FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., will vote to confirm President Donald Trump's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) nominee, Dr. Mehmet Oz, after securing commitments from him regarding transgender treatments for minors and abortion.
"On this basis, I will vote to confirm him. Now that I am confident that he has moved away from his previous positions, and he's moved into alignment with the president, I feel comfortable voting for him," he told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview on Monday.
The senator revealed that Oz responded to his inquiries and disavowed his past stances on transgender treatments for minors and abortion in a series of posts on X earlier in the day.
"Dr. Oz has responded to my questions re: past support for trans treatments for minors & his criticism of right to life. Oz now disavows his previous support for trans surgeries & drugs for minor children. He pledges to ‘end chemical and surgical mutilation of children,’" Hawley wrote on X on Monday.
"He also walks back past criticism of state pro-life laws, says he supports the Dobbs decision, and is ‘unequivocally pro-life.’ He vows to enforce conscience protections, end the abuse of [the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act], and work to end funding for abortion providers," he continued.
"This was really a big shift of position for him," he explained, adding that he was "delighted" by Oz's responses.
"When it comes to the [transgender] issue and the life issue, those are non-negotiable for me, just as I believe they are for the president," the Missouri Republican explained. "I want to know that these people are 100% clear."
"Every member of the Trump administration is working from the same playbook, President Trump’s playbook, to restore commonsense policies and put an end to left-wing ideological nonsense afflicting our government," White House spokesman Kush Desai told Fox News Digital in a statement. "We look forward to the Senate’s swift confirmation of Dr. Oz so he can join the rest of our all-star team at HHS working to Make America Healthy Again by restoring common sense, transparency, and confidence in our healthcare apparatus."
Earlier in the month, Hawley sent Oz a list of questions, specifically probing him on those issues. As of last week, Hawley said the nominee hadn't responded, which the senator called "strange."
Oz previously used his television show as a platform for people who supported and promoted transgender treatments, particularly for minors. Specifically, he hosted two transgender children on his show in 2010 in a segment titled, "Transgender Kids: Too Young to Decide?"
He also expressed concerns about state laws to limit abortion during a 2019 interview on the popular radio show "The Breakfast Club."
It's "a hard issue for everybody," he said at the time.
And while on "a personal level," Oz didn't like abortion, he also believed he should not "interfere with everyone else’s stuff," he said.
Oz also opposed government jurisdiction on the subject of abortion when he ran for Senate in Pennsylvania as a Republican in 2022.
"I don’t want the federal government involved with that at all," he claimed during a debate with now-Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. "I want women, doctors, local political leaders, letting the democracy that’s always allowed our nation to thrive, to put the best ideas forward, so states can decide for themselves."
Hawley's commitments from Oz are just the latest he's received from Trump nominees as he considers them for confirmation. He previously got assurances from now-Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the same issues.
When it came to now-leader of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Dr. Marty Makary, Hawley led a successful campaign to secure the resignation of a top lawyer with the FDA who previously argued in favor of abortion pill access in a high-profile case while in former President Joe Biden's Department of Justice (DOJ).
"I just view my role for those I have to vote on — I want to know that these people are going to align with the president," Hawley said, noting that he believes Trump has "moved really fast [and] really strong" on the issues.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in El Paso, Texas arrested a man for the second time last week, after he allegedly tried to smuggle 22 large rolls of Mexican bologna into the country, according to authorities.
CBP said agricultural specialists assigned to the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso not only seized 22 large rolls of the prohibited pork bologna on March 28, but they also seized 60 undeclared Tramadol tablets from the man’s vehicle.
The discovery was made just after 2 a.m. on Friday, when a 52-year-old man, who is a citizen of Albuquerque, New Mexico, entered the U.S. and presented himself for inspection in the vehicle lanes of the port.
CBP said the man made a negative declaration for fruits, vegetables and meat products, then was referred for a secondary agriculture inspection.
This marks the second time within two months that the same man was caught attempting to smuggle bologna into the U.S. at the El Paso port.
CBP agriculture specialists seized 55 rolls of undeclared bologna from the man in January, and he was assessed a civil penalty. At that time, the agents also seized and destroyed the contraband meat.
The inspection also uncovered 60 Tramadol tablets in the center console of the vehicle.
The driver, who was not identified, was issued a $1,000 promissory note for the prescription medication violation since Tramadol is a schedule IV-controlled substance.
If the man is found guilty, he could face a fine of up to $10,000.
"Pork products have the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases to the U.S. which can have a devastating impact to the U.S. economy and to our agriculture industry," CBP El Paso Director Field Operations Hector A. Mancha said. "It is always best for travelers to declare any items acquired abroad to help CBP stop the introduction of potentially harmful products."
The case was referred to the USDA Investigative and Enforcement Services, which enforces alleged violations connected to plant and animal issues.
The USDA and Department of Homeland Security work together to protect American agriculture when it comes to the introduction of pests and diseases at U.S. ports of entry.
If any undeclared prohibited agricultural items are discovered in an inspection, they could be confiscated and may result in civil penalties for failing to declare the items.
The Department of Education recently announced a "comprehensive review" of federal contracts and government-funded grants at Harvard University, which is part of an investigation to eliminate antisemitism on campuses.
The efforts, on behalf of the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, are being launched in accordance with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Its primary goal is to "eliminat[e] anti-Semitic [sic] harassment on college campuses," which has proliferated amid the Israel-Hamas war and pro-Palestinian protests at universities.
In a press release on Monday, the Department of Education said that over $255.6 million in contracts between Harvard, its affiliates and the federal government will be reviewed, plus nearly $9 billion worth of grants.
"The review also includes the more than $8.7 billion in multi-year grant commitments to Harvard University and its affiliates to ensure the university is in compliance with federal regulations, including its civil rights responsibilities," the agency described.
"Any institution found to be in violation of federal compliance standards may face administrative actions, including contract termination."
In a statement, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said that Harvard's reputation was "in serious jeopardy" over the prevalence of antisemitism on campus.
"Harvard has served as a symbol of the American Dream for generations — the pinnacle aspiration for students all over the world to work hard and earn admission to the storied institution," McMahon's statement read. "Harvard’s failure to protect students on campus from anti-Semitic [sic] discrimination — all while promoting divisive ideologies over free inquiry — has put its reputation in serious jeopardy."
"Harvard can right these wrongs and restore itself to a campus dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, where all students feel safe on its campus."
The latest move comes nearly a month after the Trump administration announced it would rescind more than $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University.
"Since Oct. 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and antisemitic harassment on their campuses — only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them," McMahon said at the time. "Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding."
Fox News Digital reached out to Harvard for comment.
MSNBC host and former RNC chair Michael Steele praised Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., encouraging her to "bring that resistance" as she speaks to people across the country who are frustrated by the Trump administration.
