Minnesota schools and hospitals will provide dolls with removable genitals to children as young as four in order to allow them to express their sexual identities.
MyGender Dolls were created by staff at the University of Minnesota, a publicly funded university. They are intended for use as an educational toy for children ages four through ten.
The idea for the dolls came from University of Minnesota professor Rachel Becker-Warner. Associate professors Dr. Dianne Berg and Nic Rider then developed the dolls for a research project, later turning it into a commercial venture.
MyGender Dolls website describes the <a href="https://mygenderdolls.com/">toys</a> as “a new play-based therapeutic approach for trans and gender diverse children — and the clinicians who support them.”
“We make gender fun! Our award-winning dolls and services are community-informed, research-driven, culturally-attuned, and grounded in gender-affirming clinical practice,” the website said, adding that the dolls will be released to educators this year.
The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/25/us-news/taxpayer-funded-transgender-dolls-to-hit-classrooms-this-fall/">said</a> the toys are “like a trans Mr./Mrs. Potato Head” and come with removable internal and external genitalia, and over 100 interchangeable pieces of clothing including underwear and skirts.
“The concept is similar to classic paper dolls; kids can select bodies, genitals, clothes, and other accessories as a way to visualize their anatomy and genders,&#8221; according to a deleted summary of the project from the University of Minnesota&#8217;s Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health (ISGH) <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/transgender-dolls-available-minnesota-schoolchildren-young-4-under-walz-backed-program-report.amp">recovered</a> by Fox News.
“I think everyone should know that there’s diversity in gender identity and that what is ‘real’ is not what your body parts are, but how you think and feel,” Berg <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtxIqcgp-oQ/?img_index=2">stated</a> on social media and in a now-deleted article in the university’s Discovery Magazine.
Berg also admitted that she and other medical professionals have been using the dolls on their child patients to help them explore their identity and get them to talk about their private parts.
“We were able to explore and brainstorm not just what our bodies are able to do now but what we want our bodies to do and look like in the future,” Adjunct Assistant Professor Elizabeth Panetta said.
The University of Minnesota Medical School’s Institute for Sexual and Gender Health paid the families of “trans and gender diverse children” between $20 and $60 to play with the dolls and “talk about gender and bodies” in groups.
Governor Tim Walz (D-MN), who received the “Distinguished Sexual and Gender Health Champion Award” in 2023 from the University of Minnesota’s ISGH, has been giving $15 million annually to “increase the medical school’s research capacity” and “ensure its national prominence.”
Dr. Quentin Van Meter, past president of the American College of Pediatricians, called the dolls a “grooming tool” that would likely only create anxiety and confusion.
“The younger kids — many of them still believe in the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. And you’re then presenting them with paper dolls that kind of look fun, and you can change clothing, hair, genitals … It’s well beyond their ability to sort out fantasy from reality.”
“Until age 7 years, kids don’t really understand the immutability of the sexes,” Van Meter <a href="https://www.thecollegefix.com/uminn-scholars-launching-transgender-doll-project-for-4-year-olds/">told</a> the College Fix, adding that gender dysphoria is “emotional trauma caused by ideologues as parents or teachers or counselors.”
A university spokesperson told The Post that no public funds were diverted “to support MyGender Dolls’ commercialization efforts,” but refused to mention whether taxpayer funds went into either the research and development of the dolls or to the salaries of the professors who worked on the project.

university-minnesota-medical-school-launching-135407417

Trans Dolls With Removable Genitals Will Be Used To Teach 4-Year-Olds

Education

grooming

LGBTQ

Minnesota

Tim Walz

Transgender

University of Minnesota

A woke, taxpayer-funded exhibit in England claims the Care Bears toys are LGBT icons, describing one of the beloved children&#8217;s characters as &#8220;transgender or gender fluid.&#8221; 
“Funshine Bear is our yellow bear with a smiling sun in his belly, and is considered to be transgender or gender fluid,” the exhibit <a href="https://villiers.digital-exhibition.uk/">claimed</a>, arguing that the character was voiced by female actors before 2004 and by male actors afterward. 
“Bears like True Love Bear … and others, disrupt gender norms through their expression of their true selves but are accepted regardless,” the museum stated. “This enables children and adults to realize that regardless of their identity, sexuality, or self-expression — they are loved.&#8221;
The Care Bears were also praised for their “deep association with symbols such as the rainbow — which became a symbol for the queer community in 1978.”
The exhibit drew criticism from family advocacy organizations. 
“Taxpayers should not be funding such blatant attempts to sexualize children’s toys and promote false gender ideology,” the Family Education Trust <a href="https://x.com/FamEdTrust/status/2081463243365605477">said</a> in an X post. 

