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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided an upbeat assessment of the military’s progress during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, emphasizing a surge in recruitment and the administration’s firm efforts to eliminate woke culture from the armed forces.

The meeting followed a milestone for President Trump, who just marked his 100th day back in office the day before.

“Well, Mr. President, I think we’re controversial because we’re over the target,” Hegseth said. “And like so many things, Mr. President, you inherited a demoralized military that couldn’t recruit, that was perceived as weak after what happened in Afghanistan and elsewhere because of Joe Biden.”

Hegseth outlined recent improvements in enlistment numbers, pointing to what he described as a dramatic turnaround since Trump resumed leadership.

“What we have seen since your election and the inauguration has been nothing short of a recruiting renaissance,” Hegseth detailed. “It has been decades since we’ve seen this kind of recruiting in the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force.”

“The men and women of America want to join the United States military led by President Donald Trump,” he added.

Backing up Hegseth’s remarks, Military.com reported on May 21 that the Army had already signed up 51,837 new recruits, amounting to 85% of its annual target of 61,000 for fiscal year 2025.

President Trump also noted a broader trend in public service recruitment, stating that police and fire departments across the country are also seeing a flood of interest.

“I mean, they have waiting lists now, and six months ago it was a disaster,” the president said.

Hegseth went on to describe the cultural overhaul taking place within the Department of Defense since Trump returned to the White House and appointed him to lead the Pentagon. He highlighted the reversal of several policies implemented under Joe Biden’s administration.

“We’re going to be fit, not fat, in our formations. We welcome back all…the folks who were forced out because of the COVID mandate. We ripped wokeness out of the military, sir—DEI, trans—and it’s Fort Benning and Fort Bragg again at the DoD,” he said.

While Hegseth discussed the military’s progress, he is also facing renewed scrutiny from legacy media outlets. The New York Times recently published claims—based on anonymous sources—that he was involved in sharing military operational discussions in a private Signal chat, paralleling an earlier controversy known as “Signal-gate.”

Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell issued a scathing response to the report:

“Another day, another old story—back from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump’s agenda. This time, the New York Times — and all other Fake News that repeat their garbage — are enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their article. They relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the Secretary and the President’s agenda.”

Parnell also insisted there was no breach of national security, stating:

“There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story.”

He concluded by reaffirming the department’s focus and priorities: “What is true is that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is continuing to become stronger and more efficient in executing President Trump’s agenda.”

{Matzav.com}

A wave of arson attacks has struck Bat Yam, with multiple fires breaking out across the city, including a dangerous blaze at the Beit Belev nursing home. Several residents were trapped as emergency responders battle to contain the situation. According to reports, ten firefighting crews, led by Shift Commander Chief Fire Officer Oshri Basson, were on the scene at the nursing home on Abba Berdichev Street, where thick smoke has engulfed parts of the building. Firefighters are focused their efforts on rescuing trapped individuals from the smoke-filled structure. Medical teams provided immediate assistance, evacuating the injured to a safe area for treatment. The fire at Beit Belev is part of a broader string of suspected arson incidents in Bat Yam, with authorities reporting multiple fire outbreaks in the vicinity. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Trump administration is moving to cancel $1 billion in school mental health grants, saying they reflect the priorities of the previous administration. Grant recipients were notified Tuesday that the funding will not be continued after this year. A gun violence bill signed by Democratic President Joe Biden in 2022 sent $1 billion to the grant programs to help schools hire more psychologists, counselors and other mental health workers. A new notice said an Education Department review of the programs found they violated the purpose of civil rights law, conflicted with the department’s policy of prioritizing merit and fairness, and amounted to an inappropriate use of federal money. The cuts were made public in a social media post from conservative strategist Christopher Rufo, who claimed the money was used to advance “left-wing racialism and discrimination.” He posted excerpts from several grant documents setting goals to hire certain numbers of nonwhite counselors or pursue other diversity, equity and inclusion policies. “No more slush fund for activists under the guise of mental health,” Rufo wrote. The Education Department confirmed the cuts. In an update to members of Congress that was obtained by The Associated Press, department officials said the Republican administration will find other ways to support mental health. “The Department plans to re-envision and re-compete its mental health program funds to more effectively support students’ behavioral health needs,” according to the notice. President Donald Trump’s administration has cut billions of dollars in federal grants deemed to be related to DEI and has threatened to cut billions more from schools and colleges over diversity practices. The administration says any policy that treats people differently because of their race amounts to discrimination, and it argues that DEI has often been used to discriminate against white and Asian American students. (AP)

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled a sweeping initiative as part of the new state budget that would prohibit students from using cellphones throughout the entire school day. The move aligns New York with a broader national effort to limit student screen time and reduce dependence on social media and other digital distractions.

