Police chief says authorities investigating reports gunman yelled something during Brown University attack
The gunman “definitely targeted” Brown University, though authorities are looking for other possible motives, officials said Monday.
“What I can tell you is that this individual definitely targeted Brown University,” Chief Colonel Oscar L. Perez, Jr. said at a news conference.
“Obviously, it’s something we’re looking into, as far as if there was anything else that he was targeting,” he added.
Perez said the families of the victims have been cooperative and that authorities were investigating reports that the gunman yelled something during the shooting.
The Providence Police Department wants to speak with anyone from Brown University who was in the building where a gunman killed two students over the weekend.
“The Providence Police Department has asked that anyone from Brown who was in Barus & Holley on Friday or Saturday, Dec. 12-13, arrange for an interview,” the school said in a message posted on X.
“Even an incidental detail may be helpful in investigating,” the message continued.
Those reaching out to the police are being asked to provide their name, email and the time frame and their location in the building at the time they were there.
A Brown University graduate student who has now lived through two campus shootings says she is in disbelief after the suspect initially detained in Sunday night’s shooting was released less than a day later.
Sachi Gandhi, a second-year biotech master’s student, told Fox News Digital she was at her off-campus home in Fox Point when the gunfire broke out.
The moment triggered memories of the 2023 shooting at the University of North Carolina, where she spent eight hours locked in a lab while a professor was killed in a nearby building.
“I was in lab — I was locked in lab for like eight hours,” Gandhi said. “It was very similar to this in the sense that not a lot of students knew what was going on. Everyone was feeding each other misinformation because everyone’s scared. Everyone is just so scared when they hear stuff.”
Gandhi stressed that the two shootings were very different, noting the Brown incident involved multiple victims — a “mass casualty,” in her words. But the emotional experience, she said, was still “equally as scary.”
Speaking about the Brown shooting, Gandhi said students initially breathed a sigh of relief when police announced they had taken a suspect into custody. But when authorities later released that same individual, panic spread across campus.
“It was really, really scary,” she told Fox News Digital. “Most of my friends have already left. My parents called saying they were driving up from Georgia to get me.”
Videos released by authorities shows a person of interest walking the streets hours before a gunman opened fire at Brown University.
The Providence Police Department released the footage to the public in an effort to identify the person seen on camera.
Authorities described him as approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall with a stocky build.
Images show a person dressed in dark clothing with a face mask and beanie walking in what appears to be a residential area.
Police in Providence said the school would have to answer as to why no sirens went off during the shooting at Brown University.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley was asked if he has spoken with the university about its alarm system, but deferred the question to Brown, which did not have a representative at a Monday evening news conference where authorities released new images of a person of interest.
Instead, the mayor praised the police response, saying it was “swift” and “timely” after authorities received the initial call about the attack.
“Brown has to answer that question,” Smiley said of the university’s alert system. “The police response to the initial call was swift, timely. We don’t believe there was any… it could not have happened any faster than did.”
“I can’t speak to honestly. Don’t know a lot about their alarm system,” he added. “You’d have to ask them about it. But in terms of our response, it was nearly immediately.”
The FBI released new images of a person of interest in the mass shooting at Brown University.
The FBI’s Boston field office released three images, showing someone wearing dark clothing, captured from surveillance cameras.
The images were retrieved around 2 p.m. Saturday, two hours before the shooting, authorities said.
Several rounds were fired from a 9mm handgun, authorities said. The person of interest was described as a male, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall with a stocky build.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual.
The Rhode Island Republican Party said it was “devastated” to learn of the death of Ella Cook, vice president of the Brown College Republicans, following the deadly mass shooting at a Brown University academic building.
Joe Powers, chairman of the RIGOP, described Cook as a “bold, faithful, and inspiring young conservative leader” who fearlessly shared beliefs on campus.
“Described by those who knew her as a ‘bright light,’ kind, and grounded, Ella embodied the very best of the next generation of conservative voices,” he said in a statement.
“We extend our deepest condolences and fervent prayers to Ella’s family, her congregation at Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, AL, her friends, the Brown College Republicans, the entire Brown University community, MukhammadAziz Umurzakov and his family during this time of profound grief and anxiety,” he added, referring to Umurzakov, the second victim killed in the attack. “Our thoughts are with students across Rhode Island who are reeling in fear from this terrible event, and with our law enforcement community as they continue to exhaust all measures in bringing the murderer to justice.”
Cook was a sophomore at the university.
