NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents busted a South Texas human smuggling ring, resulting in the arrests and sentencing of gangbangers who kidnapped a family and sexually assaulted a pregnant mother.Rodolfo Daniel De Hoyos, 22, a human smuggler who goes by the nickname “Rufles,” was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison on Monday for conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy. The sentencing was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas on Tuesday.De Hoyos is the fifth of nine human smugglers arrested in Kinney County, Texas, as a result of an investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the cooperation of the Texas Department of Public Safety and several other law enforcement agencies. The investigation is part of the Trump administration’s Operation Take Back America.According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, De Hoyos was involved in the kidnapping and attempted extortion of a family of illegal immigrants, consisting of a man, a pregnant woman and a seven-year-old child. The office said the smugglers sexually assaulted the pregnant woman and held the family for ransom. They obtained at least…

The world’s largest aircraft carrier experienced a non-combat fire Thursday that was successfully doused, the U.S. Navy announced.The USS Gerald R. Ford, which is operating in the Red Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury, saw its main laundry room ignite in a non-combat-related incident.“There is no damage to the ship’s propulsion plant, and the aircraft carrier remains fully operational,” read a post by the Navy on X.Two sailors were receiving medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, the Navy said, and were in stable condition.The Navy did not specify the cause of the fire but said more information would be forthcoming when available.RELATEDThe Ford began its most recent deployment on June 24, 2025, when it left Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, for a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.The Ford and its strike group, which includes nearly 4,500 sailors, traveled to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in support of what the Pentagon labeled counter-narcotics efforts, then to the Middle East as tensions grew between the U.S. and Iran.As of Monday, the carrier has been at sea for 261 days and counting.Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby recently told lawmakers that he anticipated the…

You have a well-made, high-quality defensive handgun. You have bought the best defensive rounds available and made sure they run in your pistol. You have a sound EDC rig that allows you to quickly and safely present your firearm, and you have trained to do it effectively. You are set, right? However, you simply cannot seem to consistently hit with the groups you think you should. Blaming the sights is rarely the path to improved shooting. Yes, ensure your sights or optic are properly dialed in. After that, work on your weaknesses to improve accuracy. Despite the frequency with which it arises in the shooting sports, there’s a phrase that causes many experts to raise a suspicious eyebrow: “I think the sights are off.” It’s not to say that otherwise good guns never leave the factory with alignment issues. I also don’t want to imply that adding and zeroing an optic on a new firearm is a process that’s 100% free of gremlins. But, I would say that nine times out of 10, there’s something else going on when the bullets aren’t going where the user wants, and the sights or optics are usually the least likely culprit. If you’ve found yourself stymied…

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned the authorities in California that Iran has planned drone raids. These will be launched from an unidentified vessel off the West Coast, according to an alert reviewed by United States media outlets. Launching a War on Iran Was No Act of Courage Local officials, however, have cast doubt on the warning, saying it is unverified. California Governor Gavin Newsom has downplayed the alert, saying he is “not aware of any imminent threats at this time,” but “we remain prepared for any emergency in our state,” he wrote on X. However, he also said that he remains “in constant coordination with security and intelligence officials” on threats to the state, including those tied to the Middle East conflict. The memo warned that in early February, Iran “allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California.” This attack was supposedly to be a retaliatory plan in case of a US attack against the country, accoridng to a report by RT. The bulletin added that the federal authorities “have no additional information on the timing, method, target,…

A Georgia judge denied Jose Ibarra’s motion for a new trial following his conviction in the killing of nursing student Laken Riley.Superior Court Judge Patrick Haggard rejected the request, leaving in place Ibarra’s sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.Ibarra, a Venezuelan migrant, was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, hindering a 911 call, tampering with evidence and peeping tom in connection with Riley’s death.The ruling means Ibarra’s convictions and life sentence remain intact.This is a breaking news report. Check back for more updates. Read the full article here

