You send your child to school expecting teachers to protect their education. You probably don't think much about what happens to their personal information after they take a standardized test. But a massive data breach in California is raising some uncomfortable questions about who has access to student records and how safely that information is stored.

Hackers accessed and copied sensitive records belonging to millions of current and former California public school students. The stolen information includes home addresses, birth dates and even details about disabilities. And here's something families need to know. You could live thousands of miles from California today and still be caught up in this breach if you or your child previously attended a public school there.

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ORACLE HEALTH DATA BREACH EXPOSES NEARLY 20 MILLION PATIENTS

How millions of California student records were stolen

The breach involves Educational Testing Service (ETS), a nonprofit organization that works with the California Department of Education. ETS helps administer statewide student assessments and maintains information connected to those tests. According to state officials, someone gained unauthorized access to an ETS-operated secure file transfer site. Investigators determined that the attacker used a compromised login credential to enter the system. The intruder then copied files containing student information at various times between May 22 and Sept. 18, 2026.

ETS discovered the suspicious activity on Sept. 25. The company disabled the affected account and took the file transfer site offline. It also brought in outside cybersecurity specialists to investigate. The company says it has since built a replacement system with stronger security controls. So far, ETS reports finding no evidence that the stolen information has been made publicly available. However, investigators have confirmed that someone accessed and copied the records.

What personal information was stolen in the student data breach?

The California student data breach involved far more than test scores. Depending on the student, the compromised files may contain information that could help someone identify a child or learn personal details about their family circumstances.

The exposed records may include:

• Student names and dates of birth
• Home addresses, school names and grade levels
• Statewide and local student identification numbers
• Race, ethnicity and primary language
• Country of origin and English learner status
• Disability information and testing accommodations
• Participation in certain educational assistance programs
• Statewide assessment participation and test results

Some records also identified whether a student qualified for programs serving children experiencing homelessness or other educational needs. Fortunately, officials say the stolen files did not contain Social Security numbers, financial account details, driver's license numbers, passwords or parent and guardian personal information.

However, there is still plenty to be concerned about. Someone who knows a child's name, school and address could potentially use that information to create a convincing message that appears to come from a teacher or school administrator. Disability information also raises additional privacy concerns because those details are particularly personal.

Why this California breach could affect families nationwide

This is where the story gets especially troubling. Although the breach involves California's public school system, the people whose records were stolen may now live anywhere in the United States. According to the California Department of Education, the compromised information includes records covering all students enrolled during the previous three school years. However, the affected population extends beyond those students.

The state also identifies a group of former students who left California public schools as far back as 2006 and whose transfers to another school were never confirmed with the department. That creates a situation many families may never have considered. Say your child attended elementary school in Los Angeles before your family relocated to Texas. Perhaps you graduated from a California public school years ago and now live in Florida. Your old student information could still be among the compromised records if it falls within the affected groups.

Former students who are now adults may also be eligible for the free identity-protection services being offered. Importantly, this does not mean every student attending school outside California has been affected. In a statement to CyberGuy, ETS confirmed that no other ETS customers were affected by the incident. The concern for families elsewhere comes from their past connection to California's public schools. California has roughly 5.7 million public school students, according to reporting on the breach. Since the compromised files span multiple school years, millions of people are potentially involved. Officials have not yet released a final count of unique affected individuals.

Where the student data breach investigation stands

The California Department of Education and the State Board of Education are coordinating with cybersecurity specialists and other state agencies. The California Cybersecurity Integration Center is assisting with the technical investigation. Meanwhile, state officials are reviewing ETS's compliance with applicable data security requirements and its contractual obligations.

In its statement to CyberGuy, ETS said, "We have implemented additional safeguards, including enhanced monitoring, strengthened access controls, and further third-party review of our security practices." ETS says it continues monitoring for signs that the stolen information has surfaced publicly. For families, the unresolved question is what happens to the copied information next. Even without evidence of a public leak, sensitive student records in unauthorized hands create a privacy risk that deserves continued attention.

A SCAMMER HAS YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS. WHAT CAN THEY ACTUALLY DO?

How to find out if your information was exposed

ETS began notifying affected students and families on October 16, 2026. The state expects notifications to continue through early November. Letters and emails will explain the incident and identify the types of information involved. They will also include instructions for accessing complimentary identity-protection services. However, here's an important warning. Not receiving a notification does not necessarily mean your information is safe. Some former students may have outdated contact information on file.

Families who are concerned should visit the official California ETS incident webpage. It contains frequently asked questions and links to breach notifications available in 27 languages. You can also call the incident assistance line at 833-931-8488, Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time.

Affected students can get two years of free identity protection

ETS is offering affected current and former students 24 months of free identity theft protection. Parents or legal guardians can enroll eligible children under 18, while adults, including former students, can enroll themselves. The services are designed to help monitor for potential identity theft and provide assistance if someone misuses their personal information.

The enrollment deadline is March 19, 2027. Eligible minors who turn 18 before March 19, 2029 may also qualify for adult coverage using the activation code provided in their notification. Enrollment is free, and no credit card is required. Identity restoration assistance is also available to eligible individuals for 24 months from their notification date, even without enrolling in monitoring services. For complete eligibility details and enrollment instructions, visit the California Department of Education's official incident webpage at at cde.ca.gov/nr/in/ets-incident.asp.

How to protect your child after the California student data breach

Even without stolen passwords or financial account numbers, student records deserve serious attention. Here are practical steps I recommend taking if your family may be affected.

1. Verify the breach notification before responding

Scammers frequently use real data breaches as an excuse to send fraudulent emails. A message claiming to come from ETS or Experian could direct you to a fake enrollment website. Instead of clicking an unexpected link, open your browser and visit the official California Department of Education incident page. Follow the verified instructions from there.

2. Consider identity theft protection

Eligible families should take advantage of the 24 months of free identity-protection services being offered following this breach. Follow the enrollment instructions in your official notification and keep a copy for your records. No credit card is required.

For additional protection, consider an identity theft protection service which offers identity monitoring, alerts about suspicious activity and access to restoration specialists if identity theft occurs. Some services also offer paid family plans that can cover children, making it an option for parents concerned about protecting their family's personal information over the long term. Coverage and benefits vary by plan. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at CyberGuy.com.

3. Consider freezing your child's credit

One of the strongest steps you can take against certain forms of identity theft is placing a security freeze on a child's credit file. The Federal Trade Commission says parents and legal guardians can request a free credit freeze for children under 16. Teenagers ages 16 and 17 can request their own freezes. Contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion separately. Each bureau has its own process for handling minors. A freeze can make it harder for criminals to open new credit accounts using a child's identity. However, it cannot prevent every form of fraud.

4. Watch for suspicious school-related messages

Pay closer attention to unexpected emails or text messages claiming to involve school records. A scammer with access to personal details could make a fraudulent communication seem unusually credible. For example, someone might claim that your child's testing account requires immediate verification. Before responding, contact the school using a phone number you already trust. Avoid sharing personal information through unexpected links or attachments. Consider using strong antivirus software on your family's devices. It can help detect malicious links, suspicious downloads and malware hidden in fake school notifications. While it cannot recover stolen student information, it adds another layer of protection against scammers who may try to exploit the breach. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

5. Remove your family's personal information from the internet

Scammers can use information found online to build a more detailed profile of you or your family. That's why I recommend considering a personal data removal service. These services can help remove personal information from data broker websites that collect and sell details such as names, addresses and phone numbers. While these services cannot retrieve information stolen in this breach, they can help reduce how much additional information is publicly available. If you're concerned about your child's information, check whether the service offers protection for minors before signing up. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

6. Check for signs of identity theft

Adults who may have been affected can review their credit reports for unfamiliar accounts or suspicious activity. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to obtain free reports from the three major credit bureaus. Parents should also watch for unexpected bills or collection notices addressed to their children. Those can be warning signs that someone has misused a minor's identity. If you discover evidence of identity theft, report it through IdentityTheft.gov . The FTC provides a recovery plan to help you address fraudulent accounts and document the problem.

