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  • Multiple dead, several wounded after mass shooting at Brown University

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    Local resident recounts moments after university shooting: ‘Haven’t heard of anything like this’

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    Elias Christian, a Providence resident who lives just blocks from Brown University’s Barus and Holley engineering and physics building, said he first sensed something was wrong Saturday evening when he heard emergency vehicles racing toward campus.

    “I haven’t lived here too long, just a couple years, but I haven’t heard of anything like this happening,” Christian told Fox News Digital. “… This is known as kind of the safe part of the city and has a safer reputation in general.”

    He said the shooting feels especially jarring because of where it unfolded.

    “This is kind of the heart of Brown,” he said.

    Christian said he did not feel particularly scared himself, noting that police appeared to have the situation “under control.”

    However, he recognized that it must have been “much scarier” for those who were closer when the chaos began.

    “I’m sure it was so much scarier for people who were here before it was under control,” Christian said. “And all the students in this building and in the area.”

    Fox News Digital’s Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.

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  • American air travelers face ongoing disruptions as House to consider reopening government

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    Airlines for America (A4A) praised the House of Representatives Wednesday night in a statement after a bill was passed to end the federal government shutdown.

    “We are grateful to members of the House of Representatives for passing legislation that will reopen the federal government,” the statement read.

    “The shutdown has caused significant disruptions for the traveling and shipping public and added stress on our nation’s air traffic
    controllers and TSA officers who have been working without pay for 43 days,” it said.

    A4A emphasized that a fully functioning federal government is critical to maintaining a safe, reliable and efficient airspace system especially amid record levels of passenger travel and surging cargo demand.

    “Reopening the government will allow U.S. airlines to restore their operations ahead of the busy Thanksgiving holiday,” the organization added.

    The statement ended with a thank you to the president for swift action: “We appreciate President Trump for acting with urgency and signing this bill into law tonight.”

    Trump: Democrats disrupted 20,000 flights, ‘people are hurt so badly’

    President Trump signed a bipartisan bill Wednesday night ending the shutdown, calling it one of the most damaging in U.S. history.

    ““This cost the country $1.5 trillion,” he said from the White House, highlighting the impact on air travel, Trump blamed Democrats.

    “
    Over the past seven weeks, the Democrats’ shutdown has inflicted massive harm. They caused 20,000 flights to be canceled or delayed,” before adding, “People are hurt so badly. Nobody’s ever seen anything like this.”

    The agreement restores federal funding, reopens agencies and brings relief to hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers.The shutdown severely disrupted airlines, causing staffing shortages, flight delays and cancellations.

    Before signing the bill, Trump praised “all incredible patriots” including Airlines for America, the Allied Pilots Association and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and vowed, “We can never let this happen again,” he said.

    Millions of Americans were ‘stranded at airports’, went without food on tables, says Johnson

    House Speaker Mike Johnson reaffirmed his promise that Republicans will “get back to work” as he spoke Wednesday night following the historic vote to end the shutdown.

    “Millions of American families went without food on their table,” Johnson said, reflecting on the toll the 43-day shutdown took on people.

    “You had millions of Americans stranded in airports, their flights canceled and delayed. You had troops and federal employees wondering where their next paycheck would come from.”

    “Anyone who studied history would know that shutdowns never yield any positive result,” he said.

    The speaker credited the bipartisan agreement and said that the “lights” were back on.

    “Now that we’ve got the lights back on, we’ve got the government reopened,” Johnson added.

    “The president will sign that triumphantly tonight, and Republicans will get right back to the work that we promised the American people that we will do.”

    US flight delays push past 2K as shutdown end finally nears

    After 43 days, the U.S. government shutdown may finally be nearing its end but not before continuing to take a toll on air travelers.

    As of 7:42 p.m. EST, FlightAware reported 2,129 delays and 904 cancellations nationwide, highlighting the shutdown’s ongoing impact on the air travel system.

    On Capitol Hill, federal funding legislation to reopen the government survived a test vote in the House late Wednesday which cleared the way for a final passage within hours.

    The bill looks set to reach the president’s desk tonight, potentially bringing the shutdown to a close.

    Duffy and FAA freeze flight reduction at 6% amid strong staffing numbers

    The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an emergency order to freeze the limit on U.S. flight reductions at 6% Wednesday night.

    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford’s joint statement cited a sharp rebound in air traffic controller staffing levels.

    The FAA said a “rapid decline in controller callouts” from a high of 81 on Nov. 8 to just four on Wednesday proved “strong staffing levels” and a stabilization of the whole system.

    “President Trump’s message has been heard loud and clear: controllers will be made whole quickly. The FAA safety team is encouraged to see our air traffic control staffing surge, and they feel comfortable with pausing the reduction schedule to give us time to review the airspace,” said Duffy.

    “The data is going to guide what we do because the safety of the American people comes first,” he added.

    “Our top priority at the FAA is, and always will be, safety,” said Bedford.

    “The data shows that controller staffing is improving rapidly, which allows us to hold flight reductions at 6% while maintaining the highest levels of safety in our airspace,” he added.

    The statement also said that the 40 affected high-impact airport list will stay the same.

    Flight delays almost top 2K Wednesday with shutdown end in sight

    As the federal shutdown inches toward a possible resolution, America’s air travel system continues to strain.

    By 6:50 p.m. EST Wednesday, FlightAware reported 1,946 delays and 903 cancellations across the U.S., marking another chaotic travel day since the crisis began.

    The FAA has cited staffing shortages among air-traffic controllers and other essential workers, prompting capacity cuts of up to 10% at major airports.

    Travelers are still facing long waits, unexpected cancellations and widespread schedule reshuffling.

    Wednesday’s congressional vote to end the shutdown could bring relief, but even if it passes, Thursday’s flights could continue to feel the ripple effects.

    Economy lost billions, ‘crushing travel and hospitality,’ says Leavitt ahead of shutdown vote

    White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a stark warning about the economic fallout from the government shutdown ahead of Wednesday’s critical vote.

     “Tonight, thanks to Republicans, the White House is very hopeful that this shutdown is going to come to an end,” Leavitt told reporters.

    “Our economy has lost billions and billions of dollars in economic activity over the course of this shutdown, hurting consumer sentiment and crushing the travel and hospitality industries,” she added.

    The airline sector continued to feel disruption Wednesday as FlightAware data showed 1,807 delays and 901 cancellations as of 5:40 p.m. EST.

    Delta CEO: ‘If shutdown ends today, we’ll be back to normal by the weekend’

    Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian appeared optimistic Wednesday, expressing confidence that the carrier could return to full operations if the government shutdown ends soon.

    “If shutdown ends today, it will be back to normal by the weekend,” Bastian said during an interview on CNBC. When pressed again, he added that normalization could come by Friday or Saturday.

