GOP sen secures historic sheriff backing, including one Dem flip and ‘clean sweep’ Independent support
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Jon Husted has secured a record-breaking 75 endorsements from Ohio’s 88 county sheriffs, marking the largest show of support from law enforcement in the state’s history, including a “clean sweep” of Independent sheriffs and a show of support from across party lines. “They’ve seen at the national level people like Sherrod Brown denying the border crisis, when millions of people poured across our border who were unvetted,” Husted told Fox News Digital. “That included people who were bringing drugs and human trafficking.” He explained his belief that the immigration and crime policies put in place under the Biden administration made law enforcement hesitant to support Brown, Husted’s Democratic opponent in November who is aiming to return to the Senate after being ousted in 2024 after 18 years in the chamber. Local sheriffs feel abandoned by previous federal policies, according to Husted. “They would tell me that they would arrest people who were in the country illegally, they would have them in their jails, they would call Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and ICE would just say ‘let them go,’” Husted claimed. HUSTED FILES FOR 2026 SENATE RACE, LAUNCHING AGGRESSIVE STATEWIDE RE-ELECTION PUSH Husted argued that the current return to pro-enforcement policies in the Trump administration has changed the game for those on the ground. “These are the people on the front line,” Husted said. “That’s what they experience. They know the difference between where Sherrod Brown is on those issues… and where I’ve been. Now they see the opposite. When they arrest somebody who has committed a crime, who’s in the country illegally, they just call ICE, ICE comes and gets them, and they do the process of deportation.” The list of officials backing Husted includes a sheriff who previously stood with Husted’s opponent, Sherrod Brown. Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, who endorsed Brown in the last cycle, is now firmly behind Husted. “Jon Husted has proven he will stand up for law enforcement,” Wasylyshyn said in a press release. “In this race, he’s earned my support. I’ve seen his leadership, and I’m confident he will continue to support those of us working to keep our communities safe.” Additionally, the sheriff from Brown’s home county of Richland is supporting Husted. Husted also framed the issue of crime as a struggle for everyday Ohioans, noting that “working families” don’t have the luxury of private security like some of the high-profile celebrity critics of crime crackdowns. BLUE CITY’S STAGGERING 40% VIOLENT CRIME DROP A ‘BLUEPRINT FOR OTHER CITIES,’ LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERT SAYS “If you’re, you know, a working family of four, you make $80,000 a year, you don’t live in a gated community with officers and security,” Husted said. “You live in neighborhoods where, in many cases, criminals try to come and steal cars, bring drugs and things like that. And they don’t want that. That’s why working families support law and order. They support the rule of law. They want people to follow the law, and they want law enforcement to enforce the law.” The senator’s campaign pointed to Husted’s long-standing record of funding law enforcement. Throughout his service, he led efforts to invest more than $274 million into Ohio law enforcement for body cameras, training and wellness programs. He also pioneered the creation of a statewide law enforcement recruitment hub to address critical staffing shortages. “Jon Husted has been an ally to law enforcement when others have turned their backs,” said Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas Riggenbach. “He has always stood with those of us on the front lines, making sure we have the resources and support we need to do our jobs.” For Husted, the endorsements are more than just numbers; they are a validation of his career-long alignment with police. “I’ve been behind the police my whole life,” Husted said. “They’re on the front lines of fighting crime, and they know I’ve always had their backs. I support them, and they support me—and together, we’ll keep Ohio safe.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Brown campaign for comment. The Ohio Senate race is viewed as a key battleground because Democrats see it as a winnable pickup that could erode the GOP’s narrow 53–47 majority, while Republicans need to hold it to prevent their already slim margin from tightening further.
