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Christina Haack, Heather Rae El Moussa turn heads in bikinis during glam desert family getaway
Christina Haack and Heather Rae El Moussa are redefining co-parenting goals one desert pool day at a time.
The stars of "The Flip Off" took to social media this week to share a glimpse into their latest blended-family excursion. Posing poolside against a backdrop of desert mountains, Haack and Heather Rae showcased their vacation style alongside Tarek El Moussa and Haackâs boyfriend, Christopher Larocca.
Haack opted for a vibrant yellow triangle bikini paired with a matching mesh sarong and a tan cowboy hat. Beside her, Heather Rae modeled a textured pastel pink bandeau bikini featuring a gold ring detail and a coordinating pink wrap. The group appeared relaxed and sun-soaked, marking another milestone for a family that has navigated public divorces and professional shifts to maintain a united front.
HGTVâS CHRISTINA HAACK SLIPS ON BIKINI FOR HAWAII GETAWAY WITH BOYFRIEND CHRIS LAROCCA
Beyond the foursome, the stars shared a look at the extended crew enjoying the holiday. A wide group shot featured a dozen family members, including the children that tie the group together. Haack and Tarek share daughter Taylor, 15, and son Brayden, 10, while the photo also included Haackâs youngest son, Hudson, 6, and Tarek and Heatherâs son, Tristan, 3.
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Heather Rae captioned the collection of photos, "Easter in the desert 2026 đ°đžđ„," sparking a wave of support from fans in the comments. One follower noted, "LLOOVVEE how youâre all blended and HAPPY. That is FAMILY," while another suggested the stars should "write about coparenting and cofamilying" because of how well they "flow together."
While the desert getaway looked effortless, Heather Rae took to TikTok this week to get candid about the work that goes into a long-term partnership. In a vulnerable video, she reflected on her seven-year relationship with Tarek, admitting that while they project a united front, they aren't "perfect" and have faced their share of hurdles.
"Tarek and I are not perfect. We have had our fair share of challenges like every marriage does," she told her followers. "I think that when you're with someone for a long time... everyone goes through things. You bring different traumas into your relationship."
Despite those "hard seasons," Heather Rae credited the strength of their marriage to Tarekâs consistent romantic gestures, which she says began the moment they met. She recalled how he "moved mountains" just to secure a first date with her, despite his grueling filming schedule and parenting responsibilities at the time.
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Heather Rae detailed that early romance, explaining how Tarek managed to surprise her at every turn. "Second date, had Valentino heels for me, guessed my size. Took me to Hawaii, shut down Jurassic Park and flew me and had a beautiful dinner for me," she revealed, emphasizing that "men will do anything if they want you."
The former "Selling Sunset" star noted she didn't make it easy for him initially, setting strict boundaries to see if he would truly prioritize the meeting. "I gave him one night," she recalled in the video. "I said, 'I'm available Monday, eight o'clock, you can come to LA, I'll only have drinks with you, nothing else, no dinner.' I was just like, 'That's it, take it or leave it. You want to see me, you will move mountains.'"
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"They will make it work and if they're not putting in that effort, they're not going to put that effort in the long term of your relationship," she added.
She warned her female followers that if a partner isn't "working hard to be romantic and loving" in the beginning, the relationship is likely to struggle as time goes on. For Heather Rae, Tarek's effort hasn't waned over the years; she noted he still sends her flowers on "random Tuesdays" just to tell her she's an amazing mother.
This commitment to family extends to their relationship with Haack. The two women have famously transitioned from exes and new spouses to colleagues and friends. Haack, who is currently dating Christopher Larocca, has previously praised Heather Raeâs work ethic and her role as a stepmother to Taylor and Brayden.
The trio continues to lean into their unique dynamic professionally as well. They are currently filming the second season of their HGTV competition series, "The Flip Off," which is slated to air later this year. The show follows the couples as they compete to see who can pull off the most profitable house renovation, turning their complex personal history into a high-stakes television rivalry.