    In Washington, the U.S. House of Representatives reconvened Wednesday to vote on a bipartisan funding bill aimed at ending the shutdown and restoring full federal operations.

    Lawmakers were expected to begin voting around 5 p.m. EST, with final votes anticipated after 7 p.m., marking a step to reopening the government.

    Private aviation has best month in nearly 20 years amid shutdown

    The private aviation industry recorded its best month in nearly two decades as commercial air travel was battered by the government shutdown, The New York Times reported.

    According to data from business aviation tracker WingX
    , about 245,000 private jets departed from U.S. airports in October, showing more than a 5% increase compared with the same period last year.

    The surge came as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) kept flight reductions across commercial airlines during the shutdown.

    “Flying direct on private and flying from your home airport directly to the airport that’s closest to your place of business is very advantageous,,” Gregg Woods, CEO Cirrus Aviation Services told the outlet. Woods’ firm completed 928 flights in October without a single cancellation.

    Flexjet also reported that flying hours increased by over 20% in October compared with last year and climbed another 42% in the first week of November.

    Magellan Jets said October was its busiest month of 2025, with a 17% increase in demand from September, according to the report.

    FAA flight-reduction order could cost US economy up to $580M a day

    When the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) flight-reduction rule reaches 10% on Nov. 14, the economic toll could be huge, according to estimates from Airlines for America (A4A).

    In an update shared online
    , the industry group projected that the reduction could result in a daily average economic impact of $285 million to $580 million, depending on how airlines can reaccommodate passengers on other flights.

    A4A’s projection focuses on the economic effects of complying with the FAA’s flight-reduction rules which means the losses associated with operating fewer flights.

    The estimate does not include factors such as staffing shortages, refunds and rebooking costs, or lost passenger time.

    The estimate does account for indirect and induced effects including reduced visitor and tourist spending in affected destinations, as well as lower state and local tax revenues from travel-related businesses like hotels,
    restaurants, and shops    .

    TSA union leader says some workers skipping medications, living out of car as shutdown drags on

    As the shutdown continues, many TSA agents are working without pay, according to one union leader.

    “They’ve already been working now without paying for 42 days, and officers are struggling to put gas in their cars just to get to a job that isn’t paying them,” Rebecca Wolf, president of AFGE TSA Local 1127, told CBS News.

    “Families are cutting corners where they can. I’ve heard of officers skipping medications and they’re falling behind on bills,” Wolf said.

    “I’ve even had people reach out, because some have already been evicted from their homes. And I heard of one of our officers within my six states who are now living out of their car,” she added.

    This week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said controllers will receive 70% of their paychecks within 24 to 48 hours after the government shutdown ends, with the remainder to follow within a week.

    On Instagram
    , Duffy also wrote, “THANK YOU to all of the TSA workers at DCA who are still coming to work despite missing a month’s pay because of the government shutdown!”

    There’s a glimmer of hope for air travelers amid the turmoil of the ongoing federal shutdown.

    According to data from Cirium, about 83% of flights departed within 15 minutes of their scheduled time on Tuesday, signaling a welcome improvement in punctuality.

    Business Insider reported that Cirium described the figure as “above to above average,” marking a sharp rebound from Sunday and Monday, when nearly 40% of flights left late.

    Despite the gains, mandatory flight reductions remain in place across major U.S. airports, and travelers enduring a rollercoaster of disruptions since the shutdown began on Oct. 1.

    As of 2:30 p.m. EST Wednesday, FlightAware data also showed 1,230 delays and 893 cancellations nationwide.

    American Airlines COO calls for FAA collaboration to restore normal flight operations

    American Airlines COO David Seymour said Wednesday that restoring normal flight operations needs coordination with federal aviation authorities.

    Speaking to NBC News
    , Seymour said the airline industry’s chance to bounce back quickly depends on collaboration with regulators as the industry continues to manage disruption amid the ongoing shutdown.

    “The quick return to normal operations will depend on working with the FAA to ensure that we maintain the safety of the system,” Seymour said.

    He also warned the busiest travel periods of the year are approaching.

    “With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s going to be super important that we’re there, able to deliver to our customers,” Seymour added

    Delta CEO warns of ‘significant’ losses as FAA mulls upping flight cancellations to 8%

    Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian has warned that U.S. government-mandated flight reductions are leading to “significant” financial losses for the company.

    Speaking with CNBC Wednesday, Bastian said Delta faced around 2,500 cancellations in the past week alone — a figure he called “a crazy amount.”

    Bastian expressed cautious optimism that operations could return to normal if the ongoing government shutdown which is now in its 43rd day.

    “We had 2,500 cancellations for the last week, which is a crazy amount. It’s going to cost Delta a significant amount, it’ll cost the other airlines,” Bastian said in the interview.

    Despite the disruption, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had flight cancellations at about 6% on Wednesday.

    Multiple airlines told Reuters that the FAA might reduce its planned Thursday 8% flight cancellations and keep the flight cuts to the current 6% rate.

    A vote is expected on a spending bill later Wednesday that could determine when federal services, including air traffic operations, resume full capacity.

    US flyers see 1,117 delays, more than 890 cancellations as air travel disruptions continue

    As air travel disruptions continue, U.S. fliers saw 1,117 flight delays and 890 cancellations by 1:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, according to FlightAware.com.

    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has implored lawmakers to reopen the government and get paychecks in the hands of TSA workers, air traffic controllers and others as the holiday travel season looms.

    US flyers face nearly 1,000 delays, more than 890 cancellations so far Wednesday

    Air travelers in the U.S. have seen their flights cancelled and increasingly delayed amid ongoing disruptions. According to FlightAware.com, 980 flights had been delayed and 893 were cancelled as of 12:30 p.m. ET.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu urged lawmakers to reopen the government as the air travel industry prepares for “record Thanksgiving travel” in just two weeks.

    Airlines for America CEO demands House vote to reopen government before ‘record Thanksgiving travel’

    Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu is urging lawmakers to reopen the government as the travel industry braces “record Thanksgiving travel.”

    “We strongly urge members of the House of Representatives to vote to reopen the government today. Airlines have temporarily reduced their schedules to comply with the FAA’s mandate and to prioritize safety. More than 5 million passengers and countless cargo shipments have been impacted by delays and cancelations related to the shutdown
    ,’ Sununu said in a statement.

    “We are preparing for record Thanksgiving travel, with some 31 million passengers expected, and the busy shipping season is coming up. However, airlines cannot flip a switch and resume normal operations immediately after a vote—there will be residual effects for days,” he added. “It is past time to end the shutdown!” 

    US flyers face more than 850 delays, 890 cancellations so far Wednesday

    Air travelers in the U.S. continued to grapple with disruptions as 891 flights were cancelled and 852 were delayed by 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning, according to FlightAware.com.

