agenda-driven campaigns.

"It's also the duty of the government to shield the military from agenda-driven witch hunts," he said. "A rigorous military justice system and honest self-policing are essential for an ethical force. Without them, the profession loses the very trust that lets it do its job."

Britain’s Ministry of Defense spokesperson told Fox News digital that, "While it is a long-standing policy of successive governments to not comment on U.K. Special Forces, we are immensely proud of all our Armed Forces and their extraordinary contribution to keeping the U.K. safe at home and abroad."

"We are committed to ensuring that the legal framework governing our Armed Forces reflects the practical realities of military operations — and that those who served with honor are properly protected," he added, "Where the U.K. undertakes military action, it complies fully with U.K. and international law. We are clear that upholding those standards does not prevent our Armed Forces from conducting effective operations."

Former British military chiefs warned in an open letter to Starmer in late 2025 that soldiers increasingly believe they must worry about "not only the enemy in front of them but the lawyer behind them."

"Make no mistake," the retired generals wrote, "our closest allies are watching uneasily, and our enemies will be rubbing their hands."

US interdicts stateless sanctioned tanker sailing from Iran to China

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:14:09 -0400

U.S. forces conducted a boarding and interdiction operation overnight on a stateless sanctioned crude oil tanker in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility, the Department of War announced Tuesday.

The operation saw U.S. forces board the M/T Tifani, a stateless crude oil tanker previously sanctioned by the U.S. State Department for facilitating the transfer of Iranian oil between ships.

The military boarded the ship in INDOPACAM's area, which encompasses the entire Pacific Ocean and parts of the Indian Ocean, "without incident," according to the Pentagon's post on X. Open source maritime trackers showed the ship halting progress in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka.

"As we have made clear, we will pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and interdict sanctioned vessels providing material support to Iran — anywhere they operate," the post read.

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"International waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels. The Department of War will continue to deny illicit actors and their vessels freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain," the post concluded.

Open source maritime trackers showed the Tifani departing from Dongjiakou, China, in late March. According to commodities tracker Argus News, the vessel loaded up at the terminal on Iran's Kharg Island, the country's premier oil export terminal.

The vessel — which has historically sailed under the flags of Botswana, Cameroon, Tanzania, Palau, and Panama — has loaded Iranian oil in ship-to-ship transfers with U.S.-sanctioned Iranian tankers at least twice in the past, according to the State Department.

The vessel was heading to Riau Archipelago near Singapore before it was eventually expected to reach mainland China.

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M/T Tifani has also conducted "dark activity" near Singapore, according to Ukrainian military intelligence. The craft routinely turns off its Automatic Identification System (AIS), a move commonly referred to as "going dark." International Maritime Organization (IMO) mandates that all ships carrying over 300 gross tonnes on international voyages operate AIS at all times.

The interdiction was the second such naval confrontation the military made on Iranian-linked ships in as many days. U.S. forces boarded and seized the Touska, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship which the U.S. accused of attempting to bypass an ongoing maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

After issuing warnings to the vessel, the guided-missile destroyer, USS Spruance instructed the Touska crew to vacate the engine room and fired missiles from the ship's MK 45 Gun, disabling Touska’s propulsion systems, according to CENTCOM.

The Touska, like the Tifani, had previously stopped in China, highlighting a potential supply route between China and Iran for sanctioned oil.

China criticized the U.S. seizure of the Touska, with a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson calling the Strait of Hormuz situation "sensitive and complex."

Fox News Digital contacted INDOPACOM and the Pentagon for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Sen Chris Murphy says he 'should give up on sarcasm' after backlash over one-word Iran blockade post

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:10:28 -0400

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., remarked on Tuesday that he probably "should give up on sarcasm," following backlash over his one-word reaction to reports that ships linked to Iran had bypassed a U.S. naval blockade.

On Monday, Murphy responded to an X post featuring a news article from Lloyd’s List. The report stated that at least 26 Iran-linked vessels had transited past the U.S. blockade, despite claims from Washington that it had successfully forced ships bound for the country to turn around.

