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Feds charge illegal immigrant in Loyola student killing as attorney says prosecutors lack 'faith' in state
Federal prosecutors piled new charges Thursday on an illegal immigrant accused of killing a Loyola University Chicago student because the feds "have no faith" in the state's justice system, according to a local criminal defense attorney.
"Blue cities historically are lighter in their prosecutions. We have already heard that this person was of diminished capacity, so we are probably going to see some defense in regard to that," Donna Rotunno told Fox News Digital. "My guess is the feds wanted to jump in so they can have some control over the fate of the defendant."
Jose Medina-Medina, 25, was arrested after he allegedly killed 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student Sheridan Gorman on March 19 in the early morning hours. The Department of Homeland Security said that Medina-Medina is an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who first entered the U.S. in 2023, when he was apprehended but released into the country under the Biden administration.
Federal prosecutors on Thursday charged Medina-Medina with illegally possessing a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The firearm Medina-Medina allegedly used to kill Gorman was illegally purchased around February 6, 2008, from a Federal Firearms Licensee in Montgomery, Alabama, according to a charging document.
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"Given the senseless, cold-blooded nature of the murder of a young student with a bright future ahead of her, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will take no chances that this illegal alien perpetrator will be released back into our community," said U.S. Attorney Boutros.
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In addition to the federal charges, Medina-Medina also faces state-level charges of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and illegal possession of a weapon.
During a detention hearing for Medina-Medina, prosecutors revealed that Gorman was with her friends at a Rogers Park pier when she looked around a lighthouse and saw Medina-Medina there. Gorman then walked back towards her friends and mouthed "there's a man behind the lighthouse," at which point Medina-Medina began chasing them.
Prosecutors said Gorman was shot in the upper back while the group of friends ran away from Medina-Medina. Her friends kept running until they found a place to hide, then went back to check on Gorman, who was unresponsive.
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While Medina-Medina was in Colombia, he was shot in the head, which resulted in the loss of a portion of his brain and skull, leaving him to relearn basic functions, his attorney said. Medina-Medina's attorney said that he has the brain development of a child and cannot read or write.
Medina-Medina's attorney also said that he suffers from epilepsy and still has bullet fragments lodged in his brain. The murder suspect turned himself in at the Texas border in 2023, where he was held in detention before being released. His attorney said that Medina-Medina requested to be sent back to Colombia, where his mother had moved to, but was transported by bus to Chicago.
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During Medina-Medina's time in a shelter, he contracted tuberculosis, according to his attorney. He was treated for tuberculosis after being arrested on murder charges, which led to a delay in his detention hearing.
Members of the Gorman family along with friends of the slain college student were at the court hearing via Zoom, where a judge held Medina-Medina to be detained pending trial.
"We sat in a courtroom and listened as the person accused of taking Sheridan’s life was described through the lens of his background, his circumstances, and his struggles," Gorman's family said. "We heard a call for compassion. And we understand that instinct. Every life has a story. But we cannot lose sight of the simple, devastating truth at the center of all of this: Sheridan had a life too."
Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital show that Medina-Medina told officials he was living at Leone Beach Park fieldhouse in Rogers Park in 2023, which was being used as a city-sponsored shelter for migrants. Medina-Medina was arrested in 2023 and charged with shoplifting after he allegedly stole just over $130 in merchandise from a Macy's in downtown Chicago. He failed to appear for court hearings related to that case, and an arrest warrant remained active until the alleged murder.
Fox News' Philip Bodinet and Patrick McGovern contributed to this report.
Vanessa Trump breaks silence on social media with supportive message after Tiger Woods' DUI arrest
Vanessa Trump, the former daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump, broke her silence on social media following Tiger Woods' stunning DUI arrest in Florida last week.
The golf legend’s arrest came just days after the couple were spotted together at the Golf League championship in Florida in which Woods competed in. Vanessa Trump’s daughter, Kai Trump, was also spotted in the stands.
But Vanessa Trump’s support for Woods looked different this week after the 15-time major winner was arrested on multiple charges, including DUI following a rollover crash on Jupiter Island, Florida.