    Several major travel hubs have been impacted by the government shutdown, which has forced air traffic controllers, TSA agents and other workers to do their jobs without pay. Newark Liberty International Airport, New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have all experienced delays and cancellations.

    Air traffic controllers at one of world’s busiest airports tell Duffy shutdown exposes wider issue

    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spoke to air traffic controllers’ leadership at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday about ongoing pressure their workforce is facing as the government shutdown stretches to a 43rd day.

    “What the shutdown has really shown to the public is what we have been dealing with for the last 10 years. We’ve been working four days off a month at the world’s busiest airport for a decade,” the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) representative at Chicago O’Hare told Duffy. “O’Hare needs controllers.”

    “We have one of the most stressful jobs ever,” the head of the air traffic controllers’ leadership team told Duffy. “Working an inbound ground control session upstairs after an hour and a half, your brain is mush. Now if you have to go downstairs on your 30 minute break to go call creditors and say ‘I’m not going to be able to pay this. Can I have an extension?’ that’s just an added pressure, right?”

    In an X post accompanying the video of their conversation, Duffy wrote, “At the world’s busiest airport, Chicago O’Hare, I checked in with a couple air traffic controllers and visited their tower.”

    “Did you know that because of understaffing, many of their controllers are only able to take 4 days off PER MONTH?” he wrote. “Controllers, thank you for your dedication to serving our skies.”

    Air traffic controllers leader praises ‘patriots’ working without pay, urges shutdown ‘end tonight’

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    National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels joined “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday and praised air traffic controllers who worked without pay as “American patriots.” He also scolded politicians, accusing them of using air traffic controllers as “pawns” in the shutdown.

    “Air traffic controllers share the exact same frustration as the American flying public, that they should not be the pawns in any type of government shutdown,” Daniels said. He later added that the shutdown “needs to end tonight and it needs end now.”

    US flyers face at least 626 delays, 884 cancellations so far Wednesday

    Air travelers in the U.S. saw 884 flights cancelled and 626 delayed by 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, according to FlightAware.com.

    The impacted airports include major travel hubs, such as Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

    ‘Misery Map’ shows airports most impacted by flight disruptions, major hub tops list

    The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has seen the most cancellations and delays so far Wednesday, according to FlightAware.com’s “Misery Map.”

    The Atlanta airport currently has 12 delays and 24 cancellations, according to the map.

    Chicago O’Hare International Airport ranked second on the list with 16 delayed flights and 18 cancellations as of Wednesday morning.

    Duffy slams predecessor Buttigieg, says he is trying to ‘rewrite his record’ after Trump criticism

    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended President Donald Trump against criticism from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, accusing him of neglecting key aviation safety issues during his tenure.

    “There were 85 near misses in the Potomac before the DCA air crash. Pete did nothing,” Duffy said on “Hannity.”

    “He spent $80 billion on DEI and on climate change. He lowered the standards for training at the FAA. He focused on pronouns at the FAA, but never worked to fix the air traffic control system, didn’t work on bringing more air traffic controllers into the system, so what he’s trying to do is rewrite his record because he wants to run for president, but the truth is he barely showed up at the DOT.”

    Duffy’s comments came after Buttigieg took to X to criticize Trump for urging air traffic controllers to return to work amid widespread flight disruptions.

    “The president wouldn’t last five minutes as an air traffic controller,” Buttigieg wrote.

    US air travelers saw more than 39,400 delays, 9,200 cancellations in last 5 days

    From Friday, Nov. 7, through Tuesday, Nov. 11, there were 39,438 U.S. flight delays and 9,231 cancellations, according to FlightAware.com. The website showed that air travelers were most impacted on Sunday, Nov. 9, with 11,229 U.S. delays and 2,954 U.S. cancellations.

    On Monday, Nov. 10, there were 9,646 U.S. delays and 2,422 U.S. cancellations. The situation improved slightly Tuesday, Nov. 11, with a total of 4,001 U.S. delays and a total of 1,264 U.S. cancellations.

    The disruptions are set to continue with a planned 8% reduction in flights on Thursday, Nov. 13, and a 10% reduction on Friday, Nov. 14.

    Over 9,000 flight cancellations and ATC strain: Is it safe to fly?

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    Former FAA Safety Team representative Kyle Bailey told “FOX & Friends FIRST” that it is “100% safe to fly” despite the ongoing air travel disruptions.

    Bessent reveals texts from worried airline execs, plus concern of possible food shortages

    Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe to discuss the economic impact of the shutdown and the role air transport plays.

    Bessent emphasized that the movement of people and goods are key to the economy.

    “Well, it’s a core tenet of the economy, along with trucking and shipping,” he said.

    “But in terms of business travel, I received several texts from airline executives over the weekend before we got news that the shutdown might be ending, saying they were quite worried for their businesses.”

    Bessent’s remarks came as he highlighted the wider impact of the shutdown. He noted the uncertainty had caused concern across other industries.

    “I don’t know what it could have cascaded into,” he said.

    “One of the things I didn’t want to do was alarm Americans, but I got a panic notice the other night that said food inspectors were not getting paid and that they weren’t going to work. So, we actually could have had food shortages,” Bessent said.

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  • Charlie Kirk’s widow breaks silence hours after Donald Trump announces alleged shooter in custody

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    Oregon coach delivers message about unity following assassination of Charlie Kirk, a Ducks fan

    The assassination of Charlie Kirk hit close to home for Oregon football head coach Dan Lanning, who recently found out that Kirk was a fan of Lanning’s own Ducks.

    Lanning offered his condolences to Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their two children following their 34-14 victory over Northwestern on Saturday

    .But in a prolonged answer regarding the current culture of the United States, Lanning implored Americans to look at his own locker room, saying, “the people in this world can learn a lot from [it].”

    “You walk in that locker room, you got guys of different races, guys of different backgrounds, different religions, and you got a team that loves each other. Tons of differences. Where they come from, what they deal with, and ultimately you got a team that loves each other, and I think we’re missing some of that in our country,” Lanning said.

    Lanning has been outspoken about gun violence before, and he made his voice heard again on Saturday, condemning the “evil” that led to Kirk’s assassination as well as children’s shooting deaths.

    “I recently found out Charlie Kirk was an Oregon fan, right? I didn’t know that. I hurt for his wife, Erika, and their kids. That sort of evil should never exist in our country, and that’s what it is — evil. I remember having to explain that to my family, right? I remember sitting down my kids and explaining what happened, and they’re talking about people talking about it at school. And it’s just sad, right?” Lanning said.