DOJ investigates Illinois schools over secret gender transitions, ideology
President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is continuing its investigatory crackdown on left-wing ideology in schools, homing in on one of the biggest blue states renowned for its activist teachers unions. The DOJ announced an investigation into 36 Illinois school districts over whether they allowed parents to opt their children out of instruction involving sexual orientation and gender ideology (SOGI). “What we’ve learned is that Illinois has a comprehensive sex education and LGBTQ education regime for its public schools, and it appears that it does not allow for parental opt-outs, so these are mandatory topics,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon told Fox News in an exclusive interview. “If the schools are mandating this and not allowing parents the opportunity to opt out of content that may be inappropriate for them based on religion or values, they would be afoul of that Supreme Court precedent,” Dhillon said. “And so we have reason to believe that these school districts in Illinois are not obeying the law, and we’re going to look into that.” EDUCATION DEPT LAUNCHES 18 TITLE IX PROBES AFTER SCOTUS HEARS ARGUMENTS IN EFFORTS TO PROTECT WOMEN’S SPORTS The review will also examine whether districts are encouraging or facilitating student gender transitions without parental notice or consent, including through name and pronoun policies or school clubs focused on gender identity. “This Department of Justice is determined to put an end to local school authorities keeping parents in the dark about how sexuality and gender ideology are being pushed in classrooms,” Dhillon wrote in a statement, announcing the investigation. “Supreme Court precedent leaves no doubt: parents have the fundamental right and primary authority to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children. “This includes exempting their children from ideological instruction that contradicts their values or decisions about their children’s health and best interests.” The Dhillon-led Civil Rights Division announced Thursday it has opened investigations into the 36 public school districts to determine whether they have included SOGI content in any class from pre-K through 12th grade. If so, DOJ says investigators will examine whether schools notified parents of their right to opt their children out of that instruction. ILLINOIS SCHOOL FACES CRIMINAL DOJ REFERRAL AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF FORCING GIRLS TO CHANGE WITH TRANS STUDENT The Illinois school districts are recipients of hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer funding, which could be at risk if civil rights violations are found. Dhillon told Fox News the inquiry will go beyond classroom instruction and examine whether districts are encouraging or facilitating gender transitions without parental notice or consent, including through policies involving students’ names, pronouns or participation in school clubs focused on gender identity. “Illinois is just pushing these radical agendas,” Dhillon told Fox News, adding that school districts are often left “in a rock and a hard place” and that federal court intervention may be necessary to “stop this illegal practice.” SENATORS UNVEIL BILL TO COMBAT FINANCIAL AID FRAUD BY ‘GHOST STUDENTS’ The DOJ said the investigations will also assess whether the districts limit access to single-sex intimate spaces — including bathrooms and locker rooms — and girls’ sports teams based on biological sex. The department said the districts under review receive federal funding and will be examined for compliance with Title IX and Supreme Court precedent on parental rights. “Children have rights and parents have rights, and we’re here to enforce those rights,” Dhillon vowed to Fox News. The districts named by DOJ include Atwood Heights School District 125, Bloomington Public Schools District 87, DeKalb Community Unit School District 428, Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401, Freeport School District 145, Noble Network of Charter Schools, North Chicago Community Unit School District 187, Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123, Reavis Township High School District 220, Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 and Will County School District 92, among others. The probe marks the latest development in federal scrutiny of Illinois education policy. Last year, federal officials opened a Title IX investigation involving the Illinois Board of Education and Chicago Public Schools over allegations tied to policies allowing transgender students to access bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. Fox News’ Mike Tobin contributed to this report.
Bernie Sanders campaigns with controversial Michigan Senate candidate
As part of his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., rallied Sunday in Detroit, Michigan, with U.S. Senate hopeful Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and U.S. House hopeful state Rep. Donavan McKinney. Sanders said the nation needs leaders in D.C. with “the guts to take on the political establishment of both political parties, to take on the oligarchs and economic establishment. That’s why we need Dr. Abdul El-Sayed in the Senate.” El-Sayed advocates for policies including “Medicare-for-all” and the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), points which he hammered home during remarks at the event. MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE CLAIMS ISRAEL ‘JUST AS EVIL’ AS HAMAS Sanders endorsed El-Sayed for governor in 2018, but the candidate lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary that year to Gretchen Whitmer. He is currently running in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Michigan. Other prominent contenders include U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow. DEM SENATE PRIMARY ERUPTS IN KEY STATE AS CANDIDATE TEAMS UP WITH RADICAL STREAMER: ‘AMERICA DESERVED 9/11’ McKinney also supports establishing “Medicare-for-all” and abolishing ICE. He is running in the Democratic primary in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich. FAR-LEFT HOUSE DEM PUSHES LAND REPARATIONS FOR DESCENDANTS OF AMERICAN SLAVES Sanders said during the event that “over the last six, eight years, we have elected dozens of great members of Congress, strong progressives who are standing up and fighting for the working class. And I certainly hope that Donavan McKinney will join that group.”
