Fox News Latest Headlines
Farmers offering on-site vacation rentals to combat rising costs
As farmers across the country face rising costs, some are turning to tourism to bring in money beyond their traditional agricultural operations.
At Lynette Ralph's horse ranch in Missouri, vacationers can spend the night in a small cabin, wake up to views of the horses and get a firsthand look at ranch life.
Guests can explore the property, pet and feed the horses or pay extra for horsemanship and riding lessons.
"You have access to the farm life, the horses, the barns," Ralph said.
THE $1,600 LETTUCE: CALIFORNIA GROWERS WARN OF ‘MASTER PLAN’ STRANGLING FAMILY FARMS
For Ralph, welcoming guests is about more than offering a unique getaway. The income from offering short-term vacation rentals on site has allowed her to keep her ranch operating.
"If I didn't have the short-term rentals associated with the riding program, I would have to probably liquidate, sell the horses, sell the property," she said.
Airbnb and American Farmland Trust are launching a new grant program to help farmers earn extra income through tourism, the organizations told Fox News exclusively.
According to USDA data cited in Airbnb's report, households associated with intermediate farms, a category of smaller operations where farming is the principal operator's primary occupation, reported a median loss of approximately $2,800 from farming in 2024.
AMERICAN FARMERS PINCHED BY HIGH DIESEL PRICES AHEAD OF SPRING PLANTING SEASON
David Haight, vice president of programs at American Farmland Trust, a national nonprofit dedicated to protecting farmland and supporting farmers, said finding additional sources of income could help some farm families navigate financial challenges.
"Many families are looking for ways to diversify income, and so bringing people out to the farm or ranch for some is a way to help bring in other dollars," Haight said.
Demand for farm stays is growing, according to Airbnb, which reported that online searches increased 61% during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year.
The company says the typical farm stay host earned approximately $8,000 in 2025, while U.S. farm stay hosts collectively earned nearly $120 million. Those figures represent hosting earnings, not necessarily profits after expenses.
In Georgia, farm stay host Gilda Lyon said income from her existing rentals has allowed her to build additional cabins and invest in her farm.
The money helped her build a greenhouse, start selling herbs and maintain blueberry plants.
"The extra income actually has allowed me to invest, in many improvements and to expand the opportunities available for guests," Lyon said.
AMERICANS CHOOSING TO VISIT SMALLER TOWNS OVER BIG CITIES AS TRAVEL COSTS RISE
Airbnb and American Farmland Trust's new "Farm to Stay" Grant Program will award approximately 25 to 30 grants of up to $10,000 each, with applications opening in November.
Haight said the grants may not cover every expense associated with welcoming visitors, but could help farmers in other ways, such as assisting in renovating barns for events, installing fencing or preparing accommodations for overnight guests.
The benefits could also extend beyond individual farms. Haight said visitors may spend money at nearby restaurants, shops and other businesses, bringing additional tourism dollars into rural communities.
Ralph said welcoming guests has allowed her to continue sharing her passion for horses while maintaining the property she loves.
"The short-term rental has totally facilitated my being able to stay here and do the things that I love," she said.
Florida AG accuses teacher of labeling student a 'misogynist' over 'conservative views': 'She should be fired'
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier alleged that a teacher harassed and attempted to "cancel" an eighth-grade student and labeled him a "misogynist" over what Uthmeier described as the student's conservative political views.
Uthmeier sent a letter to Sarasota County Schools' Superintendent Terry Connor and the school board over allegations that a Pine View School history teacher, Liz Ballard, singled out the eighth grade student on multiple occasions over his political views.
Ballard often brings up political topics during class despite the student telling her that his parents "expressly forbid" him from participating in the political discussions, according to the letter.
The parents' demand was ignored and the teacher continued to hold political discussions, using the student as the "conservative perspective in the classroom," the attorney general said.
The teacher even labeled the student a "misogynist," spread that characterization around the school and "openly questioned the suitability and influence of the student's father," Uthmeier said in the letter.
Uthmeier's letter says multiple parents previously initiated HR investigations involving Ballard.