Rhode Islanders are calling for answers from authorities as the Brown University gunman remains on the loose.
On Monday, Fox News Digital spoke with Eve Stieglitz, whose parents live close to Brown University on Providence’s East Side.
Stieglitz, who was in the area for the holidays, said that Rhode Islanders have “zero faith in the security system right now.”
“People are shocked by the lack of footage and very uncomfortable,” she said.
“There are thousands of cameras in that neighborhood and around campus — I don’t understand how this could go amiss. How is there no video of the shooter? I don’t understand how a $70,000-a-year university doesn’t have that level of security.”
Stieglitz also described the East Side as “tight-knit” and called for members of the public to share their eyewitness accounts. “What did the killer look like? What was said? The public deserves that information,” she said. “The shooter is still at large, and that’s really troubling.”
As the manhunt for the Brown University gunman continues, Providence residents are on high alert against danger.
Fox News Digital spoke with a Providence resident named Seth, who works in real estate. Though he was out of town during the shooting, he said several tenants contacted him.
“[They] called me to ask for better security at the property, and one asked me to send someone immediately to repair the front exterior door lock which hasn’t been working well because she felt unsafe with a shooter out there,” he said. “I totally understand.”
“I live in the area. I regularly leave my door unlocked…bad habit maybe, but I’ve never had an issue before this… it’s a very safe neighborhood.”
“When I got in after the trip, I was legitimately scared to enter,” he added. “Because of this, I’ll start locking my door.”
President Donald Trump said he hopes authorities capture the “animal” responsible for the deadly shooting at Brown University.
Trump was speaking to reporters Monday when he was asked about a potential motive for the attack.
“No, we don’t. Hopefully they’re going to capture this animal,” he said in the Oval Office.
Trump was further asked if FBI Director Kash Patel has told him why authorities have not identified the shooter or made an arrest.
“You really have to ask the school a little bit more about that because, you know, this was a school problem,” Trump replied. “They had their own guards. They had their own police, had their own everything. But you’d have to ask that question really to the school, not to the FBI. We came in after the fact, and the FBI will do a good job, but they came in after the fact.”
The FBI is assisting local law enforcement in Rhode Island in their investigation but is not the lead agency.
Investigators on Monday continued to comb through bushes looking for forensic evidence next to the Brown University academic building where the shooting occurred.
At least 20 law-enforcement agents from the FBI were seen outside the Barus and Holley engineering and physics building appearing to be looking for evidence.
Behind the building, several law-enforcement agents were seen standing outside, one with a shovel.
FBI agents were also spotted walking around the building and digging their feet in the snow searching for evidence.
At one point, a female FBI agent collected an item and placed it in a brown bag. It’s unclear what was collected. The FBI surged resources Monday morning at the request of Director Kash Patel.
The bureau isn’t the lead agency in the investigation but is assisting local authorities.
The Providence Police Department released a new video of a person of interest Monday.
“We are sharing a video of a person of interest and plan to release additional video as part of the ongoing investigation,” the department wrote on X. “If you recognize this individual, please contact our Tip Center online at https://fbi.gov/brownuniversityshooting or call 401-272-3121.”
The footage shows someone wearing dark clothing walking on a sidewalk at around 4:06 p.m. ET.
The person’s face was not visible.
Police in Providence, Rhode Island, are going to businesses and homes to ask for video footage to help investigators track down the gunman who killed two students and wounded nine others at Brown University, Providence Mayor Bret Smiley said Monday.
Smile advised the community that police have an “enhanced presence” in the city’s neighborhoods in the wake of the shooting.
He also reiterated officials’ calls for tips from the public.
The public can submit tips to police by calling (401) 272-3121 or via the FBI’s tipline.
The second victim killed in the Brown University campus shooting has been identified as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov.
“I am heartbroken to learn that Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov — who just graduated from Midlothian High School — is among the victims of the horrific act of violence at Brown University,” Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanger wrote on X. “Adam and I are praying for his family and all those impacted by this tragedy.”
Umurzokov’s family wrote in a GoFundMe post that he “had big dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and helping people.”
“He always lent a helping hand to anyone in need without hesitation, and was the most kind-hearted person our family knew,” the post read. “Our family is incredibly devastated by this loss.”
The New York Times reported that Umurzokov and his family are naturalized citizens from Uzbekistan now living in Virginia.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin offered condolences for Umurzokov and the other student killed, Ella Cook, in a post on X.
