NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! At least six victims have been identified in the tragic avalanche incident on Tuesday that killed up to nine people in Sierra Nevada, near Lake Tahoe, California.Six of the victims were among a group of outdoor-loving mothers who regularly traveled together. A joint statement from the affected families identified the women as Kate Vitt, Carrie Atkin, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, and sisters Caroline Sekar and Liz Clabaugh.”We are devastated beyond words,” the families said in the statement. “Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women.” All the women were described as “mothers, wives, and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors.”8 SKIERS FOUND DEAD, 1 MISSING AFTER MASSIVE LAKE TAHOE AVALANCHE Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said during a news conference Wednesday that authorities had told the families the mission had shifted from rescue to recovery.”They were on their way back to camp when the avalanche actually hit,” Moon said, adding that it took search and rescue crews hours to find the first few survivors.The group of women, most of whom resided near California, were reportedly seasoned…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A woman was arrested at a Las Vegas airport after allegedly tying her dog to a baggage sizer at a JetBlue ticket counter and walking away, police said.The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) responded to Harry Reid International Airport on Feb. 2 after receiving reports that a dog had been tied to a metal carry-on baggage sizer and left behind at the airport’s JetBlue ticket counter.The woman was arrested on charges of animal abandonment and resisting arrest.Footage released by the LVMPD shows the woman, whose face was blurred in the video, approaching the ticket counter with her dog before walking away and leaving the dog’s leash tied to the counter.PASSENGER’S WI-FI NAME TRIGGERS BOMB SCARE, FORCES TURKISH AIRLINES EMERGENCY LANDING Officers told the woman that she would receive a citation for leaving her dog at the counter.”Well, I was trying to re-book my flight,” the woman told police.”So you walked out here to re-book your flight?” the officer responded.”Yeah, that’s what they told me at the counter,” she said.”To walk out here without your dog?” the officer replied.According to LVMPD, airline staff told the dog owner she had not completed the…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! More than 60 high-end homes across the Houston area have been hit in a sweeping burglary spree tied to a South American theft ring using signal jammers and counter-surveillance tactics to evade detection, West University Place Police Chief Gary Ratliff confirmed to Fox News Digital.The organized crime network, known as the South American Theft Group (SATG), has been linked to numerous break-ins in West University Place, surrounding counties and across the country, authorities said.Residents packed a public safety meeting Wednesday night in West University Place, where Ratliff warned that the group’s footprint is expanding beyond Houston.”It was shocking,” resident Bill Jones told FOX 26 in Houston. “People from South America terrorizing Americans. That’s pretty scary and unfortunate. I’m really surprised no one has gotten hurt.”CALIFORNIA JEWELRY STORE BURGLAR BREAKS IN FROM ROOF, OWNER THREATENS TO LEAVE LOS ANGELES Seven of the burglaries occurred in West University Place alone, and police say the cases follow a consistent playbook.Investigators said suspects target second-story windows at the rear of homes between 7 and 9 p.m., climbing ladders or patio furniture before breaking glass or prying windows open with screwdrivers. The burglars allegedly reposition security cameras,…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by a former interim New York City police commissioner who accused the police department under former Mayor Eric Adams and his top deputies of “systemic corruption” and alleged the agency was operating as a “criminal enterprise.”Thomas Donlon, a longtime FBI official appointed by Adams to stabilize the police department marred by scandals, filed the racketeering lawsuit filed in July.But Donlon said he witnessed “systemic corruption and criminal conduct” enabled by Adams and his allies who often inflated overtime, prevented internal investigations and disciplined whistleblowers.FORMER NYPD CHIEF CALLS POLICE CUTS ‘RECIPE FOR DISASTER’ AS MAMDANI THREATENS TAX HIKES Judge Denise Cote ruled on Wednesday that the alleged misconduct did not meet the definition of racketeering activity since the lawsuit did not describe the defendants acting with “a common purpose.”A spokesperson for the city’s Law Department told The Associated Press they were “pleased the court agreed there was no legal basis for this case to continue.”An attorney for Donlon, John Scola, told the outlet that his client had already appealed the ruling.MAMDANI KEEPS JESSICA TISCH AS NYPD COMMISSIONER “Mr. Donlon confronted corruption within the NYPD’s highest ranks…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! American-born Team China skier Eileen Gu responded to the global criticism she has received during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Her decision to compete for China despite being born in the U.S. has made her a target for Americans and others across the world, with Vice President JD Vance chiming in by saying he hopes athletes born here would “want to compete with the United States of America.”Gu was asked if she currently feels “like a bit of a punching bag for a certain strand of American politics” after her competition on Thursday.   “I do,” she said, per USA Today. “So many athletes compete for a different country. … People only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.”And also, because I win. Like if I wasn’t doing well, I think that they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s OK for me. People are entitled to their opinions.”Gu has previously said she was “physically assaulted” for her decision to represent China.  “The police were called. I’ve had death…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The University of Texas System’s Board of Regents on Thursday approved a rule requiring its universities to allow students to graduate without studying “unnecessarily controversial subjects.”The rule, approved unanimously, also states that faculty must include the topics they plan to teach in their syllabi and follow that plan throughout the course, according to The Texas Tribune. When courses include controversial subject matter, instructors are directed to take a “broad and balanced approach” to the discussion.The policy does not define what constitutes “controversial” or a “broad and balanced approach.” Board Chair Kevin Eltife said the lack of specifics was because the system wanted to create a policy that could work in the current politically charged environment.TEXAS TECH RESTRICTS TEACHING OF RACE AND GENDER, FACULTY COULD BE DISCIPLINED FOR VIOLATING RULE “We are in difficult times,” he said, according to The Texas Tribune. “Vagueness can be our friend.”Critics of the new rule argued that failing to define these terms would force administrators to interpret them on a case-by-case basis, which could lead to professors leaving out difficult material to avoid the risk of complaints.”Will [administrators] be experts in the relevant disciplines or will they…

When it comes to gardening, no matter where you live, many of us will take any of the tips and tricks we can get. From old wives tales to science-backed evidence, we will try anything once to see how it works. Sometimes we can’t even explain why these gardening tips work, but no use in worrying about that when it comes to growing food for your family. Check out these weird gardening tips that you should know for this upcoming growing season.Want to save this post for later? Click Here to Pin It On Pinterest!1. Plastic Forks as Pest DeterrentsIf your garden is prone to rabbits, squirrels, or other critter damage, consider this unusual tip. Place the handle of plastic forks into the ground around your plants with the prongs facing up.The shape is supposed to scare pests away and keep them from eating your plants. Use this tip to keep pets out of the garden as well!2. Plant with Packing PeanutsWhen planting in a container, add a good amount of packing peanuts to the bottom before adding the soil. This will help make the container lighter and shouldn’t hurt the plant roots. This tip is especially helpful if you plan…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A single bullet discovered in an overhead bin on a United Airlines Boeing 737 at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) caused a significant security delay.The incident occurred Feb. 17 on a flight bound for Miami. The plane was declared a crime scene, and was searched and cleared by authorities before departing after a nearly three-hour delay.”On Tuesday, United Flight 1511 underwent a security sweep after a bullet was discovered in an overhead bin prior to the flight’s departure,” United Airlines told Fox News Digital in a statement.SHOCKING AIRPORT SECURITY BUSTS REVEAL BIZARRE AND HIDDEN ITEMS TUCKED AWAY IN LUGGAGE”Security personnel cleared the aircraft, which later departed for Miami,” the company’s statement concluded.United Flight 1511 had been due to depart from Newark at 2:07 p.m. local time, according to data shared on FlightAware. After almost three hours, the plane took off at 4:49 p.m. It landed in Miami at 7:33 p.m. ‘SECURITY-RELATED SITUATION’ GROUNDS FIGHT TO VACATION HOT SPOT, PASSENGERS CONFINED FOR HOURSIt is still unknown how the bullet entered the aircraft cabin after multiple screening procedures at Newark. “Security personnel cleared the aircraft, which later departed for Miami.”  TSA rules strictly prohibit firearms in carry-on…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Iran repositioned strike drones and other military assets under the cover of joint drills with Russia in the Strait of Hormuz Thursday, a defense expert claimed.In what he described as a “calculated escalation” amid rising tensions with the U.S., Cameron Chell said Iran’s latest move also followed reports of sightings of U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones with precision strike capabilities in the region.”The Russian drills would cover for the Iranian forces to move their drones into strike position,” Chell, of defense firm Draganfly, told Fox News Digital. “They’ve gone under the veil of doing the military exercises, which happened to be along the coastline, and this is an escalation.”UK BLOCKS TRUMP FROM USING RAF AIR BASES FOR POTENTIAL IRAN ATTACK: REPORT The combined exercises, reported by The Associated Press, also came as President Donald Trump pressed Iran further to make a deal to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions following indirect talks in Geneva.”We’re going to make a deal, or we’re going to get a deal one way or the other,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday, signaling determination to secure an agreement.MORNING GLORY: WHAT WILL PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DECIDE…

After more than 80 years — and a decade after he was recognized by Yad Vashem as one of the “Righteous Among the Nations” — Roddie Edmonds will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor, a White House official confirmed to Military Times on Thursday. A master sergeant serving in the 106th Infantry Division, 422 Regiment Headquarters Company, Roddie Edmonds had been serving along the Siegfried Line in Bastogne, Belgium, for a mere six days in December 1944 when the Germans began their fanatical final offensive of World War II. He, alongside thousands of other Americans, were captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge — the largest capture of GI forces during the entirety of the war. The master sergeant kept a diary of his time in captivity, but his story may have stopped there, alongside its writer who died in 1985, if one simple sentence in a 2008 New York Times article hadn’t set his son, Christopher Edmonds, on a mission to discover what his father had done during the Second World War. A son’s mission“He never really talked about his experiences in World War II,” Christopher Edmonds recalled of his father in a 2016 documentary, “or…