Rescuers recover 36 bodies and 82 survivors from South African gold mine
Hundreds more survivors and dozens more bodies still underground, according to a miners rights group. South African rescuers have pulled 36 bodies and 82 survivors from a gold mine in two days of operations, police say, adding that the survivors would face illegal mining and immigration charges. After nine bodies were recovered on Monday, 27 more were brought out from deep underground on Tuesday, police Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said in a statement. Police began laying siege to the mine about 150km (90 miles) southwest of Johannesburg in the town of Stilfontein in August and cut off food and water for months to force the miners to the surface to arrest them as part of a crackdown on illegal mining. Hundreds more survivors and dozens more bodies are still underground, according to a miners rights group that issued footage on Monday showing corpses and skeletal survivors in the mine. Rescue operations, which involve the use of a metal cage to recover survivors and bodies from a mine shaft more than 2km (1.2 miles) underground, will continue for days. Police said they would provide a daily update on numbers. Advertisement Typically, illegal mining takes place in mines that have been abandoned by companies because they are no longer commercially viable on a large scale. Unlicensed miners, often immigrants from other African countries, go in to extract whatever is left. ‘A war on the economy’ The South African government has said the siege of the Stilfontein mine is necessary to fight illegal mining, which Mining Minister Gwede Mantashe described as “a war on the economy”. He estimated that the illicit precious metals trade was worth 60 billion rand ($3.17bn) last year. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said in November: “We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out.” But a court ruled in December that volunteers should be allowed to send down supplies to the trapped men, and another edict last week ordered the state to launch a rescue operation, which began on Monday. “All 82 that have been arrested are facing illegal mining, trespassing and contravention of the Immigration Act charges,” police said in a statement, referring to all those pulled out alive on Monday and Tuesday. The statement added that two of them would face additional charges of being in possession of gold. The government crackdown, part of an operation called “Vala Umgodi” or “Close the Hole” in the isiZulu language, has drawn criticism from human rights organisations and local residents. Adblock test (Why?)
Honoring Trump: Speaker Johnson says flags to fly full-staff at US Capitol during presidential inauguration
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Tuesday that flags at the U.S. Capitol will be raised to full-staff next Monday, Jan. 20, to mark President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. The move comes despite the official order by President Biden after the Dec. 29 death of former President Jimmy Carter that flags across the country would fly at half-staff for a 30-day mourning period. “On January 20th, the flags at the Capitol will fly at full-staff to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President, Donald Trump. The flags will be lowered back to half-staff the following day to continue honoring President Jimmy Carter,” Johnson said in a statement. THIS REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SAYS FLAGS WILL FLY FULL STAFF ON TRUMP INAUGURATION IN HIS STATE Johnson is a strong supporter of Trump, and the president-elect’s recent backing of him helped Johnson diffuse opposition by some far-right Republicans to his re-election as speaker in the new Congress. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON THE TRUMP TRANSITION AND INAUGURATION According to the U.S. flag code, U.S. flags are flown at half-staff for a 30-day period to mark the passing of a current or former president, at federal government buildings, military installations and vessels and at U.S. embassies and other facilities around the world. Trump earlier this month claimed on social media that “Democrats are all ‘giddy’” about flags being flown at half-staff during his inauguration. “Nobody wants to see this,” Trump argued. “No American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” CHECK OUT TRUMP’S PICKS FOR TOP CABINET AND ADMINISTRATION POSITIONS The U.S. flag code is not mandatory, which means that Trump could technically override it once he is inaugurated as president. The Associated Press observed that a flag at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, was flying at full height on Monday. The flag had been flying at half-staff but was raised in the days after Carter’s funeral service at National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and burial in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, both of which took place on Thursday. