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STEVE FORBES: Chuck Schumer has a beef with beef, but doesn’t even know how to grill it
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has never worked a cattle ranch. He has never run a meatpacking plant. And after America saw his backyard grilling stunt, it is fair to ask whether he knows how to properly grill a cheeseburger.
Yet as Americans prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence this July 4th — in the heart of summer grilling season — Schumer wants Washington to muscle its way into the U.S. beef industry.
What could possibly go wrong?
TRUMP WILL WELCOME FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO WHITE HOUSE DINNER TO CELEBRATE TRADE, TAX WINS
Plenty.
Schumer’s so-called "Family Grocer and Farmer Relief Act" is classic Washington liberalism: find a real problem, misdiagnose the cause, prescribe a cure that makes things worse and call it "relief." We have seen this in healthcare, energy, housing and education. Politicians create or worsen a crisis, blame private enterprise and then use the pain as an excuse to expand government control.
Beef prices are high. Families feel it every time they go to the grocery store. But the cause is not a cartoon conspiracy by meatpackers. It is basic economics: strong demand and tight supply.
AMERICANS STILL CRAVE PROTEIN DESPITE RECORD BEEF PRICES AS EXPERT REVEALS THE 'HEALTHIEST BURGER'
Retail beef demand rose sharply from 2019 to 2025, while America’s cattle herd fell to its lowest level in 75 years. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, total U.S. cattle and calves stood at just 86.2 million head as of Jan. 1, 2026. That is down sharply from Jan. 1, 2019, when the inventory stood at 94.8 million head, a drop of roughly 9% in seven years. The 2025 calf crop was a record-low 32.9 million head, the second consecutive year a new record low was set.
That is not price gouging. That is supply and demand.
For years, drought battered major cattle-producing states. Ranchers faced soaring feed, energy, land, labor and regulatory costs. Inflationary Biden-era policies — backed by Schumer and his allies — made everything more expensive for farmers, processors and consumers alike.
Now Schumer wants to punish the very supply chain families depend on.
Cattle are not widgets. Congress cannot pass a bill and produce more beef. Chickens can be raised for market in weeks. Beef cattle take years. From the birth of a heifer to the point where her offspring can ultimately enter beef production, the process can take roughly three years. That long cycle depends on weather, feed, financing, land, labor, trade policy and confidence that government will not suddenly change the rules midstream.
No Senate press conference can speed up biology.
The facts on meatpacking also demolish the Democratic price-gouging narrative. Beef packer margins in 2025 averaged a loss of roughly $138 per head. Tyson Foods reported an operating loss of more than $1 billion in its beef division that year. These are not the numbers of monopolists pocketing windfall profits. They are the numbers of a capital-intensive industry squeezed by the tightest cattle supply in more than three generations.
But Schumer’s bill ignores all that. It also ignores the damage done by years of anti-business policies imposed by the same politicians now pretending to be champions of consumers.
Instead of lowering costs, reducing regulatory barriers, encouraging investment, expanding processing capacity and keeping trade channels open, Schumer wants Washington to politically restructure the beef industry in the middle of a supply crunch.
That is economic malpractice.
Breaking up companies may make for good populist sound bites, but it is rarely clean, quick or cheap. In meat processing, forced restructuring would mean duplicated infrastructure, higher financing costs, stalled investment, litigation and uncertainty across the supply chain. The likely result: fewer efficiencies, less capacity, more risk and higher prices at the meat counter.
Wealthy shoppers buying prime cuts from boutique butchers may barely notice. Working families buying ground beef for burgers, tacos, meatloaf and weeknight dinners will.
There is a better way. Washington should reduce the cost pressures that made beef more expensive in the first place. Ease unnecessary regulatory burdens on farmers, ranchers and processors. Lower energy and transportation costs. Keep import and export markets open during changing supply cycles. Reduce tariff and input-cost pressures that make herd rebuilding slower and more expensive.
Most of all, let markets work.
And let us not forget who is pushing this scheme. Schumer’s allies include the Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., wing of politics — the same crowd that has spent years demonizing beef, lecturing Americans about what they eat, and flirting with Green New Deal ideas that would make food, fuel and electricity more expensive.
One day they tell us to eat less beef to save the planet. The next day they pretend to be shocked that beef is more expensive.