7. Ask what information your child's school retains

You can also contact your child's school district to better understand how it handles student records. Ask what information outside contractors receive and how long they retain it. Schools may have legal obligations to maintain certain records. Still, parents can ask about retention policies and security safeguards. This conversation is worthwhile regardless of where your family lives.

Kurt's key takeaways

I've covered plenty of data breaches over the years, but this one bothers me because we're talking about children who had no choice about handing over their information. They went to school, took required tests and trusted the adults and organizations handling their records. Now, some of those details have ended up in the wrong hands. What I find especially troubling is how far back some of these records could go. Think about someone who left California years ago and has no reason to believe their old student information is still sitting on a testing company's system. That person could be living on the opposite side of the country and suddenly have to worry about a breach involving records from childhood. I appreciate that ETS is offering free identity protection, but I'd like to see schools and testing companies explain more clearly how long they keep sensitive student information and why. Parents deserve answers before a breach happens.

Should schools and outside testing companies be allowed to keep sensitive student records for years after a child leaves, or should families have more control over when that information gets deleted? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis is recovering after going through a medical emergency, his father announced.

Lewis suffered the emergency while in the Buffaloes’ facility on Wednesday and was quickly transported to a hospital.

It’s unknown what exactly Lewis is dealing with, but his father wrote a statement on X explaining the situation.

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"He is recovering and thankful to his medical team, teammates, and Colorado fans for their prayers and support," T. Carlton Lewis wrote. "Please respect Julian and the Lewis family’s privacy. We will have no further comment at this time."

The Buffaloes responded to OutKick’s request for comment.

"Colorado Athletics extends our full support to JuJu and his family through this medical emergency. He remains in the thoughts of every CU player, coach, and staff member and we will continue to assist in any way we can in his full recovery. His health and well-being remain our top priority during this time," the statement said.

Lewis, a 19-year-old sophomore with the Buffaloes, began the season as the team’s starting quarterback. However, head coach Deion Sanders made the decision to bench him after four games.

His last appearance came on Sept. 26, a loss to the Baylor Bears, before the ball was turned over to junior Isaac Wilson.

It hasn’t been much better for Wilson, though, as the Buffaloes are 0-3 since he took over on offense. The Buffaloes are now 2-5 on the year and dead last in the Big 12 with an 0-4 conference record.

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The day before Lewis suffered his medical emergency, Sanders was asked by the media if he’d turn back to his sophomore signal caller because of the skid for his team.

"That’s on him," Sanders responded, via BuffsTV. "I don’t think you could find a player in this program — or you may could find some bitter players that have left and didn’t want to leave, but life is what it is — but I don’t treat people unfairly. I don’t play games with young men and their careers and hate on folks.

"If I’m anything, I’m too forgiving and very, very kind. …You’ve got to always understand that we may know a little more than you do, because we’re inside the locker room. We’re there. We understand what happens."

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This season, Lewis has thrown for 733 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions across his four starts.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris broke with some on the left flank of the Democratic Party on Wednesday over whether Democrats should pursue impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump if they regain control of Congress in November.

"The Parnas Perspective" host Aaron Parnas asked Harris what she would recommend Congress do if Democrats regain control following the midterm elections.

"Would it be to go the investigations route and potentially an impeachment one day," he asked, "or would it be go past policy and force the president to veto it?"

JAMES CARVILLE WARNS DEMS AGAINST IMPEACHING TRUMP IF THEY WIN CONTROL IN MIDTERMS

"I think that going on in the direction of impeachment is not a good idea. OK, just to be honest with you. Because we have limited resources and I think the energy and the resources need to be put into accountability, need to be put into investigations and that's where the time should be spent. Remember I was in the Senate for the last go-round and the votes aren't there, right? So that's how I feel," Harris said.

She argued Democrats need to focus on getting things done and that they should be "ruthless."

HOUSE DEMS PLOT TRUMP INVESTIGATION BLITZ IF THEY SEIZE MAJORITY

"When I say we should be ruthless, I don't mean cruel, but we should be uncompromising and not sit around, you know, being genteel about the relationships and instead actually get stuff done, whether it be about accountability or restoring, for example, what they took in terms of the Medicaid cuts, restoring what we need to do around some check and balance around this war nobody wants," the former VP said.

Some Democrats in Congress have pushed again to impeach Trump, who was impeached twice during his first term in office but acquitted in the Senate on both occasions. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, forced a vote on a resolution to impeach Trump over his administration's immigration enforcement policies, including the deaths of people during federal immigration operations earlier this year. The move divided House Democrats, whose leaders have largely avoided emphasizing impeachment as they work to regain control of Congress in the November midterms.

Florida Democratic Senate candidate and state Rep. Angie Nixon said in an interview with Politico that she would not oppose impeachment hearings and would vote to remove Trump if elected.

"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart expressed a similar sentiment during a question-and-answer segment at the end of his "The Weekly Show" podcast. He was asked whether Democrats should seek to impeach Trump if they regain control of Congress in the midterm elections.

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: DEMOCRATS FACE AN IMPEACHMENT TRACTOR BEAM THAT COULD DERAIL THEIR AFFORDABILITY MESSAGE

He said he wanted Democrats to make a full-scale effort to rebalance the economy rather than hold performative hearings.

"I don't want to see a f---ing five-act performative play of House hearings," Stewart said. "I just don't want to see it. I don't want to see everybody having the opportunity to pantomime accountability because you know they're actually not going to bring it."

"There will be enormous pressure to seek accountability if Democrats win control in either or both chambers next week, but the push to make things better for the American people may be even more intense. If successful, Democrats would be wise to try to strike some balance and to work on parallel tracks to deliver results. Voters want justice and accountability, but they want affordable gas and groceries more," Costas Panagopoulos, a professor of political science at Northeastern University, told Fox News Digital of Harris' remarks.

Republican strategist Liz Mair, head of Mair strategies, said Harris was "right," in a statement to Fox News Digital. She added, "Democrats will win these midterms not because swing voters who deliver those victories want them to spend the next two years impeaching the president, but because they want them to focus on bringing costs down or at least limiting ongoing price hikes."

DEM MAKING SENATE COMEBACK BID SAYS HE WOULDN'T SUPPORT A TRUMP IMPEACHMENT PUSH

"Every second Democrats spend trying to impeach President Trump again is a minute they're not spending addressing affordability challenges, and appeasing their base at the expense of doing what they will literally have been elected to accomplish," Mair said.

Harris has endorsed several big institutional changes, such as Supreme Court expansion, possibly getting rid of the Electoral College, and Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico statehood.

DEMOCRATIC SENATOR ACCUSES BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OF 'COMPLETELY' CHICKENING OUT ON SUPREME COURT REFORM

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I think I speak for everyone when I say that traffic jams are the absolute worst.

There is nothing more infuriating than coming home from work or driving to an event like a game or a concert and seeing nothing but brake lights ahead.

If you're anything like me, after the blinding rage wears off, you often wonder what caused the jam to begin with.

Usually, it's because some idiot missed his exit and decided to merge across six lanes of traffic or a college kid who's home on break was texting and driving before rear-endeding someone, but how about when a longhorn busts loose from the farm and leads the cops on a wild chase across a two-lane road?

