President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is activating National Guard troops and is taking over the Metropolitan Police Department to tackle crime in Washington, after beefing up federal law enforcement presence in the nation's capital Saturday."I'm deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order and public safety in Washington, DC," Trump told reporters at a Monday press conference. "And they're going to be allowed to do their job properly."Trump also said that he would federalize the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington to respond to crime, placing it under the authority of Attorney General Pam Bondi.National Guard troops are reserve forces that are mobilized in response to state and federal operations, including natural disasters, and are typically overseen by their respective state governments. However, Trump controversially deployed National Guard troops from California to respond to immigration riots in June, bypassing the California Gov. Gavin Newsom to dispatch the troops.The federal government oversees the District of Columbia National Guard.Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will operationalize the D.C. National Guard, and signaled that more National Guard troops could be roped into the deployment down the line."You will see them flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week," Hegseth told reporters Monday. "At your direction as well, sir, there are other units we are prepared to bring in. Other National Guard units, other specialized units. They will be strong, they will be tough, and they will stand with their law enforcement partners."Trumps remarks come just after he promised Washington would be "LIBERATED" from "Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum" in a post on Truth Social Monday morning. He said in the post that the "days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER!"Trump floated the idea of taking over Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department and utilizing National Guard troops to manage crime in Washington Wednesday, following the assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer on Aug. 3 in Washingtons Logan Circle.TRUMP THREATENS TO FEDERALIZE DC AFTER EX-DOGE EMPLOYEE 'BIG BALLS' VIOLENTLY BEATEN"What a shame rate of crime, the rate of muggings, killings and everything else, were not going to let it, and that includes bringing in the National Guard, maybe very quickly, too," Trump told reporters Wednesday at the White House.Trump also told reporters at the time he was open to taking over Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department because crime in the nations capital is "ridiculous."While a temporary federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department is justified in cases of emergency, Trump's move will likely be challenged in court over whether the situation in Washington qualifies as an emergency.Trump has historically railed against violence in Washington, and said Tuesday that crime is "totally out of control" in the nation's capital.Meanwhile, crime in Washington is on the decline. Violent crime is down 26% this year, in comparison to the same timeframe in 2024, according to Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department. Likewise, assaults with a dangerous weapon are down 20%, and homicides are down by 12%.WATCH: TRUMP HINTS HE WILL FEDERALIZE DC SOON, BRING IN NATIONAL GUARD AFTER BIG BALLS ATTACKWashingtons Mayor Muriel Bowser challenged Trumps description of the city during an interview with MSNBC Sunday, and voiced concerns about the possibility of activating the National Guard to tackle the citys crime."Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false," Bowser said."Im concerned about them not being used efficiently, and I just think thats not the most efficient use of our Guard," Bowser said.The Associated Press contributed to this report.This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

President Donald Trump shared new details on Monday about his plan to take control of public safety in Washington, D.C., following a brutal attack on a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer, but D.C. residents aren't convinced. Trump announced on Monday that he is activating the District of Columbia National Guard and seizing control of the Metropolitan Police Department after floating the idea since last week's assault in Washingtons Logan Circle.Some Washington residents who spoke to Fox News Digital called it a "terrible idea" that "doesn't make a lot of sense.""I think D.C. politics should stay with D.C., and, unfortunately, the federal government is apparently overstepping their bounds right now, so I hope that D.C. is allowed to govern itself, as well as police itself," one Washington resident told Fox News Digital ahead of Trump's announcement.TRUMP IS THREATENING TO 'FEDERALIZE' DC WITH NATIONAL GUARD AND MORE. HERE'S HOW THAT COULD PLAY OUTTrump controversially federalized the California National Guard amid anti-ICE protests that delved into riots in Los Angeles in June. Protesters were rejecting the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportations and Trump's robust immigration crackdown.TRUMP ADMIN CUTTING $20M IN DC SECURITY FUNDING AFTER FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ORDERED TO INCREASE PRESENCEThe president