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America’s beef market will recover, but not if Washington turns a supply problem into a government-control problem. Herds can be rebuilt. Investment can return. Prices can ease. But that requires stability, lower costs and confidence — not politicians threatening to remake an entire industry for a campaign talking point.
As America marks 250 years of independence, we should remember what made this country prosperous: private enterprise, property rights, limited government and free markets.
Chuck Schumer may not know how to grill a cheeseburger. But he should know enough not to burn down the beef industry.
STEVE MOORE: Politicians are blaming the wrong villain for America’s rising food prices
When food prices rise, politicians and activists alike instinctively look for a villain to blame. Amid current instability, many will be tempted to settle on domestic manufacturers as the scapegoat for skyrocketing prices. This narrative might be politically convenient for some, but it gets the economics of global supply chains exactly backwards.
The real reason the price of key inputs in American food supply — like fertilizer — is rising is not corporate greed or mismanagement. It is a combination of global disruptions, geopolitical instability, and misguided government policies both here and abroad. All of these factors have come together to make it harder to produce the inputs on which American agriculture relies.
Fertilizer, for example, is one of the most important building blocks of the global food supply chain. Without it, crop yields fall. When crop yields fall, food production also declines, causing grocery bills to rise. Yet fertilizer does not appear out of thin air. It relies on a complex combination of materials such as sulfur, ammonia and phosphate rock.
TRUMP DECLARES FOOD SUPPLY EMERGENCY, SUSPENDS TARIFFS ON KEY FERTILIZER IMPORTS
These raw materials are sourced from all corners of the world and rely on international transportation networks. Many of these supply chains are currently under significant stress.
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine continues to disrupt key commodity markets and trade routes. Russia produced 7.5 million metric tons of sulfur last year, making it the third-largest producer in the world. This is because Russia is an oil-rich nation, and sulfur is a byproduct of oil refining. Lately, Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia’s oil and fertilizer infrastructure have drastically cut Russia’s ability to supply the world with sulfur. Russia’s ammonia exports have also fallen to roughly 80% below pre-war levels.
IRAN WARNS SHIPS OF 'FORCEFUL RESPONSE' AS US-BACKED HORMUZ ROUTE CHALLENGES TEHRAN'S GRIP
Tensions in the Middle East have only added to the uncertainty around energy production and shipping routes. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively at a standstill, roughly 16 million tons of fertilizer remain in limbo while geopolitical events remain unresolved. Additionally, roughly half of the world’s supply of sulfur transits the strait, adding more stress on key input costs.
When supplies of critical raw materials shrink and the cost of accessing them rises, prices for consumers will also naturally rise. As unfortunate as this is, it is not evidence of a market failure. On the contrary, this is the market responding to scarcity as it would in any other scenario. The bright economic minds of this administration must realize this.
If policymakers want to lower prices for Americans, it would be a mistake to punish producers. The answer is to find ways to increase supply, relieving the pressure created by global uncertainty.
CHAD WOLF: AMERICA CANNOT IGNORE CHINA’S ECONOMIC ATTACK ON US INDUSTRY
This starts with eliminating policies that unnecessarily raise costs for domestic manufacturers. Permitting delays, burdensome regulations, and restrictions on energy development all make it more difficult to produce fertilizer in the U.S. America has abundant resources and tremendous production capability. Policymakers should be doing everything possible to ensure American companies can source the raw materials they need right here at home.
At the same time, policymakers need to be clear-eyed about misguided trade practices. Whenever possible, we need to source inputs from a variety of trusted partners, both foreign and domestic, to help meet our domestic demand. Many overseas producers are facing the same squeeze. This would be akin to trying to fill an empty glass with an empty pitcher. The root problem remains.
Meanwhile, countries like China are exacerbating the issue with unfair trade practices of their own. China is the world’s second-largest exporter of fertilizer. However, China has restricted the export of fertilizer and its raw inputs, like sulfuric acid.
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American leaders must pursue a policy that promotes a level playing field and diversified supply chains that are not subject to global unrest. This is not only good economics but wise food security policy. If these issues persist until next year’s planting season, Americans will feel the sting even more than they have this year, when many farmers had already purchased their fertilizer in advance of these disruptions.
