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The live Yom Ha’atzmaut ceremony at Har Herzl and small ceremonies across the country, scheduled for Wednesday evening, were canceled due to the fires still raging across Israel. Instead, a recorded dress rehearsal was broadcast on Israeli TV channels. One of the torch-lighters was freed hostage Emily Damari, who was abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Speaking briefly from stage before lighting the touch, Emily said that she is lighting the torch in honor of the 59 hostages still in captivity; the 64 residents of Kfar Aza who were murdered during the massacre; including two of her close friends, the Israeli security forces who risk their lives; those who fell in battle; the orphan and widows, and bereaved families who lost their loved ones. She then raised her voice, and pointing upwards, she said: “And to Hakadosh Baruch Hu who gave me the kochos to survive captivity and to return on my feet to the country and nation I love so much!” It should be noted that this is not the first time that Emily publicly thanked Hashem. Shortly after being released, she posted a message on social media, writing: “Love, love, love,” Damari wrote. “I thank Hashem, my family…to the best friends I have in this world. I’ve returned to my beloved life.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Senator Ted Cruz told Newsmax that the results of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown have been so impactful, they’ve thrown the Democratic Party into complete disarray. “They are lunatics,” Cruz said during an appearance on Carl Higbie FRONTLINE. “The Democrats have decided let’s go down to El Salvador and say if you elect Democrats, we will bring in more illegal aliens who are MS-13 gang members.”

Cruz was referencing a recent trip by several Democratic lawmakers to El Salvador, where they advocated for the return of a deported individual the Trump administration has linked to MS-13, a notoriously violent gang.

The senator also criticized two Democrat-affiliated judges who, he claims, went to extreme lengths to interfere with immigration enforcement and protect illegal immigrants from federal authorities.

“You have a judge in New Mexico – I talked about this on my podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz – who was hiding a Tren de Aragua gang member, a Venezuelan gang member, in his home, who took the gang member’s cell phone, destroyed it with a hammer and threw it in a dumpster so there would be no evidence of this guy,” Cruz said. “This guy’s cell phone had pictures of two decapitated victims on it, and Democrats are actively hiding the gang members.”

He continued, “It is utterly bizarre, but it is because Trump has caused their brains to melt. Today, Democrats are very honest. You elect Democrats, you get more illegals, more gang members, more murderers, more criminals.”

Earlier that same day, President Trump declared that border security under his administration was operating at peak effectiveness, reporting a near-total halt of illegal crossings. “The border is in great shape,” Trump said, touting a “99.9% success rate” in stopping unlawful entry.

Cruz celebrated the dramatic improvement, calling it “a massive victory” and underscoring that Trump had kept a major campaign pledge. “It is exactly what he promised the American people,” the Texas senator said.

“In November, we had a clear mandate from the American people,” Cruz continued. “It was unequivocal. You look at President Trump, he was reelected, he won the popular vote. Of the seven swing states across the country, President Trump won all seven. That was clear and unambiguous. The voters likewise gave us a Republican House and a Republican Senate.”

Cruz emphasized that even the Rio Grande Valley, traditionally a Democratic stronghold for generations, shifted its support to the GOP. “The Rio Grande Valley, which has been bright blue for 100 years, flipped red,” he said. “Trump carried the valley, and I carried the valley, and the open borders of the last four years was a huge part of the reason. The American people said enough already with open borders, with 12 million illegals invading this country, with murderers and rapists and gang bangers being released. In the first 100 days, Donald Trump has delivered on that promise and we’ve seen, as he just said, illegal border crossings drop over 99.9%. That’s staggering.”