Coast Guard opens criminal investigation into missing woman last seen in Bahamas
HOPE TOWN, Bahamas â The U.S. Coast Guard has opened a criminal investigation into the disappearance of an American woman who was last seen in the Bahamas, a Coast Guard official confirmed to Fox News Digital on Wednesday.
Lynette Hooker, 55, of Michigan, reportedly went missing Saturday while traveling by boat with her husband Brian Hooker, 58, according to Bahama officials.Â
She reportedly fell into the water and was carried away by the current, according to Brian.Â
Bahamian authorities have since launched extensive search-and-rescue operations, spanning marine, land, and aerial areas. Efforts have included the use of drones and professional divers to locate Hooker.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Scottie Scheffler's family, including 12-day-old son, enjoy Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta
Before the heat of competition truly begins with Thursdayâs first round, the Masters Par 3 Contest provides all golfers in the field the opportunity to make life-long memories with their families and friends.
Scottie Scheffler was among those surrounded by his entire family during the iconic event at Augusta National Golf Club â including his 12-day-old son.
Schefflerâs wife, Meredith, was seen with their son, Remy, strapped into a baby carrier, while their eldest, two-year-old Bennett, was having the time of his life teeing it up with his father.
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Remy was born on March 27 to the worldâs No. 1 golfer and his wife.
"Itâs been really nice and fun," Scheffler said about Remyâs birth to Golf Channelâs Cara Banks on Monday at Augusta National.
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"Iâm really glad they were able to travel with me this week, and you know, my wife is a trooper and brought the boys this week, and yeah, itâs been fun."
Schefflerâs parents, Scott and Diane, were also spotted with Meredith, Bennett, and Remy during his Sunday practice round, as they all hope the two-time green jacket winner can make it three this week.
But before Scheffler locks in with the rest of the field, he enjoyed watching Bennett roam around the nine-hole par-3 course with his blue plastic club, whacking at his own ball while he teed up some short shots. Itâs these moments just before competition that all golfers, those playing and even non-competing past champions, truly enjoy with their loved ones.
And of course, thereâs always the chance for a hole-in-one, which Jordan Spieth and Tommy Fleetwood took advantage of on Wednesday afternoon.
Family does come first for Scheffler, even if his newest addition to the family is already on the golf course less than two weeks after birth. He withdrew from the Houston Open this past month to be with Meredith and his family for the birth.
Now that the family of four is all gathered in Augusta, it will be time for Scheffler to take on the tricky Augusta National course in hopes he can win his third green jacket in the last five tournaments.
Scheffler finished fourth on the Masters leaderboard last year, three strokes behind Rory McIlory, who completed the career Grand Slam with a playoff win over Justin Rose.
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Missing teen case flips as âkidnappedâ girl found alive, built secret life as mom of 3, investigator: report
An Arizona girl who vanished at 13 and was long feared abducted has been found alive â now living a quiet life as a married mother of three working for a private investigations company, according to a report.
Christina "Tina" Marie Plante, now 45, is living in Springfield, Missouri, more than 1,100 miles from where she disappeared in 1994, where she built a new life after leaving home as a teenager, according to the Daily Mail.
The outlet reported Plante married as a teen, raised three sons and later earned a psychology degree from Missouri State University. She now works in a supervisory role for a Springfield-based firm that investigates insurance fraud, according to the Daily Mail.
She shares a five-bedroom home with her husband of nearly three decades, Shawn Hollon, a software engineering manager.
ARIZONA GIRL LAST SEEN WALKING TO STABLE BEFORE VANISHING FOUND ALIVE DECADES LATER, AUTHORITIES SAY
Hollon told the Daily Mail that his wife has been processing the renewed attention after being identified and said she had shared her story with him before they married in 1998, though he declined to discuss the details publicly.
Authorities say Plante has been reluctant to provide specifics about how she disappeared.
