Fox News Latest Headlines
NPR gets $80 million gift from Democratic megadonor in major boost after losing government funding
NPR has received $113 million in charitable donations from two sources, including $80 million from a Democratic megadonor, the organization announced Thursday.
"NPR’s mission is unwavering, but our means must evolve," NPR CEO Katherine Maher said in a statement. "This remarkable investment will enable NPR to continue to deliver the nation’s finest public service journalism, meeting audiences where they are today and will be in the years to come."
Obama Foundation board member and major Democratic donor Connie Ballmer contributed $80 million of the total, directing the funds toward expanding NPR’s digital capabilities and improving how it reaches audiences across platforms.
CPB IRKED WITH NPR AFTER OUTLET TRIES TO BLOCK $58 MILLION IN DISPERSEMENTS TO NEW NONPROFIT
"I support NPR because an informed public is the bedrock of our society, and democracy requires strong, independent journalism," Ballmer said, according to NPR. "My hope is that this commitment provides the stability and the spark NPR needs to innovate boldly and strengthen its national network."
Federal filings show hundreds of donations from Ballmer to Democratic politicians, PACs and organizations, including a $7 million donation in 2020 to Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and $500,000 to Unite the Country, a super PAC supporting Joe Biden in 2020.
Ballmer is married to billionaire and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, one of the richest people in the world.
An anonymous donor provided NPR the remaining $33 million, which it said will go toward developing and sharing tools and services with public media organizations.
The donations came after Congress voted to rescind $1.1 billion in previously approved funding for public media, in a move cheered by President Donald Trump. The cuts reduced budgets across the system, with public radio stations losing about 10% of their funding and public television stations closer to 15%, NPR reported.
NPR, which lost about 1 to 2% of its annual budget with the move, has taken steps to support its affiliates. The organization said it had moved "to shore up station finances by easing the fees it charges them to carry its major news programs."
FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER TO CEASE FUNDING FOR NPR AND PBS, CITES FIRST AMENDMENT
In response to financial strain, NPR said it has also offered assistance in fundraising, marketing, and "other endeavors."
A separate effort known as Public Media Infrastructure has emerged, described as a "a separate, and in some ways competing, venture" involving organizations, including New York Public Radio and American Public Media Group, aimed at providing shared services across the industry.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Ballmer Group for comment but did not immediately hear back.
California Democrats admit they heard rumors about Swalwell's alleged sexual misconduct
Two California Democrats have acknowledged they heard rumors about Eric Swalwell's alleged sexual misconduct over the years during CNN interviews on Wednesday.
Rep. Sam Liccardo, D-Calif., told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he first heard the rumors when Swalwell announced his gubernatorial campaign.
"I first heard about the rumors when Swalwell announced his run for governor in November and knew political consultants who talk about what we call oppo files, these opposition records that political consultants compile, talking about Swalwell's sexual misconduct. At that time, nobody was talking about rape, as we're hearing now. It was not sexual assault, but clearly sexual misconduct, abuse of his position. And there's no question, I think, as Sen. Gallego said, rumors about that were going on for many, many years," Liccardo said.
He wondered why action wasn't taken and why there weren't more questions asked about his behavior.
SWALWELL ACCUSERS DETAIL EXPERIENCES WITH LAWMAKER AFTER HE ANNOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION FROM CONGRESS
"And you can't act individually on rumors, but, certainly, when you have a swirl of rumors like this, it raises the question, why wasn't there action taken?" Liccardo said. "And equally important, not just what happened here in D.C., but in California, why did so many powerful groups and individuals get behind a man that had so many swirling rumors of sexual misconduct? Why weren't important questions asked?"
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat running in the California governor's race, also acknowledged rumors in an interview with CNN's Pamela Brown on Wednesday.
"I think many of us had heard the rumors as well. Never seen any corroboration. But, certainly, I think that the word had gone out. Look, these are public servants. They should know they're going to be held accountable. So, one way or the other, the facts are going to come forward. And they should. There are a lot of survivors who have now come forward. They deserve the truth," Becerra responded.
ERIC SWALWELL CAMPAIGN PAID HOTEL WHERE ACCUSER LONNA DREWES CLAIMS ASSAULT TOOK PLACE
He was also asked about Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who was one of Swalwell's closest friends in Congress, who said their tight-knit relationship "clouded" his judgment regarding rumors that swirled about the ex-lawmaker for years in Washington, D.C.