The plan introduces a strict “bell-to-bell” cellphone restriction, meaning students won’t be allowed to use mobile devices from the start of the school day until dismissal. The restriction applies not just during lessons but extends to lunchtime and study hall as well.

CBS News reported that the policy is embedded in a newly agreed-upon $254 billion state budget deal. Governor Hochul explained that the upcoming measure, set to be implemented in the next academic year, is designed to limit exposure to what she calls harmful, addictive digital habits.

“Protecting our communities requires more than streets where people feel safe,” Hochul said. “We need classrooms where young minds can flourish, and that means eliminating once and for all the digital distractions that steal our kids’ attention.”

“We protected our kids before from cigarettes, alcohol and drunk driving, and now, we’re protecting them from addictive technology designed to hijack their attention,” the governor added.

The initiative has garnered backing from the New York State United Teachers union, which called the situation urgent and voiced support for the classroom crackdown. “We are at a crisis point,” the union reportedly stated.

Back in January, Hochul previewed the plan during a CBS News interview, where she emphasized its benefits. “A bell-to-bell ban, morning until the day is over, is not going to hurt your kids. It’s going to help them emerge with stronger mental health and resiliency,” she said.

The proposed ban will include not only smartphones but also smartwatches and other wearable tech, with the restrictions covering all parts of the school day—including times typically seen as less structured, such as lunch periods and breaks.

Still, the policy will allow exceptions in specific cases, such as students needing a smart device to monitor a medical issue or to assist with language translation, according to Hochul.

To address parental concerns, schools will be required to ensure that there remains a reliable way for parents to contact their children during school hours. As the governor pointed out, this was standard practice before the era of personal devices—parents simply phoned the school office.

{Matzav.com}

A suspect was arrested late Tuesday evening by the NYPD with assistance from Boro Park Shomrim after violently robbing a delivery driver and fleeing on the victim’s moped. The incident occurred at 12th Avenue and 43rd Street, where the suspect threw the delivery driver off his moped and rode off with it. A Boro Park Shomrim volunteer who happened to be on the block witnessed the incident and immediately radioed for backup. Shomrim then alerted the NYPD and initiated a coordinated search. Shomrim volunteers tracked the suspect to 41st Street between 9th and 10th Avenues, where he was arrested by the NYPD. The stolen moped was recovered at the scene. A knife and BB gun were also found in the suspect’s possession, though neither weapon was displayed during the robbery. The NYPD is continuing to investigate the incident. Authorities praised the swift teamwork between Boro Park Shomrim and the NYPD that led to the suspect’s capture and recovery of the stolen property. THIS STORY WAS FIRST PUBLISHED ON THE BORO PARK SCOOP STATUS CLICK HERE SIGN UP TO THE BORO PARK SCOOP WHATSAPP STATUS TO BE INFORMED OF BORO PARK NEWS IN LIVE TIME (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Tim Walz tells a Harvard audience that Kamala chose him for VP because “I could code talk to white guys watching football, fixing their truck’ and he gave a ‘permission structure’ for whites to vote Democrat.

A federal judge has issued a sweeping order that bars Border Patrol agents in much of California from arresting individuals suspected of being in the country illegally—unless certain legal conditions are met. Judge Jennifer Thurston of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, handed down the ruling this week, placing sharp limitations on how immigration enforcement is carried out in the region.

Thurston’s preliminary injunction specifically restricts Border Patrol agents in the state’s eastern district—the largest of California’s judicial jurisdictions—from apprehending individuals without a warrant unless they have a solid legal basis to suspect the person is in the U.S. unlawfully.

“Indeed, the evidence before the Court is that Border Patrol agents under DHS authority engaged in conduct that violated well-established constitutional rights,” Thurston wrote.

“Border Patrol is enjoined from conducting detentive stops in this District unless, pre-stop, the detaining agent has reasonable suspicion that the person to be stopped is a noncitizen who is present within the United States in violation of U.S. immigration law, as required by the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

“Border Patrol is enjoined from effecting warrantless arrests in this District unless, pre-arrest, the arresting agent has probable cause to believe that the noncitizen being arrested is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained, as required by 8 U.S.C. § 1357(a)(2).”

The court’s decision also mandates new procedural requirements for agents. When Border Patrol arrests someone without a warrant, they will now need to provide a written narrative justifying the stop, clearly outlining the specific facts that led to the agent’s suspicion—formed before the encounter began.

