GOP governor rallies around historic proposal to slash state's income tax: 'I am optimistic'

Montana is considering making cuts to its individual income tax rate as a growing number of states have completely transitioned to eliminating the tax altogether.

Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte came out in support of Senate Bill 323 last week, which would cut the state income tax from 5.9% to 4.9%, at a news conference with Americans for Prosperity. The cut is what the governor suggested in his November budget proposal. 

"So I came into office back four years ago after 16 years of Democrats in the governor's office in Montana, and we had the highest income tax rate in the Rocky Mountain West," Gianforte told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

"I firmly believe that the citizens of Montana know how to spend their money better than the government does. And so we've made it a priority to bring the tax rate down and to simplify our tax code. We've gone from seven tax brackets to two. With this change that we're proposing, we knock another full percentage point off the income tax rate, and we'd be very close to a flat tax," he added.

MONTANA AG ASKS SUPREME COURT TO UPHOLD LAW REQUIRING PARENTAL CONSENT FOR A MINOR'S ABORTION

If passed into law, it would lower the Treasure State's comparatively high tax rate compared to others in the region even further, after the bracket impacting most people went from 6.9% to 6.75%, down to 5.9% in recent years. The state previously had seven brackets, and now it has two as of 2021. 

"It's the most conservative tax-cut bill in front of our legislature right now, and we are a conservative legislature. I am optimistic," the Republican said. 

The current version of the bill, which is still early in the process, would cut the tax rate to 5.4% in 2026 and the 4.9% rate would start in 2027, according to the legislation's fiscal note. 

"As a fellow Montanan feeling the economic strain from the current rising cost of living in our gorgeous state, the bill would provide some relief," Bianca Lester of Butte said, according to a news release. 

"I’m a single mom of four, which is no easy feat, and I need every penny that I make to help house and clothe and feed my kids. This bill would allow for so many other families like mine to keep all of our hard-earned income," Lester added.

Donald Trump Jr. also came out in support of the proposed cuts. 

"[Gianforte] pushing for the largest income tax cut in Montana history, just like my father’s historic tax cuts! Montana leading the way with conservative, Trump-style tax policies! Get it done! #MAGA," he posted last week.

MORNING GLORY: TRUMP, TARIFFS, THE CR AND THE TAX CUTS

The development comes as Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves just signed legislation that will phase out the state’s income tax entirely in the coming years with the hope of boosting economic development in the southern state. 

In Montana, there are also bills moving through the process to tackle the state's property taxes. 

DEEP RED STATE MAKES MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT INCOME TAX: 'WE PLANT OUR FLAG'

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Nationwide, President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are also pushing for major tax reforms, including no taxes on tips and overtime pay, and there have also been other income tax cuts floated by the Trump administration. 

"I'm excited to get this across the finish line, because I think Montanans know how to spend their money better than the government does," Gianforte said. 

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ICE detains University of Minnesota international graduate student near Twin Cities campus

An international graduate student at the University of Minnesota was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last Thursday, according to a statement from university leadership who called the situation "deeply concerning."

The student was enrolled at the school’s Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis under the Carlson School of Management. The university said the student was arrested at an off-campus residence, but did not name the student nor say why the student was detained.

Thursday’s arrest is one of ICE's latest cases in cracking down on foreign students and faculty members across various American institutions.

Fox News Digital reached out to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for more information, but they did not immediately respond.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENT PROTESTER SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO PREVENT DEPORTATION 

While "the University had no prior knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities before it occurred," the institution said it is working to provide the student with legal aid and other support services.

Carlson School of Management Dean Jamie Prenkert said the university remains committed to its international community during "a time of uncertainty regarding changing federal immigration policies."

"Detentions like these deeply affect our community," Prenkert said in a statement. "From the very beginning of the University’s business school, our doors have been open to international students.  Faculty, staff, and scholars hailing from different countries have strengthened our research and classrooms—shaping us into the Carlson School we are today." 

ICE DETAINS UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA DOCTORAL STUDENT FROM IRAN

Gov. Tim Walz commented on the incident in a post on X on Friday. 

"I just spoke with Homeland Security to get more information and I will share when I learn more," Walz said. "The University of Minnesota is an international destination for education and research. We have any number of students studying here with visas, and we need answers."

VIDEO SHOWS ARREST OF TUFTS UNIVERSITY STUDENT FOR ALLEGEDLY SUPPORTING HAMAS 

Sen. Doron Clark also released a statement on X on Friday denouncing the Trump administration’s crackdown on international students. 

"I am saddened and angered that ICE is operating around the University of Minnesota," Clark said. "Our campuses should be a safe place for all students, staff, and visitors… We must stand up against the Trump administration’s senseless demonization of our friends, family and neighbors."

ICE has made multiple arrests in recent weeks at Columbia University and Tufts after students showed engagement in anti-Israel protests. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said the Department of State has revoked visas for about 300 international students.

"It might be more than 300 at this point," Rubio said during a press statement on Friday. "We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa."

"We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses," Rubio said. 

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Atlantic editor hits back at Trump official saying he's never met or spoken to him after Signal message leak

Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg said it was "not true" that he and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz had never spoken before, after the journalist detailed in a piece that he was added to a group chat with several Trump officials discussing an attack on the Houthis on Signal, a messaging app.

Godlberg responded to a clip of Waltz taking responsibility for the Signal leak and suggesting that the journalist's phone number somehow got "sucked in" via someone else's contact.

"Well, this isn’t ‘The Matrix;’ phone numbers don’t just get sucked into other phones. I don’t know what he’s [Waltz] talking about. Very frequently, in journalism, the most obvious explanation is the explanation: my phone number was in his phone, because my phone number is in his phone. He’s telling everyone that he’s never met me or spoken to me; that’s simply not true," Goldberg told NBC News host Kristen Welker during "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

Goldberg penned a first-person account of getting a connection request from what appeared to be Trump's national security advisor Michael Waltz on March 11 on Signal, a popular encrypted messaging service used by journalists and government officials.

TRUMP OFFICIALS ACCIDENTALLY TEXT ATLANTIC JOURNALIST ABOUT MILITARY STRIKES IN APPARENT SECURITY BREACH

He accepted, and was then added to a chat group called "Houthi PC Small Group," where he proceeded to see a series of top Trump officials discuss what turned out to be an upcoming attack on the Houthis in what critics are calling a massive breach of national security.

"I understand why he’s doing it. But, you know, this has become a farcical situation. There’s no subterfuge here. My number was in his phone; he mistakenly added me to the group chat. There we go," Goldberg added during the interview. 

Welker asked Goldberg directly if he believed the information on the group message chain was classified.

"Let me answer it this way. When the texts are coming over as I’m watching them unfold… It’s 11:44 A.M., on a Saturday… Pete Hegseth is promising that U.S. warplanes are taking off in 30 minutes to bomb enemy targets that we know are protected by antiaircraft batteries. Okay? So, if that’s not the most sensitive information, the most secret information in the world, I simply don’t know what the meaning of classified or secret or top secret is… Because American pilots were about to fly into possibly a deadly situation, and the secretary of defense is telling everyone on the group chat — which, by the way, included me — that these pilots were about to go into harm's way."

