Harvard Law professor who fired gun outside synagogue leaves US after ICE arrest
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday announced ICE had detained a Harvard Law School professor accused in a shooting outside a synagogue in October.
Carlos Portugal Gouvêa, a Brazilian national, was arrested Oct. 2 after he allegedly fired a BB gun outside a Boston area synagogue the day before Yom Kippur.
Gouvêa told authorities at the time he was “hunting rats.”
He pleaded guilty Nov. 13 to illegal use of the air rifle, while his other charges of disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and vandalizing property were dismissed.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY’S FEUD WITH TRUMP AFFECTING STUDENTS, RESEARCH, AND REPUTATION: ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
The Harvard Crimson first reported Gouvêa was suspended by the university pending the investigation, with synagogue leaders noting in an email the shooting was not “fueled by antisemitism.”
Two weeks after the shooting, the Department of State revoked his temporary non-immigrant (J-1) visa.
ICE Boston Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested Gouvêa Wednesday, and he agreed to voluntarily leave the U.S. rather than be deported, according to DHS.
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“It is a privilege to work and study in the United States, not a right,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement. “There is no room in the United States for brazen, violent acts of antisemitism like this. They are an affront to our core principals as a country and an unacceptable threat against law-abiding American citizens.”
McLaughlin added DHS is “under zero obligation to admit foreigners who commit these inexplicably reprehensible acts or to let them stay here.”
“Secretary [Kristi] Noem has made it clear that anyone who thinks they can come to America and commit anti-American and antisemitic violence and terrorism should think again,” she wrote. “You are not welcome here.”
Gouvêa was a visiting professor of law at Harvard, and his full-time position was as an associate professor at the University of São Paulo Law School and CEO of IDGlobal in Brazil.
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The university website noted he led research that shaped major Brazilian Supreme Court decisions, documented violence against Indigenous peoples and participated on the boards of several Brazilian companies, including the Fulbright Commission, Brazilian Students Organization, Generation and Sempre SanFran.
Harvard did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Jessica Tisch apologizes to Mamdani team following brother’s controversial remarks
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said Thursday that NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch personally apologized to his team after her brother described him as an “enemy” of the Jewish people during a high-profile charity dinner in Manhattan on Wednesday night.
Speaking at his Cocoa Chat community meeting, Mamdani stressed that the apology was received and that he intends to govern for all New Yorkers.
“The commissioner apologized to my team for those remarks, and I look forward to being a mayor for each and every New Yorker, including Jewish New Yorkers,” Mamdani said.
He emphasized that the incident will not interfere with his working relationship with Tisch, whom he has chosen to keep on as police commissioner despite policy disagreements.
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“My focus in my conversations with Commissioner Tisch is on delivering public safety and doing so in tandem with justice for New Yorkers across the five boroughs,” he said. “The apology was one that she conveyed to the team. I appreciated it, and my focus is back on delivering.”
In a statement to Fox News Digital, NYPD spokesperson Brad Weekes shared the commissioner’s message:
“I understand the fear in the Jewish community. My sincere belief is that the mayor-elect will live up to the commitment he’s made to be a mayor for all New Yorkers, including the Jewish community.”
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The apology came after Tisch’s brother, Benjamin Tisch, the billionaire CEO of Loews Corporation, used his remarks at the Met Council’s annual gala to label Mamdani an “enemy” of the Jewish people, according to two attendees who spoke with the New York Daily News.
Witnesses from the gala – which was hosted at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Manhattan – described the moment as jarring, particularly because Commissioner Tisch recently agreed to remain at the helm of the NYPD under Mamdani’s incoming administration.
One attendee told the Daily News the room reacted in stunned silence: “It was just like, ‘wow, he’s actually going to go there.’” Benjamin Tisch has not yet commented publicly on the incident.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist and a vocal critic of Israel, has repeatedly rejected allegations that his views on Israel are antisemitic.
Members of the wider Tisch family donated more than $1 million to super PACs opposing Mamdani during the 2025 mayoral race and backing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, according to the NY Daily News. Commissioner Tisch did not donate.
