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Former Giants co-owner Steve Tisch seen in team's draft room

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:08:31 -0400

Cameras showed former New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch in the team’s draft room Thursday night during the first round.

At one point, Tisch was seen standing near Giants head coach John Harbaugh. Despite no longer holding a majority stake in the NFL franchise, Tisch remains the Giants' chairman of the board.

ESPN obtained an NFL memo last month detailing plans by Steve Tisch and his siblings to transfer their stake in the Giants to trusts for their children.

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"Prior transfers to these Trusts were completed pursuant to 2023 and 2024 Finance Committee approvals," the memo stated. "The Sellers now propose to transfer their entire remaining interests, totaling 23.1% of the Club, to the Trusts. ... Following the transactions, the Sellers will no longer own any interest in the Club."

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It was not clear if the transfer requests were in any way related to Tisch’s name appearing in the Epstein files released by the U.S. Justice Department in January. Tisch’s name came up more than 400 times in the files. Tisch at the time said he knew Epstein but denied visiting Epstein's island.

As for draft night, the Giants made what some viewed as an unconventional pick at No. 10, selecting offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.

Before that, the Giants added another piece to their pass rush, selecting hybrid edge/off-ball linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5.

Reese earned All-American honors at Ohio State and finished his first season as a full-time starter with 6.5 sacks.

Reese is set to join a pass rush that includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and, likely, Kayvon Thibodeaux.

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Rueben Bain's short arms and tragic car accident history contributed to his NFL Draft slide

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:40:02 -0400

Everybody knew about the tragic auto accident and the follow-up a year later, but when it came to Rueben Bain’s draft status, people said, "No worries." His arms are short, but he’s really good, so the refrain remained: "No worries."

Why then did Rueben Bain slide to the middle of the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday?

Whoever said neither issue would cause Bain to fall out of the Top 10 was obviously wrong.

He fell to the No. 15 overall selection held by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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And judging by Bain's demeanor during his post-draft interview on ESPN, he wasn't thrilled about it.

"I know I'm the best in the country, I'm sure," an unsmiling Bain told ESPN's Laura Rutledge after his selection. "That's how I think of myself.

"I'm telling you I can do anything I put my mind to because of my mindset. I know when I get to this next level I'm going to pop it. "

The Buccaneers selected Bain to be their outside rusher complement to Vita Vea on the interior.

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The Bucs thus get the ACC defensive player of the year and a consensus All-American.

But they also get a player that multiple other pass-rush needy teams passed up. The New York Jets took TCU's David Bailey with the No. 2 overall selection and the New York Giants picked Arvell Reese in the No. 5 slot.

Bain was not only the 15th player taken overall but the third edge defender. That's considered great by any standard. But it's a disappointment to Bain and changes the narrative on him somewhat.

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"He's got to prove himself and beat the odds and prove he can get it done in the NFL," draft guru Mel Kiper said on national TV.

Interestingly, most of the coverage of Bain's slide focused on the short length of his arms.

Melvin Ingram once upon a time measured in with arms the spanned 31 1/2 inches. And although that is considered short, Ingram turned into a good player. He played 12 seasons and made three Pro Bowls.

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But Bain's arms measured in at 30 7/8 inches, and that is extremely short. Indeed, it is the third-shortest arm length of any DE ever to participate in the combine.

So, is that the reason Bain dropped out of the Top 10?

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Or is it his driving troubles and the manner in which he addressed those with teams?

Bain, you should know, was driving in March of 2024 when he hit another car on South Florida's I-95 in the 4 a.m. hour and set off a chain reaction — hitting an eastside concrete wall and then careening all the way across the highway to the westside concrete barrier — that eventually left passenger Destiny Betts in a coma.

Betts, who had not been wearing a seatbelt, died three months later from complications of her blunt force trauma injuries.

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Bain was charged but cleared of careless driving because, in part, the traffic homicide investigator said he received the final report after Bain had already paid his citation.

NFL teams were aware of all this, plus an ensuing accident the player had in October 2025, for which he was also charged with careless driving.

To make matters more dicey, Bain declined to be fully transparent about the accidents with some NFL teams he met with starting at the NFL combine. That disappointed at least one team, an evaluator on that team told OutKick.

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Bain also declined to discuss the matter on Wednesday in front of reporters.

The Buccaneers, however, feel good about Bain, his short arms and his questionable driving.

"We've known about this a long time," said general manager Jason Licht. "I know it just came out a couple of weeks ago. It was a very tragic accident. Tragic experience for the family. And it's something you never want to see happen.

"But he's a good person who was involved in something that, you know, none of us ever want to be involved in and never want any of our loved ones involved in. But he loves football. He loves football."

Giants use top-10 picks on Ohio State's Arvell Reese, Miami's Francis Mauigoa in 2026 NFL Draft

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:51:01 -0400

The New York Giants were armed with two picks in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the new regime led by head coach John Harbaugh showed its focus on the trenches on both sides of the ball.

With the fifth overall pick, the Giants saw Ohio State star edge rusher Arvell Reese fall to them and they pulled the trigger, taking their third edge rusher in the first round since 2022.

Then, with the No. 10 overall pick, the Giants had the opportunity to take another Buckeyes defensive star, as safety Caleb Downs fell down the draft board. But it’s clear the Giants are protecting their future, quarterback Jaxson Dart, as they went offensive line with their next pick.

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Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa was called out of the NFL Draft green room in Pittsburgh as the No. 10 overall pick. While he played tackle with the Hurricanes, Mauigoa is expected to move to the offensive interior line.

The Giants re-signed Jermaine Eluemunor, who shined as the team’s right tackle in 2025, during free agency. He’s expected to remain in that role, but the Giants have question marks at guard, and there’s a belief Mauigoa can move inside.

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In some mock drafts entering Thursday, Reese was projected to go second overall to the New York Jets. But the Jets went with David Bailey out of Texas Tech instead.

From there, the Arizona Cardinals went with Jeremiyah Love, making him the highest-picked running back since the Giants took Saquon Barkley in 2018. The Tennessee Titans went with wide receiver Carnell Tate, the first Buckeyes player off the board, and Reese fell into their laps.

Giants receiver Malik Nabers, making an appearance on a draft show alongside Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons, questioned where Reese would play considering Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter, the team’s No. 3 overall pick a year ago, play edge rusher.

But Harbaugh hinted at the plan to make Reese an inside linebacker – an area of need on the Giants’ defense. If that is the plan, Reese’s athleticism, which has been on display throughout his Ohio State career, will be tested at the NFL level.

As for Mauigoa, the 6-foot-5, 329-pound tackle was viewed as one of the top offensive line prospects in this draft throughout the process.

Mauigoa was a first-team All-American selection this past year for a Miami squad that reached the national championship game. He started all 16 games at right tackle for the Hurricanes.

There was, however, an injury question surrounding Mauigoa, as he has dealt with a back issue that may require surgery at some point in his pro career. Teams have their due diligence in these matters, and the Giants don’t seem to be concerned to spend the pick on him.

This was the 10th overall pick the Giants acquired after trading All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, fulfilling his trade request amid a contract dispute.

Mauigoa already put himself in Giants fans' good graces, saying during his draft interview, "I'll die for you, Jaxson Dart." That's the type of energy Harbaugh, Dart and the rest of the Giants are looking for at an essential position on the football field.