“We are praying for the victims of the horrendous act of evil at Brown University: Ella Cook from Birmingham, Alabama, and Midlothian High School’s own Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov,” the governor wrote. “We lift up their families, friends and communities in a prayer of comfort and peace.”
One of the nine students wounded during the shooting at Brown University on Saturday has been identified as Kendall Turner.
Durham Academy, the private K-12 school that Turner attended in Durham, North Carolina, told Fox News in a statement that Turner’s family informed them that she is receiving care at a local hospital.
“We were deeply saddened to learn that Kendall Turner ‘25, a beloved Durham Academy alumna, was wounded in the mass shooting that occurred at Brown University,” the statement said. “Her family has informed us that she is currently in critical but stable condition and is receiving care at a local hospital.”
It continued: “Her parents are with her. We hope for her continued strength and recovery.”
Turner was one of nine students wounded when a gunman opened fire inside a classroom in the Barus and Holley engineering building around 4 p.m. Saturday. Two other students were killed.
One of the students killed was identified as Alabama native
Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore and vice president of Brown College Republicans.
The names of the other student victims were not immediately released to the public.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Kendall, her family, and all members of the Brown University community during this incredibly difficult time,” Durham Academy said. “Our school community is rallying around Kendall, her classmates, and her loved ones, and we will continue to offer our full support in the days ahead.”
Fox News’ CB Cotton contributed to this report.
Police in Providence, Rhode Island, asked the community on Monday to submit any tips to authorities as they work to track down the gunman who killed two students and wounded nine others at Brown University.
“As the investigation continues, we are asking anyone with relevant information, including video or photo evidence, to submit it by phone or through the FBI tip line,” read the police department’s post on X.
The public can submit tips to police by calling (401) 272-3121 or via the FBI’s tipline.
As authorities work to track down the Brown University gunman, this map shows the location of the shooting in relation to where surveillance video later captured a man dressed in all black at an intersection.
The shooting happened inside a classroom in the Barus and Holley engineering building around 4 p.m. Saturday. Two students were killed, and nine students were wounded.
According to video footage released by police, the suspected gunman was seen leaving the building on foot.
Officials have said the surveillance video is still the “most useful” to help track down the shooter.
Former FBI special agent Nicole Parker told “Fox & Friends First” that the detention and subsequent release of a person of interest in the Brown University shooting is how investigations work in the “real world.”
Parker said that while the release of the person of interest is “obviously not very good for this investigation,” it “does happen.”
“This is how investigations in the real world work,” Parker said. “We’re used to watching television shows, movies where it’s solved within 60 minutes, and that’s not always the case.”
Parker said that the investigation remains “an all hands on deck” situation for authorities as they continue to hunt the gunman.
“They’ve got to go back to the drawing board,” she said of the investigators.
Parker said that as an investigator, it’s important to look whether the shooter was firing indiscriminately into the classroom or appeared to be a more targeted attack based on the victims.
The first victim of the Brown University shooting has been identified as sophomore Ella Cook, according to her home church in Alabama.
Cook, 19, was from Birmingham, Alabama, and served as vice president of Brown’s college Republican club.
Cook was identified at one of the victims by during a service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham on Sunday.
The priest described Cook as a “tremendous bright light” for all who interacted with her.
Cook is survived by her parents and two siblings.
Brown University urged its community to remain vigilant in a message late Sunday night after Providence police released a detained person of interest from custody and reset its manhunt for the gunman who killed two students and wounded nine others on Saturday.
“As Providence police continue to lead this investigation, they have informed Brown that they are continuing their search efforts, which includes ongoing coordination with multiple agencies,” the message read, in part. “There continues to be a heightened amount of local, state and federal police activity in the area as law enforcement continues to investigate and patrol with increased vigilance.”
The school said its Department of Public Safety has more than doubled its staffing following the deadly shooting.
Brown acknowledged that there will be “numerous questions” surrounding the latest update, advising that the shooting remains an active investigation and police will release information as appropriate.
“We continue to make every effort to ensure the safety and security of the campus,” the school said. “We are also advising every member of the Brown community to be vigilant in their own activities on campus.”
Authorities said the video showing a man dressed in all black is still the “most useful” to help track down the Brown University shooter.
Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha said if there was piece of video that they could use to show a face “you’d have it.”
This update comes after police said they would release a person of interest that was taken into custody.
According to video footage released by police, the suspected gunman was seen leaving the building on foot.
The unidentified gunman appeared to be in his 30s, and was dressed in all black, according to Providence police.
