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Federal judge rules Trump admin plan to cut FEMA workforce in half is unlawful
A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's directive for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cut its workforce in half was unlawful.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston found on Friday that the Department of Homeland Security acted unlawfully by taking control of FEMA's authority over its own personnel and pushing the agency to slash thousands of disaster-response jobs.
Although FEMA is under DHS, a federal law adopted after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 states that the department "may not substantially or significantly reduce (FEMA's) authorities, responsibilities, or functions."
Illston said the department violated the law last year when it sought to stop FEMA from renewing the temporary contracts of thousands of on-call reservists who respond to disasters.
DHS PLANS COSTLY CRACKDOWN ON STATES THAT DON’T COOPERATE ON ELECTION SECURITY
"There is no evidence in the record reflecting reasoned decision-making for this about-face or for the subsequent conditions DHS placed on FEMA’s renewal authority," Illston wrote.
Illston's ruling did not include remedies or penalties, noting that those would be addressed in a separate ruling next month.
The judge said the parties have until Oct. 9 to submit briefings on "what relief remains outstanding" in this case.
The unions that sued argued that the planned cuts are unlawful because they would undermine FEMA's core disaster‑response mission, were not approved by Congress and were ordered by then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem instead of FEMA officials.
The administration has contended that FEMA has considerable flexibility to determine proper staffing levels. President Donald Trump has suggested that FEMA should be eliminated and that states should handle their emergency preparedness.
In June, Illston declined to immediately block the job cuts, ruling that FEMA had at least temporarily abandoned its planned layoffs.
But on Friday, the judge wrote that FEMA appeared to be moving forward with the job cuts. She said FEMA projected its staffing levels for the upcoming fiscal year at 11,383 employees, or about half of previous levels, without any basis for picking that figure.
DEM GOV LASHES OUT AS TRUMP HUD SCRUTINIZES NEARLY $2B IN DISASTER FUNDS OVER FRAUD CONCERNS
Fox News Digital reached out to DHS and FEMA for comment but they did not immediately respond.
"Under President Trump and [DHS] Secretary [Markwayne] Mullin’s leadership, DHS and FEMA are ready for the 2026 hurricane season," a FEMA spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill. "FEMA continues to maintain a roster of experienced leadership and support staff across headquarters and regional offices. No position is without experienced leadership."
In a separate ruling, the judge also faulted FEMA and DHS officials for using the Signal messaging app on their personal cell phones to discuss staffing cuts and deleting the messages.
Illston said the messages would have been relevant to the lawsuit and that she would now presume "that the lost Signal messages would have been unfavorable to Defendants because they would have been further evidence" of unlawful conduct.
Reuters contributed to this report.
John Harbaugh's Giants on full display in bruising win over Cowboys to kick off NFL season
For months, the talk throughout the tri-state area had been about this new era for the New York Giants.
How could it not be, as John Harbaugh, after almost two decades with the Baltimore Ravens, signed on as the next Giants head coach. It was a post he said he felt pride assuming, understanding the expectations and pedigree he was supposed to bring back to a prestigious franchise that had been reeling until his arrival.
Well, the Harbaugh era kicked off in the best way possible for Giants fans on Sunday night, as they took down the Dallas Cowboys, 28-20, in the hard-nosed fashion that was to be expected with this new regime.
From the very beginning, the Giants’ defense forced a three-and-out and got a sold-out MetLife Stadium crowd on their feet as Jaxson Dart and company took the field for the first time in 2026. What ensued was a 10-play, 83-yard drive that took 6:13 off the first-quarter clock and resulted in a Cam Skattebo touchdown.
While Harbaugh may not have enjoyed Skattebo’s celebratory backflip, the 7-0 lead on the opening drive was exactly what this coaching staff wanted to see with its top offensive weapons out there for the first time this season.
Long drives were a theme for the Giants in this game, as they used a bruising run game, and some creative play-calls that came at the right time, to fluster the Cowboys’ defense, which was supposed to be an improved unit this season.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
Instead, it looked like the Cowboys defense from last season, which struggled to match the power of the offense.
The Giants converted nine of its 11 third downs in this game, and though the Cowboys had eight of their 11 third downs that moved the chains, New York’s came at the right time it seemed on each drive as they methodically moved downfield to set themselves up for scores.
