Government shutdown looms as key negotiator withdraws support for funding package
One of the key negotiators who helped end the last government shutdown won’t support a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, further adding to the likelihood of another closure.
Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, told CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday that he could not support the current, six-bill funding package as is because it included the DHS funding bill. King was a pivotal figure in ending the last shutdown, and was one of only eight Senate Democratic caucus members to join Republicans to end it.
King, like other members of the Senate Democratic caucus, is infuriated by the death of Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old nurse who was shot dead by a border patrol agent in Minneapolis on Saturday.
ILHAN OMAR VOWS ‘NOT TO GIVE ICE A SINGLE CENT’ IN HEATED CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING FIGHT
Congressional Democrats have railed against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entering Minnesota and elsewhere, but begrudgingly agreed to support the DHS bill until the chaos over the weekend unfolded.
“I hate shutdowns,” King said. “I’m one of the people that helped negotiate the solution to the last — the end of the last shutdown, but I can’t vote for a bill that includes ICE funding under the circumstances.”
King’s resistance to the package comes after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced that Senate Democrats would not support the legislation, increasing the odds of a partial government shutdown by the end of the week.
SENATE DEMS REVOLT AGAINST DHS FUNDING BILL AMID MINNEAPOLIS CHAOS, HIKING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN RISK
It also comes on the heels of ICE entering King’s home state of Maine for operation Catch of the Day, where Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is running to beat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in a pivotal Senate race that could determine the balance of power in the upper chamber.
King argued that there was an “easy way out” of the funding snafu — Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., could separate out the DHS funding bill and let lawmakers vote on the remaining five bills.
SENATE DEMOCRATS REBEL AGAINST THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP OVER DHS FUNDING PACKAGE, INCREASING SHUTDOWN ODDS
However, should that happen, the House would still have to weigh in. The lower chamber won’t return to Washington, D.C., until next month, all but ensuring a partial government shutdown by Friday unless lawmakers can reach a compromise agreement.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Let’s have an honest negotiation,” King said. “Put some guardrails on what’s going on, some accountability, and that would solve this problem. We don’t have to have a shutdown.”
More than a dozen states report at least a foot of snow as deadly winter storm blasts US
According to a press release from the City of Austin, Austin-Travis County EMS responded to just over 400 total incidents between 10 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday, including 12 traffic collisions with injuries and 15 cold-related illness calls, one of which resulted in a death.
Extreme cold warnings were issued across Austin and remain in affect as temperatures are forecast to remain below freezing Sunday and throughout all of Monday and drop into the teens overnight.
Hazardous travel conditions persist in Nashville, as downed trees and slush have overtaken roads across the Nashville-Metro area after freezing rain slammed Tennessee, leading to widespread power outages across the state.
Thousands of Americans are without power as life-threatening cold air sweeps in from the north. Actual air temperatures are in the 10s and 20s, but the wind is making it feel even colder. Wind chills are in the single digits above and below zero in many places across the Plains, prompting Cold Weather Advisories and Extreme Cold Warnings down to the Gulf Coast.
Snow and sleet are slamming New York’s tri-state area and the snow totals keep on climbing. The National Weather Service says 8.8″ of snow has now fallen in New York City’s Central Park. Here are the latest totals as of 5 p.m. ET.
- Bridgeport, CT: 13.0″ – daily record
- Islip, NY: 11.2″ – daily record
- Newark Airport: 9.8″ – daily record
- LaGuardia Airport: 9.9″ – daily record
- Central Park: 8.8″
- JFK Airport: 8.3″ – daily record
Even though the winter storm has moved out of Tennessee, the state’s power woes aren’t over yet. More than 300,000 customers are without power, but that number could continue to climb overnight. Significant ice has built up on trees and power lines and now gusty winds are rolling into places like Nashville. Those winds could easily down additional trees and power lines, spiking outages in the hours ahead.
NOAA’s Hurricane Hunters are en route to survey the massive winter storm and provide vital data that will help improve future computer forecast models. A NOAA Gulfstream IV just took off from its base in Lakeland, Florida. It’s flying along the East Coast to gather data about how the storm has evolved. The data it collects will be fed directly into the powerful supercomputers that produce weather forecast models. The added data has been been proven to increase forecast accuracy.
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has suspended some subway service as snow and sleet pound the city. Service on the G train is suspended between Bedford-Nostrand Avs and Church Av. until further notice.