Murphy replied to the report with a single word: "Awesome."

The report, which cited data tracking tanker movements tied to Iranian trade, quickly became a flashpoint. Critics immediately accused Murphy of undermining the American war effort and cheering for a breach of U.S. lines.

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"OK Twitter, I can’t believe I need to clarify this, but obviously Trump’s bungled mismanagement of this war is not ‘awesome’," Murphy responded in a follow-up post. "As I have said a million times here, it’s a disaster and he should end the war immediately. My tweet was something called ‘sarcasm.’"

On Tuesday, Murphy further clarified his position to Fox News.

"Twitter has become kind of a cesspool," he said, referring to the platform X. "I probably should give up on sarcasm on Twitter. But sarcasm is not something I guess that's allowed on Twitter any longer."

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He reiterated that President Donald Trump's handling of the war has been "bungled" and "mismanaged," and urged that the conflict be ended as quickly as possible.

The White House was quick to strike back. In a statement, the White House Rapid Response account on X accused Murphy of rooting for the opposition.

"You're a loser, Chris. You were literally cheering for the enemy—gleefully regurgitating Iranian propaganda to undermine your own country's interests," the statement read. "It's an insult to the American heroes very effectively enforcing the blockade. Moron."

The naval blockade is primarily enforced by U.S. naval and air power in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Its strategic goal is to intercept vessels after they clear the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical shipping points.

Fox News Chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst said the U.S. is allowing any vessel passing through the area to make their way to its final destination, as long as it isn't coming from Iranian port.

"There were some reports overnight indicating that 26 vessels from Iran's shadow fleet were able to make it past the U.S. Blockade. There is no evidence of that, and despite what one Democratic senator talked about, there is a concerted effort by the United State to ensure that any vessels that coming from Iranian ports are turned around," Yingst told "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday, while referring to Murphy.

He said reports about the ships bypassing the U.S. blockade were Iranian "propaganda."

"And the shadow fleet that the senator is talking about is used to directly fund Iranian proxies across the Middle East, including Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah, who are directly responsible for killing US citizens," he said. "And so the shadow of fleet is a very serious problem. It is not getting past the US blockade, according to all reports and information that we have from the region."

Murphy has repeatedly argued that President Trump bypassed Congress when the initial strikes against Iran began in February.

In March 2026, he introduced a War Powers Resolution to force the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran that had not been authorized by Congress. The measure ultimately failed in a near party-line vote.

Dark money floods Virginia ahead of redistricting vote that could hand Democrats House edge

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:53:00 -0400

Tens of millions of dollars — much of it dark money from undisclosed donors — poured into Virginia this year ahead of Tuesday's vote on a congressional redistricting referendum that, if passed, could give Democrats a significant boost in the battle for the U.S. House majority in this year's midterm elections.

If the ballot measure is successful, it would give the Democrat-controlled Virginia legislature — rather than the state's current nonpartisan commission — temporary redistricting power through the 2030 election. It could result in a 10-1 advantage for Democrats in Virginia's congressional delegation, up from their current 6-5 edge.

The referendum, which follows President Donald Trump's push for rare but not unheard-of mid-decade redistricting in Republican-led states, could give Democrats an edge as they try to win back control of the House from Republicans, who are defending a fragile majority.

Supporters of redistricting have dramatically outraised and outspent groups opposed to the referendum, with Democrat-aligned Virginians for Fair Elections raising roughly three times as much as GOP-allied Virginians for Fair Maps. But despite the Democrats' funding advantage, public opinion polling suggests support for the ballot initiative is only slightly ahead of opposition amid a surge in early voting, which ended Saturday.

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"They have outspent us three to one. They’ve raised over $70 million. And yet this is a close vote," former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, one of leaders of the GOP effort to defeat the referendum, told Fox News Digital on the eve of the election.

Much of the funding raised by both sides came from so-called "dark money" from nonprofit public policy groups known as 501(c)(4) organizations that are not required to disclose their donors. This according to a Fox News Digital review of state campaign finance records and records from the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), which tracks public spending in Virginia..