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Fernando Mendoza embraces wheelchair-bound mom after Raiders select him No 1 overall

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:32:24 -0400

Fernando Mendoza shared the moment of being selected first overall in the NFL Draft with his family from home on Thursday night.

He was seen hugging his family, including his mother Elsa Mendoza, in a moment of celebration.

Despite being projected to be the first overall pick, Mendoza skipped the in-person draft in Pittsburgh to stay in Florida with his mother, who battles multiple sclerosis (MS) and is bound to a wheelchair.

Mendoza told reporters after he was drafted that he decided not to go to Pittsburgh to make it easier for his mother to travel to Las Vegas tomorrow when he visits his team.

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When Mendoza was only about 4 years old, his mother was diagnosed with the disease. It is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that can affect the brain and spinal cord. She has spent the last few years in a wheelchair.

Elsa Mendoza wrote about the experience in a 2015 letter to her sons that was published in The Players Tribune.

"I was diagnosed about 18 years ago, but of course you never knew that. You and Alberto were so young, and I was doing fine… and mostly I didn’t want you to worry. It just felt like this impossible thing to place on you guys. On my sweet boys. And then I kept doing fine until about 10 years ago, when we went skiing and I broke my ankle and knee," she wrote.

"But even after that, I wasn’t quite ready to tell you — only that my leg hadn’t healed all the way, which is why your mom had her limp. It wasn’t until five years ago, when I got Covid, that things started to go downhill in a way where there was no more hiding it. It was during football season, and I realized I wasn’t going to be able to travel. And the thought of you wondering if I supported you any less, because suddenly I wasn’t at your games? I hated that. So that’s when I knew we had to sit you and your brother down."

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She went on to recall, "how hard of a conversation it ended up being. 'Your mom has this degenerative disease… and while we don’t know how it will progress, it’s going to start to affect us in a few ways. But it won’t affect us in the ways that matter. We’ll have each other, and love each other, and be there for each other. I promise.'"

Both of Mednzoa's parents grew up in Miami, Florida, as the children of Cuban refugees who fled communism after Fidel Castro rose to power in the country.

Mendoza's father, Fernando Mendoza Sr., was a rower at Brown University and a 1987 Junior World Championships gold medalist.

But Mendoza's father also played football when he was younger, and was teammates with Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal at Christopher Columbus High School during the 1980s. Mendoza would go on to defeat his father's former teammate in this year's CFP national championship game.

Meanwhile, his mother played tennis at the University of Miami.

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Tom Brady offers advice incoming NFL rookies, welcomes Fernando Mendoza after Raiders make him the top pick

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:12:02 -0400

For more than two dozen players, Thursday night marks the realization of their lifelong NFL dreams. By night’s end, 32 prospects will hear their names called from the NFL Draft stage in Pittsburgh.

Seven-time Super Bowl winner and Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady reflected on the special moment so many young men were experiencing, while also sharing a message with the league’s newest rookies.

"Congratulations to all the rookies who are joining the NFL this weekend," Brady wrote in a post to X. "I hope you can appreciate this special moment… you’ve earned it through hard work, discipline, and determination. You’ve made your family proud, along with everyone else on your journey that has supported you. But this is just the beginning."

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Brady then emphasized the challenge ahead, urging rookies to focus on what comes next.

"When you wake up tomorrow morning, just know that your career will be defined by what happens going forward. You’ll need to take everything you do to the next level in order to compete with the world’s best."

Brady wasn’t in the Raiders draft room, but he still had a message for the No. 1 pick, Fernando Mendoza: "Welcome to Las Vegas @fernandomendoza. Time to get to work. @Raiders."

The Raiders’ top pick has a long way to go to match what the New England Patriots found at No. 199 in 2000 — the spot where Brady was drafted.

Mendoza said Brady delivered a blunt message during his official visit with the Raiders in the days leading up to the draft.

"It was fantastic. He gave me the message that he's going to push me, and he's not going to be all lovey-dovey. And that if the Raiders draft me, he's going to be a mentor and wants to pour into whatever quarterback the Raiders have — whether it's me, whether they draft somebody else."

Other notable first-round moves included the Kansas City Chiefs moving up to No. 6 and selecting LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. A short time later, the Cowboys shook things up, trading up to No. 11 to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.

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Elite school teacher known as 'Mr Wonderful' accused of heinous crimes against students

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:09:52 -0400

A former private school teacher, who was nicknamed "Mr. Wonderful," has been charged with three counts of rape involving two of his former students.

Matthew Rutledge, 64, walked into Berkshire Superior Court in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Wednesday for his arraignment after Melissa Fares, 33, and Hilary Simon, 39, accused their teacher of abusing them when they were students at Miss Hall's School. The abuse allegedly happened between 2000 and 2010. He pleaded not guilty.

The allegations include claims Rutledge groomed and repeatedly abused students, according to statements released by the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.

"For a long time, I was living inside trauma without fully understanding it," Fares said in a statement shared by the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. "It was over the last several years that I began piecing together the truth of what happened to me: that Matt Rutledge had used me, abused me, and raped me. That I had been groomed and threatened into silence by a serial predator. That my youth wasn't my youth at all."

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Simon said she was 15 years old when Rutledge first began "grooming" her, and that the abuse "continued for years" after she left campus.

"I fought this privately for 20 years," her statement read. "I have been fighting it publicly for two. Before any of this, I was just a normal person. A lawyer. A wife and a mother. A woman trying to build a life on top of something I had buried. And then Melissa Fares called. I did not know Melissa. I picked up the phone, and I told her I had been waiting for that call for 20 years."

According to NBC, citing a report prepared for Miss Hall’s School, Rutledge allegedly called out "Make way for Mr. Wonderful" as he moved through the hallways.

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Fares and Simon said they discovered in 2024 that they had similar accounts of Rutledge’s alleged abuse and decided to pursue charges together.

Despite their allegations, the district attorney's office at the time declined to move forward with the case, citing Massachusetts' age of consent law at the time, which allowed for an adult to have sex with a person over the age of 16, according to the women.

The two women then pushed for legislation to close what they called a "legal loophole" and make it illegal for a teacher to have sex with a student.

Rutledge is now charged under separate rape statutes. Prosecutors have not publicly detailed what led to the decision to charge Rutledge.

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Rutledge was indicted by the District Attorney's office last month.

Speaking at a press conference following the arraignment, Fares claimed to reporters that Miss Hall's School was aware of Rutledge’s alleged behavior.

"Miss Hall’s School knew," she said. "This whole school knew. They enabled a culture of abuse for decades. They failed us, our families and every girl trusted them to protect her. They must also be held accountable."

Miss Hall’s School said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital that it is cooperating with authorities and acknowledged the impact on its community.

"Wednesday’s arraignment was an important and painful moment for our community," the school said. "We will continue to cooperate fully with authorities. We are sorry for the harm that survivors have experienced and the impact on our community."

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for June 18, according to WCVB.

Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

Rams make surprise first-round move, take Alabama QB Ty Simpson

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:55:32 -0400

One of the most intriguing stories entering the first round of the NFL Draft was where Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson might land. Well, fans got their answer sooner than they expected.