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday announced that flags at the state Capitol building in Austin and at all state office buildings would also be raised to full-staff next Monday to mark Trump’s inauguration. Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report
Hegseth interrupted by multiple protesters during Senate confirmation hearing
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth, was interrupted by at least three protesters during his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday. “Veterans are committing suicide and are homeless, but we send money to bomb children in Gaza,” one female protester wearing fatigues shouted as she was escorted from the hearing, Fox News Digital video shows. Hegseth appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday morning, when he was grilled by lawmakers ahead of a committee vote and final confirmation vote on his nomination as secretary of Defense. PETE HEGSETH HEADS TO CAPITOL HILL FOR FIERY HEARING ON HIS RECORD, PLANS TO SHAKE UP PENTAGON An elderly man who was handcuffed with zipties was also seen being escorted out of the hearing. Another man, also appearing to wear fatigues, was seen being carried out by Capitol Police. CONSERVATIVE GROUP COMPILES LIST OF ‘WOKE’ SENIOR OFFICERS THEY WANT PETE HEGSETH TO FIRE Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has spent his days in recent weeks on Capitol Hill meeting with senators to rally support as he battled allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and mismanaging a veterans nonprofit organization. Hegseth has denied the allegations and vowed that he won’t drink “a drop of alcohol” if confirmed to Trump’s Cabinet. PETE HEGSETH SAYS HE HASN’T HEARD FROM WEST POINT SINCE EMPLOYEE ‘ERROR’ DENYING HIS ACCEPTANCE TRUMP NOMINEE PETE HEGSETH FENDS OFF DEMOCRATIC ATTACKS AT FIERY CONFIRMATION HEARING Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., asked Hegseth about the protesters during his hearing, including regarding the war in Israel that has been ongoing since 2023. “Another protester, and I think this one was a member of Code Pink, which, by the way, is a Chinese communist front group these days, said that you support Israel’s war in Gaza. I support Israel’s existential war in Gaza. I assume, like me and President Trump, you support that war as well,” Cotton said. PETE HEGSETH SAYS HE WILL BE ‘STANDING RIGHT HERE IN THIS FIGHT’ AFTER MEETING WITH SENATORS “I support Israel destroying and killing every last member of Hamas,” Hegseth responded. “And the third protester said something about 20 years of genocide. I assume that’s our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Do you think our troops are committing genocide in Iraq and Afghanistan?” Cotton continued. “Senator, I do not. I think … our troops, as you know, as so many in this committee know, did the best they could with what they had. … And tragically, the outcome we saw in Afghanistan under the Biden administration put a stain on that, but it doesn’t put a stain on what those men and women did in uniform, as you know full well, Senator,” Hegseth responded.
GOP Hegseth holdout presses Defense secretary nominee on her top 3 issues in military
Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, who initially did not publicly back Pete Hegseth’s nomination as secretary of Defense, publicly questioned the nominee on Tuesday morning on her three “very important issues” surrounding the military. “I want to know, again, let’s make it very clear for everyone here today, as Secretary of Defense, will you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles?” Ernst asked former Fox News host Hegseth on Tuesday, saying women serving in the military was one of her top three concerns. “Senator, first of all, thank you for your service. As we discussed extensively as well, and my answer is yes, exactly the way that you caveated it. Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles, combat roles given the standards remain high, and we’ll have a review to ensure the standards have not been eroded,” Hegseth responded. Ernst sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which held its hearing on Hegseth’s nomination Tuesday morning. She initially withheld public support of the Trump nominee before later signaling she endorsed his nomination. ‘POLITICAL PRICE TO PAY’: TRUMP ORBIT EXPECTED TO RAMP UP ERNST CRITICISMS WHILE SHE WITHHOLDS HEGSETH SUPPORT The Iowa senator said in her opening remarks that she is known for not keeping “anything hidden, pull no punches,” while thanking Hegseth for joining the committee for the hearing. She explained that she had three top issues to ask Hegseth, including an audit of the Department of Defense, women serving in combat roles and “making sure that we are combating sexual assault in the military.” On the point of a DOD audit, Hegseth said that he has long called for an audit and supports one, before moving onto his view of women serving in military combat roles and combating sexual assault in the military. “A priority of mine has been combating sexual assault in the military and making sure that all of our service members are treated with dignity and respect. This has been so important. Senator Gillibrand and I have worked on this, and we were able to get changes made to the uniform code of military justice to make sure that we have improvements, and on how we address the tragic and life altering, issues of rape, sexual assault. It will demand time and attention from the Pentagon under your watch, if you are confirmed,” Ernst said. “So, as secretary of Defense, will you appoint a senior level official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response?” she asked. Hegseth said that, as they had previously discussed, he would appoint an official to such a role. Late last year, Ernst initially withheld committing to voting in favor of Hegseth before backtracking and saying she would support the nominee as the Trump orbit was anticipated to ramp up criticisms against Ernst. CONSERVATIVE GROUP COMPILES LIST OF ‘WOKE’ SENIOR OFFICERS THEY WANT PETE HEGSETH TO FIRE “It’s really this simple: If you oppose President Trump’s nominees, you oppose the Trump agenda and there will be a political price to pay for that. We are well aware that there are certain establishment Senators trying to tank the President’s nominees to make him look weak and damage him politically, and we’re just not going to allow that to happen,” a top Trump ally told Fox News Digital as Ernst hesitated about offering her endorsement. Ernst said in comments last month that she supported his nomination. “As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources,” Ernst said at the time. PETE HEGSETH SAYS HE WILL BE ‘STANDING RIGHT HERE IN THIS FIGHT’ AFTER MEETING WITH SENATORS Ernst’s questions followed Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kirsten Gillibrand grilling the candidate about similar issues surrounding women in the military. “You’ve made a number of surprising statements about women in the military,” Shaheen told Hegseth, before noting that women comprise roughly 18% of U.S. military personnel. “Women in our military, as I have said publicly, have and continue to make amazing contributions across all aspects of our battlefield,” Hegseth responded. “What I’m confused about, Mr. Hegseth, is why should women in our military— if you were the secretary of defense— believe that they would have a fair shot and an equal opportunity to rise through the ranks? If, on the one hand, you say that women are not competent, they make our military less effective— and on the other hand, you say, ‘Oh, now, now that I’ve been nominated to be the Secretary of Defense, I’ve changed my view on women in the military.’” Hegseth responded that his concern revolves around standards used for women in combat roles and those standards getting watered down. “I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve alongside, shoulder to shoulder, men and women; black, white; all backgrounds with a shared purpose,” Hegseth said. Trump nominated Hegseth, a former National Guard officer, as secretary of Defense in November following his election win, saying “with Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice — Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down.” Hegseth was a host on “Fox & Friends Weekend” before Trump’s nomination.