What, you've never had that happen to you before?

MISSING 1200-POUND GIRAFFE GRACIE FOUND 2 WEEKS AFTER WANDERING AWAY FROM RANCH IN VIRAL SEARCH

It turns out several of the motorists in Putnam County, New York, were treated to a traffic jam of bovine origins when a four-year-old cow named Maggie caused a pileup when she escaped from the friendly confines of Little Cabin's Farm in nearby Carmel, NY.

The video is absolutely hysterical (mostly because I'm not the one behind the wheel) and features police cars and civilians alike trying (and failing) to wrangle the clearly agitated animal as she darts in between several stopped vehicles.

One of the civilians is even seen brandishing a tree branch to use as a whip to try and corral Maggie back onto the other side of the road.

While traffic is at a dead stop in the one lane, the oncoming lane has cars driving at full speed, and one of them even had to slam on their brakes as Maggie scampered back to the grassy shoulder.

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VIRAL VIDEO SHOWS MASSIVE BISON POPPING TOURIST VEHICLE'S TIRE IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

She's lucky some Kia didn't turn her into ground beef!

According to local news affiliate WABC, Maggie was on the loose for four days before finally being brought home, giving drivers all over Putnam County a reason to breathe easier.

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What's even crazier is that Maggie is also pregnant, which might explain some of her erratic behavior.

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All's well that ends well, though, and it's nice to know she's back on the farm where she belongs.

We have come to expect sanctimony mixed with hypocrisy from Barack Obama. But his latest endeavor turns out to be a doozy.

Preaching his usual moral superiority, the former president recently took to social media to inveigh against the current president for targeting Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota with a criminal investigation. He called it "appalling."

Obama should have sat this one out at his luxurious spread on Martha’s Vineyard.

OBAMA BACKS ILHAN OMAR AMID PROBE, ACCUSES TRUMP ADMIN OF 'APPALLING' TARGETING IN LENGTHY STATEMENT

Lo and behold, he did the same thing when he was president. And Omar was the target. But, of course, the probe was kept under wraps. Until now.

Reporting by The New York Times reveals that Obama’s Department of Homeland Security and the FBI did a deep dive in the summer of 2016 into whether Omar entered into a sham marriage with her alleged brother, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, to enable him to secure a green card.

OBAMA'S LENGTHY REACTION TO OMAR INVESTIGATION TRIGGERS INSTANT BACKLASH: 'SPARE ME'

Brace yourself for the result. That investigation "found some evidence that it was fraudulent," according to the Times.

Accusations of marriage fraud have long dogged Omar, who has consistently dismissed them as politically driven and a right-wing conspiracy. So much for that argument.

GREGG JARRETT: IN A TORTURED DEFENSE OF ILHAN OMAR, THE NEW YORK TIMES REACHES FOR ITS DARKEST TRUMP ANALOGY

The latest investigation that culminated in a judicially ordered search of Omar’s home on October 12, 2026, reportedly encompasses not only the suspect marriage but troubling questions over whether she ran afoul of the law by using a fake name and false birth date to obtain citizenship. A separate investigation is examining her financial transactions.

The Obama-era inquiry did not end because of insufficient evidence. Instead, the Times divulges that it was shelved "because prosecutors concluded that the potential crime, a felony, fell outside a five-year statute of limitations." The newspaper’s story relied on statements by current and former officials with knowledge of the first case.

ILHAN OMAR ISSUES STUNNING ADMISSION WHEN CONFRONTED WITH BROTHER MARRIAGE RUMORS

That decision to mothball any legal action against Omar makes little sense, unless one factors in political favoritism by Obama and his prosecutorial cohorts.

It is true that marriage fraud is a federal felony governed by a five-year statute of limitations under 8 U.S.C. § 1325(c). However, the clock runs from the last overt act of fraud or submission of false documents, not the date of the wedding ceremony itself in 2009.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR ILHAN OMAR? FORMER IMMIGRATION JUDGE BREAKS DOWN LEGAL RISKS AMID FEDERAL PROBES

Taking steps to later obtain a green card would qualify as an overt act, as would document fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1546). So, too, would any act to cover up a sham marriage or efforts to conceal it. Indeed, it would constitute additional crimes such as conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 371) and obstruction of justice or obstruction of proceedings (18 U.S.C. §§ 1505 and 1512).

Elmi abandoned his quest for a green card and left the U.S. for London sometime in 2011 when disturbing questions reportedly arose over his application. His actions and any misrepresentations associated with Omar might have brought the case within the permissible statute of limitations.

HOMAN SAYS ILHAN OMAR COULD BE STRIPPED OF NATURALIZATION, DEPORTED IF IMMIGRATION FRAUD IS PROVEN

But never mind all of that.

Obama’s DHS and DOJ could have pursued a simpler approach under civil (not criminal) immigration fraud. Orchestrating a scheme to illegally obtain U.S. immigration status or benefits carries severe legal consequences. There is no statute of limitations.

GREGG JARRETT: ILHAN OMAR COULD FACE INDICTMENT, DENATURALIZATION AND DEPORTATION

If the Obama administration had chosen this logical course, it could have led to Omar’s denaturalization and subsequent deportation. The standard of proof is "clear and convincing evidence," much lower than in criminal prosecutions.

It is unclear, but curious, why this legal road was never taken. We only know that authorities under Obama shuttered the case and buried the investigation. Preferential treatment? Political cronyism? It has the unmistakable stench.

REP ILHAN OMAR'S IMMIGRATION HISTORY FACES NEW SCRUTINY AS FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SUBPOENA RELATIVES

This makes Obama’s social media screed against President Trump even more outlandish. Trump is doing what Obama did, except that Trump’s administration has expanded the Omar inquiry into areas where the former president’s prosecutors refused to go.

They should have gone there.

Obama’s harangue on X accused Trump of selectively targeting Omar without ever disclosing that his own administration investigated her first. That was dishonesty by omission. A mere oversight? Doubtful.

Obama also pronounced as true certain facts about Omar’s age that may not be true at all. He declared with absolute confidence that she was 17 years old when she applied as a minor for derivative citizenship based on her father’s citizenship.

But her age and birth date are still very much in dispute. Her autobiography and other documents undermine Obama’s claim, indicating that Omar may have been an adult of 18 years and legally ineligible for the type of citizenship that she procured. If she or her father made false statements or committed fraud, it would nullify her citizenship and could lead to removal from the U.S.

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This is not an "unsubstantiated theory," as Obama asserts in his social media post.

The former president accuses Trump of "intimidation" and laments that he is deploying "the full weight of the federal government" to bring down "a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president." Spare us the duplicitous pearl-clutching.

Obama expressed no moral outrage when his successor, Joe Biden, targeted his political opponent with criminal indictments. Going back further to his own presidency, Obama’s dirty fingerprints were all over the initial stages of the government’s damaging investigation of Trump in the phony collusion scandal.

Obama seems to think that Americans are simpletons with anterograde amnesia. It resembles contempt.

The New York Times report exposes Obama’s glaring double standard for what it is — a transparently insincere attack based on shallow evidence. This comes as no surprise.

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Obama always seems confident in his righteousness in an irritatingly pious way. Ever the charlatan, he pretends to be holier-than-thou. Sometimes the truth catches up with him.

But don’t expect Obama to change now that his hypocrisy has been revealed. That would require earnest introspection.

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Opposition lawmakers in Albania disrupted a parliamentary session on Thursday by setting off flares that filled the chamber with colored smoke, marking an escalation following weeks of student-led anti-government protests.

Members of the main opposition Democratic Party also blocked access to the podium during a vote on a central bank bill, Reuters reported.