    “But it’s just as sad — every day it seems like we deal with some sort of violence that’s going on in our country, whether it’s school kids in Colorado or kids in Minnesota at churches. I mean, life matters, and I think we’ve lost sight of that. But I just wish the world could learn a little bit of something from our locker room, because we got a bunch of people with differences, and what you got in there is a bunch people there.”

    Lanning also had a powerful message to those who disagreed with him on political and social issues.

    “Just know this — I love you. I absolutely love you, right? And life matters. And there’s no way that Charlie should experience, that his family should experience, there’s no way that that evil should exist in this world.”

    Lanning then called for gun reform for “sick people” and more protection for children at schools.

    “And we have to continue to identify and point it out and make sure that it’s absolutely evil. There’s no reason in the world that our kids, that we should be worried about sending our kids to school. It’s our most valuable commodity in the world. They should be protected. And the reality is, there’s just not a lot of common sense on both sides.”

    “Common sense says, ‘Oh, it’s mental health, right?’ Common sense says, ‘Oh, it’s guns.’ You know what? It’s both. Let’s have some common sense. Our kids should be the most protected thing in the world, right? They should have armed guards at every school, because there’s sick people, there’s sick people in this world, right? And on top of that, sick people need help, and it should be really hard for a sick person to have a gun.”

    This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital’s Ryan Morik.

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  • Gazans flock to aid trucks as US, Israel discuss future of Hamas war

    Gazans flock to aid trucks as US, Israel discuss future of Hamas war

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    Harvard-Harris Poll co-founder Mark Penn appeared on “American Reports” Monday to discuss U.S. perception of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

    A recent poll reportedly found that 60% of Gen Z participants thought the October 7 attack against Israel was justified. During the interview, Penn told host John Roberts that it was unprecedented for participants to show so much support for a terrorist group.

    “People do mature over time, but I’ve never seen anything like this,” Penn explained. “I’ve never seen support for a terrorist group.”

    “I’ve never seen such upside down attitudes because none of these kids have been to Israel, really have a thorough understanding, and they only know what they’ve been told,” he added.

    Penn also said that the opinions were “clearly generated [from] and connected to social media, and far removed from what everybody else in the United States believes.”

    Teacher arrested after allegedly threatening to behead Muslim student over Israeli flag conflict

    A middle school teacher in Georgia who was accused of threatening to behead a Muslim student over a disagreement about an Israeli flag hanging in his classroom has now been arrested, according to Houston County jail records.

    Benjamin Reese, 51, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Warner Robins Middle School, was taken into custody on Dec. 8 on charges of making terroristic threats and cruelty to children. Reese was released on bond two days later. However, bond conditions require him to stay away from the school and the student he is accused of threatening, according to jail records.

    According to an incident report, the female student told a sheriff’s investigator she went into Reese’s classroom on Dec. 7 after spotting the flag and told him she found it offensive because Israelis were killing Palestinians. According to the student, Reese said he was Jewish, got angry and accused her of being antisemitic.

    Read the full article about Benjamin Reese by Stepheny Price

    Israel-Hamas war: IDF paratrooper says a cease-fire ‘is not an option right now’

    An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) paratrooper named Shahar appeared on “America’s Newsroom” on Monday to discuss the latest developments with the Israel-Hamas war.

    During his appearance, Shahar said that a cease-fire is “not an option.”

    “If we cease fire, it means that Israel ceases fire,” Shahar explained. “Hamas is just going to regroup and do October 7 again and again and again until someone in the world or Israel can ensure that this never happens again and ensures that the education system, the radical jihadists education system that keeps growing up more and more terrorist is eradicated.”

    “We can’t stop,” he added. “And we saw what happened last time that the Israelis didn’t have the IDF to protect it, and Israel didn’t exist. So we have to really do what we have to do.”

    Iran’s minister of oil confirms cyberattack responsible for gas station disruptions

    The oil minister in Iran confirmed on Monday that a cyberattack caused a nationwide disruption to gas stations.

    Reuters reported that the hacking group, Gonjeshke Darande, or “Predatory Sparrow,” claimed to carry out the attack, as reported by Iranian state TV and Israeli local media.

    Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji told Iranian state TV early on that the disruption affected about 70% of the petrol stations in Iran, adding that the cause was possibly outside interference.

    Read the full article about Javad Owji by Greg Wehner

    Israel-Hamas war: IDF says Hezbollah fighters are firing at Israel from ‘UN positions’

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Monday that Israel was being attacked by Hezbollah terrorists who were firing from United Nations areas and Lebanese Armed Forces compounds.

    “Since October 7th, the Hezbollah terrorist organization has carried out hundreds of attacks on Israel, including rocket, anti-tank missile and UAV attacks on communities and military positions in northern Israel,” the IDF said in a statement. “To date, five Israeli civilians have been killed in these attacks and 80,000 civilians in northern Israel have evacuated their homes.”

    The Israeli military argued that Hezbollah is violating UN Security Council Resolution 1701 by “continuing to operate and fire projectiles and UAVs from southern Lebanon at Israel.”

    “Moreover, Hezbollah has carried out many of these attacks from areas near UN positions and Lebanese Armed Forces compounds,” the IDF continued. “This demonstrates Hezbollah’s blatant abuse of the international and national institutions responsible for security in southern Lebanon.”

    The IDF concluded their press release by vowing that they would “continue to defend Israel’s northern border from any threat.”

    Defense Secretary Austin says U.S. commitment to Israel is ‘unbreakable’ after Netanyahu meeting

    U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, the official announced on X.

    “Honored to meet with @IsraeliPM today,” Austin’s post read. “My fourth trip to Israel as Secretary of Defense and my second since the October 7 attacks underscores an important message: the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security is unshakable.”

    Gen. Charles Q. Brown, who serves as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that he and Austin also met with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of the General Staff Herzl Halevi.

    “Today, @SecDef and I met with @IsraelPM, @yoavgallant, and Chief of the General Staff LTG Halevi in Tel Aviv to discuss Israel’s ongoing campaign to defeat Hamas and emphasize the strategic alliance between our two countries,” Brown said on X.

    Israel-Hamas war: U.S. troops attacked 101 times in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17

    U.S. forces in the Middle East have been attacked 101 times in Iraq and Syria since October 17, Fox News has learned.

    The latest three attacks happened on December 16, according to a U.S. defense official. There have not been any attacks on the American bases since.

    Since October 17, there have been 46 separate attacks against American forces in Iraq and 55 in Syria. The attacks have been conducted with a mix of rockets and one-way drones.

    It is unclear which group launched the weapons towards U.S. troops in the latest 3 attacks, but Houthis have continually targeted the U.S. in the region since the escalation of the Israel-Hamas war.

    Israel-Hamas war: Hamas terrorists reportedly release video of Israeli hostage Chaim Peri

    Fox News foreign correspondent Trey Yingst confirmed on X that Hamas terrorists have released another Israeli hostage video on Monday.