"It points to the importance of this referendum," David Richards, political science chair at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia, told Fox News Digital, as he highlighted the influx of outside money pouring into the state.

Richards said the funding "also shows how national money can cloud these statewide elections. Virginians need to decide what's good for them and instead, it becomes a national issue that takes away from what is good for Virginia."

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Given the green light from the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court ruling, nonprofit public policy groups can spend unlimited funds without disclosing their donors, which often masks large contributions from corporations or wealthy individuals.

But dark money has long come under attack over a lack of transparency, with voters not knowing who is funding the political messages they are seeing. It's been criticized as a threat to democracy for allowing wealthy interests to influence elections and policy.

"it's because you don't actually know where the money is coming from," Chris Galdieri, a professor in the political science department at Saint Anselm College, told Fox News Digital. "With dark money, it's not even traceable to a particular interest...it means that voters don't know what the motives of the donors are."

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On the "yes" side, House Majority Forward, which as the chief political nonprofit wing of House Democrats does not have to disclose its donors, has contributed nearly $40 million.

Other groups pumping big bucks into the Democrat effort to pass the referendum were fueled with millions of dollars from George Soros-backed dark money groups.

Meanwhile, the "no" effort has received $9 million from a group tied to tech billionaire Peter Thiel, a GOP megadonor and longtime Trump ally.

While often frowned upon, the use of dark money in politics is accelerating. Dark money groups shelled out more than $1.9 billion during the 2024 election cycle.

"Any rational person can look at the maps in Virginia and understand that this is a political game being played. It's to benefit one party, not people," veteran Republican strategist and communicator Ryan Williams argued. "What do they care if they finance their effort with dark money. It's just another example of political gamesmanship in this process."

Fox News' Alec Schemmel and Leo Briceno contributed to this report.

US falls behind in hypersonic race as China, Russia gain edge

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:48:32 -0400

The U.S. has spent years racing to develop hypersonic weapons to compete with China and Russia, but delays, shifting programs and limited testing capacity are raising concerns that Washington remains in a catch-up phase in a technology that could reshape modern warfare.

Key programs have faced repeated delays, including setbacks in testing and development timelines, while others have been canceled and later revived as the Pentagon reassesses its approach.

At the same time, limited testing infrastructure has constrained how quickly new systems can be evaluated and refined, slowing the pace of development across multiple efforts.

That combination has heightened concern inside the Pentagon, particularly as China and Russia already have fielded hypersonic systems, potentially giving them an edge in a class of weapons that could compress decision-making timelines in a crisis and challenge U.S. defenses.

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Hypersonic weapons are designed to travel at extremely high speeds while maneuvering in flight, making them far harder to detect and intercept than traditional missiles.

Unlike ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable path, hypersonic weapons can change direction mid-flight and fly at lower altitudes, reducing warning time and making them more difficult for existing missile defenses to track.

Russia already has used hypersonic-type weapons in its war against Ukraine, in some cases as a signal to Kyiv and its Western allies, underscoring how the technology is beginning to shape real-world conflict.

Inside the U.S. portfolio, however, progress has been uneven. Some programs are advancing toward deployment, others have been canceled and revived, and officials are increasingly balancing investments between building hypersonic weapons and defending against them.

Part of the challenge is technical. Hypersonic systems must survive extreme heat and pressure while traveling at high speeds through the atmosphere—making them more complex to design and build than traditional missiles.

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In some cases, the Pentagon also has pursued more advanced approaches, including highly maneuverable systems and precision conventional strike capabilities, adding further complexity.

Complicating that effort further is a basic constraint: testing capacity.

With only a limited number of facilities able to simulate or sustain hypersonic speeds, programs often face delays waiting for test opportunities, slowing development across multiple efforts.

Mark Bigham, vice president of defense programs at Longshot, a company that works on hypersonic launch and testing technologies, and a former Raytheon executive, said that constraint has become a key limiting factor.