FAMILY RAMPS UP SEARCH FOR MISSING COFFEE SHOP OWNER, MOTHER OF TWO, URGES PUBLIC TO CHECK CAMERAS
Gila County Sheriffâs Office Chief Deputy Jim Lahti told the Daily Mail that Plante has not explained who she was with when she left or how she managed to get out of town. He said she acknowledged running away and indicated she had contact with another family member at the time.
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Plante was last seen around midday on May 15, 1994, leaving her home in Star Valley after telling others she was heading to a nearby horse stable. When she didnât return, the case was classified as missing and endangered under suspicious circumstances.
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Her disappearance prompted an extensive search and years of investigation, with early concerns that she may have been abducted. Those fears were never confirmed, and the case eventually went cold.
Decades later, a cold case team reopened the investigation using modern tools, including social media and public records, ultimately identifying Plante and confirming she was alive.
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"I guess she wasnât happy with where she was living and who she was living with, and she ran away," cold case investigator Capt. Jamie Garrett told NewsNation.
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"I was dumbfounded," Garrett added. "I was like, âOh, my gosh. OK, so you ran away.â I told her, âYou know, we were under the impression that somebody kidnapped you. It was deemed a criminal offense.â"
Authorities say the case is now considered resolved.
While many details about how she left remain unclear, officials say Plante has since built a stable life and has chosen to keep much of her past private.
Washington Post columnist argues Muslims shouldn't have to assimilate in America
Washington Post columnist Shadi Hamid is making the case that Muslims don't need to assimilate in America.
"The assimilation defense â look how well weâve integrated â is satisfying to make. But it concedes a premise I no longer accept: that a minority communityâs right to be in the United States depends on its willingness to converge with the cultural mainstream. It shouldnât depend on that. It shouldnât depend on anything," Hamid wrote Wednesday.
Hamid, who is Muslim, titled his piece "Iâm tired of proving I belong in America," responding to rhetoric from GOP lawmakers like Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., who last month wrote on X, "Muslims donât belong in American society," and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who recently said, "Iâm ready to get rid of the Muslims."
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"Over the past decade, surveys have shown that American Muslims are patriotic, civically engaged and more likely than the U.S. general public to say that political violence is never justified. Youâd think that would be enough. Except it shouldnât have to be. And this is where it gets uncomfortable â for me, at least," Hamid told readers, citing various data.
"Muslims are different in certain ways. How could they not be?" he later wrote. "Islam shapes how its adherents think about family, sexuality and what it means to live a good life. Simply put, Islam is also a more public religion than Christianity. Muslim prayer is visually striking and often communal. If a Muslim doesnât drink alcohol or fasts during Ramadan, that will be more noticeable to others."
"Moreover, practicing Muslims â despite being repeatedly asked to â canât disavow 'sharia' even if they wanted to. Sharia, roughly translated as Islamic law, includes guidelines on how to pray, fast and otherwise observe what it means to submit to God in daily practice," Hamid continued.
The Post columnist insisted Muslims have "increasingly integrated into American civic life" while maintaining their religious commitments versus other minority groups, which he says begs the question "Why do Muslims need to be like everyone else?" He went on to cite data showing rates of Catholics among the Latino community have drastically fallen and "American acceptance" led to the decline of the Jewish population in the U.S. and the rise of their intermarriage rates.
"What strikes me about these stories is how much they resemble each other," Hamid wrote. "The deal is always the same: You can stay, but you have to become less yourself. Less distinctively Muslim, less traditionally Jewish, less recognizably Latino. The specifics of your faith and culture â the things that make your community a community rather than a collection of individuals â are treated as obstacles on the path to real Americanness. The left and the right enforce this expectation. The right says: Assimilate or get out. The left, more gently: Assimilate and weâll celebrate you. But the endpoint is the same."
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Hamid went on to suggest that Muslim Americans are "more resistant to the secular pull of American culture" and their defense "should not rest on how 'mainstream'" they become.
