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Multiple Chicago police officers attacked in downtown violence in which several victims were shot
Multiple police officers were attacked, including one who was injured, while responding to a shooting in Chicago on Friday in which at least five victims were shot.
The incident happened near State and Randolph streets at about 10 p.m., just hours after a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, according to Fox 32.
Ald. Brian Hopkins of Chicago's 2nd Ward said at least five people were shot, including one person in critical condition.
SHOOTING AT NORTH CAROLINA CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING LEAVES 4 PEOPLE WOUNDED
"300 juveniles rioting in the Loop now, at least 5 victims shot, one critical with life threatening gunshot wound to torso," he wrote on X.
"Multiple police officers attacked and injured with mace and stun guns, at least one PO hospitalized," he continued.
CHICAGO TRAIN ATTACK SUSPECT ORDERED BY JUDGE TO REMAIN IN CUSTODY AHEAD OF TRIAL
Police have not confirmed Hopkins' statement, including the number of victims.
The incident remains under investigation.
Fire on ship docked at Port of Los Angeles prompts evacuation of crew, officials say
A cargo ship caught fire at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Friday, forcing the crew to evacuate the ship, according to officials, who described the incident as a major emergency.
All 23 crew members were safely evacuated from the ship, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. No injuries were reported.
The fire was observed on several levels of the ship. Hazardous materials were identified in the involved bays, and hazmat crews are monitoring air quality, the department said.
FIRE ERUPTS IN US CAPITOL TROLLEY SYSTEM, 2 POLICE OFFICERS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
An explosion was reported mid-deck at around 8 p.m. that affected power, including lights and crane operations on the ship.
More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene, according to officials.
‘WE'RE TRAPPED!’: PANICKED 911 AUDIO FROM SOUTH CAROLINA FIRE WHERE JUDGE'S HUSBAND LEAPT TO SAFETY
"First responders are actively responding to a fire on a container ship at the Port of Los Angeles," Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X. "LAFD continues fire-suppression efforts and is monitoring air quality. "
Shooting at North Carolina Christmas tree lighting leaves 4 people wounded
A shooting at a Christmas tree lighting event in Concord, North Carolina, on Friday left four people wounded, according to police.
Concord Police said three victims were listed in critical condition and one was in stable condition. All four victims were rushed to a hospital for medical treatment.
The shooting happened at the city's annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Union Street S near the intersection with Corban Avenue shortly before 7:30 p.m.
Police, Concord Fire and Cabarrus County EMS personnel were already at the event and responded immediately with medical aid and evacuation efforts.
The remainder of the event was canceled after the shooting.
The city said visitors should leave the area and drivers should seek alternate routes.
Concord Police said the incident remains under investigation.
Officers are reviewing footage from the event and speaking with several witnesses.
Freed sex offender allegedly poses as doctor, sexually assaults student at Arizona elementary school: police
A convicted sex offender freed from prison two weeks ago allegedly posed as a doctor and sexually assaulted a student inside an Arizona elementary school, sparking outrage and calls for answers from parents, according to reports.
Abel Kai Gblah, 25, is accused of sexual assault and kidnapping after he accessed school grounds and posed as a doctor to lure a student into a classroom and assaulted her at Orangewood Elementary School on Nov. 19, according to the Phoenix Police Department (PPD).
PPD officials said in a statement to Fox News Digital that officers were called to the school after administrators reported that an incident had occurred on campus.
"When officers arrived, they learned an unauthorized man had made it onto school grounds and lured a grade-school-aged girl into a classroom where he sexually assaulted her," police said. "At some point, the student was able to push the man away. He then ran from the scene before officers arrived."
FOX 10 Phoenix reported that court documents show Gblah allegedly drew the attention of a student by impersonating a doctor and expressing that he had to examine her.
After fleeing the school, police located Gblah, who was booked into jail on multiple charges.
Gblah was released from prison two weeks ago on similar charges, according to the outlet, and was also allegedly involved in human smuggling across the U.S. border.
According to FOX 10, a prosecutor at Gblah's court appearance said he was convicted twice in 2021 for sexual conduct with a minor and a registered sex offender.
The news station reported that the Washington Elementary School District said in a statement that school administration immediately called 911 and placed the school on lockdown for over an hour.