Last month, Mamdani told the NY Daily News: “The two of us will not shy away from the fact that we hold disagreements on certain issues… but I also believe that these disagreements are not only reconcilable, but they are the sign of a healthy partnership to come.”
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The flare-up comes just weeks before Mamdani’s Jan. 1 inauguration.
Mayor-elect Mamdani and a representative for Benjamin Tisch did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Teacher allegedly groomed teen for years before backseat Jeep encounters
A former Kansas high school art teacher accused of having sex with a student, including multiple times in the back seat of her Jeep, will stand trial.
Nicole Hernandez, 30, also known as Nikki Baird, appeared in court Tuesday, when a judge ruled she will be tried on four counts of unlawful sexual relations with a student, KAKE.com reported.
Baird allegedly groomed the then-17-year-old student in middle school before both moved on to Wichita North High School, according to an affidavit seen by the Wichita Eagle.
KENTUCKY TEACHER ACCUSED OF EXPOSING HERSELF TO STUDENT DURING SHOWER VIDEO CHAT TO ARRANGE SEX
“He described how she befriended him, then isolated him from others,” the affidavit reportedly states.
The relationship between the pair turned sexual in 2024, it said. Baird was arrested in May following an investigation after a Wichita police detective was made aware of an Instagram post indicating that Baird had an inappropriate relationship with a former Wichita school district student.
The student, now an adult, told investigators that Baird was his middle school art teacher before she was hired as North High’s art teacher. The affidavit said she groomed him throughout his sophomore, junior and senior years of high school.
The former student said the physical relationship “started as Baird touching or rubbing his back or shoulders” before she began asking him for hugs, authorities said.
“He was nervous and eventually said yes,” the affidavit states.
The pair eventually began exchanging text messages in which Baird talked about her “struggling marriage,” the affidavit said.
She then began writing him notes.
“One letter said, ‘I hope and pray one day I get the chance to be with you’ and ‘I know that I love you,’” the affidavit read.
NEBRASKA TEACHER ALLEGEDLY OFFERED TO ‘SHARE’ BOYFRIEND WITH STUDENT IN SEX TRAFFICKING CASE
She allegedly invited him into her office three times during his last week of school, while ordering him to touch her, the affidavit states.
On his graduation night, Baird allegedly asked the student if he wanted to meet in a random neighborhood and have sex in her Jeep, according to documents.
“The student said he was nervous and felt pressured,” the affidavit reads. “She (Baird) said things similar to ‘It’s okay’ and said they won’t get in trouble because he graduated.”
Afterward, while North High classes were still in session but seniors were no longer in class, Baird met up with the student multiple times to have sex in the back seat of her Jeep, according to the affidavit.
After the teen graduated, Baird allegedly texted him nude photos of herself. The teen saved some of the images, “knowing he could use them as evidence of what she did,” the affidavit states.
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He eventually stopped communicating with Baird after he “understood the relationship he had with Baird was inappropriate and he had been manipulated by Baird,” according to the affidavit.
The student eventually told his family about Baird, and they submitted the nude images and handwritten notes to investigators.
Cowboys staring at 30-year title drought after controversial official calls in loss
The Detroit Lions defeated the Dallas Cowboys 44-30 on Thursday Night Football, cementing themselves as the top challenger for the final seed in the NFC playoffs.
Dallas entered the game riding a three-game winning streak to climb back into the playoff hunt. But the loss drops the Cowboys to 6-6 and into the 10th seed, two and a half games behind the San Francisco 49ers for the final NFC playoff spot.
Detroit improved to 8-5, putting the Lions firmly back into the race just one game behind San Francisco.
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Thursday’s game was also the subject of criticism against referees on social media.
Two calls in particular were widely scrutinized: when Prescott was seemingly tackled in his own end zone in the first quarter, but referees did not call a safety, and in the fourth quarter when offensive pass interference was called on Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson during a crucial red-zone third down — even as many argued Lions defender Alex Anzalone committed the infraction.