Click here for the latest MTA service changes and alerts.
The FOX Forecast Center says freezing rain will continue across North Carolina and Virginia into early evening. Radar shows a band of freezing rain sliding east toward Charlotte, North Carolina and Roanoke, Virginia where the ice may accumulate at up to .1″ per hour. Power outages are already surging in the region as this ice weighs down trees and power lines.
America’s worst winter storm in years has hurt airlines throughout the U.S. Data from FlightAware now shows more than 31,000 flights have been disrupted since Friday. 18,000+ flights have been canceled so far and that number continues to climb as airports in the South grapple with devastating ice. Already, airlines have canceled more than 2,300 flights across the nation for Monday.
Power outages continue to surge across the South as freezing rain spreads across North Georgia and into South Carolina. Data from PowerOutage.com shows more than 1,045,000 customers are without power. Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana are seeing the most outages.
A major winter storm is tearing across America right now with snow and ice canceling thousands of flights and creating hazardous travel conditions. Crippling ice has cut power to thousands of people across the South while snow slams the Northeast. Stay here throughout the day for the most comprehensive and up-to-the-minute weather news as the storm moves into the Northeast.
- See live radar, current conditions, and snow forecast maps
- Latest timeline of when to expect snow & ice in your area
- Get your local forecast from FOX Weather
Data from FlightAware now shows more than 30,000 U.S. flights have been disrupted by the storm. This total represents all delayed and canceled flights from Friday to Monday.
Updated snow reports are coming in from official reporting sites in and around New York City. Here are the new reports as of 1 p.m. ET.
- Newark Airport: 8.0″
- New York’s Central Park: 7.2″
- LaGuardia Airport: 7.1″
- JFK Airport: 6.0″
The FOX Forecast Center says the worst weather North Georgia and South Carolina will see with this winter storm is on the way. Heavy freezing rain is expected to roll into the region over the next few hours and could lay down crippling amounts of ice.
America’s monster winter storm has forced the Federal Aviation Administration to stop all traffic in and out of 23 airports.
- Lehigh Valley International
- Nantucket Memorial
- Fort Worth Alliance
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International
- Essex County Airport
- Fayetteville Regional/Grannis Field
- Drake Field
- Mid Delta Regional
- Greenville Downtown
- Groton-New London
- Greenville-Spartanburg International
- Tri-State/Milton J Ferguson Field
- Tweed-New Haven
- Barnstable Muni-Boardman/Polando Field
- Joplin Regional
- Lawton-Fort Sill Regional
- Blue Grass
- LaGuardia
- Mc Kellar-Sipes Regional
- Morristown Airport
- Williamson County Regional
- Barkley Regional
- Newport News/Williamsburg International
- Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional
- Stewart International
- Tupelo Municipal – C D Lemons
- New Bedford Regional
- Williamson County Regional
New York’s LaGuardia Airport is closed to all air traffic until 8 p.m. ET Sunday according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Multiple major universities along the East Coast and in the South have called off classes on Monday due to the snow and ice.
Boston University, Brown University, University of North Georgia, University of Georgia, Miami University of Ohio, and University of Maryland are telling students to stay home.
The University of Georgia has announced it will be closed on Monday. All in-person classes, campus events and activities will be canceled throughout the day.
Click here for more information.
Boston University’s Charles River, Fenway, and Medical Campuses are now closed through Monday.
Click here for more information.
Data from PowerOutage.com shows more than 924,000 energy customers are now without power. FOX Weather is estimating more than 1 million Americans have lost electricity due to the storm.
1 customer = 1 address. “Customer” represents one service location by the provider and cannot account multiple people living in a home or apartment building.
Widespread heavy snow is continues to hammer Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This heavy snow will shift northeast through the afternoon. The FOX Forecast Center says very heavy snow rates are expected to develop across far southeast New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
While snow and ice blast millions from the Northeast to the Deep South, a different weather threat has developed along the southern end of the massive storm system. Severe weather is expected in the hours ahead and the Storm Prediction Center has issued a Tornado Watch for portions of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida until 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. ET.
The watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, to develop.
