Gov. Abbott demands comprehensive overhaul of Texas flood warning systems as death toll rises

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday called for a special session to consider legislation to improve warning systems and emergency response in flood-prone areas across the state. The proclamation comes days after more than 100 people died, and nearly 200 others went missing, in the July Fourth Texas Hill Country floods. The floods, which were caused by excessive rainfall near the Guadalupe River, swept away people and homes across multiple counties early Friday morning. Officials said the river rose nearly 30 feet within 45 minutes. SEVERE WEATHER EMERGENCY ALERTS: HOW TO GET LOUD PHONE WARNINGS Following the disaster, which claimed the lives of 27 campers at a riverfront youth camp, citizens criticized an apparent lack of prior notice. The National Weather Service (NWS) said notifications were expanded about 12 hours before the tragedy, though the warning remained “moderate.” TEXAS RIVER FLOODS AS EMERGENCY CREWS RACE TO FIND OTHERS MISSING; CAMP EVACUATED Abbott specifically called for new legislation to improve early warning systems and other preparedness infrastructure, strengthen emergency communications and other response infrastructure, provide relief funding, and evaluate and streamline rules and regulations to speed preparedness for and recovery from natural disasters. Other legislation requests unrelated to the floods but included in the proclamation surrounded eduction, taxes, abortion, human trafficking, crime and public safety, elections and redistricting, and hemp-derived products. DEADLY TEXAS FLOOD EXPOSES ‘NEGLECTED’ WEATHER ALERT SYSTEM TRUMP AIMS TO MODERNIZE Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem addressed flood notification failures at a news conference on Saturday, claiming the administration was working on updating the National Weather Service and NOAA’s “neglected” and “ancient” systems. Noem vowed to upgrade the weather service technology, which she described as being “neglected for far too long,” to ensure families have “as much advanced notice as possible.” She added reform is ongoing, though she did not provide a timeline. Skeptics argued the upgrades are unlikely due to the reduced National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) workforce following Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) spending cuts. Democrats previously alleged more than 880 NOAA workers were laid off, though a spokesperson would not confirm a specific number.
Mamdani’s far-left allies aim to primary Hakeem Jeffries and other NYC House Democrats

Zohran Mamdani’s democratic socialist allies may be eyeing primary challenges next year against some congressional Democrats in New York City, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. But a senior political advisor to Jeffries is promising that anyone who tries to oust the top Democrat in the House in next year’s primaries will face a “forceful and unrelenting” response. Mamdani, the 33-year-old Ugandan-born democratic socialist assemblyman from Queens, sent political shock waves across the country with a convincing victory two weeks ago over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine other candidates in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary. And Mamdani took a big step toward becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor. In the wake of Mamdani’s primary victory last month, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) highlighted that “this movement is bigger than one person, election, city, or organization.” MAMDANI POLITICAL TSUNAMI SWAMPS DEMOCRATS AS PARTY SEARCHES FOR PATH FORWARD “We encourage all people inspired by the Zohran campaign to join their local DSA or YDSA chapter and get involved so we can continue to fight alongside Zohran and DSA elected officials across the country to create the future we all deserve,” they added in a statement. Fast-forward to today, and DSA leaders are apparently mulling running primary challengers against Jeffries as well as other House Democrats whose districts are in New York City, including Reps. Ritchie Torres, Jerry Nadler, Dan Goldman and Yvette Clarke. THE PLOT TO STOP MAMDANI: DEMOCRATS SCRAMBLE TO PREVENT FAR-LEFT TAKEOVER IN NYC Jeffries, who two years ago succeeded longtime House Democratic leader and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been criticized by some of New York City’s far-left leaders as a moderate and establishment Democrat. “His leadership has left a vacuum that organizations like DSA are filling. I think that is more important right now,” New York City’s Democratic Socialists of America chapter co-chair Gustavo Gordillo told CNN. Democratic socialist state