"Talking about them after they come back is a different thing entirely," he added. "But letting that information out on a commercial messaging app seems very odd, so I was sort of aghast when I’m watching this unfold on my phone."

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Goldberg laid out how 18 members were listed in the group, including Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. What ensued in the following days was a discussion about attacking the Houthis, an Iran-backed terrorist group that's wreaked havoc on ships in the Red Sea and disrupted traffic through the critical Suez Canal.

Goldberg reported he learned the timing of the Yemen strikes on March 15 from the Signal posts.

"According to the lengthy Hegseth text, the first detonations in Yemen would be felt two hours hence, at 1:45 p.m. eastern time," he wrote. "So I waited in my car in a supermarket parking lot. If this Signal chat was real, I reasoned, Houthi targets would soon be bombed. At about 1:55, I checked X and searched Yemen. Explosions were then being heard across Sanaa, the capital city."

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Fox News' David Rutz contributed to this report.

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Blue state Democrat zeroes in on issue where party failed in 2024, explains the path forward

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., told veteran Democratic strategist James Carville that Democrats need to distance themselves from the far-left in order to regain popularity among everyday Americans. 

The representative from the South Bronx told Carville and "Politics War Room" podcast co-host Al Hunt on Thursday that Democrats need to go back to the basics and focus on the issues that impact working-class Americans, and ditch the "fashionable nonsense." He also zeroed in on one particular issue, saying of the party's failure: "Where we… bear more responsibility is on immigration." 

"We [Democrats] should strive for simple, repeatable messages, nothing fancy, like lower-costs, safe streets, secure borders, protect Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, make government work for working people. That should be our platform. Ignore the fashionable nonsense."

NY DEMOCRAT CALLS OUT FAR-LEFT 'ABSURDITIES' FROM 'COLLEGE-EDUCATED ELITES' INFLUENCING PARTY

Hunt acknowledged that while he and Carville both believe that most Democrats would agree with what Torres said, that is not the current perception of the Democratic Party. He asked Torres if Democrats being too focused on "fringe issues" had led to this perception of the party.

While Torres wrote off cultural issues as being of "tertiary importance" in the 2024 election, he did concede that Republicans had beat the Democratic Party to the punch when it came to economic and immigration issues.

"I feel like cultural issues were of tertiary importance in the election. I felt the main reasons we lost were inflation and immigration. I know supply chain disruptions led to the highest inflation in more than four decades and when you're the party in power presiding over historic inflation, you're going to pay a political price. So, when it comes to inflation, we as Democrats were victims of circumstance," Torres claimed.

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Although he felt Democrats were "victims of circumstance" on economic issues, he did acknowledge the shortcomings of the party when it came to immigration.

"Where we [Democrats] do, I think, bear more responsibility, is on immigration. You know, since 2022, there was an overwhelming flow of migration at the border whose impact was felt in cities like New York, where the shelter system and the social safety net and our finances were completely overwhelmed. There was a poll in December 2023 showing that 85% of New Yorkers, in a blue city, were concerned about the impact of the migrant crisis on New York City. And the Biden Administration waited two and a half years before taking action against the migrant crisis and by then it was too late. The damage was done. Republicans had successfully weaponized the issue against us," Torres stated.

Torres then accused former President Joe Biden of "pandering to the far-left" after waiting over two years to address the crisis at the southern border, even though reducing illegal immigration was popular among nearly all demographic groups in the country.

"There was a poll on the president's [Joe Biden's] executive order restricting migration. The poll revealed that the majority of Americans, Black and White, Latino and Asians, were overwhelmingly in favor of his executive order. So if his executive order was effective at reducing migration, if it was broadly popular among the American people, why did he wait so long before acting? And the answer is simple: he was pandering to the far-left," Torres asserted.

The congressman believes that the far-left "has outsized power over the messaging and policymaking of the Democratic Party," which he believes makes Democrats "far less viable in the general elections."

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15 finds to help you gear up for hiking season

Hiking is the perfect hobby to pick up this year. You get out into nature, and you get exercise all at the same time. If you want to better prepare yourself for hiking season, these hiking gear essentials can help.

Whether you’re a beginner just hiking on local trails or an experienced hiker taking overnight hiking trips, there’s something for everyone. You can even prepare your favorite four-legged friend to go on the adventure with you!

For beginners

For experienced hikers

For pets

Original price: $54.99

Proper footwear is a necessity when you’re hiking. These hiking boots are waterproof and low-cut, yet affordable, making them perfect for hikers just starting out. You can also find women's hiking shoes in various colors from Backcountry. 

10 BOOTS TO KEEP YOUR FEET DRY DURING FALL RAINY SEASON

To get everything you need now that warm weather is on the way, consider becoming an Amazon Prime member. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to get started shopping.

Original price: $32.99

You always need to bring water with you when you’re hiking, even if you’re just going for a short hike. This 40 oz. water bottle has a straw built in and a paracord handle for easy carrying. It also comes with an over-the-shoulder carrying case. You can find other popular, customizable water bottles from Hydro Flask. 

TRY THESE 5 TRENDING WATER BOTTLES YOU CAN FIND ON AMAZON

Original price: $37.99

If you want to stay comfortable during your hike, a good pair of hiking pants is ideal. These are stretchy, waterproof pants any woman will love. Alternatively, you can find men's hiking pants from Columbia. 

Original price: $29.95

Anything can happen when you’re hiking. A first aid kit helps make sure you’re prepared for all kinds of scrapes and scratches. This first aid kit is easily packed away in a hiking backpack. Find fun, durable first aid kits from Welly as well. 

Original price: $33.95

You’ll quickly learn that a nice pair of socks helps keep your feet comfortable. These merino wool hiking socks will help keep your feet warm but will also ensure they don’t sweat on hot summer days. You can find USA-made hiking socks from brands like Darn Tough. 

If you plan to hike more challenging trails or hike overnight, an emergency survival shelter is a good idea to carry. This one easily rolls up and can be carried in your backpack. It’s meant for up to two people and can be put up quickly. If you're looking for a more durable, long-lasting tent, consider one from Backcountry. 

TAKE YOUR HIKES UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH THIS OUTDOOR ADVENTURE GEAR

Original price: $65.47

For longer hikes, a hiking backpack can help you carry everything you need in one convenient place. This affordable pack is for more advanced hikers that need to carry food, water and shelter. For a hiking backpack with a built-in hydration pack, Camelbak has everything you need. 

Original price: $54.99

More challenging terrain may require hiking poles to help you keep up momentum and get over more difficult areas. These professional-grade hiking poles are perfect for all seasons and are collapsible for when you don’t need to use them. For more hiking pole options, check out Backcountry. 

If you’re hiking in a new area and find yourself out of water, you should take caution when drinking from streams or lakes. These purification tablets can help make the water safe to drink and are a must-have for every hiker. You can also pick up water purification tablets from Walmart. 

