Fox News Latest Headlines
Inside a rancher family's clash with gov't that could have ripple effect right to SCOTUS: ‘Existential threat’
The owners of a multigenerational cattle ranch say they are facing an "existential threat" after the Washington State Department of Ecology fined them hundreds of thousands of dollars over their stockwater ponds, and they are warning the case could have substantial implications nationwide.
The department fined Wade and Teresa King, owners of King Ranch in Grant and Douglas counties, $267,540 in 2023 for allegedly damaging regulated wetlands by digging ponds to provide water for their ranching operations. The Kings argue the areas, which they were ordered to restore, are longstanding stockwater ponds for their livestock, not regulated wetlands.
The Kings, who have been trying to get their case in front of a jury, told Fox News Digital that, not only is their financial stability at stake, so are the rights of other ranchers.
"Losing this fight would be an existential threat," Wade said. "I don't know how we would recover from that, to be honest with you."
When the Kings were first hit with the fines and restoration orders, they immediately set out to challenge them. However, the department's required process directed them to bring their case before the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB), an administrative panel that does not provide jury trials.
In March, the Kings filed a separate lawsuit in Grant County Superior Court, arguing the case should not be decided by the PCHB and that doing so would violate their right to a jury trial. Months later, a judge dismissed the lawsuit, ruling the Kings first had to complete the administrative process.
The Kings appealed the decision, and a Washington Court of Appeals commissioner paused the PCHB proceedings in September while the court considers whether they are entitled to a jury trial.
"It's all under the executive branch, and they very rarely go with the property owner," Wade said, adding that Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, who was attorney general when the fight began, now has appointment authority over the board alongside the state Senate.
"They almost always side with the agencies and it's just not a fair trial for appellants like us."
The PCHB declined to comment due to the pending case.
Oliver Dunford, a senior attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation representing the Kings, told Fox News Digital they are prepared to petition the U.S. Supreme Court if they are unsuccessful in Washington.
"We have to ask them one question: to rule that the Seventh Amendment does apply against the states, and then to argue that the Kings should have had a jury trial under the Seventh Amendment," Dunford said.
He said if the case reaches the Supreme Court, a ruling could have ripple effects across other states.
"If we prevail, it would have an enormous effect, certainly across the state of Washington, but hopefully across the country, and prevent these agencies from just issuing these fines and then essentially putting the burden on you to prove your innocence and take the case all the way to the Supreme Court just to get a chance at a jury trial," he said.
The Kings' attorneys estimate the cost of complying with the department's orders could exceed $3.7 million. But beyond the financial toll, Teresa said the orders would be "unachievable" because the areas were never wetlands in the first place.
BLUE STATE'S WATER FAILURES COULD THREATEN FOOD SUPPLIES ACROSS US, LAWMAKER WARNS
"How do we as ranchers turn these into wetlands and comply with everything that Ecology wants us to?" she said. "It'll be unachievable and it would just spin us in the ground financially."
"How are we supposed to make wetlands from non-wetlands?" Wade added.
Wade said the department has failed to give them any details on how to fix the alleged damage. He said the wetlands designation gives the department greater authority over the areas than it would if they were considered stockwater ponds.
"That's the big reason why they want to call them wetlands when they're not wetlands," Wade said.
Wade and Teresa described how the fight could also hurt their children and their children’s children. The Kings have ranched in Grant and Douglas counties since the 1950s, where Teresa said multiple generations now live and work.
"It’s fourth generation, then we have fifth and sixth living and working on this ranch and we want to continue with this," she said. "We just want to be left alone."
The department said its investigation found no evidence the areas were previously stockwater ponds and accused the Kings of "damaging 23 naturally occurring wetlands" in Grant County.
"Ecology inspectors made site visits to these damaged areas where possible, but also used satellite imagery, aerial images dating from as far back as 1949, and other records to determine that the Kings had damaged 6.37 acres of naturally occurring wetlands by excavating, recontouring, and putting fill in them," the department said.
The department added it "repeatedly sought to resolve concerns about the damage" but the Kings "refused to cooperate with these efforts." They said they ordered the Kings to restore 11 more areas in Douglas County last year, bringing the total to 34, and most were on state land.
Wade said they have always protected and cared for the land that the department is now accusing them of damaging.
"We want clean water," Wade said. "Why would we pollute or cause damage to the land or the water that we rely on in our livelihood? We're generational. Why would we do something to harm ourselves that way and harm the environment?"
The Kings said the fight is far from over, with Teresa arguing the case could jeopardize exemptions other ranchers rely on to provide water for livestock.