bypassed Gov. Gavin Newsom's authority to deploy National Guard troops to support ICE deportation. It was the first time a president federalized the National Guard in more than 60 years.Now, the tension between local and federal powers is unfolding in the nation's capital. But just like in California, many Washington residents have concerns about seeing "troops on our streets.""We have laws for a reason," one resident told Fox News Digital."Privatizing security is a terrible idea, and I think anything that Trump does is garbage," another Washington resident added.Despite their apprehension about National Guard troops patrolling the nation's capital, many residents said something needs to be done to address crime in Washington, D.C.While the Department of Justice indicated a 30-year low in violent crime last year, concerns about the city's safety linger, with one resident telling Fox News Digital, "The city is getting dangerous.""I think it's a good idea," one resident said of Trump's new plan. "It's something that needs to be done for the city to be safe. Right now, we're not safe. The kids and the teenagers are doing everything. So yeah, I think that's a great idea."And another Washington resident said, "We need all the protection that we can get in the city, because the city is really getting dangerous," telling Fox News Digital that she has to "make sure to come home before sundown" and she is afraid of getting robbed when she gets off public transportation. "Things do seem out of control and desperate, but I don't know what kind of numbers to take, what numbers to read. One minute they'll say crime is out of control. Next minute, they will say crime is down a certain percentage. It's kind of confusing, and I don't know who to believe in and which way to go, to be honest," a Washington resident said, articulating the dichotomy between the low crime statistics and the alarming crime stories.But another D.C. resident said, "There's no way he should be in control of anything," and Washington, D.C., "should be a state," so the district has more power to make decisions for itself."I don't think it's necessary," another Washington resident added. "I do think there needs to be some change within [the] Metropolitan [Police Department] because safety is an issue."She added: "It needs to be localized."Fox News Digital's Diana Stacy contributed to this report.

Collin Gosselin claimed he and his siblings were "pitted against each other" during the filming of the hit show "Jon & Kate Plus 8."Collin, the son of reality TV stars Jon and Kate Gosselin, shared an emotional post on TikTok about what the spotlight did to his family. The lives of Jon, Kate and Collin along with Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Leah, Joel, Mady and Cara were featured in the TLC reality show from 2007 until 2017. "Born to be a team, us against the world," he captioned a photo of himself with his seven siblings."Forced to do it alone, and wonder every day what our lives could've looked like."COLLIN GOSSELIN SAYS DREAMS OF JOINING MARINES DESTROYED BY INSTITUTIONALIZATION FORCED BY REALITY STAR MOM"Forced apart, pitted against each other," he continued. "All the fame and money in the world, but what about kids being kids?""I will always love them more than anything," Collin added. "The tears I shed behind closed doors, thinking about the memories we couldve shared. I love you guys."Fox News Digital reached out to Jon and Kate for comment.Jon and his wife Kate Gosselin shot to fame after giving birth to sextuplets after having twins using intrauterine insemination. The couple signed on to do two documentaries about their large family in order to make ends meet, but their popularity turned the family into reality TV royalty. However, the couple eventually separated, then divorced, and it was all caught on camera.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSFollowing his parents' split, Collin began to act out and rebel during filming, sometimes giving "completely silent interviews" and refusing to interact.Collin was allegedly diagnosed with a behavioral disorder and sent away to a separate school at the age of 12. Kate sent Collin to live at the Fairmount Behavioral Health System a psychiatric hospital located in Philadelphia without telling anyone in the family."I was not able, with my own resources here, to meet his needs," Kate said during an episode of "Kate Plus 8."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERHowever, Collin later claimed that Kate sent him away because he was telling people about the way his mother was treating him at home, which he labeled "abusive." He claimed that she had to put him "somewhere where [he] wouldn't be able to put the secrets out" during an episode of Vice's "Dark Side of the 2000s."In a 2016 interview with "Good Morning America," Kate denied the abuse allegations, saying they were "absolutely" unfounded.Collin told Vice he hadn't spoken to at least six of his siblings since 2016. Jon also doesn't have a relationship with the children outside of Collin and Hannah."At the end of the day, none of us decided to be on TV," Collin explained."We didn't get the choice. It was our parents' decision," Hannah added. "I don't resent my parents for putting us on TV because I understand why they did it. It was a good opportunity, and it just turned into something nobody saw it turning into."