"Eric Swalwell lied to all of us," Gallego said at a press conference in his office on Tuesday. "He lied to the most powerful people in this country, and they trusted him. They trusted him with some of the most sensitive spots in our government, whether it was on Judiciary Committee, Intel Committee, impeaching Donald Trump."
"And that clouded my judgment, my friendship with him," he continued. "Our family's friendship together with him clouded my judgment. And I was wrong. I deeply, deeply regret that."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
Brown asked Becerra if Gallego's explanation was defendable.
"I'm not going to try to put myself in Sen. Gallego's shoes, but I will tell you this. There has not been enough accountability. That's a fact. And we're going to have to see accountability go all the way through. The fact that Congressman Swalwell has left the race for governor, the fact that he's resigned his position as a member of Congress, those are all, I believe, the right moves. But that doesn't mean that accountability is done. The business of accountability means getting to the truth for these survivors," Becerra said.
Swalwell has denied all the allegations, but has acknowledged mistakes were made.
Tokyo Joshi provides fresh look at women’s wrestling as champions stay on top
Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling put on a showcase of women’s pro wrestling in Las Vegas at the Pearl Theater on Thursday afternoon at the Pearl Theater inside Palms Casino Resort as part of Slam Fest.
And don’t be fooled — though the women of Joshi entered the ring with sparkly and elaborate outfits, the wrestlers hit just as hard as anyone else.
J-Rod learned that the hard way as she challenged Yuki Arai for the Princess of Princess Championship.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
J-Rod hoped to become the first American to win the title. Arai, known as "The Genius Girl," initially felt the pain that J-Rod can bring to the ring.
J-Rod kept pushing Arai down to that, seemingly suggesting that because she was bigger and stronger, she was easily going to win the match. Arai used her quickness and agility to move around J-Rod. Arai had J-Rod in a sharpshooter, but "The Ultimate Athlete" would break out.
Arai even received a spear from J-Rod, and tried to pin her. But after a near fall, J-Rod’s frustration was building.
"What more do I have to do?" she yelled out to the crowd. "There’s no way you can remain champion."
Arai went on the offensive from there. She avoided another spear from J-Rod and hit her with a full-nelson slam. She pinned J-Rod for the win to retain the Princess of Princess Championship.
CMLL TAKES CENTER STAGE FOR HISTORIC US SHOW IN LAS VEGAS AMID WRESTLEMANIA WEEK
"Thank you for today," Yuki says. "I’m so happy to beat you. J, I love you. OK?"
J-Rod grabbed the mic from Arai and vowed she would be back.
"I underestimated you, Yuki. Tonight, you earned my respect, I love you too," J-Rod said.
There were no championship changes on the card.
The Las Vegas crowd got to see familiar faces in The IInspiration in action. Cassie Lee and Billie McKay defended the Princess Tag Championship against former champions Shoko Nakajima and Hyper Misao.
Though The IInspiration was up to their usual antics, they used their teamwork to keep Misao at bay while they worked on Nakajima. Lee hit Nakajima with a codebreaker and pinned her for the win.
Miyu Yamashita was in action in a special three-way match against Mizuki and Miu Watanabe. While Yamashita showed off the brute strength that has made her one of the most dangerous Japanese pro wrestlers in the industry, Mizuki and Watanabe’s high-flying style came out early in the match.
Watanabe nailed Yamashita with a Meteora from the ramp early in the match. But Watanabe and Mizuki were no match for Yamashita in the end.
Yamashita would pin Watanabe to pick up the victory.
Other results included Suzume retaining the International Princess Championship over Sakura Hattoari, Yuki Kamifuku and Wakana Uehara, known as Ober Eats, defeated Toga and Uta Takimi and Raku, Pom Harajuku and Yuki Aing defeated Alexis Lee, Shino Suzuki and Himawari.
Fan drilled with errant pass while on her phone sitting courtside at NBA play-in tournament
A woman paid the ultimate price for not paying attention to high-octane basketball while sitting courtside.
During Wednesday night's Philadelphia 76ers-Orlando Magic play-in tournament game, a woman who had floor seats was on her phone when a pass from Paolo Banchero went haywire.
Just about everyone in the vicinity of the basketball moved out of the way, except for the one person who the ball was in a direct line toward.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
The unsuspecting woman took the ball right to the head, and it ricocheted several rows behind her.