And two of those touchdowns came from Harbaugh’s past with the Ravens.
Isaiah Likely proved to be the catalyst many believed he could for the Giants this season, hauling in two of Dart’s 3 touchdown passes as he finished with a game-high 78 yards on eight receptions.
CAM SKATTEBO HORRIFIES GIANTS FANS BY ATTEMPTING A BACKFLIP DESPITE COMING OFF A LEG INJURY
Just behind him, though, was Malik Nabers, whom the Giants made sure to be cautious with up until gametime this week. Nabers suffered a torn ACL and more in Week 4 last season, and though he has been without a non-contact uniform during practice, Harbaugh wouldn’t tell anyone if he’d play on Sunday night.
Nabers got two thumbs up from trainers before the game, and after being deemed active, he finished with six catches for 69 yards in his return to the Giants, which led to smiles from himself, his teammates and coaches, and all 80,000-plus fans in the stands.
The night would’ve been wrapped up in a bow if Odell Beckham Jr. notched a statistic for the Giants, but that will have to wait for the coming weeks. Beckham, who made the 53-man roster out of training camp, was active but never saw a pass from Dart.
One of the reasons? The Harbaugh effect . A ground-and-pound, tough, physical run game that saw 37 carries that featured creatively from offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and run game coordinator Greg Roman that resulted in 165 rushing yards as a team compared to the Cowboys’ 69.
It’s one thing to think about what a new regime could look like before a season starts, but Harbaugh’s preaching about being a team that resembled the Giants of old that he grew up watching seemed to come to fruition, at least in some respect, on Sunday night in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
La Catalina ends Flammer's 1,128-day reign as AAA Reina de Reinas champion at Triplemania 34
La Catalina made her AAA debut in April to the surprise of Mexican fans and immediately worked her way into the Reina de Reinas Championship picture.
She won a gauntlet match to get a title shot at Triplemania 34, and on Sunday, she ended the long reign of Flammer to win the title.
COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON OUTKICK
La Catalina had Flammer on the ropes late in the match. She went for a diving splash but didn’t get all of it as Flammer put her knees up at the last second. Flammer avoid the pinfall at that point and thought she got back in control when she dropkicked La Catalina out of the ring.
Flammer looked up the ramp, appearing to wonder where La Hiedra was. La Hiedra, Flammer’s tag team partner, was nowhere to be found. It took Flammer out of her game. La Catalina tossed Flammer from the top rope. She nailed a hip attack and then a running knee to topple Flammer.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
The win for La Catalina ends Flammer’s illustrious title reign at 1,128 days. She was the longest-reigning Reina de Reinas champion and one of the longest-reigning champions across pro wrestling. But all of that ended in Mexico City on Night 2 of AAA’s premier events.
There will be no rest for the new champion as she already has a challenger waiting in the wings.
Roxanne Perez earned the No. 1 contender spot for the title on Night 1 of Triplemania 34. She held off Nattie, La Hiedra and Faby Apache to win the match. Perez pinned La Hiedra, who appeared to be hoping for Flammer to have her back in that match.
Whatever the disconnect was between Flammer and La Hiedra, it showed up on the biggest stage of Lucha Libre.
La Catalina and Perez will battle for the title at Worlds Collide later this month.
Giants honor 9/11 heroes before emotional Sunday Night Football opener against Cowboys
Before the Giants took to the field against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, MetLife Stadium marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with a pregame tribute honoring victims and first responders.
Fans arriving at MetLife Stadium were welcomed by FDNY’s ceremonial Ladder 343 truck and an authentic World Trade Center steel beam displayed outside the gates by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Two vertical columns of light, echoing the World Trade Center’s "Tribute in Light," illuminated the night sky above MetLife Stadium.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
The ceremony included a special performance of the national anthem by members of the NYPD and FDNY.
On the field, players, coaches and Giants season-ticket members held a 100-yard wide American flag stretching from end zone to end zone.
New York City first responders formed a gauntlet for the Giants during player introductions. Players, coaches and staff from both teams wore commemorative NYPD, FDNY and PAPD hats on the sideline, while players and coaches wore "Never Forget" T-shirts during warm-ups.
