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99-year-old WWII veteran awarded Purple Heart after waiting more than 80 years

A Kentucky World War II veteran wounded fighting Nazi Germany has finally received one of the nation's most solemn military honors after waiting more than eight decades.

For 81 years, Glenn Fisher lived without the Purple Heart he believed he earned on a World War II battlefield. On Wednesday, the 99-year-old Army veteran finally received it.

"I've been so excited, I haven't been able to sleep at night thinking about what a wonderful thing is happening," Fisher said during Wednesday's ceremony at Louisville's Frazier History Museum. "Sometimes I'd wake up and say, 'now, is this really true?' And it is, it's really true."

The Purple Heart, awarded to U.S. service members wounded or killed by enemy action, comes just months before Fisher's 100th birthday and follows years of unsuccessful efforts to have his wartime injuries formally recognized.

‘NOBODY SHOULD GO ALONE’: 1,500 STRANGERS HONOR WWII VETERAN WITH NO KNOWN FAMILY

WHAS11 first reported Fisher's story in March as he sought to receive the award before turning 100.

According to previous reporting by WHAS11, Fisher enlisted in the Army in 1943 at just 16 years old after obtaining his parents' permission. He later landed on Utah Beach in France and was wounded on March 25, 1945, while waiting to cross the Rhine River after German artillery struck his unit.

Fisher previously said his injuries were never properly documented during the war, which he said delayed his receiving the Purple Heart.

"Never did hear back from them," Fisher previously said of one of his early attempts to obtain the medal.

Years later, he tried again but said the Army informed him it could not find sufficient evidence to approve the award.

‘NOBODY SHOULD GO ALONE’: 1,500 STRANGERS HONOR WWII VETERAN WITH NO KNOWN FAMILY

Despite those setbacks, Fisher continued pursuing the recognition with help from longtime friend Jeff Thoke, who spent years researching Fisher's military service and compiling hundreds of pages of historical records for military officials.

"He represents the best of America," Thoke said Wednesday. "We can't thank him enough for all that he has done. He loves his country; he's one of the most patriotic men."

According to previous reporting, Fisher served with the Army's 556th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Weapons Battalion. He fought during the Battle of the Bulge before being wounded near the Rhine River in the closing months of World War II.

WHAS11 reported Fisher returned to his unit weeks after being wounded, later met Soviet forces at the Elbe River one day before Victory in Europe Day and eventually served as part of the official escort for President Harry S. Truman during Truman's arrival in Antwerp, Belgium, before returning home.

Wednesday's ceremony appeared to mark the end of a journey Fisher had spent decades pursuing.

"It's really true," he said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Army for additional information about Fisher's Purple Heart but did not immediately receive a response.

Trump shares news of 'crystal clear' Reflecting Pool, calls for vandalism suspect's arrest

President Donald Trump and his Interior Department are declaring an America 250 victory over algae in the Lincoln Reflecting Pool.

Trump shared photos on Truth Social on Sunday showing the pool and the reflection of the Washington Monument appearing clear and blue, and made a call out with a "Wanted" poster for vandals.

"The U.S. Park Police is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the individual in the notice below in connection with a Destruction of Government Property investigation related to the Reflecting Pool," Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social.

Trump also shared an Interior Department statement crediting "advanced nanobubbler technology" and National Park Service cleanup work.

FORMER US OLYMPIAN DAVID HEARN INDICTED IN ALLEGED REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM

"The advanced nanobubbler technology very effectively killed the algae that has plagued every Lincoln Reflecting Pool reopening — most infamously Obama’s reopening — since 1922," Dei Gratia Minerals founder Greg Wischer, Interior’s deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management, wrote in a letter shared with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Trump.

"The Reflecting Pool water is crystal clear, and our National Park Service team is now vacuuming up the dead algae resting on the bottom of some parts of the Reflecting Pool — just like the destroyed Iranian Navy resting on the bottom of the Persian Gulf."

The photos shared by Trump show the Reflecting Pool stretching toward the Washington Monument under blue skies. One image appears to show the pool from the Lincoln Memorial end, while a second closer view shows the Washington Monument reflected in the water.

Trump also shared a U.S. Interior Press social media post hailing the technological success, quoting that Wischer memo.