If the bullying and harassment allegations are true, Uthmeier said the teacher would have violated Florida law, School Board policy and basic ethical principles for educators.
"Ms. Ballard singled out this student and, in defiance of his parents' express instructions, pressured him to defend political positions on demand in front of his classmates," Uthmeier wrote.
PORTLAND PARENT BANNED FROM SCHOOL EVENTS AFTER OPPOSING GENDER IDENTITY ASSIGNMENT FILES LAWSUIT
"She made disparaging remarks about his father. And by facilitating the spread of a damaging label throughout the school, she engaged in the reputational destruction of a child. Ms. Ballard's deliberate bullying and harassment of this eighth-grade student violated Florida law, School Board policy, and at least six ethical principles," he continued.
He said she should be dismissed from her role with the school district and her educator certificate should be revoked if the allegations turn out to be true.
"If true, she should be fired and never teach in Florida again," he said.
The attorney general gave the superintendent and school board an Oct. 1 deadline to update his office on the actions the district has taken or will take to address the allegations.
Connor said Sarasota County Schools received a letter from Uthmeier about allegations involving teacher.
"We take the concerns seriously and will respond to the Attorney General's Office," Connor said in a statement to FOX 13. "Every student deserves a classroom where they feel safe, respected, and free to learn. No student should face harassment, humiliation, or retaliation because of their beliefs or their family's views. Respect for students and parents is fundamental to the trust our community places in our schools."
"The allegations in the letter warrant careful attention. We will examine the relevant facts and records, ensure a fair process for all involved, and take appropriate action based on the findings and requirements. To protect student privacy and the process's integrity, we will limit public discussion of individual details. This does not reduce our commitment to accountability. Our focus remains on our students' well-being, the professionalism of our classrooms, and the confidence families place in Sarasota County Schools," he added.
Texas man charged with capital murder after 5-year-old killed in roadway shooting
A Texas man has been arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with a roadway shooting that killed a 5-year-old girl over the weekend, authorities said.
Jeremy Porter, 47, was taken into custody and booked into the Harris County Jail in Houston after investigators identified him as the suspect in the fatal shooting of Zah'Layah Walter, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
Investigators used evidence, including information obtained through automated license plate readers, to identify Porter, who was arrested less than 24 hours after the shooting, authorities said.
MISSOURI MOM WHO PUT NEWBORN IN OVEN INSTEAD OF CRIB LEARNS FATE AS MURDER CHARGE DROPPED
The shooting happened Saturday night in northwest Harris County, where Zah'Layah was riding in a vehicle with her mother, Monica Hicks, and her four siblings when someone opened fire on the family's vehicle, the sheriff's office said.
Authorities said bullets struck the vehicle, killing the 5-year-old.
SISTER OF MISSING DC MOM SPEAKS OUT AFTER EX’S ARREST EXPOSES 'HORRIFYING' ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
Hicks told local outlet KHOU she was driving home from her mother's house with her five children when someone began shooting at the family's vehicle on Grant Road near Jones Road.
"All my kids in the back seat were screaming, and they continued to shoot in my car. And I did not know my daughter was hit until I pulled into my apartment," Hicks said.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office said the investigation remains ongoing.
MARYLAND HUNTER'S ALLEGED MISTAKE LEAVES DELAWARE MOTHER DEAD
"We stood alongside the family of 5-year-old Zay’Layah Walter, whose life was tragically taken in a roadway-related shooting. The person accused of taking her life has been arrested," the Harris County Sheriff's Office wrote on X on Tuesday. "We remain committed to seeking justice for [Zah'Layah] and supporting her family."
The Harris County Sheriff's Office could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.
College basketball TV analyst and former Duke assistant Chris Spatola, Coach K's son-in-law, dies at 47
Chris Spatola, an ESPN college basketball analyst, has died, the network announced Tuesday. He was 47.
Before moving into broadcasting, Spatola was a starting guard for the Army Black Knights. He later became an assistant coach at Duke, where he worked under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, his father-in-law.