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., vowed to "change the laws" in D.C. to crack down on what she described as a surge of young people committing violent crimes in the nations capital part of a broader effort President Donald Trump announced Monday that includes deploying hundreds of National Guard troops and temporarily seizing control of D.C. police.Speaking at a White House press briefing Monday, Pirro lamented the share of crime in D.C. she said is being committed by so-called "young punks" in the city, whom she said are often granted probation or other lenient sentences due to their age."That changes today," Pirro vowed, flanked by President Trump and other Cabinet members.TRUMP IS THREATENING TO 'FEDERALIZE' DC WITH NATIONAL GUARD AND MORE. HERE'S HOW THAT COULD PLAY OUT"Isee too much violent crime being committed by young punks who think that they can get together in gangs and crews and beat the [heck] out of you or anyone else," Pirro said. "They don't care where they are.""But they know that we can't touch them, because the laws are weak," she said. "I cant touch you if youre 14, 15, 16, 17 years old, and you have a gun.""We need to go after the DC Council and their absurd laws. We need to get rid of this concept of 'no cash bail," she said. "We need to recognize that the people who matter are the law-abiding citizens," Pirro added. "And it starts today."FBI OUSTS FORMER ACTING DIRECTOR, AGENT INVOLVED IN J6 PROSECUTIONS, WITH MORE EXPECTEDPirro's remarks came during a broader press conference during which Trump also vowed to deploy hundreds of D.C. National Guard troops into the nation's capital, in a bid to "reestablish law order and public safety" in D.C.Trump vowed on Truth Social just one day earlier to evict homeless persons from that nation's capital. "The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY," Trump said on social media."We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you dont have to move out. Were going to put you in jail where you belong," he said on Truth Social.Violent crime in Washington, D.C., is currently down to a 30-year low.

HBO host Bill Maher had some harsh words for the co-hosts of "The View" on Monday.While interviewing actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore on his "Club Random" podcast, Maher admitted he doesnt think that the five women who host the ABC show are the best spokespeople for the female perspective."And I like everyone, but I dont know if theyre really at this moment the best advertisement for women," he told the actress. BILL MAHER SAYS DEMOCRATS NEED TO 'DO SOMETHING' ABOUT 'THE VIEW' AFTER WHOOPI GOLDBERG'S IRAN COMMENTSThe topic came up when "The Drew Barrymore Show" host told Maher to visit New York City and be a guest on her show, which prompted Maher to talk about his friendship with several of the women on "The View." He acknowledged his fondness for them as his friends but admitted their show is "a lot.""Im friendly with some of the ladies on The View and I love them but, like, that shows a lot."Barrymore brought up that View co-host Joy Behar appeared on her show recently and Maher remarked, "I love Joy." He went on to say that though he likes everybody on the ABC talk show, hes not such a fan of their talking points on the program."They say some things that are just like, not helpful, say to elections."BILL MAHER'S GUEST APPLAUDS HOST'S TIRADE AGAINST 'WEAK AND WOKE' DEMS WHO THINK AMERICA IS 'CRINGE'Maher appeared as a guest on "The View" in May 2024, where he clashed with co-host Sunny Hostin about Israels conduct in its war with Hamas.Hostin argued that Israel was murdering innocent Palestinian civilians and children in the conflict, and Maher pushed back. He stated that he was concerned about innocent lives being lost but insisted that Israel has the right to fight its war with Hamas and that if Hamas was concerned about innocent lives, theyd stop their attacks."That's what happens in a war. Here's a way to stop that, stop attacking Israel," he said.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREThe HBO host also called out "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg in recent weeks, after she claimed in July that Black people are oppressed in America the same way that women are oppressed in Iran."That is something that, again, is infuriating about the far left, I would say. Call them whatever they wanted. Not the woke, the stupid woke, like Whoopi Goldberg, love her, but when she said a couple weeks ago that being Black was the same as being a woman in Iran, its like, yeah, in 1920, but not today," Maher said during an episode of his podcast with his guest, progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen.