Sen. Jabari Brisport, whose district includes some of the same areas of Brooklyn as Jeffries House district, argued in a statement to Fox News that the longtime congressman is “rapidly growing out of touch with an insurgent and growing progressive base within his own district that he should pay more attention to.” Democratic strategist Andre Richardson, a top Jeffries political advisor, pointed to the sweeping and controversial moves by President Donald Trump during the opening months of his second tour of duty in the White House, and said, “Leader Hakeem Jeffries is focused on taking back the House from the MAGA extremists who just ripped health care away from millions of Americans.” Richardson also warned in a statement to CNN that if those on the left mount a primary challenge against Jeffries, “our response will be forceful and unrelenting. We will teach them and all of their incumbents a painful lesson on June 23, 2026.” RESURFACED MAMDANI PHOTO SPARKS SOCIAL MEDIA FIRESTORM Jeffries, when asked about a potential primary challenge in an interview Wednesday with CNN, responded that he had “no idea what these people are talking about.” And Jeffries said he’s focusing “on pushing back against the extremism that has been unleashed on the American people.” Jeffries, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and some other top Democratic elected officials in New York have praised Mamdani’s campaign. And while they’ve defended him from Trump’s attacks, they have refrained, as of now, from endorsing the Democratic mayoral nominee. Mamdani surged to a primary victory thanks to an energetic campaign that put a major focus on affordability and New York City’s high cost of living. He made smart use of social media platforms, including TikTok, as he engaged low-propensity voters. He proposed eliminating fares to ride New York City’s vast bus system, making CUNY (City University of New York) “tuition-free,” freezing rents on municipal housing, offering “free childcare” for children up to age 5, and setting up government-run grocery stores. Thanks in part to the efforts of a massive grassroots army of volunteers, Mamdani rode a wave of support from younger and progressive voters to catapult into first place over Cuomo, who had been the primary frontrunner. “I think it’s clear that voters are prioritizing action over inaction, and not just incremental change but broad sweeping change,” veteran Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo told Fox News Digital, when asked about what Mamdani’s victory means for the party. And Caiazzo, a veteran of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, said one reason for Mamdani’s victory was that he tirelessly met “voters where they are.”
Left-wing critics blame Texas flood devastation on ‘climate denialism,’ warn more to come unless inaction ends

While debate over why the Texas floods were so deadly has centered around President Donald Trump’s cuts to key weather agencies, left-wing critics have also complained that policy inaction and “climate denialism” were major factors. As search and rescue efforts continued after the devastating storm swept through Texas on the July Fourth holiday, former Democratic presidential candidate and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg penned an op-ed arguing that the Texas floods “were made worse by climate denialism.” “The latest episode of horrific flooding isn’t just about a natural disaster in one state. It’s also about a political failure that’s been happening in states across the country, and most of all in Washington,” Bloomberg wrote. “The refusal to recognize that climate change carries a death penalty is sending innocent people, including far too many children, to early graves.” OBAMA BROS BALK AT FAR-LEFT SAYING TEXANS BROUGHT FLOOD DISASTER ON THEMSELVES BY SUPPORTING TRUMP “We are at a crossroads,” Ben Jealous, former candidate for Maryland governor andexecutive director at the Sierra Club, wrote in his own op-ed following the tragedy in Texas. “We can double down on denial and let superstorms, heatwaves, droughts, floods and fires determine our fate. Or we can lead — with science, resilience, courage, and a recommitment to our values,” Jealous said. Meanwhile, Will Bunch, a national opinion columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer, said that “so many more lives would have been saved if leaders dropped climate denial and believed in government for the public good.” EX-BIDEN OFFICIAL SCOLDS TRUMP ON CLIMATE CHANGE AFTER TEXAS FLOODS In response to these arguments, Steve Milloy, a senior policy fellow at the conservative-leaning Energy and Environment Legal Institute, said it was “sad” to see folks politicizing the tragedy in Texas to advance their agenda. “Just for the