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A second judge late Thursday ordered the Trump administration to reinstate probationary workers who were let go in mass firings across multiple agencies. In Baltimore, U.S. District Judge James Bredar, an Obama appointee, found that the administration ignored laws set out for large-scale layoffs. Bredar ordered the firings halted for at least two weeks and the workforce returned to the status quo before the layoffs began.He sided with nearly two dozen states that filed a lawsuit alleging the mass firings are illegal and already having an impact on state governments as they try to help those who are suddenly jobless.The ruling followed a similar one by U.S. District Judge William Alsup, who found Thursday morning that terminations across six agencies were directed by the Office of Personnel Management and acting director, Charles Ezell, who lacked the authority to do so.MICHELLE OBAMA REVEALS OBAMA NEEDED TO ‘ADJUST’ TO BE PUCNTUAL, LEAVE ON TIMEAlsup's order tells the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, the Interior and the Treasury to immediately offer job reinstatement to employees terminated on or about Feb. 13 and 14. He also directed the departments to report back within seven days with a list of probationary employees and an explanation of how the agencies complied with his order as to each person.The temporary restraining order came in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions and organizations as the Republican administration moves to reduce the federal workforce.The Trump administration has already appealed Alsup’s ruling, arguing that the states have no right to try and influence the federal government's relationship with its own workers. Justice Department attorneys argued the firings were for performance issues, not large-scale layoffs subject to specific regulations.CHUCK SCHUMER WILL VOTE TO KEEP GOVERNMENT OPEN: ‘FOR DONALD TRUMP, A SHUTDOWN WOULD BE A GIFT’Probationary workers have been targeted for layoffs across the federal government because they're usually new to the job and lack full civil service protection. Multiple lawsuits have been filed over the mass firings.Lawyers for the government maintain the mass firings were lawful because individual agencies reviewed and determined whether employees on probation were fit for continued employment.Alsup, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, has found that difficult to believe. He planned to hold an evidentiary hearing on Thursday, but Ezell did not appear to testify in court or even sit for a deposition, and the government retracted his written testimony.There are an estimated 200,000 probationary workers across federal agencies. They include entry-level employees but also workers who recently received a promotion.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's estate is attempting to block the release of photos, videos and police bodycam footage related to the couple's deaths.Lawyer Kurt Sommer filed a petition Tuesday in state District Court in Santa Fe attempting to prevent the medical investigator and the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office from releasing footage, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.The petition attempts to block the release of the couple's autopsy and "death investigation" until their deaths can be litigated, according to the outlet. Sommer wrote that once the images are released "the bell cannot be unrung." GENE HACKMAN DEATH: COMPLETE COVERAGESommer argued the couple's right to privacy outweighs the public interest in the couple's death. He cited Kurt Cobain's death in his petition and pointed out that a court refused to release the "death-scene" photographs. "Undersigned counsel cannot think of respective harm that would come to the State and County offices from respecting the discretion of Mr. Hackman's and Mrs. Hackman-Arakawa's right to privacy," he wrote."During their lifetime, the Hackmans placed significant value on their privacy and took affirmative, vigilant steps to safeguard their privacy."Mr. and Mrs. Hackman were members of this community, not part-time casual residents. The Personal Representative seeks to continue to preserve the privacy of the Hackmans following their tragic death and support the family's constitutional right to remembrance and desire to grieve in peace."Sommer had no comment for Fox News Digital.The Associated Press reported that the petition detailed Gene and Betsy's discrete lifestyle in Santa Fe. The deceased "lived an exemplary private life for over thirty years in Santa Fe, New Mexico and did not showcase their lifestyle," according to the petition.LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSGene and Betsy's estate is represented by Julia Peters, a partner and chief counsel for the Avalon Trust Co. investment firm. According to the petition, Peters was Hackman's third choice of estate representative. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Betsy was Gene's first choice, and his second choice was attorney Michael G. Sutin. Sutin died in 2019.The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department confirmed during a press conference that Betsy likely died Feb. 11, and Gene most likely died one week later.Betsy died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, New Mexico officials told reporters. Gene died from hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributing factor. Feb. 18 was the last day activity was recorded on Gene's pacemaker. The device noted an "abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERGene's autopsy showed "severe heart disease, including multiple surgical procedures involving the heart, evidence of prior heart attacks, and severe changes of the kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure.""Examination of the brain showed advanced Alzheimer's disease as well as blood vessel changes in the brain secondary to chronic high blood pressure," according to Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell.Authorities determined Betsy died on or around Feb. 11 through her activity and communication. The former classical pianist had an email conversation on the morning of Feb. 11 before heading out to a local grocery store, a pharmacy and a pet store. She returned to the couple's gated community around 5:15 p.m., garage clicker data showed."Based on the circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that [Betsy] passed away first, with Feb. 11 being the last time that she was known to be alive," Jarrell said.Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