Meteorologists in the FOX Forecast Center are closely monitoring the Gulf Coast for severe weather. While millions are facing extreme winter weather, the southern end of this massive storm is producing thunderstorms in the Deep South. A Tornado Watch is expected to be issued by the Storm Prediction Center soon for portions of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
There’s misery on the map right now and it’s all thanks to America’s monster winter storm slamming 40 states with dangerous snow and ice. Data from FlightAware now shows more than 28,500+ flights have been disrupted by the storm since Friday. This number includes 17,000+ canceled and 11,500+ delayed flights.
Airlines have now canceled all flights in and out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The FOX Forecast Center says the snow flying right now in Philly is going to begin mixing with sleet soon. Meteorologists are analyzing radar data, specifically Correlation Coefficient, which can help forecasters discern different types of wintry precipitation. Current radar shows the sleet line (circled area on the map) creeping north. Meteorologists say it will continue to push north through the afternoon, and Philadelphia will see wintry mix this afternoon.
Things are relatively quiet right now in North Georgia and western South Carolina, but the worst is yet to come. The FOX Forecast Center is tracking an area of rain moving in from the west with frigid air coming with it. Forecasters caution that this event is far from over and any sleet coming down right now should change to freezing rain through lunchtime. The worst conditions are expected between 2-6 p.m. today.
NYC Ferry is suspending service at 11 a.m. ET today due to the snow.
Click here for the latest service alerts.
Data from PowerOutage.com shows more than 846,000 energy customers are now without power. FOX Weather is estimating more than 1 million Americans have lost electricity due to the storm. The worst outages are now in Tennessee and Mississippi as ice continues to build up, bringing down trees and power lines.
1 customer = 1 address. “Customer” represents one service location by the provider and cannot account multiple people living in a home or apartment building.
Snow totals are pouring into the FOX Forecast Center and the latest numbers show 5 states have now recorded more than a foot of snow from the monster winter storm.
- New Mexico
- Missouri
- Illinois
- Indiana
- West Virginia
The FOX Forecast Center says the current temperature in Nashville, Tennessee is just above freezing at 33°F now, but not for long. Frigid air is rushing in from the northwest and temperatures are expected to plummet in the next hour or two, which will further stress utility crews as they respond to thousands of power outages across the state.
Heavy snow is hammering portions of Indiana through Ohio right now and that intense snow is expected to continue into early afternoon. Snow rates of 1-2″ per hour will make it tough on road crews as they work to keep roads clear.
The FOX Forecast Center says the snow flying in and around Washington will begin transitioning to sleet in the hours ahead. This will happen as warmer air aloft surges in from the south. The sleet will cut down snow totals, but will still make driving hazardous throughout the region.
With snow and ice hitting dozens of major U.S. airports, airlines are being forced to cancel thousands of flights. Data from FlightAware shows 16,800+ U.S. flights have been canceled since Friday. An additional 11,100 flights have been delayed.
New Yorkers: want to know how recently your street has been plowed? There’s a map for that. NYCPlow shows how recently one of the city’s sanitation trucks and plows have cleared your road.
Click here to see the NYCPlow website.
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority has suspended LIRR service from Ronkonkoma to Greenport due to the winter storm.
Other lines are running with service delays and changes as the snow piles up.
Click here for the full winter storm service changes statement.
Data from PowerOutage.com shows more than 780,000 energy customers are now without power. FOX Weather is estimating more than 1 million Americans have lost electricity due to the storm. The worst outages are now in Tennessee where the number has tripled in the past 3 hours as ice continues to build up, bringing down trees and power lines.
1 customer = 1 address. “Customer” represents one service location by the provider and cannot account multiple people living in a home or apartment building.
Heavy snow is hammering New York right now. LaGuardia Airport in Queens has just measured 3.0″ of snow. The FOX Forecast Center says 2.0″ fell in the last hour as intense snow slams the five boroughs.
A historic 2,000-mile-wide winter storm is expected to peak Sunday, unleashing heavy snow, crippling ice and days of life-threatening travel conditions for more than 245 million people from New Mexico to Maine through Monday morning.
The FOX Forecast Center says heavy snow is now hitting New York City and the tri-state area. Radar shows the snow covering Manhattan with snow rates up 2″ per hour from New Jersey to Long Island.
America’s monster winter storm has cut power to more than 680,000 energy customers. The latest data from PowerOutage.com shows outages surging across Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana where a crippling ice storm is underway.