"He was on campus for approximately 10 minutes and during that time, he made inappropriate contact with a student," the district wrote.
The district shared a separate statement with Fox News Digital that it released to parents on Friday, which revealed the results of its internal investigation, including that Gblah was a former student of the school who attended from 2012 to 2015.
While initial reports indicated that the Gblah gained access to the campus behind a student who had buzzed in, further investigation revealed that he entered through an unlocked lobby door, and walked in with a tardy student, the district stated.
Following the investigation, a staff member has been placed on administrative leave, the district added.
"We understand how alarming this situation has been and want you to know that we are reviewing every aspect of our safety procedures and communication to ensure that an event like this does not happen again, wrote Orangewood Elementary Principal Emily Paterson.
According to FOX 10, Gblah is being held on a cash-only bond of $500,000, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 1.
It won’t get any better: Washington faces another looming government shutdown
It’s not going to get any better.
The government closed down for a record 43 days this fall. And if you thought you’d seen the worst of Congress, it truly won’t get any better when the majority of the federal government could shut down in the wee hours of January 31st.
That’s right. Lawmakers have yet to address the very issues which sparked this year’s astonishing shutdown. Some of those are legislative. Some are policy related. And the biggest problems are political.
Frankly, the political ones may be the most challenging.
Let’s start with the most obvious ways to extinguish a wintertime crisis in Washington.
SHUTDOWN IS OVER, BUT WASHINGTON'S BUDGET BRAWL IS JUST GETTING STARTED
Included in the interim bill to reopen the government were three bills to fund major sections of the federal government through September 30, 2027 – the end of the current fiscal year. Congress adopted three of the 12 appropriations bills which run the government every year. Those are Legislative Branch for Congress, Military Construction/VA for military building programs, and the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Agriculture. Even though that’s three of the 12 annual spending bills, it’s not anywhere close to a "quarter" of all spending which Congress appropriates annually. More than half of all Congressionally-controlled spending goes to the Pentagon alone. So the House and Senate must pass all nine of the remaining nine annual bills in order to avoid a repeat of this fall at 12:00:01 on Saturday, January 31.
That is a tall order. But leading appropriators from both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol say there’s been marked progress on these bills. Still, syncing everything up in a little more than two months – with Congress now out of session again this week and slated to be out for Christmas and New Year’s – strikes some as doom date with destiny. Keep in mind that Congress did not stay in session in late July and August to tackle some of those same bills. One wonders why anything will be different now.
And we haven’t even gotten to nettlesome questions which lurk in the individual bills themselves.
SHUTDOWN IGNITES STRATEGIST DEBATE: WILL TRUMP AND GOP PAY THE POLITICAL PRICE IN 2026?
The "Labor-H" bill, which funds the Department of Labor along with Health and Human Services is always a political thicket. Imagine how tough that bill will be this time, with both sides sparring over policies dictated by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., about vaccines and other controversial health statements. That’s to say nothing of the core issue which prompted Democrats to oppose funding the government in September: an extension of Obamacare health subsidies.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., is now promising a vote related to an extension of those tax credits to defray spiking health care cost premiums. But no one knows what that package will look like. Some Republicans, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Ga., are now embracing the subsidies. She’s now retiring in January. Other Republicans are looking at ways to reform the program. Democrats might balk at that. And still other conservatives are using this as an opportunity to possibly torpedo Obamacare – the bane of their existence since 2009.
That could be the grandest political irony of all. Imagine a world where Republicans tried from 2009 through 2017 to repeal and replace Obamacare – yet stumbled at every turn. Then in 2025, Democrats refused to vote to fund the government in an effort to prop up Obamacare – and that’s finally what unwound the program.
Wow.
Moreover, President Trump is threatening to veto any bill which extends the Obamacare subsidies.
So we could already find ourselves barreling toward another government shutdown unless Democrats relent from their tactics this fall.
Much of what we’ve discussed addresses the legislative and policy disputes which lawmakers must resolve before late January. But the political challenges dwarf those issues.
Imagine a coda of what unfolded this fall. Most Democrats refuse to fund the government. But a coalition of some Democrats and most Republicans keep the government afloat to prevent another shutdown.