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"Love you," Vanessa Trump wrote over a picture of herself hugging Woods as the two appeared to relax on a hammock. The photo, posted to her Instagram Stories early Friday morning, was the same photo Woods shared on X when he first announced his relationship with her in March 2025.
"Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together," he wrote in an X post at the time. "At this time we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts."
Trump recently spoke to the New York Post about Woods’ arrest.
"I think he’s doing great, he’s doing good," the president told the outlet, adding later, "He tested negative for alcohol, as you know, and he is under a tremendous physical pressure from his various ailments, you know, the back and the leg."
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According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital on Tuesday, deputies with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office reported observing several signs of impairment at the scene, noting that Woods was "sweating profusely" and that his movements appeared "lethargic and slow."
Woods was placed under arrest after performing a series of field sobriety tests, and during a search, law enforcement found "two white pills inside Woods’ left side pant pocket." According to the arrest affidavit, the pills were later identified as hydrocodone, a prescription opioid for pain relief.
Woods previously told law enforcement prior to the field sobriety tests that he underwent seven back surgeries and "over 20 operations on his leg." He told law enforcement that "I take a few" prescription medications.
At the jail, Woods submitted to a breathalyzer, where he provided 0.00 results on both samples. He declined to submit to a urine test, resulting in another charge.
Woods entered a not guilty plea earlier this week and announced that he would be stepping away from golf to "seek treatment and focus on my health."
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NYC schools track bathroom time with digital hall passes
Leaving class for a quick bathroom break now comes with a timer for many students in New York City.
A digital hall pass system called SmartPass is rolling out across public schools. It replaces the old paper pass with a digital one. Students sign out on a classroom iPad. Then the system tracks how long they are gone.
On paper, it sounds efficient. In practice, it is stirring strong reactions.
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SmartPass logs when a student leaves class and tracks how long they are out and where they go. Teachers can view that information in real time, which gives them a live snapshot of student movement during the school day. SmartPass says the system is designed to improve safety, reduce disruptions and give staff better visibility into student movement.
The system keeps a running total of time spent outside the classroom. It can also limit how many students are allowed in the hallway at once. In some cases, it can flag or block overlapping passes between students. Schools can also restrict when passes are allowed, depending on the schedule or specific rules set by staff.
Supporters say this helps reduce disruptions and keeps students accountable. They also argue it improves safety during emergencies because staff can quickly see who is out of class. However, that is only one side of the story.
Many students are not buying the "efficiency" argument. Some say the system makes them feel rushed during basic needs. Others worry about being constantly monitored.
One student described it as uncomfortable, like someone is always watching. Another said it turns something simple into a stressful countdown.
There are also reports of strict time limits. In some cases, students say teachers set very short timers for bathroom use. That can create awkward situations fast.
And then there are loopholes. Students have figured out ways to sign out under someone else's name. That can block another student from leaving class at all.
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Privacy advocates are raising bigger concerns. Critics say tools like SmartPass go too far.
"Hyper invasive, error-prone AI surveillance technologies have no place in school bathrooms," said Charlotte Pope, Equal Justice Works Fellow at the NYCLU. "Third-party surveillance products, like the electronic hall passes, put students' sensitive, personal data at the whims of for-profit corporations, unnecessarily put even more punitive discipline into students' lives, and add more fuel to the school-to-prison pipeline. For generations, students went to the bathroom without big brother watching just fine - the difference is that now, companies are making money off it."
The fear is not only about today. It is about what happens to that data later. School officials say the system meets strict privacy rules. They also say schools are not required to use it. Still, critics argue that once data is collected, the risk never fully disappears.
There is also a financial angle. New York City reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on SmartPass contracts in recent years. That breaks down to a few thousand dollars per school.
At the same time, the city faces major budget gaps. That raises a fair question. Should schools invest in tracking tools or focus on staffing and facilities? Students are asking that question too.
Technology in schools is not new. But the level of tracking is changing. What used to be a simple hall pass is now a data point. Multiply that across a school day, and you start to see a pattern forming.
Some people see that as progress. Others see it as overreach. Either way, tools like SmartPass are likely just the beginning.