Utility crews are responding to major outages throughout the South. But conditions are proving to be too dangerous in some areas with some companies ceasing repair operations until the storm ends.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has directed that non-emergency Executive Department state employees should not report to their workplaces on Monday. Those who are able to do telework are expected to work from home due to the storm.
America’s monster winter storm is now charging into the Northeast with heavy snow hitting many areas along Interstate 95 at this hour. The FOX Forecast Center’s latest snow forecast shows no major changes: New York is expected to see up to a foot of snow through early Monday with up to 2 feet of snow falling near Boston and across Massachusetts.
TEXT
New York’s snow only started flying a couple hours ago and things are just ramping up. Here are the latest official snow reports from the National Weather Service as of 7 a.m. ET.
- Central Park: 0.8″
- Newark, NJ: 0.7″
- JFK Airport: 0.5″
- LGA Airport: 0.5″
America’s monster winter storm has cut power to more than 548,000 energy customers. The latest data from PowerOutage.com shows outages surging across Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana where a crippling ice storm is underway.
Utility crews are responding to major outages throughout the South. But conditions are proving to be too dangerous in some areas with some companies ceasing repair operations until the storm ends.
If you’re trying to fly in or out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport, chances are it’s not going well. Airlines have canceled 888 flights in and out of LGA so far today, which is 93% of the entire day’s schedule.
Nearly half a million energy customers are without power right now – a number that continues to skyrocket as dangerous ice coats the South.
Power outages continue to skyrocket as the massive winter storm barrels through the nation. Data from PowerOutage.com shows more than 400,000 energy customers are now without power, particularly across East Texas into Arkansas and Mississippi where freezing rain continues to ice things over.
Heavy snow, with rates of around 1 inch per hour, is expected to develop from parts of the upper Ohio Valley eastward to the Mid-Atlantic this morning. Heavy snow is expected from Pennsylvania and northern Virginia eastward to New Jersey and far southeastern New York. In northern Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, a changeover to freezing rain is expected by late morning.
A crippling ice storm is slamming the South this morning and things will only worsen through the day. Nashville, Tennessee just reported .47″ of ice as freezing rain continues to hammer Tennessee. That ice is weighing down trees and power lines, and power outages continue to climb across the state.
Conditions are deteriorating rapidly across North Georgia as freezing rain continues to fall. A new report from Holly Springs, GA shows nearly a quarter of an inch of ice has built up so far.
America’s historic winter storm has now forced airlines to cancel more than 16,000 U.S. flights. That number includes canceled flights from Friday to Monday. Another 9,800 flights have been delayed. That brings the total number of flight disruptions to 26,000 across the 4-day period. Data from FlightAware shows 94% of flights in and out of LaGuardia Airport in New York have been delayed or canceled on Sunday.
Thousands of people are waking up this morning without power across the South. Data from PowerOutage.com shows more than 300,000 energy customers are now without power, particularly across East Texas into Arkansas and Mississippi where freezing rain continues to ice things over.
Kansas City International Airport, the official weather observation site for Kansas City, MO, broke a long-standing daily snow record on Saturday.
The National Weather Service reports 5.2″ of snow fell at KCI, breaking the old record of 2.2″ set in 1956.
New York and Philadelphia are bracing for the most snow they’ve seen in years and it just might come in a hurry. The FOX Forecast Center says extreme “frontogenesis” could create whiteout conditions along Interstate 95 later today.
Frontogenesis is the process by which warm, moist air slams into cold air arctic, resulting in rising air, fueling intense snow rates. This area of frontogensis is expected to slide north along I-95 on Sunday, triggering extreme snow rates of 2-3 inches per hour along the I-95 corridor. Winter weather experts call it a “snow thump” because it hits quick and lays down significant snow in just an hour or two.
It’s this “thump” of snow that is expected to deliver higher totals around midday. As the day goes on and that warmer air continues to surge north, the snow may mix with sleet as warmer air moves in aloft, partially melting snowflakes as they fall.
The number of people without electricity continues to climb this morning. Data from PowerOutage.com shows nearly 300,000 energy customers are without power across the South. The map shows where the worst freezing rain and ice have occurred so far – from East Texas across Louisiana and into Mississippi.
Flakes are flying in New York right now, the first of what will be many that fall today. Light snow is now being reported at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark International Airport, and The Battery in Lower Manhattan.