"These ruling lawmakers are criminals, and they deserve tear gas, rubber bullets, cracked skulls, and broken bones—not the young people," opposition leader Sali Berisha declared during a speech before his microphone was cut off.

SERBIA’S STUDENT MOVEMENT TOPPLES VUCIC’S PARTY AFTER 14 YEARS, BUT POLITICAL AGENDA REMAINS UNCLEAR

As the chamber devolved into chaos, fellow opposition members surrounded Berisha, holding blue flares, the official color of their party, and displaying images of protesters injured by police rubber bullets.

Albania has been gripped in recent weeks by student-led demonstrations demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama over alleged government corruption, underfunded schools, widespread unemployment, and a lack of economic opportunities.

SERBIA’S LONGTIME LEADER FACES BIGGEST POLITICAL TEST AS STUDENTS MOUNT ELECTION CHALLENGE

The protests began on Oct. 13 and quickly turned violent as demonstrators clashed with police and set fire to government buildings. Protesters also targeted Rama’s ruling Socialist Party headquarters in Tirana, clashing with riot police deployed to protect the property.

The unrest has since spread to several other cities across the country.

THOUSANDS FLOOD BRUSSELS STREETS AS ANTI-AUSTERITY PROTESTS ERUPT INTO CLASHES WITH POLICE

In response, Rama, who has governed since 2013 and secured a fourth term last year, blamed "foreign hands who do not want Albania in the European Union. " He accused outside forces of manipulating the movement, claiming they "represent organized crime rather than students. "

To curb the violence, Rama introduced strict new measures, including $6,000 fines for anyone participating in a protest that turns violent, regardless of whether they personally commit acts of violence.

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Another demonstration is scheduled for Saturday.

Fox News Digital's Chris Massaro contributed to this report. 

During a rally Wednesday, Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola dismissed a New York Times report alleging her campaign took part in an effort to peel votes away from incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan to a same-named rival, calling the story a "distraction" used to sell papers. 

"This is just another distraction," Peltola said in a video shared on X by local Alaskan writer Matt Tunseth. "It's another diversion. Every day, it’s some new, you know, ‘Look over here moment.’ Not Dan Sullivan, registered Republican, incumbent, voted for this war in Iran 14 times. Lisa Murkowski quit voting for that war in Iran six months ago, and he’s doubling and tripling down."

The New York Times published an investigation Wednesday that described a covert operation, internally dubbed the "ballot composition project," to recruit spoiler candidates with the same name as Sullivan. 

DEM BUCKS PARTY OVER ALLEGED ALASKA VOTE-SIPHONING EFFORT: 'NEITHER PARTY SHOULD BE DOING IT'

According to the report, a Peltola staffer was directed since 2025 to comb through state voter rolls to compile a list of Alaskans named Dan Sullivan.

The operation allegedly involved aides from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), top campaign advisors, party lawyers and an operative who traveled across the state under assumed names.

"The plan worked. This spring, a retired teacher from a tiny fishing village along the Alaska Panhandle, reachable only by air and sea, announced his candidacy for Senate. His name was Dan J. Sullivan," the Times reported.

At the rally, however, Peltola dismissed the report, claiming that it was made to "get subscriptions."

"And this is not somebody who’s working in our best interest. And anybody who’s working in our best interest isn’t going to talk about the nonsense. This is all stuff to sell newspapers. This is all stuff to get subscriptions. Nobody at The New York Times cares about affordability in Alaska," Peltola said.

SCHIFF ACCUSES DOJ OF TRYING TO 'SUBVERT' ELECTIONS AS GOP ALLEGES SAME-NAME CANDIDATE MEANT TO CONFUSE VOTERS

Fox News Digital reached out to the Peltola campaign and The New York Times for comment but did not immediately hear back. 

Sen. Sullivan campaign spokesperson Nate Adams told Fox News Digital, "Instead of admitting she has been caught red-handed in a scheme to manipulate and deceive Alaska voters, Mary Peltola's response is to attack the media outlets she has been lying to for months."

Elisa Rios, Peltola’s former campaign manager who was fired in August, told the Times that while Peltola was not directly involved in orchestrating the project, she was "definitely aware."

In a previous statement to Fox News, the DSCC said it was not involved with the other Sullivan campaign.

TRUMP SAYS 'WE ARE LOOKING INTO' OTHER DAN SULLIVAN ON ALASKA BALLOT, WARNS ABOUT GOVERNOR'S RACE

"Republicans have a long history of recruiting and propping up candidates in an attempt to boost their own campaigns, including recruiting a prisoner with a New York address to run against Mary Peltola and spending nearly half a million dollars to secure a spot on the ballot in Alaska for an Arizona resident in the Senate race this cycle," a DSCC spokesperson said.

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In a statement to The New York Times, Peltola’s campaign said, "The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign and did not recruit any candidates into the race." 

Sir Patrick Stewart, the legendary British actor best known for portraying Captain Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek" and Professor Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" franchise, has died at 86, according to a statement shared on his Instagram account.

Stewart died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by family and friends and cared for by his wife, Sunny, following a battle with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, the statement said.

This is a developing story; check back later for updates.

EXCLUSIVE — CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss faced "significant resistance" from staff at Thursday's 9 a.m. meeting about the growing Alaska ballot controversy, network insiders told Fox News Digital.

"This is a scandal," Weiss declared to staff.

According to multiple sources on the call, several CBS News staffers pushed back at Weiss' enthusiasm over the bombshell New York Times report alleging Democrats schemed to find a Dan Sullivan to run against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, in hopes of aiding Democratic opponent Mary Peltola.

DEM STRATEGIST SHRUGS OFF ALASKA BALLOT SCANDAL ON MS NOW, INSISTS 'THIS STUFF HAPPENS ALL THE TIME'

Many on the call shrugged it off as routine politics and said Republicans have also engaged in similar scheming.

When Weiss asked for other examples of ballot confusion, "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan reportedly pointed to New Hampshire Senate candidate John Sununu, suggesting that midterm voters might confuse him with his brother, former Gov. Chris Sununu.

ALASKA'S GOVERNOR ODERS INVESTIGATION AFTER NYT REPORT ON ALLEGED DEM-LINKED SENATE ELECTION SCHEME

CBS News political correspondent Ed O'Keefe also insisted that such tactics are nothing new. Earlier that morning, during his appearance on "CBS Mornings," O'Keefe stressed to viewers that what happened in Alaska "could be a dirty trick, but it's not illegal," adding that "this has happened before, kind of." He pointed to the 2016 Alaska Senate race when former Anchorage mayor Dan Sullivan — no relation to the U.S. Senator of the same name — briefly ran against incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the GOP primary, hoping "name recognition" of the other sitting senator would help his own candidacy.

A separate CBS staffer on the call pushed back against the notion that colleagues like Brennan and O'Keefe were trying to downplay the scandal, telling Fox News Digital they were providing context to the story being discussed.

MARY PELTOLA'S CAMPAIGN, DEMS BACKED COVERT SCHEME TO FIELD SPOILER CANDIDATES IN ALASKA SENATE RACE: REPORT

The staffer also said the meeting was never contentious and that it was a "healthy, good conversation."

Still, Weiss called the uproar in Alaska a "great story" that the network should follow and urged staff to push for stories like the one The New York Times broke, calling it a "learning moment."

A spokesperson for CBS News declined to comment.

Republicans have long been suspicious about the candidacy of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher who is among four Senate candidates listed on Alaska's rank-choice ballot. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state of Alaska seeking to block certification of the election results if the incumbent senator loses and votes cast for the other Sullivan could have changed the outcome.

On Wednesday, The New York Times alleged his candidacy was no coincidence.