record, this area of Texas is known for flash floods,” Milloy added. “Extreme rainfall is not correlated with emissions and there hasn’t even been any ‘global warming’ over the past five days.” The climate advocacy group Climate Central also added that “it is difficult to directly attribute specific rain events to climate change” in an assessment about understanding the link between the Texas floods and climate change. Milloy said that while the National Weather Service was “sufficiently staffed” in his view, he thinks a preliminary investigation will show the warning system in place needs improvements. WHITE HOUSE BLASTS SCHUMER, DEMOCRATS FOR ‘DEPRAVED LIE’ BLAMING TRUMP FOR TEXAS FLASH FLOOD In a statement to Fox News Digital, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson called it “shameful and disgusting” to see that in the wake of the environmental tragedy in Texas, people were politicizing it. “The Texas officials who say, ‘We couldn’tqaa [sic] see this coming,’ are totally oblivious that they should have seen climate change coming, and done something about it. Climate change denial means more torrential rain for Texas, and more flash flooding,” former Washington State Democratic Governor Jay Inslee wrote on social media. “North Carolina. Texas. When will floods finally wash away the climate change denial in DC that is now washing away America’s economically productive clean energy industries?” Inslee asked in a separate post. One climate group, World Weather Attribution, told Axios it was so confident climate change is what caused the deadly flooding that it does not even plan to study the natural disaster to better understand what caused it. Fox News Digital reached out to the group to understand better why it is so certain of the cause, but did not receive a response. The group investigated the climate change impacts of a July heat wave in Europe as recently as this month, according to the New York Times.
ICE swoops in on MS-13 kingpin hiding in America’s heartland after investigation

EXCLUSIVE: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations unit arrested an alleged MS-13 kingpin and MS-13 associate in Nebraska on Wednesday. The kingpin is on El Salvador’s “Top 100 Most Wanted” list, but his name is not yet being released by authorities. He is wanted for “aggravated homicide of five victims, attempted aggravated homicide, deprivation of liberty and terrorist organization affiliation,” according to an ICE press release. “These illegal aliens didn’t just sneak into our country, they brought with them a legacy of violence, terror, and death,” Mark Zito ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge of Kansas City, stated. “They thought they could hide in America’s heartland, but they were sadly mistaken, not on our watch.” ICE AGENTS CAPTURE SUSPECTED VIOLENT MS-13 GANG MEMBER, ANOTHER ILLEGAL ALIEN AFTER POLICE LET THEM SLIP AWAY In addition, an alleged “MS-13 gang member and foreign terrorist” associate who is also wanted in the Central American nation for allegedly “giving orders” to members of the gang to commit a range of serious crimes such as murder and drug trafficking was also taken into federal custody, according to ICE. The arrest was considered “targeted enforcement action” in Omaha, with authorities saying the two were a “serious threat” to the area. The two were both living illegally in the U.S., and the investigation is being done by ICE and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. ‘OFF OUR STREETS’: ICE MAKES MAJOR ARREST OF INTERNATIONALLY WANTED ‘SUSPECTED TERRORIST’ “When ICE agents move in to make an arrest, it is extremely important that the public not interfere,” ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement. “The misinformation, and sometimes blatant lies, being spread around the country could result in someone stepping into a federal operation and suddenly finding themselves face-to-face with a killer who has nothing to lose.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE “Our ICE officers and agents are protecting your neighborhoods, even when you don’t know the threat is there, so either support them, or get out of the way,” Lyons added. In a video of the arrest on the road, one of the men is seen putting their hands up quickly after being stopped by agents wearing “ATF Police” and “Homeland Security Investigations” on their backs. VIOLENT MS-13 GANGBANGERS GETTING ‘DESPERATE’; DHS OFFICIAL CREDITS EARLY TRUMP ACTION The news release from ICE said that arrests went “without incident.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The arrest comes as ICE has been doing enforcement operations all over the country, as the agency continues to highlight arrests of those with criminal charges and convictions.