Fox News Digital’s Lorraine Taylor contributed to this update.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha had a tense exchange with reporters on Sunday when one questioned why there weren’t enough cameras at Brown University to catch the gunman still at large.
“There just weren’t a lot of cameras in that Brown building, is the reality,” Neronha said.
“The reality is it’s an old building attached to a new one,” he added. “I don’t know what to tell you, but we’re going to go out and find whatever evidence we can to solve this case as quickly as we can.”
“I mean, we’re not holding back a video that we think would be useful. And I don’t think I should even have to say it.”
Fox News’ CB Cotton contributed to this update.
Mayor Brett Smiley announced that police in Providence, Rhode Island, were releasing a person of interest in connection with the deadly shooting at Brown University, but the investigation remains ongoing and fully active across all agencies.
Smiley said via X that since the first 911 call, they had not received any specific threats to “our community.”
PPD is asking anyone with video or photo evidence to share it by calling 401-272-3121 or submitting it to the FBI tip line.
President Trump takes legal action against BBC for edited speech clips
FIRST ON FOX – President Donald Trump filed a monster $10 billion lawsuit on Monday against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for its 2024 “Panorama” documentary that distorted his Jan. 6 remarks.
Trump sued the BBC for both defamation and for a violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act for $5 billion apiece, as the president is seeking $10 billion total. The suit, filed in the Southern District of Florida Federal Court, was filed in a personal capacity and names BBC and BBC studios productions as defendants.
“The formerly respected and now disgraced BBC defamed President Trump by intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively doctoring his speech in a brazen attempt to interfere in the 2024 Presidential Election. The BBC has a long pattern of deceiving its audience in coverage of President Trump, all in service of its own leftist political agenda. President Trump’s powerhouse lawsuit is holding the BBC accountable for its defamation and reckless election interference just as he has held other fake news mainstream media responsible for their wrongdoing,” a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team told Fox News Digital.
Trump is represented by attorneys Alejandro Brito, Edward Paltzik and Daniel Epstein.
The BBC has come under intense scrutiny over the documentary about Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021, speech delivered before the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Critics claim the documentary was wildly misleading because it omitted Trump’s call for supporters to protest peacefully.
The BBC previously issued an apology for the erroneous edit and said it had pulled the program from its platforms, but a spokesperson for the broadcaster added, “While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
The controversy began with a bombshell report from The Telegraph that featured excerpts from a whistleblower dossier compiled by Michael Prescott, a communications advisor hired by the BBC to review its editorial standards.
The whistleblower revealed that a BBC Panorama documentary released last year had a misleading edit of comments Trump made during a rally speech given on Jan. 6, 2021, as he protested the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The documentary omitted Trump urging his supporters to protest “peacefully” and instead spliced two separate comments made nearly an hour apart, making him appear he was calling for violence.
LEGAL ANALYST PREDICTS TRUMP COULD WIN ‘CONSIDERABLE’ DAMAGES FROM BBC DOCUMENTARY LAWSUIT
“We’re gonna walk down to the Capitol. And I’ll be there with you. And we fight — we fight like hell,” the documentary showed Trump saying.
In reality, Trump said, “We’re gonna walk down to the Capitol. And we’re gonna cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women, and we’re probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong.” It wasn’t until 54 minutes later that Trump called on his supporters to “fight like hell” for election integrity.
The New York Times referred to the ordeal as “one of the worst crises in its 103-year history” of the BBC. The blunder led to the resignations of BBC News CEO Deborah Turness and BBC director-general Tim Davie.
EX-BBC DIRECTOR GENERAL TELLS NETWORK THEY SHOULDN’T AGREE TO PAY TRUMP ANY MONEY
Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC is the latest in a string of legal battles he has had with news organizations.
In December 2024, ABC News made a $16 million settlement with Trump and issued an apology after anchor George Stephanopoulos falsely claimed that Trump was found “liable for rape” in the president’s civil court case against columnist E. Jean Carroll, when in fact, a New York jury found him liable for sexual abuse.
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In July, Paramount made a multimillion-dollar settlement with Trump after he accused CBS News of “election interference” over its handling of a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the lead-up to the 2024 election. While CBS News offered no apology or admitted to any wrongdoing, it did implement editorial reforms requiring the raw transcript of all presidential candidates to be released.
Trump also reached settlements with Meta, X and YouTube (owned by Google) and has pending lawsuits against The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Des Moines Register and veteran pollster Ann Selzer.
