A grey placeholder marked “vacant” has replaced the Fort Sill garrison commander’s name and photo online, following the Army’s decision to relieve the installation head of command last week and place the Oklahoma base under interim leadership.“We can confirm that Col. Derek Baird, the Fort Sill garrison commander, was relieved of his command on Jan. 28, 2026, due to a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command,” Nicole M. Wieman, a spokesperson for U.S. Army Installation Management Command, said in a statement on Thursday. Wieman added that Julia Sibilla, the deputy garrison commander, “will continue to lead the organization until a new commander assumes the position.”Garrison commanders oversee installation operations, including base services and infrastructure support. Baird assumed command of the garrison in June 2024. Wieman confirmed that he remains on active duty.The statement did not include details about the circumstances surrounding Col. Baird’s removal or the timeline for a new commander. This is not the first time the Oklahoma base, home to courses for artillery and air defense, has seen major leadership changes. The Army relieved the commanding general of the service’s fires school in 2023. About Eve SampsonEve Sampson is a reporter and former Army officer.…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is under fire this week after a Los Angeles Times report claiming she successfully altered in her favor a critical after-action report on the devastating southern California wildfires that killed 31 people. While Bass has repeatedly denied that she interfered with the report, the Los Angeles Times reports, citing two sources, that Bass was concerned about the city could be exposed to legal liabilities for its lack of preparedness and removed or softened language implicating the city.One of the key changes, according to the Los Angeles Times, was altering details about failures to fully staff and deploy resources leading up to the fire, an issue that has drawn intense scrutiny over the past year.The report cites a “Bass confidant” who said “the mayor didn’t tell the truth when she said she had nothing to do with changing the report.”SPENCER PRATT ENTERS LA MAYOR RACE, ACCUSES CURRENT LEADERSHIP OF ‘CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE’ OVER FIRE RESPONSE Bass, who has also drawn criticism for flying to Africa for an event days before the fire broke out despite hazardous conditions in the forecast and warnings about fire risks, has denied the accuracy of the reporting.Still,…

The Army is adjusting how it awards reenlistment bonuses, refining how incentive pay is awarded as it tries to keep high-performing soldiers in hard-to-fill roles. The new guidance, put forth in a January military personnel message, applies the Army’s Quality Tiered Incentive Program to reenlistment bonuses, which means the Army will factor in physical fitness, job proficiency and command assessments alongside traditional eligibility criteria. The new policy, effective Feb. 2, does not eliminate bonuses but narrows how and to whom they are awarded. The message also includes a transition period in February, delaying the full rollout of the new bonus criteria until March. The changes affect enlisted soldiers who are eligible for selective reenlistment bonuses, particularly those in low-density, high-demand specialties like cyber, intelligence, aviation and special-operations adjacent roles. Soldiers in roles that the Army considers harder to replace or more expensive to train are more likely to see higher bonuses. The Army said the changes are intended to address “personnel shortages and the expansion of Army structure,” according to the message.One expert said the changes show a more confident retention environment where the Army can be more selective about who receives its largest incentives. “It’s a sign of health…

Some of the newly released Jeffrey Epstein files include Bill Gates, and what could amount to a global health dominance and control over mass vaccination. The disclosures warrant answers from the multibillionaire Microsoft co-founder-turned “philanthropist,” whose foundation wields outsized influence over global vaccination and data systems. These files, recently released as part of the Epstein files from the United States Justice Department, have delivered a barrage of revelations about Bill Gates’ entanglement with the convicted sex offender. Over 3 million pages of emails, notes, and photos paint a troubling picture: Was Gates leveraging Epstein’s shadowy network for global health dominance? None of this is new. Gates has been elbow deep in vaccines and forcing them on the world for some time. His influence ramped up during the COVID-19 scamdemic to unprecedented levels. Bill Gates Doubles Down On Opposition To The “Open Vaccine” Movement The COVID-19 vaccine was also shown to be ineffective at preventing an infection with the virus. Fully Vaccinated Bill Gates Tests Positive For COVID Gates’ role in global vaccine distribution was amplified by accusations from Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of Russia’s Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and a key figure in the ongoing Ukraine peace talks. Dmitriev maintains that…