Country singer Zach Bryan has a bone to pick with Kansas City.On Friday, the country singer-songwriter who is a known Philadelphia Eagles fan took to social media to stir up some drama with fellow NFL fans.After the Kansas City Chiefs failed to become the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls due to their loss to the Eagles earlier this year, Bryan wrote on X, "Where are all the three peat people from last year:/."Shortly after one fan pointed out that the singer had "singled out one fanbase" which "sells out his shows," the country star made a shocking remark.COUNTRY STAR ZACH BRYAN'S EX ACCUSES HIM OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE, CLAIMS SHE WAS OFFERED $12M TO SIGN NDA"Please understand I will never play in Kansas City," the musician wrote, responding to the user's comment.People were quick to point out that Bryan had already played in Kansas City in the past. The country star had performances there in 2021, 2023 and 2024.Bryan followed up on his previous comment, writing on X, "Ill be about to finish my show and then get a taunting call if I play at that stadium." His comments got a mix of reactions, with some users praising the country star while others slammed him.A representative for Bryan did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSThis isn't the first time Bryan has had beef with a fan.In 2024, Bryan scolded a concertgoer after a member of his band was hit with an object.The country crooner, who was on his "Quittin' Time Tour" at the time, was playing a concert at the Tacoma Dome in Washington when a nondescript object was thrown on stage, hitting a member of Bryan's band, as seen in a video shared on Instagram.Bryan, whose breakup with ex-girlfriend Brianna LaPaglia caught a lot of attention, can be seen walking promptly toward a microphone to seemingly address what had happened before turning around and retrieving the object, now lying on the ground.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERThe "Pink Skies" singer walked across the stage to another standing mic, pointing out to the crowd looking for the culprit. "Who threw this?" he asked. "Who was it? Does anybody know?" the 29-year-old continued. "Who we pointing at?""Don't throw s--- at concerts, huh?" he said, scanning the venue before walking off to join his bandmate at center stage. However, Bryan then changed his mind, realizing he had one more thing to add."And if you guys do know who threw it, we can get 'em out of here," he said. "If we ever find out who did."WATCH: ZACH BRYAN SCOLDS FAN FOR THROWING OBJECT ON STAGE DURING CONCERTIn May 2023, Bryan asked for a woman to be removed from his concert because she tried to snatch his guitar out of his hands."Hey, get her out of here," Bryan can be heard telling his crew as he walked among his audience."Took it personal, but nothing against whoever wound up getting kicked out," he shared to X at the time. He added later, "I dont mind people being respectful and trying to touch me or the guitar, but if you try to rip it out of my hands I promise Ill rip you out of whatever venue were at, respectfully, of course."

At the time TikTok influencer Emilie Kiser's son drowned at the family's Chandler, Arizona, home in May, her husband Brady Kiser's attention was "divided," according to a police report.The report revealed that before Brady Kiser found the couple's son Trigg, 3, unresponsive on May 12 in their pool, he had placed a $25 wager on Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum to score more than 40 points in game four of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks."It is clear Brady's attention was divided, and he was not watching at all during the critical times mentioned," according to the report. "During two interviews he did not know what [Trigg] was doing before he fell in and did not see [Trigg] struggling to swim."ARIZONA PROSECUTORS DECLINE TO CHARGE FATHER IN DROWNING DEATH OF TIKTOK INFLUENCER'S 3-YEAR-OLD SONKiser placed the wager at about 5:15 p.m., according to the report. Just before 6:30 p.m., the same time that the game began, Trigg began playing in the backyard. About three minutes later, he fell into the pool, where he remained for seven minutes."This tragic incident was the result of being in the backyard unsupervised while playing around the unsecured pool and unable to swim," the report said. "It is clear from the video that he did not go into the water intentionally, rather he tripped and fell in while playing with an inflatable chair."Emilie Kiser, who has 3.1 million TikTok followers and 1.2 million Instagram followers, was out to dinner with friends at the time of the incident.Trigg's activities in the yard and drowning were caught on the home's surveillance camera system.TIKTOK INFLUENCER'S HUSBAND FACES POSSIBLE FELONY CHARGE AFTER SON'S TRAGIC POOL ACCIDENTWhen the police arrived, Trigg was unresponsive. The report details several first responders' encounters with the toddler at the scene, where he was given CPR in an attempt at resuscitation.The boy was taken to the hospital and died six days later.According to the report, Kiser told some investigators that Trigg was only unsupervised for three minutes, and told others that Trigg was unsupervised for five minutes.The Chandler Police Department recommended class 4 felony child abuse charges against Kiser last month, but Maricopa County prosecutors declined to press those