"A Muslim who prays five times a day and believes homosexuality is sinful is not less American than a Muslim who drinks alcohol and hasnât been to a mosque in years. An evangelical Christian who believes marriage is between a man and a woman and home-schools his children is not less American than a mainline Protestant who marches in Pride parades. These are deep disagreements about how to live, and a country that is serious about pluralism shouldnât treat them as problems to be solved," he wrote.
He added, "America was not founded on the assumption that its citizens would eventually come to agree on foundational questions. It was founded on the more radical proposition that they wouldnât â that people who disagree about God, religion and the good life could share a country anyway. Not because they would converge over time, but because convergence was beside the point. The question isnât whether Muslims, Jews or Latinos will change. They will. The question is whether America will let them do it on their own terms."
Wave of alleged migrant murders ignites fury across US as officials warn of more carnage, crackdown needed
A string of killings across the United States involving suspects in the country illegally is fueling renewed outrage from lawmakers and immigration officials, who warn the violence is not an isolated trend but the result of systemic enforcement failures.
National Border Patrol Council Vice President Art Del Cueto told Fox News Digital the crisis has been building for years, arguing that millions were allowed into the country without proper vetting.
"It will not be the lastâitâll be more," Del Cueto said. "We do not know what their intentions were⊠and then you have people in this country that are perfectly comfortable with these individuals roaming around the streets."
Republican leaders are now calling for sweeping changes from aggressive deportation efforts to stricter interior enforcement as high-profile cases continue to mount.
Here are five recent cases driving the national debate:
The killing of 15-year-old Miles Young in Missouri has become a flashpoint in the national immigration debate after prosecutors say he was lured into a trap and executed.
Authorities allege suspect Yefry Archaga, 18, chased the teen and shot him as he pleaded, "I just donât wanna die." Archaga is being held on a federal immigration detainer.
Sen. Eric Schmitt blasted the case as part of a broader pattern.
"We are done sacrificing American sons and daughters at the altar of mass migration⊠We are going to relentlessly pursue the largest deportation operation in American history."
Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., told Fox News Digital the killing highlights policy failures.
"In a premeditated and heinous act, 15-year-old Miles Young was targeted, lured, and ambushedâhis life senselessly taken by someone who should never have been in this country," Harris said. "This heartbreaking tragedy is yet another example of sanctuary city policiesâ deadly consequences."
Other Missouri officials echoed the outrage, arguing the killing underscores failures to remove dangerous individuals.
An illegal immigrant is accused of killing his wife in Texas, prompting federal officials to intervene to ensure he is not released.
Francisco Mendez-Marin, 24, is charged with felony homicide after authorities say he slit the throat of his 20-year-old wife, Karla Rangel, during a domestic dispute in Dallas. The couple had been married less than a month.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF MURDERING WIFE IN TEXAS JUST WEEKS AFTER MARRIAGE, ICE FIGHTS RELEASE
Police say Mendez-Marin was found with blood on his clothes and a bloody pocketknife at the scene. Body camera video shows him telling officers, "I didnât do anything bad" and "I was obligated to do it," according to the arrest affidavit.
DHS officials sharply criticized the case, saying it underscores failures in immigration enforcement.
"This illegal alien should have never been allowed into our country to commit this heinous murder," DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said.
ICE has lodged a detainer requesting local authorities not release Mendez-Marin as the case proceeds.
Federal officials announced the arrest of Rolbert Joachin, a Haitian national accused of killing a woman at a Fort Myers gas station.
Authorities say surveillance video shows Joachin smashing the victimâs windshield before repeatedly striking her in the head with a hammer in a daytime attack.
DHS said Joachin had a final order of removal but was granted Temporary Protected Status.
"Their reckless immigration policies cost this woman her life," a DHS spokesperson said, pointing to the suspectâs release into the U.S. despite prior removal orders.
ICE agents arrested Marco Tulio Lopez-Romero in Fairfax County, Virginia, an illegal immigrant wanted for murder in El Salvador, according to WJLA.Â
Authorities say he entered the U.S. illegally in 2016 and had an active foreign arrest warrant for aggravated homicide.