YOSEMITE, GRAND CANYON LEAD NOTABLE LIST OF NATIONAL PARK CAMPGROUNDS FOR AMERICA'S 250TH

"The vacuuming is the final maintenance step after refilling the pool, and it will be complete in a few days," his memo continued. "Already, the section of the Reflecting Pool closest to the Lincoln Memorial has been vacuumed up, and the beautiful American Flag Blue coating on the bottom of the pool can be seen clearly."

Trump's Interior Department has praised the technology for overcoming past challenges in keeping the pool clear, including dunking on former President Barack Obama.

"Previous administrations — most notably under Obama — failed to maintain the Reflecting Pool, and after refilling the pool, the water would quickly become murky and thick with massive clumps of algae floating on the surface," the memo concluded.

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"The photos below show how the nanobubbler technology and vacuuming have been incredibly effective, making the water crystal clear with the American Flag Blue coating shining brightly on the bottom of the pool.

"As our National Park Service team noted, the Reflecting Pool is now so 'blue' that the Fake News Media, which has been staked out at the Reflecting Pool for weeks, has fled!"

The 6.75 million-gallon pool has been targeted by Trump critics and leftist anti-Trump activists for attacks both verbally and physical, Burgum discussed with ABC's "This Week" on Sunday.

"The Reflecting Pool has been a big success," he said. "And we've got 340 million people in this country that are celebrating 250. We did have a few vandals, but all that's going to be repairable, and that'll all be fixed in the coming weeks as we go forward."

Burgum now believes that the pool might not require a full draining after its "multiple gashes that add up to 350 feet," he added.

"We don’t know if we need to drain the whole thing or not because, you know, the cutting happened on the edge, and, of course, it slopes from the edge," according to Burgum.

"We may be able to partially drain it and do the repair. To be able to fix it, we may not have to drain the whole thing, but it could go very quickly."

While the media and Trump critics are pointing to added costs of the reflecting pool refurbishment, Burgum pointed to the vandalism causing that.

"We weren’t expecting that we were going to have a small group of people that wanted to try to destroy effectively what is part of the Lincoln Memorial," Burgum told ABC. "There’s plenty of cameras around the Lincoln statue and around the memorial, but the Reflecting Pool had gone for, you know, decades without vandalism."

World Cup comes between professional soccer couple, she loses and he gets kicked out of bed

There was a lot riding on the Portugal and Croatia match-up last week. Sure, the chance to advance to the Round of 16 in the World Cup was on the line, but for one professional soccer couple, their bed was also on the line.

Depending on which team won, a one-way ticket to the couch was going to be issued. Croatian soccer player Ana Maria Markovic posted on Instagram, "Someone’s sleeping on the couch tonight."

The announcement included pictures of her and her Portuguese soccer player boyfriend Tomas Ribeiro. He responded to the post he was tagged in, "Guess who's gonna be?"

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The couple put on their opposing jerseys and headed out to watch the game. Let's be honest here for a second, Ribeiro was in a no-win situation from the word go.

If his team loses, they're out. If his team wins, he ends up being kicked out of the couple's bed and can't even celebrate advancing to the next round from the comfort of his bed.

To make matters worse for him, Markovic, once dubbed the "World's Most Beautiful Soccer Player," checked in during the game surrounded by fans rooting for Portugal.

VAR DENIES CROATIA'S GAME-TYING GOAL AS CRISTIANO RONALDO LEADS PORTUGAL TO ROUND OF 16

"I’m literally the only Croatian here," she said from the bar where she and Ribeiro were watching the game, according to The Sun.

Being in an environment like that had to make Croatia's 2-1 loss that much harder of a pill to swallow for the 26-year-old, who currently plays for Brooklyn FC of the USL Super League.

You're not going to be shown an ounce of mercy after that. Markovic seemed to confirm that she had the bed all to herself after the loss and that it was a hard pill for her to swallow.

WORLD CUP SUPERSTAR IVANA KNOLL INVADES AT&T STADIUM TO TURN HEADS AND SUPPORT CROATIA

The Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa defender's team is taking on Spain on Monday afternoon. Maybe Ana Maria Markovic will decide to throw her support behind his team.

Or maybe she'll do the right thing by rooting against him and keeping him on the couch until his team loses too.

Netanyahu rejects reports of a rift with President Trump, says the two remain aligned on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied a rift with President Donald Trump while drawing a hard line on Iran as Washington pursues a broader nuclear agreement with Tehran.