The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The selection isn't completely out of left field and is arguably the best-case scenario for Simpson. The Rams have Matthew Stafford as their starter for 2026, but Stafford has flirted with the idea of retirement each of the past two offseasons. It's clear the clock is ticking on his NFL career.

Now, Simpson gets to sit behind one of the NFL's best veteran quarterbacks, learn the position while adapting to life in the NFL, and not face immediate pressure to succeed. Additionally, the Rams are one of the most well-run franchises in the league right now. Sean McVay is an elite head coach who led the team to a Super Bowl victory to cap the 2021 season and just had the team within one win of another Super Bowl berth before falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.

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The most surprising aspect is the Rams looking toward the future, quite frankly. This is a team that has had no problem trading away first-round picks to make its team the best it can be each season. It seemed most likely the team would use the No. 13 pick to improve its team for next season, which could be Stafford's last. Instead, the team decided to put itself in position for Stafford's retirement without skipping a beat.

There were several surprises in the first 13 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft: the Cardinals taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, the Titans selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4, the Kansas City Chiefs trading up to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6 and even the Cowboys trading up one spot to make sure they drafted Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11.

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But the Rams completely abandoning their recent strategy (usually trading away first-round picks and loading up for now) to select Stafford's heir apparent is easily the biggest early shock of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Cardinals draft Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick in 2026 NFL Draft

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:48:37 -0400

The Arizona Cardinals went with a true playmaker on offense, selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Many believed heading into the first round Thursday night that Arizona was a perfect trade-down candidate because teams might have paid a premium to land either Love or someone else they coveted.

It looked that way as the clock ticked closer to zero, but the Cardinals ended up putting their pick in, landing the consensus top running back in this 2026 class.

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Love became the highest drafted running back since the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley second overall out of Penn State in 2018. And he joins a Cardinals offense that will be revamped under new head coach Mike LaFleur.

It’s a West Coast-style offense for LaFleur, and he gets a speedy Love, who ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. The tape also speaks for itself, with Love showcasing explosive physical traits as well as strength in the trenches.

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Love also joins a veteran in James Conner, and Tyler Allgeier signed with the Cardinals this offseason. But Love has the talent to set himself apart from the rest, with many believing he was the best overall player in this draft.

Love ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns this past season for the Fighting Irish, while surpassing 100 yards in six of his 14 showings. He even rushed for a whopping 228 yards against the USC Trojans.

Given the Cardinals didn't have a single 100-yard rusher this past season, they’re going with someone who can provide juice to the new-look offense.

It’s also a new look with Kyler Murray out after he went to the Minnesota Vikings after his release from Arizona.

The Cardinals, at least for now, are heading into the 2026 season with Jacoby Brissett, the veteran journeyman who took over for the injured Murray last year, as their starting quarterback.

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Chiefs and Browns make first trade of 2026 draft and both eventually fill needs

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:18:41 -0400

The Cleveland Browns, rumored to be willing to trade down from their No. 6 overall selection in the 2026 NFL draft, did just that Thursday evening when the traded the pick to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cleveland traded the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to the Chiefs, in exchange for the ninth overall pick, as well as pick No. 74 in the third round and No. 148 in the fifth round.

The Browns now hold the No. 9 and No. 24 picks in the first round of the draft. They have a total of 11 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

So the Chiefs gave up three picks in making the first trade of the first round.

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And we know what the fan bases of both clubs were thinking prior to the selection:

Chiefs fans were thinking we know something they don't. And then the Chiefs selected cornerback Mansoor Delane from LSU -- a move no doubt forced by the club's trade of Pro Bowl cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams earlier in the offseason.

So, the Chiefs fill a major need, assuming Delane is indeed the quality corner they believe.

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ESPN's Mel Kiper didn't like the pick, by the way. He had Delane as the 14th best player in the draft.

"It was a necessity," ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, a former NFL defensive back, responded.

Browns fans weren't thinking that way.

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They were probably thinking something akin to "We screwed up."

This is understandable because they're Browns fans and this could have been the Browns Browning.

Well, the Browns, moving down three slots, gave up a shot to draft linebacker Sonny Styles of Ohio State to the Washington Commanders, receiver Jordyn Tyson to the New Orleans Saints and then the Browns got their chance with the newly acquired No. 9 pick:

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Offensive tackle Spencer Fano of Utah.

Fano is good. And he makes the Browns offensive line instantly better because he's going to likely start at left tackle for them.

So what will Browns fans think of this pick?

They'll probably wonder why the Browns didn't pick Miami's Francis Mauigoa, who went with the No. 10 pick to the New York Giants and promised "to die for" Jaxson Dart if necessary. They'll wonder this because Browns fans expect the worst.

Trump Cabinet member scraps Obama-era gender identity housing rule, cites ‘biological reality’

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:14:01 -0400

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner has ordered an immediate halt to enforcement of a key Obama-era housing rule tied to gender identity, directing the agency to operate programs based on biological sex.

The directive stops any pending or future enforcement of HUD’s 2016 Equal Access Rule, which expanded gender identity as formally recognized in federally-funded housing programs and shelters.

The move marks a significant shift in how shelters and HUD-funded providers operate, particularly those serving women fleeing domestic violence, and implements President Donald Trump’s executive order to restore what the administration calls "biological truth" across the federal government.

"I am directing HUD staff to halt any pending or future enforcement actions related to HUD’s 2016 Equal Access Rule, which, in essence, tied housing programs, shelters and other facilities funded by HUD to far-left gender ideology," Turner said.

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"We, at this agency, are carrying out the mission laid out by President Trump on Jan. 20 … to restore biological truth to the federal government," he added.

"This means recognizing there are only two sexes: male and female. It means getting government out of the way of what the Lord established from the beginning when he created man in His own image."

The 2016 rule allowed people to self-identify for gender when accessing certain housing services, limiting the ability of shelters to challenge that identification.

Critics of the rule argued it restricted the rights of shelters, particularly those serving women impacted by trauma, domestic abuse and violence, by requiring them to admit individuals based on gender identity rather than biological sex.

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Turner framed the move as part of a broader overhaul of HUD policy and spending.

"Moreover, this is just the first of many examples of how, starting on day one, HUD is going back to work for the American people and being a good steward of taxpayer dollars," he said. "There will be more where this came from."

The Equal Access Rule was first introduced in 2012, prohibiting discrimination in HUD-funded programs based on sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status. A 2016 update expanded those protections by requiring programs to recognize gender identity as well.

Turner’s order does not repeal the rule but halts enforcement tied to the 2016 expansion.

"As I have said before, we are going to take inventory of HUD’s programs and ensure every dollar that goes out the door is advancing HUD’s mission, which is to provide quality, affordable homes for communities across the country — urban, rural and tribal — and promote economic investment to build stronger communities and a brighter future for all Americans," Turner said.

Massive crowd in attendance for NFL Draft in Pittsburgh: PHOTOS

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:04:48 -0400

Well, the NFL got what it wanted Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

Hours before Round 1 even started, the line to get into the Draft Experience was already thousands of people deep. The Steelers posted a video of fans lined up in broad daylight, and by the time ESPN was showing aerial shots on TV, the area outside Acrisure Stadium looked absolutely jammed.

Whatever official number winds up getting attached to it later, Pittsburgh already passed the eyeball test.

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And that’s really the whole point now.