The Care Bear display was part of a larger exhibition <a href="https://www.cultureleicestershire.co.uk/projects/villiers-revealed-welcome-to-our-virtual-exhibition/george-villiers/">exploring</a> historical figures and artifacts through a modern LGBT lens, including George Villiers, whom the exhibition claimed would be considered &#8220;queer&#8221; today because he was the &#8220;favorite&#8221; gay lover of King James I. 
The exhibit claimed Villiers is a “reminder that LGBTQ+ life and love isn’t a side story in history, but it shapes history. A history we all inherit and can explore together,” and promoted a “powerful exploration” of reclaiming queer icons that experienced “bi and pan erasure” throughout history by the British Empire. 
The Care Bears were in the Villiers Revealed Student Gallery, where University of Nottingham student volunteers found objects in the museum collections “having queer resonance.” Among the other selections were coins of Emperor Hadrian, whom the museum described as “an openly queer figure,” a portrait of a mermaid, praised by transgender-identifying people for their “ability to transform,” and dolls, criticized because they “uphold patriarchal values and are either forced upon or forbidden to gender non-conforming children.”
The Telegraph <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/26/some-teddy-bears-are-trans-says-taxpayer-backed-arts-group/">notes</a> that the display has been made digital because, according to its creator John Sleigh, “some people simply aren’t ready or able to access queer spaces physically.”
Elena Kucharik, the American illustrator who created the original Care Bears, has never confirmed the characters as transgender or LGBT symbols. After creating the franchise, she went on to illustrate Tyndale House&#8217;s Christian children&#8217;s series &#8220;Little Blessings.&#8221;

Screenshot 2026-07-27 at 2.15.52 PM

Woke Exhibit Claims Popular Kids Character Is Transgender

Children

LGBT

Politics

Toys

United Kingdom

An American man was rescued last week after a solo sailing accident left him lost in the Pacific Ocean for 45 days.  
Californian Kaichi “Kai” Sato, 39, embarked off Catalina Island near California’s coast on June 7. He was attempting to complete his first solo sail across the Pacific Ocean, The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/26/us-news/california-man-stranded-on-sailboat-survives-month-at-sea/">reported</a>. However, his journey took a turn for the worse when his mast snapped in half just two weeks into the solo sail.
“I cried for a whole week, just drifting south, like miserable,” Sato <a href="https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/07/25/solo-sail-gone-wrong-california-man-survives-month-sea-drifting-hawaii/">told</a> Hawaii News Now. “I felt like I was going to just try to turn my motor on and just suffocate, to kill myself.”
To add to his misery, his motor ran out of gas when he tried to power through to the shore, leaving him completely at the mercy of the winds and waves.
“I was literally like a sitting duck, just getting taken south by the current going way off course,” said Sato.
After five days of contemplation and reflection on his misfortune, he decided to do whatever was necessary to survive. Sato began by repairing the sails as best he could with PVC pipes and kayak paddles. For food, Sato said he ate leftover oatmeal, along with fish and squid that landed on his boat. He also collected seawater in buckets and covered them with plastic bags, which he used to collect condensation that he could lick off the bags.
Sato also attributed his spiritual discipline to the success of his voyage, saying he meditated and spoke to the water and the wind. As he fought to survive, Sato reflected on his uncle, a mentor who sailed with him from California to Hawaii when Sato was a young boy.
Sato spent a month at sea before he made his way back to his original route from California to Hawaii, and was soon spotted by a Pasha Hawaii container ship called the &#8220;M/V George III&#8221; on July 21.
Sato reported that he was “ecstatic” after being rescued, and added, “I was like crying and like so happy, and then they got me fruit and water, and yeah, they were so good to me, those guys.”
According to a <a href="https://www.seafarers.org/seafarers-help-rescue-sailor/">statement</a> from Captain Eric Veloni, the ship’s crew found him 900 miles from the coast of Hawaii and provided Sato with a BBQ meal after recovering him.
The California man said he plans to stay with a relative in Hawaii and then sail for the Philippines, this time on a bigger boat with other passengers.