The laws of economics have not changed. When supplies are constrained, prices rise. When food production and input supply rise again, prices will fall.
If Washington is serious about lowering food costs and ensuring America stays well fed, it needs to stop searching for scapegoats. Addressing this crisis requires a look at the root causes. A traffic jam can’t be fixed by blaming the car at the back of the line. The obstacles in the road need to be cleared. There is no shortage of obstacles to address. America’s leaders need to fix their gaze there.
GINGRICH, JINDAL: Seniors deserve to age at home without scams draining Medicare dollars
One of the most important transformations in American healthcare is taking place outside hospitals and nursing homes.
Advances in artificial intelligence, telehealth, remote monitoring, home health services, and new care delivery models are making it possible for more Americans to receive high-quality care in the place they most want to be: their own homes.
For seniors, this transformation represents an extraordinary opportunity. Most older Americans want to remain in their homes, maintaining their independence and connection to family and community. Aging in place is not simply a personal preference. It is a matter of dignity and quality of life.
NEWT GINGRICH: ALZHEIMER’S IS WAGING A WAR ON MILLIONS. CONGRESS COULD HELP US WIN IT
President Donald Trump recognized this reality when he pledged to help seniors remain in their homes longer. Since returning to office, his administration has taken meaningful steps toward this goal. Earlier this year, President Trump signed legislation extending Medicare's Acute Hospital Care at Home program through 2030, allowing eligible seniors to receive hospital-level care without leaving their homes. His administration has continued implementation of the GUIDE dementia model, helping patients with Alzheimer's disease and related conditions remain at home longer while supporting family caregivers. It has also preserved Medicare telehealth flexibilities that allow more care to be delivered directly to patients rather than requiring unnecessary trips to hospitals and clinics.
Together, these initiatives point toward a broader vision for healthcare: bringing care to the patient rather than forcing patients into institutions. For many seniors, this means receiving care in a more comfortable setting while maintaining greater independence and stronger family connections.
Yet the success of home-based care depends on public confidence that these programs are operating as intended. Unfortunately, recent years have revealed that some of the very programs designed to help seniors remain independent have become attractive targets for fraud. Home health services, hospice care, personal care services, and other home-based benefits have increasingly been exploited by bad actors seeking to profit from Medicare and Medicaid.
DR OZ SAYS 800 HOSPICE PROVIDERS SUSPENDED IN CALIFORNIA OVER ALLEGED $1B MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME
The examples are troubling. In Los Angeles County, investigators identified an extraordinary concentration of hospice and home health providers, including more than 100 hospices operating from a single office building. Investigators have also uncovered sophisticated home health fraud networks that repeatedly cycled the same Medicare beneficiaries among multiple agencies to generate new rounds of federal payments while avoiding traditional fraud detection systems.
While it’s not specific to eldercare, the recent announcement that more than 1 million people signed up for Obamacare benefits without valid Social Security numbers is alarming.
Every major expansion of healthcare benefits depends on public trust. If taxpayers conclude these programs are vulnerable to widespread waste and abuse, support for continued expansion will weaken, honest providers will face greater scrutiny, and seniors who rely on these services may ultimately pay the price.
I'M OHIO'S STATE AUDITOR — MEDICAID FRAUD IS NOT JUST A WASHINGTON PROBLEM
This is why President Trump's efforts to combat fraud deserve as much attention as his efforts to expand access.
The administration has launched major healthcare fraud investigations, established a government-wide anti-fraud task force chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance, expanded enforcement efforts in known fraud hotspots, and increased scrutiny of providers suspected of abusing federal healthcare programs. These efforts are not separate from the administration's broader commitment to helping seniors age in place. They are an essential part of making that vision sustainable.
The administration's six-month hospice enrollment moratorium should be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen the system. The objective is not to repeatedly extend temporary restrictions, but to use this period to improve provider screening, ownership verification, and oversight so legitimate providers can continue expanding access to care. Success should not be measured by the number of moratoria we impose. It should be measured by whether we build a system strong enough that we no longer need them.