Pritzker calls for criminal investigations into ICE agents over ‘Midway Blitz’ conduct
Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker is urging state officials to pursue criminal investigations into federal immigration enforcement agents involved in Operation Midway Blitz, citing a report released by a commission he created to investigate federal agents’ conduct during the months-long investigation. Pritzker’s Thursday press conference unveiling the Illinois Accountability Commission’s recommendation to pursue criminal investigations into ICE and other federal agents came just over a month after he first vowed to seek criminal charges against Trump administration officials and law enforcement officers he said had “broken the law.” “Our communities and our people were subjected to an unprecedented campaign of harassment, intimidation and brutality,” Pritzker said at the news conference. “They deployed tear gas and smoke grenades against peaceful protesters and peaceful crowds and in peaceful neighborhoods. They committed flagrant and egregious abuses of power and force that went unchecked.” CHICAGO RESIDENT FIRES BACK AT LIBERAL GOVERNOR’S PLEDGE TO SHIELD MIGRANTS FROM ICE RAIDS The report was compiled by eight members who were appointed to the commission by Pritzker. Members of the commission include retired judges, a retired law enforcement official, former prosecutors and a nonprofit leader. The report pinpointed more than a dozen incidents involving federal agents as alleged instances of misconduct that warrant further investigation, including the death of Silverio Villegas González, an illegal immigrant from Mexico who was shot and killed by ICE agents. The more than 150-page report accused the Trump administration of lying about the motivation behind Operation Midway Blitz and that it “distorted key facts about events involving federal immigration agents.” “High-level White House, DHS and other federal officials enabled and encouraged misconduct by ICE and CBP agents during Operation Midway Blitz by urging agents to ‘go hard,’ defending and mischaracterizing incidents of use of force, shielding agents from accountability, lifting safeguards, and effectuating harmful policies,” the report alleged. The report alleged that federal agents engaged in “unconstitutional uses of force” which consisted of “extreme physical force, indiscriminate use of chemical agents, shootings, beatings, and other violent acts.” ILLINOIS GOV. JB PRITZKER MOVES TO BOYCOTT EL SALVADOR FOR AIDING TRUMP OVER KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA’S DETENTION “Governor Pritzker continues to refuse to do his job to protect his citizens from illegal alien crime and instead chooses to smear our law enforcement,” Department of Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said. “Where is the investigation into his own policies that allowed Sheridan Gorman’s killer to be released from jail to go on and commit her heinous murder?” Bis slammed Pritzker’s calls for criminal prosecution as “nothing more than a political stunt.” “Federal officers acting in the course of their duties can only be investigated by other Federal agencies,” Bis said. “The states do not have the authority to run such an investigation.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and the Office of the Illinois Attorney General for comment.
Marco Rubio spotted behind DJ booth at family wedding as social media reacts to viral clip
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is going viral — not for diplomacy, but for stepping behind a DJ booth at a family wedding and hyping up the crowd in a clip shared online that’s quickly gaining attention. The video, posted by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino on X, shows Rubio wearing headphones and standing behind a DJ setup, leaning over the controls as music plays and guests dance nearby. At several points, he pumps his fist, nods along to the beat and appears to cue up the next track, drawing cheers from people gathered around the booth. “MOMENTS AGO, BEHIND THE SCENES—Our Great Secretary of State @MarcoRubio DJ’s weddings too! Here he is in action tonight at a family wedding… Let’s goooooo!!!” Scavino wrote in the post. DUFFY JUST GOT AN ADDITIONAL JOB IN TRUMP’S ADMINISTRATION — AND HE’S NOT THE ONLY ONE WEARING MULTIPLE HATS The track playing in the video is “Shiver” by John Summit and Hayla, a high-energy dance song known for its pulsing beat and dramatic drop — a fitting backdrop as the crowd moves in sync and reacts to the music. The unexpected scene has set social media on fire, with users reacting to the unusual sight of a sitting U.S. secretary of state taking on DJ duties at what appears to be a family celebration. ONE-MAN CABINET: MARCO RUBIO WENT FROM RIVAL TO TRUMP’S POINT MAN, BUT CAN HE HANDLE IT? One user wrote, “Marco becoming the official White House DJ,” while sharing an AI photo of Rubio dressed in black, wearing sunglasses and headphones and standing beside DJ equipment. The image shows Rubio in a club-like setting, with lighting and staging that mirrors a professional DJ setup. Other X users shared AI images of Rubio mixing it up behind two turntables and a microphone. MARCO RUBIO EMERGES AS KEY TRUMP POWER PLAYER AFTER VENEZUELA OPERATION Another user wrote, “Marco can do it all!” posting another AI image showing Rubio at the turntables as Vice President JD Vance sits nearby on an ottoman, surrounded by haze and lighting effects. Rubio, who is also serving as acting national security advisor and has held several other roles, has taken on a wide range of responsibilities over the course of his career — and now, at least for one night, he can add DJ to the list.