Sailing

Man Rescued After Daring Pacific Solo Sail Turns Into 45-Day Fight For Survival

California

Hawaii

Pacific Ocean

Rescue

Carly Simon, the songwriter most famous for “You’re So Vain,” revealed to her fans on Monday that she&#8217;s been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“So many people have written to me, kindly wondering about my relative silence, asking how I am and what I have been doing,” Simon wrote in a letter to her audience <a href="https://people.com/carly-simon-reveals-parkinsons-disease-cancer-diagnosis-12020645">obtained</a> by People magazine. “The truth is, I’ve been learning how to live with Parkinson’s disease.”
Simon, 83, said the decline in her health first came when arthritis in her knees and hip forced her to get those three joints replaced “with delicate bouquets of metal and plastic.” Her mobility continued to worsen.
“Eventually, there were periods when I could not walk without considerable help,” Simon noted. “My family and I knew that something more was going on. After an extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.”
Simon explained that she has taken the time to live with the illness.
“There is no tidy or predictable schedule to the illness. It does not consult my calendar before deciding what kind of day I am going to have,” Simon said. “You can find yourself lying there like a starfish drying in the sun, arms pointing in all directions, while nothing inside is telling you to get up, read, watch, write, sing, call someone, or do much of anything at all,” she continued.
“I do not consider Parkinson’s a gift or a blessing,” Simon added. “It is neither. It is difficult, frustrating, and sometimes frightening. I am still learning how to live with it and how to accept it without feeling that I have surrendered something essential.”
Along with adjusting to life with Parkinson’s, Simon underwent surgery for basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, on her face.
“The cancer was removed, but the surgery affected my appearance and made me more self-conscious about being seen in public,” she said. “I have always been more critical of my appearance than anyone else could possibly imagine (check out the irony of having written ‘You’re So Vain.’), and this gave my inner critic quite a lot of new material.”
Despite all the complications she has faced, Simon has assured her fans, “I have not stopped living, and I have not stopped working.”
In her letter, Simon announced her new album, Comes in Waves, her first original full-length album since 2008. It will include fragments of songs that Simon wrote down and tucked away throughout her musical career.
Simon ended her letter thanking her family, friends, and medical staff who have helped her through her medical experiences.
Simon <a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/carly-simon/6577/">won</a> two Grammys during her career, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November 2022. Simon has 206,000 followers on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carlysimonhq/?hl=en">Instagram</a> and over 6.5 million monthly listeners on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4FtSnMlCVxCswABUmdhwpm">Spotify</a>. 
One of Simon’s last public appearances occurred in October 2019, when she promoted &#8220;Touched by the Sun: My Friendship with Jackie,&#8221; a memoir about her friendship with former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Her last public performance occurred in March 2018 at Carnegie Hall.

Screenshot 2026-07-27 at 10.46.35 AM

‘You’re So Vain’ Legend Shares Heartbreaking Health Update

Carly Simon

Celebrities

Celebrity

Health

Parkinson's Disease

skin cancer

An Illinois maintenance worker was trapped inside a gas station sign 130 feet in the air for over six hours on Tuesday. 
AJ Gow was doing repair work on a gas station sign near Interstate 55 right before 11:00 a.m. when his telescopic boom lift malfunctioned, leaving him 13 stories in the air.
At around 2:00 p.m., the Wilmington Fire Protection District received a call about the stranded man. Its Technical Rescue Team, “specializing in confined space, collapse, and high angle rescue,” was sent to help. 
The fire crew soon realized that their 100-foot ladders were not long enough to help Gow.
“No ladders or stairs built into the sign pole were present eliminating the possibility of rescue team personnel ascending to the victim’s location as would normally occur in a high angle rescue,” the Wilmington Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Todd Friddle <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064452889694">said</a>. “The victim’s location was also beyond fire department ladder truck capabilities.”
The Wilmington fire department found a boom lift in a town around 17 miles away that could ascend the distance and wheeled it to the site.
In the meantime, an aerial drone monitored the man, who gave an optimistic thumbs-up.
At around 4:00 p.m., the maintenance worker was lifted down and “returned to safety with no victim or rescuer injuries,” the report concluded.
Gow thanked local officials for their help in saving him.
“Thank you to every department that showed up for me today,” the maintenance worker <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/24/us-news/maintenance-worker-trapped-inside-130-foot-tall-illinois-gas-station-sign-but-still-manages-to-give-thumbs-up/">posted</a> on Facebook. “It was greatly appreciated! Seeing that lift roll up with police escorts was the highlight of my day for sure!!”
Gow also <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10164774301749712&amp;set=a.439218559711">posted</a> a photo of himself standing inside the sign in the comments of one of his posts, telling one of his friends, “I was up there on this. [I] couldn&#8217;t fully stand either and it kept swaying with the wind. It was miserable.”
Besides feeling severe dehydration and anxiety, Gow stated that he is fine.
“My adrenaline was pumping once I saw that lift arriving and [it] gave me a 2nd wind. After the adrenaline crash, I felt like crap all night and still do.”