Thurston further ordered that the agency must submit ongoing records of these encounters. Every 60 days, beginning two months from the date of her order, Border Patrol will need to turn over detailed documentation describing all warrantless arrests and detentions made in the district.

This legal battle stems from a lawsuit filed by the United Farm Workers and the American Civil Liberties Union. They brought the case against President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security after a series of arrests in California targeted individuals thought to be undocumented.

The suit alleged that federal agents carried out “a nearly weeklong sweep through predominantly Latino areas of Kern County and the surrounding region to stop, detain, and arrest people of color who appeared to be farm workers or day laborers, regardless of their actual immigration status or individual circumstances.”

{Matzav.com}

At the Bluebonnet detention center in Texas, Venezuelan detainees, accused of being Tren de Aragua members, formed an “SOS” message spotted by a Reuters drone, reportedly fearing deportation to El Salvador.

A break in the fence was found in the Geva Binyamin village fence, triggering an alarm. No infiltration is confirmed yet, but searches are ongoing.

The U.S. Supreme Court said Wednesday that federal employees who also are in the military reserve must be paid the equivalent of their civilian salaries when called to active duty during national emergencies. The 5-4 decision could affect hundreds of thousands of people, insuring that they don’t suffer financially when they temporarily leave one form of government service for another. The justices ruled in an appeal filed by an air traffic controller who spent about five years on active duty in the Coast Guard at a pay rate lower than what he earns as a Federal Aviation Administration employee. Congress first adopted a differential pay statute in 2009, but the Justice Department argued that it only applied to people whose service had a strong connection to a national emergency. The majority disagreed, finding that any reservist who is called to active duty during a national emergency bolsters the country’s defenses and their salary should match what they would have made in their federal civilian jobs. Gorsuch was joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts. In a dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas pointed out that the country has been under one national emergency or another for decades and the majority’s finding will create wider access to differential pay than Congress intended. Thomas wrote that he would have instead sent the case back to a lower court. He was joined by Justices Samuel Alito, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. (AP)

Authorities arrested a man on Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into the large-scale brush fires that broke out west of Yerushalayim. While speculation grew—especially on Palestinian social media—that the fires may have been deliberately set, officials stated by Wednesday evening that it was still too soon to determine whether arson had indeed caused the outbreaks.

The suspect, a 50-year-old man from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Umm Tuba, was apprehended after allegedly attempting to ignite dry brush in southern Yerushalayim, according to police.

Police said the arrest followed a tip from someone who reportedly saw an individual trying to set a fire. Officers from the Oz station in East Jerusalem brought the suspect in for questioning.

According to police, the suspect tried to escape when approached but was captured shortly after a brief chase. Officers said they found a lighter, cotton wool, and additional combustible items in his possession.

The arrest came at the same time as a wave of incitement online, with Palestinian social media accounts urging individuals to ignite fires across Israel during its Independence Day celebrations. The holiday coincided with extreme weather—scorching temperatures and high winds—that quickly turned any spark into a dangerous blaze, forcing the evacuation of several communities and leading to the cancellation of many public events.

One such post appeared on Shehab, a channel linked to Hamas, which read: “There are popular calls to set fire to forests near the settlements.” Hamas refers to all Jewish population centers—within both pre- and post-1967 lines—as settlements.

Another message, shared widely on X, called for widespread arson: “Your role is to set fire to gardens, vehicles and everything around the settlements.”

In response to these online provocations, Religious Zionism MK Zvi Sukkot issued a formal appeal to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. In his letter, he urged the imposition of curfews and lockdowns on Palestinian villages throughout the West Bank.

“There is a real concern, based on past experience, that Palestinians will try to ignite more fires in Judea and Samaria and throughout Israel… To prevent such occurrences, a curfew must be imposed immediately on Judea and Samaria, and a blockade must be imposed on the Palestinian villages,” Sukkot wrote, using the biblical term for the region.

Echoing these concerns, settler leader Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, and Likud Member of Knesset Dan Illouz also called for immediate action.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu was actively monitoring the situation, receiving constant updates, conducting security assessments, and staying in contact with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and senior firefighting and security officials.

The Shin Bet domestic security service, usually responsible for thwarting terror threats, confirmed it was participating in the investigation.