Caitlin Clark appeared to take a playful jab at her Indiana Fever teammate Lexie Hull. The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year left a comment under a post from Hull showing off one of her pregame fits. Hull has spent the past few weeks in Miami playing for Rose Basketball Club. The team is competing in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a professional three-on-three women's basketball league.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"Dude mix in an ab workout … probs would be smart," Clark wrote on Instagram.HUGE CAITLIN CLARK MILESTONE SURPASSED BY TEEN PHENOM JUJU WATKINS AMID QUEST TO STEAL ALL-TIME SCORING CROWClark and Hull seemingly developed a close friendship during their first season playing together in Indiana.When the WNBA season paused for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Clark and Hull attended a concert in Indianapolis. At one point during Jordan Davis' show, the basketball stars joined the country music star on stage and belted out some tunes.Hull played college basketball at Stanford and was the sixth overall selection in the 2022 WNBA Draft. She averaged 5.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last season.Clark became the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer across men's and women's basketball during her final season at Iowa. She was the top pick in last year's draft and earned WNBA All-Star honors after her rookie season.The Fever finished the 2024 campaign with a 20-20 record and earned a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Christie Sides was relieved of her head coaching duties shortly after the Connecticut Sun eliminated Indiana from the postseason. Stephanie White left the Sun and was named the Fever's next head coach last November. White previously served as Indiana's head coach in 2015-16.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
A young father allegedly in the U.S. illegally is in custody and accused of beating his 2-month-old daughter to death.Marlon Rabanales-Pretzantzin, 20, was arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree murder in the death of his infant daughter, according to the Nassau County Police Department.According to detectives, officers responded to an Inwood home for a report of a choking 2-month-old girl, identified as Liseyda Rabanales Barrios, just after 10:30 a.m. March 7.The victim was transported to a hospital and later transferred to a different hospital, where she died.MIGRANT GANG MEMBER SUSPECTED OF MURDER, SEXUALLY ASSAULTING GIRLFRIEND IS ARRESTED Officials said an investigation revealed the infant was the victim of an assault that caused her death. Police said the child had abrasions and broken bones, among other injuries.During a press briefing shared by PIX11, Nassau County Police Detective Capt. Stephen Fitzpatrick said Rabanales-Pretzantzin admitted to abusing his baby."He admitted to us what had happened with the baby, how he abused it physically, how he felt the child wasn’t his and how he did not respect or want that child," Fitzpatrick said. "He hit the child several times around the head and face. He threw the child on the ground."ICE, DEA ARREST CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS ON IDYLLIC NEW ENGLAND ISLANDOfficials determined Rabanales-Pretzantzin lived at the home with the 20-year-old mother of his children.A 1-year-old boy was also removed from the home and transported to a hospital for evaluation for any injuries. Investigators believe the mother was not involved in the abuse of the children. Rabanales-Pretzantzin was arraigned in Nassau County Court Thursday and held without bail.ICE DEPORTS DOMINICAN MIGRANT WANTED FOR HUMAN SMUGGLING THAT LED TO DEATH OF 3 MINORSNassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder added that Rabanales-Pretzantzin is originally from Guatemala and entered the United States at the border in El Paso, Texas."As he came in, catch and release took his information and let him into America," Ryder said. "The individual will answer to his crimes here in Nassau County. After he’s done with his sentencing, then there will be a determination of deportation or being held here. But there will be an immediate detainer put on him once he walks into the Nassau County Jail so he will never be released from our jails."Fox News Digital reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Over a two-day period, 239 "wasteful" contracts with a "ceiling value" of $1.7 billion have been terminated, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) said Thursday, including a grant intended to teach transgender and queer urban farmers about "food justice." The elimination of the contracts represents a savings of $400 million, according to a DOGE tweet posted on X. Among them included an $8.5 million consulting contract for "fiscal stewardship to improve management and program operations in order to drive innovation and improve efficiency and effectiveness of business services; rethink, realign and reskill the workforce; and enhance program delivery through a number of transformational initiatives."DOGE PROTESTERS RALLY OUTSIDE KEY DEPARTMENT AFTER EMPLOYEES ARE TOLD NOT TO REPORT TO WORK On Tuesday, DOGE announced the National Institutes of Health canceled multiple federal grants related to trans and sexual identity. Those include $699,000 for studying "cannabis use" among "sexual minority gender diverse individuals" and $620,000 for "an LGB+ inclusive teen pregnancy prevention program for transgender boys," DOGE said. DOGE AND AGENCIES CANCEL 200,000 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CREDIT CARDS Another included $225,000 in federal funds for the University of Colorado to study the "effects of hormones on headaches in transmasculine adolescents."On Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins noted that a $379,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant in the San Francisco Bay Area to educate queer, trans and BIPOC urban farmers and consumers about food justice and values-aligned markets had been canceled. "By stopping this wasteful spending here at USDA, we are ending identity politics, and we are refocusing our agency on its core mission of supporting American farming, ranching and forestry," she said in a video message.
