Fox News has exclusively obtained satellite imagery revealing what an opposition group says is a previously undisclosed Iranian nuclear weapons facility – raising fresh concerns amid ongoing negotiations between Tehran and the Trump administration.
The newly identified site, located in Iran’s Semnan Province, is far from the regime’s already-known nuclear facilities. According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), intelligence gathered from sources inside the country points to a sprawling compound covering nearly 2,500 acres.
Code-named the “Rainbow Site” by Iranian officials, the facility has reportedly been in operation for more than a decade, masked as a chemical production company known as Diba Energy Siba.
IRAN’S COVER NUCLEAR AGENCY FOUND OPERATING OUT OF TOP SPACE PROGRAM LAUNCH SITES
According to NCRI sources, the primary function of the Rainbow Site is the extraction of tritium – a radioactive isotope used to enhance nuclear weapons. Unlike uranium enrichment, tritium has virtually no peaceful or commercial applications, casting further doubt on Iran’s longstanding claims that its nuclear ambitions are solely for energy or civilian use.
The revelations come as the Trump administration navigates sensitive negotiations with Tehran. When asked about the U.S. position on whether Iran can maintain a nuclear enrichment program short of weapons development, President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday, “We haven’t made that decision yet. We will, but we haven’t made that decision yet.”
Despite the bombshell intelligence, senior officials maintain optimism. Vice President JD Vance, speaking Tuesday, said the talks remain on track.
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“Without prejudging the negotiation, I will say, so far so good,” Vance told reporters. “We’ve been very happy with how the Iranians have responded to some of the points that we’ve made.”
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The discovery of the Rainbow Site could complicate the already delicate diplomacy surrounding Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the possibility of a renewed agreement.
Trump unveils framework of new trade deal with key American ally
President Donald Trump announced a new trade deal with the U.K., calling Thursday “an incredible day for America.”
Trump told reporters at the White House that “today’s agreement with the U.K. is the first in a series of agreements on trade that my administration has been negotiating over the past four weeks.”
“With this deal, the U.K. joins the United States in affirming that reciprocity and fairness is an essential and vital principle of international trade. The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, dramatically increasing access for American beef, ethanol and virtually all of the products produced by our great farmers,” Trump said.
“They’ll also be fast-tracking American goods through their customs process so our exports go to a very, very quick form of approval,” the president added, noting that “The final details are being written up in the coming weeks.”
TRUMP CONFIRMS TRADE DEAL WITH UK: ‘FULL AND COMPREHENSIVE’
In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared “Today is an incredible day for America as we deliver our first Fair, Open, and Reciprocal Trade Deal — Something our past Presidents never cared about.
“Together with our strong Ally, the United Kingdom, we have reached the first, historic Trade Deal since Liberation Day,” Trump also said. “As part of this Deal, America will raise $6 BILLION DOLLARS in External Revenue from 10% Tariffs, $5 BILLION DOLLARS in new Export Opportunities for our Great Ranchers, Farmers, and Producers, and enhance the National Security of both the U.S. and the UK through the creation of an Aluminum and Steel Trading Zone, and a secure Pharmaceutical Supply Chain.”
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U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer phoned into the White House while Trump was announcing the pact, calling it a “really important deal” that is “going to boost trade between and across our countries,” protect and create jobs, and open market access.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also revealed Thursday that the U.K. is buying $10 billion worth of Boeing planes.
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“I’m going to let the name of the airline announce it, because that’s theirs to do,” he added.
House votes to make Trump Gulf of America name change permanent
The House of Representatives voted 211-206 to make President Donald Trump‘s name change for the Gulf of America permanent on Thursday morning.
No Democrats voted for the bill, as was expected. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., was the only Republican to vote against the bill.
The legislation was led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a vocal ally of Trump’s in Congress.
“This is such an important thing to do for the American people. The American people deserve pride in their country, and they deserve pride in the waters that we own, that we protect with our military and our Coast Guard and all of the businesses that prosper along these waters,” Greene said during debate on the bill.
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“But Democrats today are outraged. They’re outraged because they love the cartels more than any other people in the world, more than the American people.”
Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, panned the legislation as a waste of time.