"It's not just us," Teresa said. "We are defending every rancher in the state of Washington's exempt livestock water rights."
American Culture Quiz: Test yourself on famous fragrances and concerning carry-ons
The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people — including the latest news, events and sights and sounds of the United States.
This week's quiz highlights famous fragrances, concerning carry-ons — and a lot more.
Can you get all 8 questions right?
Give it a try and see how well you do!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
To try your hand at more quizzes from Fox News Digital, click here.
And to take our latest News Quiz — published every Friday — click here.
New Jersey town reveals staggering $26M theft days after election, sparking backlash
A New Jersey township is facing backlash after officials revealed that $26 million was stolen in a fraudulent wire transfer, with residents questioning why the massive theft wasn't disclosed until more than five weeks later — just days after Election Day.
Cranbury Township Mayor Lisa Knierim announced Friday that the municipality had been the victim of a "sophisticated financial theft" involving approximately $26 million.
Knierim, a Democrat, said the fraudulent wire transfer took place on Sept. 28, with the funds originally designated for purchasing property to meet the township's affordable housing obligations.
A task force involving local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies, led by the township's police department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, is working to recover the funds, according to the mayor's statement.
CYBERCRIME LOSSES NEAR $21B: 5 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR MONEY
So far, investigators have frozen nearly $17.3 million in assets, leaving approximately $8.7 million outside the reported freeze.
The township said the investigation remains active, adding that additional details cannot be released.
Knierim's announcement came Nov. 6, three days after the midterm elections and more than five weeks after the theft.
Several residents responded to the announcement on the township's Facebook page, questioning the timing of the disclosure and demanding greater transparency from local officials.
NEW JERSEY MAYOR WHO CHARGED AT RESIDENT DURING COUNCIL MEETING CONCEDES ELECTION LOSS
"I'm interested in knowing why this information was kept under wraps until after Election Day," one commenter wrote.
Another asked, "If this occurred on September 28th why is it just now being shared?"
The announcement followed Tuesday's local election, in which Democrat Thomas Szczur Jr. defeated Republican Carol Haring with 63.69% of the vote to Haring's 36.32%, according to election results published by the New Jersey secretary of state's office.
Szczur's victory preserved Democrats' control of all five seats on the Cranbury Township Committee.
The mayor acknowledged residents' concerns in her statement.
"We recognize that news of this magnitude will understandably raise questions and concerns among our residents," Knierim wrote. "Those concerns are legitimate, and we take them seriously."
NEW BANK SCAM LAWS COULD STOP SUSPICIOUS PAYMENTS
Knierim also said the township was taking steps to strengthen financial oversight and maintain municipal operations, noting that the Township Committee plans to introduce ordinances Monday to establish two new positions: assistant township administrator and assistant chief financial officer.
The committee also plans to consider hiring a municipal accounting firm for additional financial consulting support, while officials work with insurance carriers to explore potential recovery options.
It remains unclear why the township waited more than five weeks to publicly disclose the theft.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the mayor's office for additional comment.
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame silence doubters by knocking off top-ranked Miami, solidifying their CFP ranking
After spending five days as the No. 1 team in the country, it was No. 11 Notre Dame that handed the Miami Hurricanes its first loss of the season in the highly anticipated showdown that has been circled for the past year.
Is there an elite team in college football this season?
We thought this would turn into an instant classic, based off the history between these two teams that goes back to the "Catholics vs. Convicts" showdown in the '80s.
But, we also thought entering the week that Miami would have star wide receiver Malachi Toney on the field to help add to the drama between these two teams.
In reality, the Hurricanes did not score their first touchdown until there were nine minutes remaining in the third quarter, by which point Notre Dame had raced out to a 24-10 lead. But the floodgates finally opened in the fourth quarter, leading to a thrilling finish in South Bend.
Were we about to see some of that college football madness that was missing from the actual game being played on the field?
A touchdown pass from Miami quarterback Darian Mensah cut Notre Dame’s lead to 24-17, prompting the Hurricanes’ sideline to erupt as coaches tried to keep their players’ emotions in check.
It was at this point that Notre Dame fought their way out of the corner after taking a barrage of punches you'd expect from the No. 1 team in the country. A Nolan James Jr. touchdown run put the Fighting Irish back up by two scores, and almost put away a Miami team who had gassed itself out over that eight-minute stretch.
But given that this game had so much history, it was only fitting that it came down to one final pass. Darian Mensah’s throw to Elija Lofton in the end zone was swatted away at the last second, preserving Notre Dame’s 31-24 win and denying Miami a chance to tie the game.