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ICE officials warned that such fugitives can be misclassified as "non-criminal" domestically despite serious allegations abroad.
The case has also intensified scrutiny of sanctuary-style policies in Virginia, where local leaders have limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Federal prosecutors charged illegal immigrant Jose Medina-Medina in connection with the murder of 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student Sheridan Gorman.
Authorities say Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan national released into the U.S. in 2023, shot Gorman as she ran with friends near campus.
He now faces federal firearm charges in addition to multiple state charges, including murder.
A defense attorney suggested federal prosecutors stepped in because they lacked confidence in the state system.
"The Chicago U.S. Attorneyâs Office will take no chances that this illegal alien perpetrator will be released back into our community," a federal prosecutor said.
Gormanâs family emphasized the human toll of the tragedy.
"We cannot lose sight of the simple, devastating truth⊠Sheridan had a life too."
Taken together, these cases are being cited by lawmakers and immigration officials as evidence of deeper systemic issues, particularly failures in vetting, detention, and removal.
Del Cueto argued that political resistance to enforcement has worsened the problem.
"Anytime you want to do interior enforcement, they cry racism⊠meanwhile, innocent lives are being lost."
Lawmakers like Schmitt say the solution is clear: prioritize deportations, expand cooperation between local and federal agencies, and tighten asylum and release policies.
Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.Â
White House fires back at George Clooney after actor accuses Trump of threatening a war crime
George Clooney blasted President Donald Trump over his recent threat to unleash overwhelming military force against Iran's infrastructure, calling the rhetoric a potential "war crime."
In a Tuesday Truth Social post, Trump, 79, issued an ominous warning to Iran if the country did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway, and agree to a ceasefire deal before his 8 p.m. deadline.
"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I donât want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump wrote in part. A two-week ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Iran along with Israel was subsequently reached ahead of the deadline.
On Wednesday, Clooney, 64, a longtime critic of Trump, slammed the threat while speaking at the "Dialogues on Talent" event in Cuneo, Italy.
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"Some say Donald Trump is fine. But if anyone says he wants to end a civilization, thatâs a war crime," Clooney said, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
"You can still support the conservative point of view, but there must be a line of decency, and we must not cross it," he added.
The event, which was organized by Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney's Clooney Foundation for Justice as well as the CRC Foundation and Collistioni Foundation, was attended by 3,000 high school students from across the province of Cuneo.
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The White House responded to Clooney's comments in a statement on Wednesday.
"The only person committing war crimes is George Clooney for his awful movies and terrible acting ability," White House Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote.
On Wednesday, Clooney responded to the White House's jab at his career and acting ability in a statement to Deadline.Â
"Families are losing their loved ones," Clooney said. "Children have been incinerated. The worldâs economy is on a knifeâs edge. This is a time for vigorous debate at the highest levels. Not for infantile name calling. Iâll start. A war crime is alleged 'when there is intent to physically destroy a nation,' as defined by the Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute. What is the administrationâs defense? [besides calling me a failed actor which I happily agree with having starred in Batman and Robin?]."
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
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While giving his remarks, Clooney also expressed his concerns over Trump's suggestion that he was considering pulling the U.S. out of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) due to its European members' lack of support for the war against Iran.
"Iâm worried about NATO," the "Ocean's Eleven" star said. "It has ensured that Europe, but also the rest of the world, has been safe. Dismantling an institution like this worries me. Aside from many mistakes, I believe the U.S. [with NATO] has also done many extraordinary things that have stood the test of time."
Trump is set to discuss the possibility of the U.S. leaving NATO during a meeting with the alliance's chief, Mark Rutte on Wednesday.
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Clooney and Trump have a history of publicly criticizing each other. In December, Clooney criticized ABC and CBS for settling lawsuits with Trump.Â
CBS and ABC have shelled at least $16 million apiece to settle lawsuits brought by Trump. However, Clooney expressed his frustration that the networks didnât fight back.Â
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"If CBS and ABC had challenged those lawsuits and said, âGo f--- yourself,â we wouldnât be where we are in the country," Clooney told Variety.