Steele spoke on Saturday’s episode of MSNBC’s "The Weekend" to highlight how Jayapal has been drawing large crowds to town halls in her state about voters' concerns with federal funding cuts. He also noted how "the congresswoman has also kicked off a program she’s calling The Resistance Lab, a series of sessions aimed at turning the anger of those constituents into action."
"That's what I'm talking about," Steele cheered, encouraging the progressive lawmaker to "bring that resistance!"
Co-host Symone Sanders-Townsend played a clip of a constituent at one of these town halls becoming emotional talking about the impact of the Trump administration.
"We are literally starting to stock tissue boxes at our town halls because people get up, and they talk about what is happening to them and their families and their peers, but they also talk about, as this constituent did, what it means for the country," Jayapal said.
The congresswoman claimed she had recently been pulled aside by a flight attendant who asked, "’When did America become so cruel?’"
While she said America has a long history of cruelty, she argued that there was at least an idea that Americans are striving to create "a more perfect union." Now, however, she argues, America is on a different trajectory.
"I think what we’re seeing now is people worry that the rate of destruction of these agencies and the way it’s being done is devastating not only people, but our entire ability to function as a country," she said. "These are critical programs and the whole goal here is power, to be able to unilaterally slash and burn so that a very tiny group of people at the top are able to get even richer and richer and everybody else is down and literally destroyed in terms of their families."
While Steele is a frequent critic of the Republican Party, he emphasized that he is "still a Republican," before explaining how he and Jayapal have a common purpose.
"Here’s where you and I are aligned, and I think it’s important for America to know what this moment requires from each of us," he said. "This idea that we have in front of us a threat, a direct threat to our liberties, to our sense and appreciation of freedom, and more importantly the fundamental constitutional idea that every one of us, you and me, despite our policy disagreements, are still Americans. We’re still protected by this wonderful Constitution that the framers didn’t include you or me in. Right? But we now own it."
The former RNC chair argued further that supporting resistance now transcends partisan political debates about policy.
"So I appreciate the storylines that you’re leveling up about resistance to this idea that you and me are not worthy to be Americans," he said, going on to praise her for a recent quote she said about refuting to roll over. "You know, this isn’t resistance because ‘I don’t like you - I don’t like where you stand on healthcare’ or resistance, ‘because I don’t like where you stand on taxes.’ This is resistance because we don’t like what Donald Trump and Elon Musk and Pam Bondi and Pete Hegseth are doing to our country."
The president of Finland is urging President Trump to impose a deadline on Vladimir Putin of April 20 to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Speaking to Fox News in London following a weekend visit with Trump in Florida, Alexander Stubb praised Trump's negotiating efforts, saying Trump is "probably the only person in the world who can mediate the peace."
But he argued the ceasefire negotiation process should not be open ended.
"We need a ceasefire, and we need a date for the ceasefire," Stubb said. "And that date should be the 20th of April."
April 20 would mark three months since Trump's inauguration, and is also Orthodox Easter.
"If President Putin — who is the only one who is not accepting a ceasefire, because the Americans want it, the Europeans want it, the Ukrainians want it — if he doesn't oblige by the ceasefire, then we should go for a colossal set of sanctions coming from the United States and Europe," Stubb said.
Trump has spoken of a "psychological deadline" for Russia to agree to a ceasefire, but has declined to name a date.
Stubb said Putin "respects, and in many ways fears, Donald Trump."
Finland — a neighbor of Russia's, with a shared border running more than 800 miles — upended decades of neutrality two years ago when it joined NATO, alarmed by the war in Ukraine.
Stubb believes Ukraine should also be allowed to join the military alliance "in the long run" — a position that runs counter to the Trump administration's.
Following talks and a round of golf with Trump in Florida, the Finnish leader said European leaders are heeding American complaints that Europe does not spend enough money on defense, relying instead on the United States.
"Europe needs to take more responsibility for its own security, more responsibility for its own defense," Stubb said. "I think we're doing exactly that."
He described the U.S.-European relationship as "in a transition," but insisted: "We're allies.
"Just because ideologically there are differences at times between Europeans and Americans doesn't mean that we're going to sever or divorce."
President Donald Trump said he would "love" to run against former President Barack Obama in a hypothetical third-term run for the presidency that he has floated in recent days.
"I know it's hypothetical right now, but if you were allowed for some reason to run for a third term, is there a thought that the Democrats could try to run Barack Obama against you?" Fox News' Peter Doocy asked Trump on Monday evening from the Oval Office.
"I'd love that," Trump responded. "I'd love that …. That would be a good one. I'd like that. And no, people are asking me to run, and there's a whole story about running for a third term. I don't know, I never looked into it. They do say there's a way you can do it, but I don't know about that."
Trump said that he has not looked into the potential legal avenues of running for a third presidency, saying he has nearly four years left of his term and is focused on doing a "fantastic job."
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1951, prevents presidents from serving more than two terms. The amendment was ratified after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected as president for four terms.
Roosevelt died during his fourth term and Vice President Harry Truman assumed the presidency. FDR is the only president in the nation's history who has been elected and served more than two terms, which was largely due to the political and economic climate at home and abroad, with his presidency unfolding amid the Great Depression and the beginning of World War II.
Trump teased he might run for a third term in an interview with NBC News on Sunday, saying he is "not joking" about making another run for the Oval Office and enjoys working.
"There are methods which you could do it," Trump said when asked about how he could go about running for a third term. NBC News floated a possible method during the interview where Vice President JD Vance could run for the presidency, win and pass the torch to Trump. The president said such a scenario is one of the methods he could use to serve a third term.
"It is far too early to think about it," he added of another potential run.
"House being robbed at gun point with my family in it isn’t what anyone wants for a birthday gift," he wrote on X. "Scary situation that my Wife handled masterfully and kept my kids safe. If anyone has any info that can help find these people please reach out."
The King County Sheriff’s Office in Washington told Q13 FOX they were called to Sherman’s home early Sunday. Officials said the investigation was ongoing, but there were no arrests and no suspects.
Sherman added on social media that police told him the burglars ransacked five homes in his area.
The three-time All-Pro cornerback grew up in Compton, California, and went to school at Stanford. The Seattel Seahawks selected him in the fifth round of the 2011 draft, and he became a focal point in the team’s Legion of Boom defense.
He was named to the Pro Bowl four consecutive years from 2013 to 2016 before he later joined the San Francisco 49ers. He was a Pro Bowler again in 2019.
Sherman is currently an NFL analyst for Amazon Prime Video and is a part of the streaming service’s "Thursday Night Football" coverage.
The White House considers the Signal group chat leak case "closed," Trump administration press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the media Monday while reiterating President Donald Trump's support of national security advisor Mike Waltz.