{Matzav.com}

Financial markets are volatile. Consumer confidence is at its lowest level in five years. Economists say recession risks are rising. It all adds up to financial uncertainty for a lot of Americans. Roughly half of U.S. adults say that President Trump’s trade policies will increase prices “a lot,” according to a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center of Public Affairs Research. And about half of Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about the possibility of the U.S. economy going into a recession in the next few months. Matt Watson, CEO of Origin, a financial planning app, says it’s a period of uncertainty for everyone, including experts. “No one has a crystal ball. No one, even the people that do this professionally and have done it very successfully for many years, know what’s going to happen,” he said. If you’re worried about how economic uncertainty might affect you, here are some expert recommendations: Take stock of your finances The first step to preparing for uncertain financial times is knowing your starting point, Watson said. Look at your budget or your debit card expenses so you can understand how much you spend every month. “Take stock of where you are across a number of different categories,” Watson said. Looking at the state of your savings and investments can also provide you with an idea of your overall financial health. Find where you can cut back The more nonessential expenses you can pause, the more you can save for an emergency. “Your choice is really to cut now or cut later, so it’s easier to cut now and have a cushion,” Watson said. If you’re having difficulty finding where to cut back, Jim Weil, managing partner at Private Vista, a financial planning firm, recommends that you divide your expenses into three buckets: needs, wants and wishes. Wishes are larger expenses that can be postponed, such as a vacation to Europe. For the time being, cut back expenses from the wishes section until you feel like your finances are in a good place. Take care of your mental health Between news about tariffs and job losses, you might feel your anxiety rising. So, it’s important that you protect your mental health while also caring about your finances, said Courtney Alev, consumer advocate at Credit Karma. Sometimes, reading too much news that can affect your finances can become overbearing and create more stress than you need. “It’s good practice to stay informed but you don’t want to let the news cycle consume you,” Alev said. If you find yourself feeling high levels of stress or anxiety when it comes to your finances, it’s best to contact a professional who can assist you, such as a financial therapist. If looking for regular mental health services, most health insurance covers some type of mental health assistance. If you don’t have health insurance, you can look for sliding-scale therapists around the country, including through FindTreatment.gov and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America directory. Focus on what you can control Rather than worrying too much on the economics of the entire country, Alev recommends that you focus on the aspects of your personal life that you can control in order to feel more confident in case there is a recession. “Identify any changes that you might need […]

TRUMP TO BUSINESS LEADERS: “We cut your taxes from almost 40% down to 21%. Now, we’re bringing your taxes down from 21% to 15%, if you build your product, make your product in the USA.”

During a Cabinet gathering on Wednesday, President Donald Trump applauded Elon Musk for his dedication and efforts in his government role, offering him the opportunity to continue as long as he wishes. “You really have sacrificed a lot,” Trump told Musk, during remarks broadcast live on Newsmax. “You’ve been treated very unfairly … the vast majority of people in this country really respect and appreciate you, and this whole room can say that very strongly. You’ve really been a tremendous help.”

With a smile, Musk lightened the mood by putting on two red MAGA hats that were placed in front of the Cabinet members, quipping to Trump that many say he wears “a lot of hats.” He then joked, “That’s true. Even my hat has a hat,” before taking both hats off.

Turning serious, Musk spoke about the policies voters wanted—and received. “Americans voted for secure borders, safe cities and sensible spending,” he said. “And that’s what they got from Trump.”

He went on to praise the early accomplishments of the administration. “A tremendous amount has been accomplished in the first 100 days,” Musk said. “As everyone has said, it’s more than has been accomplished in any administration before, ever, period. So this portends very well for what happens for the rest of the administration.”

Looking to the future, Musk added, “I think this could be the greatest administration since the founding of the country.”

Referring to incidents of property damage at Tesla facilities, Musk noted, “Well, they did like to burn my cars, which is not great.” His comments referenced the backlash faced by his company amidst his public alignment with Trump.

President Trump acknowledged Musk’s sacrifices and voiced his continued backing, while joking about Musk’s eagerness to return to his automotive ventures. “You’ve done an incredible job,” Trump said, before mentioning a savings estimate. “$150 billion…” Musk quickly corrected him, saying the total amounted to $169 billion in federal spending cuts.

Trump suggested those savings may be just the beginning. “A lot of stuff is being worked on,” he said. “That number could be doubled and even tripled. A lot of things are being worked on that we don’t count yet because it’s not quite there.”

Musk also addressed the Cabinet directly, expressing appreciation for his time working alongside them and calling it an honor.

Recently, Musk has scaled back his direct involvement in Washington. He is expected to step away from his government role, with contributing factors including his limited availability under his special government employee designation and a significant decline in Tesla sales amid public criticism tied to his association with Trump’s administration.