Netanyahu said Israel and the U.S. shared the same goal on Iran, even as Trump pressed ahead with talks that have drawn criticism from some Israeli officials.

"But I can tell you this, deal or no deal, as long as I’m prime minister, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," Netanyahu told host Jacqui Heinrich on "The Sunday Briefing."

TRUMP’S MASSIVE GOP FAITH BLOC RAISES RED FLAG ON IRAN DEAL: TRUST HIM, NOT HIS TEAM

Asked whether his relationship with Trump had frayed over Iran, Netanyahu said any disagreements between the allies were being handled directly.

"I don’t think there’s a rift," Netanyahu said. "I think America has no greater ally than Israel, and Israel has no greater ally than the United States."

Netanyahu said Trump acts in U.S. interests while he acts in Israel's interests, but argued the two leaders usually align.

AMERICA AND ISRAEL: A COVENANT, NOT A CONTRACT

"President Trump is the leader of the United States. He does what’s good for America. I am the leader of Israel, the one and only Jewish state. I do what’s good for Israel," Netanyahu said. "Ninety-nine percent of the time we see eye-to-eye."

Heinrich pressed Netanyahu on Trump's comments to Axios that the Israeli leader "knows who the boss is" and previous comments to the Financial Times saying Netanyahu would have "no choice" but to accept a U.S.-Iran deal.

EXPERTS ‘DEEPLY’ CONCERNED OVER IRAN’S WORK AT UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR SITE

Netanyahu said Washington and Jerusalem still had the same strategic objective.

"We want to see Iran give up its nuclear weapons program," Netanyahu said. "We want to see the nuclear-enriched material removed. We want to see the enrichment sites for nuclear materials dismantled."

When asked whether he was comfortable with talks extending past an August deadline, Netanyahu said he would judge the outcome only once negotiations conclude.

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"I would say it’s not over. I would judge it when it’s over," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also responded to Vice President JD Vance, who warned Israeli officials not to attack Trump over the Iran deal, saying the U.S. was the "only powerful ally" Israel has left.

"First of all, I respect JD Vance. We have a very good relationship, but it doesn’t mean that I agree with everything that he says," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu said Trump remained Israel's strongest supporter in the White House.

"Donald Trump is a great, the greatest friend we’ve ever had in the White House, and I stand by that completely," Netanyahu said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Patriotic pride on display as America 250 guests share reflections: 'Awesome to be here'

The Great American State Fair was packed this Independence Day, drawing crowds for a mix of holiday celebration and personal reflection.

As the festivities unfolded, attendees shared what spending the Fourth of July with their families means to them.

"It kind of makes us emotional because of our country and the people who died, you know, and gave up what they've done," Tom Rutledge, a grandfather who traveled to the fair from Texas, told Fox News Digital.

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Rutledge brought his 13-year-old grandson along so he could experience the Fourth of July celebration firsthand.

"I wanted him at 13 to experience this," Rutledge said. "There's a gap, maybe, in our younger generation. The education... has not been really communicating what this country's about, how many people love it."

Despite those concerns, the fair's youngest attendees showed plenty of patriotic spirit. Many young children expressed joy at being there, undeterred by long travels, storm warnings and summer heat waves.

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"I’m excited for the fireworks," one young girl told her father, while another child could be heard cheering as planes flew low overhead.

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For the adults in the crowd, the fair offered a welcome reminder of national unity. A father who traveled from Florida said the best part of the day was simply being surrounded by fellow patriots, from the youth to the service members who protect the nation.

"I'm just looking forward to being around all the American citizens who make this country awesome," he said.

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That sense of community was on full display throughout the fairgrounds, where tight crowds seemed to bring out the best in people rather than testing their patience.

"It is amazingly crowded, [and] people are amazingly nice," one couple said. "We’re making friends!"

They then gestured to another couple next to them, whom they had just met while waiting in line for the Ferris wheel. Despite hailing from different parts of the country — Tennessee and New Jersey — the new friends had quickly bonded over their shared patriotism and holiday spirit.

Bill Clinton blasts Trump as Americans mark nation's 250th anniversary

Former President Bill Clinton took a swipe at President Donald Trump in a statement posted to X marking the nation's 250th birthday, urging Americans to reject division and embrace the country's founding ideals without mentioning Trump by name.