Original price: $41.90

For overnight trips, a hefty sleeping bag can keep you warm and dry, no matter where you are. This sleeping bag is affordable, lightweight and has a drawstring hood for maximum comfort. You can find more high-tech sleeping bags through camping giant, Coleman. 

Just like you need water on a hike, so does your dog. This collapsible bowl can be attached to your hiking pack or belt and is easy to clean in between hikes. Ruffwear also has its own line of durable collapsible dog dishes. 

10 DOG GEAR ITEMS YOUR DOG NEEDS THIS SPRING

Original price: $35.59

If your dog cuts their paw or gets ticks on them, this pet first aid kit gives you everything you need to take care of the problem. For more pet first aid kit options and all your other pet needs, consider visiting Chewy. 

Original price: $24.99

You can make hiking easier by attaching your pup to your waste rather than holding a leash. Simply strap the hands-free leash to your waist and attach the other end to your dog’s collar. Plus, there’s a zipper pouch to keep your phone, dog bag and car keys. You can find all your dog leash needs on Chewy. 

If you want your dog to carry their own belongings, a dog backpack acts as a harness and is easily wearable, just like your hiking pack. There’s even a spot for a water bottle. For highly durable dog backpacks, Ruffwear has options for every dog owner. 

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Original price: $17.99

To keep your dog safe, a light-up dog collar provides a bright light that cars, hunters or other hikers can see from miles away. For more light-up dog collar options, visit Walmart. 

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Disney failed to protect guests from employee taking ‘upskirt’ photos, lawsuit alleges

A lawsuit has been filed against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. Inc. in the latest move regarding a 2023 investigation into a Florida theme park employee accused of taking inappropriate photos of female guests. 

The lawsuit, filed by a family member of an alleged victim, argues that Disney did not take sufficient action to protect visitors at its Orlando theme parks from former employee Jorge Diaz Vega Jr. 

Diaz Vega was arrested in 2023 for allegedly filming up the skirts of over 600 female guests while working in the Star Wars section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

FORMER DISNEY WORLD WORKER TOOK HUNDREDS OF ‘UPSKIRT’ VIDEOS OF UNSUSPECTING WOMEN FOR YEARS: POLICE

The 18-page lawsuit, filed by the grandparent of an alleged 14-year-old victim, claims that Disney did not "adequately supervise" Diaz Vega after he was reported to a supervisor for photographing or recording a co-worker without consent. 

"Upon information and belief, Disney employees, agents, servants, and/or apparent agents knew or should have known that [Diaz Vega] had committed similar acts of video voyeurism of guests and co-workers over the six years he was employed by Disney as evidenced by the more than 600 images and videos of unwitting victims on his phone," the lawsuit states. 

The plaintiff alleges that Disney’s choice to continue Diaz Vega’s employment following the incident with his co-worker "posed a danger to the public and to the plaintiff’s minor grandchild." 

FORMER DISNEY WORLD EMPLOYEE OUT ON BOND ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY TAKING VIDEO UP WOMAN'S DRESS

In 2023, a deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from Disney’s Hollywood Studios after a woman alerted security that a man dressed in a Star Wars uniform had taken a photo up her granddaughter’s dress, but authorities were unable to identify the man. 

The next day, officers returned to the theme park after Diaz Vega was spotted by a security guard taking "upskirt" videos of a 19-year-old female guest, according to court documents. 

Diaz Vega was arrested on video voyeurism charges after admitting to recording the videos as a "guilty pleasure," telling police "it is hard to find them online," the affidavit said. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases. 

The plaintiff is asking the court for a jury trial and over $50,000 in damages. 

Diaz Vega is facing additional video voyeurism charges in a third case after he was arrested at a Kissimmee Publix while out on bond for the incident at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In June 2023, a shopper allegedly spotted Diaz Vega taking a photo up his wife’s dress, shortly before witnessing him doing it to another woman, FOX 35 Orlando reported. 

According to court documents, when confronted, Diaz Vega said, "I have been fired for this before. Please don’t call the police. I promise I will delete the pictures." 

Representatives for Disney, and the lawyers for both Diaz Vega and the plaintiff, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

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Jon Stewart is visibly exasperated hearing about arduous process to get Build Back Better government grants

"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart appeared visibly exasperated during a recent discussion about the process states had to endure to get funding from the federal government during former President Biden’s term.

Stewart made multiple pained outbursts and uttered obscenities in response to The New York Times columnist Ezra Klein reading aloud the 14 steps it took for organizations to apply for "Build Back Better" funding.

"I'm speechless," Stewart declared after Klein got through the list during a recent episode of his podcast, "The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart." 

BELOVED LA RESTAURANT HIT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH AFTER OWNERS SPOKE POSITIVELY ABOUT TESLA

Klein appeared on the show this week to speak about his new book, "Abundance" – co-authored by Derek Thompson – which details how major progressive policy goals of recent years, like Build Back Better, failed to be implemented in lasting and meaningful ways.

Build Back Better was a nationwide economic investment plan proposed Biden during the early years of his term, which sought to allocate nearly $2 trillion in U.S. infrastructure investment – with nearly a quarter of that going to climate change projects.

Though the plan was not passed by Congress, Biden was able to rework elements of Build Back Better into several other pieces of legislation during his term, including the American Rescue Plan.

During the podcast, Klein described to Stewart how cumbersome it was for states and other jurisdictions to get Build Back Better funding to set up broadband internet throughout the rural U.S. – so much so that only three of the 56 entities seeking these grants got through this "14-stage process" to get the money.

"By the end of 2024, three have gotten to the end of the process," Klein said. "Three of these 56?," Stewart asked. Klein affirmed.

"End of the process meaning they’ve actioned it? They’ve built it," Stewart stammered.

MEDIA HYPES CLIMATE DISASTER IF BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN FAILS: 'CIVILIZATIONAL' STAKES 

"No, no, no. Oh no, of course not. I didn’t mean they had built it, Jon. Sorry… I confused you," Klein said. "Oh dear God," Stewart replied, placing his head in his hand.

Klein clarified, "They just got to the point where they, in theory, they could get the money to build it."

Stewart then invited his guest to list out the 14-stage process, which he did, detailing how states and jurisdictions would have to submit letters of intent, request planning grants, and put forward five-year action plans – each of which must be approved by multiple government agencies. 

Klein stunned Stewart by saying that completing those actions only got entities up to "step five" and it took three years for each of them to get to that point in the process.

As Klein continued to read off these guidelines, Stewart exclaimed, "Oh my God!" He then began laughing at the amount of red tape that states and jurisdictions had to get through.

"So having done the NOFO [Notice of Funding Opportunity], the letters of intent, the request for planning grants, then the review, approval, and awarding of the planning grants, then the five-year action plans. In between that, the federal government has to put forward a map saying where it thinks we need rural broadband subsidies. And then, of course, the states need an opportunity to challenge the map for accuracy," Klein said, adding, "And you can imagine this doesn’t all happen in a day."