Man stuck in sign

SEE IT: Man Trapped 130 Feet In The Air In Gas Station Sign

Illinois

viral video

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested Lorenzo Thompson, an illegal immigrant from Jamaica working as a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines, last week at the Nashville International Airport.
The Department of Homeland Security <a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2080391076532166771?s=20">told Fox</a> News that Thompson came to the United States on a six-month visa under Biden in 2021, but refused to leave when the visa expired.
&#8220;Against our nation’s laws, [Lorenzo Thompson] overstayed his visa and failed to depart. He will remain in ICE custody pending his immigration proceedings,&#8221; an ICE representative <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/ice-arrests-southwest-airlines-flight-attendant-nashville-overstaying-visa-2021">told</a> Fox News.
The agency added that illegal immigrants like Thompson who self-deport are given $2,600 cash stipend, a free flight home, and the opportunity to return to the United States legally.
&#8220;We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream,&#8221; the agency said. &#8220;If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.&#8221;
Thompson’s local union chapter, TWU Local 556, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/twulocal556/p/DbHTnc3js81/">said</a> it is in communication with Thompson’s family and is working with its legal counsel on how to address the situation.
“Our priority is, and always will be, standing with and supporting our Members,” it said in a statement. “Every Member deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and we are committed to ensuring this Member and their family know they are not alone during this difficult time.”
The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LCLAA/photos/justice-for-lorenzo-justice-for-johan-justice-for-all-ice-outjoin-or-host-a-nati/1503261605171408/">Labor Council for Latin American Advancement</a> and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/afacwa/posts/we-stand-with-twu-local-556-and-flight-attendant-lorenzo-wrongfully-detained-by-/1454153386748089/">Association of Flight Attendants</a> (AFA) both shared a statement of solidarity with Lorenzo.
“Today, we stand with our brother Enzo and his union family. Together, we reaffirm our commitment to standing by workers and their families through every challenge,” the AFA said.
A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-lorenzo-thompson-fight-ice-detention">GoFundMe</a> for Thompson started by his friend Kristin Foster has raised $43,018 of its $45,000 target as of Thursday afternoon.
“Lorenzo came to the United States legally from Jamaica in 2021, seeking safety from life-threatening abuse,” Foster stated. “Since arriving, he has worked tirelessly to build a stable life, following every legal step toward citizenship. He has no criminal record. No parking tickets. He holds a valid work permit, has a pending case with US immigration and is a dedicated Flight Attendant for a beloved airline.”

Airplanes Docked at Palm Beach Airport

One Southwest Employee’s Final Boarding Call Came From ICE

illegal alien

Illegal Immigration

Immigration

Jamaica

Nashville

Tennessee

Unions

Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Haley Stevens on Friday, backing her over far-Left rival Abdul El-Sayed in the state&#8217;s closely watched primary. 
“Just like me, Haley will do whatever it takes to get things done for the people of Michigan, and we need her now more than ever,” Whitmer said in a video Stevens <a href="https://x.com/gretchenwhitmer">posted</a> on X. 

Whitmer accused Republicans of raising the cost of living through the tariffs, cuts to Medicaid, and “soaring gas prices” while praising Stevens&#8217; record on manufacturing, prescription drug costs, and economic issues, arguing she would put &#8220;Michigan first.&#8221;
Stevens celebrated the endorsement on X, calling Whitmer &#8220;a champion for our state&#8221; who understands &#8220;the stakes of this race.”
Following Whitmer’s nomination, Stevens&#8217; <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/michigan-democratic-senate-primary-winner">odds</a> of winning the Democratic primary on prediction market Polymarket rose from 21% to 36%.
Stevens has also drawn attention in recent weeks after videos resurfaced showing her speaking with an exaggerated accent, including a campaign speech in which she <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2077370465522155935">urged</a> supporters to “Stick it to ‘em.” 
The endorsement gives Stevens a boost in one of the nation&#8217;s most competitive Democratic Senate primaries.