Recent scandals also reveal a deeper challenge. The federal government provides most of the funding for these programs, but oversight responsibilities are divided among states, contractors, accrediting organizations, and multiple federal agencies. When hundreds of providers operate from the same address, suspicious ownership structures persist for years, or known fraud hotspots continue to expand unchecked, it should be clear who is responsible for identifying and investigating those risks.
Strengthening provider enrollment standards, verifying the true owners behind home health and hospice companies, and improving coordination among federal and state oversight agencies should all be important priorities moving forward. Regulators should also modernize fraud detection systems by looking not only at suspicious providers, but also at suspicious patterns of beneficiary enrollment and movement across multiple providers. Artificial intelligence systems could greatly help this effort. Seniors should receive clear notification whenever they are enrolled in home health or hospice services, making it far more difficult for fraudulent operators to exploit beneficiaries without their knowledge.
America’s aging population will make home-based care increasingly important in the years ahead. President Trump deserves credit both for expanding these options and for recognizing that they must be protected from fraud if they are to achieve their full potential.
Helping more Americans remain in their homes as they age and protecting taxpayers from abuse are not competing priorities. They are two parts of the same mission. If we want more seniors to age with dignity, independence, and security, we must continue expanding home-based care while ensuring that these programs remain worthy of the public's trust.
Bobby Jindal was the governor of Louisiana from 2008-2016 and a candidate for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. He chairs the Center for a Healthy America at the America First Policy Institute.
Idaho mom who claimed vaccines killed her twin babies charged with murdering her kids
An Idaho mother who claimed her twins died last year after receiving vaccinations has now been charged with murder in connection with the death of the 18-month-olds.
Andrea Shaw, 23, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder, the Payette Police Department announced last week. She was arrested in Boise on Tuesday.
Police previously said the boy and girl were found dead in a shared bed on May 1, 2025.
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Police did not publicly state the kids' cause of death, but an indictment filed in Payette accuses Shaw of killing her twin toddlers, Dallas and Tyson, by suffocation, according to KTVB.
Just days after their children died, Shaw and her husband appeared on a podcast funded by Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group previously led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in which she alleged that the twins became sick and died shortly after receiving three vaccinations.
Shaw's attorney, Joe Filicetti, said he still believes the children's deaths were linked to the vaccinations without providing evidence to support that claim.
"They were looking at it as a vaccine death, and that's still what I believe it to be," he told KTVB.
Filicetti also said Shaw recently gave birth to another baby prematurely through a cesarean section and that her husband is taking care of the child.
Shaw was initially held at the Ada County Jail before being extradited to Payette County. She is being held on a $2 million bond.
She appeared virtually for her arraignment at the Payette County District court on Thursday.
During the hearing, the court read the charges and informed her of the potential penalties, including the possibility of the death penalty.
Accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson fights back as prosecutors' sprawling case comes into focus
PROVO, Utah – Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old man accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University last year, is due in court Monday for a week-long preliminary hearing that will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to move the case toward trial.
While in many cases, prosecutors secure a grand jury indictment behind closed doors and without giving defense lawyers a chance to challenge the evidence, Robinson was charged by information, meaning prosecutors must establish probable cause at a public preliminary hearing before the case can move to trial.
Defense attorneys will be able to cross-examine witnesses. But unlike an actual trial, there is a lower burden of proof. Prosecutors need to show probable cause for the charges against Robinson. They do not have to prove guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. That comes at trial, in front of a jury.
CHARLIE KIRK'S PARENTS, WIDOW TO ATTEND TYLER ROBINSON'S PRELIMINARY HEARING NEXT WEEK
Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, was speaking at a TPUSA event in front of thousands of young people when a sniper's bullet fatally struck him in the neck. His widow and parents are expected to attend the hearing.
Prosecutors have alleged that investigators found Robinson's DNA on the trigger of the suspected murder weapon, his grandfather's Mauser rifle; a towel they found wrapped around it; three of the four bullets inside — and a screwdriver recovered near the suspected rooftop sniper's perch.
Digital evidence against Robinson is expected to include alleged confessions over text messages and the Discord communications app.
Police recovered the rifle in a patch of woods near the UVU campus, along the suspect's escape route. Robinson is accused of sending text messages to his lover, Lance Twiggs, about wanting to retrieve the rifle, and law enforcement sources have said he is believed to have come face-to-face with an officer manning the perimeter nearby.