The league has spent years turning this NFL Draft into a giant traveling football party, and Pittsburgh is the latest proof that the concept works.

Shocking development: football fans enjoy football. They don't even need football being played on a field. The NFL has shown that it can put its commissioner on a stage, reading a bunch of names, and still draw hundreds of thousands of people to a venue. It's quite impressive, honestly.

Pittsburgh is exactly the type of city that makes sense for the league to target for the NFL Draft. Pittsburgh isn't getting a Super Bowl because it's a cold winter city with an outdoor stadium. But the fanbase is rabid and hungry to host major events.

Plus, it looks great on TV. The skyline and the bridges produce a beautiful April backdrop. And the shot of that packed area outside Acrisure (still Heinz Field in the hearts of civilized people) is exactly what the league wants the country to see.

It also helps that this is the kind of city where people will actually show up for something like this. Because they genuinely care and that matters. It's not like holding the draft in a city like Los Angeles where people are showing up simply so they have something cool to post on Instagram.

For all the hand-wringing every year about how many prospects decide to attend in person, the NFL has made its choice pretty clear. It would much rather have a sea of fans outside than a few more players in the green room. That’s where the energy comes from. That’s what looks good on TV. And, more importantly for the league, that’s what keeps turning the draft into one of the biggest events on the sports calendar even though there's not a single player in uniform taking a snap.

Pittsburgh delivered that before the first pick was even announced.

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Maybe the final attendance number winds up flirting with the biggest draft crowds we’ve seen. Maybe it doesn’t. But nobody looking at the scene Thursday could seriously argue that the city didn’t show up in a huge way.

The NFL wanted a monster crowd and a full-on festival atmosphere.

Pittsburgh gave it one.

California ‘basic income’ experiment fails to provide ‘financial independence,’ study finds

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:00:45 -0400

A California guaranteed income pilot program intended to lift families out of poverty failed to lead participants to long-term financial independence, according to a new study from researchers at the University of California, Davis.

The Yolo County Basic Income (YoBI) program provided "no-strings-attached" cash assistance to a highly targeted group of at-risk residents.

While the payments served as a temporary lifeline, researchers found that, for the "significant majority" of participants, the program was not enough to break the cycle of poverty.

"While [Basic Income] reduced some of the immediate urgency around money and allowed families some stability, most participants still had unmet financial needs," the study reported.

FLORIDA OFFICIALS WARNED TO AVOID REPARATIONS-STYLE EFFORT AS STATE GEARS UP TO RESTRICT DEI EVEN FURTHER

The program differed from standard Universal Basic Income (UBI) by focusing exclusively on families with children under age 6 already enrolled in the state’s CalWORKs program and experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

Nolan Sullivan, the former interim director of Yolo County Health and Human Services, described the initiative in 2022 as a "super targeted basic income" (TBI).

"It’s not just like randomly distributing wealth amongst a group of people," Sullivan said at the time. "We are laser-focused on one particular group ... really trying to break the rule of generational poverty."

Under the pilot, participants received monthly checks averaging $1,289 for a two-year period. The goal was to raise family income to 200% of the federal poverty level.

GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM MADE TEXAS MOM REALIZE LOW-INCOME, MARGINALIZED GROUPS WERE UNDERSERVED FOR SO LONG

The UC Davis findings, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, highlight a recurring theme in guaranteed income experiments, the "survival mode" trap.

Participants reported that while the cash helped cover predictable expenses and pay down debt, it did not provide a cushion for the "unexpected." Researchers noted that car repairs, medical bills or a sudden loss of employment quickly wiped out any progress made through the monthly stipends.

One participant told researchers that, without the program, the participant would likely be "out there looking for places to sleep." However, the study concludes that, despite these "lived experience" successes in preventing homelessness, a clear path to total financial self-sufficiency remained elusive for most.

NEWLY LAUNCHED COALITION WITH ‘AFFORDABILITY AGENDA’ VOWS TO ATTACK GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAMS

Despite the lack of long-term financial independence cited in the Yolo County study, advocates continue to push for the expansion of such programs. Similar pilots have popped up across the country, with Cook County, Illinois, recently turning its pilot into the nation’s first permanent guaranteed income program.

Critics, however, argue that these programs create a "fiscal cliff" by which recipients struggle even more once the temporary government funding expires.

Yolo County officials did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

ICE nabs illegal aliens convicted of child sex crimes and meth trafficking in nationwide enforcement sweep

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:00:19 -0400

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested multiple individuals Wednesday who were convicted of serious crimes, including sexual assault and drug trafficking, as part of enforcement actions during National Crime Victims Week, officials said.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the arrests targeted individuals with prior convictions for offenses such as aggravated sexual assault, lewd acts with a child, assault by strangulation and distribution of methamphetamine.

"During National Crime Victims Week, DHS is continuing its work to fight for justice for victims of illegal alien crime," acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement. "By removing criminal illegal aliens from our communities, ICE is stopping them before they can perpetrate more crimes and create more victims."

Officials highlighted several of the arrests from this week.

ICE BUSTS SEVERAL CONVICTED CRIMINALS, INCLUDING CHILD RAPIST WHO THREATENED TO KILL 11-YEAR-OLD VICTIM

One man, Carlos Portillo-Nunez of El Salvador, was previously convicted of lewd or lascivious acts with a child in Indio, California, according to DHS.

Pablo Blanco-Fortuna, an illegal alien from Mexico, was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and failing to register as a sex offender in Hidalgo, Texas, and Roberto Vallejo-Benitez, also from Mexico, was convicted of assault by strangulation in Wake County, North Carolina, officials said.

GUATEMALAN MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD PORN POSSESSION RELEASED BY FAIRFAX COUNTY DESPITE ICE DETAINER, DHS SAYS

Guatemalan national Eladio Laines was previously convicted of sexual assault and unlawful restraint involving serious bodily injury in Chester, Pennsylvania, and Alfredo Delgado-Perez, another Mexican national, was convicted of distributing methamphetamine in Los Angeles.

The arrests come after the U.S. experienced historically high levels of illegal immigration in recent years.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded more than 2 million migrant encounters along the southern border in both fiscal years 2022 and 2023, according to DHS data, before declining in 2024.

CHRISTMASTIME ICE OPERATION ‘ANGEL’S HONOR’ NETS CHILD RAPIST, TORTURER

The individuals arrested are from Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador, countries that have consistently accounted for a significant share of illegal border crossings in recent years, according to DHS encounter data.

ICE has said it prioritizes the arrest and removal of illegal aliens with prior criminal convictions, particularly those involving violence, sexual offenses and drug trafficking.

While DHS highlights arrests involving serious criminal offenses, such cases represent a small portion of the millions of illegal alien encounters recorded nationwide in recent years, based on CBP data.

The federal agency said the arrests were part of its broader efforts to remove individuals with criminal convictions from U.S. communities. It also pointed victims to its Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office for support services.

"Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, DHS will never stop fighting for justice for the innocent Americans whose lives were stolen by illegal aliens who should have never been in our country," Bis said.

Former North Carolina police officer arrested for allegedly planning mass shooting at New Orleans festival

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:58:36 -0400

A former North Carolina police officer was arrested in Florida after authorities said he planned a mass shooting at a New Orleans music festival.

Christopher Gillum, 45, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was taken into custody around 6:40 p.m. Wednesday at a hotel in Destin, Florida, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said.