Abdul El-Sayed

Major Establishment Democrat Plants Flag Against Abdul El-Sayed

2026 Midterms

Elections

Gretchen Whitmer

Haley Stevens

Michigan

Michigan Primary

Primary

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was arrested in Milwaukee on Thursday night for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. 
Romo, who is now the NFL on CBS lead game analyst, was arrested after his first offense of Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) — Wisconsin&#8217;s term for a DUI. Romo was stopped by officers while driving on southbound Interstate 43 on a bridge, and failed the field sobriety tests, Fox6 News <a href="https://www.fox6now.com/news/tony-romo-arrested-milwaukee-owi-1st-court-date-set">reported</a>. He has since been released.
Romo&#8217;s court date is scheduled for September 21.
Wisconsin usually lists the first-offense OWI as a civil charge that carries a fine from $150 to $300, and it is not a criminal charge, ABC&#8217;s Milwaukee affiliate WISN <a href="https://www.wisn.com/article/tony-romo-arrested-in-milwaukee-on-suspicion-of-dui/73256530">reported</a>.
Romo&#8217;s rise in the NFL was an underdog <a href="https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/tony-romo-s-stats-at-a-glance-where-does-he-rank-among-the-greats-430041">story</a>, going from an undrafted free agent to a star quarterback that <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/5209/tony-romo">broke</a> the Dallas Cowboys’ records for passing yards (34,183) and passing touchdowns (248). 
Romo was selected to the Pro Bowl four times and is now part of CBS’ lead NFL broadcast team. 
After retiring from playing football, Romo became CBS&#8217; lead game analyst, calling NFL games alongside Jim Nantz since 2017.
This is a breaking news story; stay with The Daily Wire for updates.

tony_romo_mug

Former Cowboys QB Tony Romo Arrested

Dallas Cowboys

Drunk Driving

Football

Texas

Tony Romo

Wisconsin

Assassin Vance Boelter was sentenced Thursday to two consecutive life sentences without parole for murdering former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, Mark, and wounding state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette, in what prosecutors called a politically motivated attack. 
Boelter was convicted on six federal charges stemming from the murders of the Hortmans and the shooting of the Hoffmans, as well as the attempted shooting of the couple&#8217;s daughter, Hope, <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/vance-boelter-indicted-murders-melissa-and-mark-hortman-%20shootings-john-and-yvette-0">according</a> to the Department of Justice. 
At Thursday&#8217;s sentencing hearing, Colin and Sophie Hortman, the children of Melissa and Mark Hortman, described how their lives had been shattered by the murders.  
“In one night, our family went from whole to shattered,” Colin <a href="https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/vance-boelter-to-be-sentenced-for-lawmaker-attacks-is-expected-to-receive-over-2-life-sentences/">said</a>, describing his parents as “the best” a child could ask for.
“My mom will never bake me another cake … She was supposed to bake my wedding cake. That was the one wish that I had,” Colin said. “They would have been the best grandparents. They will never meet my children. They would have traveled more, they would have mentored more leaders.”
Sophie Hortman also spoke about the trauma of losing her parents.
 “What I cared about was that my entire life had just been shattered in 30 seconds … We had to stand up and keep going,” she said.
Boelter <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/vance-boelter-sentencing-man-killed-minnesota-democratic-lawmaker-face-rcna588852">apologized</a> in court to the Hortman family and his other victims. 
“To every person I have caused loss, pain, heartache, confusion, sadness, shame, or loneliness, I am truly sorry,” he said.
According to court documents, Boelter researched the homes and routines of top Democratic lawmakers before embarking on what prosecutors described as a &#8220;murderous rampage” while disguised as a police officer conducting wellness checks.
In addition to targeting the Hortmans and the Hoffmans, Boelter also went to the homes of Rep. Kristin Bahner and Sen. Ann Rest, both Democrats, but neither answered the door.
A two-day manhunt ended with Boelter&#8217;s arrest near his family home in Green Isle, Minnesota.
Officers found a list of 45 Democratic state officials and their addresses in his car, along with “No Kings” protest signs in the back of his car. Authorities have said Boelter was not a supporter of the demonstrators and had told family members before the shootings to “pray that something takes the wind out of these protests’ sails.” 
Prosecutors argued Boelter carried out the attacks in an effort to tip  Minnesota’s “delicate” balance of power in Republicans’ favor, KTSP news <a href="https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/an-attack-on-representative-democracy-itself-filing-details-boelters-motives-for-night-of-terror/">reported</a>. They noted that the state House was evenly split 67-67 while Democrats held a one-seat Senate majority. Had Boelter succeeded in killing all four Democratic lawmakers he targeted, prosecutors argued, “the inevitable result would be a shift in the balance of power in both legislative houses.”  

