Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas ordered to be removed as overwhelmed Arizona border crossing closes
Texas must remove 1,000 feet of floating barrier along the Rio Grande meant to keep migrants from illegally crossing near Eagle Pass, a U.S. appeals court ruled Friday. The decision came as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Lukeville, Arizona, southwest of Tucson, decided to close its port of entry after being overwhelmed by migrants coming into the state. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ 2-1 Texas decision, in which it upheld a federal judge’s ruling, was seen as a win for the Biden administration. The U.S. Department of Justice sued Texas in July, claiming the buoys placed in the river block navigation, are unsafe and violate the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act, which requires approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for navigable waters. BORDER PATROL IN TEXAS ARRESTS 21 SEX OFFENDERS IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS In September, U.S. District Court Judge David Ezra ordered Texas to remove the barriers. Texas Gov. Greg Abott called Friday’s decision “clearly wrong.” “The 5th Cir. Court of Appeals’ denial of Texas’ sovereign authority to secure the border with floating marine barriers is clearly wrong,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “AG Paxton & I will seek an immediate rehearing by the entire court.” He added that they would go to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary to “protect Texas from Biden’s open borders.” Eagle Pass is part of a Border Patrol sector that has seen the second-highest number of migrant crossings this fiscal year. In Arizona, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it is “surging all available resources to expeditiously and safely process migrants” in Lukeville and will “continue to prioritize our border security mission as necessary in response to this evolving situation.” ARIZONA LAWMAKER CALLS FOR NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT TO HANDLE TUCSON MIGRANT SURGE: ‘OVERRUN AND UNDERMANNED’ The temporary border closure is expected to start on Monday so officials can process migrants who have already crossed through the port of entry as it has become a major migration route in recent months. Most of the migrants walk through gaps in the border wall in the area seeking asylum and smugglers are increasingly leaving migrants from countries including China, India and Senegal in the area. “The U.S. is continuing to see increased levels of migrant encounters at the Southwest Border, fueled by smugglers peddling disinformation to prey on vulnerable individuals and encourage migration,” CBP said in a statement earlier this week. “As we respond with additional resources and apply consequences for unlawful entry, the migration trends shift as well. We continue to adjust our operational plans to maximize enforcement efforts against those noncitizens who do not use lawful pathways or processes such as CBP One.” In October, 3,140 people drove to the crossing and 184 pedestrians entered every day, according to the U.S. Transportation Department. People can still cross through Nogales and San Luis, Arizona, three hours east and two hours west of Lukeville. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP On Monday, CBP also closed one of two vehicle bridges in Eagle Pass, Texas. Fox News’ Bradford Betz, Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Court suspends federal grant policy for abortion providers in Ohio
A federal appeals court has paused enforcement of a federal government regulation that allows abortion providers to receive federal family planning money — but only in Ohio, where state health officials said the policy took money away from them. Since 1981, federal policy has changed several times regarding whether programs receiving family planning funds can provide abortions or refer patients to such services. Soon after President Joe Biden took office in 2021, the administration made rules to allow groups with abortion services to receive the funding again. A dozen states with Republican attorneys general challenged the rule. OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LAROSE CONSULTED ANTI-ABORTION GROUPS WHILE DRAFTING ISSUE 1 BALLOT LANGUAGE A U.S. District Court judge ruled last year that the Biden administration’s version of the rules could remain in effect while the challenge moves through the court system. A majority of the three-judge panel from the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overruled that in a decision Thursday — but only as it applies to how the federal government distributes the grants in Ohio. The majority judges — Joan Larsen and Amul Thapar, both nominated by Republican former President Donald Trump — said that Ohio was the only state that demonstrated it had suffered irreparable harm from the policy. The state health department said it was receiving 20% less in federal family planning funding under the current policy that it did under the regulation that was in place previously. The judges said that’s because when referrals were banned, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio did not apply for funding. When the referrals were again allowed, the group, which also provides abortions, returned. And when that happened, the award to the state’s health department decreased by $1.8 million. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the result could be that the state’s Planned Parenthood affiliate might need to make changes or risk losing funding. A third judge, Karen Nelson Moore, who was nominated by former Democratic President Bill Clinton, dissented, saying her colleagues misunderstand the regulations. REPUBLICANS CAN WIN ON ABORTION IF PRO-LIFERS TELL THEIR STORIES The bigger case remains in the court system. The abortion landscape has changed drastically since the lawsuit was initially filed. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established a nationwide right to abortion. Since then, most Republican-controlled states, including most of those challenging the Biden administration policy, have enacted bans or strict limits. Ohio adopted a ban on abortion after cardiac activity can be detected, about six weeks into pregnancy, which is often before women know they’re pregnant. But a court blocked enforcement, and voters last month adopted an amendment to the state constitution enshrining the right to abortion.