Michelle Obama to skip Trump inauguration, 11 days after missing Carter funeral
Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the inauguration of President-elect Trump on Monday, which will mark the second absence in two weeks from a gathering of former presidents and their spouses. Obama was not in attendance at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral last week. Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to attend the Jan. 20 inauguration event along with former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and their spouses. “Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,” reads a statement from the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama that was shared with The Associated Press. MICHELLE OBAMA, DICK CHENEY AMONG NOTABLE ABSENCES AT CARTER FUNERAL It is unclear why former first lady Michelle Obama is skipping Trump’s inauguration. Former presidents Trump, Bush and Clinton and their spouses all attended Carter’s funeral on Jan. 9 at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., as did former President Barack Obama. Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband also attended, along with former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife. Former President Bill Clinton will attend next week’s swearing-in ceremony, a person familiar with the former president’s schedule confirmed to the AP. Former first lady Hillary Clinton will also attend, a spokesperson said. The Office of George W. Bush said he and former first lady Laura Bush are attending. At Carter’s funeral, Trump and Obama appeared to put their political differences aside and were seen chatting and laughing together despite the former Democrat president’s history of political animosity with the returning Republican. All three former presidents and their wives attended Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, including Hillary Clinton, after she lost the 2016 presidential election to Trump. Carter also attended. President-elect Trump and former first lady Melania Trump did not attend President Biden’s inauguration in 2021. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Obama Foundation for comment. CARRIE UNDERWOOD TO PERFORM ‘AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL’ AT TRUMP INAUGURATION The news of Michelle Obama sidestepping the inauguration comes a day after former first lady Melania Trump revealed that she and her husband did not get enough information from the Obama administration about moving into the White House back in January 2017, for the beginning of the first Trump administration. “The difference is, I know where I will be going. I know the rooms where we will be living. I know the processes,” the former first lady told “Fox & Friends” co-host Ainsley Earhardt on Monday. “The first time was challenging. We didn’t have much of the information, the information was upheld from us from the previous administration. But this time I have everything. I have the plans. I could move in. I already packed. I already selected the furniture that needs to go in. So it’s very different a transition this time, second time around.” The inauguration events will feature performances by Carrie Underwood, the Village People and Lee Greenwood. Underwood, the 2005 “American Idol” winner, will be singing “America the Beautiful” and will be joined by the Armed Forces Choir and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club. A Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee spokesperson told Fox News Digital Underwood will perform during the swearing-in ceremony for President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance. TRUMP, OBAMA CHATTING AND LAUGHING AT CARTER FUNERAL LIGHTS UP SOCIAL MEDIA The ’70s disco group Village People have been a staple during Trump’s rallies over the past year, with hits like “Y.M.C.A” and “Macho Man” being played. The group is slated to perform at one of Trump’s inaugural balls and a rally he’s holding in Washington the day before his inauguration. Along with Greenwood, opera singer Christopher Macchio is set to make a performance during Trump’s inauguration festivities, The Associated Press reported. Fox News’ Janelle Ash, Brooke Singman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dem senator’s ‘lies and stupidity’ at Hegseth hearing roasted on social media: ‘Clown show’
Social media users are criticizing a Democratic senator for claiming that Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth would lead a military invasion of Greenland if nominated. A confirmation hearing for Hegseth was held by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, when lawmakers were given the opportunity to question Trump’s defense pick. One Democrat in particular, Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, caused a firestorm of social media reactions to her asking Hegseth whether he would invade Greenland or take over the Panama Canal. “Trump never strategically tips his hand. I would never publicly state one way or another to direct the orders of the president,” Hegseth responded to the question. “Hirono was playing judge, jury, and executioner based on lies and stupidity,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote in a post on X. PETE HEGSETH HEADS TO CAPITOL HILL FOR FIERY HEARING ON HIS RECORD, PLANS TO SHAKE UP PENTAGON Brigette Gabriel, ACT for America founder and chair, wrote that “Mazie Hirono might be the least intelligent Member of Congress, and that’s saying something.” “This line of questioning is unbecoming of her position as a United States Senator,” Gabriel said on X. “I stand with Pete Hegseth.” HEGSETH WAS ‘INCREDIBLY TALENTED, BATTLE-PROVEN LEADER,’ MILITARY EVALUATIONS SHOW During the hearing, Hirono claimed that President-elect Donald Trump ordered guards to “shoot protesters in the legs” during a protest at Layfayette Square in Washington, D.C., in 2020 and asked if Hegseth would carry out such an order. “I was in the Washington, D.C. National Guard unit that was in Lafayette Square during those events, holding a riot shield on behalf of my country,” Hegseth responded. “I saw 50 Secret Service agents get injured by riot agents.” Hirono also asked Hegseth about allegations of sexual assault and claims that he was drinking on the job – both of which he has repeatedly denied. “Clown show,” wrote Eric Daughtery, Assistant News Director of Florida’s Voice. “Mazie Hirono peddles the discredited anonymous sources from NBC who claimed that Pete Hegseth was constantly drunk at work,” wrote Greg Price.