NFL'S WEEK 1 9/11 TRIBUTE BEGINS IN SEATTLE WITH WILD GUITAR SOLO DURING NATIONAL ANTHEM
Members of the Palumbo family, whose FDNY father died on 9/11, served as honorary captains for the coin toss. A photo montage of lives lost on 9/11 played on the stadium’s video boards during a moment of silence.
Giants legends also joined uniformed first responders for the "Go Big Blue" chant before kickoff.
SON WHO LOST FATHER IN 9/11 ATTACKS SHARES POWERFUL LESSONS 25 YEARS LATER: ‘I’M STILL HERE’
For new Giants coach John Harbaugh, who took over after 18 seasons in Baltimore, the tribute carried special significance.
"It’s a story about heroes who were willing to run toward danger while others were trying to escape it," Harbaugh said. "To be in New York and honor the heroes of that day who live on forever in our culture, that means everything. You honor it with your effort."
JOHN HARBAUGH AND JAXSON DART AIM TO PULL THE NEW YORK GIANTS OUT OF THE NFC EAST BASEMENT
With Harbaugh in charge, the Giants believe better days are ahead.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Trump says China 'spies' on US after report ties Chinese imagery to Iran strike
President Donald Trump said Sunday that China "spies on us" just as "we spy on them," following a report that Chinese entities provided Iran with satellite imagery before a deadly missile attack that killed three U.S. troops.
While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked about a Wall Street Journal report that Chinese entities allegedly supplied Iran with high-resolution satellite imagery of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan before Tehran's July 17 missile attack.
"They basically do what we do," Trump said.
TRUMP GIVES SMITHSONIAN DAYS TO REPLACE 'STRANGE MODERNIST SCULPTURE' WITH FOUNDING FATHER
Asked whether he planned to raise the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping when he visits the U.S., Trump said Xi has "behaved reasonably well," and that "we behave reasonably well."
"You know what they say? That China spies on us. I say you're right, and we spy on them, too," Trump said.
TRUMP TELLS ZELENSKYY TO STOP DOING 'ONE THING' DURING ATTACKS ON RUSSIA
According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials linked the imagery to Iran's July 17 strike on the Jordanian base, which killed three U.S. troops.
Officials described it as the clearest evidence to date that support from Chinese entities for Iran during the war has had deadly consequences for American forces, the outlet reported.
TRUMP SAYS HE WOULD 'LOVE' TO SEE IRELAND UNIFIED AS ONE NATION
The U.S. officials did not identify the Chinese entities involved or accuse Beijing of direct involvement in the attack.
Xi is scheduled to visit Washington on Sept. 24 for a summit with Trump.
The White House could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.
Fox News Digital's Emma Bussey contributed to this report.
California football coach arrested after students make disturbing discovery at school
A high school football coach in California was arrested Friday after students discovered a cellphone secretly recording them while they were changing inside a campus locker room, police said.
The phone belonged to Jeffrey Pribble, a 48-year-old teacher at Tracy High School, located east of San Francisco, the Tracy Police Department said Saturday.
According to the school's website and social media accounts, Pribble is the varsity football head coach and works in the school's physical education program.
Pribble has held the coaching position for five years and has 22 years of experience as an educator with the district, according to his Facebook page.
SCHOOL EMPLOYEE ACCUSED OF SECRETLY FILMING 12 GIRLS IN CHANGING ROOM FACES NEW CHARGES
The discovery was made Thursday when a student and several classmates found the phone recording inside the locker room, officials said.
The students stopped the recording, deleted the video and turned the device over to a teacher.
By Thursday evening, a concerned parent then contacted Tracy police patrol officers, prompting school resource officers and detectives to open an investigation.
The following day, officers determined that the phone belonged to Pribble, who was arrested Friday.
The Tracy Unified School District placed Pribble on leave pending the outcome of separate criminal and district investigations, officials said.
According to the Pleasanton Weekly, Tracy High Principal Jon Waggle acknowledged the arrest of an employee in an email to parents.
The school did not identify the teacher or the specific allegations but noted that the district was fully cooperating with police.