"Stuck in Orem for a little while longer yet," Robinson allegedly wrote in the hours after the murder. "Shouldn't be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still."
Twiggs, whom Robinson allegedly left a handwritten note confessing to the crime, is cooperating with investigators and has not been charged.
While the suspect's lover won't take the witness stand at the week-long preliminary hearing, prosecutors are expected to play a video of his interview with police.
While Robinson's defense played up the fact the ATF was unable to conclusively match the bullet that killed Kirk to the Mauser, analysts couldn't rule it out either. They found it was a consistent caliber and recovered a spent casing that did match.
Witnesses are also expected to place Robinson at the scene — when he lived a four-hour drive away in Washington, Utah.
In addition to allegedly shooting Kirk, he is also accused of witness tampering, committing a violent offense in the presence of a child, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors have alleged Robinson targeted Kirk because of his political views, tried to conceal the rifle and the clothes he wore during the shooting and urged Twiggs to delete incriminating messages, destroy the note and stay silent if police questioned him.
Robinson has not yet entered a plea and won't be required to do so unless prosecutors prevail at the preliminary hearing.
The top charge against him, aggravated murder, carries the potential death penalty.
England stuns Mexico 3-2 in instant World Cup classic, hands team first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca
One of the tournament's instant classics unfolded Sunday at the historic Estadio Azteca, where 87,500 screaming fans created a deafening atmosphere.
England weathered the storm, silencing the sea of green with a ruthless finishing display to escape with a dramatic 3-2 victory.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane combined to crush El Tri's World Cup dreams. El Tri is a popular nickname for the Mexican men's national team.
In a stunning two-minute span in the first half, Bellingham struck twice, leaving Mexico's defense completely shell-shocked.
But before halftime, Julian Quinones gave El Tri a lifeline. He buried a clutch goal, trimming the deficit to 2-1.
The second half was as electric as the first.
USA WORLD CUP STAR CALLS LACK OF APPEAL PROCESS FOR TEAMMATE'S RED CARD 'BOGUS'
In the 53rd minute, England went down to 10 men after Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card. Suddenly, the momentum appeared to swing in Mexico's favor.
Instead of capitalizing on the numerical advantage, however, Mexico gifted England a golden opportunity.
Goalkeeper Raul Rangel recklessly brought down Anthony Gordon inside the penalty area, conceding a spot kick. Captain Harry Kane calmly stepped up and buried the penalty, restoring England's two-goal cushion at 3-1.
Still, Mexico refused to fold.
In the 69th minute, the referee pointed to the spot once again, awarding Mexico a penalty after another frantic sequence inside England's box.
Raul Jimenez confidently converted, cutting the deficit to 3-2 and setting up an edgy finish.
From there, England dug in, despite being down to 10 men. England absorbed wave after wave of Mexican pressure before hanging on for a gritty 3-2 victory, advancing to the quarterfinals against Norway.
England booked its place in the quarterfinals and handed Mexico its first-ever World Cup defeat at the Estadio.
Traveling England supporters celebrated by belting out "Wonderwall" one more time.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
NYC health officials warn Central Park visitors after Legionnaires’ outbreak grows on Upper East Side
A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has grown to 14 confirmed cases, New York City health officials said Sunday.
The cases are tied to ZIP codes 10028, 10128 and 10075, covering parts of the Upper East Side, including Yorkville and Carnegie Hill. At least one patient lives, works or recently visited the 10075 area, health officials said.
Officials are also urging anyone who spent time along the east side of Central Park between East 76th Street and East 97th Street to watch for flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, chills and muscle aches.
MYSTERY PARASITE LEAVES AMERICANS BATTLING ‘EXPLOSIVE' ILLNESS AS CDC INVESTIGATES
"I want to acknowledge the NYC Health Department’s staff of epidemiologists, water ecologists, community health workers, and many more who spent the last few days working to keep New Yorkers on the Upper East Side informed and safe," NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin said in a statement.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. People can become infected by breathing in contaminated water droplets, and the illness can be dangerous — even deadly — without quick treatment.
WEST NILE VIRUS DETECTED IN SOUTHERN STATE AS HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN RESIDENTS ABOUT MOSQUITOES
The source of the outbreak remains under investigation. Officials say they are testing cooling towers in the affected area as a possible source, though no specific source has been identified.