“Republicans think this juvenile legislation is the best use of this House’s time. This is the only work we’re doing today, folks,” Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said in his rebuttal to Greene.
“What a sick joke this is. Republicans worry about 400-year-old words on a map. I worry about families and every community in America that’s struggling to get by.”
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The vast majority of Republicans supported the bill, with several arguing the name change would help boost tourism and a sense of patriotism in the region.
However, earlier this week, Fox News Digital was told that several GOP lawmakers privately expressed frustration at what they saw as a largely symbolic bill taking up their time instead of more meaningful legislation to move Trump’s agenda along.
“I’ve heard criticisms from all corners of the conference. Conservatives to pragmatic ones,” Bacon told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. “It seems sophomoric. The United States is bigger and better than this.”
One conservative GOP lawmaker vented to Fox News Digital, “125 other [executive orders], this is the one we pick.”
Greene hit back at the detractors, however, in response to Fox News Digital’s report.
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“Some of my Republican colleagues don’t want to vote for my Gulf of America Act, which is one of President Trump’s favorite executive orders. They say they would rather vote on ‘more serious EOs.’ Boys are you ready to vote to criminalize sex changes on kids?? Because I have that bill on that EO too,” she wrote on X.
The legislation will now be sent to the Senate, where it must reach a 60-vote threshold – with Democratic support – before it can hit the president’s desk.
New 12-ft statue of overweight Black woman unveiled in ‘takeover’ of Times Square
New York City’s Times Square installed a statue of a 12-foot-tall Black woman in casual clothing that its creator hopes will encourage people to reflect on “greater cultural diversity.”
New York-based Times Square Arts recently put up the new statue display, titled “Grounded in the Stars,” by artist Thomas J Price, along with his “Man Series” animated billboards, both of which are temporary, but causing a stir online.
The Times Square website states, “Price’s multi-channel presentation on the screens and sculptural installation on the plaza below forms a two-part takeover in Times Square that foregrounds the intrinsic value of the individual and amplifies traditionally marginalized bodies on a monumental scale.”
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“Times Square stands as an iconic symbol and site of convergence, uniting people from all walks of life, individual stories, and experiences intersecting on a global platform. The intention of my public works is to become part of the place they inhabit and its physical, material history, as well as the visitors that pass through and around the location, no matter how fleeting,” Price said in a statement in the press release. “I hope Grounded in the Stars and Man Series will instigate meaningful connections and bind intimate emotional states that allow for deeper reflection around the human condition and greater cultural diversity.”
Price’s official website notes that he has spent decades “tacitly dissecting both implicit and explicit expressions of anti-Blackness.”
For this particular sculpture, Price’s website explained, “both her stature and her unbothered gaze are markers of status and authority; this is a figure who understands her worth.”
The Times Square website noted that the large Black woman statue is not one particular woman, but is made as a contrast to other sculptures, including “a subtle nod to Michelangelo’s David” with its posture.
The website also said that “the woman in Grounded in the Stars cuts a stark contrast to the pedestaled permanent monuments — both white, both men — which bookend Duffy Square, while embodying a quiet gravity and grandeur.”
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The statues of historic White men in Times Square are of Father Francis P. Duffy, the most decorated chaplain in Army history who served in World War I and the Spanish-American War, and playwright George M. Cohan, who composed iconic American works such as “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and is credited for laying the groundwork for Broadway as a center for the performing arts.
American statues and holidays have become a frequent source of controversy, as progressives create new monuments while tearing down those of figures from the past.
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The “Grounded in the Stars” display, placed on April 29, will be removed in mid-June.
The Times Square website noted that support for the Grounded in the Stars display is “provided in part by the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation, Morgan Stanley, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and additional in-kind support from the Times Square Edition Hotel.”
Ilhan Omar’s ‘White men’ remark gets shredded by James Carville
Democratic strategist James Carville called out Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., on Wednesday, for comments she made in 2018 about White men. He said controversial members of Congress like Omar “are more trouble than they’re worth” for Democrats.
“Ilhan Omar says that White men are responsible for most of the deaths in the United States. So let me get this straight, 69% of the people — why I’m stuck on that number, I don’t know — but 69% of the people going to vote, are White. Of that, 48.5 are males. So, I don’t know, my rough math is 33%?” Carville said during a discussion at the Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Summit in London.