Right on schedule, snow is now arriving in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Flakes are flying from Washington to Philadelphia now and should arrive in New York in the next hour or two. Conditions are expected to rapidly deteriorate as the snow adds up.
You can go back and see how this winter storm has evolved with our live coverage from Saturday.
Click here to see Saturday’s minute-by-minute coverage.
Video of Syrian fighter holding woman’s severed braid stirs global outrage
A video showing a Syrian militiaman holding what he claims to be a severed braid belonging to a Kurdish fighter killed in Raqqa has sparked outrage as Damascus moves to assert control in northeastern Syria amid a fragile ceasefire.
In the video, the man holds up what appears to be a cut braid. He is said to tell the person filming that he took it from a woman he claims was affiliated with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
When asked why, he responds, “She’s already gone, what will she do?” according to London-based news outletNew Arab.
The video prompted an online campaign and protests where Kurdish women braided their hair in solidarity. Outrage continued to grow as control in northeastern Syria began to shift, AFP reported.
TURKEY SAYS SYRIA USING FORCE IS AN OPTION AGAINST US-BACKED FIGHTERS WHO HELPED DEFEAT ISIS
“The video highlighted the fears many Kurds have about what Syrian government control could mean for their communities,” Syria analyst Nanar Hawach told Fox News Digital.
“The Damascus-affiliated fighter held up a severed braid, claiming he cut it from a YPJ fighter killed in Raqqa, but he later claimed it was ‘artificial’ and ‘a joke.’ The woman’s identity and fate remain unverified,” Hawach, of International Crisis Group, said
“The response matters more than the video though,” he added, noting that the braid carries “cultural significance in Kurdish tradition and has become a symbol of women’s resistance.”
US STRIKE ELIMINATES AL QAEDA OPERATIVE CONNECTED TO ISIS AMBUSH THAT KILLED 3 AMERICANS IN SYRIA
The incident comes as Damascus, under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, pushes to expand its reach and authority into areas long governed by the SDF, the U.S.’ main partner in the fight against ISIS in Syria.
Raqqa, once the Islamic State group’s de facto capital, has also seen fighting emerge across the region between Syrian government forces and Kurdish units, prompting a U.S.-brokered cease-fire on Jan. 18.
The truce followed diplomatic efforts by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, who met SDF commander Mazloum Abdi and Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani in Erbil on Jan. 17 before traveling to Damascus to meet al-Sharaa, Reuters reported.
“This new 15-day ceasefire extension has created a real diplomatic window, but postpones rather than resolves the fundamental dispute,” Hawach said.
ISIS FIGHTERS BREAK FREE FROM SYRIAN JAIL AMID CHAOTIC GOVERNMENT HANDOVER
“For Syria’s Kurds, the extension offers temporary relief but perhaps little certainty about what comes next,” he said. “The fundamental disagreement remains: Damascus insists on individual integration, while the SDF views organizational dissolution as political erasure.”
The ceasefire extension was also tied to security concerns surrounding ISIS prisoners held in northeastern Syria.
Damascus has taken control of several detention sites. As previously reported by Fox News Digital, prisoners escaped amid the transfer of control before U.S. Central Command began moving detainees to Iraq on Jan. 21, with the operation ongoing.
ISIS FIGHTERS STILL AT LARGE AFTER SYRIAN PRISON BREAK, CONTRIBUTING TO VOLATILE SECURITY SITUATION
“Washington is racing to transfer detainees before the security situation deteriorates further,” Hawach said.
“Washington’s goal is to prevent this standoff from producing two outcomes: violence against Kurds, or an Islamic State resurgence from detention facilities,” he said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“The U.S. is trying to ensure this transition doesn’t end in violence along ethnic lines or an Islamic State resurgence,” Hawach added.
“The fundamental dispute over integration between the SDF and Damascus remains unresolved. If they cannot bridge that gap, renewed fighting is possible when this new 15-day ceasefire expires,” he said.
Trump slams ‘radical’ groups blocking $300M White House ballroom donation
President Donald Trump said Sunday that it was “too late” to halt construction of a new ballroom at the White House, despite a newly filed lawsuit challenging the project.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the ballroom as “a GIFT (ZERO taxpayer funding) to the United States of America,” estimating its cost at $300 million and saying it was financed through private donations.
Trump said the lawsuit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, criticizing the group for filing it after construction was already underway.