76ers star Tyrese Maxey rushed over to check on the woman. She is said to have toughed out the rest of the game.
Hopefully, for her sake, it was worth it, as the Sixers earned a 109-97 win to clinch the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.
Maxey, named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter for the first time in his career, scored seven straight points late in the fourth to give the Sixers some breathing room against a Magic team that wasted a chance to play this game at home with a late collapse in a loss to the Boston Celtics in the season finale. Maxey finished with 31 points on the night.
VJ Edgecombe added 19 points and 11 rebounds.
The Sixers now face those same Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Joel Embiid had an emergency appendectomy last week in Houston. While the 76ers haven’t given a timetable for his return, the two-time scoring champion returned to the team Wednesday, surprising teammates in the locker room and watching the game from the bench.
The Magic will now play the Charlotte Hornets, who kept their season alive by defeating the Miami Heat Tuesday.
Sixers fans chanted "We want Boston!" in the waning moments, but it might be best to pay heed to series history. The 76ers have lost their last six playoff series against the Celtics. Philadelphia last topped Boston in a series in 1982.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
FBI has received DNA data from Nancy Guthrie case: sources
The FBI has received DNA evidence recovered from the Tucson, Arizona, home of Nancy Guthrie, sources familiar with the investigation confirmed to Fox News Digital.
A source with knowledge of the investigation confirmed that investigators had collected DNA from Nancy's home. The Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) said that information is not new, but it had not been shared with the public previously.
A PCSD spokesperson said that they've been "sharing a lot of things" with the FBI lab since the beginning of the Guthrie investigation. In a statement posted to X, the PCSD noted that they have "worked with the FBI since the beginning of the Guthrie investigation" and characterized the sharing of DNA samples between the private Florida lab and federal authorities as "not new information," adding that the analysis remains ongoing.
"PCSD has worked with the FBI since the beginning of the Guthrie investigation. This is not new information," the department wrote on X. "The private lab we utilize in Florida continues to share information with the FBI lab & other partner labs across the country. DNA analysis remains ongoing."
Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos previously said DNA recovered from the scene had not yet led police to a suspect in the kidnapping of the mother of "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie.
Earlier in the investigation, the sheriff's department sent a sample to the FBI to check against its CODIS database. That came back without a hit, and authorities later ruled out a connection to the case. There was also another mixed, partial sample that was not strong enough to develop a profile suitable for CODIS.
More than 11 weeks after her disappearance, it remains unclear what answers that sample may be able to provide. Based on how long it’s taken, experts believe it is a complex mixture containing DNA from three or more people.
"I would assume it would be Nancy plus two or more unknowns," said CeCe Moore, a leading investigative genetic genealogist at Parabon Nanolabs.
At least one of the contributions came from a male, authorities said previously.
Other DNA has already been processed. Blood on the front porch traced back to Guthrie. The lab also tested a suspicious glove recovered about two miles from her home, which authorities said appeared similar to those worn by a masked suspect on Guthrie’s Nest doorbell camera.
The glove provided no answers after it did not match any known criminals in the FBI’s CODIS database and did not match any other samples recovered inside the home.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB
Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was abducted from her residence in the early hours of Feb. 1.
Investigators and the family have repeatedly appealed to the public for help. There is a combined reward of more than $1.2 million in connection with the case — a million of it from the Guthrie family for their mother's recovery. The family has asked anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
DOJ opens investigation into Eric Swalwell over sexual assault allegations
The Department of Justice is investigating the multiple sexual assault allegations against former California Rep. Eric Swalwell, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Within the last few weeks, Swalwell has been accused by five different women of sexual assault and harassment over the last several years. District attorneys for both Los Angeles and New York have also launched their own respective investigations.
The string of allegations includes that he allegedly drugged and raped one woman and sexually assaulted one of his staffers, which have spurred at least two local criminal investigations. He has denied all the allegations, but has admitted to making mistakes.
Following the allegations, Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor and resigned from his position in Congress.
'THE VIEW' CO-HOST CLAIMS SHE PERSONALLY WITNESSED TROUBLING BEHAVIOR FROM SWALWELL
"I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past," Swalwell said in a statement announcing his resignation. "I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make."
"I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong," he continued. "But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress."
While Swalwell was originally silent as the allegations began, his office broke its silence earlier this week speaking to the New York Post.