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Detroit’s running backs led the way in the red zone, as Jahmyr Gibbs scored three touchdowns and David Montgomery added another. Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw for 309 yards.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 376 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. His first interception ended Dallas’ opening possession of the second half and set up a Lions touchdown to extend the lead to 27-9. His second interception ended the Cowboys’ final drive as they attempted to rally late.
Prescott has now thrown eight interceptions this season. He was considered an MVP contender earlier in the year, but no player has ever won the award without reaching the postseason.
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Dallas now has just an estimated 8% chance of making the playoffs.
If the Cowboys fall short, it will mark their 30th consecutive season without a Super Bowl title.
Simple nightly habit linked to healthier blood pressure, study suggests
A consistent bedtime may play a meaningful role in lowering blood pressure, according to new research examining how sleep timing affects cardiovascular health.
While most people think primarily about getting enough hours of sleep, experts say when you sleep also has an important effect on heart health.
Dr. William Lu, medical director at Dreem Health in San Francisco, told Fox News Digital that sleep duration and sleep timing work together, and that consistency is a key part of supporting cardiovascular wellness.
EXPERTS REVEAL EXACT BEDTIME THAT COULD PREVENT LATE-NIGHT ‘SECOND WIND’ INSOMNIA
“Both matter, but growing evidence shows regularity — going to sleep and waking at roughly the same times night-to-night — is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk even after accounting for total sleep time,” Lu said.
Recent findings have supported that connection. In a study published in the journal Sleep Advances, adults with high blood pressure who kept a consistent bedtime for two weeks saw modest but meaningful improvements in their readings, even though they did not sleep longer hours.
Participants reduced their night-to-night bedtime variability from about 30 minutes to only a few minutes, and researchers said that simple change helped restore healthier blood pressure overnight.
Even a modest nighttime drop in systolic pressure can lower cardiovascular risk, experts say.
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The concept is supported by research into circadian rhythms and the body’s natural blood-pressure patterns.
“Consistent bed and wake times keep your internal circadian clock synchronized to Earth’s day-night cycle,” Lu said.
A steady sleep schedule helps the body release important hormones, like melatonin and cortisol, at the right times, which supports the natural rise and fall of blood pressure throughout the day and night, according to the doctor.
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Disruptions in sleep timing can affect blood pressure more quickly than many people realize, Lu warned. While some people assume that shifting their bedtime on weekends or staying up late occasionally has little impact, the expert said the body responds almost immediately.
For people trying to build a more consistent sleep routine, Lu recommends starting with the morning wake-up time.
“Start with a fixed wake time every day, including weekends, and anchor the schedule with morning light exposure — then set a consistent bedtime that gives you enough sleep before that wake time,” he advised. “Pick a wake time you can sustain and get 30 minutes of morning light after waking up.”
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He also recommends adding a brief wind-down routine before bed and cutting back on stimulants and screen use in the evening.
Improving sleep timing is a low-risk change that may help lower blood pressure, Lu said, adding that consistent bedtimes should be used in addition to anti-hypertensive medications, not as a substitute.
Potential limitations
The study did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged.
The sample size was relatively small, consisting of 11 middle-aged adults with obesity and hypertension. It was also a two-week period, which means researchers could measure only short-term changes.
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The study also lacked a control group or randomization, so it couldn’t prove that the blood-pressure improvements were caused by more consistent bedtimes or by other lifestyle factors, such as diet, stress or medication changes. Larger, longer-term studies are needed to confirm the findings.
Anyone considering changes to their sleep schedule for blood-pressure benefits should first speak with a doctor.
Stephen A Smith schools ‘The View’ hosts on why Democrats lost their way with voters
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith and “The View” host Whoopi Goldberg debated Thursday about what key issues the Democratic Party must focus on to take back power and serve the American people.
Smith has made numerous headlines for his hot takes criticizing both sides of American politics, particularly when he points out Democrats’ missteps in recent years by engaging in far-left cultural politics.