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Even if you are not a student in New York, this trend still matters. Digital monitoring tools are becoming part of everyday life. You can now find them in schools, workplaces and public spaces.
As a result, data collection is starting to feel normal in places where it never used to exist. Even simple systems can build detailed profiles over time. That information can reveal patterns about behavior without people realizing it.
At the same time, convenience often comes with tradeoffs. Tools that make things easier can also reduce privacy. Once these systems are in place, they rarely stay limited. They tend to expand and track more over time.
If you have kids, it is worth asking how their school collects and stores data. If you are a student, you have a right to understand what is being tracked and why it matters.
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There is a real balance to strike here. Schools want safety and structure. Students want trust and privacy. Those goals do not always line up. SmartPass sits right in the middle of that tension. It promises control and visibility. It also raises questions about how much monitoring is too much. The bigger issue may not be this one system. It is the direction things are heading.
If tracking tools become standard in schools, where should the line be drawn between safety and personal space? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Dem congressional nominee Bobby Pulido faces scrutiny over years performing with convicted child sex offender
Two-time Latin Grammy Award-winning singer Bobby Pulido, who is the Democratic nominee in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, is facing scrutiny over past performances with bandmate Frankie Caballero, who is a registered sex offender convicted of indecent contact with an 8-year-old girl.
The 52-year-old Tejano musician first collaborated with Caballero in 1995, when the accordion player performed on Pulido's mega-hit debut album "Desvelado." In May 2014, Caballero was convicted of a second-degree felony involving indecent contact with an 8-year-old female and was incarcerated, according to the Texas Public Sex Offender website.
Caballero served four years in prison, according to the New York Post. Following his conviction and prison sentence, he toured again with Pulido between 2018 and 2021, with the two seen performing together in several cities, including Kansas City, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Tucson, per videos shared on YouTube.
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In a statement to Fox News Digital, Pulido's campaign manager, Abel Prado, said, "First and foremost, Bobby extends his deepest sympathies and support to all of the victims involved."
"Frankie Caballero has long struggled with addiction issues and Bobby Pulido has acknowledged and attempted to help him with that battle," Prado continued. "When Jimmy Montez Management learned of Caballero’s criminal history in 2021 he was immediately fired and that relationship was severed."
"Bobby was never made aware of Caballero’s sex offender registration and would never knowingly associate with anyone with that kind of history."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Caballero for comment.
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Pulido officially announced his Democratic candidacy for Texas' 15th Congressional District in September 2025. He is vying for the seat currently held by Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, a two-term incumbent.
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In a Thursday Instagram post, De La Cruz shared a screenshot of the New York Post's report on the past involvement between Pulido and Caballero along with a statement.
"My heart goes out to the children who were sexually abused by a close friend and business associate of Bobby Pulido," De La Cruz wrote. "For three decades, he brought a child predator into our neighborhoods with multiple convictions for sexually abusing children in Hidalgo County, including an eight-year-old girl. Despite being caught on tape admitting he knew of this man’s criminality, Mr. Pulido now falsely claims to have been unaware of his crimes. These are not South Texas values. To the families of these children whose suffering Mr. Pulido ignored: I am here for you. Please contact my office."
After announcing his campaign last fall, Pulido sparked controversy over resurfaced posts linking to explicit websites on his personal X account, as well as a post that appeared to show him urinating on President Donald Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
In a 2015 post, Pulido taunted pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli, who later served a seven-year prison sentence, writing, "Don’t drop the soap a–-hole."
Pulido recently came under fire for appearing in a controversial music video depicting lewd behavior.
In a 2010 music video for his song "Dias de Ayer," Pulido portrayed a character wrapped in a red blanket engaging in indecent acts and appearing to expose himself to a woman seated next to him on a plane.
Holocaust survivor, 86, priced out of NYC says Mamdani skipped scheduled housing meeting
As a toddler, Sami Steigmann survived Nazi medical experimentation. Now, at 86, he is struggling to find safe housing in New York City.
His situation comes as New York City residents face rising housing costs, despite campaign promises from city leaders to improve affordability.