"Itâs a very trying time," Clooney continued. "It can depress you or make you very angry. But you have to find the most positive way through it. You have to put your head down and keep moving forward because quitting isnât an option."
In a Truth Social post on New Year's Eve, Trump celebrated Clooney and Amal's decision to become French citizens.
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"Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden," Trump wrote.
The president also referenced how Clooney "dumped" former President Joe Biden after his presidential debate with Trump in July 2024. Following the debate, Clooney wrote an op-ed for the New York Times urging Biden to exit the 2024 presidential race. The "Jay Kelly" star later endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris in her run for the presidency.
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"Remember when Clooney, after the now infamous debate, dumped Joe during a fundraiser, only to go onto the side of another stellar candidate, Jamala(K!), who is now fighting it out with the worst governor in the Country, including Tim Waltz, Gavin Newscum, for who is going to lead the Democrats to their future defeat," he railed.
Trump concluded his post by roasting Clooney's acting career, writing, "Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies."
"He wasnât a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump added.
When asked for comment by Fox News Digital, Clooney responded with the following statement: "I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. Weâll start in November."
Top school district slapped with complaint alleging 'elaborate system' to keep kids' gender transitions secret
FIRST ON FOX: One of the largest school districts in the country is facing allegations that it lets teachers decide if parents are sufficiently "supportive" enough to tell them about their child's desire to switch genders.
Trump-aligned America First Legal (AFL) filed a formal complaint against Montgomery County Public Schools, which is in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., with the Departments of Justice and Education, alleging it has been violating the constitution and other federal law through its "Gender Identity in Montgomery County Public Schools" handbook. AFL goes on to allege the school district repeatedly instructs staff to condition parental involvement on whether a parent is deemed "supportive" enough.Â
Under a section of the plan titled "Communication with Families," the handbook instructs that faculty should talk with a student to "ascertain the level of support" they receive at home to help make decisions on whether to share with parents that their child requested to change their pronouns, be called by a different name, or even sleep with the opposite biological sex during overnight field trips.Â
Part of the "system" AFL also describes in its complaint guidance from the handbook that instructs educators to leave such gender-related information out of documents federal law allows parents access to.
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The watchdog claims Montgomery County Public Schools is violating the Free Exercise, Free Speech and Due Process Clauses in the Constitution, as well as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), with their policies that keep parents in the dark. The district did not immediately comment on the complaint, citing policy not to comment on pending litigation.
The non-grade specific, 14-page "Gender Identity" handbook, aimed at ensuring "a culture of respect and equity," sets forth policies for any student wishing to identify as "transgender" or "gender nonconforming." The handbook includes a section about developing a "Gender Support Plan" for students to ensure they have "equal access and equal opportunity to participate in all programs and activities at school" and to ensure they are protected from "gender-based discrimination at school."
An element of creating that plan includes filling out an intake form, called Form 560-80.
"The completed form must be maintained in a secure location and may not be placed in the studentâs cumulative or confidential files," the plan states. "While the plan should be consistently implemented by all school staff, the form itself is not intended to be used or accessed by other school staff members." AFL alleges in their complaint that the district "does not explain this directive," but notes "the only apparent purpose is to prevent the form from being placed in records that parents are entitled to access under FERPA."
There is also a section in the handbook on students' permanent records, which parents have a right to access under FERPA.
"All students have the right to be referred to by their identified name and/or pronoun" the plan asserts. However, it also notes, that "students are not required to change their permanent student records ⊠as a prerequisite to being addressed by the name and pronoun that corresponds to their identified name."
"The school must protect the studentâs previous identity once a change to a studentâs gender and/or legal name has occurred," the section continues.
The plan cites students' privacy directly after the section about communicating with families. "All students have a right to privacy. This includes the right to keep private oneâs transgender status or gender nonconforming presentation at school," the plan states.