Biden issues second AI action during final week in office with executive order fast-tracking US infrastructure
President Biden on Tuesday signed an ambitious executive order that he says will keep both national security and climate change in mind while fast-tracking the build out of large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the United States. Biden said in a statement released by the White House that the executive order will “accelerate the speed at which we build the next generation of AI infrastructure here in America, in a way that enhances economic competitiveness, national security, AI safety, and clean energy.” It directs the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy “to lease federal sites where the private sector can build frontier AI infrastructure at speed and scale.” “The United States leads the world at the frontier of artificial intelligence (AI). Cutting-edge AI will have profound implications for national security and enormous potential to improve Americans’ lives if harnessed responsibly, from helping cure disease to keeping communities safe by mitigating the effects of climate change. However, we cannot take our lead for granted,” Biden said. “We will not let America be out-built when it comes to the technology that will define the future, nor should we sacrifice critical environmental standards and our shared efforts to protect clean air and clean water.” The order will “ensure that the infrastructure needed for advanced AI operations—including large-scale data centers and new clean power infrastructure—can be built with speed and scale here in the United States,” Biden said, adding, “These efforts are designed to accelerate the clean energy transition in a way that is responsible and respectful to local communities, and in a way that does not impose any new costs on American families.” “Building AI infrastructure in the United States is a national security imperative,” Biden said. “As AI’s capabilities grow, so do its implications for Americans’ safety and security. Domestic data centers for training and operating powerful AI models will help the United States facilitate AI’s safe and secure development, harness AI in service of national security, and prevent adversaries from accessing powerful systems to the detriment of our military and national security.” BIDEN WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES ‘FINAL RULE’ ON AI CHIP EXPORTS BEFORE TRUMP HAND-OFF, DRAWING INDUSTRY BLOWBACK “It will also help prevent America from growing dependent on other countries to access powerful AI tools,” he added. Vice President Harris, who attended the first-ever global AI summit hosted in London in November 2023, said in a statement on Tuesday the “significant electrical power needs of large-scale AI operations also present a new opportunity for advancing American leadership in clean-energy technology, which will power our future economy.” “By activating the full force of the federal government to speed up and scale AI operations here in the United States, we are securing our global leadership on AI, which will have a profound impact on our economy, society, and national security for generations to come,” she added. Under the new rules, the departments of Defense and Energy will each identify at least three sites where the private sector can build AI data centers. The agencies will run “competitive solicitations” from private companies to build AI data centers on those federal sites, senior administration officials said. Developers building on those sites will be required, among other things, to pay for the construction of those facilities and to bring sufficient “clean power” generation to match the full capacity needs of their data centers. Although the U.S. government will be leasing land to a company, that company would own the materials it creates there, officials said. Developers selected to build on government sites will be required to pay all costs of building and operating AI infrastructure so that development does not raise electricity prices for consumers, the administration said. SULLIVAN CLAIMS BIDEN ADMIN LEAVES RUSSIA, CHINA AND IRAN ‘WEAKER,’ AMERICA ‘SAFER’ BEFORE TRUMP HANDOFF The orders also direct construction of AI data centers on federal sites to be done with public labor agreements. Some of the sites are reserved for small and medium-sized AI companies, according to government officials. Government agencies will also complete a study on the effects of all AI data centers on electricity prices, and the Energy Department will provide technical assistance to state public utility commissions regarding electricity tariff designs that can support connecting new large customers with clean energy. As part of the order, the Interior Department will identify lands it manages that are suitable for clean energy development and can support data centers on government sites, administration officials said. “The volumes of computing power, electricity needed to train and operate frontier models are increasing rapidly and set to surge even more,” Tarun Chhabra, deputy assistant to the president and coordinator for technology and national security, told the Associated Press. “By around 2028, we expect that leading AI developers will be seeking to operate data centers with as much as five gigawatts of capacity for training AI models.” Deploying AI systems at scale also requires a broader network of data centers across different parts