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Stewart leaned back in his seat, his arms thrown back in exhaustion reacting to the growing list. Still, Klein went on, admitting, "It’s hard even to talk about this, man."

The guest kept listing off steps, with Stewart regularly responding by wincing, and mouthing, "Oh my God."

Eventually, Klein started criticizing the Biden administration, stating, "This is the Biden administration’s process for its own bill. They wanted this to happen. This is how liberal government works now."

"Oh wow," the host said, before losing it as Klein read step 12: "States must run a competitive sub granting process."

"Oh my f------ God!," the host yelled. 

After Klein finished detailing the steps, Stewart admitted, "I’m speechless. Honestly, it’s A, far worse than I could’ve imagined; but the fact that they amputated their own legs over this, is what’s so stunning."

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Woman, 66 years old, gives birth to her 10th child: People 'should have more children'

A 66-year-old woman in Germany has given birth to her 10th child.

Alexandra Hildebrandt, owner of the Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, welcomed her new son, Philipp, on March 19, according to today.com and other outlets.

The mom had her first child back in 1977, followed by eight children after she turned 50 — who were all born via C-section.

PREGNANT WOMAN AND BABY SAVED AFTER DOCTORS FIND GRAPEFRUIT-SIZED TUMOR: ‘EXTREMELY RARE’

Her children include Svetlana, 45; Artiom, 36; twins Elisabeth and Maximilian, 12; Alexandra, 10; Leopold, 8; Anna, 7; Maria, 4 and Katharina, 2.

Hildebrandt told TODAY that she did not use any fertility drugs and did not have difficulty conceiving.

Her new baby Philipp was born via C-section at Charite Hospital in Berlin. 

He weighed in at a "healthy" seven pounds, 13 ounces, although he was kept in an incubator.

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In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Hildebrandt shared her happiness in welcoming another child, noting that she feels "like I’m 35."

Professor Wolfgang Henrich, director of the Clinic for Obstetric Medicine at the Berlin Charite where Hildebrandt was treated, told Bild that her age and number of C-sections is an "absolute rarity in obstetric medicine and represented a challenge."

"Because of her particularly good physical constitution and mental strength, Ms. Hildebrandt managed the pregnancy well," he said. 

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"The operation was completely uncomplicated."

Hildebrandt confirmed with the publication, "I eat very healthily, swim regularly for an hour, run for two hours, don’t smoke or drink, and have never used contraception."

"There is such a tendency to be unfriendly to children," Hildebrandt also told Bild. 

"Many people would revise their judgment once they had contact with children. We should encourage people to have more children!"

Fox News Digital reached out to Hildebrandt for further comment.

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NPR chief admits dismissing Hunter Biden laptop story was a mistake

NPR CEO Katherine Maher conceded during her congressional testimony on Wednesday that her organization missed the mark in its lack of serious coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop story during the 2020 election. 

Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger were grilled by House Republicans on the newly formed Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee regarding accusations of biased news coverage backed by federal funding. 

"I do want to say that NPR acknowledges we were mistaken in failing to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story more aggressively and sooner," Maher told Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas.

She later reiterated "we made a mistake" about not covering the laptop in a separate exchange with Rep. Brian Jack, R-Ga. Maher was named CEO of NPR in 2024, so she wasn't with the taxpayer-backed outlet at the time the story first broke.

NPR, PBS CHIEFS SET TO CLASH WITH GOP LAWMAKERS DURING DOGE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING

The New York Post's bombshell reporting on the laptop was released in the heat of the 2020 election where then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden faced off against President Donald Trump. The story shed light on Hunter Biden's overseas business practices and his father's possible involvement, and the laptop also had shocking videos and photos of drug use and lewd acts.

Many mainstream news outlets disparaged the story at the time and even credulously repeated suggestions the laptop was a Russian disinformation operation. At the time, NPR public editor Kelly McBride addressed a listener's question about the news outlet's blackout of coverage. She said the Post's reporting had "many, many red flags," including its potential ties to Russia, and the assertions within the story weren't significant.

"We don't want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories, and we don't want to waste the listeners’ and readers’ time on stories that are just pure distractions," NPR managing editor Terence Samuel told McBride. "And quite frankly, that's where we ended up, this was … a politically driven event, and we decided to treat it that way."

TRUMP SAYS HE'D LOVE TO YANK FUNDING FOR NPR, PBS, WOULD BE ‘HONORED’ TO SEE IT END

In a stunning tell-all essay published last April, then-veteran NPR editor Uri Berliner recalled the attitude of his liberal colleagues to the laptop revelations. 

"The laptop was newsworthy. But the timeless journalistic instinct of following a hot story lead was being squelched," Berliner wrote. "During a meeting with colleagues, I listened as one of NPR’s best and most fair-minded journalists said it was good we weren’t following the laptop story because it could help Trump."

"When the essential facts of the Post’s reporting were confirmed and the emails verified independently about a year and a half later, we could have fessed up to our misjudgment. But, like Russia collusion, we didn’t make the hard choice of transparency," he continued. 

NPR EDITOR REBUKES OWN OUTLET'S COVERAGE OF HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP, COVID LAB LEAK AND RUSSIAGATE

During her exchange with Cloud, Maher also acknowledged the legitimacy of the Wuhan lab-leak theory by the CIA after NPR previously dismissed speculation about the COVID pandemic's origins at the time. 

Maher remained adamant that NPR is a "nonpartisan" news organization despite her admissions.

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Motorcyclist who vanished into sinkhole is found dead following search

A motorcyclist was found dead after vanishing into a massive sinkhole in South Korea’s largest city. 

The sinkhole, estimated to be around 65 feet wide and 65 feet deep, opened up at an intersection in the Myeongil-dong neighborhood in eastern Seoul on Monday afternoon, swallowing the victim and injuring a woman whose van was passing over the area, officials told the Associated Press. 

The motorcyclist, identified as a man in his 30s, was found before noon on Tuesday, emergency officer Kim Chang Seob announced during a televised briefing.  

Kim said the man was found wearing a helmet and motorcycle boots, and that rescue workers discovered his Japanese-made motorcycle and cell phone before reaching his body.  

SOUTH KOREAN TOURISTS DISAPPEAR DURING ROAD TRIP BETWEEN GRAND CANYON, LAS VEGAS 

He was quoted by Reuters as saying that it took first responders almost 18 hours to find the victim as they had to pump out water and dig through dirt and other debris. 

Kim added that rescuers used excavators, shovels and other equipment to find him. 

SOUTH KOREAN PRIME MINISTER REINSTATED AS ACTING PRESIDENT AFTER IMPEACHMENT OVERTURNED 

The cause of the sinkhole remains under investigation. 

The woman who was injured only sustained minor injuries, according to Kim. 