Former Navy SEAL and ‘political outsider’ announces GOP campaign for Wisconsin governor

FIRST ON FOX: Bill Berrien, a Wisconsin manufacturing executive, former Navy SEAL and self-described political outsider, announced his Republican campaign for governor of Wisconsin on Wednesday. In the Republican’s first national exclusive interview since announcing his gubernatorial bid, Berrien told Fox News Digital, “We [have] to get away from the six years of Tony Evers, where we’re going in the entirely opposite direction. This race is extremely winnable. I can win it. I can be the conservative governor that is going to make this the Wisconsin century.” Berrien said Democrat Gov. Tony Evers’ tenure has felt like the “gears in reverse” of any gains made by former GOP Gov. Scott Walker. The Republican hopeful called Evers a “tax and spend” Democrat who isn’t moving the state forward. “I’m an outsider. I’m a businessman, just like President Trump,” Berrien said. “He’s taking back Washington. We need to take back Madison for Wisconsinites.” FORMER NAVY SEAL MOUNTS SENATE BID TO ‘CRUSH THE WOKE AGENDA’ AS TUBERVILLE SEEKS GOVERNORSHIP Berrien is the CEO of manufacturing companies Pindel Global Precision and Liberty Precision and served as a Navy SEAL for nine years. According to his campaign website, his top priorities in the race are revitalizing Wisconsin manufacturing, restoring law and order and strengthening Wisconsin families. FORMER TALK RADIO HOST DIALS INTO ALASKA’S RACE FOR GOVERNOR, SAYS ENERGY IS KEY “Wisconsin is the best of the country,” Berrien said. “We make things, we build things, we work with our hands. My vision is we can be the manufacturing powerhouse of the world again. We can be ground zero for the success of the Trump-driven re-industrialization.” President Donald Trump campaigned on unleashing American manufacturing as president and, through his often controversial trade and tariff policies, seeks to return business to the United States. Trump’s win in battleground Wisconsin landed him the White House in 2024. Berrien called his win “historic” and said it reflected a “shift across the board” among the Wisconsin electorate. “It is the Republican workers’ party – that’s due to his leadership. I think we’re gonna be building on that through this campaign,” Berrien said. While Trump secured Wisconsin in 2024, a liberal Democrat-backed Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate, Susan Crawford, won a contentious multimillion-dollar election over conservative Brad Schimel earlier this year. When Elon Musk was still in Trump’s good graces, he invested millions to support Schimel, but Democrats from across the country threw their political weight behind Crawford, and she was ultimately elected to the open seat. “It means all the more that we need to have a Republican in the governor’s mansion,” Berrien said before asking, “How do we apply a military leadership-type mindset across all 72 counties, winning up and down the ticket?” And when asked about Democrats’ early 2026 midterm messaging about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Medicaid cuts, Berrien said he supports Medicaid work requirements and called Trump’s megabill “wind in our sails for creating the Wisconsin century, making Wisconsin the manufacturing powerhouse to the world again.” “When you look at the business incentives for factory construction, investing in technology, investing in people, it’s like a Black Friday sale or factory expansion, no coupons required.” Berrien announced his candidacy in a campaign video released Wednesday morning. Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann announced his own Republican gubernatorial campaign in May. Evers has yet to announce whether he will seek re-election in 2026. He did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. “When we think about the last 10 years, there has only been two candidates that have been successful on a statewide basis, [Sen.] Ron Johnson and Donald Trump. We have on my team, leaders who’ve been part of both of those races, and we have the team to win this. We have resources, and we have a clear lane and opportunity. Let’s make this the Wisconsin century,” Berrien said.