Authorities said Gillum was wanted for making "terroristic threats" and was believed to be traveling to a festival in New Orleans to "conduct a mass shooting."

Investigators recovered a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammunition from his hotel room.

8 CHILDREN DEAD IN MASS SHOOTING THAT BEGAN AS DOMESTIC DISPUTE, POLICE SAY

Gillum’s family reported him missing Tuesday, telling authorities he had a history of self-harm and had made threats to harm "Black people," according to a police bulletin from Burlington, North Carolina.

Lt. Clint Lyons of the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office said Gillum left the state before authorities could initiate an involuntary commitment, adding there were no legal grounds to detain him at the time.

Earlier Wednesday, Gillum was stopped by law enforcement in Okaloosa County but was released because he did not meet criteria for arrest or commitment, according to the bulletin.

NYC GUNMAN SHANE TAMURA SEEN ANGERING POLICE OFFICERS IN BODYCAM VIDEO DURING 2023 ARREST

Deputies later conducted surveillance after learning he was under investigation and arrested him once a warrant was issued from Louisiana, authorities said.

Gillum is expected to be extradited to Louisiana to face charges, the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities did not name the event, but the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — known as Jazz Fest — runs through May 3 and draws hundreds of thousands of attendees annually. Louisiana State Police said "there are no known direct threats" to any festivals in the state.

MAN WHO CRASHED INTO NEVADA SUBSTATION FOUND DEAD IN CAR WITH ARSENAL IN SUSPECTED TERROR INCIDENT: SHERIFF

Gillum served as a sworn police officer in Chapel Hill from 2004 until his resignation in 2019, according to a town spokesperson.

He later worked as a police officer in Carolina Beach from October 2019 to October 2020, then became a detention officer with the Orange County, North Carolina, Sheriff’s Office in October 2023, leaving in July 2024.

Gillum returned to the Chapel Hill Police Department as a non-sworn employee in 2024 before leaving later that year. He was rehired as an Orange County sheriff’s deputy in January 2025 but resigned that September.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Long Island PTA mom accused of stealing $50K from elementary school while she served as NYPD officer

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:38:52 -0400

Authorities announced the arrest Wednesday of a Long Island PTA mom accused of siphoning more than $50,000 from an elementary school over a three-year span while she was employed as a New York Police Department officer.

Jodi Scarlatos, 43, of Centereach, served as treasurer of the Jericho Elementary School PTA when she allegedly began using association funds to bankroll personal expenses and outings around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said.

According to a lawsuit filed in Suffolk County Supreme Court, Scarlatos allegedly made the troubling transactions as she began defaulting on her mortgage payments in July 2022, prompting her bank to initiate foreclosure proceedings. The suit said she owes a total debt exceeding $375,000.

She was reportedly caught after her control of the PTA bank account was transferred to a new board of members around 2023, at which point the alleged discrepancies began to surface.

LOUISIANA 'MEDICAID MILLIONAIRE' BOUGHT LAMBORGHINI WHILE CLAIMING GOVERNMENT BENEFITS FOR YEARS

"Parent Teacher Associations serve a vital function in school communities throughout Suffolk County," District Attorney Raymond Tierney said.

"The allegations in this case represent a betrayal of the trust the residents of Centereach placed in this defendant, and my office will continue to hold accountable everyone who unlawfully enriches themselves at the public’s expense."

Her lawyer told Fox News Digital Thursday the PTA mom had previously worked as a transit officer with the New York Police Department. She reportedly retired from the force in January 2025.

According to prosecutors, Scarlatos served as treasurer of the Jericho Elementary School PTA from July 2020 through September 2023.

MARRIED OHIO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, 43, LEARNS SENTENCE FOR SEX WITH TEEN STUDENT IN OFFICE

During that time, she was issued a debit card intended solely for PTA-related expenses but allegedly used the funds for restaurants, hotels, rental cars, Best Buy, Ticketmaster, Amazon and Verizon Wireless.

Scarlatos also allegedly moved cash from the PTA coffers into her personal bank account, prosecutors alleged.

In addition, officials said she continued making transactions during summer recesses and holiday breaks, periods when school was not in session.

In July 2022, Scarlatos allegedly stopped paying her mortgage, according to a foreclosure lawsuit filed by U.S. Bank Trust National Association in March 2024. Court records point to mounting financial pressure and significant debt leading up to the action.

The following year, just months before she stepped away from her school role, the embattled PTA official had initiated a small fundraiser for a hospital supported by the elementary school, according to her Facebook page.

"Help me raise funds for St. Jude!," she wrote in a Jan. 17, 2023, Facebook post. "I've joined the fight to help end childhood cancer by participating in the St. Jude Math-A-Thon.

"I'm solving math problems and raising funds to help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. You can help me reach my fundraising goal for the kids of St. Jude, who are battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases."

FORMER CONNECTICUT POLICE CHIEF ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING $85K IN PUBLIC FUNDS

Scarlatos’ transactions allegedly continued until the next board members for the 2023–2024 school year took over and discovered the troubling findings, according to investigators.

Scarlatos surrendered to the district attorney’s office Monday and was arraigned before District Court Judge Jonathan Bloom on a charge of grand larceny in the second degree, a Class C felony.

If convicted, she faces five to 15 years in prison.

The Long Island mom was released without bail and is due back in court May 5, 2026.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Jericho Elementary School PTA and NYPD for more information.

A new survey reveals the MLB's most foul-mouthed fanbase

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:33:07 -0400

When you start thinking about which MLB teams' fanbases have the filthiest mouths, there's a good chance a few cities instantly jump to mind.

In fact, there's a good chance Philadelphia popped into your head. It did for me.

But a new survey from Vegas Insider has found the most foul-mouthed fanbases in the MLB, and the top team might surprise you a little at first... and then it will make total sense.

That team? Technically, a franchise that played in Philadelphia at one point, but is now in Sacramento limbonow in Sacramento limbo ahead of a move to Vegas: the Athletics.

PHILLIES PLAYERS SCATTER AS RAT RUNS ALONG DUGOUT DURING ANOTHER LOSS, EXTENDING SEVEN-GAME SKID

This was determined by combing through each of the 30 Big League teams' subreddits on social media platform Reddit and determining the percentage of comments that contained an expletive.

The A's led the league with a 6.03% of comments containing a swear word, the most common of which was "f--k."

Second was the Boston Boston Red Sox — another one of my guesses for top dog — whose comments featured a four-letter word 5.114% of the time.

PADRES PLAYERS HELD BACK AFTER CONFRONTING UMPIRES FOLLOWING CONTROVERSIAL SEASON-ENDING LOSS TO CUBS

The most swear-heavy team that made "s--t" their favorite word was the Houston Astros, who came in at No. 9.

Now, I was a little surprised about the A's at first, but given the frustrating lack of success followed by their move out of Oakland, I get it.

If my team were picking up shop, skipping town, and then playing in a minor league park for a few years, I'd probably let some expletives fly, too.

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The same study also measured the tone of comments, with the Boston Red Sox having the most negative fans, followed by the Athletics.

Again. Somewhat self-explanatory.

Hopefully, better days are ahead for the Athletics faithful.

Otherwise, it seems like they may start adding some swear jars around the stadium.