"This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race," Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell, said at the time.
Swalwell first became a member of the House of Representatives in 2013 after serving as a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. He was also a city councilmember in Dublin, California, in 2010.
The Utah Utes have a secret weapon at tight end you need to see to believe
We have reached the point in the college football offseason where spring practices are coming to a close and depth charts are starting to take shape.
All the hard work these young men have put in this winter in the weight room and on the practice field is feeling like it's starting to pay off, and many will end up on "freaks lists," highlighting the physical progress they've made since camp started.
The Utah Utes have a tight end that may end up on several freaks lists, but perhaps not in the conventional manner.
When you think of a physically "freaky" tight end, you probably think of specimens like Gronk or Kyle Pitts.
These are tall and fast human beings that create mismatch nightmares all over the field thanks to their length and speed.
The Utes' tight end falls on the opposite end of the freak spectrum, and you'll have to see young man to believe him.
What an absolute unicorn!
There's a lot to unpack here, but first and foremost, I think I need to make a quick call to the All-Name Team, because a 336lb wrecking ball with the name "Semi" feels so on-the-nose that I have to wonder if his parents have a crystal ball.
You can't be named Semi and NOT be a freaking unit. I don't make the rules, I just write about them.
Also, can we check this "kid's" birth certificate? Because I refuse to believe that's a freshman.
He runs with the anger of a resentful man in his 40s, jaded by life events that won't happen to him for another decade.
They say "low man wins," and if that's the case, good luck stopping this guy.
At 5'11" and well over three bills, he has the center of gravity of Odd Job from the Goldeneye video game on the N64.
I can't wait to see this dude in action, and it looks like I'm not alone.
As is often the case with big guys who dream of playing a skill position, our dear Semi will likely get moved to defensive tackle or interior offensive lineman, and that would be a travesty.
The NIL opportunities alone for this kid have to be off the chart if he is out here catching touchdown passes at Rice Eccles Stadium in the fall.
I'm sure Mack Trucks have been dying for a spokesperson with this kind of aura, so let's make it happen.
I will be keeping a close eye on the Utes this season, and praying for any poor, unfortunate soul of a free safety that gets matched up on Semi this year.
Bring your own ice bath to Salt Lake City, boys.
Luther Davis allegedly wore disguises to pose as NFL players in multi-million dollar loan fraud scheme
A former college football player has been accused of pretending to be NFL stars in order to make nearly $20 million.
Luther Davis, who won the 2009 national championship with Alabama, has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Court documents obtained by AL.com say that Davis disguised himself with wigs and makeup to pose at Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix, free agent tight end David Njoku, and Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney, also an Alabama alum.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Davis and a partner, CJ Evins, "executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in loans from multiple lenders … by impersonating football players and falsely claiming those players were seeking multi-million dollar loans" from May 2023 until around October 2024, the documents said, according to the outlet.
The duo allegedly opened fraudulent bank accounts and email addresses to continue their disguises and even obtained fake IDs to pose as the players.
SHERRONE MOORE'S ALLEGED MISTRESS RIPS SENTENCE THAT KEPT FORMER MICHIGAN COACH OUT OF JAIL
Davis and Evins are slated for a hearing on April 27 when they are expected to plead guilty. They each face 20 years in prison.
According to The Guardian, the duo obtained Loans of over $4 million to impersonate both Njoku and McKinney.
"Unbeknownst to the broker and the lender, none of the players who were supposedly receiving the loans attended any of these closings," the filing read. "Rather, defendant Davis dressed in disguise and impersonated the players, providing fake identification documents to convince the notary."
Davis played in 45 games for the Crimson Tide, making 47 tackles. He originally committed to LSU but switched to the SEC rival.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Top NFL Draft prospect writes moving letter about growing up with a stutter, the adversity he faced
Top NFL Draft prospect KC Concepcion opened up about growing up with a stuttering issue in a letter to general managers.
Concepcion, a former Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver, opened his letter acknowledging his stuttering issues. The 21-year-old talked about being made fun of at school because of his stutter.
"The other kids at school, they’d notice how I’d get stuck on certain words. Or that it would take me a second to respond to the teacher, or to tell them my name," Concepcion wrote in The Players Tribune.
"And look — kids are mean sometimes. Simple as that. They’d point at me, or make faces, or raise their eyebrows, and then it’d be like, ’What’s wrong with you?!??!'"