The agency said it was assisting police efforts to identify and locate any additional individuals suspected of deliberately starting fires.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The IDF carried out a strike on Syrian terrorists who were planning to attack a Druze community in in the town of As-Suwayda in the Damascus area, a joint statement from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said on Wednesday. According to the statement, the IDF strike was a warning operation and intended to convey a message to Syria’s leaders to protect the Druze population. “Israel will not allow the Druze sector in Syria to be harmed out of a deep sense of responsibility to our Druze brethren in Israel who are connected to their Druze brothers in Syria through familial and historical ties,” the statement said. Druze residents in Syria came under attack on Tuesday, reportedly due to the publication of a recording of a Druze man insulting the Prophet Mohammad. Sunni Syrians attacked Druze Syrians, leading to clashes that left 14 people dead. Druze sheikhs condemned the recording and the Syrian Interior Ministry announced that an investigation has been opened to uncover the person behind the publication. A local source told Ynet on Tuesday that “the atmosphere is tense.” The Syrian Interior Ministry published a statement: “We affirm our commitment to bring those involved to justice. Investigations are continuing to reveal the identity of the person behind the recording. We will not be lenient with those who contributed to incitement and chaos.” The Druze population in Israel held protests on Wednesday morning, demanding that the IDF and the government protect the Druze in Syria. Protesters blocked roads and burned tires, creating huge traffic jams that blocked passage to the military cemeteries in the area, where Israelis had gathered for Yom HaZikaron ceremonies. Ynet reported that police in the district were instructed to leave the cemeteries and kevarim of their fallen friends and acquaintances, and deploy to the junctions to prevent road closures and allow passage for bereaved families and visitors who were driving to cemeteries in the area. “Israel Police will allow freedom of expression and protest within the limits of the law, but as in any protest, it will not allow events that involve harming public safety or that may lead to a breach of public order,” the police said. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

In a provocative social media post, Yair Netanyahu, the son of Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, stirred controversy by implying that the Israeli left may have had a hand in the wildfires that were spreading across parts of the country.

“Something here is suspicious,” he wrote on X. “The Kaplanist left has been frantically trying in recent weeks to cancel Independence Day celebrations and the torch-lighting ceremony.”

His comment appeared to target anti-government protesters, commonly associated with demonstrations along Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv.

“I really hope the arson was only carried out by Arabs, without any collaboration from our own people,” he added.

At the time of his remarks, the exact origins of the fires remained uncertain. Authorities had not ruled out arson as a possible cause, and one resident of East Jerusalem had been taken into custody earlier in the day on suspicion of attempted arson.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A closely watched inflation gauge cooled last month in a sign that prices were steadily easing before most of President Donald Trump’s tariffs were implemented. At the same time, consumers accelerated their spending, particularly on cars, likely in an effort to get ahead of the duties. Wednesday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that consumer prices rose just 2.3% in March from a year earlier, down from 2.7% in February. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.6% compared with a year ago, below February’s 3%. Economists track core prices because they typically provide a better read on where inflation is headed. The slowdown in inflation could be a temporary respite until the widespread duties imposed by Trump begin to push up prices in many categories. Most economists expect inflation to start picking up in the coming months. “Core inflation will inevitably rebound sharply in the coming months,” Harry Chambers, assistant economist at Capital Economics, said in an email. “Goods prices will rise much more strongly.” Chambers expects core inflation will near 4% by late this year. Wednesday’s report also showed that consumer spending increased 0.7% from February to March, a healthy gain. Much of the increase appeared to be driven by efforts to get ahead of duties, such as Trump’s 25% duty on imported cars, which took effect April 3. Spending on autos surged 8.1% in March. Still, that means auto sales are likely to fade in the coming months because those assets have already been secured. But spending on restaurants and hotels also jumped after falling in February, a sign Americans are still willing to splurge a little on travel and dining out. The spending increase is noteworthy because consumer confidence surveys have plunged for several months, suggesting Americans have grown increasingly worried about the economy. Yet so far, that hasn’t translated into a noticeable slowdown in spending. Earlier Wednesday, the government reported that consumer spending slowed in the first three months of the year, compared with last year’s final quarter, as bad weather depressed shopping and Americans took a breather after healthy spending over the winter holidays. The nation’s economy actually shrank 0.3% in the January-March quarter as imports surged as companies sought to get ahead of Trump’s tariffs. Trump benefited in last year’s election from broad dissatisfaction among voters about the steep rise in prices that began in 2021 and that, on average, pushed prices up about 25% by the middle of last year. Grocery costs shot up nearly 30%. As a candidate, Trump said he would immediately lower prices if elected. Yet the president has slapped 25% duties on steel and aluminum, as well as cars, and a 10% tariff on nearly all other imports. And China, the United States’ third-largest trading partner, now faces a 145% duty on its exports. The inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve target a 2% inflation rate and pay close attention to Wednesday’s inflation gauge, known as the personal consumption expenditures price index. The better-known consumer price index was released earlier this month and also showed a steady decline. Inflation figures were revised higher for January and February, leaving price increases in the first quarter higher than previously estimated. The higher figures would likely leave Fed officials wary of cutting rates soon even before taking tariffs into […]