"In the summer of 2025, a staffer for Mary Peltola, the Alaska Democrat who was eyeing a run for Senate, received unusual instructions from top campaign aides: Find as many people named Dan Sullivan in Alaska as you can," the Times began its report Wednesday. 

"The staffer complied, combing through voter records to produce a list of Dan Sullivans from across the state. ... [I]f the Peltola campaign or its allies could track down and persuade another Dan Sullivan to run for Senate, the confusion could cost the senator crucial votes on the state’s unusual, four-person ballot. The plan worked," the report said.

SEN DAN SULLIVAN BRANDS PELTOLA'S ALLEGED BALLOT SCHEME A 'SCANDAL AT THE HIGHEST ORDER'

According to Peltola's former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, Peltola was not directly involved in the scheme but was "definitely aware."

Peltola's campaign has denied involvement in his candidacy.

"But The Times has found, based on interviews and text messages, along with documents prepared for a potential lawsuit against the campaign, that not only did Ms. Peltola’s team work with people trying to recruit Mr. Sullivan to run for Senate, but the effort was much broader," the Times reported. "The group worked to coax other would-be spoilers into the race, to dilute the incumbent’s support and help catapult the Democrat to victory."

Peltola called the Times report a "distraction" and "stuff to sell newspapers." However, Republican Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered an investigation into whether any crimes or civil violations were committed.

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'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday-Friday on OutKick.com.

Over the hump and safely onto the other side of the week. Is this the biggest weekend of the year to date?

I think it might be.

We've got football all weekend long, obviously. Duh. More importantly, we also have Halloween, which lands on a Saturday. I did some big J digging, and it's the last time that'll happen until 2037. True story. Eleven years! Lord knows what this place will look like in 11 years, but I assume if this column is somehow still alive, it'll be run by a robot. That's almost a guarantee.

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Beyond all of that, we also get an extra hour of Halloween this weekend! That's right. The dreaded "fall back" weekend is upon us. I loved this time of year in college, but that was, admittedly, a long time ago. Nothing hit better than being at a party and seeing the iPhone 4 clock switch back to 1 a.m.

It was the best.

But I have kids now, and they do not care what the clock says. So, come Sunday morning when it says 5:30, they'll be up and ready to roll.

"Just put them to bed later!"

Doesn't work for a 2-year-old, folks. They don't care. Hard hats on, parents. We're all in this together.

On that note, welcome to a Thursday Nightcaps — the one where Lane Kiffin, somehow, finds something else to complain about. College football fans ain't having it.

Nor should they.

What else? I've got Paige Spiranac teasing her Halloween costume ahead of the big day, another subdued baseball celebration last night, and where did this MLB postseason rank for you?

I gotta be honest ... it wasn't great. And now we're going into a lockout.

The vibes aren't the best right now! But we'll get into it.

OLIVIA DUNNE POURS BEERS LIKE A PATRIOT WHILE HER LSU TIGERS RUN UP THE SCORE, GATOR BAIT & LANE'S SUBTLE SHOT

Grab you a tiny violin for Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers, and settle in for a Thursday 'Cap!

LSU-'Bama takes an afternoon seat

Let's get this ball rolling, because the rain has finally stopped here in Florida for the first time since Sunday and I've got a pumpkin patch to get to before it starts back up.

Big weekend of college football, as I said earlier. Now, I hate to jump ahead a week, but Lane Kiffin has left me no choice.

For about six months now, fans have had Nov. 7 circled on their calendars. It's shaping up to be, arguably, the greatest weekend of college football ever.

• BYU-Utah
• Kentucky-Tennessee
• Ole Miss-Georgia
• Miami-Notre Dame

And, of course, Alabama-LSU. That's the big one, right?

... Right?

...... RIGHT?!

Fans aren't buying it this time

"If someone thinks the SEC wants us to win this year after what’s been going on, they must have just been on Mars the last four months. So I guess when I look at it that way, I’m not surprised."

So, Lane Kiffin sent shots at the SEC for next weekend's big game not being in primetime, which is hilarious for a couple different reasons.

1. The SEC doesn't make those decisions, ESPN does. Sure, I'd imagine the SEC has plenty of input, but it's still an ESPN call to make.
2. LSU has already played more home games under the lights than any other SEC teams this season. The Tigers have had four night games. Texas has had three. Everyone else has no more than two.
3. Miami-Notre Dame on NBC will be a juggernaut. ESPN putting its best game in a standalone(ish) time makes sense. Some will say they're scared to go up against that game. Perhaps. But there was no reason to fight that battle when 3:30 on ABC is a perfectly fine time.
4. Totally unrelated, of course, but here's Lane Kiffin on LSU ... just two short years ago:

So, when Lane was at Ole Miss, everyone was out to get him. Now, he's at LSU and ... everyone's out to get him?

See a pattern? It's silly. I used to love Lane Kiffin, by the way. He was a content machine. He was fun, and likable, and somewhat relatable.

Now? I think he just whines a lot.

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I'm not alone:

Wrapping up the World Series & Paige's Halloween tease!

For what it's worth, LSU is 1-7 since 2012 against Alabama in night games in Baton Rouge. Perhaps Lane should be thanking ESPN/SEC for this one?

OK, let's rapid-fire this Thursday class into a big night of FOOTBALL!

PS: I know there's an NFL game on tonight, but don't forget about college. Did you know there's a game on ESPN tonight with an OVER/UNDER set at 76.5?!

That's right. North Texas and FAU. A biggie. Does anyone here have the stones to take the over when it's at that number? I think I'll dabble.

Speaking of stones ... how about the Milwaukee Brewers just quietly completing one of the most dominant postseason runs of all time? Think about it.

They manhandles the Padres, swept the Dodgers, and then pretty much had their way with Tampa ...

And then treated winning it all like they'd just polished off a three-game sweep of the Marlins in June:

Thoughts? I've honestly thought all the celebrations this postseason have been pretty t(l)ame. There's certainly something to be said about "acting like you've been there before."

I get that ...

Except this was Milwaukee's first ever World Series title! And that's what we got? I don't know. Just seemed a bit off.

Frankly, this whole postseason did:

I love baseball. I watch every Red Sox game all year long. I'm a 162-er. I'm not trying to knock it here ... but yeah, it was a bad postseason. Sometimes it just happens, right?

The best part was watching the Dodgers lose. I think we can all agree on that, right? But otherwise, there really weren't any moments. I guess you could point to Milwaukee's walk-off against Mason Miller a month ago as a pivotal moment. That was fun.

But you just never really felt it, right? Again, sometimes that's just the way it goes. You're not gonna bat a thousand every year.

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Regardless, we're gonna be BEGGING for one of these games in about six months when all we're talking about is salary caps and floors.

Sadly, winter is here — and I fear it's gonna be a long one.

OK, that's it for today. I'll be damned if I end it on a sour note, so here's Paige Spiranac's Halloween tease on the way out.

Zoinks!

A woman was shot directly outside the Republican Party of Virginia's headquarters in Richmond on Thursday afternoon, just days before Election Day, according to the state GOP.

The shooting occurred around 1:45 p.m. in front of the Obenshain Center, located in the 100 block of East Grace Street in downtown Richmond, according to local outlet WTVR.

In a post on X, the Virginia GOP said Richmond first responders arrived within minutes and confirmed that all party staff members were safe.

DOJ’S ‘OPERATION GHOSTBUSTERS’ TARGETS MASSIVE STUDENT-AID FRAUD SCHEME BUILT ON FAKE ENROLLEES

"Around 1:45 p.m. today, a woman was shot immediately in front of The Obenshain Center, the offices of the Republican Party of Virginia. City of Richmond first responders were at the scene within minutes. All Republican Party of Virginia staff are safe," the post read.

