This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Officials in the Fresno Unified School District in California, with 71,000 students, have set up a number of academic support programs for them.
Only they are "marketed" only to black students.
Which has prompted the Pacific Legal Foundation to launch a legal challenge to the district for "unlawfully gating" access to the student help programs.
"It is unfair and unconstitutional to gate access to valuable educational programs based on a child's race, regardless of whether the exclusion is explicit or implicit," explained PLF lawyer Wilson Freeman.
"Taxpayer-funded academic support programs should be available to all students based on need, not race. FUSD's practices violate multiple legal protections, including the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, the Civil Rights Act, and California's Proposition 209."
The district, in fact, has an "Office of African American Academic Acceleration," to address achievement gaps between black students and others.
That office runs 13 various programs with a $12 million budget, and focuses "on mentoring African American middle and high school students," the legal team explained.
While the programs lack a specific racial requirement, "they are marketed exclusively to African American students," the legal challenge charges.
"Administrators direct teachers to inform only African American parents and students about these opportunities, leaving other students unaware."
The report said Fresno is the state's third-largest school district, and the "acceleration" office was created back in 2017.
It was "started with a $742,000 budget to mentor African American middle and high school students," the report said.
"Academic need doesn't discriminate. It affects students of all races who need extra support to reach their full potential. This includes children whose parents belong to Californians for Equal Rights Foundation (CFER), a nonprofit group that fights for equal treatment under the law," the legal team explained.
"These parents have children in Fresno schools who could benefit from A4 programs but were either kept unaware of the opportunities or, worse, led to believe they weren't eligible because they're not black. The parents are also deeply troubled that the district spends millions in taxpayer dollars on programs that de facto exclude their children for no other reason than skin color."
The lawyers pointed out the Supreme Court has said, "The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
President Donald Trump had been planning on an agreement Friday with Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to mine rare earth minerals there, a plan that was derailed by Zelensky's demands when he met with Trump in the White House.
But it may not be a significant setback, as a second nation already is proposing a deal with America to give it access to rare earths.
The Washington Examiner reported President Felix Tshisekedi, of the Congo, wants to have the U.S. support his nation's fight against Rwandan-backed rebels in exchange for mining access.
"Eyeing the critical mineral deal President Donald Trump is striking with Ukraine, Tshisekedi is hoping to use his country's vast mineral wealth to earn U.S. support," the report explained.
"President Tshisekedi invites the USA, whose companies source strategic raw materials from Rwanda, materials that are looted from the [Democratic Republic of Congo] and smuggled to Rwanda while our populations are massacred, to purchase them directly from us the rightful owners," a spokeswoman for Congo's chief, Tina Salama, explained on social media.
She said the offer is good for Europe as well.
The report explained Kinshasa has hired U.S. lobbyists on a $1.4 million, one-year contract to work on "engagements to advance defense security and critical mineral diplomacy with the United States."
Congo is mineral rich, even though its population mostly is extremely poor.
There are resources including copper, diamonds, gold, and cobalt, as well as special interest elements tin, tungsten and tantalum, which are needed for consumer electronics.
The Examiner explained, "A United Nations report found that 150 tons of coltan, a vital resource used in smartphones and other electronics, were 'fraudulently exported to Rwanda and mixed with Rwandan production.' Congo estimates that Kigali is earning $1 billion in annual revenue from the smuggled metals, a massive amount for a country with a $13.3 billion GDP."
Currently, Chinese interests control some two-thirds of cobalt refineries, and the Communist regime uses the results for electric vehicle production.
In recent weeks the U.S. has announced sanctions against several Rwandan officials and corporations.
The Congo, however, is not without its atrocities, with Christians being beheaded there by majority Islamic radicals.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
PALM BEACH, Florida – F-16 fighter jets scrambled Saturday near President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home after multiple aircraft violated restricted airspace in a short time span, sparking an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service.
"NORAD F-16s intercepted 3 civilian aircraft violating airspace restrictions over Palm Beach, FL today," the North American Aerospace Defense Command said on X.