SCOTUS denies Florida AG request to enforce controversial immigration law

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected Florida’s emergency bid to let it enforce a controversial immigration law that would ban illegal immigrants from entering the state — leaving in place a lower court’s pause on immediately enforcing the measure. Justices on the 6-3 conservative majority Supreme Court did not explain their decision, and there were no noted dissents. At issue was Florida’s Senate Bill 4C, which would make it a crime for undocumented migrants to enter the state if they had been previously deported or previously denied entry into the U.S., regardless of their history, and even if they had since gained lawful status in the country. Re-entering the state after being deported would be considered a felony under S.B. 4C, and individuals suspected of violating the law would be jailed, without bond, until their cases can be heard in court. FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS RETURN OF DEPORTED MIGRANT TO US, REJECTING TRUMP REQUEST Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier asked the Supreme Court late last month to intervene and block a preliminary injunction handed down in April by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams. Uthmeier argued that, barring intervention from the Supreme Court, Florida and its citizens will “remain disabled from combatting the serious harms of illegal immigration for years as this litigation proceeds through the lower courts.” Its position was backed by 18 states, which submitted an amicus brief to the high court backing the law in question. The ACLU, which filed a motion opposing the law, argued in a motion of its own that these laws risk undermining federal immigration enforcement and underscore that a stay of Florida’s law would “lead to an unmanageable patchwork of varying state criminal regulations of immigration.” JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TELLS FEDERAL JUDGE IT MIGHT INVOKE STATE SECRETS ACT ON HIGH-PROFILE DEPORTATION CASE The Justice Department, for its part, also weighed in, filing a 33-page amicus brief on behalf of Florida to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Trump administration officials told the appeals court that the law in question did not “preempt” federal supremacy over existing immigration law, arguing that Florida’s S.B. 4C “is in harmony, not conflict, with federal law.” The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ultimately declined to pause the lower court’s injunction, clearing the way for the case to be appealed to the Supreme Court. Florida’s attorney general included the administration’s amicus brief in a supplemental motion filed to the high court, though the justices did not make note of it in denying the state’s request. Florida is not the first state to try to stand up controversial legislation blocking illegal immigrants from entering the state, according to the ACLU. At least six others, including Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma, have attempted to pass similar legislation in recent years, it said in a court filing of its own. All remain blocked by the federal courts.
Suspect in anti-ICE Texas shooting granted green card under Biden administration

FIRST ON FOX: One of the suspects charged with ties to the anti-ICE attack at the Prairieland Detention Facility in Alvarado, Texas, was granted a green card under the Biden administration and is a prior recipient of DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada, 38, is the husband of one of the alleged attackers. He is referenced in the unsealed criminal complaint lodged against 10 individuals who allegedly attacked the detention center over the weekend, which resulted in an Alvarado police officer being shot in the neck. The officer is expected to recover. The 10 suspects are facing federal charges, including multiple counts of attempted murder of a federal officer and “discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.” ICE AGENTS TARGETED IN 2 AMBUSH ATTACKS IN RECENT DAYS Sanchez-Estrada was part of a separate criminal complaint, as he was arrested by the FBI on Monday on a felony charge of “conspiracy to tamper with evidence” as they were executing a search warrant. The unsealed complaint alleges that Sanchez-Estrada was seen “carrying multiple packages from his residence to his truck.” The box included “anti-government propaganda,” including one entitled “Organising for Attack! Insurrectionary Anarchy.” The term “insurrectionary anarchy” is explained as a “subset of anarchism that stands out for its commitment to violence and revolutionary insurrection,” according to a Perspectives on Terrorism journal article, which is part of the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, from March 2024. The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point also had a journal article in March 2023 that explained “insurrectionary anarchism is regarded as the most serious form of domestic (non-jihadi) terrorist threat.” According to ICE sources, he was born in 1986 and arrived in the United States with a Border Crossing Card at the Laredo, Texas, port of entry in 2001, when he was a teenager. He was granted DACA status in 2013, and he filed for renewals for DACA in 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022. Sanchez-Estrada was also arrested by local Texas police for alleged possession of a controlled substance in 2020, but the charge was dismissed two months later. He was granted a green card in April 2024 after applying in September 2023. GUNMAN AMBUSHES BORDER PATROL AGENTS DAYS AFTER HOUSE DEMS REJECT RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ANTI-ICE VIOLENCE On Friday, a heavily armed group allegedly lured two unarmed ICE agents into a parking lot by firing a barrage of fireworks at their door, and spray-painting graffiti on their personal cars with the words “traitor” and “Ice Pig,” which agents could see from the cameras inside, last Friday. At around the same time, a police officer responded to their 911 call for two men firing rounds from a nearby tree line, and an officer was hit in the neck, which forced the agents to take cover. A July 7 criminal complaint filed by the U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas alleges that assailants shot 20 to 30 rounds from an AR-15-style rifle before it jammed, causing it to malfunction. Suspect Bradford Morris was arrested while trying to flee from the scene in a red Hyundai van. While in custody, he told an FBI agent he had been “part of a Signal Group Chat for a while and that he had been invited to the group chat years ago after attending a protest.