Omar said in 2018 during an interview that the U.S. should be “fearful” of White men and that the country should be creating policies to “fight the radicalization of White men.” The interview resurfaced this week on social media, and was criticized by members of the GOP, including Vice President JD Vance.
“That’s a lot of pissed-off 33% of people that vote, and that’s a smart strategy? And there are people that agree with her! There are people that actually agree with her! And I think it’s, honestly, I think these people are more trouble than they’re worth,” Carville said on Wednesday.
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“I would say our country should be more fearful of White men across our country, because they are actually causing most of the deaths within this country,” Omar said in the 2018 interview with Al-Jazeera while discussing domestic terrorism threats in the United States and responding to a question about how much concern “jihadism” posed to the U.S.
“And so, if fear was the driving force of policies to keep America safe, Americans safe inside of this country, we should be profiling, monitoring, and creating policies to fight the radicalization of White men,” she added.
The comments were called out by JD Vance and other conservatives on Tuesday, as the vice president likened Omar’s remarks to “genocidal language.”
“This isn’t just sick; it’s actually genocidal language,” Vance wrote on social media. “What a disgrace this person is.”
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“In this nearly 8yr old clip, I am referring to the rise of white nationalism in an annual report issued by the Anti-Defamation League that said White supremacists were responsible for 78 percent of ‘extremist-related murders,’” Omar told Fox News Digital in a statement. “PS you should look up what ‘genocidal’ actually means when you’re actively supporting a genocide taking place in Gaza.”
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Omar told Daily Caller News Foundation reporter Myles Morell to “f— off” earlier this month after he asked her a question about fellow Democratic Party figures traveling to El Salvador to defend illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported to the country by the Trump administration. Morell shared the clip on X.
Omar later responded to the clip being shared on social media and stated, “I said what I said. You and all your miserable trolls can f— off.”
Sex abuse scandal plagued courthouse where sheriff allegedly killed judge: attorney
In September 2024, authorities said former Letcher County, Kentucky Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines unexpectedly shot District Judge Kevin Mullins, who he had known for decades, in Mullins’ chambers.
The shooting, which was caught on surveillance footage, rocked the small eastern Kentucky town of Whitesburg and has subsequently captivated the true crime world.
The events that led to the shooting, according to Stines’ attorney, began years earlier with a civil lawsuit against a former Letcher County Sheriff’s deputy for allegedly raping a female defendant who was out on bond.
That lawsuit also named Stines as a defendant.
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The following is a full timeline of events that provide context for the shooting:
Jan. 31, 2022: Woman files civil sexual abuse suit
A woman named Sabrina Adkins filed a civil lawsuit against former Letcher County Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Fields, claiming that he had exploited her for sexual favors when she was on home incarceration.
According to the suit, Adkins was struggling to find housing and to pay for her GPS ankle monitor when Fields told her he was sure they could “work something out.” She alleged that Fields coerced her into sexual activity six times inside Mullins’ chambers in return for taking off her ankle monitor while she was on home incarceration, and dropped the fee associated with the ankle monitor.
When she stopped providing the sexual favors, she was arrested, according to the lawsuit.
Stines, who was Fields’ supervisor, was named as a defendant in that lawsuit, which claimed that he failed to adequately train and supervise Fields.
Her attorney in the civil suit, which is ongoing, is Ned Pillersdorf. He said that on one occasion, Fields directed Adkins to provide sexual favors to a third party, and that there were other women who Fields similarly abused.
“Just my general concern as a criminal defense lawyer … they were running a brothel out of that courthouse,” Pillersdorf told Fox News Digital. “I mean, the pimping – at least three women we know of, though I think it’s higher.”
“[Fields] pimped Adkins out to this other guy,” he said. “He pimped her out to some connection Fields had, this guy.”
“If you’re a woman caught up in an ankle bracelet or a drug court, you know, a simple phone call to the judge, you might be in jail,” he said. “So they’re so easy to extort, these women think they won’t be believed.”