Steigmann, who has called New York City home since the 1980s, can no longer safely navigate his second-story apartment in Harlem. Earlier this year, he asked to have a one-on-one meeting with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who ran on a platform centered on lowering housing costs. Although the meeting was scheduled, Steigmann says the 34-year-old mayor never kept the appointment.
"Promises made, not kept," Steigmann told Fox News Digital. "His claim to fame was affordable housing. I'm not disappointed because I didn't expect him to keep his word. It is what it is."
DEMS WHO RAN ON AFFORDABILITY NOW FACE BACKLASH AS COSTS CLIMB
"It would have been nice, but you know politicians," he said with a smile.
He added that he was no longer interested in meeting with Mamdani.
Mamdani's office did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
For now, Steigmann said his focus is on finding a safe place to live as New York City's costs continue to climb.
"New York is the most expensive city in the country, especially for independent living. Rent is about $6,000 a month for a one-bedroom apartment," he said.
Steigmann, who lives on a fixed income of $1,649 per month, said he cannot afford an apartment that is both safe and accessible to public transportation.
The physical toll of his current living situation has only added to the challenge.
Born in 1939 in Romania, Steigmann was deported with his parents to a Nazi labor camp at about age 2. Too young to work, he was subjected to medical experimentation for at least three years before the camp was liberated.
"I was subjected to medical experiments, so I'm in pain every single second, but I learned to live with it. Now, because of my age, 86, I have difficulty walking and climbing stairs," he said.
While relocating to a more affordable city may seem like an option, he said leaving New York is not a simple decision.
"I did not give it serious thought because here I have agencies that are helping me," he said. "I don’t know what it would be like in other cities because I don’t have those connections there."
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"I'm very safe here," Steigmann said of his neighborhood, adding that his neighbors know him and watch his back.
He said a nursing home is a last resort he hopes to avoid.
"If I'm going to a nursing home, which I may have to go to if I cannot find something, basically, it's the way to die because there is no life there."
"It's not for me. I'm still active. I don't need assisted living in the sense that I can take a bath by myself. I can still do a lot of things," he said.
Now, advocates are stepping in to help.
The Chicago Jewish Alliance recently launched "Project Ahava," a fundraising initiative aimed at securing safe, stable housing for Steigmann as he struggles to remain independent in New York City.
Facing a roughly $2,200 monthly shortfall, the initiative aims to raise $132,000 to cover five years of housing. The group has so far raised about $18,000 for Steigmann.
"Sami has never asked for a dime, and he has given back to so many people. That's just another reason why we wanted to give back to him and make sure that he has safe housing," Susan Haggard, president of the Chicago Jewish Alliance, told Fox News Digital.
"And it's important for him to stay in Manhattan where he is close to public transportation and still have that independence that is so important to him," she added.
Maintaining that independence is key to his daily work and outreach.
He spends his days volunteering aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid, docked in New York City’s harbor, and speaking to school groups across the country about the Holocaust — a mission that has come to define his life.
"This is my life. Without it, there’s nothing for me, no reason to live," he said.
WATCH: House Democrat gets unexpected response when he asks constituents about voter ID requirements
A Democratic lawmaker created an online firestorm after appearing to inadvertently make the case for stricter voter ID requirements while criticizing a Trump-backed election bill.
Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala., repeatedly said Monday that Democrats were not against voter identification at the ballot box as he discussed his opposition to the SAVE America Act at a town hall with constituents. The Alabama Democrat, however, appeared to imply that the town hall attendees might have a problem with it.
"I’m of a different era, I’m of a different generation. I probably feel a little bit differently about it," Figures, 40, told a seemingly older crowd. "But watch this: how many people in here do not have an ID?"
No one's hand went up.
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After a noticeable pause, Figures appeared to nod in agreement.
"Everybody has an ID, right?" Figures said, adding that he believed "20, 30, 40 years ago, it was a lot different."
A shortened clip of the exchange posted to social media sparked backlash among conservatives, who said the video proved that a majority of Americans would have no issue complying with photo ID requirements.
"Democrat Rep. Figures' rhetoric on Voter ID absolutely backfires when every single person he's talking to has an ID," David McIntosh, president of the conservative Club for Growth, wrote on social media.