    According to Yingst, one of the hostages is 79-year-old Chaim Peri.

    “Hamas released another hostage video tonight. The man in the middle is 79-year-old Chaim Peri,” Yingst said on X.

    “The Nir Oz resident spent his free time driving Palestinian children to hospitals for treatment and making art to protest violence against Palestinians,” he added. “He is a peace activist.”

    Israeli hacker group takes credit for cyberattack shutting down majority of Iran’s gas stations

    An Israeli hacker group is taking credit Monday for a cyberattack that disrupted operations at nearly 70% of the gas stations in Iran, reports say. 

    Iranian state media is claiming that an Israeli hacker group called Gonjeshke Darande, also known as Predatory Sparrow, is behind the outages, according to Reuters. The news agency cited Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji as saying the disruptions at one point reached 70% of gas stations in Iran, before noting that 1,650 out of the 3,800 gas stations that the ministry supervises were operational. 

    Gonjeshke Darande later claimed responsibility for the cyberattack, according to Israel’s Ynet News and Times of Israel. A series of posts on a Telegram page reported to be theirs said the attack was carried out in response to “the aggression of the Islamic Republic and its proxies in the region.” 

    “Khamenei, playing with fire has a price,” statements continued, referencing Iran’s supreme leader. “A month ago we warned you that we’re back and that we will impose [a] cost for your provocations. This is just a taste of what we have in store.”

    Read the full article by Fox Business’ Greg Norman

    Boston Globe demands Harvard state clearly if President in antisemitism scandal plagiarized

    Boston’s leading newspaper called out Harvard University for its “confusing” message on plagiarism, after the university backed embattled President Claudine Gay amid allegations she plagiarized past academic writings.

    “Last week the university’s governing board released a confusing statement that appeared to confirm a few instances of plagiarism — without using that word,” the Boston Globe editorial board wrote on Monday.

    Gay faced scrutiny last week after media outlets reported several instances of alleged plagiarism in Gay’s past writings. The Harvard Corporation said an independent academic probe discovered “a few instances of inadequate citation” in her writings as well. However, they “found no violation of Harvard’s standards for research misconduct.” 

    Despite this, Gay said she would be “proactively requesting four corrections in two articles to insert citations and quotation marks that were omitted from the original publications.”

    Read the full article by Fox News’ Kristine Parks

    Ilhan Omar personally warned Biden his re-election in trouble if he ignores Muslim voters

    Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said she personally warned President Biden about his re-election efforts and the importance of Muslim and young voters, who feel “heartbroken” about the Israel-Hamas war.

    CBS Minnesota anchor Esme Murphy asked the far-left “Squad” member about an “abandon Biden” movement, and asked her if she would support the president in 2024. 

    “I recently had a conversation with the president,” she responded. “Muslims were very pivotal to his election, they mobilized in all the key states. Young people were very instrumental in getting him elected. And what I reminded him is that he needs to listen to these voices. People are heartbroken. It’s been really hard to have conversations about politics and policy. People just want the images of young children’s bodies that are piling up to end, and they want our support for this to end.” 

    Omar has been very critical of the president’s position in the Israel-Hamas conflict and, in October, questioned his stance during a diatribe on Capitol Hill. 

    Read the full article by Fox News’ Hanna Panreck

    Sec. Austin reaffirms US support for Israel, urges protection of Gaza civilians

    U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin raffirmed U.S. support for Israel during a joint press conference with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday.

    Austin also said the U.S. continues to urge Israel to do all it can to protect civialians in Gaza as the war against Hamas continues.

    “Protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is both a moral duty and a strategic imperative. So we will continue to stand up for Israel’s bedrock right to defend itself. And we will also continue to urge the protection of civilians during conflict,” Austin told reporters.

    Iran’s goal is to ‘dominate and control’ the region: Gen. Jack Keane

    Fox News senior strategic analyst Gen. Jack Keane (Ret.) provided analysis of the growing unrest in the Middle East after a cargo ship in the Red Sea was targeted by Houthi rebels yet again.

    Houthi rebels are an Iran-backed terrorist organization, one of many that Tehran has used to destabilize the region further amid Israel’s war against Hamas.

    Man arrested near DC synagogue following alleged assault while ‘shouting an anti-Semitic phrase’

    A suspect has been arrested in Washington, D.C., after allegedly spraying an unknown substance at two people while making antisemitic remarks in the vicinity of a synagogue, police say. 

    Brent Wood, a 33-year-old with a last known address in Toledo, Ohio, is now facing charges of simple assault and resisting arrest in relation to the incident on Sunday morning, which is being investigated as an offense “being motivated by hate or bias,” according to the Metropolitan Police Department. 

    “On Sunday, December 17, 2023, at approximately 9:26 a.m., Second District officers responded to the 2800 block of N Street, Northwest, for the report of an individual spraying an unknown substance at two victims while shouting an anti-Semitic phrase,” police said in a statement. 

    “Responding officers located the suspect and placed him under arrest. As a precautionary measure, the suspect’s vehicle was swept with no hazardous materials found,” police added. “No injuries were reported.” 

    Read the full article by Fox News’ Greg Norman

    Pompeo blasts Biden admin’s Iran strategy as attacks on US troops mount

    Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized President Biden’s efforts to deter IRan from escalating war in the Middle East on Monday.

    Pompeo joined Fox Business to discuss the nearly 100 Iran-backed attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since mid-October. Biden’s administration has pushed a strategy of detering Iran and its proxies from escalating Israel’s war on Hamas into a regional conflict, but critics argue it has had little success.

    Italy weighs joining navy coalition to protect Red Sea trade

    Italy’s navy is weighing a decision to join a military coaltion seeking to secure the Red Sea against Houthi rebel attacks on trading vessels, Reuters reported Monday.

    The U.S. called for nations to form such a coalition earlier this month as the Iran-backed Houthis ramped up missile and drone attacks on international shipping vessels. The Red Sea functions as a key artery for much of the world’s fuel shipments.

    The U.S., France and U.K. have already ramped up naval presence in the region. The U.S. Navy’s USS Carney and USS Mason have also shot down multiple Houthi drones.

    Israeli fighter jets strike Hezbollah ‘launch site’ in Lebanon

    Israeli fighter jets carried out a series of air strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Monday.

    “Fighter jets of the Air Force recently attacked a number of targets of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, among them terrorist infrastructures, a launch site and a military structure. In addition, IDF fighters identified and attacked terrorists earlier today in a known area of ​​the terrorist organization Hezbollah,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a statement.

    “Also, a number of launches from the territory of Lebanon towards a number of areas on the border of Lebanon were detected,” he added.