After the allegations were made, a camera was mounted on the wall of Mullins’ chambers.
Sept. 29, 2022: Former Letcher County Sheriff’s deputy indicted
Months after the civil suit was filed, Fields was indicted on two counts of third-degree rape, two counts of third-degree sodomy, three counts of tampering with a prisoner monitoring device and one count of second-degree perjury in relation to the Adkins case.
Adkins said in a deposition with Investigator Matthew Easter in the criminal case that sex in exchange for favorable treatment in the criminal justice system in Letcher County was common, and that many other women had faced the same exploitation.
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Jan. 4, 2024: Fields is sentenced to prison in the rape case
Fields pleaded guilty to all charges in his criminal case, and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Sept. 16, 2024: Stines is deposed in Adkins’ civil lawsuit
Months after Fields had reported to jail, Stines was deposed in Adkins’ civil suit.
According to Stines’ attorney, Jeremy Bartley, in the several days before the deposition, Stines had become extremely paranoid, sleepless, and worried about the safety of his family.
“This civil suit had drawn a lot of attention to things that were happening in the courthouse,” Bartley said. “And in fact, if you look at it, it was because of this lawsuit – the reason that there had been a camera placed in the judge’s chambers, which is highly unusual, highly unusual to have such concern that the administrative office of courts puts a security camera in a judge’s chambers.”
Alleged threats against his family drove Stines over the edge, Bartley said.
KENTUCKY SHERIFF SEEN IN FOOTAGE SHOOTING AT JUDGE IN SHOCKING PRELIMINARY HEARING
“On the day that this [shooting] happened, my client had attempted multiple times to contact his wife and daughter, and he firmly believed that they were in danger,” Bartley said.
“He believed that they were in danger because of what he knew to have happened within the courthouse. And there was pressure, and there were threats made to him to sort of keep him in line, to keep them from saying more than these folks wanted him to say.”
Sept. 19, 2024, midday: Stines, Mullins and friends have lunch
In the middle of the day, Stines and Mullins, along with coworkers from the courthouse, ate lunch together at StreetSide Bar & Grill, which was within walking distance of the courthouse.
According to video obtained by Fox News Digital, people who were in the courthouse when the shots rang out were interviewed by the Kentucky State Police just after the shooting, and described Stines as acting oddly before and during lunch.
“This morning, Mickey came over [to the courthouse] … he just seemed a little off,” said one witness. “But he was just like, walking back and forth, all around.”
“He was acting strange at lunch,” another witness said, noting that part of the lunch conversation was about Stines’ potential reelection as sheriff.
“I don’t know if this matters, but I’m going to tell you anyways because it’s odd to me,” the witness told a detective. “He leaned back in his chair at lunch, and they were talking about reelection. He said, ‘Oh I’ll never make it to the next election.'”
Sept. 19, 2024, afternoon: Stines and friend deliver food
In the hours just before the shooting, Stines and his friend Michael Clark, who works for a drug rehabilitation company that partners with the county, took a drive to deliver food to a handicapped person who could not leave the house, according to Bartley.
“In the period of time after my client left lunch with the folks from the courthouse, he and another person by the name of Michael Clark went to purchase materials,” Bartley said. “They went out and picked up lunch and other food stuff for a food box that they were delivering to a person who was sick or had some limitations that they weren’t able to get the food that they needed. And so they left. They went shopping for those items.”
He explained that this was routine for Stines, and that normally, the person to whom Stines delivered the food was home when he arrived. That day, he wasn’t, which fueled more paranoia.
“When they went to deliver these items … the family of the gentleman indicated that he was at another location,” he said. “This caused a lot of concern from my client. So they dropped the food box with the family, and then they left and went back to the courthouse.”
Clark spoke with Fox News Digital earlier this week about the delivery incident.
“He was paranoid all day,” Clark said.
“So we went to a place to deliver the food, and it was at a different house or a different location than he thought [it] should have been,” Clark said. “I didn’t even really know where we were going. I just went with him because, you know, we participated in that and helped with it. And, you know, just kind of, I guess it might have made it worse. I don’t know, whatever he was struggling with that day.”