In addition to his federal conviction, Boelter still faces multiple state charges, including two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, impersonating a police officer, and animal cruelty for allegedly killing the Hortmans&#8217; golden retriever, Gilbert.  

Boelter also previously served on Minnesota&#8217;s Workforce Development Board after being appointed by Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. Walz has said he did not know Boelter personally, with his office noting that the board has more than 60 members and that governors do not personally interview applicants for such positions. 
&nbsp;

Two Minnesota State Legislators And Spouses Shot In Targeted Attacks

Assassin Sentenced In Minnesota Political Killings

Courts

Democrat

Democrats

Murder

murders

No Kings

Political Violence

Shooting

trial

Vance Boelter

A subcontractor for the Obama Presidential Center has announced massive layoffs and canceled projects due to not receiving $4 million he is still owed for his work.
Mike Owen, the owner of Adamson Plumbing Contractors, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/final-death-blow-obama-center-subcontractor-shuts-down-amid-4m-fight-lays-off-25">told</a> Fox News Digital that he had to lay off 25 of his workers and cancel multiple contracts after failing to receive payments on time.
The Obama Center chose Lakeside Alliance, a joint venture with Turner Construction and four black-owned Chicago construction firms, as the center’s construction manager. Subcontractors reported that the whole project was marred by design changes, scheduling disruptions, and unnecessary oversight from Lakeside Alliance.
A Fox News Digital investigation <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/subcontractors-say-theyre-owed-millions-face-financial-ruin-helping-build-obama-presidential-center">corroborated</a> the allegations that multiple subcontractors and minority-owned construction firms have outstanding claims for their work on the Obama Presidential Foundation, ranging from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars. This finding appears to be at odds with the stated goal of the Obama Presidential Center to support minority-owned businesses.
Owen stated that he had to fire his workforce to avoid bankruptcy after a missing $100,000 payment put him over the edge.
Owen said he agreed to do some last-minute “housekeeping” work at the presidential library, which he admitted was “against my better judgment,” in return for $100,000 that was to be given in the May payment application.
Though his team completed the work, the payment did not arrive on time, putting his company at the “breaking point” and forcing him to suspend operations until June 25.
&#8220;Not getting that large sum of money just kind of pulled the brakes on the train. It was just the final death blow to the company,&#8221; Owen added. &#8220;Rather than try to stretch it out and go bankrupt, I just decided the responsible thing was to shut it down. We’ll regroup, and we’ll see where we’re at come September.&#8221;
Owen finally received the $100,000 two weeks after going through company-wide layoffs.
&#8220;It’s almost like too little, too late,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It probably would have just prolonged the inevitable at this point. We’re still deep in the hole of what they owe us.&#8221;
Owen has filed a $1.72 million mechanic’s lien to try for his most readily documented unpaid work, and he is reportedly working with the legal team to recover the full $3.9 million that he is owed.
&#8220;I’m not a litigious person, but at the same time, our legal system is there to protect the small guy,&#8221; Owen said. &#8220;I’m just going to have to fight this out legally from here on out, and these aren’t cheap costs.&#8221;
Owen admitted that the whole project has taken a toll on his mental health.
&#8220;I&#8217;m cooked emotionally. I feel like an aluminum can that&#8217;s been thrown in front of a steamroller. We&#8217;re crushed,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And I have to fight for my company and for my people.&#8221;
The Obama Foundation sent FactCheck.org a statement <a href="https://www.factcheck.org/2026/07/explaining-what-we-know-about-the-obama-presidential-center-contractor-disputes/">saying</a> that Lakeside Alliance, the construction manager, had “primary responsibility … to hire and manage all the subcontractors for the project. Lakeside oversaw the bidding process, including reviewing bids for an understanding of the scope of work and related costs.”
The Obama Foundation has shrugged off any liability for the unpaid contracts, stating that it has “no direct legal agreements or contracts with Lakeside’s subcontractors.”
The statement added that Lakeside had “identified subcontractors who needed financial assistance” and the foundation “has worked with Lakeside to find a path forward, often involving accelerated payments or prepayments to support the subcontractor’s efforts.”
The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/obama-presidential-library-officially-opens-with-land-acknowledgement">reported</a> that the Obama Presidential Center, which opened to the general public on Juneteenth, came in millions of dollars over budget and several years late.
The center, funded by private donors, reportedly racked up an $830 million price tag, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/obama-presidential-center-library-groundbreaking-0e3e20be65d7ae1d4ffcfbc7277bb317">according to the Associated Press</a>, and total costs are likely to actually be over the $1 billion mark. Even when adjusted for today’s dollars, it took less to build the <a href="https://www.summitsteelbuildings.com/modern-impact-from-eiffel-tower-s-engineering">Eiffel Tower</a> ($44 million), <a href="https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/trip-ideas/surprising-facts-about-mount-rushmore">Mount Rushmore</a> ($23 million), the <a href="https://www.cascadeloop.com/seattle-space-needle-celebrates-60">Seattle Space Needle</a> ($38 million), and the <a href="https://www.gatewayarch.com/about/media-press/gateway-arch-fact-sheet/">Gateway Arch</a> ($130 million) combined.
When President Donald Trump was asked about the presidential library, he said, “It’s not too pretty,” and added, “He wanted only women and DEI to build it. Well? That’s what they got.”
“But they’re hundreds of millions of dollars over budget, and I think it stopped. I’m reading these terrible stories, but that’s the way our country was run under President Obama, too,” the president said.