The handbook goes on to say that information about a student's transgender status constitutes "confidential medical information," and it argues that sharing such information with parents or guardians is a FERPA violation in and of itself.Â
Meanwhile, in a different section of the handbook titled "Communication with Families," educators are explicitly instructed that "prior to contacting a studentâs parent/guardian," they "should speak with the student to ascertain the level of support the student either receives or anticipates receiving from home."
"In some cases, transgender and gender nonconforming students may not openly express their gender identity at home because of safety concerns or lack of acceptance," the section continues.Â
"Matters of gender identity can be complex and may involve familial conflict. If this is the case, and support is required, Department of Student Conduct and Appeals (DSCA) should be contacted. In such cases, staff will support the development of a student-led plan that works toward inclusion of the family, if possible, taking safety concerns into consideration as well as student privacy, and recognizing that providing support for a student is critical, even when the family is nonsupportive."
In addition to communication, the plan also extends these parental notification policies to the use of intimate spaces typically reserved for the same gender, including sleeping arrangements for overnight trips. The plan effectively states, according to AFL, that students can both pick which facilities they want to use, including for overnight field trips, and teachers are not allowed to tell parents about it.
"Montgomery County Public Schools has constructed an elaborate system designed to keep parents in the dark about some of the most consequential decisions affecting their own children," said America First Legal's Ian Prior. "Federal law and the Constitution are unambiguous: parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children and to access their childrenâs education records. MCPSâs policies turn both of those principles on their head."
Fox News Poll: Record number say taxes are too high; government spending seen as wasteful
With the deadline to file taxes a week away, a record number of voters say their taxes are too high, according to the latest Fox News Poll. They are also bothered by the rich not paying their fair share and how the government uses their money. In addition, three-quarters feel government spending is wasteful â up almost 20 points since last year.
Last year, 57% said a great deal (44%) or almost all (13%) of government spending was inefficient; now thatâs up 18 points, with 75% feeling that way (53% a great deal, 22% almost all).
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The increase in those thinking spending is wasteful is seen among most demographics, with the biggest bumps among Democrats and independents. Three-quarters of Republicans think government spending is wasteful, down from more than 8 in 10 in March 2025.
Voters are also down on how the Trump administration has handled identifying and cutting wasteful government spending, with nearly two-thirds, 64%, calling their efforts only fair (20%) or poor (44%), up from 56% last March (13% only fair, 43% poor).
While there is broad bipartisan agreement that a significant share of government spending is wasteful and inefficient â with roughly three-quarters of Democrats, Republicans, and independents saying so â a sharp partisan divide emerges on the Trump administrationâs handling of identifying and cutting that waste: nearly all Democrats (90%) and a large majority of independents (80%) say it is not doing a good job, while 7-in-10 Republicans (69%) give it a positive rating.
A record 70% of voters think the taxes they pay are too high â up 11 points from last March and surpassing the previous high of 64% in March 2024. It also marks the largest year-over-year increase since the question was first asked in 2004, when 51% felt taxes were too high. A majority of voters have consistently said their tax burden is too much.
 FOX NEWS POLL: SOUR VOTERS SAY WASHINGTON IS OUT OF TOUCH
Compared to last year, groups showing the highest increase in concern over how much they are paying include voters with graduate degrees (+24 points since 2025), very liberal voters (+20), Democratic men (+19), moderates (+19), rural voters (+17), White voters without a college degree (+16), and women ages 45+ (+16).
What bothers people most about federal income taxes is the wealthy are not paying enough (38%), although that figure has dipped slightly from last yearâs record high of 45%. Close behind is concern about how the government spends their tax dollars, up 3 points from a year ago to 29%.
Other irritations are the amount of taxes paid (14%), feeling too many people donât pay enough (10%), and the complexity of the system (9%).
Democrats (57%) and independents (40%) are the most concerned about the rich not paying enough, while Republicansâ biggest issue is the amount the government uses (39%).
"The data show why Democrats persistently frame budget, spending, and tax policy questions as a matter of the rich paying their fair share," says Republican Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News survey with Democrat Chris Anderson. "Itâs one of the only ways the party is competitive on these issues given public skepticism about government performance."