Sept. 19, 2024, later afternoon: Mullins shot in chambers
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In the surveillance video taken from Mullins’ chambers, a group of people could be seen cordially chatting with the judge for more than 12 minutes before Stines walked into the office and asked everyone to leave.
In the next seven minutes, Stines and Mullins talked privately before Stines stood up and seemingly locked the door of the chambers.
Mullins then handed his phone over to Stines.
After looking through the judge’s phone, Stines placed a call to his daughter from the judge’s phone that went unanswered before tossing the phone back onto the judge’s desk. Stines can be seen in the video typing in his daughter’s number while he looks at his own phone for reference of the number. Stines’ daughter did not appear to be saved in Mullins’ contacts.
He then allegedly stood up, unholstered his pistol, and moved menacingly toward Mullins before opening fire at point-blank range, killing the judge.
Sept. 19, 2024, night: Kentucky State Police hold news conference
After conducting witness interviews at the scene, the Kentucky State Police held a news conference describing the events of the day.
“Preliminary investigation indicated that Sheriff Mickey Shawn Stines fired at District Court Judge Kevin Mullins following an argument inside the courthouse,” a trooper told reporters.
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He added that Stines was taken into custody without incident, and was cooperative with law enforcement, which is corroborated by video obtained by Fox News Digital.
Nov. 21, 2024: Grand jury indicts Stines
NEW VIDEO SHOWS KENTUCKY SHERIFF POINTING GUN AT JUDGE BEFORE ALLEGED FATAL SHOOTING
In November, a grand jury indicted Stines. The one-sentence indictment charges Stines with murder.
“On or about the 19th of September, 2024, in Letcher County, Kentucky, the above named defendant committed the offense of murder when he unlawfully shot Letcher County District Court Judge Kevin Mullins, thereby causing his death; against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” according to the indictment.
Since the indictment:
Since Stines was indicted, Bartley, his defense attorney, has made several motions on his behalf.
Most notably, Bartley filed a motion telling the court he is planning an insanity defense, and that he “intends to present a defense of insanity, as well as a defense of extreme emotional disturbance.”
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The filing says that he also “intends to present expert evidence relating to a mental disease or defect or mental condition bearing on the issue of guilt and punishment.”
Prosecuting attorney Jackie Steele did not return a comment request.
AOC’s constituents share how they really feel about rising Dem star, her 2028 decision
Constituents in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s New York district are warning Republicans not to underestimate the firebrand progressive lawmaker who caused a sensational political upset in 2018 – as rumors swirl about the four-term congresswoman running for president in 2028.
Ocasio-Cortez hosted a town hall in New York City on Friday in the same neighborhood where she unseated longtime Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley to become the nation’s youngest congresswoman.
Against all odds and with little money, her spectacular win sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party as she effectively ended the political career of Crowley, who at that point was a 10-term incumbent and eyeing being the next House speaker.
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Some political observers say Crowley took Ocasio-Cortez for granted, while her constituents believe attaining the nation’s highest office is not beyond her grasp. Fast-forward to 2025 and Ocasio-Cortez has become one of the biggest voices in a party yearning for political leadership.
The huge turnouts for her “Fight Oligarchy” tour events alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has fueled speculation she has enough momentum to launch a presidential bid, while she has also raked in $9.6 million in the first three months of the year, beating her own record fundraising haul.
Mark LaVergne, who’s an independent and was outside Ocasio-Cortez’s town hall but did not attend, told Fox News Digital that he believes she has a winning personality.
“Don’t underestimate her. I mean, that was the mistake Joe Crowley and his people made seven years ago,” LaVergne said. “They underestimated her. That was a fatal mistake.”
Andrew Sokolof Diaz said Ocasio-Cortez’s popularity appears to be growing and said it would be an honor to vote for her.
“Absolutely, we stand with her. I think she absolutely has the support, not only here in her district, but she has the support nationally, maybe even internationally, to run for president.” Sokolof Diaz said.
Aleks Itskovich, who traveled from Brooklyn and moved to the U.S. from Russia when he was three years old, said he was inspired by the “Fight Oligarchy” tour and said it proves she connects with the ordinary person.