"Flares were deployed during two intercepts. All aircraft were safely escorted out of the area. Reminder: Always check FAA NOTAMs!"
A "NOTAM" is a notice to airmen.
The violations occurred within a short period of time, with the3 first at 11:05 a.m., the second at 12:10 p.m., and the third at 12:50 p.m.
Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command, stated: "NORAD and the FAA work closely together to keep the skies over America safe, with close attention paid to areas with Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR).
"Adherence to TFR procedures is essential to ensure flights safety, national security, and the security of the president.
"The procedures are not optional, and the excessive number of recent TFR violations indicates civil aviators are not reading Notice to Airmen, or NOTAMs, before each flight as required by the FAA, and has resulted in numerous responses by NORAD fighter aircraft to guide offending aircraft out of the TFR."
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Secret Service, told Susan Crabtree of Real Clear Politics: "The interdiction was conducted according to established NORAD protocols," and referred to NORAD for further questions about their protocols.
"Initial reports indicate the civilian aircraft inadvertently entered the restricted airspace over Palm Beach. Our protective intelligence teams are investigating further. Pilots are reminded to consult the FAA's Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) before all flights.
Some online reaction includes:
"I think FAA ignored the restriction, hoping for an innocent civilian flight to be shot down to try to hurt Trump's numbers. One is an oops. Twice is coincidence. Three and over is purposeful."
"Take away their licenses and charge the pilots the costs of the intercepts. I am sure the all up hourly costs of an F-16 is not cheap."
"USSS and FAA, please look very carefully at the pilot(s). ALL pilots know to check TFRs. One pilot, ok; 2 pilots, maybe; 3 pilots, suspicious."
"'Inadvertently'??? Three times???? Please, stop the insanity. I have no confidence in this SS 'spokesman'! Three times is NOT a mistake!!!!"
Just last month, another three violations of airspace took place while President Trump was staying at the so-called "Winter White House" at Mar-a-Lago.
The Palm Beach Post reported: "A spokesperson for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, confirmed Wednesday that there were three airspace violations of the imposed presidential protected space during Trump's six-day visit to Mar-a-Lago, his mansion in Palm Beach. Two occurred on Feb. 15 and one on Presidents Day, Feb. 17."
Earlier this month, the world of Florida politics was shaken by the news that a beloved former state legislator had unexpectedly died.
Last week, family, friends, and former colleagues gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of Geraldine Thompson, who succumbed to complications from knee surgery amid a career marked by service in both the Florida House and Senate, as NBC affiliate WESH reported.
Mourners gathered at Orlando's Majestic Life Church to remember and pay tribute to Thompson, who died at age 76 due to complications from a knee replacement procedure.
As the Tallahassee Democrat noted, Thompson's career in the state House began back in 2006, where she served until 2012, the year in which she ascended to the state Senate, where she remained until 2016.
The lawmaker returned to service in the House between the years of 2018 to 2022, then securing re-election to the state Senate just last year from Orange County's District 15.
Also boasting a background in education, Thompson was pivotal in the establishment of Orlando's Wells'Built Museum of African American History and Culture.
Thompson also served as part of a task force assigned to choose a site for the construction of a Florida Black History Museum.
The sizable turnout for Thompson's viewing and the expected attendance numbers for her funeral came as no surprise to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who underscored the undeniable impact the state lawmaker had over the years.
“Geraldine Thompson lived a life that was all about selflessness and giving to others, and so a good testament to her life and legacy is all of these people you're seeing here coming today for viewing,” he said.
Reginald McGill, constituent services staffer for Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer was similarly effusive in his praise of Thompson, stating, “She was more than a legislator. She was more than an educator. She was more than a mother, grandmother. She was really a friend to those who needed a friend.”
A statement from Thompson's family articulated the scope of her impact not just on her family and local constituents, but the entire state of Florida.
“She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose love, wisdom, and compassion shaped their lives and the lives of so many in their community and across the state. Her tireless work in education, health care, and civil rights, including her leadership to establish the Wells'Built Museum of African American History and Culture in Orlando reflected her unwavering commitment to creating a better world for future generations,” the family said.