Recriminations inside the Democratic Party will be staggering. Anticipate epic infighting about Democrats executing yet another strategy. There will be calls for the ousters of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., — even though both sided with most Democrats to refrain from funding the government unless there was a deal on health care money.
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BECOMING LONGEST IN US HISTORY AS DEMOCRATS DIG IN ON OBAMACARE
Democrats could find themselves entering a civil war in the early days of 2026 – just as they see opportunities to vanquish Republicans at the polls in the 2026 midterms. On paper, Democrats stand a very good chance to win control of the House. The Senate is a reach based on a map which heavily favors the GOP. But Democrats think they could be within striking distance if they hold the seats of retiring Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., would have to win reelection in a competitive state. Democrats would then need to flip the seat of retiring Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., plus flip Ohio and maybe pull an armadillo out of a hat in Texas. It’s not impossible. But very challenging.
Internecine squabbling could trip up Democrats on that very narrow Senate pathway. The same with the House. Democrats must appear united heading into the 2026 midterms. But bickering about government shutdown #1 or government shutdown #2 does the party no favors.
Republicans aren’t inoculated from tricky politics in 2026 which are tethered to the shutdown(s).
Democrats made this fall’s shutdown about health care. And if Republicans don’t bend to the Democrats’ demand to extend the health care subsidies, the GOP may find itself upside down with voters on the topic. If so, Democrats may not have won the government shutdown battle. But perhaps they prevail in the war: the 2026 midterms.
That’s why few exhaled after Congress voted to re-open the government last week. Everyone who is dialed into Capitol Hill knows things probably won’t get any better over the next nine weeks.
And as bad as this fall was, things may only get worse.
Trump terminates deportation protections for Somali nationals living in Minnesota 'effective immediately'
President Donald Trump Friday evening said he was ending deportation protections for Somalis in Minnesota "effective immediately."
"Minnesota, under Governor [Tim] Walz, is a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity," Trump posted on Truth Social.
He continued, "I am, as President of the United States, hereby terminating, effective immediately, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS Program) for Somalis in Minnesota."
Trump claimed that "Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing. Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER! President DJT."
Minnesota has a sizable Somali population and the TPS program allows Somali nationals temporary legal status to live and work in the U.S. because of the dangerous conditions in the African country.
In the last several years, the state has faced fraud problems, most notably from the Feeding Our Future scheme, which embezzled hundreds of millions of dollars in COVID-19 funds.
The president's decision comes as a new investigation from the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, alleged that millions of dollars were being funneled to the Somali terror group Al-Shabaab in connection with the Feeding Our Future scam.
MINNESOTA TAXPAYER DOLLARS FUNNELED TO AL-SHABAAB TERROR GROUP, REPORT ALLEGES
Ryan Thorpe and Christopher F. Rufo of the Manhattan Institute said they had uncovered a web of fraud involving Minnesota’s Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services program, Feeding Our Future and other organizations in a report.
They added that federal counterterrorism sources confirmed that millions of dollars in stolen funds were sent back to Somalia, which is how Al-Shabaab got the cash.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Walz’s office and the White House for comment.
Texas files emergency Supreme Court petition after Trump-backed congressional map blocked by federal judges
Texas on Friday filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Court after a ruling by a panel of federal judges blocked the state from using its redrawn congressional map, calling it "racially gerrymandered."
Shortly after filing the petition, Justice Samuel Alito issued an administrative stay, temporarily putting the lower panel’s decision blocking Texas’ new maps on hold.
The state asked the high court for an administrative stay on the lower court ruling, noting Texas has an "election already in progress," referring to congressional primary elections in March.
The Supreme Court most recently blocked lower court rulings related to redistricting cases in Louisiana and Alabama.
Texas redrew its congressional map last summer in a President Donald Trump-backed effort that could help Republicans gain five seats in next year’s midterms.
REPUBLICANS PUSH BACK OVER 'FALSE ACCUSATIONS OF RACISM' IN BLOCKBUSTER REDISTRICTING FIGHT
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown, a Trump appointee, joined by U.S. District Judge David Guaderrama, an Obama appointee, in the majority ruling said, "The public perception of this case is that it's about politics.