"Chris Spatola brought a unique perspective to ESPN's college basketball coverage, shaped by his experiences as a student-athlete, Army veteran, coach and broadcaster," ESPN said in a statement.
FORMER NHL PLAYER, COACH AND LONGTIME ESPN ANALYST BARRY MELROSE DEAD AT 70
"He was thoughtful, prepared and passionate about the sport, earning the respect of colleagues, coaches, players and fans alike. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time," the statement continued.
Spatola led Army in scoring in three of his four seasons as a starter. He finished his college career with 1,543 points, placing him among Army’s top 10 all-time scorers.
ESPN ANNOUNCES HALL OF FAMER DICK VITALE'S RETURN TO BROADCASTING AFTER LATEST CANCER BATTLE
After graduating from Army, Spatola entered a new chapter of service, spending five years on active duty from 2002 through 2007.
He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received the Joint Service Commendation Medal for exceptional combat performance. Spatola’s outstanding leadership was also recognized with the Army Commendation Medal.
Spatola served on Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching staff at Duke from 2007 through 2012. During that span, the Blue Devils won the 2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball national championship, with Spatola serving as an assistant coach.
Krzyzewski also led the U.S. men’s national basketball team to a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where Spatola worked as a court coach.
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever drop statement win on top-seeded Lynx in final home game
After a dismal outing on Sunday, the Indiana Fever got their spark back on Tuesday, cruising to a 96–77 win over the league-best Minnesota Lynx in their final game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse of the regular season.
Working in the Fever's favor was not just a collectively strong performance from their starters, but also the absence of rookie sensation Olivia Miles for the Lynx, who sat out with a calf injury. Indiana built momentum early, handing Minnesota a 23-point deficit before halftime, which marked the Lynx's largest deficit of the season. Coach Cheryl Reeve turned to her reserves for an extended run in the third quarter, where Minnesota finally found a rhythm and cut the lead back to single digits.
Caitlin Clark flirted with a triple-double through three quarters, finishing with a game-high 27 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
One notable rotation adjustment following Sunday's deflating loss was the flip in minutes between Sophie Cunningham and rookie Raven Johnson. The Fever favored Johnson on Sunday, limiting Cunningham to just seven minutes of action. Tuesday was a different story, as Cunningham saw significantly more court time than Johnson, and Indiana’s offense ran noticeably smoother with her on the floor.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
Indiana's "Big 3" of Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell balled out, combining for 67 points.
Mitchell also extended her scorching streak, tallying her 27th consecutive game with 20 or more points.
"I thought our third quarter was a bit sloppy," Clark said after the win.
"You've got to give their bench credit, but overall I thought our pace and intentionality on the offensive end were good."
Sunday's brutal loss to Washington is officially in the rearview after Indiana flexed on the top-seeded Lynx, grabbing a massive momentum boost right before the playoffs and keeping their chase for first-round home-court advantage hot.
The Fever will finish the regular season on Thursday with a rematch against the Lynx, this time in Minnesota.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Ella Langley says 'Choosin' Texas' success is 'changing my life' after her song breaks Mariah Carey's record
Ella Langley knew "Choosin' Texas" was special. Even she couldn't have predicted just how far it would go.
On Tuesday night, Langley took to Instagram to celebrate making Billboard Hot 100 history this week when "Choosin' Texas" logged its 23rd week at No. 1, surpassing Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" for the longest reign at the top of the chart.
"I'm genuinely trying to find the words to explain what's going on in my brain today," Langley began her video. "What? I don't know. Thank you so much. Thank you for loving this song, for listening to it. I feel like… I just don't even know what to say at this point. I'm running out of hyperboles to describe how I feel, so I will just let my dog in the background show you his excitement," she continued as her dog barked.
"Just thank you. Thank you so much. It's changing my life. It's changing the lives of the writers of this song. It's changing the lives of my family and it is truly growing an atmosphere for something I'm gonna be able to do the rest of my life and I just… today doesn't feel like a real thing," Langley said. "It feels fake and somebody's going to come in and be like 'haha we're kidding the whole time just kidding.'"