"OOPS. Rep. Shomari Figures (D) just accidentally OBLITERATED his Party's own narrative that people don't have IDs to vote," the viral Libs of TikTok account added.
Figures disputed that he expected someone in the audience not to have an ID, in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"If you listen to the entire exchange, which they intentionally cut short, you will clearly see that I was making the point that these days everyone has an ID," Figures said, referring to viral clips of a shortened exchange that circulated on social media.
"I asked the audience a rhetorical question: 'How many people here do not have an ID?'" he continued. "I fully expected no one to raise their hand."
The exchange comes as top Democrats in Washington have long opposed photo ID rules for voting, often likening such restrictions to Jim Crow laws meant to keep minority Americans disenfranchised.
A GOP push to add a photo ID requirement as an amendment to the SAVE America Act was defeated by Democrats in March, despite Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying Democrats support showing identification at the polling booth.
But Democratic lawmakers’ opposition to voter ID rules appears to be increasingly out of step with voters. More than seven in 10 Democratic voters and 76% of Black voters support showing government-issued photo ID to vote, according to a 2025 Pew Research Center poll.
Photo ID requirements are already widespread, with 36 states, including Alabama, mandating identification when voting. Supporters note there has been no observed effect on turnout.
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Figures said his opposition to the SAVE America Act revolves around its proof of citizenship requirement to vote in federal elections. Eligible documents include a U.S. passport or birth certificate, which Figures argues is too stringent.
Later in the town hall, the Alabama Democrat asked the crowd if everyone had easy access to their birth certificate or a passport. When not everyone raised their hand, he said, "There’s the problem."
"My point is that if a driver’s license is the most common form of ID that the overwhelming majority of people have, then it should be enough to allow people to vote," Figures told Fox News Digital. "The bottom line is that the SAVE Act is a bill that makes it harder for people to vote by requiring them to obtain additional forms of identification."
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Proponents of the SAVE America Act note that a majority of Americans have recently had to show a birth certificate or passport to the government to receive a REAL ID. They also point out that some states issue driver’s licenses to noncitizens, though those individuals are explicitly barred from voting in federal elections.
Figures was among nearly all Democrats who voted against the SAVE America Act when it passed the House, and the measure has since stalled in the Senate.
The upper chamber, however, is expected to continue debating the legislation in April amid a pressure campaign from Trump to advance the measure to his desk.
Blackburn urges IRS probe of Planned Parenthood's tax-exempt status over Botox treatments
FIRST ON FOX—Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., is urging the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate following reports that some Planned Parenthood affiliates are offering cosmetic services like Botox in an apparent effort to stabilize funding amid federal cuts.
"I write to draw your attention to a concerning article describing—and in some respects even promoting—efforts by Planned Parenthood affiliates to ‘attract a new clientele’ by offering neurotoxin injections similar to Botox and other aesthetic treatments while operating as tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organizations," Blackburn wrote in a March 26 letter, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, to Robert Malone, director of Exempt Organizations and Government Entities at the IRS.
"Planned Parenthood Mar Monte in Northern California—the organization’s largest affiliate—now operates a dedicated aesthetics program, marking a significant shift from the organization’s claim to be a charitable health care organization providing public health services," Blackburn wrote.
In an interview published in March, Dr. Laura Dalton, the chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood, Mar Monte, told KCRA News that the affiliate, headquartered in San Jose, which runs 30 centers in California and Nevada, would be offering Botox injections and nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, for pain management.
KCRA News reported that Botox treatments will be offered at $9 per unit, compared with $12 or $15 at many medical spas.
"Let’s be clear what is actually occurring here," Blackburn wrote in the letter. "Planned Parenthood, in an effort to abuse its 501(c)(3) status, is appealing to the women’s beauty market after the Working Families Tax Cut Act (Public Law 119-21) imposed a restriction on federal Medicaid funding for tax-exempt community abortion providers."
Blackburn added, "In a clear statement of admission, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte President and Chief Executive Officer Stacy Cross, stated the affiliate broadened its services to ‘keep [our] doors open’ and fill in the estimated $100 million revenue gap for the one affiliate alone."