Four drone systems were stolen from a Kentucky Army engineer battalion in Kentucky late last year, the Army investigators reported in a social media post this week. The Skydio X10D drone systems were last seen in the 326th Division Engineer Battalion at Fort Campbell on Nov. 21, 2025 the Army Criminal Investigation Division, or CID, said, prompting them to offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the responsible party. Investigators said the drones were stolen between Nov. 21 and 24, but they did not say when the theft was discovered.Skydio X10D are small unmanned aerial drone systems that can be used by the military for battlefield intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The systems can also use artificial intelligence to avoid obstacles in flight. Fort Campbell released the images of two suspects in the drone heist. (Fort Campbell)Army investigators released photos of two suspects wearing head coverings, dark sweatshirts and long pants and closed-toe shoes. They also included photos of two vehicles potentially involved in the theft: a light colored four-door sedan and a dark colored four-door truck. Investigators have asked anyone with information about the theft to contact the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division or submit…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! → Nearly 250,000 reviews reveal which big-name pizza brands are taking the most heat over sky-high slice prices. → RFK Jr. calls out popular coffee chains as experts reveal what’s really swirling in frozen favorites.→ California growers are ripping out vines as younger Americans rethink their relationship with wine. The hot plate → An etiquette expert spills the beans on five coffee shop habits that quietly drive baristas — and customers — crazy. → Nearly 9 in 10 Americans say tipping culture is “out of control” — and many want service fees banned.Chew on this→ A new study suggests compounds in a common kitchen fruit may help slow an aggressive form of cancer. → Forget protein and fiber — experts say omega-3 fatty acids may be the nutrient Americans are missing most.→ A Mediterranean chef says one pantry staple could boost heart health and help curb cravings. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOOD AND DRINK NEWSQuote of the week”They should get their entrepreneur badge.” A Girl Scouts troop drew crowds — and controversy — after selling cookies outside an unlikely location. Read the full article here

This article was originally published by Tyler Durden at ZeroHedge under the title: Hegseth Warns “Most Intense Day” Of Operation Epic Fury Imminent As IEA Plans “Largest-Ever” SPR Dump The most significant development in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday was the start of IRGC naval mining operations, which were met with massive U.S. firepower that destroyed 16 mine-laying vessels. As we continue monitoring the maritime chokepoint this morning after IRGC attacks on three commercial vessels, attention is now shifting to the IRGC’s drone production capacity, which appears to have been degraded. Bloomberg reports that 2,100 Shaheds have been fired so far in the 12-day conflict. U.S. forces struck IRGC production facilities, disrupting large-scale manufacturing. The report is based on comments from a senior European official. “Since the Houthis have produced UAVs under bombardment, one would think the Iranians can, albeit not at the same rates, since facilities have to be dispersed and makeshift workshops used,” Sid Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute, told the outlet. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Saudi Arabia’s kill-cost ratio, neutralizing $20,000 IRGC drones with $2 million-plus missiles, has spurred talks with a Ukrainian counter-drone company for cheap…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! China’s top legislature on Thursday passed an “Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law,” formalizing Beijing’s long-running push to strengthen national identity and ethnic integration.The legislation was approved at the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress during its annual parliamentary gathering in Beijing.State-affiliated media Xinhua previously reported that the law would seek to codify “fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation” into state policy. It would also bolster high-quality development in areas with large ethnic minority populations and promote what officials describe as common prosperity among China’s 56 ethnic groups.CHINESE UNDERGROUND CHURCH PASTOR, FATHER OF US CITIZENS, DETAINED BY AUTHORITIES, FAMILY SAYS Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said the measure was aimed at advancing the governance of ethnic affairs under the rule of law.”The people of each ethnic group, all organizations and groups of the country, armed forces, every Party and social organization, every company, must forge a common consciousness of the Chinese nation according to law and the constitution, and take the responsibility of building this consciousness,” the proposed law reads, according to a translation from The Associated Press.Academics and…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Tax scams rarely stay the same for long. Each filing season brings new tactics designed to trick taxpayers into revealing personal information or claiming refunds they are not entitled to receive. In recent years, fraud tied to unemployment systems, stimulus payments and identity theft caught many taxpayers by surprise. Some people did not discover the problem until their legitimate tax return was rejected or unexpected tax forms arrived in the mail.Two years later, promoters marketed confusing credits such as the Employee Retention Credit to businesses that did not qualify, collecting fees to file improper claims. By 2025, misleading guidance spread widely on social media, encouraging taxpayers to misuse forms like 4136 or modify wage information through consumer tax software.Each of these scams relies on confusion around tax rules and filing systems. Understanding how they work can help you spot red flags before submitting your return this year.Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.IRS WARNS TAXPAYERS OF NEW MAILING REFUND…