"We understand that this news may raise serious concerns in the District community. The District too is concerned about the well-being of its students and staff and is committed to holding its employees to the highest professional and ethical standards," Waggle wrote.
"Tracy High School and all our Tracy Unified schools are proud of being safe schools. The cooperation between students, parents and staff members keeps our schools safe and is important and appreciated. Thank you for your continued partnership and support."
Tracy Police Chief Sekou Millington added that the safety and privacy of the city's students remain among the department's top priorities.
"Our children deserve to feel safe at school and in every space where they should be able to learn, grow, and simply be kids," Millington said.
"Protecting the safety, privacy, and well-being of our students is a responsibility we take seriously. We are grateful to the students who brought this incident to the attention of adults and to the officers and detectives who acted quickly to investigate."
Fox News Digital reached out to Tracy High School for more information.
Air Force colonel shot down over Iran reveals desperate prayer in 50-hour fight to survive
An Air Force colonel shot down over Iran survived a terrifying fall, three broken bones and a two-day enemy manhunt after turning to God as his damaged parachute sent him plunging toward the desert.
The colonel, identified only by his mission call sign "Bravo," revealed in a new interview with CBS News’ "60 Minutes" how a desperate prayer began an extraordinary 50-hour fight to make it home alive.
"At one point when I looked up and saw no parachute, that was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen," Bravo said in his first public account of the April ordeal.
"So I paused, right then, and I prayed, ‘Lord, your will be done. But if I’m getting through this, I need help.’"
HOLLYWOOD LEGEND MAKING MOVIE ABOUT EPIC IRAN RESCUE MISSION TO SAVE F-15 FIGHTER JET CREW
The colonel was the weapons systems officer seated behind the pilot of an F-15E Strike Eagle operating under the call sign Dude 44 when an Iranian shoulder-fired missile struck the aircraft April 2, according to CBS News.
OPERATION EPIC FURY SHATTERED IRAN’S POWER, BUT EXPOSED RISKS AMERICA CAN’T IGNORE
The two-man crew had been assigned to attack industrial facilities tied to Iran’s drone and missile program near a mountainous region south of Isfahan, U.S. Central Command leader Adm. Brad Cooper told the outlet.
"We had air superiority, but clearly we weren’t flying over Kansas," Cooper said.
THE LEGACY OF 'EAGLE CLAW': HOW FAILURE HELPED BUILD AMERICA'S ELITE SPECIAL FORCES
Bravo described the missile strike as feeling like the jet had been hit by a freight train. He and the pilot, known as "Alpha," initially tried to save the roughly $30 million aircraft before realizing they had no choice but to eject.
Alpha escaped safely, but the missile had damaged Bravo’s parachute, sending him hurtling toward the ground at an estimated 70 to 100 mph, CBS reported.
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The violent landing broke Bravo’s back, arm and shoulder and left him stranded roughly five miles from Alpha in the heart of enemy territory.
Despite his injuries, Bravo moved away from his landing site and began climbing toward a roughly 7,000-foot ridgeline as daylight revealed the desert valley and steep cliffs surrounding him.
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"Never let a lack of motivation put you on Iranian TV," he told CBS.
Iranian forces were actively hunting the downed aviators and at one point came within several hundred meters of Bravo, according to U.S. military officials cited by the outlet. Images of the wrecked American fighter jet had already appeared in Iranian media, while videos reportedly showed armed groups searching the region.
PETE HEGSETH HEADS TO CAPITOL HILL TO DEFEND TRUMP'S IRAN WAR AS 60-DAY CONGRESSIONAL DEADLINE LOOMS
"There was clear intent out of the Iranian ground force to come find those two guys," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told CBS.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was awakened in the middle of the night and informed that the fighter jet had been shot down.
"Whether they’re alive or not, we’re going to go get them," Hegseth recalled.
American forces rescued Alpha about six hours after the crash during a dangerous daylight mission in which U.S. helicopters came under fire.
"It was a gun fight all the way in and all the way out," Hegseth said. "But they got Alpha back."
Bravo, however, could not be found.
TRUMP OPENS HORMUZ UNDER FIRE WITH ‘PROJECT FREEDOM’ AS IRAN WARNS OF ATTACKS
In a statement provided to "60 Minutes," Alpha praised the combat search-and-rescue teams and other U.S. forces involved in bringing both men home.