In the interview with KCRA News, Dalton said Planned Parenthood's offering of cosmetic services provides supporters another way to back the organization financially.
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"If you were going to get this service anyways, and you want to support Planned Parenthood, why not do it together?" Dalton said.
In her letter, Blackburn asked Malone to clarify what guidance the IRS gives to tax-exempt organizations like Planned Parenthood and its affiliates offering elective cosmetic procedures such as neurotoxin injections and fillers, as well as how the agency decides when such activities constitute unrelated business income.
Blackburn asked whether Planned Parenthood affiliates have reported revenue from aesthetic or cosmetic services as unrelated business income and, if so, asked the IRS to provide that publicly available documentation.
Among other questions posted to the IRS, Blackburn also asked if there are safeguards that "exist to ensure that federal funds, reimbursements, or federally supported facilities are not used—directly or indirectly—to subsidize elective cosmetic services offered by these or other affiliates?"
In February, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation for $90 million in emergency funding after President Donald Trump signed legislation prohibiting federal funding for abortion providers.
Additionally, Blackburn asked whether Planned Parenthood’s offering of cosmetic services like Botox "fall[s] within the scope of the organization’s ‘crucial resources,’" and whether any reviews are being made of the entity’s additional state funding. She asked the IRS to decide whether the new cosmetic services fall under the organization’s tax-exempt status.
Fox News Digital reached out to the IRS and Planned Parenthood's Mar Monte for comment.
Health tech breach exposes 3.4M patient records
Another major healthcare cyberattack has surfaced, and it involves a company most patients have never heard of. A health technology company that helps doctors verify insurance coverage has confirmed hackers stole personal and medical information belonging to more than 3.4 million people. The company, TriZetto, operates behind the scenes in the U.S. healthcare system, helping providers check patient insurance before treatments.
The breach raises new questions about how long attackers can remain inside critical healthcare systems before anyone notices. Here is what happened and why it matters.
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TriZetto may not be a household name, but its technology plays a major role in everyday healthcare transactions. The company is owned by the multinational technology firm Cognizant and provides tools that healthcare providers use to verify insurance eligibility and process coverage checks before treatment. When a doctor's office confirms whether your insurance will cover a visit or procedure, that request often travels through systems like TriZetto.
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According to the company, its services help support healthcare operations tied to about 200 million people through more than 875,000 providers across the United States. That scale also makes the company an attractive target for cybercriminals.
TriZetto said hackers accessed insurance eligibility transaction reports stored on its servers. Those reports can contain a surprising amount of personal and health information.
The stolen data may include:
The company said not every customer was affected by the breach. However, several healthcare organizations have confirmed that patient information was compromised. One of them is OCHIN, a nonprofit healthcare technology group that supports about 300 rural and community care providers across the United States. Some healthcare providers in California have also reported that their patient data was exposed.
One of the most concerning details is how long the attackers may have been inside the company's systems. TriZetto said it discovered the breach on October 2, 2025. Later investigation revealed that hackers may have gained access as far back as November 2024.
That means attackers could have remained inside the network for nearly a year. Cognizant spokesperson William Abelson said the company removed the threat from its systems after identifying the breach. However, the company has not explained why the intrusion went undetected for so long.
For cybersecurity experts, this type of delay is a serious concern. The longer attackers stay hidden inside a network, the more data they can collect.
This incident fits into a troubling trend across the healthcare industry. Medical organizations store highly sensitive information that includes identity details, insurance records and personal health data. That combination makes healthcare systems especially valuable targets for cybercriminals.
A major example occurred in 2024 when ransomware attackers targeted Change Healthcare. The company processes billions of healthcare transactions each year. Hackers stole more than 192 million patient records in that attack. The breach also caused widespread outages that disrupted prescriptions, billing and access to medical services across the United States. Events like these show how attacks on health technology companies can affect patients, hospitals and pharmacies across the country.
HOSPITAL CYBERATTACKS THREATEN PATIENT SAFETY
Medical data often sells for more than stolen credit card numbers. A single patient record can include identity information, insurance details and personal medical history. Criminals can use that data for identity theft, insurance fraud and targeted phishing scams.