In the statement, released Saturday, Clinton reflected on the nation's founding and warned that the United States was experiencing another period of deep political division.

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"Today, we celebrate this milestone amid another period of deep division, renewed questions about America's future and role in the world, and serious threats to our own institutions and to our democracy itself," the former president wrote.

Clinton, whose wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was defeated by Trump in the 2016 presidential election, did not mention the president by name during his remarks.

"The people in charge have unleashed masked agents on American communities to seize people from their homes, workplaces and the street," Clinton said. 

"They have started an unconstitutional war on a whim, with no clear objectives or exit strategy, and zero regard for the consequences to the lives of millions of people around the world," he added.

WE ASKED AMERICANS TO GRADE THE ECONOMY. THEN WE ASKED IF IT WOULD CHANGE THEIR VOTE

The former president then broadened his criticism to the federal government and the courts.

"With the help of lifetime appointees to the Supreme Court and a compliant Congress, they have weaponized government to settle personal scores, prosecute enemies, stamp out free speech and made the federal government a new profit center for themselves and their allies," he added.

Clinton's statement came as Trump presided over separate America250 festivities in Washington, D.C., where he touted what he called America's "Golden Age" and highlighted his administration's accomplishments, the U.S. military and the country's economic outlook.

Clinton encouraged Americans to think about the nation's future as it enters its next 250 years, arguing that preserving democratic institutions requires citizens to value common purpose over political grievance.

Trump, meanwhile, used his Independence Day address to celebrate the nation's founding while touting his administration's achievements, criticizing progressive Democrats and promoting priorities, including election integrity measures, border security and a renewed emphasis on patriotism.

While both men celebrated the nation's founding, their messages highlighted vastly different views of the country's current political climate.

USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun available to play vs Belgium in stunning twist

USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun will be able to play in Monday’s game against Belgium in the Round of 16 match after all following an uproar over a red card he received against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Balogun received the red card after he stepped on the foot of Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic. The red card was given after Brazilian referee Raphael Claus stopped the match for a VAR review to determine whether Balogun had committed a severe foul.

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It was ruled that Balogun did and he was sent off.

The Athletic, which first reported Balogun’s playing status on Sunday, noted that part of FIFA’s disciplinary code stated, "the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure."

"If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement," the rule added.

FOX Sports confirmed that Balogun would be able to play. The report noted that the play should not have been flagged to Claus.

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FIFA confirmed that the suspension was suspended for a probationary period of one year.

"We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow," U.S. Soccer said. "Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans."

Balogun scored against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He spoke to reporters Friday about the red card.

"First and foremost, it was totally unintentional, which I'm sure a lot of people know. But, you know, I think the choice of the referee was, of course, his choice, but I don't think it was the correct call," he said. "I think a yellow card would have been fair due to it not being intentional. There's not many places I can place my foot in such a scenario. But it's happened, and it's something that I have to accept and move forward from.

"There’s been lots of different emotions. I’ve been upset, I’ve been happy, it’s been surreal to be honest," he added. "But for me it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and emotion. There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring. Little kids, boys and girls are watching. We have to show them the correct way to handle things even when you think it’s unjust, so I felt I did that. I’m happy with the support, not just I’m receiving but the team. I think we’re all looking forward to seeing what we can do against Belgium."

U.S. Soccer had no way to appeal the ruing. Article 9.6 of the 2026 World Cup regulations reads, "No protests may be made about the referee’s decisions regarding facts connected with play. Such decisions are final and not subject to appeal, unless otherwise stipulated in the FIFA Disciplinary Code."

"If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match," Article 10.5 adds.

Fox News' Jonathan Hunt contributed to this report.

Hi Mom text scam: How to spot fake emergency texts

A scam text showed up today that would make many parents stop cold. The message said:

"Hi mom, text me here on my work phone. Dropped my actual phone in the sink earlier and it's completely unresponsive now."

The text came from an unknown number. Then it asked me to text a different unknown number. That detail is important. The scammer wants to move you into a new conversation before you stop and verify who is really on the other end.

The message seems personal right away. There is no weird link. There is no obvious demand for money. Instead, it starts with a little family panic and a believable excuse. That is what makes the Hi Mom text scam so sneaky.