FEDERAL JUDGE QUESTIONS TRUMP AUTHORITY ON WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM PROJECT
“Why didn’t these obstructionists and troublemakers bring their baseless lawsuit much earlier?” he wrote.
Trump added that the East Wing was “changed, built and rebuilt over the years” and that “it bore no resemblance or relationship to the original building.”
On July 31, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the planned construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The sprawling ballroom will accommodate approximately 650 seated guests and will stay true to the classical design of the White House.
The White House does not have a formal ballroom, and the new ballroom will take the place of the current East Wing of the White House.
Since his return to office, Trump has wasted no time in reshaping the look and feel of the White House and the National Mall.
SUPREME COURT SET TO HEAR CASE IN TRUMP FIGHT OVER LISA COOK’S FED SEAT
Trump has previously unveiled a new monument dubbed the “Arc de Trump,” which is planned to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary next year.
He said the large arch, a near twin of Paris’s iconic Arc de Triomphe, will welcome visitors crossing the Arlington Memorial Bridge from Arlington National Cemetery into the heart of the nation’s capital.
Trump’s taste for opulence is unmistakable in the Oval Office, where golden accents now decorate the nation’s most iconic workspace, a reflection of his personal style.
Since then, Trump has added gold accents throughout the Oval Office to include decorative details along the ceiling and around the doorway trim. Even the cherubs inside the door frames were given a gilded makeover.
TRUMP GAVE THE OVAL OFFICE A GILDED MAKEOVER – AND COVERED THE COST HIMSELF
Outside the Oval Office, the Trump administration unveiled the “Presidential Walk of Fame,” a series of portraits of past presidents now displayed along the West Wing colonnade.
The portrait of former President Joe Biden features his signature, created with an autopen, a machine that holds a pen and reproduces a person’s handwriting through programmed movements. The Trump administration has also installed several large mirrors in gold frames along the walkway.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Trump also said he renovated the Lincoln bathroom in the White House because it did not reflect the style of President Abraham Lincoln’s era.
“I renovated the Lincoln Bathroom in the White House. It was renovated in the 1940s in an art-deco green tile style, which was totally inappropriate for the Lincoln Era,” Trump wrote in an Oct. 31 Truth Social post.
Suspicious money surge on UFC 324 fighter forced Dana White to cancel bout
A fight set for the UFC 324 early preliminary card was silently canceled on Saturday night, but UFC CEO Dana White confirmed irregular betting activity was the cause.
White told reporters after the fights, where the main bout saw Justin Gaethje upset Paddy Pimblitt, that the lightweight battle between Michael Johnson and Alex Hernandez was taken off the card because of the tip he got from the promotion’s gaming integrity service.
“We got called from the gaming integrity service and I said, ‘I’m not doing this s— again,’ so we pulled the fight,” White said, per Yahoo Sports.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
White didn’t add details about what the irregularities were as well as which fighter, if either, was suspected of causing the irregularity.
But it’s clear White was not trying to deal with another controversy after last year’s Isaac Dulgarian fight.
UFC CUTS FIGHTER AFTER SPORTSBOOK FLAG ‘UNUSUAL’ BETTING ACTIVITY ON HIS FIRST-ROUND LOSS
Dulgarian was cut from UFC’s roster after a serious upset loss to Yadier del Valle in November 2025. There was strange betting activity before the fight, where Dulgarian went from -250 to -154 to win the match.
When he lost, commentators Daniel Cormier and Michael Chiesa were confused what was happening, as they called Del Valle’s finish “white belt stuff,” believing it wasn’t the most complicated stuff.
The FBI and the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) remain in their investigation into Dulgarian as well.
Making Dulgarian’s situation more interesting are his comments about his belief that fighters should get a cut for bets on bouts.
“I said, ‘Don’t bet on me unless you’re paying me some percentage.’ I’m doing all the work, that’s how I feel about it,” Dulgarian told MMA Junkie. “… If you’re betting on me, I want some of it.”
Other than Dulgarian, Darrick Minner and Jeff Molina were hit with three-year suspensions by the NAC for a 2022 fight that had suspicious betting activity involving Minner.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
With sports betting legal in the United States, there have unfortunately been moments like these across multiple leagues, including the NFL, NBA and MLB.