Fernando Mendoza, the No 1 pick of NFL Draft to the Raiders, tasked with returning a legacy franchise to glory

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:21:07 -0400

The block around Fernando Mendoza’s home in Coral Gables, Florida was roped off by early afternoon on Thursday and the roast pig – a lechon asado to Cubans like the Mendozas – was in the Caja China all day.

No, Mendoza didn’t make it to Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL draft. But his family's draft party in South Florida was, by all accounts, epic.

And that’s the way it should be because it was befitting of Mendoza being selected by the Las Vegas Raiders as the first overall pick of the draft.

"The last five month have been such a blessing by God, I can't thank him enough," Mendoza said in his first interview after being selected. "I'm just looking forward to get to work, improve at the next level. College was fantastic. I'm so bless to have that career.

"But now I step into a great game, the NFL, look forward to proving and earning it every single day."

TYLER LINDERBAUM'S $81M RECORD-BREAKING DEAL HEADLINES RAIDERS' FREE AGENT SPENDING SPREE

Not bad for a kid who used to occasionally confess to family, friends and teammates, "I don't imagine myself a high draft pick."

That all changed when Mendoza transferred to Indiana University before the 2025 season, and out of that unlikely college football power came the improbable Heisman Trophy winner, national championship winning quarterback, and first pick in the draft.

The Raiders used only a minute or two of the eight allotted before turning in their card to the NFL for Mendoza.

Only in America.

JETS TO REUNITE WITH GENO SMITH AFTER RAIDERS GAIN DRAFT PICK IN TRADE: REPORTS

The Raiders believe in Mendoza. But the Raiders organization is rife with quarterback misfires in its recent history.

The club signed Geno Smith to make them a contender last season under coach Pete Carroll. Smith led the NFL with 17 interceptions, Carroll was fired, and the team was so bad as to "earn" the first pick in this draft.

TRADES COULD SAVE NFL DRAFT LACKING FRANCHISE QBS, POLARIZING PLAYERS FROM BEING A YAWNER

Before that, Gardner Minshew failed as a bridge quarterback and Aidan O’Connell didn’t quite develop into a dependable starter.

Before that, Jimmy Garoppolo signed as a free agent but was often injured and inconsistent when healthy. He started only six games in 2023 and was released the following offseason.

Before that, it was Derek Carr, mostly functional during his time, getting benched in 2022 and ultimately released.

You get the point. It's been awhile since Ken Stabler, Jim Plunkett or even Rich Gannon won a Super Bowl for the franchise.

Mendoza is expected to turn that sad narrative around. But it won’t necessarily be right away. The Raiders signed veteran Kirk Cousins earlier this offseason as a bridge starter while Mendoza learns and develops.

The rookie will have some time. But not forever.

He’s been drafted to lift a legacy franchise back to glory. But that won't be an easy assignment because other franchises will get a vote whether it happens.

PROJECTED TOP PICK FERNANDO MENDOZA MAKES BIG NFL DRAFT DECISION: REPORT

Mendoza goes to the AFC West where it is impossible to win without outstanding quarterback play.

The Kansas City Chiefs have owned the division since Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback in 2018. They won it seven consecutive times until falling back last season.

The Denver Broncos won the division last season because they have one of the NFL’s rising quarterbacks in Bo Nix, who came close to a 4,000-yard season in 2025.

The Los Angeles Chargers made the playoffs a season ago and Justin Herbert typically is among the league leaders in passing yards (9th last year) and touchdown passes (tied for seventh).

Now the Raiders answer with Fernando Mendoza – officially the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft.

Patriots' Mike Vrabel speaks out after photos of him kissing NFL reporter Dianna Russini leak

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:02:49 -0400

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel took questions about his recent decision to step away from the team amid a series of photo leaks that appear to show him engaging in romantic and personal moments with former New York Times/The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini.

Vrabel will miss multiple days of the NFL Draft, which he announced early on Thursday.

In the hours that followed that announcement, photos that appeared to show Vrabel and Russini kissing at a bar were published by the New York Post and were reportedly taken six years ago.

Later Thursday, TMZ published photos of Vrabel and Russini at a casino.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"My previous actions don't meet the standard that I hold myself to," Vrabel said. "My priorities are my family and this football team, in that order. And there is a balance there that I am going to create."

At the end of the news conference, Vrabel was asked to explain why he initially made a statement calling photos of him and Russini at an Arizona resort "laughable" after they were published by the New York Post earlier in April.

"That's a private and personal matter. I don't think that those comments ... it was an attempt to protect your family," Vrabel said.

It was the last question Vrabel answered before storming off the podium and out of the room.

PATRIOTS COACH MIKE VRABEL SEEKS OUT 'RATS' AFTER LEAKED INJURY REPORT: 'WE’LL FIGURE THAT OUT'

Vrabel will be leaving the team's NFL Draft in the hands of general manager Eliot Wolf.

"I'm confident in the people that we have. I'm confident in our preparation," Vrabel said.

"When you prioritize your family first and your job, that's what's required. And that's what's was necessary. Got a lot of support from everybody involved. So, that's what I was able to do — and willingly — and I want to do that.

"When my family needs me, I'll be there."

When asked if he would miss any more football activities in the coming weeks, Vrabel said, "I can't answer that. I can only say whatever my family needs, that's what I'm going to provide.

"I have to do what's needed of me with my family. So, again, I'm confident that whatever they need, I'm going to provide."

When asked if he felt he had to prove himself again to his players, Vrabel said, "I have to make them a priority, that's what I have to do. I have to make my family and this football team my priority."

The Patriots released a statement ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft Thursday night voicing support for Vrabel.

"The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being," the statement from the Patriots said.

"Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.

"We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete, and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend."

Russini resigned from her position with The New York Times last week.

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English nature festival makes the important clarification that it is not for nudists

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:54:47 -0400

When you hear the words "nature festival," what do you think of?

I think of trees. Tall good ones.

However, enough people in the United Kingdom hear "nature festival" and think "nudists" that one such festival had to put out an APB on Facebook to set the record straight that clothing is not just encouraged, it is mandatory.

So if you were hoping to see some pasty English buttocks, look elsewhere.

JASON DAY ASKED TO TONE DOWN MASTERS ATTIRE AFTER UNCONVENTIONAL CLOTHING CHOICE LAST YEAR

The Cumbria Nature Festival runs from May 8 through May 10 and is set to include conservation groups, stands and activities, food, live music, and more.

However, "nudity" does not fall under their definition of "more."

"Cumbria Nature Festival is primarily aimed at NATURALISTS... not NATURISTS," their Facebook post reads. "Whilst we aim to be as inclusive as possible, and certainly do not judge anyone, we are aiming the event at wildlife enthusiasts. Please do dress appropriately."

'FLYING NAKED' IS THE LATEST TRAVEL TREND DIVIDING THE INTERNET, AND IT DOESN'T MEAN WHAT YOU THINK

This has to be the first warning to people that they have to wear clothing to an event that includes the word "whilst."

Classy.

"We haven't ultimately had to refund anyone so we're hopeful our offering has been sufficient to retain their interest, despite imposing a dress code," organizing committee member Sam Griffin told the BBC. "People hear 'naturalist' and they interpret it as something else. It's a common misunderstanding, I suppose," he said.

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Is it though?