{Matzav.com}

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) dismissed concerns about his plummeting 17% approval rating during a tense press conference Tuesday, as CNN’s chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju pressed him on whether he’s become a liability for the Democratic Party. Raju confronted Schumer with a fresh CNN poll revealing a mere 17% favorable rating for Schumer against a staggering 44% unfavorable view among U.S. adults. “Are you concerned that you may be a liability for your party?” Raju asked, citing Schumer’s lower approval compared to other congressional leaders. Schumer brushed off the numbers, saying, “Polls come and go. Our party is united. We’re on our front foot.” He pivoted to attack Trump’s “100 days of chaos,” claiming Democrats are “having real success” in opposing the administration. A Pew Research Center poll released the same day showed Democrats strongly support fighting Trump’s policies but remain deeply unsatisfied with their leaders’ efforts. Adding fuel to the fire, Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg has pledged to spend $20 million supporting primary challenges against incumbent Democrats, potentially signaling a brewing civil war. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An ISIS member accused of inciting the January 1st terrorist attack on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, which killed 14 people and injured 57, was arrested in Iraq, the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq announced Tuesday. The suspect, unidentified in reports, allegedly radicalized Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Texas who executed the attack. Jabbar drove a rented Ford F-150 truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street at around 3 a.m., killing 14 and injuring dozens before being killed in a police shootout. Jabbar had declared allegiance to ISIS in social media videos, stating he joined the group before summer 2024. Iraq’s First Karkh Investigation Court reported the suspect, part of ISIS’s Foreign Operations Office, was detained following U.S. requests and evidence analysis. The individual will face trial in Iraq under anti-terrorism laws for ISIS membership. Details of the incitement were not disclosed. The FBI’s New Orleans field office said, “The FBI’s investigation into the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans remains active and ongoing. While we continue to work with our law enforcement partners, both in the U.S. and internationally, based on the information to date, we continue to believe that Shamsud-Din Jabbar acted alone in carrying out the attack.” Jabbar bypassed temporary barriers on Bourbon Street, where permanent bollards were being repaired for the Super Bowl. He planted two non-functional improvised explosive devices in the French Quarter and had an ISIS flag in his truck. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry praised the arrest, saying, “This goes to show you the resiliency of the state and the commitment that our law enforcement partners, whether they be at the federal, state, or local level, have in making sure that we’re safe in Louisiana.” Victims included an 18-year-old aspiring nurse, a single mother, a father of two, and a former Princeton football star. A lawsuit filed in February 2025 by survivors and victims’ families claims New Orleans officials were negligent in security measures. The ongoing FBI investigation has not ruled out additional accomplices. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

During a sit-down interview marking his 100th day in office, President Donald Trump addressed the controversy surrounding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador. While acknowledging he could facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return, Trump made it clear he doesn’t believe the man deserves the sympathetic media treatment he’s received. “The person that you’re talking about, you know, you’re making this person sound — this is an MS-13 gang member, a tough cookie, been in lots of skirmishes, beat the hell out of his wife, and the wife was petrified to even talk about him, OK?” Trump told ABC News’ Terry Moran. “This is not an innocent, wonderful gentleman from Maryland.”

The exchange followed a question from Moran about how Trump plans to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that requires the administration to help return the Salvadoran national, whose deportation an administration attorney had admitted was a mistake. Trump pushed back, challenging the legitimacy of the statement made in court. “Well, the lawyer that said it was a mistake was here a long time, was not appointed by us, should not have said that,” he said.

Trump emphasized that in his view, Abrego Garcia is connected to the violent MS-13 gang, something lawyers representing him deny. “He is not an innocent, wonderful gentleman from Maryland,” the president said again for emphasis.

Moran countered by reminding Trump that this is ultimately about adherence to the law. “I’m not saying he’s a good guy,” Moran said. “It’s about the rule of law. The order from the Supreme Court stands, sir.”

Trump shot back, reiterating that Abrego Garcia entered the country unlawfully. “He came into our country illegally,” he said.