Dashboard camera footage taken at the scene showed a vehicle bouncing as it narrowly cleared the sinkhole, before the motorcycle driver plunged into the area, Reuters reported. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Amazon Big Spring Sale: 8 natural remedies on sale that can help combat spring allergies

Allergy season take a toll on the sinuses. It’s hard to breathe, you’re constantly blowing your nose and, no matter how much you want to get outside in the spring air, doing so wreaks havoc on your allergy symptoms.

You need to right health products to combat your allergies, but they don’t all have to be over-the-counter prescriptions. If you want more natural products, stick to remedies made from naturally occurring ingredients. Products with elderberry, mullein and turmeric can all help with inflammation, sinus issues and congestion.

Here are eight natural allergy remedies that can help you beat your allergies this spring.

Make sure all these items are delivered ASAP by signing up for a Prime membership. The benefits include fast, free delivery, access to invite-only deals and the option to Buy With Prime. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your holiday shopping today.

Original price: $11.19

Keeping your kids’ immune systems healthy during allergy season can help your entire family avoid getting sick. Mama Bear kids elderberry gummies use the natural effects of elderberries, paired with zinc and essential vitamins to keep your kids’ immune systems up and running.

THE 12 AIR PURIFIERS YOU'LL FIND ON AMAZON'S SPRING SALE TO HELP YOU THROUGH ALLERGY SEASON

Original price: $49.99

Mullein is a naturally occurring lung expectorant, so it can help soothe your lungs during allergy season. Mullein drops can be added to your drinks or food daily or as needed. One bottle offers a 120-day supply. The drops contain mullein, zinc, vitamins A and D, as well as other naturally occurring ingredients that boost your immune system.

Original price: $14.99

Drinking nettle tea regularly during allergy season helps reduce the amount of histamine in your body, the exact thing antihistamine medication attacks. A naturally occurring plant, you can make your own nettle tea if you grow it in your garden, or get FreshDrinkUS nettle tea. You get 75 tea bags made from US-grown nettle.

Original price: $24.99

You can relieve your allergies temporarily with the help of Soothe’s menthol shower steamers. Made from menthol, eucalyptus, peppermint and lavender, these steamers are designed to sooth your nasal passages as well as the rest of your body. Just toss one in your shower before you get in and enjoy the relaxation.

Original price: $49.96

Bragg’s three-pack of apple cider vinegar capsules support your whole body and can prepare it for a rough allergy season. Specifically, apple cider is great for digestion, weight loss and cholesterol levels. Zinc and vitamin D are added to Bragg’s capsules to further help your immune system.

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Original price: $18.17

Another supplement that supports your immune system and reduces inflammation is Amazon Elements’ turmeric complex capsules. They contain turmeric root extract, organic ginger root powder and black pepper fruit extract. Combined, all these ingredients support your joints and overall body health, helping you avoid colds.

Original price: $49.96

When your sinuses are inflamed during allergy season, breathing becomes difficult. Xlear nasal spray clears out your nostrils, helping you breathe easier. Xlear is an all-natural nasal cleanser that’s free from steroids and chemicals, so it’s safe for adults and kids.

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Original price: $16.20

Natural remedies are great, but sometimes you need the added relief that only allergy pills can help you with. HealthCareAisle allergy relief tablets are non-drowsy and can help with indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms. It’s comparable to the active ingredients in Allegra.

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US moves to extradite 3 alleged Tren de Aragua members to Chile

The U.S. declared that three alleged members of the violent transnational gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) are "alien enemies" and plans to extradite them to Chile, where they are wanted for numerous violent crimes, officials said Monday.

The Justice Department said the three gang members were Adrian Rafael Gamez Finol, 38, Miguel Oyola Jimenez and Edgar Javier Benitez Rubio, both aged 37. All three men entered the U.S. illegally after committing "brutal" crimes, including murder, kidnapping, extortion, human and drug trafficking and other offenses, in Chile.

"The Justice Department will work expeditiously to return these Alien Enemies to Chile to face justice," the department said.

Gamez Finol is a dual Venezuelan and Colombian citizen who was deported from the U.S. to Venezuela in August 2023 and later allegedly re-entered the U.S. illegally. He is currently in Texas county prison serving a sentence for human smuggling.

EXCLUSIVE: GOP MOVES TO AUTHORIZE TRUMP TO WAGE WAR ON CARTELS THROUGH MILITARY FORCE

Oyola Jimenez, a dual Venezuelan and Ecuadorian citizen, is in custody in Washington after Chilean authorities requested his arrest and return to Chile to stand trial on kidnapping charges.

Benitez Rubio, a Venezuelan citizen, is in immigration custody in Indiana.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a written statement that the men would have already been removed if not for an injunction against the Alien Enemies Act.

"In fact, we would have already removed these violent gang members to Chile to face justice were it not for the nationwide injunction imposed by a single judge in Washington, D.C., which we are challenging today in the D.C. Circuit," Blanche said.  "We hope common sense and justice will prevail."

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The Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows deportation of natives and citizens of an enemy nation without a hearing, has been invoked three times, during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II.

Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg of the D.C. Circuit granted a temporary restraining order preventing the deportations under the act.

The Trump administration has appealed the order. 

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is scheduled to hear arguments on the matter on Monday afternoon.

TdA is a narco-terrorism enterprise based in Venezuela. It was designated a foreign terrorist organization on Feb. 20 by the Department of State.

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Homan blasts blue state as report shows it releasing illegals charged with ‘horrific’ crimes on low bails

Following a Massachusetts law barring law enforcement cooperation with ICE, illegal child rapists and other serious criminal illegals charged with "horrific crimes" are being released on to the streets on bail as low as $500 and, in some cases, no bail at all.

Responding to these releases, Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, said that Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, both Democrats, "should be ashamed" and that despite their actions, deporting criminal illegals "will be done."

Healey has previously said that Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state. However, a 2017 ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Lunn vs. Commonwealth, bars local and state law enforcement from coordinating with ICE to assist with deportation operations. The ruling stipulates that law enforcement cannot comply with ICE detainers, forcing agencies to release criminal migrants onto the streets.

Last week, Wu renewed her pledge to resist Trump’s deportation efforts, saying, "We stand with immigrants," and "No one tells Boston how to take care of our own, not kings, and not presidents who think they are kings."

BLUE CITY MAYOR RIPPED BY LOCAL LEADERS FOR PRIORITIZING POLITICS OVER SAFETY: 'UNDERMINING PUBLIC TRUST'

However, at least seven illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes, including child rape and fentanyl trafficking, were released by local law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts in recent months, according to CBS.

The outlet reported that in one instance, a 39-year-old Honduran national named Juan Alberto Rodezno-Marin, who was charged with indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, masked armed robbery and assault to rape, was released on his own recognizance without having to pay bail.

According to an ICE statement, immigration officials had previously arrested and removed Rodezno-Marin twice for illegally re-entering the U.S., in 2008 and 2009.

Despite these crimes and an ICE detainer being filed against him, the Middlesex Superior Court released Rodezno-Marin in December. He was not arrested by ICE until a month later. He is currently in ICE custody.