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YOUR FAMILY COULD BE ONE PHONE CALL FROM A BANK SCAM

This scam works because it sounds ordinary. A child texting from a work phone seems possible. A phone dropped in a sink sounds believable. A short message from someone who sounds rushed can feel real enough to make you respond. That is exactly the point.

Scammers know parents may react quickly when a child appears to need help. They do not need a perfect story. They only need a small opening.

Once you reply, the scammer can keep the conversation going. Then the request may change from "text me here" to "can you help me pay for a new phone?" or "I need money right now."

Here's how the scammer uses each part of the message to make a strange number feel believable.

The scammer does not use a real name. That makes the message easier to send to many people. Still, if the person reading it is a mother, it suddenly feels personal. That one phrase tries to create an instant emotional connection.

This tells you to respond on the scammer's terms. It also keeps the exchange inside text messages. That gives the scammer time to think, type and adjust the story based on how you respond.

This explains why the number looks unfamiliar. The scammer knows you may wonder why your child is texting from a strange number. So the message gives you an excuse before you even ask.

This is the hook. People drop phones in sinks, toilets, pools and puddles all the time. The detail feels normal enough that you may not question it.

This word creates a fresh problem without giving many details. It suggests the accident just happened. However, it avoids specifics that you could check.

This line blocks the most obvious verification step. If you try to call the real phone, the scammer has already given you a reason it may not work. That can make you more likely to text the new number instead.

GLOBAL SCAM CRACKDOWN LEADS TO 276 ARRESTS

The first message may seem harmless. The second one may start the real scam. The scammer may claim they need money for a replacement phone. They may ask you to pay a bill because their banking app is locked. They may push you to use Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, crypto or gift cards.

Some scammers may also ask for a one-time security code. They may pretend the code is needed to restore the phone, verify an account or fix a payment problem.

Do not share that code. A verification code can let a scammer break into your bank, email, Apple ID, Google account or phone carrier account.

Parents are wired to respond when a child sounds stuck. Scammers know that. They use concern, timing and confusion to lower your guard.

The message also avoids overexplaining. That makes it feel more natural. Many real texts from family members are short, rushed and a little messy.

However, the biggest warning sign is the two-number setup. One unknown number sends the message. Another unknown number gets placed inside the text. That handoff is the scammer trying to pull you deeper into the trap.

Before you respond to a message like this, run through these steps to make sure you are dealing with your real family member.

Avoid answering, even to say the sender has the wrong number. A reply can confirm your number is active. That may lead to more scam texts later.

Use the phone number already saved in your contacts. Do not call or text the number inside the suspicious message. If your child or family member does not answer, try another trusted way to reach them.

Ask something only the real person would know. Make the question specific. Avoid anything a stranger could guess from social media.

Pause before sending money because of any urgent family message. Be extra careful with Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, gift cards and crypto. These payment methods can be fast, and some are hard to reverse.

Never send a one-time passcode from your bank, Apple ID, Gmail, phone carrier or payment app. A real family member should not need your private security code.

Strong antivirus software can help protect your phone, tablet and computer from malicious links, phishing pages and hidden threats. This becomes even more important if a scammer sends a follow-up link after you reply. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

A data removal service can help reduce how much of your personal information appears online. That matters because scammers often use exposed details to make their messages feel more convincing. No service can remove every piece of data, but it can help cut down what strangers can find. 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.

On iPhone, tap Report Spam or Report Junk if the option appears. Then delete the message.

You can also forward unwanted texts to 7726 , which spells SPAM.

On Android, block the sender and report the conversation as spam in Google Messages.

If you already responded, focus on ending the conversation, protecting your accounts and saving proof before the scammer pushes harder.

The Hi Mom text scam works because it feels familiar. The scammer starts with a small family problem instead of a big demand. That makes the message feel less suspicious and more urgent. The safest move is to pause before you reply. Call the real person using a number you already trust. If the story checks out, you can help. If it does not, report and block the message. That tiny pause could protect your money, your accounts and someone else in your family.

Have you ever received a fake family emergency text that sounded almost believable, and what detail gave it away? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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NCAA president Charlie Baker reacts to Supreme Court ruling on transgender athletes

NCAA president Charlie Baker said Sunday he doesn’t think the organization’s policy on transgender-athlete participation will be changed after the Supreme Court’s decision.