ELLA LANGLEY SEEMINGLY FIRES BACK AFTER DOJA CAT'S BRUTAL TAKE ON HER CHART-TOPPING HIT
"I'm really excited to just experience a moment like this in my life," she said.
The country music star told her fans that she was going to celebrate tonight before ending with, "Choosin' T… that's the one huh?"
In a resurfaced interview with Billboard from March, when the song was still climbing, Langley admitted its success had already surpassed anything she imagined when she wrote it.
"When we wrote it, I knew it was going on the record. I honestly knew it was going to be the lead single," Langley told Billboard.
"And we love that song, but I don't think I could have ever imagined what's happening with it right now," she continued. "Like I said, every day I wake up and it's doing something that I didn't even know was a goal that I could have had."
"It's just nuts," Langley added. "It's crazy to see the ownership that the fans have taken over it. And the different demographics of people listening to the song is so cool."
What seemed unimaginable to Langley in March has since become historic.
ELLA LANGLEY'S 'CHOOSIN' TEXAS' SPENDS 15 WEEKS AT NUMBER ONE ON THE BILLBOARD HOT 100
"Choosin' Texas" first entered the Hot 100 in November 2025, became Langley's first top 10 in January and reached No. 1 for the first time in February.
The song has also spent 41 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
Long before it became a record breaker, however, "Choosin' Texas" began with a story about a kangaroo.
Langley recalled writing the song during her first songwriting retreat with country superstar Miranda Lambert and two other writers.
"So, I was on a writer's retreat with Miranda," Langley explained in the resurfaced Billboard interview. "This is our first time that we had written together and obviously we were there with two others."
PUT YOUR ENTERTAINMENT KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST AND SEE HOW YOU SCORE
Billboard credits Langley, Lambert, Luke Dick and Joybeth Taylor as the four co-writers of "Choosin' Texas."
Langley said Lambert began telling her a story about a pet kangaroo.
"I learned at a young age she had a pet kangaroo and I wanted to ask her about it," Langley recalled. "So, I was like, 'Tell me about this kangaroo that you had. I need to know.'"
ELLA LANGLEY'S TEXAS PHOTO DUMP SENDS COUNTRY MUSIC FANS INTO A FRENZY ONLINE ON INSTAGRAM
Lambert told the group about once being pulled over with the kangaroo riding in the passenger seat and a dog in the back.
Advertisment
"She said she got pulled over and the kangaroo ended up getting her out of a ticket, but she's like, 'Of course, I had Texas plates on, too,'" Langley recalled.
ELLA LANGLEY JOINS MUSIC ROYALTY WITH 'INSANE' MILESTONE FOR 'CHOOSIN' TEXAS'
That was enough to spark the song.
"And I went, 'Well, she's from Texas, I can tell,'" Langley said. "And just from that phrase, it kind of all hit us."
According to Langley, the melody came almost immediately, with Lambert helping develop the story behind it.
"And 45 minutes later, we had that song written," Langley said. "And it was just, it was such a cool experience."
Lambert's involvement didn't end in the writing room.
Langley told Billboard that the country superstar was executive producing her next record and had become someone she could turn to for advice.
"There's not a rulebook to this job," Langley said. "So to be able to have someone like her to ask questions and think, you know, is it, should I be doing this? She's like, 'Hell yeah, you should be doing this.'"
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Even Lambert was surprised by what was happening with "Choosin' Texas."
"My team's calling me every day freaking out about this song," Langley recalled Lambert telling her.
At the time of the March interview, the song had reached No. 5 on the Hot 100.
"How crazy is that?" Langley said.
"And for me, like, what, me? You mean me?"
Six months later, "Choosin' Texas" stands alone as the longest-running No. 1 song in Hot 100 history.
Langley's historic week comes as she continues performing across the country.
GET ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
The singer recently shared photos from stops in Oxford, Mississippi; Athens, Georgia; and Jacksonville, Florida.
"Oxford, Athens & Jacksonville ❤️," she captioned the Instagram post.