Rudy Giuliani hospitalized in critical but stable condition: ‘He’s fighting’
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been hospitalized and is in critical but stable condition, according to a statement posted Sunday on X. Ted Goodman, a political strategist who launched a livestream program with Giuliani, posted about the hospitalization on Sunday evening. “Mayor Rudy Giuliani is currently in the hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition,” Goodman wrote. “Mayor Giuliani is a fighter who has faced every challenge in his life with unwavering strength, and he’s fighting with that same level of strength as we speak. “We do ask that you join us in prayer for America’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani,” he added. RUDY GIULIANI INJURED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE CAR CRASH AFTER AIDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM, SPOKESMAN SAYS After learning the news, President Donald Trump called Giuliani the “Best Mayor” in New York City’s history. “Our fabulous Rudy Giuliani, a True Warrior, and the Best Mayor in the History of New York City, BY FAR, has been hospitalized, and is in critical condition. What a tragedy that he was treated so badly by the Radical Left Lunatics, Democrats ALL — AND HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “They cheated on the Elections, fabricated hundreds of stories, did anything possible to destroy our Nation, and now, look at Rudy. So sad!” Former mayor Eric Adams’ spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, said Sunday that even though Adams and Giuliani did not always agree politically, this moment “rises above politics.” “On behalf of Eric Adams, we are wishing strength, good health, and a full recovery to Rudy Giuliani—a man who devoted his life to public service,” Shapiro said. “From his years as a federal prosecutor to leading New York City through its darkest day on 9/11, he stood with this city when it needed him most. “Public service at that level demands sacrifice, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to the people you serve,” he continued. “Whatever differences may exist, those contributions deserve respect. We are keeping him and his family in our thoughts.” RUDY GIULIANI IS RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL, ‘RECOVERING WELL’ AFTER NEW HAMPSHIRE CAR CRASH, ASSOCIATE SAYS The hospitalization comes nearly eight months after Giuliani was seriously injured in a car crash in New Hampshire. Fox News Digital learned at the time that Giuliani was flagged down by a woman fleeing a domestic-violence incident. The former mayor helped the woman and called 911, remaining at the scene until police arrived. He later left the scene and was traveling on the highway when the vehicle he was riding in was struck from behind at a high speed. New Hampshire State Police said the crash happened just before 10 p.m. on Interstate 93 in Manchester. Troopers and fire personnel were already on the southbound side handling the reported domestic-violence incident when they witnessed a two-vehicle collision on the northbound side. Both vehicles ended up in the median and were heavily damaged, according to police. TRUMP TO AWARD RUDY GIULIANI THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM: ‘GREAT AMERICAN PATRIOT’ Giuliani’s head of security and spokesman, Michael Ragusa, told Fox News Digital at the time that he was in “good spirits and recovering tremendously.” Giuliani was diagnosed with “a fractured thoracic vertebrae,” along with multiple lacerations and contusions and injuries to his left arm and lower leg, Ragusa said. “This was not a targeted attack,” Ragusa added in a post on X. “We ask everyone to respect Mayor Giuliani’s privacy and recovery, and refrain from spreading unfounded conspiracy theories.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Giuliani’s business partner and medical provider went to the hospital to oversee his care, according to Ragusa. Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.