The party also said it had no indication that the shooting was connected to its operations.

"The proximity of this event notwithstanding, we have no indication that the shooting was related to the operations of the Republican Party of Virginia," the X post continued.

EX-CHIEF SAYS CHRISTA PIKE WAS 'ALMOST GIDDY' DESCRIBING MURDER AS GOVERNOR WEIGHS IN AFTER BOTCHED EXECUTION

The shooting comes less than a week before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, as voters prepare to head to the polls in Virginia and across the country.

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The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including what led to the gunfire and the woman's condition, were not immediately clear.

The Richmond Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

This is a developing story; check back later for updates.

The Chicago Bears are going all-in.

The Bears acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jefferey Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for Chicago's 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and 2027 fourth-round pick, the Titans announced Thursday.

The cost is steep, as Simmons is the first defensive tackle since 1967 to be traded for multiple first-round picks, according to ESPN. Since the Titans drafted Simmons with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, he has been one of the best defensive tackles in football.

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The four-time Pro Bowler has recorded 414 tackles and 46.5 sacks in 106 career games. Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said the organization is forever grateful for Simmons.

"There are few people like Jeff Simmons. We are forever grateful for all he has given this team and this city. His formidable presence on the field was surpassed only by what he did off it. He gave Nashville more than football. The Give ’Em A Reason Foundation has changed lives in Middle Tennessee and in Mississippi, and I have no doubt it will continue to wherever he goes," Strunk said in a statement.

"Jeff — thank you. For how you played, how you led, and how you represented our team."

The Bears are 5-2, and the acquisition of Simmons will help shore up a questionable defensive line. While the Bears are still generating plenty of sacks, those have largely come from blitzing linebackers and defensive backs rather than defensive linemen.

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Simmons, who led the Titans with four sacks, six tackles for loss and four passes defended, is a major upgrade to a defensive front that has ranked near the bottom of the NFL in pressure rate since Dennis Allen took over as defensive coordinator in 2025. The Bears' 28.8% pressure rate is tied for 20th in the NFL, according to StatRankings.

Not only are the Bears adding Simmons to their defensive line, but star defensive end Montez Sweat is also set to return on Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks after a two-game suspension.

At 5-2, the Bears are second in the NFC North behind the undefeated Minnesota Vikings (6-0). The Bears hope adding Simmons can help them overtake the Vikings atop the standings and earn a home playoff game in January.

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Simmons will help the Bears not only this season but also for the next several years after signing a three-year, $105.8 million contract extension that keeps him under contract through the 2030 season.

The Titans, on the other hand, are 1-6 and have traded away one of their franchise cornerstones. Entering the season, they hoped to contend in the AFC South with new coach Robert Saleh and quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, entering his second season.

Instead, they are in the AFC’s basement and appear further away from contention than ever, as Ward has struggled mightily this season.

Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream kept their championship hopes alive Thursday. Perhaps more importantly, they spared the WNBA a title celebration in the middle of a workday.

The Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 at State Farm Arena, evening the best-of-seven Finals at 3-3 and forcing a deciding game Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Reese struggled to shoot the ball for a third consecutive game, finishing with 15 points on 5-for-18 shooting. She grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out six assists but also committed six turnovers.

THE WNBA'S DRAMA-FILLED SEASON COMES TO A CRASHING END

That made it three straight games with more turnovers than made field goals for the Dream star. Across Games 4, 5 and 6, Reese shot 9-for-38 from the floor (24%) and turned the ball over 15 times.

This time, Atlanta had enough offense around her. Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard added 21, combining to make nine of their 13 three-point attempts.

Their shooting also ensured that the WNBA’s championship would be decided in prime time.

The league moved Game 6 from its originally scheduled 8 p.m. start to 12:30 p.m. Thursday to accommodate an arena doubleheader with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, who were hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers that night. Golden State fans back home had to tune in at 9:30 a.m. to watch their team try to win its first title.

There had also been questions about where the Valkyries would celebrate if they won.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that a championship celebration could be moved to a practice court to accommodate preparations for the Hawks game. She later clarified that there was "a resolve" to make sure any championship won Thursday was celebrated on the court.

But that sounded an awful lot like damage control from the WNBA. Winning a championship and then moving the celebration to a practice court because the NBA needed the floor would have been a terrible look for the league.

Atlanta’s win made the issue moot.

The crowd deserved credit for showing up under the circumstances. State Farm Arena was largely filled for a Thursday afternoon, although there were more empty seats and the building was quieter at the start than it had been for Games 3 and 4.

Fans who spoke with OutKick outside the arena described taking time off work, pulling children out of school and difficult travel times to attend. Tiffany Hayes’ father, Renard Hayes, blamed the league and Atlanta for the scheduling predicament.

DREAM, VALKYRIES LEAVE COURT BEFORE TI’S 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER SINGS WNBA FINALS ANTHEM

Before tipoff, both teams again left the court for the national anthem, this time performed by rapper T.I.’s 10-year-old daughter, Heiress Harris. It was their sixth consecutive absence during the Finals.

Once the game began, Atlanta quickly took control.

The Dream made six of their eight first-quarter three-point attempts and built a 32-15 lead. Reese made only one of her four shots in the period, but contributed four assists, including passes that set up three of Atlanta’s threes.

Atlanta pushed its advantage to 25 points in the second quarter and took a 46-26 lead into halftime.

Golden State narrowed the deficit in the third, but Atlanta still led 63-47 entering the fourth.

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Reese scored five points in the final period, making a driving layup and a three-pointer with Atlanta already leading by double digits. She finished 2-for-8 from beyond the arc.

The Valkyries eventually got within eight. Gabby Williams completed a three-point play with 1:15 remaining, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 77-69 and fouling Howard out of the game.

Gray answered on the next possession, making a three-pointer off a Reese assist with 56 seconds left. That restored Atlanta’s double-digit lead and provided the final points of the afternoon.

Gray finished 8-for-12 from the field and 5-for-7 from three. Howard made four of her six three-point attempts, while Atlanta went 13-for-30 as a team.

Williams led Golden State with 26 points but shot 8-for-22. The Valkyries made just 22 of their 70 field-goal attempts.

Kiah Stokes, whose defense had been a major factor throughout the series, went scoreless and failed to block a shot in 20 minutes. That ended her streak of six consecutive playoff games with at least three blocks.

Reese and the Dream head to San Francisco for Game 7, with both franchises one win from their first championship.

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And the WNBA gets to award its trophy Saturday night, with no Hawks game waiting on the same floor.

A New York Times investigation revealed an alleged effort by operatives liked to Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to recruit a second Dan Sullivan for Alaska’s ballot, but the report came as nearly 1 in 10 registered Alaska voters had already cast ballots.

The timing means roughly 58,000 voters may have made their choices before learning of the reported effort that critics say was intended to create confusion with a same-name candidate. 

Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC have denied involvement.

SENATE CONTROL IS A COIN FLIP — AND DEMOCRATS’ PATH RUNS THROUGH TRUMP COUNTRY

Dan J. Sullivan made it to the four-candidate general election earlier this year after winning 2.5% of the vote in the primary. His campaign announcement did not list a party affiliation. His website does not state his position on any political issues.

"Dan Sullivan challenges Dan Sullivan for U.S. Senate Seat, urges Alaskans to defeat incumbent, elect a Sullivan who stands up for Alaska," it read.

The New York Times reported that the effort to recruit potential Republican spoiler candidates included Dan J. Sullivan. The effort spanned coordination between the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) to Peltola staffers, according to text messages, interviews and internal documents.