According to an obituary posted by Mitchell's Funeral Home in Orlando, Thompson is survived by Judge Emerson Thompson, II, to whom she was married for 54 years.
Also left to mourn the late lawmaker are her three children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, as well as a world of friends, constituents, and co-workers who admired the dedication she exhibited throughout her public service career.
In the wake of Donald Trump's election to a second term in the Oval Office, some observers speculated about just how involved his wife, Melania Trump, would be in official events over the course of the next four years.
Skepticism about the first lady's enthusiasm for official events should now begin to recede, given that Mrs. Trump has just announced that preparations for the beloved tradition of the White House Easter Egg roll are well underway, as Fox News reports.
As the White House Historical Association explains, the initial Easter Egg Roll took place on April 22, 1878, during the administration of Rutherford B. Hayes, marking the start of a much-loved custom that has endured across the decades.
A statement released by the White House heralded this year's festive plans, saying, “The president and first lady look forward to continuing this entertaining tradition and making it a truly memorable experience for all.”
As Fox News noted, the egg roll is generally an event overseen by the resident first lady, with each one bringing their personal signature to the proceedings.
Recent years have seen additions to the expected egg rolling races, such as dancing, music, and the like, with attendees receiving a keepsake souvenir from the event to take home with them.
Tickets to the annual gathering are free but must be requested via an online lottery that will run between March 4 and March 10, with lucky winners set to be informed on March 18 of their ability to attend the April 21 event.
As Fox News reported separately, another favorite White House tradition recently resumed, a move that was surely greeted with great excitement by legions of Americans.
Amid the recent transition between the Biden and Trump administrations, public tours of the White House were put on hiatus, a scenario that likely proved frustrating to those visiting the nation's capital during that time.
However, the Office of First Lady Melania Trump announced earlier this month that the aforementioned tours were slated to begin again on Feb. 25.
In a press release revealing the date tours would restart, Mrs. Trump declared, “The President and I are excited to reopen the White House to those interested in the extraordinary story of this iconic and beautiful landmark.”
The first lady continued, “There is much to learn about the American Presidency, the First Families who have lived here, and our Nation's rich history from a firsthand experience at the White House.”
The vigor and happiness with which Mrs. and Mrs. Trump have resumed life at the White House was evident yet again last week when, during the first public tour since the transition-related closure, the president himself made an appearance, thanking attendees and promising them a “great” time, as the New York Post reported.
“The first lady worked very hard in making it perfect, and I think you're going to really love it,” Mr. Trump assured the group, and it seems certain that the same will be true of the upcoming Egg Roll on the White House grounds.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
IRS officials have decided to conceal the home addresses of some 700,000 people suspected of being in the United States illegally, according to a report from the Washington Post.
The decision came on a request from immigration enforcement officials for those locations, and it was the IRS "rebuffing" attempts by the administration of President Donald Trump to gain access to that information for his crackdown on illegals.
The report noted that the Internal Revenue Service had promised "undocumented immigrants" over the years that it would protect their information and it would be safe for them to file income tax documents "without fear of being deported."
And the IRS said the law doesn't allow the release of personal information, even to another government agency.
AT the time, the IRS claimed, "There is no authorization under this provision to share tax data with ICE."
The report said an estimated one-half of the 11 million illegal aliens in the country file income tax returns, filing with individual taxpayer numbers, or ITINs, as they are ineligible for Social Security numbers.
The report credited this population with paying billions of dollars in federal taxes.
The report said the Washington Post got access to a memo in which Department of Homeland Security officials asked the IRS to link the names with a last known address, phone number or email, and the request was a followup to a DHS request weeks ago that would let immigration officials turn over a list of names to the IRS in order to get home addresses.
The publication said five anonymous people familiar with the scenario made those claims.
Then this week a memo asked the IRS "to deploy dozens of highly skilled IRS auditors and criminal investigators to launch probes of businesses suspected of hiring immigrants not authorized to work in the United States," the report said.