Cooling towers, often found on rooftops, can release mist carrying Legionella bacteria. The Health Department said all cooling towers in the affected area are being tested.
The cluster was first announced Thursday, when only two cases had been confirmed. The area of investigation has since expanded as more illnesses were reported.
RARE TICK-BORNE VIRUS TURNS DEADLY FAST AS US CASES REACH RECORD HIGH, EXPERTS WARN
"We identified the cluster early when there were just two confirmed cases, and we’ve acted swiftly and decisively, setting holiday plans aside to step up for our fellow New Yorkers. There is more work to do in the days ahead as we learn more about the source of exposure and confirmed cases," Martin said.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the outbreak is not tied to building plumbing or indoor air conditioning units, and residents in the area can safely drink tap water, bathe, shower, cook and use their AC at home.
Officials said they will continue providing updates as more information becomes available.
"Please contact a health care provider immediately if you live, work or visited the area since late June and are experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as cough, fever or difficulty breathing," Mamdani wrote on X.
Last summer, a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Central Harlem led to more than 100 confirmed illnesses, according to FOX 5.
Pilot declares mayday before seaplane comes down in New York City’s East River
Eight people were rescued after a seaplane made a hard landing in New York City's East River on Sunday afternoon, prompting a swift emergency response from firefighters after the aircraft came down near the city's only seaplane terminal, officials said.
The New York City Fire Department told Fox News Digital it received a call at 12:01 p.m. reporting a plane in the water near the NY Skyport at East 23rd Street and FDR Drive in Manhattan.
Fire crews arrived to find the seaplane upright in the water. FDNY units removed all eight people aboard before the aircraft was towed back to a nearby dock, the department said.
Two civilians suffered minor injuries but declined medical attention at the scene, according to the FDNY. No additional injuries were immediately reported.
FAA PROBES JFK NEAR MISS AFTER ANOTHER RECENT CLOSE CALL FUELS SCRUTINY OF AIR TRAFFIC SAFETY
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Kodiak 100 seaplane and told Fox News Digital the pilot made a hard landing in the East River at about noon local time, causing a wing strut to snap.
The aircraft departed East Hampton Airport on Long Island and was headed to the Skyport seaplane terminal in Manhattan, according to The New York Times and CNN.
WATCH: HARROWING FOOTAGE CAPTURES MOMENT UNITED FLIGHT'S LANDING GEAR STRIKES TRACTOR TRAILER
The NY Skyport on Manhattan's East Side is New York City's only seaplane terminal, serving scheduled and charter flights to destinations throughout the Northeast.
The FAA said eight people were aboard the aircraft, which is registered as N726SH. The agency said it is investigating the incident and noted the information released Sunday is preliminary and subject to change.
Air traffic control recordings captured the moments surrounding the incident, including the pilot declaring a mayday before the aircraft came down in the river. Separate radio traffic captured a New York City Police Department helicopter responding to reports of a "plane down in the water."
HELICOPTER REPORTS NEAR MISS WITH RC PLANE NEAR JFK AFTER JETBLUE DRONE STRIKE
Authorities have not identified the pilot or passengers, and it was not immediately clear what led to the hard landing.
Video from the scene showed first responders surrounding the aircraft as it floated upright in the East River while rescue crews worked to remove those aboard. Additional video showed the seaplane being towed back toward the dock after the rescue operation concluded.
The incident prompted a large emergency response to the East River waterfront as FDNY marine units and other first responders converged on the area.
The FAA directed questions regarding the people on board to local authorities. Fox News Digital has reached out to the New York City Police Department for additional information.
How to watch USA vs Belgium: Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16
Momentum is in full gear for Team USA following their win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
And what was originally a bittersweet ending in the San Francisco Bay Area due to the red card to striker Folarin Balogun has since changed thanks to FIFA’s announcement that the USMNT star will be able to play in the Round of 16 against Belgium on Monday night.
Balogun’s controversial red card, which came in the 64th minute of the 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, changed the trajectory of the USMNT’s hopes to make a World Cup Final run. After all, Balogun has been the perfect striker for this squad since the start of the tournament, securing his third World Cup goal in the Round of 32.
WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE
FIFA MAKES FINAL RULING ON US SOCCER STAR FOLARIN BALOGUN'S CONTROVERSIAL RED CARD SUSPENSION
However, Balogun will now be available for the U.S. in a stunning twist following the uproar over his red card.
The Athletic, which first reported Balogun’s playing status on Sunday, noted that part of FIFA’s disciplinary code is "the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure."
"If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement," the rule added.
FOX Sports also confirmed that Balogun would be able to play. The report noted that the play should not have been flagged to head referee Raphael Claus, who ultimately gave Balogun the red card after a VAR review.
In turn, head coach Mauricio Pochettino will be able to run with his regular starting XI instead of having to figure out what to do about Balogun.
On the other side, Belgium was 10 minutes plus stoppage time away from a shocker against Senegal in the Round of 32. Senegal owned a 2-0 lead late in the second half, but Belgium was able to force extra time with some clutch goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans.
BELGIUM COMPLETES STUNNING WORLD CUP COMEBACK AGAINST SENEGAL TO SET UP POTENTIAL SHOWDOWN WITH USA
In extra time, just before a penalty shootout appeared to be the only way to solve the deadlock, a foul was committed by Senegal in their own box, and Tielemans was awarded a penalty to decide the match. The veteran didn’t squander the opportunity, and Belgium kept their World Cup alive.
Now, both these squads will meet in Seattle, which was an electric atmosphere for the USMNT’s victory over Australia in the group stage. It’s expected to be even more raucous, as the U.S. aims to do what only one team in its history had done prior – reach the quarterfinals.
Here's how to watch the game, including start time, TV information and streaming options.
When: Monday, July 6 at 8 p.m. ET
Where : Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington
TV: FOX
Stream: Watch on FOX One and FOX Sports
Georgia teacher receives almost $300K settlement over Charlie Kirk assassination post
Former Georgia teacher Michelle Mickens settled her lawsuit with the Oglethorpe County School District on Wednesday after claiming she was unfairly punished over quotes related to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk after his assassination.
In October, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed a lawsuit on behalf of Mickens after she was placed on indefinite leave and reportedly encouraged to resign for making controversial comments about Kirk's assassination on her private Facebook page in September.
"I think it's worth it. I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.- Charlie Kirk," her initial post read.
MARYLAND TEACHER FACES CALLS FOR RESIGNATION OVER CONTROVERSIAL CHARLIE KIRK MEME
Mickens later took part in a discussion with a Facebook friend who disagreed with her post, where she condemned political violence but added that the world was "safer" without Kirk.
"Yeah, you took this way too far. You make a lot of horrible assumptions here, but that says more about you than it does about me. I don’t condone violence of any kind, and I certainly don’t condone this, but he was a horrible person, a fascist full of hate for anyone who was different," Mickens wrote.
Her post continued, "While I’m sad that we live in a country where gun violence is an epidemic, the world is a bit safer without him. I didn’t respect him at all, and he’s part of the hatred and vitriolic language we hear so much now. I pray that without him, people can be kinder and more tolerant to one another."
MIKE DAVIS: CHICAGOLAND, WHERE TEACHERS CAN SUPPORT CHARLIE KIRK'S KILLING, BUT NOT ICE
After a former classmate shared the post across X, Mickens was called to the office to address a complaint regarding her comments. Mickens claimed that while the principal and superintendent initially suggested she delete the post and issue an apology, she was later asked to remain home with access to her school emails revoked.
According to records obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mickens received approximately $270,420 for "alleged emotional distress" as well as $17,080 to cover legal fees. Mickens also agreed to not seek employment at the district again.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Oglethorpe County School District superintendent and SPLC for comment.
In a press release after the settlement, SPLC senior supervising attorney Sam Boyd said, "We are pleased to reach a mutually amicable settlement of this matter. As courts across the country have recognized in other cases involving firings over comments about Charlie Kirk, and many other topics, ‘public school employees, including teachers, have a constitutionally protected right to free speech.’"
In the immediate days following Kirk's assassination at Utah Valley University, several teachers faced suspension and even termination for social media comments that justified or celebrated Kirk's death.
Since then, some teachers have been reinstated following controversial statements or lawsuits.