“It goes back to the authenticity,” Itskovich said. “I think that she’s able to come across as a genuine individual that is able to channel people’s concerns directly and feel relatable, honest, that she’s not coming from the 1%. She’s one of the most successful politicians of this generation, so I want to keep seeing how that goes.”
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However, not all were keen on the potential move, with Woodside resident Mary Madden saying she felt Ocasio-Cortez is too young, while John Szewczuk, who has lived in Jackson Heights for 44 years, said she may be too left wing to win the presidency outright, but he would still back her.
About 450 people packed into a local school auditorium to hear Ocasio-Cortez talk about a host of issues ranging from local concerns about a major casino to national issues like Medicaid and the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts. Long lines outside the location caused the event to be delayed for nearly 20 minutes while those who couldn’t get in were shuffled into an overflow room across the hall.
Inside, attendees gave Ocasio-Cortez a rousingly warm reception and appeared fully supportive of her legislative agenda and her representation of the district to date. Many questions from the audience centered around local issues, calls for a minimum wage hike, how to improve air quality, as well as asking her how she plans on tackling the Trump administration.
The loudest applause came when Ocasio-Cortez voiced her opposition to a proposed new casino in Queens, which would be part of new sports and entertainment park. The $8 billion project is being spearheaded by New York Mets’ billionaire owner Steve Cohen and has gotten approval from the New York City Council. The congresswoman admitted, however, she doesn’t have a say in the matter since it’s a state issue and not in her district.
Applause also rang out when Ocasio-Cortez dared border czar Tom Homan to arrest her after he previously threatened to refer her to the Justice Department for giving advice to migrants on how to avoid being deported.
The town hall went off without a hitch except for an early disruption by a protester who heckled at Ocasio-Cortez about the war in Israel. She was then removed.
The town hall took place in a leafy section of Jackson Heights, known for its strong progressive leanings. A major avenue adjacent to the school was recently transformed into an “open street,” where traffic was substantially reduced to create more public space for pedestrians, cyclists and community use.
“I love it, it’s a great neighborhood, it is very diverse, probably one of the most diverse in the world,” Szewczuk said.
Conversely, the school is about three blocks away from the Roosevelt Avenue commercial strip, which has become notorious for its open-air sex workers, trash-filled streets, crime, drugs and anti-social behavior.
Roosevelt Avenue runs along the southern border of Ocasio-Cortez’s 14th District, and the strip is shared by Rep. Grace Meng. Fox News Digital observed at least 30 prostitutes soliciting sex along one block of Roosevelt Avenue about an hour after the town hall finished.
Some sidewalks along the squalid strip are hard to navigate given the sheer number of people – many of whom are migrants – selling hot food, fruit and vegetables, counterfeit goods and what appeared to be stolen goods.
Ocasio-Cortez never mentioned the strip, nor did any attendee ask about it in the question and answers section. While all questions were submitted in advance and Ocasio-Cortez left out a side door the moment the event ended, it appeared it was way down in the list of priorities for those in attendance.
Sokolof Diaz and Szewczuk said it’s on local politicians to do more, while LaVergne said that Ocasio-Cortez has failed the neighborhood in that respect. LaVergne said he was also still angry that she helped stop Amazon opening a massive headquarters in Queens a few years ago.
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“I feel very sad. Sometimes you walk by, there’s a Dunkin’ Donuts I frequent on Roosevelt and 82nd St., and I noticed that above that, there is some sort of thing going on. And I see the look in the eyes of these sex workers,” LaVergne said.
“I really feel sorry for them. Some of them are here probably under difficult situations. Maybe they were forced here, maybe they’re forced to do this kind of work. You’ve got to take care of the people that’ll get you elected. I mean, that just seems like the most just thing. That’s justice. Taking care of the people who got you elected.”
Farmers tout American-grown rice alternative that could become the next kitchen staple
Sorghum is ready for its time in the spotlight.
This made-in-America heritage grain has twice the amount of protein as quinoa, according to experts, and is seeing a sharp spike in interest as consumers seek homegrown products.
From popcorn to biscuits to drought-resistant livestock feed and gluten-free pastries, the grain is a perfect substitute for more traditional grains. It’s also jam-packed with antioxidants, fiber and other crucial elements, promoting a balanced, healthy food.