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE He allegedly drove to the incident with another suspect and two people he only knew by their nicknames, “Champagne and Rowan.” Inside Morris’ van, police found a revolver, two AR-15 rifles, two Kevlar vests, a ballistic helmet and a loaded magazine. According to the criminal complaint, Morris “claimed that he met some people online and transported some of them down from Dallas” to the center in order to “make some noise.” 4 ARRESTED IN ALLEGED BORDER PATROL OPERATION SABOTAGE ATTEMPT NEAR LA AS ATTACKS ON IMMIGRATION AGENTS SURGE Police also found seven suspects in black military fatigues wandering in a field 300 yards away, some of whom were covered in mud from trying to escape on foot. Police said they also had weapons, vests and radios. The attack comes amid rising concerns about hostilities toward ICE and Border Patrol agents amid left-wing criticisms of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. This week, a gunman was killed ambushing Border Patrol at an annex facility in McAllen, Texas. A McAllen police officer was shot in the leg and two Border Patrol personnel were injured, according to the Department of Homeland Security. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “They vandalized vehicles and security cameras at the detention center and slashed federal vehicle tires. Responding officers made arrests. ICE is actively working with the FBI and the Texas Rangers regarding the incident,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday. “Threats or acts of violence toward law enforcement officers will NOT be tolerated. Secretary Noem has made it clear: If you threaten or attempt to harm a law enforcement officer, we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” the statement continued.
Red state will require new teachers pass PragerU ‘America First’ test to keep license

FIRST ON FOX: The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is partnering with pro-Trump educational nonprofit PragerU to develop an “America First” assessment for new teachers coming into the state. The state Department of Education is currently working with PragerU to develop the assessment for teachers “relocating from states with progressive education policies,” which they must take in order to get a license to teach in Oklahoma. The new assessment will evaluate educators on three main aspects: knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, “understanding of American exceptionalism” and “grasp of fundamental biological differences between boys and girls,” according to a news release about the new assessment. The goal of the new assessment is to ensure educators align with OSDE’s commitment to an education “rooted in truth, patriotism and core values,” and aims to instill “pride” in the nation’s history among students. ARIZONA LAUNCHES PARTNERSHIP WITH PRAGERU TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT AMERICA’S ‘RICH HISTORY AND VALUES’ “We’re sending a clear message: Oklahoma’s schools will not be a haven for woke agendas pushed in places like California and New York,” said Superintendent Ryan Walters. “If you want to teach here, you’d better know the Constitution, respect what makes America great, and understand basic biology. We’re raising a generation of patriots, not activists, and I’ll fight tooth and nail to keep leftist propaganda out of our classrooms.” OSDE said it was still assessing which states of origin will be required, but said California and New York would be included. The exact makeup of the test is also still under development but will be finalized in the coming weeks. The assessment will then be implemented immediately upon completion, according to OSDE. “We’re thrilled to join Oklahoma in answering parents’ urgent call against senseless woke indoctrination,” said PragerU CEO Marissa Streit. “This assessment will stop extreme leftist ideologues from harming children and ensure teachers champion America’s greatness and future potential.” HOW TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ WILL IMPACT K-12 EDUCATION Fox News Digital reached out to multiple Oklahoma teachers unions for comment. The Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators got back, but they declined to comment, citing the fact they had not been notified of the details of this new teacher assessment yet. The Oklahoma chapter of the National Educators Association also declined to comment. OSDE’s new assessment for new teachers is not the first reform Walters has ushered in over the last several months to ensure students get a pro-America education in the state. About six months ago, Walters released updated social studies standards aimed at strengthening civics and constitutional studies across every grade that “upholds pro-family, pro-America values.” Under Walters’ leadership, OSDE has also instituted lifetime teaching bans for serious sexual misconduct and other violations of professional standards, taken steps to address antisemitism and moved money from administrative budgets to pay for all students’ lunches across the state.