charges."In order to convict a person of this charge, the state has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to a unanimous jury that the person failed to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk, and that failure to perceive the risk was a gross deviation from the standard of care a reasonable person would show," they wrote."Every case submitted to the Maricopa County Attorneys Office is evaluated using the same standard: whether there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction. After careful review of the evidence submitted by Chandler PD, it was determined this case does not meet that standard. MCAO's review of the case involved the attorneys assigned to it, along with highly experienced senior attorneys and the County Attorney herself," it continued.Emilie Kiser has filed a lawsuit against the state to block the release of investigative records and other documentation related to her son's death.Fox News' Adam Sabes contributed to this report.

The fight between President Donald Trump and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom over the National Guard's presence in California is coming to a head on Monday in the start of a three-day trial.Government attorneys are set to argue that Trump had legal authority to deploy roughly 4,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles in June to assist with anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests and riots.While most of the National Guard members have since been demobilized, the trial could set the stage for more fights across the country as Trump federalizes guard members in Washington, D.C., and threatens to do so elsewhere in response to high crime rates in blue cities.Judge Charles Breyer, a Clinton appointee and brother of retired liberal Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, is presiding over the case.TRUMP AND NEWSOM ON COLLISION COURSE AS FIGHT OVER NATIONAL GUARD INTENSIFIES IN COURTBreyer previously granted a temporary restraining order in favor of Newsom, saying Trump's decision to mobilize the National Guard was illegal because it infringed on California's authority. One of the conditions required under the law Trump cited to federalize the National Guard is that a rebellion must be underway, and Breyer said the riots in California fell far short of that scenario.But Breyer's decision was quickly reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A three-judge panel for the appellate court unanimously found that the courts have limited ability to review whether a president has properly invoked the law to federalize the National Guard."We are persuaded that, under longstanding precedent interpreting the statutory predecessor to 12406, our review of that decision must be highly deferential," the panel wrote. "Affording the President that deference, we conclude that it is likely that the President lawfully exercised his statutory authority under 12406(3), which authorizes federalization of the National Guard when the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States."The panel paused Breyer's initial order indefinitely, but Monday's trial is the next step in the court process as the judge weighs the merits of the case.While little is left on the ground in California for the judge to resolve Newsom recently announced that about 300 of Trump's deployed National Guard members remain active in the state legal questions surrounding Trump's actions persist.As part of the trial, Breyer will examine the 150-year-old Posse Comitatus Act, which bars the military from being used for civil matters. Newsom has argued Trump violated that law and plans to call military officials as witnesses during the trial to testify about the directions the National Guard and a few hundred Marines received.Newsom has said they were illegally engaged in law enforcement activities, while government attorneys argue they were protecting federal personnel and federal properties.APPEALS COURT APPEARS SKEPTICAL OF NEWSOM'S CLAIM THAT TRUMP ILLEGALLY DEPLOYED NATIONAL GUARDWhile Newsom also argued that Trump's unusual decision to bring the National Guard into a state without the governor's consent was illegal and required the governor's permission, the three-judge panel has already leaned in favor of Trump on that point.The panel found that while the law's language, which states that Trump must go "through" the governor, could mean the president committed a "procedural" violation, it did not warrant restricting Trump's use of the military.Newsom has claimed more broadly that militarizing California was unnecessary and caused the unrest in Los Angeles to intensify.State and local law enforcement officers made about seven riot-related arrests prior to Trump's announcement about the National Guard on June 7, but they made about a thousand arrests during the subsequent 10 days, California attorneys said in court filings.An ICE official said in an affidavit that National Guard members were "essential" to providing reinforcements around the 300 North Los Angeles Federal Building, which was the site of protests during the controversial immigration raids."Prior to the National Guard's deployment, rioters and protestors assaulted federal, state, and local law enforcement officers with rocks, fireworks, and other objects. They also damaged federal property by spray painting death threats to federal law enforcement officers," the ICE official wrote.