It said, "IRS investigations should be conducted, and assistance should be provided without regard for any threshold, floor, or internal policy for opening an investigation. Further, IRS should provide leads on businesses that are circumventing tax laws or violating worksite-related statutes, many of which are from prior leads or complaints that IRS did not investigate due to not meeting internal IRS policy for opening an investigation."
While the IRS rejected the plan, the report said, the agency is trying to reach agreement on ways to help immigration officials without violating privacy laws.
The publication's sources claimed the idea is triggering alarm inside the IRS because handing out taxpayer information to third parties in both a civil and criminal offense.
Dorothy A. Brown, of Georgetown University Law Center, claimed the program sounded like "racial profiling on steroids."
And the report noted an anonymous federal official said ICE would be viewing IRS records as a way to locate illegal aliens through their address, workplaces, children and more.
The mysterious and disturbing death of Gene Hackman and his wife and dog rocked the nation, and still has many scratching their heads as to what could have possibly happened to them.
Many speculated initially, including family members, that the likely cause of death was carbon monoxide or possibly gas poisoning.
However, according to Fox News, Hackman and his wife tested negative for carbon monoxide, making their deaths even more perplexing as authorities said that based on his pacemaker data, Hackman had been dead for about nine days.
According to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, the last event recorded on Hackman's pacemaker was on Feb. 17.
According to the pathologist, I think that is a very good assumption that that was his last day of life," the Santa Fe sheriff told reporters this week, referring to the last dated event on his pacemaker.
Sheriff Mendoza also confirmed that Hackman and his wife "tested negative for carbon monoxide," adding, "The manner and cause of death has not been determined."
"One of the things is, in an investigation we try to piece the timeline together, usually before the event happens, and that gives us a lot of information," Mendoza said. "But in this case, it seems like we're doing a reverse timeline," the sheriff added.
Gene Hackman and his wife tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning as their cause of death remains unknown.
The actor’s pacemaker indicates he died on February 17 — over a week before he, his wife, and dog were found dead. pic.twitter.com/mfCh2BIRiM
— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 28, 2025
Mendoza added, "We're doing a timeline from the time of death and the autopsy and the results. We're going to start working our way backwards. We're going to do both and then hopefully make a determination as to what may have happened to both of the individuals."
The two were last photographed together in March of 2024.
Users across social media weighed in on the mysterious deaths.
"When did the wife die. That is the real question," one X user wrote.
Another X user wrote, "I'm gonna take a stab at this. Gene’s heart gives out. His wife finds his body. So distraught, she takes her own life with pills. The dog senses something is up. He won't stop barking. She puts him in the kennel and downs the pills. As she falls, she knocks over the pills."
Regardless of how it all happened, it's beyond sad. Hopefully, the family receives some closure soon.
Elon Musk is living rent free in the minds of government workers and Democrats all across the country.
That was proven once again this week as the Associated Press reported that Musk, who runs the Department of Government Efficiency, sent out another email to government workers demanding they list their accomplishments.
The effort is part of a method to root out the non-productive and non-essential workers who only exist to drain the government's coffers of U.S. taxpayer funds.
Musk caused a similar stir earlier this month when he emailed government workers demanding that they list five things they accomplished the week prior.
A new tranche of emails from Musk and DOGE began hitting the inboxes of government workers on Friday, in which Musk asks them to list their recent accomplishments.
The AP noted:
Originally expected to go out Saturday, the new request began landing in the inboxes of some employees late Friday. The plan to send a second round of emails was initially disclosed by a person with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly.
Many agencies had instructed their workers not to respond to Musk's first email due to a variety of reasons. Musk said it was more of a "pulse test," as he's convinced that there are workers on the government payroll who aren't even alive any longer.
While the first email was ignored as much as it was responded to, the second email, according to the anonymous source, will be delivered in a different way, making it easier to spot non-compliance.
The AP noted:
Instead of being sent by the Office of Personnel Management, which functions as a human resources agency for the federal government but doesn’t have the power to hire or fire, the email was to come from individual agencies that have direct oversight of career officials.
Those who choose not to respond face a higher likelihood of being let go as part of DOGE's mission to cut government waste and spending.
The anonymous source revealed that the subject line of the second email read, "What did you do last week? Part II."