"People can innovate and create really fast," Bigham said. "And the only way you can sort them out is to actually test them."

He added that only a handful of facilities can test systems at hypersonic speeds, making it difficult to increase the pace of development.

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"I would say the testing is probably the bottleneck right now," he said.

Beyond engineering and testing challenges, the U.S. effort has also been shaped by years of shifting priorities.

After leading early hypersonic research in the 2000s, defense spending shifted toward counterterrorism operations and other capabilities, while funding for high-speed weapons remained inconsistent until more recently.

At the same time, strict safety and reliability requirements can slow the transition from testing to deployment, extending timelines compared to adversaries that may field less mature systems more quickly.

The Pentagon’s most advanced effort, the Army’s long-range hypersonic weapon — known as "Dark Eagle" — has made recent progress, including a successful joint Army–Navy test in March and continued fielding of its first operational unit.

That program is part of a broader push to streamline development, including the use of a shared glide body across Army and Navy systems.

Even so, the broader hypersonic portfolio remains in flux.

The Air Force has revived its air-launched rapid response weapon, or ARRW, after shelving the program following test setbacks, requesting roughly $387 million in fiscal 2026 to begin procurement.

The move reflects a reassessment inside the Pentagon, where officials now see a need for multiple types of hypersonic weapons for different missions.

At the same time, the U.S. increasingly is investing in ways to counter hypersonic threats.

In April, the Missile Defense Agency awarded roughly $475 million in additional funding to Northrop Grumman to accelerate development of the Glide Phase Interceptor, designed to destroy hypersonic weapons mid-flight.

The funding has pushed the program’s timeline forward, with initial operational capability now expected in the early 2030s after earlier delays.

The effort is part of a broader push to build defenses against hypersonic threats, including a space-based tracking network designed to detect and follow missiles traveling at extreme speeds—something current radar systems struggle to do reliably.

The urgency stems from the fact that China and Russia already have fielded hypersonic weapons, forcing the U.S. to both accelerate its own development and rethink how it defends against a new class of threats.

"My gut tells me that we need to step on the gas and move faster," Bigham said.

Yet despite that urgency, the administration’s latest budget places greater emphasis on missile defense, drones and other capabilities, with hypersonic programs largely embedded within broader research and procurement accounts.

That disconnect — between the strategic importance of hypersonics and the pace of U.S. development — has fueled debate over whether the U.S. can scale these systems quickly enough to compete with its adversaries.

For now, the Pentagon’s hypersonic effort is moving forward — but with programs at different stages, revived initiatives and persistent constraints, the path to fully fielding these weapons remains uncertain.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Government Accountability Office review found the Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile program fell about six months behind schedule on a key design milestone, pushing flight testing back by roughly a year and reducing the number of planned test flights. The findings highlight broader delays affecting U.S. hypersonic development.

Trump DEI crackdown ‘misses core ideology' and must target lingering danger on campuses, watchdog warns

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:46:10 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Experts are calling on President Donald Trump to issue a new executive order to attack a "dominant" socialist-inspired ideology they say is the "foundation" of a growing domestic terrorist movement in the United States.

Fox News Digital exclusively reviewed a report that details how diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices have continued to thrive on hundreds of U.S. campuses through a more deeply rooted ideology, "intersectionality." The Legal Insurrection Foundation and the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies issued the report.

"Intersectionality’s toxic influence must be confronted head-on," the report said, emphasizing, "The future of our education system and the safety of our nation depend upon it."

Despite several executive orders by Trump banning DEI, the report found that progressive school administrators across the country continue to profile students by group identity and to teach students to view America and Western society as global oppressors. The result, the report says, is increasing social discord and even violence spreading across America.

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The report's authors urge the president to take executive action to address intersectionality specifically by name, arguing that doing so will close a loophole that allows DEI practices to continue under the intersectionality banner. The report also calls on the administration to replace this school of thought with education programs that promote traditional American values.