ARCH MANNING, TEXAS ESCAPE MISSOURI AFTER WILD OFFICIATING CONTROVERSY SENDS SEC SHOWDOWN INTO CHAOS
Why not? We've seen so much craziness in college football this season, that it was only fitting this one would come down to the final minute in South Bend.
"I'm happy for this university, I'm happy for our players," Marcus Freeman said postgame. "You know, there's a lot of support from Notre Dame nation and this is a special moment for them. We're a dang good football team, and they're a dang good football team.
"When it mattered the most, they executed. It got a little ugly in that second half, and we talked about this moment before the game, I said 'at some point in the game there's gonna be a struggle'. They battled through it and executed when it mattered the most."
For all the talk about not winning on big stages, Marcus Freeman found himself urging his team off the field so quarterback CJ Carr could put the game away with two first downs, finally quieting questions about Notre Dame’s ability to finish.
One of the more lingering questions that will stir the pot of local sports talk radio stations over the next few days, and yes people still listen to the radio, will be what the CFP committee decides to do with the upcoming rankings that will be released on Tuesday night.
In the case of Notre Dame, they entered this game with the "must win" hanging over their heads, thanks to their strength of schedule and remaining opponents. Add that with the loss to BYU a few weeks ago, and the Cougars loss to Utah on Saturday, this was a game the Fighting Irish could not lose if they were hoping to participate in the college football playoff.
Now, if Notre Dame can avoid hitting the iceberg over the next three weeks against Boston College, SMU and Syracuse, they will find themselves in the postseason fighting for a national championship.
For Miami, there will be plenty of questions over the next few weeks. The Hurricanes will face a dangerous Duke team, Virginia Tech and Boston College to end the regular season, with their toughest opponent coming next week against the Blue Devils.
There will obviously be plenty of questions around this offense, with Malachi Toney not expected back until the ACC championship game at the earliest following his high-ankle sprain surgery that was performed this week after an injury sustained in practice.
For all of the talk, though, Miami showed us who they were when their backs were against the wall tonight. No, the Hurricanes didn’t win, but they did prove that they could put up the points needed for the time being without Malachi Toney.
Can they keep it up? That's to be determined over the next month, especially when you factor in the type of emotions that came with this game.
The bigger story right now, though, is Notre Dame putting themselves in a spot to clinch a playoff berth over the next three weeks.
No mistakes, just win.
Tonight, the Fighting Irish gave the CFP committee all of the necessary ammunition needed to put them squarely in the top-10 on Tuesday night.
Now, it's their job to not screw it up over the next three weeks.
Three teens, adult charged with murder after woman finds her teenage son dead in abandoned home
Three teenagers and an adult have been charged with murder in Georgia after a mother found her 15-year-old son shot to death inside an abandoned residence following Halloween night.
The Albany Police Department said investigators arrested 22-year-old Detravion Parke, as well as two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old in connection with the death of Austin Payne, 15.
All four suspects were charged with murder and transported to the Dougherty County Jail, according to police.
Officers responded to the 800 block of Cameo Lane in Albany on Nov. 1, where they discovered Payne dead inside an abandoned home, police said. His mother found him by tracking his location via cellphone after he failed to return home on Halloween, according to WALB.
Albany Police Chief Michael Persley said during a Nov. 2 news conference that Payne had contacted his mother after being shot.
"He did make a call to his mother that he had been shot," Persley said.
According to WALB, investigators reviewed surveillance footage, cellphone records and witness statements to reconstruct the events leading up to Payne's death.
Witnesses told investigators that armed individuals approached a group walking with Payne, demanded their belongings and opened fire, the outlet reported.
2 DETAINED AFTER SHOOTING IN NEW YORK LEAVES 15-YEAR-OLD KILLED, TWO OTHERS WOUNDED: POLICE
Payne may have been targeted during an attempted robbery involving a handgun he had recently displayed on social media, according to WALB.
Payne's family has launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover funeral expenses following his death.
A relative said Payne would have turned 16 on Nov. 12.
"Our family is trying to process this heartbreaking loss," the relative wrote.
The fundraiser also noted that Payne is survived by his mother and 17-year-old sister.
The Albany Police Department is asking anyone with additional information about the shooting to contact investigators at 229-431-2100.
Georgia dominates Ole Miss, moves closer to SEC championship game and College Football Playoff berth
Maybe the only thing higher than the stakes for Saturday’s matchup between No. 2 Georgia and No. 12 Ole Miss was the level of mutual respect between Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart and Rebels coach Pete Golding.
"Pete has done a tremendous job," Smart said before the SEC showdown. Meanwhile, Golding called Smart and his staff "the gold standard in college football."