As Israel began its 77th Independence Day under extraordinary and harrowing conditions, wildfires fueled by fierce winds raged across parts of the country. Amid the chaos, the traditional live Independence Day opening ceremony was canceled due to the extreme weather, and instead, a prerecorded version of the event was aired. In it, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivered a pre-taped address meant for the original ceremony, sharing messages of resilience and unity while firefighters battled some of the most devastating fires the nation had seen.

In his address, Netanyahu praised Israel’s accomplishments and honored the soldiers who had given their lives defending the country. Reflecting on the uncertainty of the previous year, he remarked, “This year, nobody doubts it… because Israel has changed the face of the Middle East.”

He emphasized the government’s unyielding commitment to defeating its enemies and rescuing all hostages still held in Gaza. Netanyahu underscored that Israel, unlike generations past, now possessed a formidable military and courageous fighters. “This is a generation of lions,” he stated, pointing to the strength and reputation of Israeli soldiers around the globe.

Despite societal divisions, Netanyahu stressed a common bond that united the nation. “We all stand together… We will continue to fight and ensure our freedom. We will continue to struggle and to defend our homeland… We will continue to build the land, because we have only one home,” he declared with determination.

While the ceremony proceeded on a delay, the broadcast was repeatedly cut on Channels 12 and 13 to provide breaking coverage of the advancing fires. These interruptions delivered updates on evacuations, firefighting efforts, and emergency responses aimed at containing the infernos and protecting lives and property.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Over a five-year span ending in 2022, around 30,000 people left New York City for Florida’s Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, bringing with them a staggering $9.2 billion in earnings, according to a new study.

The Citizens Budget Commission, a nonpartisan organization that monitors fiscal policy, reported Wednesday that these Florida destinations saw an influx of affluent households. Palm Beach attracted nearly 20,000 individuals with average incomes of roughly $190,000, while Miami-Dade welcomed over 26,000 people whose average income was around $266,000.

Several factors—ranging from the financial burden of living in New York to pandemic-driven lifestyle changes—have motivated many to seek out more affordable or appealing alternatives. The report shows population gains in states such as New Jersey, Florida, California, and Pennsylvania, all of which benefited from New York City’s out-migration during that period.

“Our competitiveness depends in part on quality of life and public safety,” CBC President Andrew Rein told reporters ahead of the report’s publication. “That’s the value proposition. If you feel safe and you enjoy your life, you’re going to want to be here.”

Of course, not all those who exited the five boroughs went far. Nearly 138,000 New Yorkers moved to Long Island, resulting in a loss of $11.1 billion in adjusted gross income for the city. Westchester County, just beyond the city’s northern edge, gained close to 60,000 residents during the same timeframe, reducing the city’s taxable income base by another $5 billion.

Although New York saw its millionaire population nearly double from 36,000 in 2010 to close to 70,000 by 2022, its share of the nation’s millionaires actually shrank. Twelve years ago, the Empire State was home to 12.7% of the country’s wealthiest individuals, a proportion that dropped to 8.7% by 2022. Meanwhile, states like Texas, California, and Florida expanded their share of millionaire residents.

This shifting demographic of high earners is more than just a statistic—it’s a political flashpoint. In New York City, the top 1% of earners are responsible for contributing about 40% of total income tax revenue, making their departure particularly consequential.

The Citizens Budget Commission also examined migration trends by demographic categories, highlighting patterns based on race, ethnicity, age, and income. Since 2018, the groups leading the exodus from the city have been its wealthiest residents and millennials—those born in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Despite years of losses, New York City saw a population uptick in both 2023 and 2024, thanks to rising numbers of immigrants arriving from abroad, according to the CBC.

{Matzav.com}

SOUTH BLOOMING GROVE NEAR KJ: Firefighters from the Village of South Blooming Grove Fire Department (Dept 60) responded to a kitchen fire that broke out in a Jewish home on Dallas Drive. The kitchen was fully engulfed in flames, but crews successfully prevented the fire from spreading further. Assistance was provided by Independence Fire Company, Salisbury Mills FD, Washingtonville FD, South Blooming Grove EMS, Blooming Grove Ambulance, Chaveirim of Orange County, and the Blooming Grove Police Department.