"As the president has made it very clear, Mike Waltz continues to be an important part of his national security team," Leavitt told the media in brief remarks during a gaggle outside of the White House's press room Monday afternoon. "And this case has been closed here at the White House, as far as we are concerned."
"There have been steps made to ensure that something like that can obviously never happen again," she continued. "And we're moving forward. And the president and Mike Waltz and his entire national security team have been working together very well, if you look at how much safer the United States of America is because of the leadership of this team."…Read more
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"The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar has received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG), a performance enhancing substance, in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension of Profar is effective immediately," the statement read.
The Braves released their own statement addressing the suspension.
"We were surprised and extremely disappointed to learn that Jurickson Profar tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program. We fully support the Program and are hopeful that Jurickson will learn from this experience," the team said.
Profar was named an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2024 at age 31. He finished the season with career-bests in batting average at .280, home runs with 24 and RBI with 85. Profar was also hit by the most pitches in MLB last season with 18.
Profar signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Braves in January.
Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, formerly known as Virginia Roberts, announced on Instagram Sunday that she has just days to live after a high-speed crash involving a school bus in Australia led to kidney failure.
"This year has been the worst start to a new year, but I won’t bore anyone with the details but I think it [is] important to note that when a school bus driver comes at you driving 110km (about 70 mph) as we were slowing for a turn that no matter what your car is made of it might as well be a tin can," Giuffre posted along with an image of herself showing bruises on her face, head and torso from a hospital bed.
"I’ve gone into kidney renal failure, they’ve given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology."
A spokesperson for Giuffre said in a statement that she had been in a serious accident and was being treated at a hospital.
"Virginia has been in a serious accident and is receiving medical care in the hospital," said her spokesperson, Dini von Mueffling. "She greatly appreciates the support and well wishes people are sending."
Giuffre is among the most publicly visible accusers of the alleged sex trafficker Epstein, his convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and their friend the British Prince Andrew.
"I’m ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time, but you know what they say about wishes. S**T in one hand and wish in the other & I guarantee it’s still going to be s**t at the end of the day," the post continued. "Thank you all for being the wonderful people of the world and for being a great part of my life. Godbless you all xx Virginia."
She also appeared in an infamous photo as a teen alongside Andrew and Maxwell allegedly taken in the latter's London townhouse during a party in 2000.
Andrew has denied Giuffre's allegations of wrongdoing and settled a civil lawsuit she brought against him out of court in 2021.
Court documents from Giuffre's court battles have made public thousands of pages of documents that shed light on Epstein's case that would otherwise have remained out of public view, including Epstein's contact book and flight logs and sworn depositions from Epstein and Maxwell.
Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021 and is appealing.
NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, who was stranded in space for nearly a year, touched on the importance of faith during a press conference on Monday.
Wilmore spent nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with fellow astronaut Suni Williams, beginning in June 2024. The pair were stuck there for over 280 days, though they initially planned to be there for only eight days.
After landing at the ISS, the astronauts' Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountered technical issues, which led NASA to decide it was unsafe to return the astronauts to Earth. The Biden administration was blamed by critics for leaving the astronauts stranded, and Williams and Wilmore returned to Earth on the SpaceX Dragon capsule on March 18.
At the Monday press conference, Wilmore was candid about his relationship with God when a reporter asked about faith in space.
"I heard that you were still attending your church services from space. Can you tell me a bit about why that was important for you to do?" the journalist asked.
"Well, goodness, the Word of God … I need it," the astronaut began. "My pastors are the finest pastors on or off, in this case, the planet."
"And to tie in and to worship with my church family was vital," Wilmore added. "I mean, it's part of what makes me go."
Wilmore also shouted out a Tennessee church, saying he would watch their services while aboard the ISS.
"I also [tuned] into Grace Baptist Church in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. A buddy of mine is an elder there and a pastor there, and I would watch their service as well, every single week," the astronaut continued.
Wilmore described the weekly services as "invigorating" and emphasized how important Christian fellowship is to him.
"Part of what I need, as a believer in Jesus Christ, to continue that focus – a system, day in and day out, because I need that fellowship, even though it's fellowship from afar," Wilmore explained.
"And it's not like being fellowship up close, but still I need it."
Fox News Digital's Brooke Curto and Pilar Arias contributed to this report.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., is resigning from the House Freedom Caucus, she announced in a letter to fellow conservatives on Monday.
It's the latest escalation in her fight against House GOP leaders and a small group of members on the right flank of their conference over the issue of proxy voting. Luna has teamed up with Democrats and several other Republicans on a mechanism aimed at forcing consideration of legislation that allows new parents in the House to vote remotely for 12 weeks around their baby's birth.
"I have consistently supported each of you, even in moments of disagreement, honoring the mutual respect that has guided our caucus," Luna wrote. "That respect, however, was shattered last week."
The focus of her anger is a brief incident from earlier this month when a group of House conservatives held up a chamber-wide vote on unrelated legislation to press GOP leaders to kill Luna's measure – known as a "discharge petition."
A discharge petition allows lawmakers to force a bill onto the House floor, despite objections from leadership, provided the mechanism gets signatures from a majority of the chamber.
"Acting within the House conference rules – rules we all agreed to – I sought to bring a vote to the floor on a measure that would allow new mothers in Congress (fewer than 14 in our nation's history) and fathers, if they choose, to vote by proxy," Luna continued.
"This was a modest, family-centered proposal. Yet, a small group among us threatened the Speaker, vowing to halt floor proceedings indefinitely – regardless of the legislation at stake, including President Trump's agenda – unless he altered the rules to block my discharge petition."
She shared praise for House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., whose conduct she called "gentlemanly," but added, "With a heavy heart, I am resigning from the Freedom Caucus."
"I cannot remain part of a caucus where a select few operate outside its guidelines, misuse its name, broker backroom deals that undermine its core values and where the lines of compromise and transaction are blurred, disparage me to the press, and encourage misrepresentation of me to the American people," Luna wrote.
She will be the first House Freedom Caucus member to leave the group, which does not advertise its membership, in the 119th Congress.
The most recent departures before Luna include Reps. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Randy Weber, R-Texas, who were both pushed out, and Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, who left during the shakeup.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he believed proxy voting was "unconstitutional" in remarks after House Republicans' weekly closed-door meeting on Tuesday.
"We addressed this in conference this morning. A couple of our, a handful of our colleagues, have gotten behind the effort, and, look, I'm a father. I'm pro-family," the speaker said. "Here's the problem. If you create a proxy vote opportunity just for young parents, mothers and, the fathers in those situations, then where is the limiting principle?"