Latest Trump assassination attempt exposes ‘educated assassins’ moral crisis, university president says
The California man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner was highly educated and had worked as a tutor, a profile one university president said raises an unsettling question about the role of education in shaping character. Cole Allen, 31, earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 and a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills last year. That doesn’t match the typical resume of a would-be presidential assassin, but a disturbing shift appears to be underway, according to Cornerstone University President Gerson Moreno-Riaño. “A troubling trend that appears to be emerging is that of the ‘educated assassin,’ individuals who do not fit the typical profile of people who commit such heinous acts,” Moreno-Riaño said. “These individuals are often schooled in some of America’s most elite institutions and act out of a perverted philosophical conviction that sees the killing of others not as evil, but as justified.” ALLEGED TRUMP ASSASSINATION PLOT: ANALYSIS SHOWS 1 IN 5 LEFT-WING POSTS CRY HOAX, ADMIN SHREDS ‘MORON’ CLAIMS “My concern has been for many, many years that some of these not just activists, but violent activists, are perhaps some of the most highly educated ones in our country,” he said. “When education ceases to educate, when it’s ideological, when it’s brainwashing, when it’s indoctrination, it’s no longer education… It’s something very different.” Prosecutors say Allen, who remains in federal custody, targeted Trump and Cabinet officials in the April 25 incident. He allegedly had authored a damning manifesto and left what authorities described as an extensive digital trail showing weeks of planning. In addition to his advanced schooling, Allen joined tutoring company C2 Education in March 2020, according to his LinkedIn profile. A Dec. 30, 2024, Facebook post from the company congratulated “Cole Allen of C2 Education Torrence” as a teacher of the month. CHARLAMAGNE BLAMES TRUMP FOR HEATED RHETORIC AMID WCHA DINNER FALLOUT Secret Service Director Sean Curran told Fox News Thursday that Allen shot an agent in the chest while “charging through security,” with the round stopped by the agent’s bulletproof vest. Curran said the agent returned five shots that missed, adding the agent was the only person other than Allen who discharged a weapon during the incident. Allen is believed to have tripped and fallen, prompting Secret Service agents to surround and subdue him. Defense attorneys claim prosecutors lack key physical evidence and dispute aspects of how the incident has been characterized. A defense memo described Allen as a “devout Christian,” a highly educated man with no criminal history and a “loved and respected teacher.” But Moreno-Riaño warned that credentials and professional roles do not necessarily reflect deeper moral grounding. “The universities have rejected the centrality of God, a theistic Christian worldview, but nothing has taken its place,” he said. “There is no moral compass for universities and for education today. It just doesn’t exist.” KANSAS PROFESSOR PUT ON LEAVE AFTER CALLING WHITE MEN ‘DANGEROUS ANIMALS’ IN THE WAKE OF CHARLIE KIRK’S MURDER He added that parents should take a more active role in understanding what their children are being taught. “Parents can no longer… simply drop off their student” and assume responsibility ends there, Moreno-Riaño said. Moreno-Riaño also said people who carry out acts like this can hide their intentions, making them difficult to identify ahead of time. “Our entire life as a whole, whatever we do in private, whatever we’re doing in secret, does have a significant impact on what we do in public,” he said. Allen’s next hearing is scheduled for May 11. For Moreno-Riaño, the case points to a moral concern. “There’s a crisis of morality, a crisis of faith,” he said. “Without it, all we’re giving to students is just information then. And that’s not giving them guidance and moral direction.” Fox News Digital’s Alex Koch, Asra Q. Nomani, Jake Gibson, Julia Bonavita and Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this reporting.
Patel says FBI has cut bureaucracy, moved 1,000 agents to field offices in ‘generational’ overhaul
In just 14 months, the FBI claims it has carried out a “generational” shakeup that has cut bureaucracy, shifted agents into the field and embraced artificial intelligence in what FBI Director Kash Patel calls a long-overdue effort to restore trust and sharpen its focus on protecting Americans. In a draft of a letter from Patel to the FBI workforce obtained by Fox News, the director wrote that the bureau has delivered on changes FBI employees have been requesting for years, transforming the FBI into a premier modern-day law enforcement organization. The overhaul has included a significant redistribution of personnel away from Washington, D.C., according to Patel, with more than 1,000 agents and staff reassigned to field offices and hundreds of intelligence personnel moved closer to active investigations. At the same time, Patel wrote, the bureau has accelerated its use of advanced technology, expanding artificial intelligence tools to help process tips, identify threats and streamline investigations. FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: WE HAVE MADE AMERICA SAFER IN JUST ONE YEAR Patel also touted significant cost savings, saying a sweeping review of contracts and facilities has already cut more than $300 million in spending, with additional savings projected in the years ahead. The planned relocation of FBI headquarters is expected to generate further long-term savings, with officials estimating billions in reduced costs. The reforms place a heightened emphasis on domestic security, including the creation of a multiagency mission center focused on domestic terrorism and politically motivated violence. DAN BONGINO REVEALS HE FEARS ‘FEDERAL PRISON’ IN CHILLING CLAIM AFTER YEAR AT THE FBI Officials say the FBI has also deepened its collaboration with both law enforcement and private industry, establishing new partnerships with technology companies and creating formal channels for state and local agencies to engage directly with bureau leadership. Patel wrote that while he has been the one pushing for the reforms, they could not have happened without the feedback of all those who work at the bureau.