The images showed Langley performing with her guitar, posing near an Ole Miss sign in a dress and red boots, holding a snake and preparing backstage in front of a lighted mirror. Another captured an older couple dancing during her show.
Fans celebrated her record in the comments.
Harris keeps 2028 door open as she hits midterm campaign trail, warns ‘28 won’t matter’ without 2026
Former Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday that she has not decided whether she will run for president again in 2028, telling voters in Detroit that the upcoming midterm elections must come first.
Harris was directly asked during a fireside chat whether she had thought about running for president in 2028 and whether another White House campaign was "on your plate."
"I have not decided if I'm going to run again," Harris said before turning the focus to the midterms.
"I do, I do sincerely believe 28 won't matter if we don't get through 26."
GAVIN NEWSOM SAYS HE WON'T RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028 IF KAMALA HARRIS RUNS
Harris said she was focused on traveling the country and reminding voters of the power of their voices ahead of the 2026 elections.
"And I'm a big believer that you can be. When you focus on the thing out there, you trip on the thing over here."
The exchange came during Harris' second event Tuesday in Detroit, where she participated in a fireside chat moderated by Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit Branch NAACP and pastor of Fellowship Chapel, and Rev. Dr. Genetta Y. Hatcher, pastor of The Room Church.
Before asking Harris about a possible 2028 campaign, Anthony encouraged those in attendance to vote and referenced early and mail-in voting.
Harris was later presented with "take your souls to the polls" merchandise.
KAMALA HARRIS CLAIMS GOP 'CHEATING' AHEAD OF MIDTERMS, SAYS SHE'S FOCUSED ON STOPPING THE 'MADNESS'
Earlier Tuesday, Harris campaigned alongside Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed at a roundtable focused on Black maternal health and healthcare costs. Harris used the event to criticize President Donald Trump's healthcare policies and voice support for El-Sayed.
Harris' remarks came as she focuses on the 2026 midterms while leaving open the possibility of another presidential campaign.
Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024 after then-President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign.
She went on to lose the presidential election to Trump.
Lukashenko reveals bizarre argument he and Putin have over who is the ‘bigger dictator’
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko revealed during a speech to youth leaders in Minsk that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin regularly joke and argue over which of them qualifies as the ultimate dictator.
The Belarusian leader's comments at "Youth. Belarus. Future." Sept. 17 also underlines the close alignment between Moscow and Minsk with Lukashenko enjoying his position as Europe’s longest-serving head of state.
Lukashenko has ruled over Belarus unhindered since 1994, with Putin leading Russia since 2012, also serving as president between 2000 and 2008.
"You know what they say about me?" Lukashenko asked the audience during his Sept. 17 address, according to Novaya Gazeta.
TRUMP SAYS US HELPED SECURE RELEASE OF 5 PRISONERS IN BELARUS DEAL, THANKS LUKASHENKO
"[I am] the last dictator, the second-to-last dictator in Europe. Dictator, dictator. Vladimir Putin and I often joke and argue over which of us is more of a dictator.
"They say I’m the last dictator, the last dictator in Europe. Dictator — so be it. Well, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and I often argue, jokingly, about which of us is the bigger dictator."
Lukashenko, 72, a former Soviet collective farm manager, is also known to be Putin’s closest international partner and ally.
While Minsk has not committed ground troops to the war in Ukraine, it serves as a strategic staging ground for Moscow, with Russia relying on Belarus for military and strategic support in its ongoing war against Ukraine.
According to the Kyiv Post, Belarus specifically provides Russia with key weapons components and allows its forces to launch military strikes from Belarusian territory.
An August report by Ukrainska Pravda also highlighted a new railway construction capable of handling military trains in Belarus' Gomel Oblast near the Ukraine border.
RUSSIA’S STRIKES NEAR MOLDOVA RAISE ALARM OVER PUTIN’S PLANS FOR EUROPE’S EASTERN FLANK
The strength of the relationship between the two countries comes as Western officials increase pressure on Moscow and its allies and with the two leaders reported to be in frequent contact.
After meeting in Moscow Aug. 27, Lukashenko officially congratulated Putin Sept. 21 after the Russian election results.