Intersectionality has been advanced by Kimberlé Crenshaw, a Columbia Law School professor who developed the intersectional theoretical framework in the late 1980s, as a method of describing overlapping forms of discrimination. She argues that by treating race and gender as "mutually exclusive categories of experience and analysis," society and the legal system distort and theoretically erase the multidimensional experiences of Black women.

The Legal Insurrection Foundation and the Defense of Freedom Institute’s report, however, cautions that intersectionality is "inherently socialist and collectivist," as it "judges people based on group identity." By emphasizing the "intersection" of perceived victimhood categories, the report says women are seen as preferable to men, "people of color" to Whites, homosexual or transgender-identifying people as preferable to heterosexuals, and Muslims as preferable to Jews or Christians.

While the report says the Trump administration’s efforts to address DEI thus far are "laudable," these actions continue to be flouted so that the U.S. educational system remains "the mechanism for intersectionality to embed in the culture."

According to the report, the groups have documented the propagation of intersectionality in more than 700 educational institutions, consisting primarily of college campuses but also K-12 schools.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Legal Insurrection founder William Jacobson cautioned that "as much as some of the problems have been recognized, the underlying ideological foundation has not been identified or understood."

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He explained that intersectionality goes even deeper than DEI, saying that it is "in many ways, the mother's milk of critical race theory, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and increasingly linked to violent domestic terrorism through anarchists and other groups."

He described the ongoing movement as a "multi-billion-dollar industry" consisting of teachers, professors, administrators, consultants and philanthropies.

"It’s massive," he explained, adding, "This was 30 years in the making. It's not going to go away with a handful of executive orders."

The report draws a line between the intersectional ideology being pushed in schools and recent domestic terror plots, including by the anti-capitalist student group "Turtle Island Liberation Front." This December, five members of the group were indicted for allegedly plotting to simultaneously bomb multiple targets in California beginning on New Year’s Eve. The individuals are also accused of plotting to target U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers as well.

According to the report, "Turtle Island," a term rooted in Native American lore, is the intersectional name being used for North America. Turtle Island Liberation Front’s call for decolonization and tribal sovereignty echoes intersectionality’s core message, says the report.

Both groups, as well as Jacobson, are calling on the president and Congress to take immediate action through executive orders and congressional hearings.

"We're calling on the administration to update their executive orders [and] to issue a new executive order which includes intersectionality under the definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion," he said.

Jacobson emphasized that while any individual scholar or student can hold or advance intersectional beliefs, he said, "the question is, are federal funds being used to promote unlawful discrimination?"

"We are not calling for a ban on intersectionality as a theory," he clarified. "What we are calling on the government to do is to make sure that federal funds are not used to promote racially and ethnically and religiously discriminatory activities that take place under the name of intersectionality."

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He put it in simple terms: "People may have a constitutional right to espouse intersectionality, but the government doesn't have to pay for it."

Beyond this, he also called on Congress to get involved.

"We've seen on many issues, including antisemitism, that congressional hearings have proven extremely informative and extremely effective at addressing the problems," he said.

The report also calls for the administration to use every facet of the government to root out intersectionality. Other methods suggested include updating federal agency guidance regarding intersectional practices, pursuing litigation where it is being practiced, defunding those institutions, and instead funding research and civics education programs that promote American ideals.

"It's hard to understand unless you live in that world, which I do, how pervasive and dominant these racial ideologies are on campuses," he emphasized, adding, "It is the dominant ideology on campuses."

"There are very few alternatives for students on most campuses," he went on. "And that's why we think the Trump administration, to the extent it is supporting various educational initiatives, should insist that schools, if they want federal money, have to have traditional American civics programming as an alternative to what is there now."

Fox News Digital reached out to Crenshaw for comment.

Raiders' Super Bowl hero Rod Martin, who holds major record in big game, dead at 72

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:35:52 -0400

Rod Martin, a key contributor to Super Bowl-winning teams, died at 72, the Las Vegas Raiders announced.