But once the game began, Georgia quickly turned the highly anticipated matchup into a one-sided affair. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-0 lead, carried a 28-0 advantage into halftime and extended it to 35-0 in the third quarter.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
Georgia cruised to a 42-7 win over Ole Miss in Oxford on Saturday night, handing the Rebels their largest home loss since 2018. That year, Ole Miss fell 62-7 to Alabama, then the top-ranked team in the country under coach Nick Saban.
Ole Miss fans’ frustration boiled over after officials called pass interference against the Rebels with just over five minutes left in the second quarter. Ole Miss trailed 21-0 when some fans began throwing trash and bottles onto the field.
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton threw four touchdown passes through the first three quarters. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss did not throw a touchdown and was intercepted once.
An 8-yard run by Ole Miss running back Shekai Mills-Knight with just under 11 minutes remaining finally put the Rebels on the board and cut Georgia’s lead to 35-7.
OLE MISS DEFENSE TAKES CHARGE, SHUTS DOWN MISSOURI'S HIGH-POWERED RUSHING ATTACK IN 31-3 WIN
Since 2023, no two SEC programs had posted better records than Georgia and Ole Miss. Both teams also entered the game with highly productive quarterbacks, although their styles differed.
Georgia’s clock-eating rushing attack featured Nate Frazier, Dwight Phillips Jr. and Bo Walker, who had combined for 19 touchdowns entering Saturday. That production had eased the burden on Stockton, who had still been efficient while throwing for more than 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Frazier rushed for 107 yards against Ole Miss.
Two of Georgia’s remaining games are against conference opponents. Next week, Missouri visits Athens. Ole Miss will travel to Norman for a matchup with Oklahoma in Week 11.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Japanese bowling pioneer Ritsuko Nakayama, first woman to bowl professional perfect game, dies at 84
Ritsuko Nakayama, a Japanese bowling standout who helped spark the sport’s boom in the 1970s, died Saturday. She was 84.
Nakayama’s death was announced by the Japan Professional Bowling Association, which said she had been receiving medical treatment for an unspecified health condition. Her passing marks the loss of one of the most influential figures in Japanese bowling history.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
Before taking up bowling, Nakayama played volleyball for a corporate team and switched sports after the team folded.
In 1969, she passed the first professional qualification test for women bowlers, finishing second to the late Kayoko Suda. She was one of 13 women in the first generation of pro bowlers that year.
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER
A year later, Nakayama made history by rolling the first perfect game in women’s professional bowling. Her popularity, however, extended beyond the lanes.
By 1971, she had appeared in a television commercial for a shampoo product, and the ad’s catchphrase inspired the nickname "Sawayaka Ritsuko-san," by which she became widely known.
13th-ranked Tennessee dismantles sixth-ranked Kentucky to stay alive in College Football Playoff race
The Tennessee Volunteers are still alive.
Entering the day No. 13 in the College Football Playoff rankings, the Vols dismantled the sixth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in Knoxville, 34-6.
Out of 10 offensive drives for the Wildcats, three ended on punts, two on turnovers on downs, two on fumbles and one on an interception, as they only managed two field goals in the contest.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
This one was close for most of the night, with Tennessee leading 13-6 entering the fourth quarter. But the Vols took control in the final period, turning a Kentucky fumble into a touchdown.
Kentucky was unable to convert a 4th and 1 at midfield on the ensuing drive, and it took just two plays for the Vols to score again and make it a three-touchdown lead.
It was rinse and repeat, as the Wildcats were stopped at the Tennessee 22, and the Vols ran on 10 consecutive plays to wrap up a 78-yard touchdown drive.
The Volunteers (7-2, 4-2 in SEC play) are very much alive in the College Football Playoff race. They came in No. 13, while the Wildcats (7-2, 4-2), who had their six-game winning streak snapped, were No. 6.
Tennessee had eight tackles for loss and forced three turnovers. Kentucky came into the game with one of the best turnover margins in the country. DeSean Bishop rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
The Vols used motivation from the fact that Alabama, a team they had beaten by 16 points a few weeks ago, was ranked No. 5 in the first College Football Playoff poll. This was the second "signature" victory Tennessee has gotten this season. Its loss to South Carolina two weeks ago was a difficult part of the playoff formula.
The Wildcats’ path to the College Football Playoff just got more difficult. Losing to Tennessee takes away any margin for error they might have had coming into the game.
The Vols are at Texas A&M next week, while Kentucky will head to Florida.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Matt Rhule says Nebraska was due for 'a change' after coaching staff shakeup following loss to Illinois
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule wants to see the Cornhuskers’ offense move in a different direction.