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, one of Luna's now-former House Freedom Caucus colleagues, wrote on X of the issue, "Respectfully to my friend – this (unconstitutional) rule would ultimately NOT be limited to moms. Cancer patients, dads, & worst of all, people who lazily abuse it (eg, voting from boats). She leaves out her discharge allows no amendments! We should show up to work/vote."
How many crunches can you do — and how does that stack up with others your age?
That was the question posed by "FOX & Friends" on Monday, when fitness expert Joseph David challenged hosts Brian Kilmeade and Lawrence Jones to compete in a crunches challenge.
In the segment, Kilmeade did crunches and Jones did sit-ups with a 25-pound weight.
"Your core is the base of everything, and the No. 1 thing you have to be able to do is pick yourself up, mentally and physically — so it starts with core," said David, who is a certified personal trainer with Life Time in New York.
"Any movement is good movement."
Below is a breakdown of how many crunches men and women should be able to complete based on age, according to David.
People in their 20s should be able to do 40 to 50 crunches.
People in their 30s should be able to do 30 to 40 crunches.
People in their 40s should be able to do 20 to 30 crunches.
People in their 50s should be able to do 15 to 25 crunches.
People 60 and over should be able to do 10 to 20 crunches.
Celebrity personal trainer Kollins Ezekh echoed those guidelines, but also noted that it’s all about what works for each individual.
"There’s no magic number you ‘should’ be able to do based on age, since fitness levels really vary," he told Fox News Digital. "If you can’t do that many yet, no worries — just focus on getting stronger over time."
Crunches are essential for building core strength, according to Ezekh, who is based in Los Angeles.
"A strong core is super important because it keeps everything stable," he said.
"Whether you're walking, working out or just sitting, your core muscles are engaged. If your core is weak, your back and other muscles have to do extra work, which can lead to pain or injury."
It’s not just athletes who need a strong core, he added — "everyday activities like bending down to tie your shoes or picking up groceries become way easier when your core is in check."
Crunches mainly target the "six-pack" muscles in the abs, but they’re also great for improving posture, balance and overall stability, according to the trainer.
Having a strong core helps with all daily movements, from sitting up straight to lifting things without throwing out your back, he said.
"They’re not just about getting abs — they help with basic movements and can help prevent back pain, too."
Those who are new to crunches should take it slow and focus on good form, according to Ezekh.
"A lot of people make the mistake of yanking their neck or using momentum to do the move. The key is to keep the movement coming from your abs," he told Fox News Digital.
The trainer suggests starting with easier versions like partial crunches (lifting the shoulders a little off the ground) or bent-knee crunches, which are easier on the back.
"Start with just a few — like five to 10 — and build up as you get stronger," he recommended.
"And don’t be afraid to mix in other core exercises, like planks or pelvic tilts, to help build strength without jumping straight into crunches. The goal is to stay consistent and gradually get better."
Photos and video showing Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa Hackman's deceased bodies along with audio discussing the topic will not be released to the public, a judge ruled Monday.
However, the judge ruled the final autopsy report, toxicology report and depictions of the deceased animal could be released to the public. Lawyers for Hackman's estate argued the dissemination of images, video or audio showing or discussing the deceased would cause an "unnecessary media frenzy" during Monday's court hearing.
"What we're really talking of, Judge, is my client's father, who lay dead for some amount of time, and all of the grotesque pictures that go along with that and the conversations of deputies discussing that," a lawyer for Hackman's family said. "There is no limit to the trauma that could cause my clients for years to come with that information, as the media publicist already testified to, would likely show up on the internet or in podcasts etc."
Hackman's estate called the actor's longtime publicist to testify to the couple's level of privacy maintained during his lifetime. Susan Madore revealed Hackman would only allow two hours of press time for each movie he made. The Oscar-winning actor would often decline image and likeness requests for "commercial usages" and "news programming."
"I think that for anything like that to be out in the public, any entity can use that however they want in perpetuity," Madore said during the hearing. "He would have never agreed in his life for that to happen. So, why would you think he would agree to it in his death?"
However, lawyers for the county unsuccessfully argued that the right to privacy does not continue once someone dies. "It does not carry on."
"It seems to be clear from the law that, in fact, the right of privacy, does not simply succeed in death, and therefore the estate does not have the right to bring a claim for loss of privacy after the death has occurred," Greg Williams said in closing arguments.
The court granted a temporary block of the release on March 17, pending the March 31 hearing on the matter. Hackman's estate specifically wanted any records regarding showing the couple’s bodies or the interior of their home, along with autopsy reports or death investigation reports, to be blocked.
New Mexico’s open records law blocks public access to sensitive images, including depictions of dead bodies. Experts also say some medical information is not considered public record under the state Inspection of Public Records Act.
Hackman's estate representative, Julia Peters, emphasized the possibly shocking nature of photographs and video in the investigation and the potential for their dissemination by the media in a bid to block them from being released.
While Hackman's estate moved to have an array of records blocked, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department did release bodycam footage connected to the case. The footage included an interview with Betsy's hairstylist in which he claimed she was fearful of being followed in the weeks leading up to her death.
"She mentioned to me that there was a man that had parked outside of their gate and followed them," her hairstylist, a man named Christopher, told law enforcement. "On two separate occasions. One occasion is when they went to White Rock. They went and had lunch there and the guy followed them from parked [outside of their gated community], followed them all the way to White Rock."
WATCH: BODYCAM FOOTAGE REVEALS GENE HACKMAN'S WIFE FEARED BEING FOLLOWED
The man approached Hackman and his wife with a folder full of photos of the actor.
On a separate occasion, the same man followed them to a different location. He had offered the Hackmans a bottle of wine, Betsy told Christopher. They declined to accept the gift.
WATCH: LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONDS TO GENE HACKMAN'S HOME
Authorities responded to a 911 call on Feb. 26 and discovered Hackman and Betsy deceased inside their Santa Fe home.
Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya initially told Fox News Digital that authorities believed Hackman and Betsy died in a similar timeframe. The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department later confirmed during a press conference that Betsy likely died on or around Feb. 11. After reviewing additional phone records, authorities noted that Betsy had used the device to make calls on Feb. 12. Hackman most likely died about one week later.
Betsy died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, New Mexico officials told reporters. Meanwhile, Hackman died from hypertensive atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributing factor. It's plausible that the actor was home alone with Betsy's deceased body before he passed.
Feb. 18 was the last day activity was recorded on Hackman's pacemaker. The device noted "abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation." Hackman's autopsy showed "severe heart disease, including multiple surgical procedures involving the heart, evidence of prior heart attacks, and severe changes of the kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure."
"Examination of the brain showed advanced Alzheimer's disease as well as blood vessel changes in the brain secondary to chronic high blood pressure," according to Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell.