"To be sure, politics played a role in drawing the 2025 map," the judges said. "But it was much more than just politics. Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 map."
Judge Jerry Smith, a Reagan appointee and the third of the three-judge panel, dissented without explanation.
The ruling was a significant blow to the Trump administration. It comes as Trump and his Republican allies have raced to pad the party's razor-thin House majority in the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections, including by imploring some states to launch rare, mid-decade redistricting efforts.
Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have redrawn their congressional maps as well, and other states like Florida and Kansas are weighing similar efforts.
Democratic states are also considering redrawing their maps to counteract Republican efforts.
Most prominently, California voters approved by a wide margin earlier this month a plan to redistrict the state in an effort that could wipe out Texas’ new map.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed on Tuesday to appeal to the Supreme Court.
"For years, Democrats have engaged in partisan redistricting intended to eliminate Republican representation," Paxton said. "But when Republicans respond in kind, Democrats rely on false accusations of racism to secure a partisan advantage."
Florida to use hundreds of confiscated Chinese drones as target practice for US military
More than 500 Chinese drones confiscated by Florida officials will be used for military target practice for evaluation and training.
Instead of torching the machines, the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) will shoot them down with shotguns, according to Bloomberg News.
The quadcopter drones will be used over the course of three days next month to train elite U.S. troops on how to take out enemy drones.
AI ARMS RACE: US AND CHINA WEAPONIZE DRONES, CODE AND BIOTECH FOR NEXT GREAT WAR
The Military Drone Crucible training event is scheduled for Dec. 4-6 at Camp Blanding, according to the U.S. National Drone Association’s (USNDA) website.
The event will feature training sessions focused on clearing a room with opposing troops present and striking an enemy convoy.
"It will be the largest counter-drone destruction event ever held in the United States," USNDA President Nate Ecelbarger told Bloomberg News.
To date, the largest drone destruction event was held in September, when an electromagnetic weapon was used to take down 49 drones at Camp Atterbury in Indiana, according to Axios.
HEGSETH TEARS UP RED TAPE, ORDERS PENTAGON TO BEGIN DRONE SURGE AT TRUMP'S COMMAND
Navy SEALs, Marines and Army Rangers participated in the Indiana event for training purposes.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration cut red tape to allow mass drone production to compete with Russian and Chinese drone programs.
Paradise travel destination sees 'golden' visa boom, rolls out brand-new offering
With more countries wooing Americans today with "golden" visa offerings, those who have had success are presenting even more opportunities.
New Zealand recently eased its rules to attract more high net worth individuals to its "golden" visa programs. Changes include removing an English language requirement and relaxing the amount of time required for people to spend there.
The country is now launching a Business Investor Work Visa program, which offers individuals the opportunity to live and work in New Zealand by investing in and running a business there with the potential for permanent residency.
POPULAR DESTINATION MAY EXPAND 'GOLDEN' VISA PERKS, OPENING MORE DOORS FOR WEALTHY
U.S. citizen applications for the country's Active Investor Plus Visa increased by 72% since July, according to New Zealand's immigration data.
Client Experience Director Mischa Mannix-Opie at Greener Pastures New Zealand, an integrated residency-by-investment and lifestyle advisory firm, told Fox News Digital the firm has seen significant "golden" visa demand from Americans.
"The Business Investor Work Visa has been announced, which we expect will receive interest also, as it represents another opportunity for people wanting to secure residency in New Zealand," said Mannix-Opie.
"The shifting political environment in the U.S. has many high net worth individuals reassessing their long-term plans.
"New Zealand offers a safe, stable alternative with an exceptional quality of life, stunning natural landscapes and a culture that makes it an ideal place to begin a new chapter and to give them and their families options for the future."
Stuart Nash, former New Zealand minister for economic development and co-founder of Nash Kelly Global, previously told Fox News Digital the visas were becoming more popular.
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"You've got a war going on in Europe. You've got the tinderbox, which is the Middle East," he said. "You've got a change in the U.S. administration, which is causing more polarization than we’ve seen in a long, long time.
"There are many Americans wanting to settle in New Zealand, as we've seen as this oasis at the bottom of the world," he added.
"You don't have to renounce your U.S. citizenship at all. You can get permanent residency for life, and you can live the New Zealand dream."