Justin Bieber is speaking out about how he feels "unworthy."On Thursday, the Grammy-winning pop star took to his Instagram story and penned a message to his 294 million followers about his internal battle with not feeling worthy of the constant praise he receives. "People told me my whole life, ‘Wow Justin u deserve that' and I personally have always felt unworthy. Like I was a fraud. Like when people told me I deserve something, it made me feel sneaky," he wrote."Like, damn, if they only knew my thoughts. How judgmental I am, how selfish I really am, they wouldn't be saying this."HAILEY BIEBER TALKS BABIES WITH JUSTIN BIEBER, EVOLVING MARRIAGE AMID HEALTH STRUGGLESBieber explained the reason behind his message."If you feel sneaky, welcome to the club. I definitely feel unequipped and unqualified most days."The message comes after Bieber sparked health concerns among his large fan base.Fans began weighing in on his well-being after he attended wife Hailey Bieber's Rhode event in Los Angeles last month. In a video that went viral on TikTok, Bieber was seen with a huge grin on his face and rocking side-to-side while talking to attendees at the event."Are you sure that's Justin Bieber?" one user asked.Another added, "I refuse to believe this is Justin Bieber," with a crying emoji."Is he okay?!" a user asked. Another chimed in, "This is so hard to watch. Someone help him."LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSAfter the speculation, Bieber's team told TMZ concerns about Bieber's mental and physical health are "exhausting and pitiful and shows that despite the obvious truth, people are committed to keeping negative, salacious, harmful narratives alive."His team added that he is focused on being a father to his son Jack and producing new music. Hailey and Justin welcomed their first child in August.Bieber's rep did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.APP USERS CLICK HERE FOR INSTAGRAM POSTBieber has dealt with health scares in the past. In 2022, the musician canceled his Justice tour to focus on his health. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERBieber, who previously revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, explained that he had tried to continue the tour, which kicked off in January 2022 and was scheduled to run through 2023.After postponing a string of concerts, the two-time Grammy Award winner shared a video on Instagram in which he explained he was suffering from partial facial paralysis after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.The syndrome "occurs when a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve near one of your ears," according to the Mayo Clinic. The virus can cause facial paralysis and hearing loss.Bieber shared a hopeful update on his recovery in March 2023. The singer uploaded a video in which he demonstrated improved facial mobility as he winked, rolled his eyes, raised his eyebrows and smiled using both sides of his face.