California’s new mental health court sees over 100 petitions in 2 months
An alternative mental health court to compel treatment for people with severe mental illness has received more than 100 petitions since launching in seven California counties in October, state officials said Friday. The state believes between 7,000 and 12,000 people statewide will eventually be eligible for “CARE Court,” which launched on a limited basis before Los Angeles County became the latest and largest county to start the program on Friday. “This is exactly where we want to be,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. RED VS BLUE STATE DEBATE HIGHLIGHTS: TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM THE DESANTIS, NEWSOM SLUGFEST Ghaly told reporters he’s optimistic about the early results and that the number of referrals reflects the small population eligible until now. Only those who are at least 18 years old and have schizophrenia or a related disorder would qualify. Severe depression, bipolar disorder and addiction by itself do not qualify. “We’re in good shape. We’re providing the time to our local partners to create the ability to manage the referrals to make sure that they’re doing all they can,” Ghaly said at a news briefing Friday. “In many ways, we see the snowball, if you will, building up little by little.” The civil court process, created by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, is part of a massive push to address the homelessness crisis in California. It empowers family members and first responders to file a petition on behalf of an adult they believe “is unlikely to survive safely” without supervision and whose condition is rapidly deteriorating. They also can file if an adult needs services and support to prevent relapse or deterioration that would likely result in “grave disability or serious harm” to themselves or others. A special civil court in each county reviews each petition to determine eligibility before asking the individual to participate in a voluntary plan that includes housing, medication, counseling and other social services. If all parties cannot agree to a voluntary plan, the statute says the court will order they work on a plan. Among the ongoing petitions, some have entered the court process and are working on creating their care plans, while other referrals are still being reviewed, Ghaly said. Some cases have also been dismissed, the Los Angeles Times reported. Lawmakers hoped the program could get people with severe mental illnesses, many of whom are homeless, the help they need and off the streets. California is home to more than 171,000 homeless people — about 30% of the nation’s homeless population. But critics worried the program will be ineffective and punitive because it could coerce people into treatment. The administration didn’t give specific data on the number of petitions submitted in each county. San Francisco, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Glenn counties launched the court Oct. 1, with Los Angeles County beginning its program Friday. The rest of the state has until December 2024 to establish mental health courts. Counties are trying different approaches to implementation. San Diego County is integrating CARE Court with its conservatorship system to help divert people off of conservatorships, while Orange County is moving the mental health court away from the typical courtrooms and into community spaces, Ghaly said. “I’m pretty pleased with the level of engagement, the level of partnership, the level of, you know, belief and optimism that’s growing in our counties,” he said. CALIFORNIA PRISON SYSTEM LOOKS TO INCREASE WAGES FOR INCARCERATED WORKERS AS CONCERN GROWS OVER SMALL PAY Representatives from Disability Rights California, a nonprofit that sued the state arguing the program would violate due process and equal protection rights under the state constitution, said CARE Court could result in unintended consequences. “While officials express optimism, the rushed implementation may overlook critical aspects of community engagement and careful consideration,” said community organizer Vanessa Ramos said. Newsom signed a law in October to expand the definition of “gravely disabled” to include people who are unable to provide themselves basic needs such as food and shelter due to an untreated mental illness or unhealthy drugs and alcohol use, which makes it easier for authorities to compel treatment. Newsom is also pushing a plan to reform the state’s mental health system. Newsom’s proposal, which would overhaul how counties pay for mental and behavioral health programs and borrow $6.3 billion to pay for 10,000 new mental health treatment beds, will go before voters next March.