Australian Muslim man who tackled shooter ‘riddled with bullets’ but says he’d act again
Ahmed al Ahmed, the Australian immigrant who heroically wrested a gun away from one of the shooters involved in the deadly antisemitic terror attack on Sunday in Australia, said he would do it all over again, his migration lawyer, Sam Issa, said, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
“He doesn’t regret what he did. He said he’d do it again. But the pain has started to take a toll on him,” Sam Issa noted Monday night after visiting the wounded man, the outlet reported. “He’s not well at all. He’s riddled with bullets. Our hero is struggling at the moment.”
The wounded Muslim father, 44, has daughters who are five and six-years-old, according to the outlet, which reported that he came to Australia from Syria in 2006 and later received citizenship in 2022.
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“Ahmed’s a humble man, he’s not interested in coverage, he just did what he was compelled to do as a human being on that day,” Issa noted, according to the outlet. “He gets that gratitude from being in Australia. This is his way of conveying his gratitude for staying in Australia, for being granted citizenship.
“He has really appreciated this community, and he felt that as a member of the community, he had to act that way and contribute.”
RABBI SLAMS AUSTRALIA OVER BONDI MURDER OF TWO JEWISH LEADERS, ONE WITH ‘DEEP US TIES’
At least 15 people were killed in the shooting.
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The attack “was an act of pure evil,” “antisemitism,” and “terrorism” that was “deliberately targeted at the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said.
‘Aggressive’ new flu variant sweeps globe as doctors warn of severe symptoms
Flu season is among us, and a new strain has emerged as a major threat.
Influenza A H3N2, or the subclade K variant, has been detected as the culprit in rising global cases, including in the U.S.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Neil Maniar, professor of public health practice at Boston’s Northeastern University, shared details on the early severity of this emerging strain.
MAJOR MEASLES OUTBREAK LEADS TO HUNDREDS QUARANTINED IN US COUNTY, OFFICIALS SAY
“It’s becoming evident that this is a pretty severe variant of the flu,” he said. “Certainly in other parts of the world where this variant has been prevalent, it’s caused some severe illness, and we’re seeing an aggressive flu season already.”
The variant seems to differ from prior strains of the flu, with heightened versions of typical symptoms like fever, chills, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat and runny nose.
Subclade K is the “perfect storm” for an aggressive flu season, Maniar suggested, as vaccination rates overall are down and this year’s flu vaccine does not address this specific strain.
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“The vaccine is very important to get, but because it’s not perfectly aligned with this variant, I think that’s also contributing to some degree to the severity of cases we’re seeing,” he said. “We’re going in [to this flu season] with lower vaccination rates and a variant that in itself seems to be more aggressive.”
“There’s a lot of concern that this could be a particularly difficult flu season, both in terms of the total number of cases [and] the severity of those cases.”
Because subclade K is “quite different” from prior variants, Maniar said there is less natural immunity at the community level, further increasing the risk of spread and severity.
Those who are unvaccinated are also at risk of experiencing more severe symptoms, as well as a higher risk of hospitalization, the doctor emphasized.
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In addition to getting vaccinated, the doctor recommends washing hands frequently and properly. While the flu can spread via airborne transmission, a variety of other illnesses, like norovirus, can stick to surfaces for up to two weeks, he added.
The holiday season also boosts the risk of infection, as gatherings, large events, and packed planes, trains and buses can expose people to others who are sick.
Those who are not feeling well or exhibiting symptoms should “please stay home,” Maniar advised — “especially if you think you are in that contagious period of the flu or any of these other illnesses that we’re seeing … whether it’s norovirus or COVID or RSV.”
“If you’re not feeling well, stay home. That’s a great way to recover faster and to ensure that you’re not going to get others around you sick.”
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For those who are unsure of their health status or diagnosis, Maniar recommends seeing a healthcare provider to get tested. Some providers may be able to prescribe medication to reduce the severity and duration of the illness.
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“It’s important that everyone stays vigilant and tries to take care of themselves and their families,” he added.
Bongino considers FBI departure as agents push back against ‘mission-first’ reforms
Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino will make a decision about his future at the bureau within the next few weeks, two sources familiar with his considerations tell Fox News.
The sources deny recent reports that Bongino’s office at the FBI is empty, but they say his departure is a possibility in the near future.
A source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital that Bongino has not made any decisions about his future.
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Bongino’s tenure at the FBI has come under fire in recent weeks, alongside FBI Director Kash Patel. Earlier this month, a report from an alliance of active-duty and retired FBI personnel portrayed the bureau as directionless under its new leadership.