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The sorghum belt in America — stretching from South Dakota to Texas — is “a region that often faces drought and tough growing conditions,” Lanier Dabruzzi, director of nutrition and food innovation at the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, told Fox News Digital.
“Its ability to thrive with limited water makes it an ideal crop for farmers looking to manage risk and protect long-term productivity.”
While the ancient grain was domesticated in Africa around 8,000 years ago, it has become a staple crop in Kansas, according to the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission (KGSC).
The grain is drought-tolerant, non-GMO (genetically modified organism) and requires less resources like water and fertilizer than other grain crops.
“This U.S.-grown grain is already a quiet staple in items like whole-grain breads, cereals and granola bars.”
Different varieties of sorghum are grown for different uses.
Grain sorghum can be used for gluten-free baking products, according to the KGSC.
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Whole-grain sorghum is a great source of fiber and protein that adds a “hearty, nutty flavor” to recipes and can be used in foods like salads, cooked dishes and snacks, according to Sorghum Checkoff.
Forage sorghum is used for feeding livestock, and sweet sorghum is used for creating a syrup that resembles molasses, per the KGSC.
How to incorporate it
“While many Americans may not recognize it by name, this U.S.-grown grain is already a quiet staple in items like whole-grain breads, cereals, granola bars and baby puffs,” Dabruzzi said.
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“And the innovation doesn’t stop there. Sorghum is also making its way into gluten-free baking mixes, prebiotic snacks and even craft beers.”
Sorghum comes in a variety of forms, so its uses are only limited by a person’s imagination, according to Sorghum Checkoff.
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Sorghum can be used like any other grain or flour, so it’s really a matter of substitution.
For any dish needing rice or quinoa or for any baking recipe that calls for traditional flour, try sorghum instead.
“A growing body of evidence shows that eating sorghum can help improve overall health and well-being, when incorporated into a healthy lifestyle,” Dabruzzi said.
Why it’s a good option
Cooked whole-grain sorghum is a source of tryptophan, an amino acid that research has shown may be an effective approach to decreasing anxiety and increasing positive mood in healthy individuals, according to Dabruzzi.
“A serving of cooked whole-grain sorghum is an excellent source of protein, zinc, selenium and copper, which may contribute to a healthy immune system,” she said.
Whole-grain sorghum is perfect for soups, pilafs or grain bowls, she said.
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“A serving of whole-grain sorghum provides about a whopping 10 grams of plant-based protein, twice the protein as quinoa. It’s also higher in protein than an ounce of beef or chicken,” notes the Cleveland Clinic.
Sorghum flour is ideal for muffins, coating for fried chicken and for thickening gravies and sauces.
Dabruzzi said it can even be popped like popcorn — and it won’t get stuck in your teeth.
Unlike rice and similar grains, according to the Cleveland Clinic, sorghum keeps its taste and texture when you freeze and reheat it.
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“More consumers are looking for foods that support their health and support American agriculture – and sorghum delivers on both fronts,” Dabruzzi said.
Sergeant testifies on Karen Read’s conversation with investigator who later got fired
Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik was called to the witness stand by special prosecutor Hank Brennan on Tuesday morning. Bukhenik was assigned to work with former investigator Michael Proctor after John O’Keefe was found frozen to death at 34 Fairview on Jan. 29, 2022.
Bukhenik testified he and Proctor interviewed Jennifer McCabe, Matt McCabe and Brian Albert shortly after O’Keefe was found, and later traveled to the hospital to see O’Keefe.
“I wanted to see the injuries for myself,” Bukhenik said. “The location of the injuries, the types of injuries, the extent of the injuries and overall condition that his body was in would be very telling.”
Bukhenik went on to testify he observed O’Keefe’s injuries and gathered his clothing to take into evidence, noting he was interested in finding O’Keefe’s missing sneaker.
“At that point, our theory had evolved to a vehicle strike,” Bukhenik said. “Based on the injuries, I was suspecting that [O’Keefe] was hit out of his shoes.”
During Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik’s testimony, prosecutor Hank Brennan asked him to present the sneaker John O’Keefe was wearing when his body arrived at the hospital on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022.