When Moran pointed toward the phone on the Resolute Desk and said, “You could get him back. There’s a phone on this desk,” Trump replied, “I could. And if he were the gentleman that you say he is, I would do that. I’m not the one making this decision… You want me to follow the law. If I were the president that just wanted to do anything, I’d probably keep him right where he is.”

As the conversation grew tense, Trump turned the focus to his broader immigration policy, contrasting it with the previous administration. “Listen. I was elected to take care of a problem,” Trump said. “It was an unforced error that was made by a very incompetent man, a man that turned out to be incompetent, that you always said was wonderful, a great genius, right? And now you find out, all of the media, now they’re saying what a mistake they made. A man who was grossly incompetent allowed us to have open borders where millions of people flowed in.”

Trump reiterated his campaign commitment to closing the borders and removing violent criminals. “When we have criminals, murderers, criminals in this country, we have to get them out and we’re doing it,” he declared.

At one point, the president defended evidence that Abrego Garcia was a gang member by referencing photos he had shown depicting tattoos. “On his knuckles, he had MS-13,” Trump insisted.

Moran noted that the authenticity of the photographs has been challenged, with some accusing the administration of doctoring the images. Trump, clearly irritated, turned the criticism toward the media. “They’re giving you the big break of a lifetime,” he told Moran. “You know, you’re doing the interview. I picked you because, frankly, I never heard of you, but that’s OK. But I picked you, Terry, but you’re not being very nice… he had MS as clear as you can be. Not ‘interpreted.’ This is why people no longer believe the news, because it’s fake news.”

{Matzav.com}

A long-delayed project promising nonstop rail service between San Francisco and Los Angeles in under three hours may be able to secure the private funding it desperately needs if California agrees to pay the investors back, its chief executive told The Associated Press. Ian Choudri, who was appointed CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority in August, is tasked with reinvigorating the nation’s largest infrastructure project amid skyrocketing costs and new fears that the Trump administration could pull $4 billion in federal funding. “We started this one, and we are not succeeding,” Choudri said, describing what drew him to the job after work on high-speed systems in Europe. “That was the main reason for me to say, let’s go in, completely turn it around, and put it back to where it should have been. Fix all the issues, get the funding stabilized, and demonstrate to the rest of the world that when we decide that we want to do it, we actually will do it.” Voters first approved $10 billion in bond money in 2008 to cover about a third of the estimated cost with a promise the train would be up and running by 2020. Five years past that deadline, no tracks have been laid and Choudri acknowledges it may take nearly two more decades to complete most of the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles segment, even if funding is secured. Funding woes The project’s price tag now exceeds $100 billion, more than triple the initial estimate. It has mostly been funded by the state through the voter-approved bond and money from the state’s cap-and-trade program. A little less than a quarter of the money has come from the federal government. The authority has already spent about $13 billion. The state is now out of bond money, and officials need to come up with a financing plan for the Central Valley segment by mid-2026, according to the inspector general’s office overseeing the project. “The managers of the project were in trouble from the very beginning because they never had the financing – certainly not stable and predicting financing — that they would have needed to manage the project efficiently,” said Lou Thompson, who led a peer review group that analyzes the state’s high-speed rail plans. Losing money from the federal government “would require a real hard rethinking of what do we do to survive the next four years,” he said. Rail leaders are in talks with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and state lawmakers on what will be needed to secure private investment, Choudri said, adding that without the private sector money the state may have to take out federal loans or issue new bonds. At an industry forum in January, private investors expressed interest in the project but need some form of security, he said. Choudri is pushing Newsom and lawmakers to consider a program that would eventually commit the state to paying back private investors, possibly with interest. That would give the state more time to cover the cost. Legislative Democrats say they remain hopeful for the project’s future. But they haven’t unveiled any proposals yet this year in the state Legislature to set aside additional funding and have resisted spending more money on the project in the past. Choudri plans to provide lawmakers this summer with an updated timeline […]

China on Wednesday aimed harsh criticism at the United States, accusing Washington of being the true source of the COVID-19 pandemic and of trying to deflect responsibility. The allegation followed President Trump’s remarks asserting that the virus originated from a laboratory in Wuhan.