of the country, he said. The executive order comes on the heels of the Biden administration’s proposed new restrictions on exports of artificial intelligence chips, an attempt to balance national security concerns about the technology with the economic interests of producers and other countries. The Biden White House announced its “final rule” on AI diffusion Monday, receiving blow-back from chip industry executives as well as officials from the European Union over export restrictions that would affect 120 countries. “We’re trying to strike the right balance between ensuring that the frontier of AI stays in the United States of America and our close allies, while also ensuring that the rest of the world can benefit from AI and get the hardware that they need to power AI applications going forward,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House Monday. “We think this is, in a bipartisan spirit, the way to best preserve and protect America’s lead when it comes to artificial intelligence.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Gov. Greg Abbott threatens Texas A&M president’s job over claim that university broke DEI ban
Abbott’s comments came after A&M invited staffers and students to attend a conference that a conservative activist said broke the state’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
FIRST ON FOX: Red state suing Biden admin for unleashing ‘chaos’ on schools through open border
FIRST ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL: The state of Oklahoma is suing to hold the Biden administration accountable for unleashing “massive chaos” on the public school system in the state through four years of open border policies. The suit, launched by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, targets President Biden’s Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. It demands the Biden administration refund Oklahoma for the approximately $470 million it had to spend on educating thousands of illegal immigrant children over the last four years. Walters, who filed the suit in the Western District Court of Oklahoma today, told Fox News Digital that public schools are “overrun with illegal immigrants” who are stretching the system’s resources thin and limiting opportunities for the children of taxpaying citizens. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HONDURAN GANG MEMBER KIDNAPPED US WOMAN, ‘GIGGLED’ AFTER THREATENING TO SELL ORGANS: REPORT According to data gathered by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, the state spends approximately $11,000 per student annually, and the number of unaccompanied migrant children placed in the state is nearly 3,000. Walters said that Oklahoma schools are struggling to provide adequate resources for immigrant children, such as certified teachers for students with limited English proficiency, transportation and individualized education plans, and that these challenges have a long-term impact on school budgets and the quality of education for all students in the state. “It truly is chaos in the school system. And who’s suffering here? It’s the students,” said Walters. “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris did this intentionally, and we’ve got students caught in the crossfire here. We have got to protect them, and we’ve got to get our states back on track in educating our kids.” BIDEN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPENT OVER $1 BILLION ON DEI GRANTS: REPORT Though President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office next week, he said that Oklahoma taxpayers are still being saddled with the costs of the Biden administration’s failed border policies. He pointed to an NBC interview with outgoing ICE Director P.J. Lechleitner, who said the Biden administration “absolutely” should have acted sooner to shut down the border. Walters said, “They knew it was happening, and they didn’t do anything about it.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE “Last week we had Joe Biden’s top ICE director admit that they allowed this to happen, that they allowed the law to be broken … and frankly, they’re crystal clear these orders came from the top, they came from Joe Biden and the border czar Kamala Harris,” he said. “We cannot just allow them to skate off into the sunset and say, ‘President Trump, here you go, states, sorry, we just caused this massive chaos across your schools, across your state, into your communities.’ Those individuals have to be held accountable for the chaos they brought to our kids and our families. And that’s what this lawsuit will do.” BLUE STATE GOV CHANGES TUNE AFTER VOWING TO FIGHT TRUMP DEPORTATION EFFORTS, NOW HOPES HE FIXES BORDER Walters called on other states to join Oklahoma’s suit against the Biden administration, saying that “every state has to get a grasp of what illegal immigration has done to their school system, has done to their states.” “This is the future we’re talking about; we’re trying to get education back on track,” he said. “This is how you change this trajectory. This is how you get the Trump administration the support that they need by holding the current administration accountable, getting this data, getting this information,” he went on, concluding: “In Oklahoma, we’re not going to tolerate Kamala Harris and Joe Biden allowing our schools to be overrun with illegal immigrants and with this lawsuit, we will hold them accountable to the taxpayers of the state of Oklahoma.”