NC Gov. Cooper, healthcare advocates, take victory lap on Medicaid expansion
Gov. Roy Cooper and health care advocates celebrated Friday’s official start of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, the result of state legislation this year that’s expected to help roughly 600,000 low-income adults obtain the government health insurance. Visiting a Goodwill location in Charlotte that hosted a Medicaid enrollment event, Cooper said that the gathering marked the end of “a long and winding road” for the state to agree to the Medicaid coverage offered through the 2010 Affordable Care Act, The Charlotte Observer reported. North Carolina became the 40th state along with the District of Columbia to accept expansion since coverage began in 2014. The Democratic governor had made expansion a top priority since taking office in 2017. NORTH CAROLINA EXPANDS MEDICAID COVERAGE, PROVIDING HEALTH CARE TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN NEED “A dream a decade in the making finally becomes a reality,” he said at a news conference. Expansion provides low-cost health care for people ages 19 to 64 who make too much money to receive traditional Medicaid but generally not enough to benefit from public subsidies available for private health insurance. About 300,000 people receiving family planning benefits who now qualify for full Medicaid coverage under the expansion were automatically enrolled Friday, Cooper’s office said. Enrollment should grow over time as social service agencies meet with residents. Other enrollment events are scheduled across the state in the coming days. One of the newly enrolled, Penelope Wingard, received her Medicaid card from Cooper on Friday. She described her experiences seeking care and accumulating thousands of dollars in debt when she lost health insurance while being treated for breast cancer. “It’s like I got sick and I got punished for it,” Wingard said, adding that her tears Friday were “tears of joy.” Carolyn Allison, CEO of the Charlotte Community Health Clinic, estimated Friday that about half of the uninsured people who visit the clinic will now be eligible for Medicaid. NORTH CAROLINA JUDGES BLOCK LEGISLATURE’S BID TO TAKE POWER OVER ELECTIONS BOARD APPOINTMENTS Republicans who have controlled the General Assembly since 2011 had been wary for years of accepting expansion through the federal government, which covers 90% of the medical costs. But GOP leaders recently warmed to the idea, their interest piqued in part by a $1.8 billion bonus to the state from Washington if North Carolina joined. The state’s hospitals are covering North Carolina’s 10% share. Expansion is expected to help rural hospitals financially and local economies. Expansion legislation passed the legislature with bipartisan support in March and was signed by Cooper. In early October, the state budget was enacted — the final step before the governor’s administration could formally accept expansion from federal regulators. “Every American deserves high-quality affordable health care,” President Joe Biden said in a statement Friday that also praised Cooper and the bipartisan support. “Today, we are one step closer towards meeting that promise as 600,000 North Carolinians can now access the affordable, quality coverage they need under Medicaid.”
Lunar mining raises key legal questions as new space race heats up
According to international space laws, no nation can claim sovereignty over the moon or other outer space entities. That’s why NASA is turning to private companies to advance its outer space goals. “If we want to maintain our lead, then we need to continue to invest and ensure that we’re the ones setting the pace and not another entity,” said Michael Usowski, senior defense intelligence analyst for space and counterspace at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The initial space race to the moon brought about the United Nations 1966 treaty, which determined nations could not claim property rights in space. In the new space age, officials warn, China could ignore those laws and norms to advance its goals. “No sovereign country is supposed to plant that flag,” DIA’s John Huth, chief of the office of space and counterspace, said. “But we’ve also seen China do things in the South China Sea where they’ve built islands and then have claimed some exclusion zone around it. So, those are the things that we certainly want to keep an eye on.” HOW RARE EARTH ELEMENTS FACTOR INTO CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION Lawmakers are also watching China and warn a new set of rules could be necessary to make sure everyone plays fair. “We need some updated space law for sure. As space becomes not only available for mining, but it’s really becoming a warfighting domain as well,” Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said. With rapidly advancing space programs, there are now more questions over who can explore and mine the moon’s resources. “It’s kind of opaque as far as what and when it comes to mineral extraction, whether or not there are any prohibitions against actually taking minerals away from the moon or another celestial body and then bringing them back to the earth,” Usowski said. The U.S. and other countries have been passing their own laws to allow for further exploration. “We make our own rules, so to speak,” Huth said. “There’s nothing that really precludes any one country from extracting minerals from the moon or other planets. It’s a matter of developing those best practices.” A 2015 U.S. law asks private companies to explore outer space resources. President Donald Trump’s 2020 executive order encourages advancements in space mining. “An interesting piece on the treaty is it only looks at nation states. It doesn’t really pay much attention to commercial concerns,” Usowski said. “So, that’s an area that I think greater specificity would help as we see the greater commercialization of space.” US-CHINA SPACE RACE FOR MOON MINING HEATS UP The U.S. plans to return to the lunar surface by the end of the year by utilizing commercial partnerships. Private company Astrobotic will provide the launch and lander for the unmanned Peregrine Mission. “We have a flourishing commercial space sector in the United States, and I think encouraging that continued growth, working with our national organizations such as NASA, will allow us to be the leaders for that change for the positive,” Huth said. NASA plans to contract commercial partners for up to five planned rover missions next year. It’s all part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services Initiative. China’s space program aligns more closely with its government. “China is interesting in that there is a large amount of fusion between the civil and the government sector. So, it’s very difficult to separate the commercial concern from the government concerns,” Usowski said. “They’re very much intertwined with each other. So, one could reasonably assume that if a commercial entity is working on it that it’s funded and supported greatly by the nation state.” Satellites and other objects in orbit are compiled in national registers by country and reported to the United Nations. The U.S. has more objects in orbit than any other country. Landing, building and digging on solid ground in outer space is forcing the international community to rethink that shared space. “There’s certainly an understanding on Capitol Hill of the necessity to maintain that strong presence both from a government perspective, but also from that commercial perspective,” Huth said. Lawmakers and scientists agree while staying ahead of China is important, more needs to be studied about outer space resources before we consider it a reliable source to mine. “We need a dramatic increase in our ability to mine and process minerals both here in the United States and around the world,” Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said.