Nearly 90% of US adults show signs of heart-related syndrome, study finds
America’s heart health is improving in one key way, but a newly defined syndrome is raising alarms.
The findings come from the American Heart Association (AHA), which reported improvements in life expectancy and fewer heart attacks and strokes compared to 2023.
New to this year’s report is a focus on cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, a framework that examines interconnected risks tied to heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity.
HEART STUDY FLAGS DANGEROUS RHYTHM RISK FOR ENDURANCE ATHLETES OVER 50
The AHA estimates that nearly 90% of U.S. adults have at least one component of CKM syndrome.
While fewer Americans are dying from cardiovascular events, experts warn the prevalence of these risk factors could drive future disease if left unaddressed.
The data show the impact is not evenly distributed across age groups.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“We see a mixed report with some good news and some concerning news,” Dr. Bradley Serwer, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, told Fox News Digital.
Stroke deaths increased among certain age groups, including an 8.3% rise among adults ages 25 to 34 and an 18.2% increase among people over age 85, according to the AHA.
The data also showed increases in high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity among children and adolescents ages 2 to 19.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
Serwer said the rise in stroke deaths among younger adults is particularly concerning because it reflects long-term risk that can build silently over time.
He noted prevention strategies aimed at lowering cardiovascular risk.
The AHA promotes a comprehensive prevention strategy known as “Life’s Essential 8,” which focuses on eight modifiable components of cardiovascular health, Serwer explained.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
The eight elements include a healthy diet, participation in physical activity, avoidance of nicotine, healthy sleep, healthy weight, and healthy levels of blood lipids, blood glucose and blood pressure.
He noted that improving those factors could prevent up to 40% of annual all-cause and cardiovascular deaths among adults.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“It is not good enough to sit back and celebrate a reduction in heart attacks and strokes,” Serwer said. “We have to look aggressively at the data regarding our youth and target ways to combat childhood obesity, high blood pressure and metabolic syndromes which will manifest as cardiovascular disease down the road.”
Four everyday grocery foods that expert says may damage your digestive health
Some of the most common foods in your kitchen could be quietly damaging your gut health.
As gut health continues to dominate wellness conversations, experts say diet plays a central role in shaping the microbiome.
When the balance of gut bacteria is disrupted, it can contribute to gastrointestinal issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating, constipation and diarrhea, Robin DeCicco, a certified holistic nutritionist in New York City, told Fox News Digital.
EATING THESE 5 FRUITS IN 2026 COULD TRANSFORM YOUR GUT HEALTH
Here are four foods experts say may do more harm than good for the gut.
Supermarket bread
Packaged bread sold in many grocery stores may be harder on gut health than people realize.
DeCicco said many supermarket breads are heavily processed and contain ingredients that can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut.
PRIVATE CHEFS REVEAL THE 5 ‘HEALTHY’ FOODS THEIR WEALTHY CLIENTS USUALLY AVOID
She added that many commercial breads are made with refined flours and additives designed to extend shelf life, but those ingredients often come at the expense of fiber.
Fried foods
Foods that are fried or cooked in large amounts of oil can be especially tough on the gut.
“The body has a harder time digesting such high-fat meals,” DeCicco said.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
She added that many fried foods are cooked in refined vegetable oils, which can further contribute to gut imbalance when consumed regularly.
Sugar
Foods and drinks high in added sugar are among the biggest contributors to poor gut health.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Ice cream, in particular, combines large amounts of sugar with ingredients that can be difficult for some people to digest.
“Foods high in sugar are not beneficial in any way — they contribute to overall inflammation, obesity, diabetes and heart disease,” DeCicco noted.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
She said frequent blood sugar spikes can directly disrupt the gut microbiome.
“The more foods we eat that impact blood sugar and cause a spike in insulin, the worse for our gut, because sugar is essentially fuel for an overgrowth of harmful bacteria,” DeCicco said.
Vegan cheese
While plant-based cheese alternatives are popular, some highly processed versions may be tough on gut health.
Some highly processed vegan cheeses may trigger gut inflammation due to the additives and fillers used to bind the products together, DeCicco said.
She recommends sticking with real, whole foods.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“When you do have to choose a replacement, make sure the replacement is made of ingredients that are actually real,” DeCicco noted.
Student with stutter stuns ‘American Idol’ judges when voice transforms during song
A new season of “American Idol” is upon us and the talent just keeps getting better and better.