This has been such a frequent topic on his show, there has been ongoing speculation about whether he will run for president in the next few years. Whoopi appeared to take umbrage at his contention that the Democrats have gone too far on certain cultural issues.
“I know that you have very strong feelings about Democrats, but I do have this to say to you,” Whoopi said. “It was important, I think, for Democrats to show that they stood with the LGBT community, that they stood with Black women and women in general.
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“Because once you let us go, once you let women and poor people go, what do you have? And so I’ve listened to lots of people say, you know, that you didn’t follow what was necessary. They did it the way they thought they could. It didn’t work for them, they got it.”
“See, respectfully, I don’t like that. Let me explain,” Smith said.
“As a Democrat, the bottom line is this. We talk about poor people. Who ain’t thinking about poor people?” he asked. “I know I do. I know that most candidates within the Democratic Party that I know, I know they think about poor folks. I know they think about the desolate and the disenfranchised. I get that. But what I’m saying is, that during the campaign, were you doing what it takes to win?”
He went on to criticize Democrats for trying to target Trump for issues that were clearly non-viable or simply did not matter to his voters. Instead, he argued, another path would be better.
“I would say to anybody that doesn’t want JD Vance or Marco Rubio or somebody like that to succeed him … focus on what’s gonna win,” he said. “That’s where my sports background comes in. Tell me what’s gonna win.
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“I don’t want to hear, ‘But I understand the LGBTQ community is important.’ I understand that the desolate and disenfranchised is somebody we should always be looking out for. I understand the economy, I understand immigration, I get all of that. But the point is, I’m trying to win to make sure that I’m in office and you’re not. What is it going to take? The Democrats did not do that last time, and that’s what happened.”
“What is the winning issue now?” co-host Sunny Hostin asked.
“Affordability and safety,” he said. “Period. Affordability and safety.” He later added that it would also be “a willingness to cross the aisle and show that you’re willing to work with people to get stuff done so we don’t have this chaos just because we disagree.”
“I think that the Democrats try harder than the Republicans to do that,” co-host Joy Behar said.
“Really?” Smith asked. “I don’t know about that.”
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Trump swaps architects as massive new White House ballroom project ramps up
President Donald Trump on Thursday hired a new architect to lead the next phase of the White House ballroom project.
Trump tapped Shalom Baranes Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based architectural firm to oversee the ballroom design effort.
“As we begin to transition into the next stage of development on the White House Ballroom, the Administration is excited to share that the highly talented Shalom Baranes has joined the team of experts to carry out President Trump’s vision on building what will be the greatest addition to the White House since the Oval Office — the White House Ballroom,” White House Spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement.
Ingle added, “Shalom is an accomplished architect whose work has shaped the architectural identity of our nation’s capital for decades and his experience will be a great asset to the completion of this project.”
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Trump initially chose McCrery Architects to design the ballroom. McCrery will remain a valuable consultant on the project, a White House official told Fox News.
Construction started on the ballroom in October, leading to the demolition of the White House’s historic East Wing.
The project is being privately funded at an estimated cost of $300 million, up from a $200 million estimate in July when the project was unveiled.
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Trump provided an update on construction during a cabinet meeting Tuesday, saying,I wouldn’t say my wife is thrilled.”
She hears pile drivers in the background all day, all night,” he said.
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The president said the overhaul has been needed for 150 years adding,”I think it’s going to be the finest ballroom ever built.”
The White House previously said the long-envisioned addition will be designed to host large gatherings and state visits, and will be completed before the end of Trump’s term.
Beloved NCAA men’s lacrosse coach dies at 41 after home accident: ‘Defies understanding’
Siena Saints men’s lacrosse coach Liam Gleason died after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a fall at his home, the school announced on Wednesday. He was 41.
With Gleason at the helm, Siena went to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship and earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament during the 2025 season.
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“A sudden, senseless loss carries a kind of pain that defies understanding,” Siena University president Chuck Seifert said in a statement. “It’s hard to imagine anyone more universally loved and admired than Liam. Our community was blessed by Coach Gleason’s life.”