Dem Senate candidate Sherrod Brown claims he supports ‘closing the border’; GOP says record proves otherwise
Republicans are calling out Democratic Senate primary candidate Sherrod Brown for being disingenuous on illegal immigration just days before Tuesday’s Ohio primary election. “I support closing the border to people so they just can’t cross the border at will, but I also say we, of course, should be deporting people that have committed a crime, surely,” Brown said in an interview last month, prompting reviews of his voting record to the contrary. That remark has raised concern about Brown trying to rewrite his voting record that showed longtime opposition to border security and deportation of criminal aliens since the first Trump administration. Brown served in the Senate for three terms (2007-2025), nearly two full decades, before losing in 2024 to Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio. Now, Brown is seeking the seat of Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, who was appointed to Vice President JD Vance’s seat at the start of the second Trump administration. MAGA-OUSTED DEM SENATOR FROM KEY SWING STATE LAUNCHES COMEBACK CAMPAIGN AFTER LOSING SEAT IN 2024: REPORT Brown had been squarely on the side of the left against President Donald Trump’s border security and enforcement actions as a senator. Not only did he vote at least 10 times to protect federal funding for sanctuary cities from his time in the House in 2001 through his third Senate term in 2024, he has also: Brown’s voting record shows a discrepancy between his latest comments and his past votes and public positions. Brown has repeatedly opposed construction of a southern border wall “that doesn’t work,” calling the idea “stupid,” “wrong” and “ludicrous.” In the past he has voted: Fox News Digital reached out to Brown’s campaign for comment, but they did not immediately respond. The Ohio Senate race figures to be a very competitive one this summer, drawing massive campaign dollars from both sides in the pursuit of the Senate majority, with immigration remaining a top issue. “This November, Ohioans will have a clear choice between the past and the future,” Husted campaign manager Drew Thompson told Signal Cleveland, which reported a $1 million ad campaign for his Senate race this week, despite running unopposed in the primary. “Jon Husted is getting an early start by taking his story directly to voters who are ready for a fresh, common-sense approach in Washington.” HUSTED FILES FOR 2026 SENATE RACE, LAUNCHING AGGRESSIVE STATEWIDE RE-ELECTION PUSH Brown’s 32-year record of voting for sanctuary cities and illegal immigration will come back to haunt him in the state, Thompson added in a statement. “After shocking Ohioans in 2024 by claiming he only hears about illegal immigration from the far Right, Sherrod Brown is now desperate to return to Washington and continue the same Biden-era open border policies he supported for 32 years,” the statement read. “Jon Husted, on the other hand, is working to clean up Sherrod Brown’s mess by funding border security, supporting border agents, and standing for the rule of law.” Ohio is one of three races considered a toss-up by The Cook Political Report. The re-election campaign of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and the open Michigan seat vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., are the other two. Senate seats in Alaska (lean GOP), Georgia (Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga.), North Carolina (lean Democrat) and New Hampshire (lean Democrat) are the other close races drawing attention and campaign dollars. “Sherrod Brown’s lies aren’t going to trick Ohioans,” NRSC regional press secretary Nick Puglia said in a statement. “They know Brown has fought for over half a century alongside liberals like Kamala Harris to open our borders and protect dangerous criminal illegals from deportation.”