Bongino and Patel pushed back on the report, however, defending sweeping reforms they say have delivered major gains in accountability and public safety.
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“When the director and I moved forward with these reforms, we expected some noise from the small circle of disgruntled former agents still loyal to the old Comey–Wray model,” Bongino told Fox News at the time.
“That was never our audience. Our responsibility is to the American people. And under the new leadership team, the bureau is delivering results this country hasn’t seen in decades — tighter accountability, tougher performance standards, billions saved and a mission-first culture. That’s how you restore trust.”
New York Post columnist and Fox News contributor Miranda Devine said last week that an internal 115-page report from FBI active-duty and retired agents and analysts heavily criticized Patel and Bongino since they took on their respective jobs earlier this year.
Bongino hit back at the report, saying Devine “loves attacking our reform agenda with gossipy anecdotes from disgruntled former employees because she’s upset that her ‘reporting’ keeps falling apart under scrutiny.”
“You can always count on Miranda for a timed hit piece when the Director and I make big changes,” Bongino wrote on X. “Miranda prefers tbe old-guard. I don’t. Full steam ahead.”
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Vanderbilt star’s F-bomb rant against Heisman voters sparks university response
The Vanderbilt athletic director released a statement on Monday following quarterback Diego Pavia’s “F-All the voters” comment on his social media following the Heisman Trophy results this past weekend.
Pavia was the distant second to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the quarterback who led the Hoosiers to a perfect 13-0 record and Big Ten Championship prior to the College Football Playoff (CFP).
In a picture with fellow Commodores teammates, Pavia captioned a post on his Instagram Stories with his comment that has since gone viral.
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“Diego knows his actions were unacceptable and he has apologized,” athletic director Candice Lee said in a statement to The Tennessean on Monday. “I know he is contrite and regrets the hurt he caused. He is a passionate and authentic competitor, and while his authenticity has been nurtured and celebrated here, it does not change the responsibility that comes with representing Vanderbilt University.
“We believe in growth and accountability, and we will continue to support Diego as he learns from this moment.”
VANDERBILT QUARTERBACK DIEGO PAVIA DROPS F-BOMB ON HEISMAN VOTERS AFTER LOSING TROPHY TO FERNANDO MENDOZA
Pavia later apologized for his comments, via X.
“I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to,” he wrote in a statement. “I have much love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake, and I am sorry.”
Pavia, 23, finished in second place, though it was distant after receiving 189 first-place votes to Mendoza’s 643 votes. He also apologized to Mendoza in his statement.
“Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving winner of the award. I have nothing but respect for his accomplishments as well as the success that Jeremiyah [Love] and Julian [Sayin] had this season. I’ve been doubted my whole life,” he wrote.
“Every step of my journey I’ve had to break down doors and fight for myself, because Ive learned that nothing would be handed to me. My family has always been in my corner, and my teammates, coaches and staff have my six. I love them — I am grateful for them. — and I wouldn’t want anything to distract from that. I look forward to competing in front of my family and with my team one more time in the ReliaQuest Bowl.”
Pavia, playing in his second season at Vanderbilt after starting at New Mexico State, led the SEC with a 71.2% completion rate with 27 touchdowns, 3,192 yards passing and nine rushing scores as well. He rushed for 826 yards on 152 attempts.
Pavia’s reaction to the voting results isn’t much of a shock, though, as he has always been self-confident to the point where he kept telling voters to send him to New York City as he felt he deserved the Heisman.
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“The Heisman Trophy winner goes to the best player in college football,” Pavia said on OutKick’s “Hot Mic.” “I believe that to be myself, you check the numbers and especially — there’s two things that don’t lie to you: Numbers and tape. I’ve been taught that since I was young, you go check that out. I feel like I’m undoubtedly the best player in college football.”
Vanderbilt had a 10-2 record on the year, ranking No. 14 nationally at the end of the season.
Beachgoers fed up with smokers ask for state park ban after bad experience
A bill introduced in New Hampshire could ban smoking and vaping at one of the state’s most popular beaches and state parks.
Senate Bill 596 was introduced on Nov. 25 to ban smoking throughout Hampton Beach State Park — including its RV park.
The ban would begin Jan. 1, 2027.
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While violators will not face fees, authorized officials are directed to stop individuals from smoking.
Debra Altschiller, a state senator, told Fox News Digital she filed the legislation at the request of a constituent.