Fox News Digital's Christina Dugan Ramirez and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Supreme Court appeared likely to side with a Wisconsin-based Catholic Charities group in its fight with the government over a state ruling it says "distorts" and "undermines" its mission of caring for the sick and poor.
The Trump Justice Department has filed a brief in support of the charity, arguing exemptions in federal tax laws, like the Wisconsin tax law, protect the rights of religious institutions.
The group, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin, is appealing a ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court that found that because it does not conduct "typical" religious activity, it is not exempt from the state's costly unemployment payment program.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that a Wisconsin law exempting religious nonprofits from the program does not apply to the charity group, because it is not "operated primarily for religious purposes" and serves and employs non-Catholics and does not attempt to convert individuals, they said.
Catholic Charities, however, argues that helping the disabled, elderly and those living in poverty — regardless of their faith — is a core tenet of their religious practice.
The group’s attorney, Eric Rassbach, with the religious liberty law firm Becket, argued during the hearing that Catholic teaching forbids Catholics from conditioning assistance on acceptance of the church’s teachings.
"The Wisconsin Supreme Court got it wrong when it interpreted a state-law religious exemption to favor what it called 'typical' religious activity and when it held that helping the poor can't be religious, because secular people help the poor too," he said.
The group is seeking to be exempt from the state's unemployment compensation program so it can join the Wisconsin Catholic Church’s private program, which they say would save them more money than paying into the state program.
In nearly two hours of often heated debate, a majority on the bench seemed to agree the state engaged in an unnecessary entanglement over defining whether Catholic Charities should be treated differently from other similarly situated secular groups.
Attorneys for Wisconsin faced intense questioning from the justices about the state entangling itself in religious doctrine and practice, thus violating the First Amendment by denying a religious organization an otherwise available tax exemption because the organization does not meet the state’s criteria for religious behavior.
"Isn’t it a fundamental premise of our First Amendment that the state shouldn’t be picking and choosing between religions," questioned Justice Neil Gorsuch.
"Doesn’t it entangle the state tremendously when it has to go into a soup kitchen, send an inspector in, to see how much prayer is going on?" he asked.
Even some of the court’s liberal justices seemed to have concerns with Wisconsin’s ruling.
"There are lots of hard questions in this area," said Justice Elena Kagan. "But I thought it was pretty fundamental that we don’t treat some religions better than other religions and we certainly don’t do it based on the contents of the religious doctrine that those religions preach."
"The reason why we're so worried about entanglement is because it gets us enmeshed in the content of religious doctrine," she said.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett commented during the hearing that "the problem here is how to figure out what the line is."
Alan Rock, executive director of the Catholic Charities Bureau, told Fox News Digital that following the hearing, he is "confident the Supreme Court will ensure our freedom to serve all those in need according to our Catholic faith."
"The state of Wisconsin said that our work isn’t religious. The state denied that our care for those in need is driven by our faith, simply because we serve everyone and do not try to convert those we serve. That view distorts the heart of our mission and undermines our ability to care for the most vulnerable," he said, adding, "We look forward to the Court’s ruling."
Speaking with Fox News Digital after the hearing, Bishop James Powers, head of the Catholic Diocese of Superior, said that Wisconsin is "punishing Catholic Charities for following this example of Christian love."
"We do not help the needy because they are Catholic — we help them because we are Catholic," he said. "The Good Samaritan did not ask about the wounded man’s faith: He simply saw a neighbor in need and responded with mercy. That is the model Catholic Charities has embraced since its founding."
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd declared Democrats are "in a coma" while giving a blunt diagnosis of the party she argued had become off-putting to voters.
Dowd invoked her family's working-class background in an exchange she had with "Club Random" host Bill Maher over how "woke" liberals have become in recent years.
"My dad was so excited the night Harry Truman was elected, he stayed up all night. My brother was so excited the night Trump was first elected, he stayed up all night. And Democrats weren't paying attention to what happened here with the working class," Dowd said on the podcast released Sunday.
"Also, they just stopped being any fun," she continued. "I mean, they made everyone feel that everything they said and did, and every word was wrong, and people don't want to live like that, feeling that everything they do is wrong."
"No," Maher said in agreement. "Do you think we're over that era?"
"No," Dowd responded. "I think Democrats are just in a coma. They haven't figured [it] out."
"I think that Democrats just [became] a suffocating persona where you just couldn't do anything or say anything that wasn't to be criticized," she later added.
This isn't the first time Dowd has had choice words for Democrats. The veteran Times columnist got ahead of most of her colleagues in the liberal media in calling out then-President Biden's frailty in February 2024 following Biden's press conference after the release of the Hur report, urging the president to "ditch the stealth about health."
"Jill Biden and his other advisers come up with ways to obscure signs of senescence — from shorter news conferences to almost zero print interviews to TV interviews mainly with fawning MSNBC anchors," Dowd wrote at the time. "Biden is running against a bad man, but that’s not enough. He has to acknowledge to himself that his moments of faltering — which will increase over the next five years — are a big weakness. He and his aides have to figure out how to handle that. Donald Trump, 77, makes his own verbal slips and shows signs of aging, but he conveys more energy."
"Biden is not just in a bubble — he’s in bubble wrap. Cosseting and closeting Uncle Joe all the way to the end — eschewing town halls and the Super Bowl interview — are just not going to work. Going on defense, when Trump is on offense, is not going to work. Counting on Trump’s vileness to secure the win, as Hillary did, is not going to work," she later warned.
A Palestinian man protesting Hamas, the terror group that rules the Gaza Strip, was fatally tortured, with his body left on his family's doorstep as a warning to others who are thinking of publicly opposing the organization.
Uday Al Rabay, 22, was beaten and died after participating in an anti-Hamas protest in the Palestinian territories last week, said a senior officer affiliated with the opposition Fatah party, The New York Post reported.
"Uday was martyred by the criminals of Hamas. And what’s his crime? He told the truth, because he refused to be silent on injustice, because he did not kneel to Hamas," said Mazen Shat, a police officer linked to Fatah, to the Telegraph.
Rabay was targeted allegedly after pictures purportedly of him were shared on the Telegram messaging app. He was allegedly kidnapped after the protest last week.
"Hamas is oppressing people in a brutal way," Shat said. "Like a puppy [with] a rope around his neck, they dragged [Uday’s body] to the door of his house and told his family that this is the punishment for those who complain about Hamas."
Protests against Hamas happened in Gaza after Israel resumed its bombing of the territory following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire between Hamas and the Jewish state.
Israel has bombarded Gaza since, prompted backlash against Hamas.
"People have been under Israeli bombing since October 2023, they don’t want the war to continue by all means," said Sam Habeeb, a London-based Gazan, to the Telegraph.
Protesters have called for Hamas to be removed from power.