    Israel has maintained a steady rhythm of strikes on Hezbollah as the Iran-backed terrorist organization has repeatedly probed Israel’s northern border.

    Harvard admissions applications fall sharply amid antisemitism controversy

    Harvard reported a 17% decline in its early admissions applications compared to a year ago as the Ivy League college remains embroiled in controversy over its
    handling of antisemitism on campus.

    Harvard College announced Thursday that it accepted 692 students to the class of 2028 out of the 7,921 applicants who applied under Harvard’s Early Action Program, which required applications to be submitted by Nov. 1. 

    That amounts to a 17% drop compared to last year’s early application window when 9,553 submitted applications, and is the smallest number of early applicants since the pandemic began – though this year’s group is larger than the annual early applications received in the 2017-2019 period.

    Two of Harvard’s fellow Ivy League institutions saw increases in the number of early applications received. 

    Yale University received 7,856 early applications this year, an increase of 1.4% from a year ago and the second-highest number in its history, the school announced in a release Friday. The University of Pennsylvania – which saw President Liz Magill resign last week amid a controversy over the handling of antisemitism on campus – also saw 500 more applications than last year, according to a report by Bloomberg.

    Read the full article by Fox Business’ Eric Revell

    BP pauses oil tanker traffic through Red Sea amid Houthi rebel attacks

    The BP oil giant will pause all of its shipments through the Red Sea effective immediately due to a series of attacks on trade vessels by Houthi rebels in Yemen, the company announced Monday.

    BP is the latest major company to announce a pause in shipments, following in the footsteps of Maersk, which had a vessel targeted by anti-ship missiles last week. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have sought to disrupt trade in the region in an effort to halt Israel’s war against Hamas.

    Largest health care union in US calls for Gaza ceasefire

    The largest health care union in America is calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, adding to the growing list of labor organizations in the U.S. urging Israel to end its strikes targeting Hamas terrorists due to concern for Palestinian civilians.

    The executive council of 1199SEIU, which represents more than 450,000 health care workers throughout New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida and Washington, D.C., called for the ceasefire in a statement Friday.

    “1199SEIU calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, to allow for urgent humanitarian relief amid the collapse of the territory’s health and other infrastructure,” the statement begins. 

    “We reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas’ attack on October 7, the killings, use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, and kidnappings of Israelis and foreign nationals. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages taken by Hamas and the end to indiscriminate rocket attacks against Israel.”

    Read the full article by Fox Business’ Breck Dumas

    IDF uncovers huge Hamas cash stash of nearly $1.4 million

    Israeli Defense Forces uncovered a Hamas cash stash amounting to nearly $1.4 million at the home of a senior Hamas member on Monday.

    “The fighters of the multi-dimensional unit under the command of the 551st Brigade Combat Team located in the house of a senior member of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Jabaliya area, suitcases of terrorist funds worth approximately NIS 5,000,000 and many weapons,” the IDF said in a statement.

    The 5,000,000 NIS translates to $1, 371,000.

    Biden admin has treated US troops as ‘cannon fodder’ in Middle East: Expert

    Retired Navy SEAL Mike Sarraille joined ‘Fox & Friends First’ to discuss how the U.S. has responded to Iranian-backed attacks in the Middle East on Monday.

    U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have suffered nearly 100 attacks by Iran-backed terrorist organizations, despite President Biden’s efforts to deter Iran from escalating
    Israel’s war against Hamas.

    Israel offers new glimpse into Hamas’ largest-ever tunnel near Gaza border

    The Israeli Defense Forces offered new images of what they say is the largest-ever “terror tunnel” made by Hamas in Gaza, Fox News Foreign Correspondent Try Yingst reported Monday.

    The IDF says
    the tunnel extends to just 400 meters away from the most heavily-trafficked crossing between Israel and Gaza.

    Washington State community vandalized with anti-Israel slogans across dozens of buildings: police

    Police in Washington state are searching for the suspects involved in vandalizing over 50 buildings with calls for a “ceasefire” and “free Palestine.”

    According to a post on Facebook from the Edmonds Police Department, on Saturday morning, dozens of business owners in Edmonds reported being vandalized with calls to end the Israel-Hamas War painted in red on their windows.

    “Overnight, multiple businesses downtown (several blocks near 5/Main) were tagged with posters and graffiti. The graffiti stated ‘free Palestine’ or ‘cease fire’,” police posted.

    Read the full article by Stepheny Price

    IDF identifies soldiers who died in southern Gaza amid ongoing war against Hamas

    The Israeli Defense Forces announced the deaths of four soldiers who were killed in combat in southern Gaza as the war against Hamas terrorists continues.

    • SSF Urija Bayer, 20-years-old, a combat soldier in Maglan

    • SSF Liav Aloush, 21-years-old, a combat soldier in Duvdevan

    • MSG (Res.) Etan Naeh, 26-years-old, a combat soldier in Duvdevan

    • MSG (Res.) Tal Filiba, 23-years-old, a combat soldier in Yahalom

    “The IDF expresses its deepest condolences to the families and will continue to standby them,” the IDF wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

    Fox News’ Landon Mion contributed to this report

    Israel-Hamas war: IDF accuses Hezbollah of ‘dragging’ Lebanon into war

    Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari gave a press briefing about the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas war on Sunday.

    During his briefing,
    Hagari said that Hezbollah     is “increasing its attacks against Israel, firing rockets, missiles and drones, killing Israeli civilians and soldiers and displacing over 80,000 Israelis from their homes in the north.”

    “Since Hezbollah began its attacks, the IDF has been responding by striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon,” Hagari explained.

    The spokesperson then accused Hezbollah of endangering Lebanese citizens.

    “Hezbollah, a proxy of Iran, is dragging Lebanon into an unnecessary war that would have devastating consequences for the people of Lebanon,” he added. “This is a war that they do not deserve.”

    Fox News’ Andrea Vacchiano contributed to this report

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  • Israel, Hamas trade blame over deadly hospital blast in Gaza, Biden summit in Jordan canceled

    Israel, Hamas trade blame over deadly hospital blast in Gaza, Biden summit in Jordan canceled

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    An airstrike on a hospital in Gaza that Hamas says killed at least 500 people came from the Islamic Jihad terrorist group during a failed launch, Israel said. 

    “An analysis of IDF operational systems indicates that a barrage of rockets was fired by terrorists in Gaza, passing in close proximity to the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza at the time it was hit,” the Israel Defense Forces said. “Intelligence from multiple sources we have in our hands indicates that Islamic Jihad is responsible for the failed rocket launch which hit the hospital in Gaza.“

    Earlier, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said at least 500 people were killed at the hospital. The deaths were the result of an Israeli airstrike, it said.  

    However, Israel said it was investigating the source of the explosion and said a hospital is not a target for its military forces.