New details have emerged in the shocking story of a 32-year-old Connecticut man allegedly held captive in a single room by his father and stepmother for 20 years.Kimberly Sullivan, 56, was arrested Wednesday, nearly a month after Waterbury police and firefighters responded to a fire the man lit inside the home Feb. 17.While receiving medical care after the fire, the 32-year-old said he had been held captive in the home since he was 11 years old."I wanted my freedom," he told first responders.IDAHO BECOMES FIRST STATE TO PREFER DEATH BY FIRING SQUAD FOR EXECUTIONSThe Waterbury Police Department Major Crimes Unit and Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office launched an extensive investigation that found the man endured prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect and inhumane treatment, according to a statement from the department.Subsequent arrest warrants revealed the man was locked inside a room nearly 24 hours each day without heat or air conditioning, The Associated Press reported.He was also provided two sandwiches and two bottles of water on a daily basis, which he rationed for soapless baths, according to the report.When he was found, the man weighed just 69 pounds, standing at 5-foot-9, the AP reported. Having no access to a bathroom, he funneled his waste through straws that led to a window.Police noted the man was starving while still attending school, often stealing food and eating out of the garbage, according to the report. When he ate, his teeth would break due to lack of dental care.IDAHO MURDERS SUSPECT BRYAN KOHBERGER TO ARGUE HE WAS FRAMED IN COLLEGE KILLINGS: PROSECUTORSSullivan was arrested and is charged with assault in the first degree, kidnapping in the second degree, unlawful restraint in the first degree, cruelty to persons and reckless endangerment in the first degree.Her bond was set at $300,000, and she was later released by the Connecticut Department of Corrections.Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo called the suffering the man endured "heartbreaking and unimaginable," noting the man has since been diagnosed with PTSD and depression.While authorities are investigating how the man fell through the cracks as a child, Spagnolo told the AP police only had two interactions with the family, both in 2005.One call was a welfare check prompted by reports from classmates. Another was after the family filed a harassment complaint against school officials for reporting them to state child welfare officials, according to the report.Officers noted there was no cause for concern, Spagnolo told the AP.The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) said it is continuing to look for records of agency involvement, according to the report. However, unsubstantiated reports of neglect or abuse are erased five years after the conclusion of the investigation."We are shocked and saddened for the victim and at the unspeakable conditions he endured," the department said in a statement to the AP. "The now adult victim has shown incredible strength and resilience during this time of healing and our hearts go out to him."Tom Pannone, former principal of the defunct Barnard Elementary School in Waterbury, told NBC Connecticut administrators reported the alleged abuse to police and "not a damn thing was done."The Waterbury Police Department, Waterbury Public Schools and Connecticut DCF did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment Thursday.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump on Thursday saluted the heroic canines who "defend our citizens and our homeland." National K-9 Veterans Day is an annual March 13 celebration of "canine courage," and the bravery of military and police dogs."Serving on the front lines, in combat zones, and at our borders, these fearless four-legged fighters are an invaluable part of protecting America," Trump said in a Thursday message to commemorate the day. In the military, more than 30,000 "dedicated working dogs" — with 1,600 working dogs actively serving — have provided frontline support to U.S. service members, according to the White House. These warriors are trained in detecting explosives and drugs, and assisting in search and rescue operations. Famous military working dogs include Army Special Operations Forces dog Conan — the 50-combat-mission veteran named after late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien — who helped track Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi when he was killed in October 2019 in Syria. Conan was injured on the mission but made a full recovery. CONAN, A DOG INJURED IN AL BAGHDADI RAID, HONORED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AT WHITE HOUSEIn 2019 at the White House, Trump gave a medal and plaque to Conan, who had been assigned to 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta. The doggo later was adopted by his former handler and passed away in 2023. White House protector and most decorated K-9 in U.S. history, Hurricane, died in February after more than a decade in the Secret Service. The 16-year-old Belgian Malnois — whose accolades included a Secret Service Award for Meritorious Service, Distinguished Service Medal and Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s Award for Valor — made a national name for himself after taking down an intruder who had breached the White House gate in 2014. Mere yards away were former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, watching a movie in the White House theater, according to The New York Times. WHITE HOUSE PROTECTOR AND MOST DECORATED K-9 IN US HISTORY DIES: ‘A VERY GOOD BOY’In 2022, Hurricane was one of three dogs to become the first recipients of the Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service Medal on Capitol Hill — earning him a spot among the famed Guinness World Records. He received the award alongside Yorkshire Terrier and World War II Army Air Corps veteran Smoky, who helped lay communication wires in the Philippines, and Coast Guard explosive detection dog Feco, a Hungarian Vizsla who at the time had conducted more than 365 bomb searches, according to the records book. Trump also nodded to now-deceased SEAL Team Six operator veteran Cairo, who played a significant role in the raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011, and Marine veteran Rex, who "saved countless lives by detecting explosives in combat in Iraq." The German shepherd served alongside Corps Cpl. Megan Leavey, whose heroic service with the dog was depicted in the 2017 film namesake. DOG THAT SERVED OUR NATION IS REUNITED WITH ITS FORMER AIR FORCE HANDLER: ‘IT’S BEEN A BLESSING' Trump said Thursday, "As we remember the fallen, we thank all of the brave veterans of the K-9 Corps who protect the American people and our way of life, living up to the name of man’s best friend." Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.