DEMOCRAT MAYOR BLASTED FOR VOWING TO MAKE MAJOR CITY ‘SAFE HAVEN’ FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Meanwhile, ABC reported the Worcester County Jail released two illegal immigrant inmates charged with child rape on bail of just $500.

Another illegal immigrant, Jose Fernando-Perez, a 49-year-old Guatemalan national charged with three counts of forcible rape of a child and three counts of aggravated rape of a child, was released in 2022 on a $7,500 bail with just an order to "stay in his home."

Fernando-Perez was finally arrested by ICE on Feb. 2 of this year.

At the time, Patricia Hyde, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting field office director, said Fernando-Perez’s "horrific crimes against a minor in our commonwealth" made him "exactly the type of alien we are targeting with our ‘worst first’ policy."

In northeastern Massachusetts, the Lawrence District Court released another Honduran national, 19-year-old Stivenson Omar Perez-Ajtzalan, on $7,500 bail despite pending charges of aggravated rape of a child with a 10-year age difference.

BLUE SANCTUARY STATE OPERATING AS 'CONTROL' CENTER FOR VICIOUS MIGRANT GANG: ACTING DEA CHIEF

CBS reported that two other inmates charged with cocaine and fentanyl trafficking were released with bail amounts of $500 and $4,000.

While speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February, Homan issued a stark warning to Boston and Massachusetts leaders, saying, "You said you doubled down on not helping the law enforcement officers of ICE. I'm coming to Boston, and I'm bringing hell with me."

Today, Homan renewed his criticism of Massachusetts and Boston’s anti-ICE policies and announced ICE arrested a total of 370 illegal immigrants in the Boston area during a five-day joint federal agency operation last week.  

"I made a promise at CPAC that I was going to Boston after reading about numerous illegal alien child rapists walking the streets of Boston and Massachusetts," he wrote on X. "Mayor Chu [sic] later testified that I was lying. Well, I traveled to Boston last Tuesday, as promised, and we kicked off a five day operation with ICE, FBI, ATF, DEA, US Marshals and DSS. These incredible men and women arrested a total of 370 Illegal aliens in Boston and surrounding areas."

PRESIDENT TRUMP COMFORTS MOTHER WHOSE SON DIED OF FENTANYL POISONING: ‘UP THERE WATCHING YOU’

Homan said that a majority of the 370 illegals were "significant criminals," including four wanted for murder as well as drug traffickers, child sex predators and "numerous other violent public safety threats."

"ICE had to find and arrest these illegal alien rapists because Massachusetts and Boston are sanctuaries that refuse to cooperate with ICE. They would rather release these animals back into the community rather than honor ICE detainers or notify ICE when they are scheduled to be released," he said. "These officers and agents made the neighborhoods of Boston and Massachusetts much safer. They risked their own safety by arresting these criminals on the street, rather than a jail."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

"Releasing public safety threats back into the public, rather than working with ICE at the jails, puts the public at great risk," he continued. "President Trump’s ‘all of government effort’ to arrest and remove the WORST FIRST is making our communities safer every day. President Trump is a Game Changer who is keeping his promises to the American people. Much more to do, but it will be done!"

EXCLUSIVE: GOP MOVES TO AUTHORIZE TRUMP TO WAGE WAR ON CARTELS THROUGH MILITARY FORCE

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Logan Trupiano, a representative for the Massachusetts Republican Party, said that while both Healey and Wu "utilize emotion and try to make this an issue of empathy … they're not utilizing any empathy when they're allowing illegal immigrants who were arrested for heinous crimes, particularly crimes against children, and released back in the community to re-offend."

"It's absolutely egregious, absolutely ridiculous, and there's no decent argument against [deporting criminal illegals]," said Trupiano. "All they're really doing is just attacking the Trump administration and mischaracterizing the administration's efforts as well as ICE." 

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Dengue fever cases rising in popular spring break locations, CDC alerts

As spring breakers this season continue to head south into warmer territory, mosquitoes are posing a health risk that calls for extra attention.

Global cases of dengue fever are on the rise, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — and it's warning of an uptick in U.S. travelers.

The agency released a Health Alert Network advisory on March 18 noting that dengue activity and transmission "remain high" in some parts of the U.S. and globally, including the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

DENGUE FEVER: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESS SWEEPING JAMAICA

"Spring and summer travel coincide with the peak season for dengue in many countries, increasing the risk of both travel-associated and locally acquired cases in the United States," the CDC wrote.

The CDC has marked dengue fever as a level 1 health alert, urging the public to "practice usual precautions."

This includes avoiding mosquito bites by using an EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, and sleeping in a room that has air conditioning or screened windows.

Many countries have reported a "higher-than-usual" number of dengue cases in 2024 and 2025, the CDC noted.

TIGER MOSQUITOES BLAMED FOR SPREAD OF DENGUE FEVER: ‘MOST INVASIVE SPECIES’

The following countries have also reported higher-than-expected numbers of dengue cases among American travelers returning to U.S. soil: Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Saint Lucia and Sudan.

Dengue fever is a virus spread through bites from an infected mosquito. 

It is common in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Islands, among other countries, according to the CDC.

TRAVEL HOT SPOT SEEKS EMERGENCY DECLARATION OVER MASSIVE BUG INFESTATION

In 2024, more than 13 million cases were reported in North, Central and South America, as well as in the Caribbean.

Local transmission of these outbreaks was reported in California, Texas and Florida last year.

Typical symptoms include aches and pains (in the eyes, muscles, joints, or bones), nausea, vomiting and rash — usually experienced within two weeks of being bitten.

Most people experience symptoms for two to seven days before recovering.

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"It’s typically a more mild illness, but can be severe, causing headaches, joint pain, fever, abdominal pain and even death," Dr. Mark Fischer, regional medical director of International SOS, a leading medical and security services company, previously told Fox News Digital. 

There is not currently any medication to treat dengue, according to the CDC. 

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Infected people are advised to rest, take acetaminophen for pain and fever, stay hydrated and see a doctor.

There is a vaccine available for U.S. children between 9 and 16 years of age who have previously tested positive for dengue and are living in areas where the infection is common.

Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy contributed reporting.

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'White Lotus' alum Jennifer Coolidge says her 'weirdo' role helped improve her sex life

Jennifer Coolidge is reflecting on her epic role in "The White Lotus."

During an interview with The Sunday Times, the 63-year-old actress – who portrayed Tanya McQuoid in the first two seasons of the popular Max series – opened up about how her "weirdo" role impacted her dating life off-screen. 

"Even though I play a complete weirdo in ‘White Lotus,’ cute guys come up to me," Coolidge told the outlet. "This is far better than ‘American Pie’ because people were really sad about Tanya falling off a boat. These men like you better because they feel that you went through something. That show really upped my game."

‘THE WHITE LOTUS’: JENNIFER COOLIDGE ON REPRISING HER ROLE AND BEING A 'SEX ICON’

"European men like the idea of sleeping with an older woman more than Americans do," she later added. "I think I have to go overseas then."

Coolidge's character was killed off in the season 2 finale. While the death still stings, she said she was eventually able to move on. 