Call me old-fashioned or even prudish, but whenever I hear about any kind of event — nature festival, box social, wake — I assume I'm supposed to show up clothed.

Now, we can debate whether that means formal or business casual or business formal or casual formal or whatever, but clothes will be worn.

So the next time you see an ad for a nature festival, save the nice folks organizing the time of having to make a "No nudists" Facebook post and just assume clothes are a must.

Army soldier involved in Maduro capture arrested for allegedly using classified intel to win $410K in bets

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:45:21 -0400

A U.S. Army soldier involved in the daring operation and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been arrested on charges of allegedly using classified information to place a bet on the deposed leader's removal from office, a move that won him more than $400,000, authorities said.

Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, allegedly wagered more than $33,000 on Polymarket, an online prediction market where bettors can wage money on everything from sports matches and economic indicators to political outcomes, the Justice Department said Thursday.

He was charged with three counts of violating the Commodity Exchange Act, one count of wire fraud and one count of an unlawful monetary transaction.

Van Dyke also faces insider trading charges by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

GOP LAWMAKER SAYS DEMOCRATS HAVE ‘EGG ON THEIR FACE’ AFTER TRUMP’S CAPTURE OF VENEZUELA’S MADURO

"Today’s announcement makes clear no one is above the law, and this FBI will do whatever it takes to defend the homeland and safeguard our nation’s secrets," FBI Director Kash Patel said. "Any clearance holders thinking of cashing in their access and knowledge for personal gain will be held accountable."

The bets netted Van Dyke nearly $410,000. In total, he made 13 bets from Dec. 27, 2025, through the evening of Jan. 2, just hours before the operation to capture Maduro commenced.

Van Dyke allegedly sent most of his winnings to a foreign cryptocurrency vault before depositing them into a newly created online brokerage account, federal prosecutors said.

In a post Thursday on X, Polymarket noted it published enhanced rules in March to combat insider trading.

"When we identified a user trading on classified government information, we referred the matter to the DOJ & cooperated with their investigation," the post states. "Insider trading has no place on Polymarket. Today's arrest is proof the system works."

HOUSE DEMOCRAT BANS STAFF FROM BETTING ON PREDICTION MARKETS, CITING ETHICS CONCERNS

Van Dyke, who was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, had signed nondisclosure agreements in which he promised to "never divulge, publish, or reveal by writing, words, conduct, or otherwise ... any classified or sensitive information" relating to military operations, according to the DOJ.

Beginning around Dec. 8, 2025, through Jan. 6, Van Dyke was involved in the planning and execution of "Operation Absolute Resolve," the military mission to capture Maduro, whom federal prosecutors allege leads a drug cartel.

Amid the plans for the operation, Van Dyke had consistent access to classified intelligence.

"Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission as safely and effectively as possible and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain," acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

"Widespread access to prediction markets is a relatively new phenomenon, but federal laws protecting national security information fully apply."

Around Dec. 26, 2025, Van Dyke allegedly created a Polymarket account, funded it and began trading on Venezuela-related markets.

Some of those contracts tracked the likelihood of U.S. forces entering Venezuela by certain dates, the probability of Maduro being removed from power and the likelihood of President Donald Trump invoking the War Powers Act against Venezuela, the DOJ said.

On the day of the operation, Van Dyke allegedly withdrew the majority of his winnings.

FORMER FORT BRAGG EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH LEAKING CLASSIFIED MILITARY INFORMATION TO JOURNALIST

To avoid being caught, he allegedly asked Polymarket to delete his account, falsely claiming he had lost access to his registered email address.

That same day, he changed the email registered to his cryptocurrency exchange account to an address that was not in his name, which he had created around Dec. 14, 2025.

In addition to the criminal charges against him, Van Dyke is the subject of a complaint by the CFTC as part of a parallel investigation into his alleged actions.

"I have been crystal clear that anyone who engages in fraud, manipulation or insider trading in any of our markets will face the full force of the law," CFTC Chairman Michael Selig said.

"The defendant was entrusted with confidential information about U.S. operations and yet took action that endangered U.S. national security and put the lives of American service members in harm’s way."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Polymarket and the DOJ for comment. The War Department referred all questions to federal prosecutors.

Van Dyke faces up to 60 years in prison.

Sherrone Moore accuser Paige Shiver speaks out in new interview: he 'had complete control over me'

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:37:14 -0400

In a 2025 college football season full of surprises, nothing was more shocking than the rapid end to Sherrone Moore’s tenure as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines.

In a stunning turn of events, news broke that Moore had allegedly been carrying on an inappropriate relationship with an athletic department employee. After the relationship came to light and Moore was fired, he then allegedly broke into that employee’s house and threatened to kill himself.

In March, Moore pleaded no-contest to two misdemeanor charges. In mid-April, he was sentenced to 18 months of probation and fined just over $1,000.

That Michigan employee, Paige Shiver, is now speaking out about her relationship with Moore, and how she felt he "used" influence over her.

Shiver joins "Good Morning America" for an interview airing on Friday, but in a preview of the conversation, alleges that Moore had "complete control" over her, which he "used" against her.

In the clip, ABC’s Linsey Davis asks, "You alleged that you faced years of harassment, manipulation and exploitation at the hands of Sherrone Moore. How so?"

"I mean, gosh, here's a man that had complete control over me," Shiver responded. "Over my emotions, over my career. And he knew that and he used it against me. Every time I tried to pull away, every time I tried to get out of even Michigan, he always had a story, always had a way to pull me in and make me feel that I couldn't leave him because he was so miserable without me."

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Shiver’s allegations in this portion of the interview highlight the inherent dangers of relationships between someone in Moore’s position and someone in Shiver’s position.

He was one of the most powerful figures in college football, she was his assistant, and that imbalance can create consequences for both. She felt emotionally manipulated by someone who had power over her career, and he was at risk of his career and personal life blowing up if she ever went to the university or to the press.

That’s exactly what happened. Shiver was unhappy when Moore’s sentence was handed out, saying in a statement that, "The criminal acts he committed were extremely frightening and violent. He broke into my apartment, crying, yelling, enraged and came at me with knives. I was threatened, and I feared for my life."

Michigan will start the 2026 season at home against Western Michigan under Moore’s replacement at head coach, Kyle Whittingham.

Bachelorette party goes too far and tourist damages Italian statue trying to touch its 'private parts'

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:32:25 -0400

If you're running around Italy for your bachelorette party, please show some respect to the local historical statues. Some of them are going to be naked, but that doesn’t mean their private parts are there for your entertainment.

Well, I suppose pointing and laughing, while I'm sure it's frowned upon, has to be more acceptable than climbing all over statues. Take the attempts to complete a "grab that statue's junk" challenge back to your own country.

In Florence, Italy, the local police will get involved, and the city will be sending in a team to access the damage. Just ask this tourist only identified as a 28-year-old woman.

On Saturday, she attempted to scale part of the Fountain of Neptune located in Florence’s Piazza della Signoria to complete a "pre-marital dare," according to city officials.

The dare was to touch the Neptune statue's "private parts," a translated press release from the City of Florence says, reports FOX 8.

She climbed over a railing, then stepped on marble horses that are there to appear as if they're pulling Neptune's chariot. She was caught in the act and questioned by police, but not before causing damage to the historical art.