According to a source interviewed by the New York Times, Peltola was aware of the efforts.

MARY PELTOLA'S CAMPAIGN, DEMS BACKED COVERT SCHEME TO FIELD SPOILER CANDIDATES IN ALASKA SENATE RACE: REPORT

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit last week, seeking to delay certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan is defeated, citing the possible confusion. It’s unclear if the DOJ is likely to succeed on those grounds.

The state’s ranked-choice voting system is further complicating the election picture for Sen. Sullivan.

Under this system, voters rank their preferred candidates. If their top choice is eliminated, their support passes to their next-ranked option. While supporters of the process argue it expands voters' power and greatly increases the influence of candidates that may not otherwise be a top choice, critics believe it also introduces confusion.

Alaska state Sen. James Kaufman, a Republican, is one of those critics.

Kaufman fears that some voters won’t bother to fill out both the "Sullivans" on the ballot to cover their bases.

He believes there are still some voters in Alaska, especially Republicans, who refuse to use the system, citing disagreements with its implementation.

"Some people have a pretty strong traditionalist perspective: one person, one man, one vote," Kaufman said in an interview with Fox News Digital earlier this year.

ALASKA SENATE RACE’S ABSURD NAME PROBLEM GETS EVEN HARDER TO UNTANGLE

"And, so, the ballot fatigue where people just don’t rank because maybe they disagree with it; there’s a pretty strong segment of the population here that just patently disagrees with the rank-choice voting system we ended up with. And they don’t necessarily believe in utilizing it," he added.

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Less than a week remains before the Nov. 3 general election.

William Contreras is on top of the world right now.

The Milwaukee Brewers star catcher was named World Series MVP for his outstanding performance at the plate and behind the dish. During the process of the Brewers’ 4-1 series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, Contreras also made history.

During the series, he stole a base and threw out four runners attempting to steal, including American League stolen base leader Chandler Simpson. He became the first catcher since Bill Dickey of the New York Yankees in 1938 to steal a base and throw out the opposing team's leading base stealer in a World Series victory, according to OptaSTATS.

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"I don’t want to offend any of the other catchers in the league. The last thing I want to do is offend any of them," Contreras said, speaking through a translator. "But sitting up here today, champion of the world, I feel like I’m the best catcher in the league. Again, that’s no disrespect to any of them. That’s the last thing I want to do. But today I feel like I’m the best catcher in the world."

Throwing out Simpson is no easy feat, as he stole 46 bases during the regular season and five more in the postseason.

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The 28-year-old catcher was omnipresent during the World Series, hitting .381 with four RBI while anchoring the Brewers’ elite pitching staff, which held the Rays to just 11 runs in five games. Contreras also excelled with the automated ball-strike (ABS) system, winning 10 of his 13 challenges.

"He's our pit bull. You don’t just walk up and pet him. There’s a chance you get nipped," manager Pat Murphy said.

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Contreras became the eighth catcher to be named World Series MVP, joining Gene Tenace (1972), Johnny Bench (1976), Steve Yeager (1981 co-winner), Darrell Porter (1982), Rick Dempsey (1983), Pat Borders (1992) and Salvador Perez (2015) as catchers to win the award.

Contreras has been a linchpin in the Brewers' lineup since they acquired him from the Atlanta Braves in 2022. This season, Contreras hit .270 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI in 147 games before elevating his performance in the postseason.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A father who swam out into the sea to help untangle a seagull from his fishing line drowned and died after an ocean current swept him away, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

Atlanta area native Stone Romberg was fishing at his home in the Florida Panhandle when he noticed the seagull caught in his fishing line, Fox 5 reported.

The 31-year-old father of two swam out to try and untangle the bird, but his hook and the bird got stuck to his hand while he tried to help. As he tried to swim to shore, an ocean current carried him further out to sea where he tragically drowned.

"Our hearts are broken for everyone who knew and loved him," a GoFundMe set up for his family reads.

MOM OF 2 WHO DIED RESCUING SONS DURING BAHAMAS SNORKELING TRIP IS IDENTIFIED

Romberg was the manager of chair services at a local condominium complex and "was known by a lot of our owners and guests," according to the GoFundMe.

A Facebook page for his workplace also shared that he will be remembered "for his kind heart, hard work, and willingness to always lend a hand."

THREE MEN GET 158 YEARS EACH FOR MURDERING AMERICAN AND AUSTRALIAN SURFERS, DUMPING BODIES IN MEXICAN WELL

"His kindness left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him, and he will be deeply missed," the post also read.

The GoFundMe set up for his family, who relied on him for financial support, has raised $138,714 as of Thursday afternoon.

He is survived by his wife Taylor and his one-year-old and three-year-old girls.

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Romberg was an avid fan of SEC football and the Atlanta Braves, according to Fox 5.

Two college students who went hiking in Colorado were found dead after they were not seen or heard from for several days.

Deputies discovered the bodies of Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, in a mountain basin on West Apostle Mountain, the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office confirmed.

Matsuda, of Ridgway, Colorado, and Donlon, of Queensbury, New York, were both students at Colorado Mountain College Leadville campus. Deputies say they left campus for a hike near Ice Mountain Friday, Oct. 23.

CLIMBER DIES IN FATAL FALL ON COLORADO 14ER SOUTH OF ASPEN

Their bodies were found Wednesday after the young men were reported missing by CMC on Monday.

CALIFORNIA COLLEGE WRESTLING STAR RYAN GEORGE DIES AFTER 400-FOOT FALL HIKING IN YOSEMITE

The sheriff's office said their bodies were found near one another, and "foul play is not suspected."

MISSING CANADIAN HIKER FOUND DEAD 2 WEEKS AFTER VANISHING DURING MOUNTAIN TREK IN WASHINGTON

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Investigators shared detailed updates on social media about the mission in which 60 search and rescue volunteers deployed from six different counties and had to brave treacherous trails and deteriorating weather conditions to try and find the men.

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Deputies were able to come up with a possible timeline for the students' doomed hike.

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Timeline

• Friday, Oct. 23: The pair departs campus for Chaffee County during rainy weather.
• Saturday, Oct. 24: Their planned return day if conditions were poor. A heavy snowstorm hit between 1-2 p.m., causing severe local road hazards.
• Sunday, Oct. 25: Their planned return day if they pushed to the summit.
• Monday, Oct. 26: CMC staff officially reported them missing. Deputies located Matsuda’s vehicle at a trailhead near Winfield, Colorado.
• Tuesday, Oct. 27: Aerial crews spotted their collapsed tent near Lake Ann.
• Wednesday, Oct. 28: Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon were found dead.

HUSBAND AND WIFE GET TRAPPED IN PREMIER HIKING DESTINATION; ONLY ONE OF THEM MAKES IT OUT ALIVE

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In a statement, Sheriff Andy Rohrich said in part, "Our heart aches for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends. We are very proud of our team’s efforts to find them before this weekend’s coming storm. Although this is a gut punch, our prayers were answered that we would find Kaden and Jackson, allowing some closure for the family."

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Their remains were sent to the Chaffee County Coroner’s Office for autopsies.

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The investigation into their deaths continues.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Colorado Mountain College for comment on the tragedy.

If you're a fan of a team that's struggling, it's easy to feel like your home stadium or arena is haunted, and a new survey just crowned the most haunted sports venue in North America.

Arlington, Texas' AT&T Stadium takes the top spot, which makes sense because on more than one occasion we've seen expressions on the faces of Dallas Cowboys players as if they had just seen a ghost.

This info comes to us from The Sports Geek, which employed a more scientific approach to this than I've ever seen in an episode of "Ghost Hunters."