"You have to be a good sport about it, but I went, ‘Oh, really? Really?’ I whined and then just let it go," she said. 

Looking back on her career, Coolidge – whose other notable roles include Stifler's mom in "American Pie" and Paulette Bonafonté in "Legally Blonde" – said she was often typecaste due to her lack of knowledge in "how to play the game" in Hollywood.

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"I got very odd jobs – I had no guidance at all," she said. "I didn’t know how to play the game. I played a lot of highly strung rich women – people thought, ‘Oh, that’s just what she does.'"

"I sabotaged myself, and I’d say this to any young person: when the wave comes, have the guts to stay on," she added. "I was a sure bet, I got so many good jobs in a row. I have huge regrets – I was deeply depressed for a very long time."

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However, the actress, who is currently promoting the upcoming thriller "Riff Raff" alongside Bill Murray and Pete Davidson, said she's grateful for every opportunity. 

"I’ve been around a long time and just cannot believe the people I’ve got to work with over the past few years," she said. "People I never thought I would be included on a cast with."

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Ex-Yankees star Brett Gardner reveals heartbreaking death of teen son

Former New York Yankees star Brett Gardner and his wife Jessica announced on Sunday the heartbreaking death of their son, Miller. He was 14 years old.

The Gardners said in a statement through the team that Miller died on Friday after getting sick while on vacation. The parents said other family members fell ill too. They said they were in search of answers.

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"With heavy hearts we are saddened to announce the passing of our youngest son, Miller. He was 14 years old and has left us far too soon after falling ill along with several other family members while on vacation," their statement read. "We have so many questions and so few answers at this point, but we do know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21st.

"Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile. He loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends. He lived life to the fullest every single day."

The Gardner family thanked those who have shown support for them and asked for privacy.

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The Yankees also released a statement on the death of Miller.

"Our hearts are heavy, and the Yankees family is filled with grief after learning of the passing of Miller Gardner," the team said. "Words feel insignificant and insufficient in trying to describe such an unimaginable loss. It wasn’t just Brett who literally grew up in this organization for more than 17 years – so did his wife, Jessica, and their two boys, Hunter and Miller."

 "We grieve with Brett, Jessica, Hunter, and their community of family and friends in mourning the loss of Miller, who had a spark in his eyes, an outgoing and feisty personality, and a warm and loving nature.

 "Our love for the Gardner family is unconditional and absolute, and we will offer our enduring support while understanding their desire for privacy at this time."

It’s unclear where the Gardner family vacationed.

Gardner was an outfielder for the Yankees for 14 seasons and was on the team when they won their last World Series title in 2009.

He retired after the 2021 season and has been away from baseball since then.

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Parents of girl who died after measles infection said they wouldn't get MMR vaccine

The parents of a young girl who died after contracting measles last month in West Texas are speaking out about their position on the MMR vaccine.

The child, age 6, died on Feb. 26 after being hospitalized in Lubbock, as reported by the Texas Department of State Health Services. 

The agency stated it was "the first death from measles in the ongoing outbreak in the South Plains and Panhandle regions" — adding that the child was not vaccinated.

NUTRITION IMPACTS MEASLES SEVERITY, RFK JR. SAYS

On March 15, the child’s parents spoke with Children’s Health Defense about the experience in an interview that aired on "Good Morning, CHD."

The family lives in Seminole, Texas, in Gaines County, which is where the vast majority of measles cases have occurred in the current outbreak.

When the girl, named Kaylee, first got sick, the parents said they figured it was measles because the illness was "going around" in their community.

FLY SAFELY AMID MEASLES OUTBREAK WITH THESE IMPORTANT TRAVEL TIPS

Two days after the girl developed a rash, her mother took her to the doctor, who provided a cough remedy and recommended fever-reducing medication.

Although Kaylee’s measles started to go away, she began developing complications, including a fever that continued to rise, her parents told Children’s Health Defense.

"And then I just noticed one morning that she was saying she was getting very tired, and I was just noticing her breathing wasn't normal," the girl’s mother said. "That’s when we decided to take her to the emergency room."

At the hospital, in addition to measles, Kaylee was found to have pneumonia in her left lung. She was admitted to the ICU and put on a ventilator.

"I just remember before they wanted to put her on the ventilator that she was very thirsty," the mother said in the interview. "Her mouth was all sticky and I wanted to give her water, but they didn’t let me."

The child passed away shortly after that.

MEASLES VACCINES GIVEN LONG AGO COULD BE LESS EFFECTIVE NOW, DOCTORS SAY

The couple’s four other children developed measles after their sister’s death — but all recovered after receiving breathing treatments, the parents said.

Even after their daughter’s death, the parents are not proponents of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR vaccine).

"We would absolutely not take the MMR [vaccine]," Kaylee’s mother said. "The measles wasn't that bad. They got over it pretty quickly."

The couple said they have not yet received their daughter’s death certificate, noting that it is possible she died of pneumonia rather than measles.

The girl’s father added that measles could help to "build people’s immune systems in the long run."

"God does no wrong, and He wanted this to wake people up," he told Children’s Health Defense. "He’s woken us up for sure, to start a better life and come closer to Him."

Texas DSHS has reported that the majority of measles cases have been mostly unvaccinated, school-aged children.

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Measles is a highly contagious virus for those who have not previously been infected or vaccinated, with up to a 90% chance of transmission.

The MMR vaccine is one of the most common childhood inoculations and has been a requirement for school attendance since its development in the 1970s.

"The standard recommendation from health authorities like the CDC is a two-dose series of the MMR vaccine," Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier previously told Fox News Digital.

"For most people, these two doses provide lifelong immunity — about 97% effectiveness against measles."

Each person’s situation is different and should be weighed carefully after a thorough conversation with a trusted medical team, Saphier added.

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Fox News' senior medical analyst, also emphasized the importance of measles vaccinations — "particularly with the number of circulating measles cases and underimmunized people coming into the U.S. at a time when there is a big measles surge around the world."

For those who are traveling to an area where a measles outbreak is occurring, Siegel recommended they see a doctor for a measles "titer test" and get a booster if they are not showing immunity. (The titer test measures an individual’s level of immunity to the virus.)

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MMR is a live virus vaccine and cannot be given to pregnant women or immunocompromised people, the doctor noted.

As of March 20, a total of 378 confirmed measles cases had been reported in 18 U.S. states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Spring break staycation: 10 crafts and games to entertain the family

Staying home with the kids this spring break? Make your home staycation with the kids successful with some planning. Keeping kids entertained and off their devices can be as easy as planning activity time, including solo craft activities and family board games. These simple tasks can help create quality time during spring break.

Here are 10 craft and board games to help keep your family busy during spring break:

Spark a fun conversation and get to know your kids better with the help of the Would You Rather? Family Card Game. The game features 200 questions for a hilarious game night at home or on the go. You can buy the board game at Walmart for $14.69.