"Words cannot capture how thankful my family and I are and how proud I am to serve alongside each and every one of them," Alpha said.
The pilot has since returned to flying but declined to appear publicly because of security concerns, CBS reported.
As darkness fell on Bravo’s first day in Iran, the injured colonel managed to send a message to U.S. forces.
"God is good," he wrote.
Bravo also told commanders that he was injured but still moving. Military leaders considered launching another rescue operation that night, but Hegseth said the conditions did not come together and officials made the agonizing decision to leave the colonel in Iran for another day.
Bravo endured the high desert’s wind and cold with almost no food or water while American forces tracked both him and the Iranian teams trying to capture him.
The CIA launched a deception campaign designed to confuse Iranian forces and used classified technology to pinpoint Bravo’s location, according to CBS. Newly declassified footage showed U.S. bombers and drones striking nearby forces linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as the rescue mission moved into place.
More than 90 U.S. service members entered Iran on the ground, marking the first American boots inside the country in 46 years, Cooper told the outlet. Hundreds more took part in the air, while thousands provided support.
Two large search-and-rescue aircraft landed on a makeshift desert runway before smaller "Little Bird" helicopters flew toward Bravo’s position on the ridgeline.
Bravo called the moment he saw his rescuers "one of the greatest moments of my life."
His first words to them were simple: "Let’s go."
But the dangerous operation was not over.
TRUMP SAYS US WILL 'BEAT THE F------ S--- OUT OF THEM' AFTER IRAN LAUNCHES SURPRISE MISSILE STRIKE
The landing gear of the two rescue planes became trapped in the desert sand, stranding Bravo and more than 90 elite U.S. service members. A clandestine Air Force unit was ultimately brought in to extract the group, CBS reported.
The U.S. military then destroyed the two stranded aircraft, each valued at roughly $100 million, along with the smaller helicopters to prevent sensitive American technology from falling into Iranian hands.
Bravo was finally safe about 50 hours after Dude 44 was shot down, with the rescue completed as the sun rose on Easter Sunday.
The colonel, who called his survival a "modern-day miracle," said he believes God carried him through the fall and the harrowing days that followed.
"I believe that it’s a testament to God’s provision in my life to bring me through that moment in a way that didn’t prevent injuries, but prevented any catastrophic injuries that would have affected my ability to survive," he told CBS.
Bravo said his ordeal was ultimately bigger than one downed aviator.
"It’s a story of the teamwork, the training, of the faith, of the decisions and the leadership to do something that will live in history as an example of what America’s willing to do, in order to uphold our promise and leave no man behind."
Bravo's first public account aired during the season premiere of CBS News' "60 Minutes," marking the start of the program's first season under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and executive producer Nick Bilton.
Maryland dad blamed 'Satan' after 2-month-old daughter died from horrific head trauma
A Maryland couple was arrested after the death of their 2-month-old daughter who suffered head injuries, with the father allegedly telling police the girl's injuries were caused by "Satan slamming a door on the child," according to charging documents and prosecutors.
Oscar Pineda and Katerin Monzon-Alvarado, both 21, are facing charges for first and second-degree child abuse, first and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment that carry a maximum possible sentence of 55 years in prison in connection with the death of 2-month-old Aida Mikea Monzon Alvarado, Baltimore Police said, adding that they could face additional homicide charges pending the outcome of the autopsy report.
The baby was taken to Harbor Hospital on Wednesday with what doctors described as "suspicious" severe bruising around her eyes and jawline. A later examination revealed what charging documents describe as "significant head and brain trauma" and "multiple skull fractures" that were not noticed during the initial examination, charging documents state, according to CBS Baltimore.
IDAHO MOM WHO CLAIMED VACCINES KILLED HER TWIN BABIES CHARGED WITH MURDERING HER KIDS
The girl's father allegedly claimed to police that his daughter was injured "due to a supernatural force or Satan slamming a door on the child." The mother said her 2-year-old son often jumps on the bed, which caused the baby to fall onto the floor, a prosecutor said at a court hearing on Friday, according to the outlet.