"Please reply to this email with approx. 5 bullets describing what you accomplished last week and cc your manager," the email reportedly read.
The workers were given a deadline to respond to the email or presumably face removal.
It'll be interesting to see how many government workers take this next email seriously.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The Trump administration today announced that the number of illegal-alien border crossing attempts in February was the lowest in U.S. history – a mere 8.326.
President Trump shared the data on social media, writing, "There were only 8,326 apprehensions of illegals by Border Patrol at the U.S.-Mexico border, all of whom were quickly ejected from our Nation or, when necessary, prosecuted for crimes against the United States of America."
Continuing, Trump announced, "The invasion of our country is OVER."
During the Biden administration, there were as many as 300,000 illegal crossings in a month, "and virtually ALL of them were released into our County," Trump noted.
CBS reported that on some days during a record spike in illegal crossings under President Biden, Border Patrol recorded more than 8,000 apprehensions in a single day.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also posted on X, thanking the president for his leadership.
"February was the lowest month in recorded history for encounters at our border," wrote Noem. "The world is hearing our message: do not come to our country illegally. If you do, we will find you, arrest you, and send you back. Thank you President @realDonaldTrump for your strong leadership and to our brave @CBP officers and agents for keeping America safe.
"We're just getting started."
The nomination of Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education has reached a critical juncture as it awaits a final Senate vote.
President Donald Trump has chosen McMahon, a former WWE CEO, with the intention of closing the education department due to perceived inefficiencies in budget allocation.
The nomination progressed through a significant procedural stage as it passed a cloture vote with a narrow margin of 51 to 47 in the Senate. This clears the path for a decisive vote that will determine McMahon's confirmation. Her background includes her tenure as the CEO of WWE and her role as the administrator of the Small Business Administration up until 2019.
McMahon's nomination carries the weight of Trump's educational strategy, which centers on addressing spending inefficiencies. During her confirmation hearing, she articulated the significance of education in shaping the nation's future and equipping American workers for success. Her task, according to the president, is to take steps toward dismantling the Department of Education.
President Trump has been vocal about what he perceives as a disparity in the United States' educational spending versus outcomes. He has pointed out that while the U.S. ranks high in terms of cost per pupil, it falls short in overall global educational rankings. In his words, "It’s a big con job," outlining his dissatisfaction with the current state of the department.
McMahon's hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee provided a platform for various issues relating to education. She faced inquiries regarding her views on controversial topics such as the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports. Questions about spending cuts proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency were also prominent during the dialogue.
Linda McMahon remains a contentious figure due to her corporate background and previous government role. Her nomination stirred debate, highlighting the ongoing polarization surrounding education reforms in the United States.
Emphasizing the strategic importance of education, McMahon stated, "Education is the issue that determines our national success and prepares American workers to win the future." These words underline her commitment to education reform, despite the overarching goal of department closure.
Opponents and advocates of her nomination continue to express diverse opinions on the implications of her possible confirmation. For some senators, her corporate experience offers a fresh perspective on managing government departments, while others fear her alignment with Trump's agenda may lead to detrimental education policies.
The debate extends beyond McMahon herself to the broader implications of the proposed closure of the Department of Education. Detractors argue that dismantling the department could undermine educational equity and access, especially for underserved communities. Supporters, however, contend that the move could streamline bureaucratic processes and reallocate resources more effectively.
In the coming days, the Senate is set to cast its final vote on McMahon's nomination. As the decision looms, both sides prepare for the potential outcomes of her leadership, with stakes high in the realm of national education policy.
The result of the vote will not only determine McMahon's future role but also set the course for Trump's educational agenda. Given the president's clearly stated intentions, a confirmation could mark the beginning of significant changes within the education sector.
As the nation anticipates the Senate's verdict, the conversation reflects larger questions about educational priorities and the balance between fiscal responsibility and educational excellence. The discussion surrounding McMahon’s nomination underscores the complex dynamics of U.S. education policy.
With broad implications extending beyond the immediate confirmation decision, the outcome will be pivotal in shaping the dialogue on the future of education in the United States.