LA councilwoman whose district ravaged by wildfires looks to hold leaders accountable for empty reservoirs
A Los Angeles council member, whose district has been devastated by the recent historic wildfires, is demanding accountability from city and state officials after empty reservoirs hindered firefighting efforts, raising questions about how ready the city will be to host world-stage events in the next few years. “This fire was unlike anything we have ever seen before, but there is no secret that we have chronically underinvested in critical infrastructure and public safety in Los Angeles,” Council member Traci Park told Fox News Digital in a Monday interview. “And I think there are a lot of questions about what more could have been done or could have been done differently, and what it’s going to take in Los Angeles to make sure this never happens again,” she said. FIRST HEARING IN ‘TRUMP-PROOF’ CALIFORNIA SPECIAL SESSION CANCELED AS CHAIRMAN’S DISTRICT HIT BY WILDFIRES Following the devastating wildfires that began in the Los Angeles mountains last week, concerns arose over dysfunctional fire hydrants and significant multimillion-dollar reductions of the fire department’s budget. Gov. Gavin Newsom responded on Friday by calling for an independent review of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to investigate the water supply issues during the emergency. “The ongoing reports of loss of water pressure to some local fire hydrants during the fires and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir are deeply troubling to me and to the community,” Newsom wrote to LADWP Chief Executive Officer and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones and L.A. County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella in a letter. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers defended state leadership. “Obviously, I have a lot of concerns about the water,” said Park, whose district encompasses the Pacific Palisades, the area which was one of the first and hardest hit by the wildfires. “I was personally at the command post at Will Rogers as this Volcano of Fire came over our mountain, through our town, all the way to Pacific Coast Highway, and throughout those events into the night, I was anecdotally hearing about our firefighters not having enough water,” she said. “And I think we all have questions about the expectations, how are our firefighters supposed to fight fire without the thing they need to do it, that’s water?” ‘IS NOW THE RIGHT TIME … TO FIGHT DONALD TRUMP?’: CA HOUSE SPEAKER DODGES FIERY QUESTIONING FROM REPORTER Park, who has been collecting critical aid at her Westchester neighborhood office to distribute to her constituents, said she’s also concerned about disaster preparedness, as Los Angeles sets itself to host the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games. “I was concerned about our level of preparation for those events before this happened,” Park said, in regard to the wildfires. “And I certainly think that over the last several days, we have seen some of those gaps on full display.” While Park expressed her gratitude for Newsom and “his support at the state level,” as well as county and Cal Fire partners, “The reality is, as we are hosting millions of people in our city, and our resources are already spread so thin, it is clear that we have a lot of work to do a lot of strategic planning to continue our preparations for those big events that are coming.” ‘DEVASTATING’: CALIFORNIA HAD RECORD RAINFALL LAST YEAR, BUT LACKED INFRASTRUCTURE TO STORE IT In the months leading up to the wildfires, Los Angeles city officials reduced the fire department’s budget by just under $18 million, according to the department. At the state level, experts and lawmakers are pointing fingers at the top leaders’ handling of the state’s forestry management and a lesser-known problem: the state’s outdated water reserves system. California’s existing reservoirs can only hold so much water, and many were built in the mid-20th century. In 2024, the state experienced record-breaking rainfall after an atmospheric river event, but the existing water infrastructure faced difficulties managing the sudden influx of water. A significant portion of that rainfall was dumped into the ocean. In 2014, California voters passed Proposition 1, also known as the Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act, which authorized $2.7 billion in bonds to increase the state’s water storage capacity through building new reservoirs and groundwater storage facilities. Yet, no new reservoirs have been completed under Prop. 1, according to local reports.