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Subcontractor Says Obama Center Stiffed Him On Payments, Nearly Bankrupted Him

Barack Obama

Construction

layoffs

Minority Contracting

Obama Presidential Library

Powerball launched UK ticket sales on Tuesday, allowing British players to join the lottery and outraging American players who could see their money go into the pockets of people in a foreign country.
“This next step brings us closer to a thrilling milestone for Powerball,” Rebecca Paul, President &amp; CEO of the Tennessee Lottery, <a href="https://www.powerball.com/powerball-launch-set-in-the-uk-for-july-21-first-drawing-to-follow">said</a> in a statement. “More players means faster-growing jackpots, more excitement and even greater impact for the communities we serve.”
Powerball assured players that the price of the tickets and the odds would not be affected, as it will still be $2 to play in the United States. Additionally, the odds of choosing the five white ball numbers and the red Powerball number — the jackpot — will still be an astronomical 1 in 292.2 million.
The new Powerball pools American and British money only for the jackpot, ABC News <a href="https://www.abc10.com/article/news/nation-world/powerball-lottery-expands-uk-odds-winning/507-e400c4dc-28d7-46f4-b50d-d0e35e364095">reported</a>, and an American and U.K. player will have to split the winnings if they get the same numbers.
“More than half of each Powerball ticket sold stays in the jurisdiction where it is purchased, helping fund public programs and services, including education, scholarships, veteran services and more,” Powerball said.
British players have to pay more for each ticket — £4, which is about $5.35 — the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/23/us-news/powerball-players-outraged-over-lotterys-historic-expansion-abroad-rigged-anyway/">reported</a>. Additionally, the prize is post-tax for U.K. players, and they must receive the jackpot in installments over 30 years, whereas American players can choose to receive a lump-sum payout. 
In return, British players win more for the smaller prizes. A player in the United Kingdom can win £11.90 ($15) — by matching the Powerball alone, whereas American players only win $4. Additionally, U.K. gamblers can win around £1,100 ($1,470) for matching four of the main numbers — while players in the United States only win $100 for the same lucky draw.
News about the change has been met with overwhelming <a href="https://x.com/Breaking911/status/2079947106920349859">opposition</a> on social media.
“Holy crap. Powerball is now the lottery equivalent of USAID,” one person complained.
“My money will not go to allow a ‘UK Gang Rapist’ win millions outta luck,” another social media user stated, referencing an independent report commissioned by MP Rupert Lowe <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/michael-and-survivor-ep-40">detailing</a> how 250,000 white British girls and women have allegedly been raped by Muslim grooming gangs.
“Oh good. They’ve found another way to divert American funds to other places,” another person declared.
Many people have stated that they will be moving from the multi-state Powerball to single-state lotteries, where the odds of winning are better, and the money stays local.
A person is more likely to become president, be struck by lightning twice, be killed by a cow, or win an Olympic gold medal than to win the Powerball jackpot, according to <a href="https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2025/09/04/powerball-odds-these-15-things-are-more-likely-to-happen-than-winning/85970333007/">The Oklahoman</a>. 
Californian player Edwin Castro won the largest Powerball jackpot in history, banking $2.04 billion in November 2022.