Watch a Jan. 10 conversation about the Texas workforce and what’s working
We’ll talk through hiring trends in Texas, in-demand skills, the resources the Workforce Commission provides, the role community colleges and the private sector play in developing a skilled Texas workforce, and more.
Ramaswamy challenges Iowa governor on use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy challenged Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on the issue of using eminent domain so CO2 pipelines can be installed. Ramaswamy made the comments during a speech in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday afternoon during a policy speech regarding CO2 pipelines being implemented, which he claims is part of a “climate change agenda.” According to the Des Moines Register, the pipelines are eligible for billions in federal tax credits and have a goal of combating climate change through the transport of captured carbon dioxide emissions from ethanol plants to locations in Illinois and North Dakota. Once at those locations, sequestration would take place deep underground. Ramaswamy took direct aim at Reynolds, challenging her on the issue. RAMASWAMY SWIPES ‘GOP ESTABLISHMENT’ IN IOWA FOR SUPPORTING CO2 PIPELINES AS PART OF CLIMATE ‘HOAX’ “I want to challenge Governor Kim Reynolds. I want to challenge your four Republican Congressmen to tell me what I am about to tell you. What have I gotten wrong here?” he said. “And if after hearing what I’m about to say, you still support the use of eminent domain, implicit or explicitly, to advance these pipelines, then have the courage to stand up in front of your own constituents and make that case.” Ramaswamy said he would advocate on the eminent domain issue even if he loses the Republican nomination. “I’ll also make your pledge today if for whatever reason I am not successful this spring in winning the Republican nomination and I will continue in my advocacy on this issue until we have achieved our goal. I’ll give you that commitment today. We’re not going anywhere on this issue,” Ramaswamy said. RAMASWAMY LAUNCHES $1 MILLION AD BUY IN EARLY PRIMARY STATES BLASTING POLITICIANS ‘LEADING US INTO WORLD WAR III’ One person in the audience said, “I have a hard time understanding why the people we as Republicans have elected are backing these pipelines.” Reynolds previously endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for president. The biotech entrepreneur teased the speech about eminent domain in an announcement previously obtained by Fox News Digital. “The GOP establishment does NOT approve of this message & it’s pathetic I’m the only candidate with the stones to say it,” Ramaswamy’s statement said. “The climate change agenda is a hoax & it’s hurting farmers in Iowa. Here’s how: the U.S. government enacted crony subsidies to reward those who build CO2 pipelines across the Midwest to bury CO2 in the ground in North Dakota (which is senseless for many reasons, including the fact that crops require CO2).” Fox News Digital reached out to Reynolds’ office for comment. Fox News’ Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.