Gleason’s family started a GoFundMe to help “ease the burden” on his wife and three children as they navigated the tragedy.
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“The Gleason family has suffered the most unimaginable tragedy with Liam suffering a traumatic brain injury,” the GoFundMe read. “Anyone who knows him knows what a light he is in this world. Liam is the best father, husband, brother, son, brother-in-law, uncle, coach, and friend. His heart is as big as his 6’5 frame, and the love he gives to those around him is immeasurable.
“Liam’s wife, Jaclyn, and their three beautiful children — Kennedy, Penn, and Tate — who now face a long road of emotional and financial challenges in the weeks, months, and years ahead.”
Gleason coached at Siena for the last seven seasons and was named the conference Coach of the Year in the MAAC and the Eastern College Athletic Conference this past season. Siena was 11-5 overall and earned its first national ranking in 14 years.
The New York native played college lacrosse at the University of Albany.
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Officials said his funeral will be Saturday on Siena’s campus.
Country star Jessie James Decker battles ‘bizarre’ illness that won’t go away
Jessie James Decker is fighting a mysterious illness.
The 37-year-old country singer opened up about her health in a series of Instagram stories, sharing she hasn’t been feeling well the past few days.
In a story posted last night, Jessie can be seen sitting in a hot tub, with the words, adding the caption: “Feeling a little better today…still a slight fever and tummy aches, but after the day I had yesterday, I’ll take it.” Decker added that she is “trying to sweat this thing out now,” and that whatever she has, “has kicked my butt.”
She also included a question box, asking her fans for movie suggestions she “should watch while still bedridden for another day.”
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“Good morning. Just getting a little bit more coffee. I have no a voice, so I don’t know why I’m doing this,” she said in a story on Thursday morning. “It’s like I forgot for a second. I’m so swollen in my face and I started to feel so much better last night and that’s the truth. And now this morning I keep coughing up stuff, like it is so heavy in my chest.”
“I actually took a puff of a forced inhaler to see if it would help,” she continued. “Whatever this is, keeps turning into something else. It’s just been bizarre.”
The story concluded with Jessie telling her fans she is “hoping that this goes away soon,” adding that she felt better the night before and “got my hopes up,” thinking, “OK, this is almost over,” but that she woke up with “something new today.”
She went on to share footage of herself making brunch, before posting another story featuring a photo of herself on the couch, with a comment box which read, “”It’s in my chest bad. Maybe I need to get it looked at or will it pass soon?”
JESSIE JAMES DECKER LOVES HER BODY MORE AFTER 4 KIDS AT 36 THAN SHE DID AT 23
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“[I] used way too much energy. Back to lying down,” she wrote over the photo. “Y’all, I hate being sick. It makes me angry.”
Jessie and her husband, Eric Decker, recently competed on season four of Fox’s hit show, “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.” The couple made it to day six of the competition before Eric was forced to exit due to an injury, with Jessie choosing to voluntarily withdraw to support her husband.
WATCH: JESSIE JAMES DECKER AND HER HUSBAND SUPPORTED EACH OTHER WHILE COMPETING ON FOX’S ‘SPECIAL FORCES’ TOGETHER
During an interview with Fox News Digital, the couple shared that taking part in the show together brought them closer together.
“Well, I think I saw a lot of grit and tenacity come out of her. And this is an environment we have not put ourselves in,” Eric said. “So just to be able to kind of see her thrive in that was really special. And then to be in, again, the barracks with the cots and heavy bags and the crappy food. That was unusual that we haven’t done that. And so we kind of were going through it together. I think just naturally that’s a bond.”
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He continued, “But as we go through these team activities. Like she said, it’s just like a look. It’s like, okay, maybe it’s a quick tap in the back or it’s a quick hug if we can sneak one in. It’s all you need to kind of regroup, rebalance yourself to know that, listen, my person’s here, this sucks, but I got you, and you got me, so let’s go.”
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