Obama-era ‘clean energy’ solar power plant still uses fossil fuels – and kills thousands of birds annually
This is part 2 of a series on California’s troubled Ivanpah Solar Power Plant in the Mojave Desert. SAN BERNADINO, Calif. – More than a decade after it opened, an Obama-era taxpayer-backed “clean energy” solar plant in California still burns fossil fuels and kills thousands of birds each year. The Ivanpah Solar Power Plant, a massive facility in the Mojave Desert near the California-Nevada border, uses hundreds of thousands of mirrors to reflect sunlight into three towering structures, generating intense heat to produce electricity. But those same beams have proven deadly. OBAMA-BACKED $2.2B GREEN ENERGY ‘BOONDOGGLE’ LEAVES TAXPAYERS ON THE HOOK Federal researchers and monitoring reports have documented thousands of birds being killed after flying through the plant’s concentrated solar rays — a phenomenon known as “solar flux.” The plant also relies on natural gas to start up each day – producing tens of thousands of metric tons of carbon dioxide annually – an amount comparable to the energy use of thousands of homes, raising questions about how “clean” the facility really is. Standing near the site, its footprint is unmistakable. The towers glow intensely as beams of reflected sunlight converge at their tops, creating an almost surreal scene against the desert landscape. Once promoted as a symbol of the future of renewable energy, Ivanpah is now drawing scrutiny over whether its environmental costs outweigh its benefits, with critics saying the project raises broader concerns about how “clean energy” is evaluated. “If oil and gas spills a drop, literally a drop, the entire operation is shut down. And to an extent that’s a good thing,” Daniel Turner, founder of the energy advocacy group Power The Future, told Fox News Digital. “But you label something ‘green’ or ‘clean’ and all regulations are waived.” TRUMP’S UN SPEECH REVEALS INCONVENIENT TRUTH OF MASSIVE GREEN ENERGY COSTS Despite the documented wildlife impacts, the plant continues to operate — with California regulators declining efforts to shut it down and instead arguing it is still needed to support the power grid. Officials under both the Trump and Biden administrations have supported shutting the facility down, citing the high cost of its electricity compared to newer alternatives. The project was built with more than $1.6 billion in federally backed loans and additional taxpayer-funded incentives, leaving hundreds of millions of dollars still outstanding — even as environmental concerns continue to mount. In addition, the U.S. Department of the Treasury provided a $539 million grant to help build the facility, covering about 30% of construction costs. Bird deaths and wildlife impacts The facility spans more than 4,000 acres of the Mojave Desert and uses roughly 350,000 mirrors — mounted on more than 170,000 heliostats — to reflect sunlight toward three central towers. That same concentrated light has had unintended consequences. Researchers say insects are drawn to the bright towers, which in turn attract birds. Some then fly through the plant’s concentrated solar beams — known as solar flux — where they can be injured or killed. Researchers dubbed the phenomenon “streamers,” with video released by the U.S. Geological Survey showing birds trailing smoke as their feathers burn. A 2016 federal study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found evidence of birds suffering feather damage and trauma consistent with exposure to intense heat near the towers. Monitoring reports filed with California regulators and reviewed by Fox News Digital continue to document bird and bat deaths at the site, with hundreds of birds found dead each year. Environmental reviews conducted before construction anticipated some level of wildlife impact, including bird deaths linked to mirror collisions and concentrated solar beams, according to California Energy Commission documents. “Bird mortality is still a significant concern at concentrated solar plants like Ivanpah,” Lewis Grove, director of wind and energy policy at the American Bird Conservancy, told Fox News Digital. “Public estimates are that thousands of birds are killed every year by this single facility,” he said, adding that the trade-off is “generally not worth it for birds.” CALIFORNIA’S POLITICIANS DIDN’T START THE FIRES. THEY MADE THEM WORSE He noted that newer photovoltaic solar systems have significantly lower impacts on wildlife, underscoring how the industry has shifted away from the technology used at Ivanpah. “The Ivanpah plant was a financial boondoggle and environmental disaster,” Julia Dowell of the Sierra Club said in a previous Fox News Digital report. She added the project “killed thousands of birds and tortoises” and showed that “not all renewable technologies are created equal.” Habitat impact Beyond bird deaths, the project has reshaped the surrounding desert. The site was once considered a high-quality habitat, according to federal environmental reviews conducted before construction. Development cleared large areas of land, displacing tortoises and other wildlife and raised concerns about long-term survival. Early monitoring reports showed dozens of protected desert tortoises went unaccounted for during initial operations — including animals held in controlled enclosures — according to California Energy Commission documents reviewed by Fox News Digital. Critics have also questioned whether efforts to relocate tortoises away from the site have been effective. Burning fossil fuels The plant’s environmental footprint extends beyond wildlife. Ivanpah relies on natural gas to start up operations each day — a requirement that has raised questions about how “clean” the facility really is. While the original design assumed limited gas use, actual operations often require several hours of gas-burning to bring the system online. The plant also lacks large-scale energy storage, meaning it cannot generate electricity at night — a limitation newer solar projects increasingly address. Project documents show the facility was originally approved to use significantly less natural gas than it ultimately required, with operators later seeking approval to increase usage by roughly 60% to maintain reliable operations, according to California Energy Commission filings reviewed by Fox News Digital. The plant has burned natural gas to support daily startup and operations, producing roughly 25,000 to 30,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually — roughly equivalent to the emissions from several thousand U.S. homes. That level of emissions is