The fourth-year Nebraska head coach removed Dana Holgorsen from his role as offensive coordinator, a move that was confirmed shortly after the Cornhuskers’ 24-13 loss to Illinois on Friday. The shakeup comes five days after Rhule called Holgorsen "one of the best offensive minds of our generation."
Co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas will take over play-calling duties for the Huskers, who have scored just 54 points while dropping four straight games.
"Like so many of you, I am angry, I am disappointed and I am frustrated with our results this season," Rhule said in a statement. "As the head coach, I am ultimately responsible for every aspect of our program — including wins and losses — and it is my responsibility to make changes when they are warranted."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
Rhule added that while he still respects Holgorsen’s coaching ability and leadership, the team's offense had reached a point where he believed change was necessary.
"While there are many areas that need improvement, our offensive plan and execution is simply not working. Earlier today, I relieved offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen of his duties. As I have recently shared, Dana has a fantastic offensive mind, he is a strong leader, and he has done great work here at Nebraska. But simply, we need a change."
Holgorsen was widely criticized for abandoning the running game and having quarterback Anthony Colandrea attempt 44 passes in a 17-10 loss to Washington. "Dana Holgorsen is one of the best offensive minds of our generation," Rhule said earlier this week.
The Huskers were again plagued by penalties, missed field goals and questionable play-calling in the loss to Illinois. Nebraska scored on just two of its nine possessions against the Illini. Over the last four games, the Huskers have scored on nine of 46 possessions.
"I will continue to evaluate our program through the season and certainly at its conclusion and make additional changes where I believe they will help us win," Rhule said. "The Nebraska fan base has high expectations and I embrace them, and I also know of their passionate support of the young men in our program. I hope they will continue to be there for our players with very important games still ahead. Our entire program is determined to finish this season strong."
Holgorsen was in his second full season as Nebraska’s offensive coordinator. He left his role as an offensive consultant at TCU in November 2024 to join the Cornhuskers in the same capacity, then was promoted to offensive coordinator a week later after Rhule moved Marcus Satterfield to another role.
Nebraska travels to New Jersey next week for a matchup with Rutgers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
JACKSON THOMPSON: Dana White says he'll meet with Trump amid claim of White House press secretary job offer
UFC CEO Dana White said he plans to meet with President Donald Trump on Monday to discuss the president’s offer to make him White House press secretary.
White addressed the offer Saturday after a Zuffa Boxing event in London, saying he planned to fly to Washington following the news conference.
"I got a lot of jobs already," White said with a laugh. "We have a meeting on Monday, so I’m sure we’ll have more to talk about after that."
Trump made a Truth Social post on Saturday claiming he offered the job to White, urging him to take it.
WATCH: DANA WHITE DROPS 2028 HINTS WHILE RAVING ABOUT HIS FAVORITE TRUMP CABINET SECRETARY
"We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!" Trump wrote.
The president also proposed bringing several current and former UFC fighters along as assistants, naming Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier and Amanda Nunes, among others.
White added to the speculation by sharing an image on Instagram showing him behind the White House briefing room podium with the caption, "On to the next chapter."
White House communications director Steven Cheung also promoted the idea, reposting Trump’s message and writing, "Hell yeah! Do it, @DanaWhite!"
LEAVITT OPENS UP ON HELPING TRUMP FIND NEW PRESS SECRETARY AFTER ZACHARIA DEBACLE: 'WAS NOT FOR HER'
The overture comes amid changes to Trump’s communications operation. Karoline Leavitt left the press secretary job in August, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family. Her successor, Katie Zacharia, lasted just five days in October.
Trump also announced Friday that Stephen Miller would replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff. The changes follow Tuesday’s midterm elections, in which Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress.
White and Trump’s relationship stretches back to 2001, when Trump’s Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City hosted a UFC event as the promotion worked to establish itself.
White later became a prominent supporter of Trump’s presidential campaigns. He spoke at the Republican National Conventions in 2016 and 2020 and introduced Trump at the 2024 convention.
Their partnership reached the White House lawn in June, when the UFC staged its Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The event also coincided with Trump’s 80th birthday.
White’s influence in Trump’s political orbit has extended beyond campaign endorsements. Trump has credited the UFC executive with introducing him to younger online personalities who helped him reach audiences outside traditional political media.
"He introduced me to people I never heard of, young kids," Trump said earlier this year.
Trump's current communications challenge could grow when Democrats take control of Congress next year.
Democratic lawmakers have pledged investigations into the administration, including its immigration enforcement policies. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, has identified Stephen Miller’s role in those policies as a focus of prospective oversight.