In an extended sneak peek of the upcoming season, Jesse Findling — a 20-year-old college student with a severe stutter — left judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan in awe after giving a “beautiful” performance despite the debilitating condition that has left him feeling embarrassed at times.
“I’ve been singing ever since I was little with my brother and sister,” Findling told the judges. “We would pull up karaoke tracks, and we would just sing with each other, and since then I did choirs in school. If you haven’t noticed, I have a stutter and that’s really where kind of my love for singing came.”
“I’ve had a stutter ever since I was little,” Findling said during his confessional. “It’s something that I’ve struggled with since elementary school. It was something embarrassing for me, and it was something that I really had a hard time with. I wouldn’t raise my hand in school, and it was just something that made me feel alone and something that I felt like I had to hide. So it was definitely hard.”
‘AMERICAN IDOL’ WINNER IAM TONGI REVEALS DRAMATIC 115-POUND WEIGHT LOSS
Findling said that singing has always “felt freeing” to him because his stutter disappears.
“When I sang, it was a way for me to express myself in a way where I didn’t have to worry about being embarrassed or what people would think, or if somebody would laugh,” he said. “It was an outlet for me when I was little, and it’s still an outlet for me now.”
LIONEL RICHIE REVEALS HE ALMOST BECAME A PRIEST BEFORE ONE FAN’S COMMENT CHANGED HIS LIFE
“Walking out with a golden ticket would mean that everything that I’ve struggled with in the past, it’s all led me here, and I can do whatever I want if I work hard,” he added.
Before going into his own rendition of Bensen Boone’s “In The Stars,” he told the judges, “I’ve come a long way with it, and it doesn’t hold me back.”
During his performance, all three judges were visibly shocked at his approach.
“I don’t think I blinked one time,” Bryan said after the audition. “I mean, wow. You’re a real singer. Thank you, man. I’m really proud of you. I love this show. I love this show because we get to meet kids like you.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
“Your voice is beautiful,” Underwood added. “You have a beautiful vibrato, a beautiful tone. We could understand everything you were singing, and you were in the song emotionally, which just took us right there with you, so it was beautiful.”
“Problem. What problem?” Richie asked. “You don’t have a problem. The only thing wrong with you is you’ve got to figure out how you’re going to navigate this career.”
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Before sending Findling through to Hollywood, she told him, “I think you could go really far in this competition. We just haven’t had voices like yours coming through those doors.”
While holding his Golden Ticket, Findling told the camera that he’s proud of the progress he’s made.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“When I was singing that song, I was thinking of younger me who wouldn’t speak in class, who was scared of what people thought of him and the fact that I got this is just proof that everything’s working out how it should,” he said.
“American Idol” returns Monday, January 26, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.
Late interception helps Patriots clinch Super Bowl berth over Broncos
The New England Patriots had one task going into the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos – close the book on any Cinderella story that their opponent could create.
Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham did his best with a great touchdown drive on the team’s second series of the game. But the Patriots’ defense locked in and received some help with the snow at Empower Field at Mile High and picked up the victory.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who was burned by a Stidham pass to Marvin Mims earlier in the game, intercepted Stidham’s final pass of the game. Then, Drake Maye’s hard-nosed run on third down clinched the game for the Patriots.
New England won, 10-7.
Maye was 10-of-21 with 86 passing yards. He was sacked five times. He was called upon to tie the game in the first half after a Stidham turnover. He had a 6-yard touchdown run that put New England on the board.
He did just enough to guide the Patriots to a victory. As the snow came down, the Broncos couldn’t get the offense going and special teams sputtered just enough to cost them some points.
2026 SUPER BOWL ODDS: NFC WEST RIVAL SEAHAWKS, RAMS TOP BOARD
The defense was able to get to Stidham three times. He was 17-of-31 with 133 passing yards and a touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton in the first quarter. That was all the offense Denver could muster.
The Patriots are back in the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2019 season. It will be the team’s first Super Bowl appearance in the post-Bill Belichick and Tom Brady era. The duo led the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during the pinnacle of their careers.
The “Patriot Way” lives on even in the wake of the Belichick-Brady era.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Now, the Patriots will wait to see who will be on the other side of the field in Super Bowl LX. It will either be the Seattle Seahawks or Los Angeles Rams.