"The people do not want the rule of Hamas. The rule of Hamas is over," a protester said, according to the Akron Jewish News. "This Hamas rule has destroyed us, killed us and displaced all the people."
"Star Wars" star John Boyega called out fans he says were upset at his casting in the blockbuster franchise, claiming in a new documentary about Black actors that some audiences aren't accepting of them in leading roles.
"Let me tell you, Star Wars always had the vibe of being in the most Whitest, elite space," Boyega says in the Apple TV+ documentary, "Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood," according to Entertainment Weekly.
Boyega, who played Finn for three films in the series, said that fans weren't used to a Black main character because Star Wars has always been "so White."
"It's a franchise that's so White that a Black person existing in [it] was something," he said.
The actor pointed to how the popular franchise had a handful of Black actors in prominent roles up to his casting, yet some fans would use these examples to dismiss his argument about a lack of diversity in the franchise.
"You can always tell it's something when some Star Wars fans try to say, 'Well, we had Lando Calrissian and had Samuel L. Jackson!'" he continued. "It's like telling me how many cookie chips are in the cookie dough. It's like, 'They just scattered that in there, bro!"
Boyega further said some fans would only accept Black actors playing the buddy role in films.
"They're OK with us playing the best friend, but once we touch their heroes, once we lead, once we trailblaze, it's like, 'Oh my God, it's just a bit too much! They're pandering!'" Boyega said about online critics.
Boyega previously opened up about the online backlash he received after his casting as the series' first Black Stormtrooper, telling British GQ Magazine in 2020 that he was the "only cast member who had their own unique experience of that franchise based on their race."
In the same interview, he expressed frustration at Disney for diminishing his character's role in the last film of the trilogy, 2019's "The Rise of Skywalker."
He said, "What I would say to Disney is do not bring out a Black character, market them to be much more important in the franchise than they are and then have them pushed to the side."
The new Star Wars trilogy, beginning with "The Force Awakens" in 2015 and followed by 2017's "The Last Jedi" and "The Rise of Skywalker," grossed billions of dollars but divided the series' rabid fan base.
New York Yankees World Series champion Brett Gardner and his wife Jessica released an obituary for their late son Miller on Saturday after he died at age 14 during a vacation in Costa Rica.
The family shared details of the upcoming funeral and reflected on his life in the obituary, which was published in the Charleston Post and Courier.
"The void Miller's passing leaves in the hearts of his family, friends, teammates, teachers, coaches and others will be felt for years. The Gardner family will forever cherish the places they visited, the people they met, the friends they made, and the memories they created together," the obituary read.
"Miller's time here with them was brief but his spirit will carry on forever through those who were impacted by the way he lived."
The obituary also highlighted Miller's reputation as a star athlete and honor student at Pinewood Preparatory School in Summerville, South Carolina. He was an active honor roll student who excelled in football and baseball, all while wearing jersey No. 11, which his father wore with the Yankees.
Brett Gardner played for the Yankees from 2008-2021, and was part of organization's last World Series championship in 2009. Gardner is one of the few former Yankees to have been teammates with Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, and then Aaron Judge many years later.
The Yankees themselves paid tribute to the late teenager son of former outfielder before their 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on opening day. The team observed a moment of silence before the first pitch and displayed a photo of Miller on the team’s video board.
"Our hearts are heavy, and the Yankees family is filled with grief after learning of the passing of Miller Gardner," the team said in a statement Sunday. "Words feel insignificant and insufficient in trying to describe such an unimaginable loss. It wasn’t just Brett who literally grew up in this organization for more than 17 years — so did his wife, Jessica, and their two boys, Hunter and Miller.
"We grieve with Brett, Jessica, Hunter and their community of family and friends in mourning the loss of Miller, who had a spark in his eyes, an outgoing and feisty personality, and a warm and loving nature. Our love for the Gardner family is unconditional and absolute, and we will offer our enduring support while understanding their desire for privacy at this time.
"May Miller rest in peace."
Marisel Rodriguez Solis, the head of press for Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ), told Fox News the investigation has shifted to possible food poisoning as the most likely cause, but asphyxiation has not been ruled out.
The results from the forensic and pathology tests could take between one to four months.
The Gardner family stayed at the Arenas Del Mar hotel in Manuel Antonio and ate at an Italian restaurant at a nearby hotel on March 20. All four family members began to feel sick by 11 p.m. where they were staying.
The Arenas Del Mar hotel called a doctor to give them medicine to help with the stomach issues. The next morning, Miller Gardner was found dead with traces of vomit.
Costa Rican authorities were still investigating the cause of death.
Fox News Digital's Ryan Gaydos and Bryan Llenas contributed to this report.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is suing to defund an entire county after its leading law enforcement authority vowed to "make every effort to block, interfere and interrupt" deportation operations based on ICE detainers, which he called unconstitutional.
This comes amid the Trump administration's concerted whole-of-government approach to cracking down on illegal immigration and migrant crime in the United States.
Bird, a Republican, argues that the sheriff’s self-proclaimed "longtime" stance of interrupting immigration enforcement operations based on detainers "impeded and discouraged cooperation with federal immigration authorities in violation of Iowa law."
A detainer is a formal request by ICE to other law enforcement authorities to hold an individual the agency has good reason to believe is an illegal alien who poses a threat to the well-being and safety of the community.
ICE officials have said that by refusing to honor detainers, law enforcement agencies put their communities at risk by allowing potentially dangerous illegals back onto the streets.
Despite this, Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx pledged not to cooperate with ICE detainers in a Feb. 4 Facebook post in which he asserted that a detainer is "simply an unconstitutional *request* from ICE."
In the now-deleted post, Marx encouraged people to contact his office if they encounter "any federal agents" and said he and his staff are "always willing to assist with verifying credentials and the legitimacy of any paperwork federal agents should have to make certain your rights are not being abused."
"If the fed’s actions and paperwork are within constitutional parameters (such as proper and valid judicial warrants/court orders) we will assist if needed or requested to ensure their actions are carried out professionally and in the least intrusive fashion possible," he said.
"If their actions or paperwork are not within constitutional parameters," he went on, "then we will make every effort to block, interfere and interrupt their actions from moving forward."
Actions the sheriff claimed are not within constitutional parameters include what he called "non-judicially vetted ‘detainers,’" which he claimed "are simply an unconstitutional *request* from ICE or other three letter federal agency to arrest or hold someone."
Marx claimed that "the only reason detainers are issued is because the federal agency does not have enough information or has not taken the time to obtain a valid judicial warrant."
"Simply put, they are not sure they are detaining the right person and need more time to figure it out," he claimed, adding, "these detainers are violations of our 4th Amendment protection against warrantless search, seizure and arrest, and our 6th Amendment right to due process."