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They scored 47 venues across the US and Canada based on their haunted lore, age, proximity to burial sites, and, finally, an "other" category for the rest of each one's ghoulish attributes.

In a shocker, Jerry's World — which opened in only 2009 — out-ghosted Dodger Stadium and 112-year-old Wrigley Field for the top spot.

Man, this really puts my long-running argument of there being no new ghosts to shame...

Former stadium employee Selena Sixtos wrote an article in 2018 for Dallas Sports Fanatics in which she cites several odd occurrences. These included some poltergeist-like activity in a kitchen, a chill around a room named after legendary coach Tom Landry, and an incident in which she heard someone in a bathroom stall, only for it to be unoccupied.

Which, in fairness, is actually way down the list of scary things to find in a stadium restroom, but creepy nonetheless.

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The stadium is also built next to a graveyard, per The Dallas Observer, and a worker was killed in an accident during its construction. That helps account for why it was able to overcome its comparatively young age.

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The most shocking thing of all is that the stadium might be the first to top a "most haunted" list with no sightings of Civil War soldiers or early or 20th-century widows.

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I like that. Nice to see ghosts switching it up a little.

Federal agents raided multiple Minnesota autism service providers Thursday in the latest law enforcement action involving a state already under intense scrutiny over allegations of widespread fraud in taxpayer-funded programs.

The FBI confirmed that federal and state agencies were conducting "court-authorized investigative activity" at multiple locations across Minnesota, including sites in the Twin Cities and Rochester, according to MPR News. Meanwhile, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office also confirmed that its Medicaid Fraud Control Unit executed search warrants at Iska Inc. in St. Louis Park and Bright Horizon Therapy in Edina, both of which provide autism-related or other Medicaid-funded services.

The operation involved the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, IRS criminal investigators, U.S. Postal Inspectors and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, according to FOX 9 Minneapolis.

MN DEM SENATE CANDIDATE'S VIRAL HIJAB VIDEO TAKES NEW TURN AS WOMAN BESIDE HER FACES MAJOR STATE INVESTIGATION

"This is an active investigation, and no further details are available at this time," FBI Minneapolis spokesperson Matt Vogel told MPR News.

Iska Inc. received more than $16.7 million in Medicaid payments between 2018 and 2025, according to state data reviewed by the Minnesota Star Tribune. The business participated in Minnesota's Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program, which provides services to children and young people with autism and has faced increasing scrutiny over fraud allegations.

The latest searches follow a series of enforcement operations targeting suspected fraud in Minnesota's publicly funded programs. In April, federal and state investigators executed 22 search warrants in Minnesota, including at autism service providers and childcare businesses.

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The Justice Department also announced charges against 15 defendants in May in connection with alleged health care fraud schemes involving more than $90 million in intended losses. The cases included an alleged $46.6 million scheme targeting Minnesota's autism intervention program, which DOJ said saw Medicaid claims surge from more than $600,000 in 2018 to more than $400 million by 2025.

The raids come ahead of Vice President JD Vance's planned visit to Minnesota — alongside members of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud — where allegations of public-services fraud have fueled growing questions about oversight. 

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Officials have not announced charges related to Thursday's searches, and the allegations against any individual business remain unproven.

An election integrity expert raised concerns Wednesday about California and Washington after the Justice Department identified thousands of suspected noncitizen voter registrations, including cases in which residents told officials they were not U.S. citizens yet were still registered to vote.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, J. Christian Adams, president of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, blamed the states’ automatic voter registration systems and local officials’ refusal to use available federal tools to verify citizenship.

"Noncitizens are getting on the rolls all over the country through the motor voter program. They're going into (the) DMV. Sometimes they're even telling the DMV they’re not citizens, and states are still registering them to vote," Adams said.

"That's why aliens are getting on the rolls in states like Washington and California that have automatic voter registration."

FEDERAL OFFICIALS IDENTIFY 400 NONCITIZENS REGISTERED TO VOTE IN WASHINGTON STATE: 'TIP OF THE ICEBERG'

California and Washington both require U.S. citizenship to register to vote, though their automatic voter registration systems differ. California DMV customers who indicate they are eligible to vote can be automatically registered, while Washington's automatic registration through the Department of Licensing is tied to transactions requiring proof of U.S. citizenship, such as obtaining an enhanced driver's license or ID.

However, federal officials said they identified more than 20,000 likely noncitizens on California voter rolls, many with addresses in Los Angeles County, and more than 400 suspected cases in Washington. The findings come just ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

Washington Secretary of State Steve R. Hobbs pushed back against the Justice Department on Wednesday, criticizing its findings for containing "several glaring deficiencies."

The list included U.S. citizens and individuals who are not currently registered to vote, Hobbs said.

"Without individualized proof of ineligibility, it would be both irresponsible and illegal for election officials to decline to process a registered voter’s ballot. If you have individualized proof, I invite you to provide it so election officials can take appropriate steps that are consistent with federal and state law," Hobbs said. 

The California secretary of state also pushed back last week, saying a review of the DOJ’s data on Los Angeles County found "significant accuracy problems with their sweeping claims."

"At best, this litigation is a reckless political stunt. At worst, it threatens to disenfranchise thousands of Californians this election," the office said. 

DOJ HAS VERIFIED 20,000 NONCITIZENS ON CALIFORNIA VOTER ROLLS, FEDERAL PROSECUTOR SAYS

Adams also blamed election officials for refusing to use the Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to identify noncitizens on voter rolls.

He described SAVE as the "best database there is for aliens" that is "just sitting there waiting for them to use."

"They don't want to check. They don't have to check. Federal law doesn't require them to check. What federal law does is make data available through the SAVE database at DHS," Adams said.

Hobbs criticized the DOJ’s reliance on the SAVE database, calling it "unreliable" and arguing that the absence of a citizenship record does not establish immigration status.

"It cannot rely on the mere absence of a name from the SAVE database or the department’s assertions based on the vague and untested methodology described in the lawsuit against California," Hobbs said.

MORE THAN A QUARTER-MILLION NONCITIZENS MAY BE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN 4 KEY STATES, DHS ALLEGES

As a result of lax regulations, Adams said his team has identified major voter roll issues in California beyond noncitizen registration, including duplicate registrations and registrations associated with deceased residents.

"It's what we expect now from California because partisan politics has taken over election administration in that state," he said.

"They think it's part of the program to disenfranchise people if they check citizenship, but it's not," he added. "They're saying that everything's fine here. ‘Don't look at us. We're as good as it can be,’ But the reality is they're really not using the data that are available to keep the rolls clean."

DOJ THREATENS EMERGENCY LEGAL ACTION AGAINST CALIFORNIA OVER SUSPECTED NONCITIZEN VOTERS

Other states, including Florida and North Carolina, have used the SAVE database and found fewer issues, according to Adams, contrasting their approach with California and Washington.

While the Justice Department's disclosure marks a rare public accounting of suspected noncitizen voter registrations, Adams said the findings will likely not affect the upcoming midterm elections.

Audits usually happen during off-election years when there is sufficient time for legal review, according to Adams. Waiting until just before an election in an even-numbered year can result in courts dismissing challenges due to "laches," a legal principle that penalizes someone for waiting too long without a valid reason to file a legal claim.

"There's very little you can do right before an election. That's why the hard work in these cases is in odd-numbered years, not in October or even-numbered years. So, you really have to do this stuff early, or you could lose on what's called laches," he said.

Despite the timing, Adams, who worked in the DOJ’s Voting Section more than a decade ago, applauded the department for taking the matter seriously.

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"Nobody took noncitizen registration seriously until now. And that's a welcome change," he said.