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! For years, we’ve been told that encryption is the gold standard for digital privacy. If data is encrypted, it is supposed to be locked away from hackers, companies and governments alike. That assumption just took a hit. In a federal investigation tied to alleged COVID-19 unemployment fraud in Guam, a U.S. territory where federal law applies, Microsoft confirmed it provided law enforcement with BitLocker recovery keys. Those keys allowed investigators to unlock encrypted data on multiple laptops.This is one of the clearest public examples to date of Microsoft providing BitLocker recovery keys to authorities as part of a criminal investigation. While the warrant itself may have been lawful, the implications stretch far beyond one investigation. For everyday Americans, this is a clear signal that “encrypted” does not always mean “inaccessible.”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.HACKERS ABUSE GOOGLE CLOUD TO SEND TRUSTED PHISHING EMAILS What happened in the Guam BitLocker case?Federal investigators believed three Windows laptops held evidence tied…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Canadian Olympic big air snowboarder Mark McMorris was forced to drop out of the event after he suffered a hard crash during practice at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games on Wednesday.McMorris had won a gold medal in the big air competition at the 2021 World Championships and was expected to contend for a podium spot at this year’s Winter Olympics. But the tough spill caused him to be taken off the slopes on a stretcher and landed him briefly in the hospital. “I hit my head and will not be able to compete in big air tonight, unfortunately,” he wrote in a post on Instagram.McMorris added that he will be ready to go for the slopestyle event, which begins on Feb. 16. He has three Olympic bronze medals in the event.2026 MILAN CORTINA OLYMPICS: EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT THIS YEAR’S WINTER GAMES “Just trying to stay positive and focus on that event. Huge thanks to the incredible medical staff who took great care of me, and to everyone who reached out with so much love and support.”Canadian Snowboard official Brendan Matthews said McMorris was released from the hospital quickly. He said it…

Editor’s Note: The following article is not intended as legal advice and represents the opinion of the author. Consult all applicable federal, state and local laws. Everybody knows that there are many places where you cannot carry a firearm — even if you’re licensed — like federal buildings (USPS, courthouse, etc.), airports, schools, hospitals and posted businesses. While you may have a fully capable EDC pistol and the skills to use it, what if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t employ it? What’s your backup plan? Given a no-gun-carry scenario, the question arises: In lieu of your primary self-defense tool — the firearm, is your next best option to carry a knife (if legally applicable)? If so, then what are the real-world practical considerations of carrying a blade for self-defense? Faulty Assumptions When it comes to carrying a gun, an inexperienced gun owner might believe in their heart that their firearm will act as a talisman — a lucky charm that will ward off all evil. These same people might also no clue that owning such a life-saving tool necessitates life-saving training. The same applies to an edged tool. If you elect to carry one for self-defense, then…

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is preparing Ukraine for the politics of defeat. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is said to have been designed to prepare Ukraine’s ruling class for tough compromises, including land concessions. Rutte arrived in Kiev and addressed the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, urging the swift conclusion of a peace agreement with Russia while simultaneously promising the future deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine. This speech came on the eve of Rutte’s visit for renewed negotiations in Abu Dhabi. So far, the NATO chief has sent a strong and clear message to Ukraine:  the conflict must move from a military to a political phase. But the framework he outlined clashes directly with Moscow’s red lines. Russia has repeatedly warned that the presence of Western troops on Ukrainian territory would be viewed as foreign intervention, according to a report by RT.  Ukraine is finding it increasingly difficult to hide the signs of war fatigue. In fact, during an interview with The Independent, as reported by RT, Mykolaiv Governor Vitaly Kim admitted what many in Kiev now acknowledge privately: the country is exhausted. “Territories are important, but people are more important,” Kim said. “Everyone is very tired. For Ukrainians, victory may…

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Bipartisan lawmakers are voicing support for Rep. Nancy Mace’s, R-N.C., push to subpoena Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates over what she called “sick” allegations tied to Jeffrey Epstein — accusations his ex-wife, Melinda Gates, said he must answer for.Those calls come as lawmakers wrestle with what Congress can do to responsibly work through the 3.5 million newly disclosed Epstein files.”I did write a letter to [Chairman James Comer, R-Ky.] today requesting that we subpoena Bill Gates,” Mace told Fox News Digital on Wednesday.”Epstein was sending emails about how he had contracted an STD, may have been involved with various women, allegedly — all allegedly. I’m not saying he did anything, but I’d like to bring him in,” she said.GHISLAINE MAXWELL TO TESTIFY BEFORE HOUSE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING HANDLING OF EPSTEIN CASE Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the committee, said he supported the idea and hinted the committee’s work could go further.”I’ve had conversations with Chairman Comer today on some additional folks we want to talk to, and so I think there’ll be some announcements pretty soon on that,” Garcia said, declining to elaborate further.Mace’s calls for bringing in Gates for questioning come…