Marx concluded the long post by saying his "long-time stance on not recognizing detainers" and involvement with immigration enforcement will be based on "constitutional standards … not opinions, politics or emotions."
In response, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, filed an official complaint with the attorney general about the sheriff violating a state law mandating law enforcement cooperate with federal immigration authorities. This prompted an investigation in which Bird found that, despite his defiant rhetoric, Marx’s office had complied with "every single ICE detainer request" since 2018.
The attorney general gave Marx a deadline last week to amend his statements to comply with state law. When he refused to issue a correction, Bird launched a lawsuit to pull all state funding to Winneshiek County until the sheriff agrees to comply with state law regarding cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
Bird argues that Marx’s post, which she said was "rife with legal and factual errors that discouraged enforcing immigration laws," violated chapter 27A of the Iowa state legal code.
The lawsuit, which was filed in the Polk County District Court, cites section 27A.4 of the Iowa legal code, which states that a county "shall be ineligible to receive any state funds if the local entity intentionally violates this chapter."
Commenting on her suit, Bird said that "sanctuary counties are illegal under Iowa law."
"Sheriff Marx was given the chance to retract his statement, follow the law, and honor ICE detainers, but he refused—even at a cost to his home county," she said. "He left us with no choice but to take the case to court to enforce our laws and ensure cooperation with federal immigration authorities."
A representative for the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office declined Fox News Digital's request for comment, saying the sheriff and office "are unable to provide any comments at this time due to the pending litigation."
The Winnishiek County Auditor, Benjamin D. Steines would not disclose how much money the county stands to lose, citing the same litigation.
"Iowa is not a sanctuary for illegal immigration. Anyone who threatens to ‘block, interfere and interrupt’ with immigration enforcement, as this sheriff did, will be held accountable," Bird told Fox News Digital.
She noted that her office "gave the Sheriff an opportunity to fix his state-law violation and cooperate with immigration enforcement, but he refused—knowing that it would cost his home community. All he has to do to end this is fix the problem and follow the law."
"Years of a Biden-Harris border invasion takes a serious toll—even on Iowa, and we’re a long way away from the border," she went on. "Thankfully, President Trump hit the ground running to secure the border, crack down on drug trafficking, and reduce crime. And as Iowa’s Attorney General, I will keep fighting to ensure our state cooperates with federal immigration authorities to keep our communities safe."
The commanding officer of the troubled Boeing Starliner spacecraft that encountered technical issues while shuttling two astronauts to space last June, took responsibility for the issues, while also pointing the blame at everyone else on the mission.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams answered questions from reporters in Texas on Monday about various aspects of their extended mission.
Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth after being stuck in space since June, due to engineers discovering helium leaks and issues involving thrusters shortly after Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner docked with the International Space Station.
Wilmore was asked who is responsible for everything that happened on the test flight, which ultimately left them in space for nine months.
"There were some issues, of course…that prevented us from returning on Starliner, and I’ll start with me," Wilmore said. "There were questions that I, as a commander of the spacecraft, that I should have asked, and I did not at the time. I didn't know I needed to, and maybe you could call that hindsight, but I'll start and point the finger, and I'll blame me."
The term "blame" is not one that Wilmore likes to use, though he said the responsibility falls on everyone throughout all the programs, including Boeing and NASA.
"We all are responsible. We all own this," Wilmore said. "You cannot do this business without trust. You have to have ultimate trust, and for someone to step forward in all these different organizations and say, ‘Hey. I’m culpable for part of that issue.’ That goes a long way to maintaining trust.
"So, we’re not going to look back and say this happened or that happened and that person’s, or that issue, or that entity’s to blame. We’re going to look forward and say, ‘What are we going to use our lessons learned from this whole process and make sure we are successful in the future," Wilmore added.
When asked if either astronaut would return to space in a Starliner, both Williams and Wilmore responded that they would.
Wilmore said he would return in a Starliner because the team is going to rectify all the issues the spacecraft encountered, noting that Boeing and NASA are completely committed to fixing the problems.
Williams agreed with Wilmore, saying the Starliner spacecraft is really capable.
"There were a couple of things that need to be fixed, like Butch mentioned, and folks are actively working on that," she said. "But it’s…a great spacecraft, and it has a lot of capabilities that other spacecraft don’t have, and to see that thing successful and to be part of that program is an honor."
Wilmore and Williams splashed down in the Gulf of America on March 18, after Elon Musk’s SpaceX Dragon spacecraft arrived at the ISS just days before.
Bill Maher and liberal New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd mocked the new "Snow White" movie in a new interview, suggesting that the Disney film is actually "unprogressive."
During Sunday's installment of the "Club Random" podcast, Dowd opined that Democrats are "in a coma" after years of messaging that made people feel like "everything they said and did" was wrong.
"Right. But the woke are not giving up on that. I mean, the 'Seven Dwarfs' movie just came out," Maher said, referring to the latest Disney live-action remake.
"Oh, right. There were no dwarfs, right?" Dowd replied.
More than three years prior to the film's release, actor Peter Dinklage, who has dwarfism, prompted Walt Disney Studios to commit to reworking its depiction of the classic "seven dwarfs" characters.
Following Dinklage's complaint, Disney announced that it would take a "different approach" in depicting the seven dwarfs. A statement put out by the studio in January 2022 said, "To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community."
Disney would ultimately use CGI dwarfs to portray Snow White's seven friends in the final product.
Referencing the controversy, Maher said Disney's indecisive approach to the dwarf characters exemplified his "big problem" with progressives.
"They're so stupid, so often, about things that they find their way back to something that's very unprogressive. Like, you think getting jobs for people — very progressive. Not if you're a dwarf," he chuckled.
Maher then mocked Disney for skipping over dwarf actors due to concerns it would be "politically incorrect," exclaiming that the "f---ing crazy characters" were created for children.
"And then Snow White loves Palestine? Like, I wasn't gonna see this movie anyway, but, you know, that — people who get their news from TikTok, just please shut the f--k up," he continued, referencing lead actress Rachel Zegler's anti-Israel stances.
"It was — I think that Democrats just got to have a suffocating persona where you just couldn't do anything or say anything that wasn't to be criticized," Dowd chimed in.
Variety reported "Snow White" producer Marc Platt personally got involved with the backlash surrounding Zegler after she shared an anti-Israel post while promoting the film in August.
"Snow White" opened in the U.S. and Canada on March 21 to $43 million in ticket sales, still coming in first place at the domestic box office, according to studio estimates. The opening weekend was a disappointment as it was projected as recently as last month to make upwards of $85 million domestically in its opening weekend, but projections slid downward.
The film has made an additional $24 million domestically since its release but could be on track to be a box office bomb, given its reported $250 million budget.
The Spartanburg Sheriff's Office responded to the home on Marilyn Perry Lane after receiving a call from a neighbor.