In some cases, attackers also file fraudulent medical claims using stolen patient information. That makes health technology companies an increasingly common target for cyberattacks.
Most patients have little control over how healthcare technology companies protect their data. Still, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of identity theft after a breach.
If you have health insurance or Medicare, pay close attention to Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements after doctor visits or procedures. These documents show what was billed in your name, even if you do not owe anything. Look for services you did not receive, unfamiliar providers or duplicate charges. If something looks off, report it to your insurer or Medicare immediately. In some cases, fraud can trigger changes to your account, including issuing a new Medicare number.
Review insurance statements and medical bills carefully. Look for unfamiliar charges or services you never received. Also, check your bank and credit card statements for suspicious activity.
A credit freeze prevents criminals from opening new accounts using your Social Security number. The process is free and available through the major credit bureaus. You can temporarily lift the freeze anytime if you need to apply for credit.
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Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to review your credit reports from the three major bureaus. Look for accounts, loans or inquiries you do not recognize. Early detection can prevent larger problems later.
Cybercriminals often follow large breaches with phishing emails or text messages. These messages may pretend to come from healthcare providers or insurers. Always verify suspicious messages before clicking links or sharing information. Installing strong antivirus software on your devices can also help block malicious links, detect suspicious downloads and warn you about dangerous websites. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
Many breaches expose personal details that data brokers collect and sell online. A data removal service can scan broker databases and request the removal of your personal information. This reduces the chances that scammers find your contact details and target you with fraud.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
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The TriZetto breach highlights how much personal health data flows through technology companies that most patients never see. When one of those systems is compromised, millions of people can be affected at once. Healthcare providers, insurers and technology vendors must strengthen cybersecurity protections as attacks on medical data continue to rise.
Here is something worth thinking about. How many companies currently hold your health data that you have never even heard of? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Lawrence Jones reveals why a new generation is returning to God in Fox Nation's ‘Revival’
A new generation of Americans is returning to religious traditions, sparking a nationwide surge in baptisms and church attendance. Fox News’ Lawrence Jones explores this cultural phenomenon in the new Fox Nation series, "Revival with Lawrence Jones."
The five-part series features high-profile guests, including actor Zachary Levi and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, as they discuss the spiritual shift taking place across the country.
"God brings us together, and that's more important now than ever," Jones said in a preview for the original series. "We’ve seen an epidemic of loneliness. It's a basic human fact. People need community. Today, they're finding it in faith."
SCORSESE REFRAMES JESUS’ STORY THROUGH THE VIRGIN MARY IN ‘THE SAINTS’ SPECIAL
From California to Baton Rouge, the series documents how young believers are embracing faith to combat a growing "meaning crisis." Each episode tackles distinct themes including faith’s role in sports, religious identity and the rise of gospel music in mainstream society.
Episode 1 focuses on the human need for connection and community. Jones speaks with "Shazam!" actor Zachary Levi about his mission to bring a faith-based perspective back to Hollywood and meets a new wave of evangelists at the Amplify Festival in Arkansas.
The series then shifts to the sports world in Episode 2, where athletes like former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow and the University of Oklahoma softball team explain how faith serves as an anchor for them amid the pressures of competition.
BENJAMIN HALL REVEALS THE HIDDEN STORIES BEHIND AMERICA’S MOST SACRED, ICONIC CHURCHES
In Episode 3, Jones explores the resurgence of Jewish life following the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel. He gains access to the world’s largest Shabbat and speaks with Israeli actress Noa Tishby about the renewed sense of identity within the Jewish community.
The series concludes with Episodes 4 and 5, which focus on Christian music and the search for meaning. Jones joins evangelists Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle to witness the largest one-day baptism in the United States. He also travels to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to meet the Ablaze Youth Choir, a group remixing traditional gospel for a new generation.
"Revival with Lawrence Jones" is available now for streaming exclusively on Fox Nation.
DR. MEHMET OZ, STEPHANIE CARLTON: California was horribly wrong about gender and kids
The Supreme Court rebuked California early in March for forcing schools to hide students’ gender transitions from their parents.