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"Or, ‘Why can’t you talk normal? Are you dumb or something????’ Dead in my face. While cracking up laughing. Not with me, or even about me…. At me. Man … it was tough.
"But that’s how it went for me as a little kid. Every day. Monday through Friday at school. There were so many afternoons where I’d come home from school just totally beat down. I’d be crying my eyes out to my mom, for real."
Concepcion wrote that his mom would do everything she could to boost his confidence. The Rochester, New York, native said he looked forward to weekends because it meant he could be himself and would get to play football.
However, as the quarterback of the team, he said he would have trouble getting the words out when trying to call plays. Concepcion said that, during elementary school, he was in speech classes to try to help, but nothing seemed to work.
Concepcion said, one summer after the school year ended, his stutter was gone, but when he returned to school, the stutter returned and hasn’t gone away since. He said there wasn’t anyone at the school who was looking out for him when he was being made fun of for his stutter.
NFL BEGINS ONBOARDING REPLACEMENT OFFICIALS AS REFEREE LABOR DEAL NEARS EXPIRATION: REPORT
"I’d love to tell you I had a bunch of teachers looking out for me, or other grownups at school who would help me deal with all the teasing, but that wasn’t really the case. There also wasn’t anyone I knew or could look up to who was dealing with anything similar. So I basically just kind of figured things out on my own," Concepcion said.
"And back then, how I would deal with my situation is, a lot of times … I’d basically just not talk. Especially around people I didn’t know. And when I did have to speak up, I learned how to clap back. I had those comebacks ready, man! Sometimes that worked, and sometimes it didn’t. But it was like…. At least I’m doing something!"
The criticism Concepcion faced for his stutter continued at the NFL Scouting Combine in March, and he took to social media to fire back at critics. More than 80 million people around the world, including about 3 million Americans, deal with stuttering, according to The Stuttering Foundation.
Concepcion had a message for kids dealing with stuttering issues.
"So, to any kid out there who is carrying something heavy right now — a stutter, something that makes you feel different, anything that’s ever made someone look at you sideways … just know this: My success … it is your success, too," Concepcion wrote.
"I want you to come along on this journey with me. Because you and me? We’re not weird. There is nothing wrong with us. Whatever makes you different — that’s not the thing holding you back. That’s your thing. Own it. Be you, fully. Without apology."
With the Aggies last season, Concepcion caught 61 passes for 919 yards and nine touchdowns, leading the SEC in touchdowns. He was named to the All-American team for the first time in his collegiate career last season.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
'Baywatch' alum David Charvet accused of striking and killing a dog in gated Malibu community
"Baywatch" alum David Charvet has been accused of killing a dog in Malibu on Thursday morning.
Lost Hills law enforcement told Fox News Digital that they are not considering this incident a hit-and-run. Police officers responded to a reported traffic collision regarding a vehicle and a dog.
When they arrived, both parties were at the scene and the owner of the dog took their pet to receive immediate medical attention. Law enforcement said the dog passed away, and a report was written, pending further investigation.
Law enforcement would not confirm whether Charvet was involved in the incident.
Charvet's representative shared a statement with Fox News Digital, sharing that his client is an "animal lover" and a "responsible dog owner."
"David Charvet is an animal lover and responsible dog owner who would never intentionally harm an animal. At approximately 5:30 a.m. this morning, while driving through his neighborhood in low-light conditions, he encountered a neighbor walking three dogs off leash in the middle of the street," the statement began.
"He slowed his vehicle and moved to the side to pass safely. As he did so, one of the dogs moved under the vehicle. He immediately stopped, called 911, and remained at the scene until authorities arrived. He fully cooperated with the investigation and made himself available for any further help. His thoughts are with the family who lost their dog," the statement concluded.
Vera Errico, the owner of the dog, told TMZ she was walking her three dogs, all on leashes, in a gated Malibu community and Charvet was driving a pickup truck when he hit one of her animals.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Errico told the outlet that Charvet "did not stop" after striking the dog, and she believes he left the gated community and then called the police. She explained that Charvet hit her 11-year-old English Labrador, Sunday, and Errico and her husband took her straight to the vet after the incident.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Errico said the vet had to euthanize her dog.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Charvet's representative for comment.
Fox News Digital's Larry Fink contributed to this report