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Heat: Pedal to the Metal lets players take on the role of race car drivers. You'll compete in intense races by managing your car's speed to avoid overheating while strategically using cards to navigate the track and cross the finish line first. If your family is into strategy board games, this game is a good choice! It takes about one hour to play. This game is easy to follow, so it's great if you have younger family members wanting to join in.

Labyrinth is a family board game in which players race to find treasures in a maze. The board constantly shifts, so no two games are the same. 

Can't get away to Europe? Ticket to Ride London will transport you there. The fast-paced board has you racing to claim bus lines and complete destination tickets in 1970s London. It's a fun option that is sure to become a family favorite. Buy the game for $23.97 on Amazon.

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Original price: $23.99

The objective of Sequence, a strategy board game, is to race to create lines of five matching chips on the board. It's a fun game for all ages, combining card and board elements. Buy this game on Amazon for $14.97.

Original price: $120

Knitting is the new stress reliever every family member can relax with. Start your adventure with this Woobles crafting gift box, which teaches you the basics. The kit has everything you need to get started and a tin to keep your gear tidy.

This fake cake kit is an excellent introduction to cake decorating. It includes everything you need to build a fake cake from start to finish. This fake cake kit, $34 on Amazon, has everything you need to create two frosted fake cake storage boxes. 

Create a core memory at your crafting table with Amazon's thoughtful family handprint kit. The kit comes with multiple acrylic sheets on which each family member can print their hand, as well as a wood frame to hold the sheets in place. Buy this artsy keepsake at Walmart for $41.

Original price: $65.95

If you've ever wondered how candles are made, try out the SoftOwl Premium Soy Candle Making Kit. The kit comes with packs of soy wax, gorgeous black candle jars and tin cans, seven fragrance oils, 10 dye blocks, beautiful candle labels, wicks, glue dots, a melting pot, pipettes, a stirring spoon and more. You can buy a similar candle-making kit at Walmart for around $44.

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Start your herb garden this spring with the help of this Culinary Herb Kit. The kit includes trays, a humidity dome, seed label sticks, soil pucks, and an assortment of culinary herb seeds (enough for multiple plantings). Pick between the basic, deluxe and premium kits, with different amounts of trays and different types of seeds to spice up your cooking. Try this window garden kit, $34.99 at Walmart, for a kit that comes with all the pieces you need to start your indoor herb garden.

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RFK Jr. details first baby formula review in decades amid concerns over contaminants, supply chain

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is setting his sights on baby formula production, launching a probe with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over contaminants, including heavy metals.

"We're not saying that there is dangerous levels of heavy metals in formula," RFK Jr. said Thursday on "Fox & Friends." 

"There's a report in Consumer Reports that says that there are high levels, although none of them violate the current safety guidelines."

Kennedy criticized past FDA practices, saying the agency has failed to adequately test for heavy metals in formula. He said the new initiative will address this issue and ensure formulas meet modern safety and nutritional standards. According to Kennedy, many formula recipes have not been thoroughly reviewed since the late 1990s.

"We're going to review the formulation for the first time since 1998 and really make sure … this is the healthiest product that our kids can have," he said.

The initiative, called "Operation Stork Speed," is likely a nod to former President Donald Trump’s "Operation Warp Speed," which accelerated COVID-19 vaccine development. 

The new program aims to review the nutritional content of infant formula, test for heavy metals and other contaminants, encourage manufacturers to develop new formulas, and improve clarity in nutrition labeling.

BABY FORMULA, BREAST MILK NEED TO BE 'ROBUSTLY REGULATED': FORMER FDA COMMISSIONER

Kennedy also emphasized the importance of increasing domestic formula production, calling reliance on imports a "national security issue." He argued that expanding the number of formula manufacturers could improve quality and reduce prices.

"It's a very narrow market right now, which means there's only really four companies that are almost all of our baby formula," he said. 

"And when there's no competition, you're going to get high prices."

FOOD SAFETY IN FOCUS AT RFK JR. MEETING AS MAHA INFLUENCERS URGE 'SAFEGUARDING' OF AMERICA

As part of the initiative, the government will ease regulatory barriers, allowing companies to modify ingredients without excessive red tape.

Kennedy also reiterated his concerns about food dyes and chemical additives in processed foods, particularly those not commonly used in Europe. He linked these ingredients to rising health issues in the U.S. and announced that HHS is reviewing the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) designation, which allows certain food ingredients to bypass extensive safety reviews.

"As that [GRAS] designation expanded, the industry began taking advantage of it," Kennedy said. 

"That's why we have 10,000 ingredients in our food in this country. In Europe, they only have 400."

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He argued that these unregulated additives contribute to the country’s high rates of chronic disease and pledged to remove GRAS exemptions for many products.

"We are going to get rid of the GRAS standards for new products. We're going to go back and review all of these old ingredients to make sure that they are safe. And we're going to encourage these companies to get rid of them as quickly as possible," he said.

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Scottie Scheffler reveals Texas-inspired menu for Masters Champions Dinner

Two-time Masters winner Scottie Scheffler has the honor of selecting the menu for this year’s tournament, and on Wednesday, his menu was revealed. 

The Texas native’s roots have yet again influenced the menu for the 2025 Champions Dinner, which is hosted annually on the Tuesday before the first round begins. 

While some of Scheffler’s favorites have once again been featured on the menu, this year’s dinner will also include some new options. 

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The dinner, formally called the "Masters Club" dinner, is a valued tradition meant to honor past winners and dates back to the first dinner hosted by Ben Hogan, who won the tournament in 1951 and celebrated his win on the eve of the 1952 tournament. 

The tradition has carried on for years and is only attended by previous Green Jacket winners and the chairman of Augusta National Golf Club. 

Scheffler, 28, first won the Masters in 2022 – his first major victory – and hosted a dinner the following year. The menu then featured cheeseburger sliders and firecracker shrimp, and, to no one’s surprise, steak. 

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For his second time around, the menu will again feature sliders and shrimp, served "Scottie-Style." An addition to this year’s appetizers is the "Papa Scheff’s Meatball and Ravioli Bites," a reference to the Christmas dinner he helped prepare, during which he injured himself and required surgery, delaying the start of his season.  

Steak and fish are also back on the menu as the main course, but instead of a first course featuring tortilla soup, this year’s dinner will feature a Texas-style chili. 

Scheffler brought back another popular item – the chocolate chip cookie skillet for dessert – but instead of the milk and cookies ice cream on top, the PGA Tour star opted for vanilla bean ice cream instead this year.  

"It's my favorite foods, haven't quite changed too much but there's a little bit, I would say, more kind of nostalgic stuff," Scheffler said a news conference announcing the menu, via GolfWeek. 

"It should be a fun night, fun meal, and very excited about being able to host a Champion's Dinner again and very excited to see how it's prepared and what the chefs at Augusta pull off this year. I'm really looking forward to it."

This year’s tournament will begin on April 7, when all eyes will be on Rory McIlroy after he won The Players Championship for the second time on Monday. McIlroy has won four majors, including the PGA Championship twice, but has never won at Augusta National. 

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