The prosecutor argued that the extent of the girl's injuries could not have been caused by a single fall from the bed.
Police said the girl's mother brought the baby to the hospital on Wednesday after she became unresponsive. The woman initially told police the baby became unresponsive while lying face down in their bed after she was fed.
ALABAMA MOM CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER TODDLER BOUND, LEFT TO SUFFOCATE FOR 12 HOURS: COPS
Prosecutors said the mother told investigators the child was "freezing and in shock" when she took her to the hospital.
Doctors said the baby "suffered from significant head and brain trauma" and "sustained frontal lobe hemorrhaging and a subdural hemorrhage," according to the charging documents.
Hospital staff could not revive the child, and she died in the hospital.
Both parents later admitted to investigators that they noticed the girl's bruises on Sept. 6 and that she began vomiting the following day. They said they did not seek medical treatment until she was unresponsive on Wednesday.
The pair is Guatemalan nationals, and prosecutors argued they pose "an extreme flight risk."
Both parents were held without bail.
Creepy 'Cat in the Hat' trend targets schools as costumed figure allegedly chases teen girl
A shadowy figure dressed as the Cat in the Hat allegedly chased a teenage girl through a Canadian neighborhood, as a creepy online trend featuring sinister depictions of the beloved children’s character has prompted investigations and school warnings targeting schools and students across multiple states.
The unidentified girl was walking in West Kelowna, British Columbia, at about 9 p.m. Aug. 24 when a person wearing a costume resembling the Dr. Seuss character allegedly began chasing her, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The teen escaped and reached her home safely, but police are still working to identify the costumed individual.
"Regardless of whether the individual intended the behavior as a joke, following a young person and causing them to fear for their safety is extremely concerning," Cpl. Devon Gerrits said.
"People should understand that behavior intended as a prank can have serious consequences when it causes another person to reasonably fear for their safety."
TIMELINE REVEALS HOW MAN IN 'CHUCKY' MASK TERRORIZED PHILADELPHIA STREETS, EVADED POLICE
Investigators said wearing a costume is not a crime by itself, but pursuing someone in a way that causes reasonable fear could constitute criminal harassment. Assault, threats or intimidation charges could also be considered depending on the evidence.
Anyone who believes they are being followed or pursued should move toward a populated location, contact a trusted adult and call 911 if they are in immediate danger, the West Kelowna RCMP advised.
Police are asking anyone with doorbell, security or dashcam video taken near the 2000 block of Shamrock Drive at about 9 p.m. Aug. 24 to contact the West Kelowna RCMP.
Police have not said whether the real-world chase is connected to a separate "Cat in the Hat" social media trend that has spread across the United States, putting schools on alert and landing some juveniles in custody.
LOUDOUN COUNTY TRANSGENDER SUBSTITUTE CHARGED WITH MAKING SCHOOL THREATS
The online trend features edited or AI-generated images and videos depicting a sinister version of the Cat in the Hat lurking outside homes, standing near schools or prowling through communities. Some anonymous accounts have added the names of students, staff members, campuses and towns, sometimes accompanied by ominous messages or threats.
Authorities from California to Florida, Virginia and Texas have responded with investigations and increased patrols as they work to separate internet hoaxes from credible dangers.
The Baldwin Park Police Department in California said it was reviewing "concerning social media posts" that referenced local schools and named students and staff members.
"Any threat directed toward our schools, students, staff, or community will not be dismissed as a joke or prank," the department warned.
Police urged residents not to interact with or recirculate the accounts. Anyone who encounters a threatening post is asked to preserve the content, account name, screenshots, dates and times before reporting it to investigators.
In Virginia, the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after an account posted content referencing Mechanicsville High School and the trend. Deputies increased their presence at the campus while attempting to identify the person behind the account.
UK TO BAN TIKTOK, YOUTUBE, OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA APPS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 16, STARMER SAYS
The sheriff’s office similarly urged residents not to repost the material, warning that doing so could amplify the message and complicate efforts to trace its origin.
Florida’s St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said it was investigating content involving county schools but had not identified a credible threat. Deputies nevertheless increased their presence on campuses across the county as a precaution.
Texas law enforcement agencies have also warned that creating or spreading the threatening posts could carry consequences far beyond school discipline.