In a strongly worded white paper, the Chinese government asserted that there was “substantial evidence” pointing to the virus emerging in the United States prior to its appearance in China. At the same time, it dismissed the theory of a lab leak in Wuhan as “extremely unlikely.”

“The US government, instead of facing squarely its failure in response to Covid-19 and reflecting on its shortcomings, has tried to shift the blame and divert people’s attention by shamelessly politicizing SARS-CoV-2 origins tracing,” Chinese officials complained.

The document put forth claims that the virus had been spreading in America before it was officially identified there, suggesting a possible alternative timeline.

These claims came in the wake of a revamped COVID-19 section on the White House’s official site, where the administration promoted the theory that the virus had escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

“A lab-related incident involving gain-of-function research is the most likely the origin of COVID-19,” according to a section on the new White House webpage.

“Current government mechanisms for overseeing this dangerous gain-of-function research are incomplete, severely convoluted, and lack global applicability.”

Back in January, the CIA shifted its stance, saying a lab-based origin of the virus seemed more probable than a natural spillover, though the agency acknowledged it held only “low confidence” in that assessment and that both scenarios were still on the table.

That view was echoed by several U.S. government entities, including the FBI and a congressional committee, which also leaned toward the lab origin theory while not completely ruling out a natural source.

China countered with references to a previous investigation carried out jointly with the World Health Organization, which concluded that the virus most likely made its way to humans via bats, through an intermediate animal host.

The white paper also criticized the United States’ pandemic response, accusing it of weakening global cooperation in tackling the health crisis.

“It has severely undermined joint international efforts in the fight against the pandemic and become a weak link in global public health governance,” China said — despite widespread international accusations that Beijing itself had concealed early information about the outbreak.

“The US cannot continue to turn a deaf ear to the numerous questions over its conduct,” Chinese officials wrote in part of the report.

{Matzav.com}

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The FBI has reassigned a number of its personnel who were seen kneeling during a protest in 2020 following the death of George Floyd. These moves are part of President Donald Trump’s broader initiative to eliminate what he views as ideological bias and political activism within the country’s intelligence agencies.

An ex-FBI official shared with CNN that these reassignments are troubling, particularly because they appear to bypass the agency’s established disciplinary protocols, which normally involve lengthy investigations. “This notion that the bureau would go after these people, it’s just disgusting,” the former official explained.

According to CNN, “After quickly ousting senior FBI leaders, the Justice Department has said it is reviewing the conduct of more than 1,500 agents associated with cases that have found disfavor in the new Trump era, including investigations of the president and his allies. FBI agents who executed the search warrant on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home and who worked on January 6, 2021-related cases have been bracing for possible retribution, current and former agents said.”

The kneeling incident in Washington, DC, took place when agents were sent to guard national monuments and government buildings and found themselves face-to-face with demonstrators. As bureau veterans pointed out, these agents aren’t typically trained for riot control, which led to concerns that the situation could have escalated into a deadly clash.

Following the circulation of the kneeling images, FBI leadership at the time evaluated the matter and determined that no bureau policies had been broken.

FBI Director Kash Patel made it clear in February that a major shift was underway, declaring the end of preferential treatment in justice. “There will be accountability within the FBI and outside of the FBI, and we will do it through rigorous Constitutional oversight starting this weekend,” Patel concluded. “I promise you the following — there will be accountability within the FBI and outside of the FBI, and we will do it through rigorous Constitutional oversight starting this weekend.”

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration and officials from Ukraine have officially signed off on a plan to create a shared investment fund aimed at supporting Ukraine’s recovery, with an emphasis on developing its energy and mineral sectors, including oil, gas, and rare earth resources.

Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the new initiative on X, explaining that the fund would be evenly co-managed by both nations. She also noted that any upcoming military assistance from the U.S. could potentially be counted as part of America’s investment.

Initial drafts of the agreement had been circulating for at least eight weeks and appeared ready for final approval by February 28. However, on that date, a heated exchange reportedly broke out in the Oval Office between President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, leading to Zelensky’s departure without signing the deal.

{Matzav.com}

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.