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of West Virginia and Idaho on Tuesday against trans athletes who sued to gain access to girls' sports.

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In the highly anticipated rulings in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, the high court upheld state laws requiring student-athletes to compete on sports teams that correspond with their biological sex at birth rather than their gender identity.

Baker appeared on CBS’ "Face the Nation" and was asked whether the NCAA will have to "tweak" its policy.

"I don’t think so. I mean, generally speaking, we try to establish policies from most of our programs that can hopefully have a national standard to it," Baker said. "I’ve said to folks, Democrats and Republicans in Washington after I got this job, that we needed some sort of clarity around on what the national standard for this would be and we adopted and complied with the standard that was put forth by the Trump administration.

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"I think what happens at the state level is a different question. Although, I do think our national standard is going to be what we expect our schools to use with respect to eligibility issues for college sports."

The NCAA changed its gender-eligibility policy in February 2025 after President Donald Trump signed the "No Men in Women’s Sports" executive order.

The new policy, which reversed a previous policy that had been in place since 2010 allowing trans athletes in women's sports, now states "a student-athlete assigned male at birth may practice on an NCAA women's team and receive all other benefits applicable to student-athletes."

Many critics have insisted this policy does not go far enough or establish clear enough barriers to protect women's athletes in the college ranks. The most common criticism has been that the policy allegedly allows trans athletes to bypass the restriction by changing the gender on their birth certificate.

In the U.S., 44 states do allow birth certificates to be altered to change a person's birth sex. The only states that do not allow this are Florida, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Montana. Meanwhile, there are 14 states that allow sex on a birth certificate to be changed without any medical documentation required, including California, New York, Massachusetts and Michigan.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

Zohran Mamdani's wife skips America 250 for Islamic ‘spiritual wellness’ retreat in Spain

Rama Duwaji, wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, faced criticism over the Fourth of July weekend after she reportedly traveled to Mallorca, Spain, for an Islamic "spiritual wellness" retreat while New York and the rest of the nation celebrated America's 250th anniversary.

The New York Post reported that Duwaji was seen Monday at Newark International Airport before boarding a flight to Palma and heading to a sold-out retreat run by The Women Sanctuary.

"Nothing says ‘America 250’ quite like skipping the celebration for a Mediterranean vacation, but I am not surprised because she has made her hatred for America very evident," Councilwoman Joann Ariola, R-Queens, told The Post.

MAMDANI BLASTS ICE AGENTS, ELON MUSK AND 'SUPREMACY' IN AMERICA 250 SPEECH AHEAD OF JULY 4 WEEKEND

Councilman Frank Morano, R-Staten Island, also criticized Duwaji’s absence during the semi-quincentennial celebration, saying officials’ family members can take trips but should recognize the importance of the milestone.

"It’s disappointing that the First Lady chose to be overseas instead of taking part in one of the biggest civic events our city and country will mark this year," Morano told The Post.

Morano said the issue was not whether Duwaji was allowed to travel, but whether she should have appeared at events in the city during the 250th anniversary.

"No one is saying elected officials and their families can’t take vacations, but this was a moment to show up for the city and for the country, and she missed it," Morano said.

INTERNAL EMAILS EXPOSE HOW JULY 4TH BASH IS BEING DERAILED BY DEM-RUN COUNTY: 'OFFENSIVE'

Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor's office for comment, but did not immediately hear a response.

Mamdani's office told The Post that Duwaji was not accompanied by officers assigned to the couple's taxpayer-funded NYPD detail.

Conservative commentator Arynne Wexler posted photos of Duwaji at a United Airlines gate and criticized the timing of the trip.

"Funny how when @ZohranKMamdani was telling New Yorkers to lower their AC his wife Rama Duwaji was boarding a flight to party in Mallorca," Wexler said on X, according to The Post.

The Women Sanctuary’s website lists the event, "Plants Of The Quran | 6th Edition," as a sold-out retreat, among other sold-out events. A separate retreat page describes the Mallorca program as centered on plants mentioned in the Quran, including olives, pomegranates, dates and figs, with workshops, meals and spiritual reflection.

Mamdani remained in New York City during a heat wave and the city's America 250 events. His office said July 1 that the city was expanding cooling centers, extending pool hours and asking businesses and New Yorkers to set thermostats to 78 degrees during peak demand.