“She had been enjoying a beach day with her child, and a group of people next to them were smoking — breathing in their secondhand smoke was horrible,” said Altschiller.
“She asked the group to please put out their cigarettes and vapes, and they essentially told her to ‘pound sand.’”
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An estimated 1.6 million non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke die each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The constituent assumed smoking was not allowed in certain areas of the park.
Yet law enforcement informed the woman that while smoking on the beach may be rude — it was not prohibited.
There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, with threats of serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases such as coronary heart disease and lung cancer, according to WHO.
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“Culture change happens in our communities; I was a very young child and still remember how the ‘Keep America Beautiful’ campaign changed the culture around littering,” said Altschiller.
“Change can happen — and education is the best way to keep it going.”
She said feedback from the community has been positive, with many people not previously aware that smoking was allowed.
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“I would like for there to be signage and clear rules,” she said.
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“Most people will follow the parameters of beach rules because they want to enjoy the beach like everyone else.”
Beloved soap star Anthony Geary dies, ‘General Hospital’ family heartbroken
Anthony Geary, the eight-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning actor who became a soap opera icon through his portrayal of Luke Spencer on “General Hospital,” has died. He was 78.
The official Instagram account for “General Hospital” confirmed the actor’s death in a statement, writing, “The entire #General Hospital family is heartbroken over the news of Tony Geary’s passing.”
“Tony was a brilliant actor and set the bar that we continue to strive for,” the statement continued. “His legacy, and that of Luke Spencer’s, will live on through the generations of #GH cast members who have followed in his footsteps. We send our sincerest sympathies to his husband, Claudio, family, and friends. May he rest in peace.”
Geary’s husband, Claudio Gama, also shared the news of his death, telling TV Insider that Geary died on Sunday in the Netherlands following complications from a scheduled operation.
“It was a shock for me and our families and our friends. For more than 30 years, Tony has been my friend, my companion, my husband,” Gama said.
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Geary’s former “All in the Family” co-star Rob Reiner also died Sunday.
Reiner known for his directorial work on films like “Princess Bride” and “When Harry Met Sally,” was found dead on Sunday at his Brentwood, CA home. He was 78.
His wife Michele Reiner was also found dead. Both were found with stab wounds inside their home.
Rob and Michele’s son Nick Reiner is “responsible for their deaths,” authorities determined following the initial investigation.
Nick was booked on suspicion of murder on Sunday evening and is now being held without bail.
Rob starred alongside Geary in “All in the Family.”
Rob played Michael “Meathead” Stivic in the series, appearing in 182 episodes as a series regular from 1971 to 1978.
Geary appeared in a 1971 episode of the show, playing the character Roger.
Born May 29, 1947, in Coalville, Utah, Geary was the son of Russell Dean Geary, a contractor who also owned a construction business, and Dana Geary, a homemaker who assisted with the family business as a bookkeeper. His parents were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he was raised in a Mormon household alongside his sisters Dana, Jeana and Jana.
Geary studied acting at the University of Utah and launched his career on stage before landing roles on television in the 1970s, including appearances on “All in the Family,” “The Mod Squad,” “The Partridge Family,” “Barnaby Jones” and “The Young and the Restless.” However, he landed his career-defining role in 1978 when he was cast as Luke Spencer in “General Hospital.”
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Luke, a morally complex antihero with a tumultuous past, became half of one of television’s most famous pairings, Luke and Laura (Genie Francis). The couple’s 1981 wedding remains the highest-rated episode in soap-opera history and featured a cameo by Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor was reportedly a huge fan of the show and specifically of the Luke and Laura supercouple. The legendary actress requested to be part of the event and producers built the role of Helena Cassadine, the matriarch of the Cassadine family who were arch-enemies to Luke and Laura, around her.
The storyline turned Geary into a household name and helped cement “General Hospital” as a cultural phenomenon in the 1980s.
Over the next four decades, Geary’s performance earned him a record eight Daytime Emmy Awards for outstanding lead actor. He left “General Hospital” several times, including for a five-year break in the 1990s to pursue work in primetime TV and in theater, but repeatedly returned, with his final exit announced in 2015. Despite retiring from the show, he maintained close friendships with the cast and remained a beloved figure among fans.
Geary’s film work included roles in “Johnny Got His Gun” (1971), the thriller “Sorority Kill,” and the comedy “Carpool Guy” (2005). He also appeared in several TV movies, including “Do You Know the Muffin Man?” (1989), “Kicks” (1981) and “Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam” (1987).