    “A hospital is a highly sensitive building and is not an IDF target,” the IDF said earlier.

    An additional review and cross-examination of the operational and intelligence systems by the IDF concluded that Israel’s military didn’t fire the rocket, the IDF said.

    The Islamic Jihad was responsible for the failed rocket launch, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Tuesday.  

    The Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a clip on X, formally known as Twitter, of Qatar-based Al Jazeera purportedly showing the Islamic Jihad launch a rocket that misfired and hit the hospital.

    “The Palestinians are falsely claiming Israel targeted a hospital in the Gaza Strip,” the ministry said. “The thing is, they’re the ones who have a habit of launching missiles at hospitals packed with innocent civilians.”

    Israeli Prime Minister pushed back on accusations by Hamas and Palestinian supporters that the IDF targeted the hospital full of wounded people and others seeking shelter.

    “The whole world knew: The barbarian terrorists in Gaza are the ones who attacked the hospital in Gaza, not the IDF,” he wrote on X, formally Twitter. “He who brutally murdered our children, also murders his children.”

    Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, said the terrorists in Gaza “are not only responsible for murdering Israeli children – they also murder Palestinian children!” 

    “You’ve seen Hamas and PIJ beheading children. Stop believing these ISIS-like terrorists,” he wrote on social media. “The only ones shooting indiscriminate missiles at civilians are the Palestinians, who have been doing it for years!” 

    An image that accompanied the post said terror groups in Gaza purposefully place launching pits and posts within civilian areas and in the line of fire, which makes them vulnerable to misfires. 

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  • New Year’s 2023 LIVE UPDATES

    New Year’s 2023 LIVE UPDATES

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    Fox News Channel will bring in the New Year with an “All-American New Year” special, hosted by FOX & Friends Weekend’s Will Cain, Rachel Campos-Duffy, and Pete Hegseth live from the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tenn.

    A number of familiar Fox News faces will help host the celebrations across the U.S. from Times Square in New York City to Key West, Colorado and New Jersey.

    A pre-show special will begin at 9 pm with a “Countdown to All-American New Year” before the special programming starts at 10 pm.

    Russia readies air defenses over Moscow ahead of New Year celebrations

    Russian President Vladimir Putin readied 2,000 soldiers to oversee Moscow’s air defenses to stand “on duty at combat posts on New Year’s Eve.”

    Another 20,000 servicemen were put on “combat duty” to oversee air defenses through the weekend.

    The move comes as Russia itself has increasingly become the target of Ukrainian shelling as Moscow continues to pummel Ukrainian cities amid its “special military operation.”

    Bangkok goes big for New Years Eve

    Bangkok, known for its shrines, street fare and vibrant nightlife in Thailand, went big in celebration of the incoming 2023 new year.

    Colorful fireworks were shot over the sky at 12 pm EST as people celebrated the New Year.

    Kyiv sees deadly New Years Eve amid Russian missile attacks

    Russia fired 20 cruise missiles across Ukraine on New Years Eve, killing one, injuring dozens and forcing civilians to take cover.

    Twelve of the 20 missiles were shot down by Ukraine’s defense forces, but at least one person was killed in Kyiv along with another 16 who were injured. Seven people were also injured in the Khmelnytskyi region, with three in serious condition.

    Philippines celebrate end of 2022 with fireworks

    The Philippines celebrated the end of 2022 with a massive firework display over Milan.

    The city was a display of bright lights and colorful fireworks as Filipinos brought in the New Year at 11:00 am EST.

    Taiwan brings in New Year with firework display

    Taiwan celebrated the New Year at 11 am EST with a large firework display over the Taipei skyline.

    The fireworks were launched from the Taipei 101 building, which is not only the tallest building on the island, but one of the tallest in the world.

    China celebrates New Year holiday on ice

    People in Beijing celebrated the New Year’s Eve holiday by heading to the frozen Shicha Lake for ice skating and other festivities.

    Though the traditional Chinese New Year that celebrates the lunisolar and solar Chinese calendar will not begin until Jan. 22, activities like ice skating and sledding will still be held to celebrate the the New Year in accordance with the Western Georgian calendar.

    Australia celebrates New Year’s

    Australia celebrated the New Year at 8:00 am EST with a spectacular fire work show over the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

    The show Saturday was the first time the city has held its celebrations since 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic took off. COVID restrictions were lifter earlier this year.

    Fox News will present ‘All-American New Year’ special live from Nashville

    Fox News Channel will bid farewell to 2022 and ring in 2023 with an All-American New Year special, hosted by FOX & Friends Weekend’s Will Cain, Rachel Campos-Duffy, and Pete Hegseth live from the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tenn.

    The show, which starts Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET, will feature a country music performance by multi-platinum artist Brantley Gilbert and a stand-up comedy set by Fox News Radio host Jimmy Failla.

    Leading into the special at 9 p.m. ET will be a pre-show special, Countdown to All-American New Year. That show will be hosted by Outnumbered co-host Emily Compagno, Failla, and Fox News correspondent Griff Jenkins.

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  • 2022 Midterm Election updates as Democrats, GOP fight to win House of Representatives, Senate

    2022 Midterm Election updates as Democrats, GOP fight to win House of Representatives, Senate

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    Dem candidate’s support for abolish ICE movement is ‘disgraceful,’ former immigration official says

    EXCLUSIVE:
     A former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director, who served during the final days of President Trump’s tenure in the White House, is warning of the danger some congressional Democratic candidates pose to the agency’s mission of securing America’s borders and protecting United States citizens.

    Several Democrats running for office in states around the country have come under fire for their views on immigration and how they believe issues at the southern border should be handled as border patrol agents continue to be overwhelmed by large influxes of illegal migrants.

    One Democratic Senate candidate in particular, Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is seeking to unseat incumbent GOP Sen. Ron Johnson in the Badger State’s Nov. 8 midterm election, has liked numerous tweets that called for ICE to be abolished and criticized the agency. Similarly, in 2019, Barnes told the Wisconsin-based immigration group Voces de la Frontera Action that the “wrong ICE is melting.”

    In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jonathan Fahey, a former deputy assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security who later served as the acting director of ICE from December 2020 to January 2021, reacted to the rhetoric from Barnes and considered it to be detrimental to ICE’s mission to provide safety for Americans.

    “It’s kind of interesting how he’s trying to walk this back now because he’s running for election, trying to center himself to the middle,” Fahey said of Barnes. “He was associated with groups, liked tweets and other stuff to show that he wanted ICE abolished and it’s really just anti-ICE. He and others have been on this crusade to just take down ICE, demonize ICE agents in every single respect by calling them racists, delegitimizing what they’re doing, and treating them like they’re doing something heavy-handed, unlawful, when they’re simply just doing their job, trying to keep our communities safe and our country safe.… It really is disgraceful.”