"Upon arrival, there was an initial language barrier, but once that was addressed, deputies entered the residence and discovered three deceased individuals inside the home," the sheriff's office said in a press release. "At this initial stage, this agency doesn't feel like there is any threat to the public."
The local coroner's office confirmed the identities of the three deceased individuals to FOX Carolina as 9-year-old Samantha Samarel, 45-year-old Lina Maria Samarel and 54-year-old Richard Samarel.
The sheriff's office said other children who lived in the home were at school when the three family members died, adding that the "agency would sincerely appreciate some compassion in media coverage and social media comments."
"Rather than [piecemeal] answers to follow-up questions from individual media outlets, more detail will be provided in a subsequent release," the sheriff's office said.
Richard Samarel's Facebook page states that the family is originally from New Jersey, and he previously worked as a manager for Bloomberg LP. Lina Samarel is originally from Colombia and worked as a therapist.
Lina Samarel's professional biography states that she is "a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and a family nurse practitioner" who is "experienced in a variety of healthcare settings, including outpatient psychiatry for adults and adolescents with mental illness and health and wellness services." Her Facebook profile said she previously worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"During her free time, Lina enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. Lina also enjoys reading and learning about new and relevant issues in Psychiatry and mental health," her profile on GrowTherapy.com states.
The coroner's office and sheriff's office are investigating the case.
When it comes to her marriage to Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber has no time for online rumors.
Shortly after reports circulated online that Hailey had unfollowed her husband on Instagram after the "What Do You Mean" singer went live on the social media app late Saturday night, the model and business owner was quick to clear the air.
"It's a glitch. "Didn’t unfollow him. Hope this helps!" she commented on a TikTok video detailing the situation.
Justin allegedly deactivated his Instagram account after posting a series of photos and going live on Saturday, but reactivated it not long after. According to multiple outlets, Justin was not listed under Hailey's "Following" list Monday morning. However, the two seem to still be following each other.
A representative for Justin did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Justin has recently sparked concern among fans with his various posts about his mental and emotional health.
"I was always told when I was a kid not to hate," Justin wrote on his Instagram story earlier this month. "But it made me feel like I wasn’t allowed to have it and so I didn’t tell anyone I’ve had it."
"Which made me feel like I have been drowning feeling unsafe to acknowledge it," he continued. "I think we can only let hate go. By first acknowledging it's there.
"How couldn't we feel hate from all of the hurt we have experienced?" he concluded.
"I got anger issues too, but I wanna grow and not react so much," he wrote on Instagram, alongside a carousel of photos.
In a follow-up post, the 31-year-old pop star openly discussed other insecurities he often feels.
"I think I hate myself sometimes when I feel myself start to become inauthentic," he wrote, alongside a clip of what seems to be a studio session. "Then I remember we’re all being made to think we’re not enough but I still hate when I change myself to please people."
In February, Justin's behavior at Hailey's Rhode event in Los Angeles left fans baffled. In a video that went viral on TikTok last month, Justin was seen with a huge grin on his face and rocking side-to-side while talking to attendees.
"Are you sure that's Justin Bieber?" one user asked.
"Is he okay?!" a user asked. Another chimed in, "This is so hard to watch. Someone help him."
After the speculation, Justin's team told TMZ that concerns about his mental and physical health are "exhausting and pitiful and shows that despite the obvious truth, people are committed to keeping negative, salacious, harmful narratives alive."
WATCH: STEPHEN BALDWIN CELEBRATES HAILEY BIEBER’S SON WITH JUSTIN BIEBER: ‘THESE ARE GOOD TIMES FOR ME’
His team added that he is focused on being a father to his son Jack and producing new music. Hailey and Justin welcomed their first child in August.
While fans continue to speculate, many have been flocking to the pop singer's social media with words of encouragement.
"Justin, you are incredibly talented, kind and resilient," one commented on his Instagram post on Monday. "No negativity can take away the impact you’ve made. Keep shining and staying true to yourself. You are not alone! We love you."
Another fan wrote, "You are so special to all of us, Justin! Thank you for sharing so many moments with us. It's beautiful to see you happy with your wife and your little baby! We wish you all the love in the world."
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was forced to return to Hawaii and not land in Houston, Texas, as planned due to a "mechanical issue" on his plane, the actor recently revealed.
On Friday, Johnson uploaded a video to X, formerly known as Twitter, to inform his fans that he would not be making it to the grand opening of the United Football League's second season due to issues on board. The actor is among the owners of the UFL.
"I’m here back home in Hawaii, and I was scheduled right now to be in Houston, Texas. Right now, I was going to be on the field in Houston, Texas hyping up the crowd getting them ready with mana and electricity as we kicked off our UFL, our United Football League season number two, live on Fox," Johnson kicked off the video.
"I was ready to go. Man, I was super pumped to get down there to Texas, to rock and roll with all the players and fans and coaches. I’m just so super-bummed that I can’t be there, and I’m so sorry.
"Last night, we had some issues with the plane about 35-to-40 minutes into the flight. The pilot comes back to me, he gets down on one knee, and he is face-to-face with me. It’s just me on the plane. Just me and the crew. And he says, ‘Mr. Johnson, I’m sorry to inform you, but we cannot continue to fly over the ocean,'" he continued.
"'We have a problem. We have to turn the plane around, and we have to land back in Hawaii. You have my word I will land you back safely on the island.'"
Johnson praised Capt. David for his "demeanor" in that scary moment.
"He explained to me what happened, and he said it was a hydraulics issue with overheating. He said there are some issue we can work out as we are in the air, and then there’s some that we are not going to take a chance, especially over the ocean, and especially when the computer of the plane is saying don’t fly anymore over the ocean, you gotta get back to land," he continued.
Johnson related to his fans about the moment on a plane when you feel turbulence and begin thinking, "Is this it? Is this how I check out?"
"But when the pilot comes out and he has a conversation with you, and he gets down on one knee, and then he goes back to the cockpit, the flight attendant, she was amazing, she goes, ‘Mr. Johnson can I get you anything?’"
He said he told the flight attendant to bring him a drink and "make it a double."
"When you are back there alone with just your drink, and you are thinking about this, and you’ve got everything crossed hoping you make it back safely, you start to realize really quickly the s--- that is really important in life.
"Then you realize the s--- that doesn’t matter that you are thinking about and worrying about. I had one of those moments last night. Bottom line is: I’m grateful to be back on the ground. I’m grateful to be back home in Hawaii. Super-bummed I can’t be there in Texas," Johnson continued.
While he appreciated the crew for getting "us back to land safely," he also thanked God.
"I appreciate God, the universe… I took this as a sign from God and the universe. I wish, though, I was there in Houston, Texas," he concluded.