"The inspection revealed small but significant damage to both the hooves of the horses she had ridden and to a frieze she had held onto to prevent slipping," the city reported.

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Wouldn’t a visit to a strip club or hiring some entertainment for a private party have been a better option than trying to grab the junk of a statue that was commissioned by a duke back at the end of the 1550s?

Sure, there will be stories to tell with this approach, but there would have been with the more traditional bachelorette party activities too. And the hooves of the poor horses this woman rode would have been spared.

Now the next steps are in the hands of local authorities, and who knows what that means? Not to mention that someone has to make the repairs.

If you can't handle statues showing a little skin without trying to get a handful, maybe Florence, Italy isn’t for you.

‘Lame duck’: Jeffries rips DeSantis after Florida invitation as redistricting fight heats up

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:30:53 -0400

Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries ripped Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a Fox News Digital interview Thursday, calling him a "lame duck" after the governor offered to pay for Jeffries' trip to Florida amid a redistricting push.

Jeffries warned DeSantis he could put Republican seats at risk as the Sunshine State remains in the spotlight of a nationwide gerrymandering battle, with parties reshuffling congressional districts for partisan advantages.

"Ron DeSantis is putting his own congressional delegation in jeopardy, which probably shouldn't be surprising because all of them, as I understand it, can't stand the charismatically challenged lame-duck governor of Florida," Jeffries said.

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DeSantis extended the invitation to Jeffries at a news conference in Kissimmee, Florida, Wednesday after Jeffries’ "F around and find out" warning on redistricting.

"Please. Be my guest. I will pay for you to come down to Florida to campaign," DeSantis told the crowd. "I’ll put you up in the Florida governor’s mansion. We will take you fishing.

"We’ll do all this stuff. There’s nothing that could be better for Republicans in Florida than to see Jeffries, Hakeem Jeffries, everywhere around this state."

Jeffries warned DeSantis earlier this week not to follow the lead of Texas, where Republicans pushed a redistricting map to flip up to five Democratic-held seats.

"Our message to Florida Republicans is F around and find out," Jeffries said. "If they go down the road of a DeSantis dummymander, the Florida Republicans are gonna find themselves in the same situation as Texas Republicans, who are on the run right now.

"Under no circumstances are Texas Republicans picking up five seats. They'll be fortunate if they get two or three. While in California, we are going to get all five."

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Multiple states have moved forward with similar redistricting efforts after a push initiated by President Donald Trump.

Jeffries added that the redistricting war is not over yet.

"The Republicans are dummymandering their way into the minority before a single voter casts a ballot because they started this war, and we're going to finish it," he said.

With the 2026 midterms approaching, both parties hope to win the House by leveraging gerrymandering.

President Trump urged Virginia voters this week to reject the "blatant partisan power grab" in Virginia before voters headed to the polls to vote on the congressional redistricting referendum led by Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

The referendum passed Tuesday night, securing Virginia Democrats a major win and increasing the party’s chances in the midterms.

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DeSantis called a special session this week to focus on congressional maps he says will "accurately reflect the population of our state."

Florida's state constitution bans favoring parties in redistricting.

Eight Democratic-held districts are up for redrawing.

Republicans hold 20 of Florida’s seats while Democrats hold eight.

A redistricting plan has not been revealed.

Fox News Digital’s Leo Briceno contributed to this report.

Costco sparks bagel backlash among customers as downsized packs ignite pricing debate

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:30:44 -0400

Costco is known for supersized everything, but a new product downsizing in its bakery section is getting some big attention from shoppers, and some say it may actually be better.

The warehouse giant is now offering its popular Kirkland Signature bagels in a single, eight-count pack at some locations, rather than requiring customers to purchase two packs at once as it previously did.

The shift, which was spotted by shoppers and highlighted in a recent post by Instagram account @costcobuys, is being welcomed by many who say the old bulk requirement often led to wasted food.

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"Big news for bagel lovers because the Costco bakery now sells their Kirkland Signature Bagels as a SINGLE 8-pack!" said the Instagram post, which garnered over 1 million views in a day.

Majed Kassis, who runs the account, noted a reported price of $4.99.

"No more bagels going bad before you can finish them," the Michigan-based content creator said in the video.

Kassis told Fox News Digital that while some people claimed the bagels are now smaller, there was mostly "positive feedback" about not having to buy two packs and wasting or freezing bagels.

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"I never buy them for home because I don't want 12 bagels, so love the single pack option!" one person commented.

Others said a dozen was "just too much" for them.

Shoppers have long pointed out that some Costco bakery items can be difficult to finish before they go stale, especially for smaller households. The new offering provides more flexibility without requiring freezer space or excess meal planning.

Others simply exclaimed: "Finally!"

But not everyone is convinced the change is a win.

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Some commenters questioned whether the shift is less about convenience and more about pricing.

"So before, you got 12 for $5.99. Now, you get 8 for $4.99. They raised prices without raising prices," one user claimed.

Another echoed the concern: "So now it is more expensive per pack."

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Others pushed back on that narrative, pointing out the per-unit math.

"It’s just a slight price difference per unit … $0.66/bagel [before] … $0.62/bagel [now]," one commenter calculated, suggesting the value may still be comparable depending on location and pricing.

Others argued the move goes against the retailer's bulk-buy identity.

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"This is what Costco is about, isn't it? Buying in bulk," one person wrote.

Nonetheless, many shoppers said they would still buy multiple packs, especially now with more variety available.

One person recalled being able to mix and match flavors under the old two-pack system.

The conversation also spilled into broader critiques of Costco's bakery, including questions about ingredient transparency.

"You can have your fake blueberry bagels, Costco. … No, thanks," one user wrote in response to Kassis' post, referencing separate online discussions about "simulated blueberry" ingredients.

"Do they come with real blueberries?" another commenter asked.

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The blueberry bagels have drawn criticism recently after some shoppers noticed the label indicates the fruit component is made from flavored and colored ingredients rather than real blueberries.

Fox News Digital reached out to Costco for comment.

Hiker stumbles on human skull in iconic desert as mystery grows and detectives open homicide probe

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:25:23 -0400

A grisly discovery in a remote Southern California desert has sparked a homicide investigation after a hiker stumbled upon a human skull.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies responded around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday to a rugged area near Adobe Road and Baseline Road in Twentynine Palms after the remains were reported.

Authorities said the skull appears to be an adult's and had likely been exposed to the elements for an extended period of time.

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The Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Detail has since taken over the case, a move officials told Fox News Digital is standard procedure in cases involving human remains. Detectives, along with the Coroner’s Division and crime scene specialists, conducted an extensive search of the surrounding area and recovered the skull.

No additional remains were found.

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It remains unclear how the skull ended up in the remote desert landscape.

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The remains will undergo forensic examination and DNA testing as investigators work to identify the individual and determine how the person died.

Officials said they are comparing the remains against local, regional and national missing persons databases, but no identifying details, including age, sex or other characteristics, are known.

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Authorities say there are no known signs of trauma or foul play at this stage, though that could change pending further examination. There are also no known public safety concerns for residents or visitors to the area.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to ask whether additional items were found, how long the remains may have been there and whether more searches are planned.

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Officials said no other remains were located but declined to estimate how long the skull had been exposed and said additional information remains pending.

Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities at 909-890-4904.