Martin is perhaps best known for his record-setting performance in Super Bowl XV, when he picked off three passes from Ron Jaworski en route to a 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Martin set the tone by picking off the Eagles quarterback on his first pass of the game, and Jim Plunkett turned it into six points just a few plays later on the ensuing drive.

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As the Eagles trailed 21-3, they attempted to mount a comeback and were marching, but Martin picked off Jaworski again. Martin's third pick all but sealed the victory late in the fourth quarter for the Raiders during their first stint in Oakland.

Three years later, when the then-Los Angeles Raiders won Super Bowl XVIII over the Washington Redskins, he had a sack and a fumble recovery.

"The Raiders Family is deeply saddened by the passing of Rod Martin, a standout linebacker and key player on two Super Bowl championship teams..." the team said in a release.

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"A beloved member of the Raiders Family and a favorite of Raiders fans everywhere, the deepest condolences of the entire Raider Nation are with Rod's family at this time."

Amazingly enough, Martin's career-high in interceptions in a regular season is four from his 1983 campaign, the same year as his second Super Bowl victory. Two of those went for pick-sixes, which led the league.

The following season, he was named a first-team All-Pro for the only time in his career.

Super Bowl XV was the only time he recorded at least one interception in a playoff game, and it was the only time in his career he had more than one in any game, regular season or postseason.

Martin was a 12th-round pick out of USC but became a mainstay on the Raiders' defense, starting 147 of his 165 career games across his 12-year career, all of which were with the Raiders.

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Alan Osmond, eldest member of The Osmond Brothers, dead at 76

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:35:07 -0400

Alan Osmond, the eldest member of the Osmond Brothers, has died, Fox News Digital confirms. He was 76.

Donny Osmond paid tribute to Alan with a heartfelt post to his Instagram, where he shared a black-and-white photo of the two siblings at a young age.

"This is one of the earliest pictures I have of my brother Alan and me," Donny began.

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"Even back then, you can see that he had his arm around me, watching over me. That’s who he was. My protector. My guide. The one who quietly carried so much responsibility so the rest of us could shine."

"Alan was our leader in every sense of the word. His tireless work helped build everything we became. I will always be grateful for the sacrifices he made and the love he showed—not just to me, but to every member of our family."

The tribute continued, "I owe him more than I can ever fully express."

"I love you, Alan. Thank you for always being there for me. Till we meet again, Brother Donny," he concluded.

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Alan died Monday evening at his home in Orem, Utah, with his wife and all eight of their sons at his bedside, according to Fox 13.

No official cause of death has been released.

Born in Ogden, Utah, Alan was the eldest of the performing Osmond siblings and widely seen as the group’s leader during its rise to fame — often working behind the scenes to shape the family’s success.

His life took a major turn in 1987 when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, forcing him to step away from performing while remaining closely tied to the family’s work.

Alan’s brother and bandmate, Merrill Osmond, announced his death in a Facebook post early Tuesday, revealing he had seen his brother just two days before his passing. The two shared what he described as a final heart-to-heart, reflecting on their lives and decades of music together.

"Two days before my brother, Alan, passed, I was blessed to sit quietly with him. We talked as brothers do, heart to heart."

Merrill said Alan was struggling physically — yet still present and still himself.

"He was struggling, but when I shared a joke or two, he found the strength to chuckle… and then he smiled."

In what Merrill called a moment he will "never forget," Alan made one final request — one rooted in the brothers’ shared creative and spiritual work.

"He said, ‘Merrill, you and I worked side by side. We created, we produced, we directed… we gave our hearts to The Plan with Wayne. Please… do something with it. Let people know what we were trying to say.’"

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Merrill made clear that the promise would not be left unfulfilled.

"I want you to know, his request will be honored."

He continued in part, "And I need you to know this… he has not left me. I have felt him. I have felt his quiet encouragement telling me to keep going… to keep building faith… to keep sharing light."

Merrill urged those mourning Alan to shift their perspective.

"So please, don’t let your hearts be heavy. Don’t weep for him. Rejoice, knowing that your brother, your friend, your hero is no longer in pain. He is free. He is whole. He is home."