A ski jumping suit controversy engulfed Norway and led to charges against five members of the countrys team, including two gold medalists, the sports federation announced on Monday.Marius Lindvik, Johann Andre Forfang, two coaches and a service staff member were charged as part of an investigation into "equipment manipulation" at the Nordic world championships in March, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) said.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMEach person was charged with ethic violations over the alleged tampering. Illegally modified suits can help ski jumpers fly further with more aerodynamic resistance. Lindvik won a gold medal in the mens normal hill event at the world championships, while Norway took home the bronze for the mens team event on the large hill.Both awards are in jeopardy.The FIS gave no timetable for hearings or verdicts in the case. The governing body said that bans, fines and disqualifications of results are among the punishments that could be levied. The organization said it conducted interviews with 38 witnesses and examined 88 pieces of evidence in the case.TRUMP SUGGESTS THERE WILL BE MANDATORY GENDER TESTING FOR WOMEN'S SPORTS AT 2028 LA OLYMPICSNorway head coach Magnus Brevik and equipment manager Adrian Livelten previously confessed to the tampering, saying the suits were altered only before the mens large hill event."We regret it like dogs, and Im terribly sorry that this happened," Brevik said in March.Lindvik and Forfang were both on the team that took home the bronze medal in the world championships. The FIS disqualified both of them from the individual large hill event and were suspended. Both denied involvement in the alleged scheme.Its unclear what Lindvik and Forfangs statuses will be for the 2026 Olympics in Italy.Lindvik, 27, won a gold medal in the individual mens large hill event at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. Forfang, 30, won a gold medal in the mens team long hill event and a silver in the individual mens normal hill event at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Residents in Poplar, North Carolina, are fed up with an allegedly illegal mining operation they say has been polluting the riverbed and sending thick dust into the air for nearly a year as the mountain community still rebuilds from Hurricane Helene.Outraged Western North Carolinians in the tight-knit community are traveling to Boone on Monday where a court hearing will determine whether the mine operated by Horizon 30, LLC, can be shut down or face civil or criminal penalties.On Friday, the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) announced that it had determined the mining operation at Carter Quarry in Mitchell County was unauthorized and in violation of state mining laws.The North Carolina Justice Department is seeking a criminal injunction. State officials say the operation has continued along the Nolichucky River for months despite Horizon 30 repeatedly being warned that it lacks proper permitting.VOLUNTEERS HELP REBUILD NORTH CAROLINA HOMES 10 MONTHS AFTER HURRICANE HELENE"This mine is so detrimental to the area," Tessa Sharp, who lives on a nearby homestead with her Navy veteran husband, Leo Sharp, told Fox News Digital.Residents who spoke to Fox News Digital made a contrast between the mine operated by Horizon 30 and another nearby in Spruce Pine operated by Sibelco North America Inc.Sibelco, residents said, has established infrastructure to mine for quartz, employs locally and contributes to the local economy. The one by Horizon 30 descended on the area after Helene."They're trying to see what they can get away with so that they can take advantage of an area that's still recovering after Helene," Tessa Sharp said, arguing the mine was benefitting from slowed bureaucratic checks and balances. "If it is something that's feasible for them to get in and make their money, what's to stop them from going up to another neighbor's property and doing this? They know it's going to take, at this point, almost a year for anything legal to come about."Tessa and Leo Sharp said all but one of their 14 rabbits have died since the mining operation began in December. They attribute the deaths to respiratory issues from the thick dust in the air.The couple, who've operated a homestead with turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese and quail in the area for about three years, said high floodwaters that swept in during Helene damaged their home's foundation, separating their bedroom from the rest of the house. Amid the initial storm, they rushed to evacuate their livestock to the pig pen of their barn on higher ground.They said they lived in a tent on the property in the intal aftermath and had been "couch-surfing" with family nearby for more than 10 months before recently moving back into the home."This is not something that we all were planning on dealing with