Video: Marchers mark route of Srebrenica genocide 30 years later

NewsFeed Thirty years after the Srebrenica massacre, thousands have embarked on the annual three-day march along the same route where more than 8,000 Bosnian men and boys were executed, calling for Serb leaders to finally recognise the atrocity as a genocide. Published On 9 Jul 20259 Jul 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
Israel says it launched ‘special, targeted operations’ in southern Lebanon

Army shares video of troops on ground in ‘targeted nighttime operation’ amid near-daily attacks against neighbour. Israeli troops have entered southern Lebanon, the military says, to dismantle infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah, in its latest near-daily violation of its November ceasefire with the Lebanese armed group. The military said in a statement on Wednesday that it had launched “special, targeted operations” to destroy Hezbollah facilities and prevent the group from “reestablishing itself in the area”. It claimed the ground incursion had been launched, acting on “intelligence information and the identification of Hezbollah weapons and terrorist infrastructure in several areas of southern Lebanon”. The army statement said the 9th Brigade was in the Labbouneh area, while troops from the 300th Brigade were operating in the Jabal Blat area further west – both within sight of the border. It shared a video captioned “footage from a targeted nighttime operation of the 9th Brigade in southern Lebanon”, troops were shown walking on the ground. The army has not commented on whether the incursion marks the first time it has operated on the ground in Lebanon since agreeing to the United States-brokered ceasefire in November 2024. Since striking the deal, which sought to end more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah – including several months of all-out war – Israel has continued to carry out near-daily strikes across Lebanon, including multiple strikes on the capital, Beirut. Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah arms depots and fighters, but numerous civilians have been killed and wounded, and residential buildings were destroyed. Advertisement Israeli attacks across Lebanon The new operation was announced as Israel intensified its strikes in Lebanon amid Hezbollah’s weakened position, the Lebanese army staying on the sidelines and the international community’s failure to pressure Israel to abide by the truce. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has repeatedly asked the US and Israel to rein in Israel’s attacks on the country. On Sunday, the Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the group remains open to peace, but it will not disarm or back down from confronting Israel until it ends its air raids and withdraws from southern Lebanon. “We cannot be asked to soften our stance or lay down arms while [Israeli] aggression continues,” Qassem told thousands of supporters gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs for Ashura, an important day in the Shia Muslim calendar. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters back north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli border, leaving the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the region. Israel was required to fully withdraw its troops from the country, but has kept them in five locations it deems strategic to its own interests. Thomas Barrack, an adviser to US President Donald Trump who serves as Washington’s ambassador to Turkiye and special envoy for Syria, returned to Beirut on Monday, praising the Lebanese government’s response to a US proposal aimed at disarming Hezbollah amid Israel’s continued military presence in the country. Since the Gaza war started in October 2023, Israel has also carried out attacks against members of Palestinian factions that maintain a presence in various areas of Lebanon, mostly in camps for Palestinian refugees. On Tuesday, an Israeli strike on a vehicle near the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli killed at least three people and injured 13 others, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health. The military later announced that it had killed Mehran Mustafa Ba’jur in the strike, describing him as one of Hamas’s key commanders in Lebanon. It underscored that Israel’s assaults are being launched across the country, not just in the south. It was the first time an Israeli assassination had taken place in the area since the truce. Adblock test (Why?)