Alan Osmond leaves behind a sprawling family legacy — survived by his wife, Suzanne, eight sons, 30 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, in addition to siblings Virl, Tom, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Jimmy and Marie. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Olive Osmond, and his brother Wayne.

Illegal immigrant Israel Flores Ortiz gets 360 days for groping girls at Fairfax County Va. High School

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:33:53 -0400

Israel Flores Ortiz, 18, an illegal alien, was sentenced to 360 days on Tuesday after being convicted for groping several female classmates in Fairfax High School hallways earlier this year.

With time served and the calculations for a misdemeanor, he has 135 days left in prison.

Judge Melinda Vanlowe delivered the sentence, calling it a "very difficult case," adding the actions were "targeted" and representing a "pattern" of "deplorable" behavior.

Fairfax County public defender Jamie Hospes asked Judge Vanlowe for a sentence of 9 days, calling the offenses just "butt-grabbing," adding, "sometimes we arrest people for that, sometimes we elect them to be president of the United States."

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Flores Ortiz wore a green prison jumpsuit and listened to the proceedings through an interpreter.

He read a statement in Spanish, saying he apologized to the girls he had grabbed and their families.

"I hurt them," he said, also apologizing to his own mother and father.

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Flores Ortiz was charged as an adult, but he was tried in juvenile court because most of the victims were minors. He was convicted in nine cases, acquitted in three and had one charge dismissed. He had originally been accused of assaulting 13 female classmates, according to the Fairfax Police Department.

The case had heightened concerns among parents about student safety after years of former President Joe Biden's open borders policy.

Flores Ortiz, originally from El Salvador, is in the country illegally, having reportedly arrived in 2024.

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The defense asked the court to impose just nine days of incarceration, arguing Flores Ortiz’s age should weigh heavily in sentencing. Counsel said his "brain is physically not as developed" as that of a 25-year-old and argued his actions were not driven by sexual gratification.

Instead, the defense characterized the assaults as immature behavior, telling the court Flores Ortiz acted "for fun" and that "it was like a joke or prank."

"Only a teenager would think like that," counsel said.

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After the hearing, an attorney representing one of the teenage victims rejected the political framing.

"This should not be politicized," the attorney said.

The defense said the defendant "is sorry" for his actions and "he agrees it was deplorable; he agrees it was a pattern."

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Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano, who has been under fire for this case, as well as other high-profile crimes committed by illegal immigrants in Northern Virginia, spoke to the media after the sentencing. He called Fairfax County, "The safest large jurisdiction in the country."

Prosecutor Jenna Sands read from a letter written by one of the victims who said for her this was not about immigration, but about "a guy who made me feel unsafe."

"I want to back to being a normal kid," the victim added.

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The judge allowed Flores Ortiz and his attorney to remain seated during sentencing, then sharply rebuked him as she laid out the impact of the assaults and his conduct after being confronted by one of the victims.

Referring to the evidence, the judge said that on March 4, "one of the students actually confronted you," and made it "very clear it hurt her."

Despite that, the judge said, Flores Ortiz went on to assault another victim two days later.

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The judge said that for the victims, the offenses had "adjusted how they move through life," underscoring the lasting effect the assaults had on the students involved.

After serving his sentence, Flores Ortiz will be placed on two years of probation. The judge also ordered him to undergo a psychosexual evaluation and complete any treatment recommended as a result.

Addressing Flores Ortiz directly, the judge struck a more measured tone at the close of the hearing, telling him, "I absolutely believe in redemption" and, "this does not define you."

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She added, "You can go on to do great things."

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano told reporters after the hearing that he was "happy with the outcome," and said prosecutors "stand ready" if Flores Ortiz chooses to appeal.

The case stems from a series of incidents in crowded school hallways that prosecutors said involved Flores Ortiz groping female students. The allegations sparked scrutiny in Fairfax County over school supervision and hallway safety.

Both Jake Gibson and Peter Pinedo reported from the courtroom.