The Frio County Sheriff’s Office said some anonymous accounts have attached lists of students, schools or communities to menacing images and videos in an apparent attempt to provoke fear.
Authorities there determined posts mentioning the area did not appear to present a credible threat but increased patrols and law enforcement visibility around schools.
"Participating in, re-creating, or spreading these threatening posts is not a harmless joke," the sheriff’s office said, warning that copycat accounts and forwarded threats could lead to charges involving cyberbullying, harassment or terroristic threats.
Laredo police delivered a similar warning, saying criminal charges and arrests may follow even when the person responsible claims the post was only meant as a prank.
"A few seconds on social media can result in a police investigation, school disciplinary action, and potentially serious criminal consequences," the department said.
Premont police met with school district leaders after learning of the trend and warned that fake accounts, AI-generated content and purported pranks involving threats could result in charges including making a terroristic threat or filing a false alarm or report under Texas law.
The warnings come as authorities in multiple states have traced threatening accounts to juveniles.
Four girls between 13 and 15 years old were arrested in Berwick, Louisiana, after police linked them to TikTok accounts that alarmed families and schools, according to Police1. Three were charged with terrorizing or menacing, while a fourth was charged with cyberbullying.
A 12-year-old Florida student was accused of posting a written threat to kill tied to the trend, while a 14-year-old Colorado student was arrested after a post referenced a middle school and several homes, the outlet reported. Authorities in Alabama, Ohio and Kentucky have also announced juvenile arrests or pending charges connected to similar posts.
Police across the affected communities have repeatedly asked parents and students not to share the content, even when attempting to warn others. Instead, users should capture screenshots showing the account name and threatening material and send the evidence directly to school officials or law enforcement.
Fox News Digital reached out to TikTok for comment.
Jaxson Dart takes brutal hit early in Giants vs Cowboys opener but what happened next was kind of surprising
Jaxson Dart got absolutely rocked in the first quarter of Sunday night's regular-season opener between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.
It happened along the Giants sideline. Indeed, it happened on the white (out of bounds) area along the Giants sideline.
And then some interesting things happened:
Dart went flying into some equipment along that sideline and immediately raised up to make sure everyone understood he was fine.
His teammates, obviously not appreciating that Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown knocked their starting quarterback into hard sideline stuff while he was clearly out of bounds, went after the linebacker.
Then Cowboys players rallied to defend Overshown.
And we had beef among the opposing players, NFL style. You know, guys pushing and shoving while wearing helmets and more padding than an ancient gladiator.
NEW NFL FINE SCHEDULE IS GOING TO A POINT SYSTEM THAT COULD LEAD TO SUSPENSIONS BUT ALSO REFUNDS
Officials stepped in a restored order by throwing a flag on Overshown and the Cowboys for unnecessary roughness. That cost the Cowboys 15 yards above the 22 yards Dart had already gained on his run.
But here's the intrigue:
Dart didn't get summoned into the blue medical tent.
He clearly took a significant hit that could have easily caused the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant to force Dart into the tent. But it didn't happen.
And, you may recall, that's something Dart lobbied for in a manner of speaking during the preseason.
Dart expressed frustration after being summoned to the Giants’ blue medical tent during an Aug. 9 preseason game against the Vikings, saying he respected the NFL’s safety rules but was "puzzled" he always seemed to wind up in the tent every time he was hit.
Dart said he believed the hit in that particular game had merely knocked the wind out of him. He was cleared to return after the evaluation. But the QB wasn't happy about having to leave the game.
His history, by the way, explains the heightened scrutiny.
During his 2025 rookie season, Dart was sent for concussion evaluations five times and was diagnosed with one concussion. That caused him to miss two games.
He also exited a November game against the Bears after suffering that concussion, although he returned later in the season and finished the year.
Sunday night's hit was no less aggressive and severe as any of the ones Dart endured last year.
But, again, no trip to the tent. So here's a conspiracy theory:
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Maybe Dart helped himself by complaining in August.
No one is saying independent doctors would fail to do their jobs in protecting vulnerable players. But perhaps Dart earned himself the benefit of the doubt.
It looked that way in the first quarter of Sunday night's game.