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Powerball Sparks Outrage Over Controversial Change

Globalism

Great Britain

Lottery

United States

Measles, the world’s most infectious disease once declared eliminated, has made a comeback in the United States, ravaging states such as South Carolina, Florida, Utah, Virginia and Texas.
Multiple outbreaks occurred over the past year across the United States, costing millions in taxpayer money. South Carolina has<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html"> suffered</a> through 670 cases this year. Virginia has <a href="https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/">reported</a> 176 confirmed cases and eight hospitalizations, and the Texas Department of State Health Services has <a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vaccine-preventable-diseases/vaccine-preventable-disease-conditions/measles-rubeola/measles-rubeola/measles-rubeola-data">reported</a> a total of 182 cases as of July 15.
The airborne virus is notorious for spreading rapidly. Nine out of 10 people who come into close contact with a person infected with measles can come down with the illness if they are not protected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/index.html">reports</a>. This makes the disease about five to six times more contagious than the common cold.
Three to four million Americans contracted the disease every year in the 1950s and 60s. However, Health officials declared measles eliminated in 2000 after 12 consecutive months without endemic transmission. 
However, resistance to taking vaccines has grown over the years. This is partly due to people refusing vaccines produced using cell lines originally derived from aborted fetal tissue obtained in the 1960s — <a href="https://www.chop.edu/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-safety/vaccine-ingredients/fetal-tissues">such as</a> the rubella vaccine in the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Additionally, <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10224336/">studies</a> have found that many parents remain concerned about a possible link between vaccines and autism.
As fewer people take the measles vaccine, more cases are popping up in the United States. Johns Hopkins University, which manages a <a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ivac/resources/us-measles-tracker">tracker</a> for measles cases, reports that the number of cases for 2026 has reached 2,295 — the highest number of cases since 1991
“This is not simply the return of a childhood rash illness,” epidemiologist Dr. Syra Madad <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/22/health/us-hits-most-cases-of-worlds-most-contagious-disease-in-35-years/">told</a> the New York Post. “Measles can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, hospitalization and death, especially in young children and medically vulnerable people.”
Measles can also create the condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. This is a fatal neurological condition that causes inflammation and scarring of the brain, the National Institutes of Health <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560673/">reports</a>. This condition can take up to 20 years after a measles infection to develop. 
Prominent health officials in the Trump administration have called on all Americans to take the measles vaccine, especially after the 2025 measles outbreak.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/02/09/us-news/measles-outbreak-surges-in-us-as-dr-oz-begs-people-to-get-vaccinated/">told</a> Americans to “take the vaccine, please.”
“Not all illnesses are equally dangerous and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses,” Oz said on CNN&#8217;s “State of the Union.” “But measles is one you should get your vaccine [for].”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for being skeptical about the benefit of modern vaccines rolled out by Big Pharma, has urged parents to consult their doctors about vaccinating their children.
“The measles outbreak in Texas is a call to action for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to public health,” Kennedy <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/robert-f-kennedy-jr-measles-outbreak-call-action-all-us?title=op-ed%20for%20Fox%20News">said</a> in an opinion piece last year. “By working together — parents, healthcare providers, community leaders, and government officials, we can prevent future outbreaks and protect the health of our nation.” 
“Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons,” Kennedy added.
This article has been updated to correct that South Carolina has reported 670 cases in 2026, not 997.

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A Disease Once Thought Defeated Is Spreading Across America

The World’s Most Infectious Disease Is Making a Comeback in the United States

Florida

Measles

Mehmet Oz

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

South Carolina

Utah

Vaccines

Virginia

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Blake Schaper