The legal stakes in this case are significant, but it also exposes a deeper divide over how society should respond when children experience gender distress — and how public health officials like us can shape policy to help those children flourish.
Until recently, this debate was dominated by radical gender ideologues, who insist on affirmation at any cost.
From their perspective, a girl who thinks she’s a boy is a boy. Failing to affirm this new identity, they believe, will cause more harm than irreversible surgeries or a lifetime regimen of cross-sex hormones.
TEXAS DETRANSITIONER SHARES HOW DOCTORS AND INTERNET ‘COSPLAY’ GROOMED HER INTO PERMANENT SURGERY
In California, the pipeline to these drastic interventions begins in the classroom, where state law requires teachers to hide kids’ gender confusion from parents, even if that means sitting across from them in parent-teacher conferences and lying by omission to the very people most responsible for those children’s care and wellbeing.
Socially transitioning children at school puts them on a collision course with sex-rejecting medical interventions that cause lower bone density, infertility, cardiovascular problems and other painful, costly health issues.
There is no off-ramp. California’s ban on "conversion therapy" applies not just to the abusive practices most people associate with that term, but to any counseling that might reduce children’s gender distress without transitioning them. (Multiple states have similarly broad bans on their books, though the Supreme Court just struck down Colorado’s.)
PARENTS, NOT BUREAUCRATS, RAISE AMERICA’S CHILDREN AND THE SUPREME COURT AGREES
Those policies are rooted in academic "queer theory" rather than science, but after a long campaign of infiltration and intimidation, activists managed to align the medical profession with their ideology. Just a few years ago, they could claim that "[e]very major medical association" considered sex-rejecting interventions for trans-identifying youth to be "safe and lifesaving."
But that confidence was never matched by strong evidence.
Thankfully, the tide has turned. There’s a growing international consensus that the gender activists were wrong. Scientific reviews in Sweden and Finland, as well as the U.K.’s rigorous Cass report helped convince those countries to dramatically scale back sex-rejecting interventions for children and adolescents.
I WAS A CHILD AND BELIEVED GENDER TRANSITION WOULD HEAL MY PAIN. IT BECAME A NEW TRAUMA
Last fall, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a comprehensive review titled "Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices," which arrived at the same conclusion: that medically transitioning minors conveys no proven benefits.
The choice between "a trans son or a dead daughter" convinced thousands of parents to approve interventions that irreparably damaged their children. It turned out to be a false dichotomy.
Evidence also increasingly suggests that trans-identifying kids were not simply "born in the wrong body" but may instead be struggling with deeper issues.
The recent spike in youth gender dysphoria coincided with a massive decline in teen mental health (likely driven by smartphones and social media). Both trends were more pronounced among girls.
One influential study found that 63% of adolescents presenting with gender distress have at least one co-occurring neurodevelopmental disability or mental health disorder.
These kids don’t need puberty blockers and hormones. They need psychotherapy, family counseling, thorough clinical evaluation and perhaps treatment for anxiety or depression — not a rush toward irreversible medical interventions.
Based on these findings, CMS and HHS took action in December by proposing two new rules to ensure that taxpayer-funded health programs are guided by evidence, not ideology. The first stops taxpayer dollars from subsidizing sex-rejecting interventions for children through CHIP and Medicaid; the second bans hospitals that perform these interventions from participating in Medicare and Medicaid, given the considerable safety risks to children.
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In January, CMS convened all the major medical associations involved in sex-rejecting interventions for minors and held a "grand rounds" on the available evidence. A month later, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons issued a courageous and principled statement acknowledging that there was "insufficient evidence demonstrating a favorable risk-benefit ratio for … gender-related endocrine and surgical interventions in children and adolescents."
The American Medical Association quickly followed suit. The fake "scientific consensus" in favor of medically transitioning children has finally shattered.
Not long ago, the parents who stood up to California would have stood alone. But not anymore. This administration has their back.
We will continue to champion scientific rigor and genuine compassion against the bullying dogmatism of radical gender ideologues. We will free this country’s institutions from the long captivity to which the activists and their allies have subjected them. And we will always — always — put parents and children first.
Stephanie Carlton is deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.