He praised the "unprecedented turnout of millions of voters" and the majority secured by the United Russia party, calling it a proper response to "cynical attempts from the outside to discredit the campaign and sow discord."
Addressing the youth forum in Minsk on political succession in Belarus, Lukashenko insisted no one is prepared to take over power.
"Never believe those who say that Lukashenko is ‘clinging to power with blue-knuckled hands’," he told the audience.
"Good Lord, let them say it. I have had my fill of this power to the point where I could not possibly want any more of it.
"The only question is whether you are capable today of taking over the country and holding on to it," he added. "If you are, start tomorrow. To be frank, I cannot yet answer that question positively. Do not take offense.
"I became a dictator then because I stood up against the entire ‘civilized world.'"
Western nations maintain strict economic pressure on Minsk. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys recently reiterated the Baltic nation's firm stance.
"We do not see any reasons why our position on Belarus should soften as Belarus is not changing its behavior," Budrys said.
"On our side, we have to be very exact and continue what works, and that is the pressure on the regime."
Despite international sanctions, Lukashenko announced Sept. 11 that Belarus has begun selling potash, a primary export used in fertilizer, to the United States.
While Western nations maintain economic restrictions over human rights abuses, U.S. sanctions on Belarusian potash were lifted after recent political prisoner releases, though European Union sanctions remain active.
‘Big Sister’ warning resurfaces as Massachusetts expands home visits after Clancy trial
Twenty-seven years before Massachusetts proposed to dramatically expand a taxpayer-funded program sending nurses into the homes of families with newborns, legendary conservative firebrand and grassroots women’s leader Phyllis Schlafly posed a question that her daughter says now sounds remarkably familiar.
"Are the American people willing to allow government agents to come into their homes to ‘advise’ them how to care for their babies?" Schlafly wrote in a March 1999 column titled, "Watch out for ‘Big Sister’ as Well as ‘Big Brother.’"
The warning resurfaced as Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey seeks $2 million to expand the state’s Welcome Family program, which offers nurse visits following childbirth. The program serves approximately 3,000 births annually, and the expansion is intended to make visits available following roughly 68,000 births statewide per year.
The push comes in the aftermath of the Lindsay Clancy case, which put a searing spotlight on maternal mental illness. Clancy does not dispute that she killed her three young children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months — inside their Duxbury home in 2023.
Clancy's defense argued she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and was not criminally responsible, while prosecutors argued she knew her actions were wrong. The jury deadlocked, resulting in a mistrial.
For Anne Schlafly, chairman of Eagle Forum and Phyllis Schlafly’s daughter, her mother’s warning has now taken on new resonance.
"My mother was very prescient about the things that could happen if we let government intrude into our family lives," Schlafly told Fox News Digital.
"Her point was a government agent or an agent of the government has no business in your home, in your castle, snooping around and determining whether or not you’re raising the children the way the government wants you to raise the children," she said. "After all, the home is our castle."
Phyllis Schlafly’s 1999 column focused on Healthy Families America and similar home-visiting initiatives, warning about programs that screened families for risk factors, connected parents with health and social services and offered parenting guidance inside the home.
She also questioned whether programs officially described as "voluntary" would always operate that way in practice.
Massachusetts today describes Welcome Family as voluntary. Nurses assess the health of the "parents and caregivers" and newborn, answer questions about newborn care, screen for postpartum mental health concerns and connect families with additional services.
MICHIGAN LAWMAKER MOVES TO SHUT DOWN 'GUARDRAIL-FREE' CASH HANDOUT PROGRAM FOR NEW MOTHERS
Notably, Massachusetts lists "ensuring that your home is safe" among the subjects Welcome Family nurses may advise parents about, though the program’s family information page does not specify particular home safety criteria.
The state has called Welcome Family an "entry point into the system of care" for families with newborns. Healthy Families America, the program at the center of Schlafly’s 1999 column, is also among the models Massachusetts lists within its broader Home Visiting Initiative, though it is separate from Welcome Family.