As Bukhenik removed the sneaker, he became visibly confused as he read the markings on the evidence bag.
“This is the left sneaker,” Bukhenik said. “Excuse me, this is the right sneaker from 34 Fairview.”
On Wednesday, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Connor Keefe held up O’Keefe’s other sneaker in court, with the bag also clearly marked under 34 Fairview. However, only one sneaker was found at the scene, with O’Keefe wearing the other sneaker when he was transported to the hospital.
Judge Beverly Cannone then called for a morning recess as the prosecution worked to iron out the apparent mistake.
“These things happen,” Cannone said. “We have a lot of evidence.”
After the break, Bukhenik testified that it was indeed the sneaker that had been recovered at the hospital, and Brennan moved to have it admitted into evidence without objection from the defense.
While on the witness stand
, Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik testified during direct examination he and former investigator Michael Proctor traveled to Karen Read’s home after observing John O’Keefe’s injuries on the morning of his death.
“Once we viewed the clothing and Mr. O’Keefe, we had to go talk to the last person that saw him,” Bukhenik said. “That would have been, at the time, his girlfriend.”
Based on O’Keefe’s injuries, Bukhenik initially theorized he had been killed by a vehicle strike and was interested in the vehicle Read was driving the previous night. Bukhenik testified that he and Proctor drove to meet with Read at her parents’ house, where he noticed her Lexus SUV had a “large piece of red taillight cover missing from the vehicle.”
The two investigators then met with Read at the home, where she agreed to speak with them.
Judge Beverly Cannone went on to instruct the jurors that before they can consider whether the secondhand statements from Read relayed by Bukhenik as evidence, they must determine the prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt Read made the statements freely. Cannone then told the jurors she would further explain the instructions later.
“After, the Waterfall [Bar and Grille], [Read] stated that she dropped Mr. O’Keefe off at 34 Fairview,” Bukhenik said. “She was asked if she saw him go in the house. She stated, ‘No, she did not see him go in the house.’”
Bukhenik went on to testify he and Proctor questioned Read on the injuries to the back of O’Keefe’s head.
“The defendant stated she didn’t see any injuries on him,” Bukhenik said. “Then she provided a statement saying that Mr. O’Keefe bumped his head two nights prior and asked her about it.”
Following their conversation with Read, Bukhenik testified that he and Proctor seized Read’s Lexus SUV and cell phone.
Judge Beverly Cannone called Court into session Thursday with prosecutor Hank Brennan calling Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Yuri Bukhenik to the witness stand.
Bukhenik is currently assigned to the homicide section of the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office and was partnered with Michael Proctor in the initial investigation into John O’Keefe’s death in 2022.
Karen Read
arrived alongside her defense team for Day 12 of her murder trial at the Norfolk Superior Courthouse in Dedham, Massachusetts on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
A second expert on smartphone forensics testified Wednesday in the Karen Read trial that Jennifer McCabe’s Google search about hypothermia happened after John O’Keefe’s remains were found, not before, as the defense has argued.
Jessica Hyde testified that she could say with scientific certainty that McCabe used her iPhone to search the phrase “hos (sic) long to die in cold” at 6:24 a.m.
The defense claim that the search happened at 2:27 a.m. – hours before investigators say Read, McCabe and Kerry Roberts found O’Keefe dead in the snow at 34 Fairview Road – is incorrect, she testified. The earlier timestamp has no connection to the search but is actually assigned to the time McCabe opened the browser tab on her phone.
Hyde testified using specific terms – “hex editors,” “hash values” and database files, wading into technical details about how phone data is extracted, preserved and interpreted. Even inexperienced analysts can have trouble making sense of things, she testified.
Read the full story here.
Testimony is set to resume Thursday as the state continues to call witnesses in Karen Read’s murder trial.
On Wednesday, jurors heard from data expert Dr. Jessica Hyde and Massachusetts State Police Trooper Connor Keefe as prosecutors looked to pick apart the defense team’s timeline surrounding John O’Keefe’s death.
Read is facing the potential of life in prison for the death of O’Keefe, who was found frozen to death in the front yard of 34 Fairview on Jan. 29, 2022.