    Read more:
    Dem candidate’s support for abolish ICE movement is ‘disgraceful,’ former immigration official says

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  • 2022 Midterm election updates as Democrats, GOP fight for Senate, House of Representatives

    2022 Midterm election updates as Democrats, GOP fight for Senate, House of Representatives

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    Dem candidate paid blogger who amplified remarks describing Obama as ‘a god–mn n—–‘

    A blogger who shared racist remarks about former President Barack Obama was paid by Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez’s campaign for “advertising services” on two separate occasions.

    In November 2014, Juan Montoya, who operates the El Rrun Rrun blog, amplified the insensitive comments that were penned by Jerry McHale, another blogger who was revealed in July to have made numerous racist and sexist remarks through his own blog that targeted GOP Rep. Mayra Flores.

    In the post shared to Montoya’s blog, McHale, who was also paid by the Gonzalez campaign for “advertising services” through his own blog, made racist comments through “one of his alter personalities” known as Dr. G.F. McHale-Scully.

    Describing Republican politicians who he believed the GOP should prop up in elections, McHale stated: “The voters look at the Cameron County Republicans as viable options. If the party of the rich, racists and religious right ran Terry Ray or Bud Richards or Harry McNair, the Democrats would prevail in landslides, but Tony Garza, Cascos and Garcia aren’t reactionary ideologues, born-again Christians or prudes.”

    “They like to f— and drink. They are reasonable individuals who aren’t ranting and raving that Barack Obama is a god–mn n—– who is bringing the world to an end,” he added. “They aren’t wasting any rhetoric opposing gay marriage, abortion or legalizing marijuana.”

    As of Thursday afternoon, advertisements for Gonzalez’s campaign remain active on Montoya’s blog, leading those who inquire to the Texas candidate’s Facebook page.

    In a statement to Fox, the Gonzalez campaign insisted that it has “already cut ties with the author of this post” and that the language used in the blog post is “abhorrent.”

    Read more from Fox News’ Brandon Gillespie here: Dem candidate paid blogger who amplified remarks using the n-word to describe Obama to promote campaign

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  • Ian strengthens to hurricane again after pummeling Florida, now headed for Carolinas, Georgia

    Ian strengthens to hurricane again after pummeling Florida, now headed for Carolinas, Georgia

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    Gov. Ron DeSantis says Hurricane Ian is 500-year event, Lee and Charlotte counties are off the grid

    Speaking in a Thursday morning media briefing, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that first responders had descended on southwest Florida following Hurricane Ian.

    Operations are ongoing, with 28 large helicopters between the National Guard and Coast Guard performing rescue missions, and more air assets brought in as the day continues.

    DeSantis said his office had also been working with hospitals overnight that have been on generator power and were in the process of evacuating health care facilities to safer locations.

    The governor noted that, in addition to the more than 2.5 million power outages reported in the state, more outages were anticipated in central and northeastern Florida.

    “Lee and Charlotte are basically off the grid at this point,” he explained, adding that infrastructure would likely have to be rebuilt there and that damage to the counties was “extensive.”

    DeSantis said that, after interruptions in communications, 100 portable cell towers were being deployed in southwest Florida.

    Furthermore, 100 engineers were on site to do bridge inspections, and he noted that there were reports of structural damages to bridges like the Sanibel Causeway and Pine Island Bascule Bridge.

    DeSantis warned that the amount of water that’s been rising and will continue to rise is “basically a 500-year flood event.”

    The governor said he had spoken with President Biden earlier in the morning, and that additional major disaster declarations are expected for more Florida counties.

    Water is anticipated to subside in barrier islands and on the coasts, but DeSantis told reporters that standing water is likely inland for the coming days.

    “Those who are in need of life support right now: Help is on the way,” he said, pointing out that efforts were first focused in the hardest hit areas.

    “The impacts of this storm are historic
    … But, I think we’ve never seen a flood event like this … And, it’s going to end up doing extensive damage to a lot of peoples’ homes,” DeSantis pointed out.

    The governor said most school districts will be able to reopen on Friday or Monday.

    Answering questions later in the news conference, DeSantis responded to a report of “hundreds” of fatalities in Lee County: “So, none of that is confirmed.”

    He said that a number put out by Lee authorities was “basically an estimate” of people calling 911 and saying that water was rising in their homes.

    “They may not have ended up getting through,” DeSantis said, telling the reporter that he hoped they could be rescued at this point.

    He clarified that there were two unconfirmed fatalities and that they had not yet been confirmed to be related to the storm.

    “I mean, our assumption is, it likely is,” DeSantis said.

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  • 2022 Midterm election news Dems and Republicans fight to control Senate, House of Representatives

    2022 Midterm election news Dems and Republicans fight to control Senate, House of Representatives

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    An ad from gun control advocacy group Giffords PAC used footage of the Columbine High School shooting and other violent mass shootings to target GOP Senate candidate Joe O’Dea, prompting criticism.

    “Here in Colorado it just keeps happening, but instead of standing up for Colorado families, MAGA Republican Joe O’Dea is standing with the gun lobby, opposing Common Sense gun safety reforms like closing loopholes and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals,” the narrator in the ad says, as brief footage of people fleeing the Columbine shooting and the Aurora movie theater shooting flash on the screen.

    “Here in Colorado we felt the pain of gun violence so many times but Joe O’Dea sides with the gun lobby not us,” the ad says.

    O’Dea’s campaign called the ad a “dishonest attack” that is “disgusting even for the low-life political hacks who run Joe Biden’s political operation” in a press release.

    Supporters of O’Dea also came to his defense, saying his plan of “more cops and a criminal justice system getting serious about enforcing the numerous gun laws already on the books — will do more to protect Colorado than a bunch of politicians in Washington, D.C. passing another law,” according to Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Shrader.

    “They’re using this tragedy without consideration of victims and survivors. It’s shameful,” said school safety advocate John Castillo, who has argued for arming school staff to prevent violent attacks.

    “Joe O’Dea has a plan to protect our communities. Cut the federal bureaucracy to fund more cops and more border security,” said Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers. “Invoking images of Columbine and Aurora is a new kind of tawdry, and as Colorado has proven, more gun laws don’t stop these tragedies. More cops in our communities and schools will.”

    Giffords PAC, which endorsed Democratic incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet in the Colorado Senate race, said last week that it will spend $2.5 million to run the ad on TV and online.

    “Joe O’Dea’s support of the gun lobby’s ‘guns everywhere’ agenda is wrong for Colorado,” said Peter Ambler, executive director and co-founder, Giffords. “Coloradans know the consequences of gun violence all too well, and we are confident they will oppose Joe O’Dea in large part because of his refusal to keep communities safe from this public health crisis.”

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