Healey described her vision for the expansion in broader terms during an interview on Boston Public Radio.
"Everybody in the state, when you have a baby, you’re going to have a home visit within days, weeks, and that will be an opportunity for a healthcare provider to make an assessment to see if you need some additional support and resources," Healey said.
Anne Schlafly questioned what meaningful consent looks like shortly after childbirth.
"Is it really voluntary if you don’t have true informed consent?" Schlafly said. "If you have just given birth, you’ve been in labor, you’ve been under sedation, can you really recognize what you were signing up for supposedly on a voluntary basis?
"I think mothers need to have the full disclosure that this would be a government agent in the home."
The scale of the proposed expansion also concerns Schlafly.
"If government is going to expand their reach and hire a whole bunch of more people and use taxpayer money to send out all these agents to the families, I mean, that’s quite an expansion," she said. "This idea of coming in to inspect and see what’s going on in your home smacks of Big Sister and Big Brother both."
Massachusetts does not characterize the visits as inspections but as voluntary health and support services.
State officials point to results from the existing program. In 2025, Welcome Family offered 1,620 postpartum depression screenings, with 208 positive screenings. The state says every person who screened positively received a referral for services.
Schlafly said she does not object to families choosing to accept that help.
"If people want to have this help from Governor Healey, then they can avail themselves of it," she said.
Her dividing line, she said, is whether parents retain the ability to refuse.
"I think any time you make it compulsory, the line has been crossed," Schlafly said. "I would say the only way that this Massachusetts program could be acceptable is if the parents could opt out at any time."
Massachusetts’ published materials describe participation as voluntary.
Fox News Digital reached out to Healey’s office for comment and clarification about parents’ ability to decline visits, information collected during visits and whether information may be shared with other state agencies.
Nearly three decades after her mother warned about "Big Sister" entering the family home, Schlafly said she believes she knows what her mother would tell Massachusetts parents today.
"There’s no doubt that Phyllis Schlafly would advise parents to reject busybodies who want to inspect their home," she said. "The home is a sacred and private area, and Governor Healey has no business in the homes of Massachusetts parents.
"Let’s leave her to the state house and not the kitchen table."
Kamala Harris says 'attack on DEI is an attack on maternal care' in appearance with El-Sayed
Former Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday declared that an attack on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is an attack on maternal care as she joined Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit to rally support ahead of the November midterm elections.
Harris made the remarks during a campaign roundtable with El-Sayed and several healthcare advocates focused on Black maternal health and healthcare costs.
"An attack on DEI, to recognize diversity, equity and inclusion, is an attack by definition on maternal care, including the need to protect Black women in connection with their pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care," Harris said.
She noted that maternal mortality rates are disproportionately higher among minority groups, with the risk of death increasing up to four times for Black women and three times for Native women.
"One in 12 women in America currently lives in a maternal care desert with limited or no access to maternal care," she added.
Harris then took aim at political leaders who tout "family values," arguing that efforts to end DEI programs strip away protections aimed at supporting certain communities during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care.
BIDEN-ERA DIRECTIVE FOR DIPLOMATS TO PEDDLE DEI ON FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS SCRAPPED BY STATE DEPARTMENT
"As one of the most — some would say the most financially strong economies in the world — we have the distinction of also having one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world," she said.
"So, it raises the issue of disparities and also hypocrisy when there are leaders who otherwise walk around every day talking about their family values."
Harris also turned her criticism toward President Donald Trump’s health care legislation, which she referred to as the "Big Bad Bill," arguing that it cut Medicaid spending with the support of former Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate nominee facing El-Sayed.
"Medicaid is the largest funder for maternity care in America," she said. "Donald Trump cut Medicaid funding by a trillion dollars. These are the facts Mike Rogers supported that cut through that ‘Big Bad Bill.’"
Harris closed by reaffirming her support for El-Sayed in the Senate race, pointing to his position on maternal health and saying she believes he would be a "champion" on the issue.
"I'm here to support Doctor El Sayed, because, on this subject, I know he will be a champion," she said. "And I have a right to say that."