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In later years, Geary made his home in Amsterdam, where he pursued photography, supported local arts organizations and enjoyed a quieter life out of the spotlight. Geary married Gama in February 2019 after 24 years together.
Francis also left and returned to “General Hospital” multiple times before making her last departure in 2018. On Monday, she shared a tribute to Geary on Twitter, formerly X, writing in several posts, “This morning I woke up and went into my husband’s arms. In my sleep, my life was flashing before me and I was afraid of death. An hour later, I received a call from Frank Valentini, he told me Tony died. I immediately felt remorse, I hadn’t spoken to him in years, but I felt his life end in my sleep last night, and with it a big part of me, and mine.”
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She continued, “He was a powerhouse as an actor. Shoulder to shoulder with the greats. No star burned brighter than Tony Geary. He was one of a kind. As an artist, he was filled with a passion for the truth, no matter how blunt, or even a little rude it might be, but always hilariously funny. He was the anti-hero, always so irreverent, but even the most conservative had to smile. Working with him was always exciting. You never knew what might happen.”
“He spoiled me for leading men for the rest of my life,” Francis added. “I am crushed, I will miss him terribly, but I was so lucky to be his partner. Somehow, somewhere, we are connected to each other because I felt him leave last night. Good night sweet prince, good night.”
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On Tuesday, longtime “General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini wrote on X, “The entire #GeneralHospital family is heartbroken over the news of Tony Geary’s passing. Tony was a brilliant actor and set the bar that we continue to strive for.”
“His legacy, and that of Luke Spencer’s, will live on through the generations of #GH cast members who have followed in his footsteps,” he continued. “We send our sincerest sympathies to his husband, Claudio, family, and friends. May he rest in peace.”
Older Americans hit by skyrocketing scam losses amid alarming FTC data
Scammers are draining seniors’ life savings at staggering rates, a new Federal Trade Commission report shows, with older Americans reporting about four times more in fraud losses in 2024 than in 2020.
Main findings from the FTC’s Protecting Older Consumers 2024-2025 report show that reported fraud losses for adults 60 and older exploded, with about $2.4 billion lost to scams in 2024 — up from about $600 million in 2020.
However, the FTC warns that the real losses are far higher due to underreporting, with the agency estimating that the overall cost of fraud to older adults in 2024 was between $10.1 billion and $81.5 billion, depending on methodology.
Large, devastating losses exceeding $100,000 are reportedly driving the surge, with combined losses reported by older adults who lost more than $100,000 increasing more than five-fold from 2020 to 2024. These large-loss cases account for about 68% of all aggregate reported dollars lost by older Americans.
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“The FTC’s latest report details the agency’s commitment to protecting older Americans from scams that rob them of their hard-earned money,” Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, told Fox News Digital in a statement. “The FTC is doing everything possible to protect older adults and shut down illegal scams.”
The report also found that social media has become the top pipeline for scammers, with older adults now reporting losing more money to scams initiated on social media than to those that begin through any other contact method. Reported losses via social platforms have increased nearly ninefold since 2020, with a focus on cryptocurrency and romance fraud.
Although social media is the top contact method by total dollars lost, scams that begin with a phone call produce the highest median reported loss at $2,210, compared to $650 for social-media-initiated incidents.
Tech support, sweepstakes-lottery and government impersonation scams hit older Americans disproportionately, the FTC notes, but investment schemes are now the most financially damaging among seniors, with about $744 million in reported losses by adults 60 and over in 2024.
Additionally, FTC staff outreach and consumer complaints indicate that impersonation scammers exploit seniors’ trust in authority — often posing as FTC officials, banks or law enforcement to pressure older adults into quickly transferring funds.
To avoid falling victim, the AARP notes that most fraud starts with three red flags: an unexpected contact, a surge of emotion and a sense of urgency. Its Fraud Watch Network advises taking an “active pause” when these signs arise, to allow time to process what’s happening.
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AARP also offers a resource center where possible victims can look up previously reported scams, access a tracking map and find other tips to help avoid financial fraud. Similarly, the FTC distributed nearly 1.7 million Pass It On educational items in FY 2025, aimed at helping older adults share fraud-prevention tips within their communities.
“The FTC protects older adults through aggressive law enforcement and broad outreach and education,” the report’s conclusion states. “The FTC will continue to seek new ways to prevent harm to older adults through its ongoing collaboration with a variety of government and private stakeholders.”
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