Blackburn questions why Biden’s Commerce Dept chose to ‘lift sanctions’ on Chinese communist group
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., is seeking answers from the U.S. Department of Commerce on why the Chinese Communist Party’s Institute for Forensic Sciences was removed from the department’s Entity List, which restricts trade from certain groups or individuals. Entities listed by Commerce are typically involved in activities contrary to U.S. national security or foreign policy interests. The trade control list includes foreign individuals, businesses, research institutions, government organizations and other branches that are subject to specific licensing requirements for the export, re-export or transfer of certain items. “This deeply misguided decision to lift sanctions on the CCP — as China continues to indoctrinate our children through social media and poison Americans with fentanyl — will only embolden President Xi,” Marshburn wrote to the department’s secretary Gina Raimondo on Friday. Sens. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn.; JD Vance, R-Ohio; and Katie Boyd Britt, R-Ala., co-signed the letter. WHITE HOUSE RECOGNIZES ‘BEST OF THE BEST’ OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN FIGHT AGAINST FENTANYL, DRUG TRAFFICKING The department reportedly removed the CCP-run institute in hopes of halting China’s illicit fentanyl precursor exports. “While we agree that stopping the CCP’s exportation of these precursors is paramount and long overdue, your administration’s strategy is misguided,” Blackburn wrote. “By preemptively removing the Institute from the entity list, you continue to show weakness on the world stage.” “We must also continue to stand for human rights around the world. In 2020, President Trump put the Institute on the sanctions list because of their abuse of the Uyghurs. The CCP — and the Institute for Forensic Sciences — subjects the Uyghurs to unthinkable evil,” the letter continued. Blackburn also linked America’s fentanyl crisis to the Biden administration’s border policies and urged a focus on border security measures and to “punish the criminal Mexican cartels who have partnered with the Chinese to poison Americans with fentanyl.” MEXICAN CARTELS’ DRUG DEALINGS ‘TOP PRIORITY’ AS FENTANYL POURS ACROSS SOUTHERN BORDER, DEA SAYS In July, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that the Chinese communist regime “bears responsibility” for helping tackle the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. — pointing to areas in which China can assist the U.S. in stopping the drug getting into the country. “The precursor chemicals, many of which have legal use, the precursor chemicals, the pill presses that are used to manufacture fentanyl, it’s extremely easy to manufacture, it’s extremely quick, it’s easy to conceal,” he said at the time. “We seized vertical, long vertical candles that were hollowed out with pills. China bears responsibility. We need their assistance in interdicting the chemicals and pill presses that are going in volumes that don’t reflect legitimate use.” HOUSE HOMELAND GOP REPORT ACCUSES MAYORKAS OF ‘INTENTIONAL’ DERELICTION OF DUTY OVER BORDER CRISIS Illicit fentanyl is typically created in Mexico by cartels in labs with the use of precursors shipped over from China. The U.S. has called for an international coalition to combat the crisis and has appealed for help from both China and Mexico. Fox News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
Texas must remove floating barrier from Rio Grande, Fifth Circuit Court orders
The appeals court upheld an earlier ruling by an Austin federal judge to remove the 1,000-foot-long barrier the state deployed near Eagle Pass.
Fox News Politics: Santos goes down
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. The House voted to expel Rep. George Santos 311 to 114 Thursday. Santos walked out of the House chamber just before all the votes that sealed his fate were cast and did not answer reporters’ questions on his way out. Slightly more Republicans voted not to expel Santos than to let him stay. But the overwhelming feeling was clearly that Santos needed to go. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., said he was concerned about the precedent it sets to expel a member of congress who has not been convicted (Santos faces several charges in federal court). New York Republican Rep, Nicole Malliotakis, however, said “it sets a bad precedent that [Santos] stole money from his donors…” DEMS BACK SANTOS: These 4 Dems bucked their party on vote to expel George Santos from Congress …Read more FIGHT NIGHT: Here are the top moments from the DeSantis v Newsom showdown …Read more ‘EVEN DEBATE’: Trump says DeSantis, Newsom ‘both worked hard’ and in Red State vs Blue State showdown …Read more ‘KISS OF DEATH’: Trump campaign calls DeSantis ‘thirsty’ for debating Newsom …Read more ‘THIS IS A MASSACRE’: Conservatives praise DeSantis for ‘complete and total’ debate win over Newsom …Read more TROUBLE AHEAD? Democrats still wondering whether Biden is best candidate for 2024 …Read more ‘TOUGHEST UPHILL CLIMB’: Political forecaster reveals shift towards GOP in top 2024 Senate race …Read more NOT IMMUNE: Trump could face civil lawsuits related to Jan 6, appeals court rules …Read more NOT AGAIN: GOP senators call for China travel ban to prevent spread of mystery illness …Read more AMNESTY OR BUST? Dems want legal path for ‘long-standing’ illegal immigrants …Read more ON THE MOVE: House passes bill to stop federal funds being used to house illegal immigrants …Read more ‘MOST TRANSPARENT’: Comer vows to release Hunter Biden transcript, schedule public hearing after first son is deposed …Read more ‘TRYING TO HIDE’: Democrat-led committee reject Epstein flight log subpoena request …Read more ‘TITANIC FIGURE’: Former White House staffers praise, critique the late Henry Kissinger …Read more ‘ECO-COLONIALISM’: Biden admin crackdown on oil drilling faces stiff opposition from Native Americans …Read more ‘NO SPECIAL TREATMENT’: Comer, Jordan demand Hunter Biden appear for deposition, say he will not receive ‘special treatment’ …Read more SCANDAL: Democrats call for resignation of Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler amid sexual battery allegations …Read more ‘SHAMEFUL’: Dem senator unleashes on Biden admin after EV actions boosting China …Read more REQUIEM: Reagan historian looks back at historic O’Connor appointment: ‘most qualified’ …Read more Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.