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Nash pointed to New Zealand’s "stable banking system" and lack of capital gains, wealth and death taxes.
"In this time of global uncertainty, geography is just as important as anything else. You jump on a plane, and you’re 1,200 miles away from trouble spots," said Nash.
"In the past, people were looking for tax havens. Now they’re looking for safe havens for them[selves] and their family."
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Nash said the country’s low population is a unique perk.
"We have wonderful scenery, sailing, golf — and we have some pretty cool people," Nash said.
"You don't have to renounce your U.S. citizenship at all. You can get permanent residency for life, and you can live the New Zealand dream."
Reality TV star Steve McBee Sr. hopes for Trump pardon with help from recently freed Chrisleys
"McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys" star Steve McBee Sr. is hoping to receive a presidential pardon after being sentenced to prison.
The 52-year-old reality star told Fox News Digital he hopes to ask President Trump for a full pardon after he was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving crop insurance.
"We have the hopes that he will see that this was a trophy prosecution, a complete weaponization of the DOJ and overreach," he said. "I'm not saying there wasn't a clerical mistake made, but it's so minor.
"I mean, they have the wrong legal, the wrong aim," he later added. "I mean, there's always a mistake because people, we make mistakes, we're human. It's not a felony. It's day-to-day business, but they came after us. They wanted our name. They wanted that up there. Shock and awe. And it just, it is not fair, and it's certainly not right."
TRUMP COMMUTES GEORGE SANTOS’ SENTENCE, PARDON BLITZ WIPES OUT COSTLY FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS
In a sentencing hearing Thursday, McBee was also ordered to an additional two years of supervised release once he completes his prison sentence, and he will have to pay $4,022,124 in restitution to the USDA Risk Management Agency.
He has until 2 p.m. Dec. 1, 2025, to surrender to the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota.
WATCH: Reality star Steve McBee Sr. says he hopes to receive a presidential pardon after being sentenced to two years in prison
While McBee hopes to receive a pardon from President Trump, a formal request has not been made, and McBee clarified that everything is "in a very infancy stages right now."
"We're getting everything put together," he said. "We don't wanna get the cart ahead of the horse. So, before any of that moves forward, my attorney, Alan Little with Liston, will get all of that filed. And then once everything's filed, then we will start trying to get our story out there."
During his legal battle, a producer who knew both the McBees and the Chrisley reality TV family connected them, telling Todd Chrisley the McBees are "a legit great family" with "great kids."
"So, she told Todd, and I'll tell you something, I didn't know them prior to that. They are legit good people. The Chrisleys, they, they called me on a Friday night at 8:30. Don't know me at all. They owe me nothing. Just owe me nothing. Don't even know me."
WATCH: Steve McBee Sr. said no one from his team has reached out to President Trump about a pardon yet
"We spent 2½ hours on a Friday evening on a phone call with Todd, Savannah and Julie, their whole Friday evening spent with someone they don't know," he added. "They're legit good people."
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Todd and his wife, Julie Chrisley, were both convicted in 2022 of federal bank fraud and tax evasion. Although they maintained their innocence, they were sentenced to 12 and seven years, respectively, and reported to prison Jan. 17, 2023. The two received presidential pardons and were released from prison in May.
The reality TV star shared that since getting in contact with Todd, Todd has become his "biggest advocate and consultant."
WATCH: Steve McBee Sr. shares how he came into contact with Todd Chrisley and his family
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"He's made me feel so better," McBee said. "I mean, genuinely. He texts me. I mean, every other day, 'How are you feeling today? Steve, you're going to be OK. We're going to get through this. I'm going to help you the whole way.'
"And, I mean, having that support from somebody that two months ago was a complete stranger ... and Todd truly cares. He's like, 'I know what you're going through.' Not many people can sit here and say, 'Oh yeah, you know, you'll be Ok.' He knows firsthand. So, it's been huge."
WATCH: Reality star shares how Todd Chrisley has helped him prepare for his prison sentence
McBee said after owning his own business for over 21 years, "never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be in a federal courtroom defending my character or who I am," but that Todd has been a great help.
"He's given me a ton of advice about it," he shared. "Everything about what clothes I'd be wearing, [to] how everything works."