Disapproval of how President Trump is handling taxes has reached a record high of 64%, up 11 points from a year ago.
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Dissatisfaction is up across the board, including among Democrats (+9 points disapproving since April 2025), independents (+14) and Republicans (+9).
One more thingâŠ
AI use is on the rise, but not for tax prep.
Nearly 9 in 10 voters (87%) say they are not using AI to help with their taxes this year, while roughly 1 in 10 (13%) say they will or already have. Those most likely to say they will use AI are Republicans under age 45 (29%), voters under 30 (23%), Hispanic voters (21%), Black voters (20%), and employed voters (19%).
Conducted March 20-23, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,001 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (104) and cellphones (641) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (256). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education and area variables to ensure the demographics are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis and voter file data.
Athena Strandâs killer FedEx driver told police he âkind of tossedâ 7-year-oldâs body into woods, video shows
A former FedEx driver who murdered 7-year-old Athena Strand told investigators he "kind of tossed" her into the woods after killing her, according to interrogation video shown to jurors as they weigh whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.
The footage shown in court captured the moment officers pressed Tanner Horner about the missing Texas childâs whereabouts after searching his home for signs of the young blonde-haired girl.
"I can show you," Horner, who pleaded guilty Tuesday to capital murder, told investigators.
When one officer asked, "Is she alive?" Horner replied: "She wasnât alive when I put her in the truck."
After authorities were unable to find her, Horner told police that he: "Just kind of tossed her in."
Horner, 34, initially claimed he had accidentally hit Athena with his delivery truck, but he has since admitted to strangling the girl after abducting her while delivering a package to her fatherâs home in Paradise, Texas.
The hours of evidence shown to jurors Wednesday came as prosecutors used opening statements to paint Horner as calculating, violent and remorseless in the killing of Athena.
"First thing Tanner Horner says to Athena when he picks her up, puts her in that truck, leans down, and he says, âDonât scream or Iâll hurt you,â" prosecutor James Stainton told jurors in opening statements Tuesday.
"Iâm going to tell you right now. One thing youâre going to hear that is something you canât unhear is the level of fight that a 7-year-old girl has. When sheâs facing down a certain death."
Stainton also said that the FedEx driver may have sexually assaulted the young girl.
"We have DNA. Not only do we have initial DNA from Athena that has Tanner Hornerâs DNA under her fingernails. We also have Tanner Hornerâs DNA in places where you shouldnât find DNA on a 7-year-old girl," Stainton said in court.
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"We talk about warrior in America," he said. "Iâll tell you that little girl right there is a warrior. She fought with the strength of 100 men."
WATCH: Tanner Horner pleads guilty to killing Texas 7-year-old
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In his opening statement, Stainton told jurors Hornerâs shifting accounts to investigators were part of a larger "pattern and web of lies," arguing the only truthful thing he told law enforcement was that he killed Athena.
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Prosecutors said the evidence would show Horner covered a camera, threatened Athena, and carried out a prolonged attack inside the truck before dumping her body in a rural area near Boyd, Texas.
Stainton told jurors Horner then returned to work, drove the same truck and continued delivering packages as the community searched desperately for the missing child.
Defense attorney Lindsay Thompson told jurors Horner had suffered from brain damage, autism, mental illness and extreme lead exposure, and argued those conditions should be considered as mitigating evidence when the jury decides whether he poses a continuing threat to society.
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Thompson also told jurors Horner had accepted responsibility by pleading guilty and would spend the rest of his life in prison if sentenced to life without parole.
Athena disappeared in November 2022 from her fatherâs property in Paradise, a small town northwest of Fort Worth.
Authorities said Horner was delivering a package containing Barbie dolls intended as a Christmas gift for the 7-year-old when he abducted and killed her.
Her body was found less than 10 miles from the home after a massive search involving law enforcement officers, volunteers, dogs, horses and off-road vehicles.