while we're in the process of rebuilding," Leo Sharp told Fox News Digital. "This is a community that's been hurt, and we don't need to be hurt anymore than we already have. And the fact that we're sitting here having to deal with this while we don't even have our bedroom back is unbelievable, and you know, it just needs to stop. It needs to stop, and it needs to go away."Cody Johnson, an Army veteran who grew up in the mountain community, told Fox News Digital that "massive plumes" of silica dust can be spotted over the treeline by the entrance to the mine next to a property where several children live.NORTH CAROLINA TOWN DESTROYED BY HURRICANE HELENE HOPING TO WELCOME TOURISTS BACK BY MIDSUMMERHe accused Horizon 30 of coming into the area "under the guise of emergency protocols" enacted to rebuild a section of the railroad destroyed by the hurricane."Get out of North Carolina. We don't want you here," Johnson said, addressing Horizon 30 directly. "You came in under the guise of emergency protocols, trying to fool people unethical."Horizon 30, LLC is based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, according to its registration records with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and the Pennsylvania Department of State.As the permitting process stalled earlier this year, Horizon 30 CFO Sean Chipman penned a letter to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in May."H30 relies upon the emergency permits, authorizations, waivers and other applicable allowances for services in support of the Emergency Railway Repairs and also the Executive Orders of the President of the United States of America, including those in support of the America First initiative and energy independence, as well as prior and concurrent emergency response directives," Chipman wrote at the time.Chipman argued that the mining application was made "in conjunction with some of the leading professionals in the mining industry" and the Army Corps of Engineers had conducted a review. In the letter, he said the company took "corrective measures" to meet the department's requirements and "wishes to continue to have a good and productive relationship with your Department and the State."Attempts to reach Horizon 30 for comment were unsuccessful.Residents said the company has not employed locals and license plates at the Poplar site are from places including Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky and Arizona.Since the mining operation began in December, Tessa Sharp said the DEQ has relayed to the community that "other than serving cease and desist and sending these cases to the DOJ and Supreme Court, there's nothing that we can do to stop them.""As a landowner, I think that is really concerning for North Carolina residents," Tessa Sharp said.The North Carolina Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) told Fox News Digital that Horizon 30 has been operating the mining site in Poplar since December without the required state permit despite multiple warnings and on-site inspections. Over several months, DEMLR said it issued multiple formal regulatory requirement notices and violation notices directing the company to either stop operations or obtain a valid mining permit.Inspections confirmed the expansion of unpermitted mining activity, prompting repeated enforcement actions. While Horizon 30 has submitted parts of a permit application, DEMLR said the company has not yet approved it due to incomplete information, and the company remains out of compliance with the Mining Act.Johnson, who lives on about 80 acres, described how dead birds and other wildlife have been discovered in the area since the mining operation began.Leo Sharp shared drone footage with Fox News Digital showing excavators and other heavy machinery continuing to operate at the site earlier this month.State labor department records show Horizon 30 submitted a mining permit application, which is marked as incomplete and as pending review. The state Labor Department said Friday that the illegal mining operation was discovered after the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration requested that the NCDOL provide miner safety training at the site. During that visit, a state Labor Department official "identified multiple irregularities and immediately questioned whether the site had the required state environmental permit," according to the department. The company then failed to produce the necessary documentation."This is exactly why Ive made it a priority to support and empower our field staff," state Labor Commissioner Luke Farley said in a statement on Friday. "Their experience, judgment, and vigilance are critical to keeping workers safe and enforcing the law. If our staff hadnt gone above and beyond their duty to protect workers, this illegal operation could have continued unnoticed putting lives at risk and undermining public trust in our regulatory system."