As Americans begin to finalize their summer vacation plans, a travel advisor is offering safety tips for those heading to Mexico's pristine shores that are often frequented by Hollywood stars.Fox News Digital spoke with Sandra Awodele, the creator behind COI Traveler, a growing travel blog and platform, about what Americans should be wary of ahead of their summer travels to Mexico."People love Mexico because it's a good time, it's affordable, and it's driveable," she said. "But they should be cautious of theft, scams and cartel violence."The travel expert's tips come as the U.S. State Department, in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, has issued an urgent travel warning for Baja California Sur, La Paz, Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas due to escalating security concerns in these popular tourist destinations.CRUISE DO'S AND DON'TS: TOP 5 THINGS THAT WILL GET YOU BANNED FOR LIFEThe travel alert reported that cartels have made threats against officials. It added that Americans in Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, and La Paz should "expect to see increased security presence [and] public transportation restrictions."The U.S. Department of State issues travel advisories for each of Mexicos 32 states based on varying safety conditions. The advisory for Baja California Sur has been raised to "exercise increased caution."Other popular tourist destinations in Mexico, such as Mexico City, Quintana Roo and Nayarit, are also under similar advisories.For travelers planning to visit Mexico in the near future, especially those heading to Baja California Sur, it is crucial to heed the advice provided by the embassy and local officials, Awodele said.If driving, Awodele suggested travelers plan their route by using designated safety corridors in Mexico. The country has highway systems that are monitored more closely and has frequent security checkpoints that may provide tourists an extra set of eyes during their trip.FLIGHT PASSENGERS WARN OF REAL ID APOCALYPSE' WHILE OTHERS ACKNOWLEDGE AMERICANS CAN STILL FLYWhen packing, bring at least one credit card and two debit cards to prevent being stranded if one is lost or stolen, she said.For Awodele, the issue is personal after she was robbed and scammed out of $250 while traveling in Tulum, Mexico.She explained that she arrived at the port well ahead of her flight to take a water taxi to the airport, but missed one that had just left. A man approached her and claimed that, due to COVID-related changes, the next water taxi wouldnt arrive on time, and she would miss her flight.The man, she said, insisted that she needed to take a small private aircraftand that it required $250 in cash.Despite her suspicions, Awodele complied, because she was panicked about missing her flight. She withdrew the money from an ATM and was rushed onto a small aircraft. Notably, she was the only passenger, which added to her discomfort.Upon arriving at the airport, with plenty of time left, she realized that the urgency may have been fabricated.After looking into it, Awodele found out this type of scam, where fear and urgency are used to trick tourists into overpaying for transportation, is not uncommon. Since the payment was in cash, she had no recourse to get the money back.She suggests that, along with multiple credit cards and debit cards, travelers carry some U.S. dollars and invest in an anti-theft bag to secure valuables."Don't travel with one card. If you're going somewhere, you need a credit card and at least two debit cards. The credit card gets locked, or the debit card gets stolen," she said. "You need a third card to make sure that you're good."She also suggested bringing a power bank and downloading offline maps that include your hotel, the nearest police station and other key locations in case of emergency or poor cell signals.While in Mexico, stay aware of your surroundings and avoid looking lost, as this can mark you as a target. Women travelers should consider using drink covers like scrunchie lids, carrying a whistle or personal alarm and storing valuables in different places.If something goes wronglike being scammed or robbedcontact the U.S. embassy immediately, cancel compromised cards, and get to a safe, populated area, Awodele said.Celebrities have long flocked to Mexico for its luxurious resorts, stunning beaches, and private retreats.Tulum, located on the Caribbean coast, has been frequented by stars like Jennifer Aniston and Paris Hilton. Celebrities like the Kardashians, Lady Gaga and Beyonc have been known to frequent Punta Mita, a private peninsula on the Pacific coast.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFox News Digital has reached out to the State Department for comment.

A Connecticut teen will stand trial Monday for the 2022 murder of a Fairfield Prep lacrosse player following a booze-fueled house party and a spat between students from different schools.James McGrath, 17, was fatally stabbed on May 14, 2022, in front of a Shelton home on Laurel Glen Drive after a fight broke out between underage students who had been consuming alcohol that evening.Raul Eliah Valle of Milford, who was 16 at the time of the stabbing, has been charged with one count of murder and two counts of first-degree assault for allegedly stabbing McGrath and others. Valle attended St. Joseph High School in Trumbull near Fairfield Prep, where McGrath was a junior. Fox News Digital has reached out to Valle's attorney, Kevin Smith, for comment."Unfortunately, in the suburbs of big cities, house parties are very common, and kids will be kids, but certainly, a murder case like this is very unusual," Connecticut criminal defense attorney Mark Sherman told Fox News Digital. "I'm a little bit biased, but I think it's fair to say there probably wasn't an intent to kill in a case like this. There certainly might've been an intent to engage in a fight or to scare, to use weapons, but it's hard to believe that there was an intent to kill."DEADLY STABBING OF PREP SCHOOL STUDENT BLAMED ON PARENTS WHO HOSTED BOOZE-FUELED HOUSE PARTY: LAWSUITSherman believes that Valle's attorneys will argue that he was acting in self-defense, and prosecutors will argue that Valle "brought a knife to a fist fight" and let his aggression spiral out of control."It's really shaken these schools, in particular. . . . Both sets of kids were all really well-regarded," Sherman said. "They were all good kids. They had a lot of school spirit. Some were athletes and it's also really shaken parents who tend to host parties and gatherings and kind of raises the level of vigilance, because anything can happen."CONNECTICUT PARENTS ARRESTED IN PREP SCHOOL STUDENT'S DEATH AT 2022 HOUSE PARTY STABBINGConnecticut-based criminal defense attorney Allan Friedman noted that Connecticut has a "duty to retreat" law, which is essentially the opposite of "stand your ground" laws in other states, requiring residents who feel they are under a threat to retreat from the situation before using force against another person.He also said that Valle, who was a minor at the time of the alleged crimes, faces a mandatory minimum of 40 years in prison if convicted on all charges.Both Sherman and Friedman also emphasized the potential dangers of "social hosting" as it related to McGrath's murder.CONNECTICUT HIGH SCHOOL STABBING: RAUL VALLE POSTS $2M BOND IN DEATH OF JAMES MCGRATH: REPORTShelton police in 2023 arrested Paul Leifer, 59, and Susanna Leifer, 51, and charged them with permitting minors to possess alcohol. Susanna Leifer was also charged with second-degree reckless endangerment after McGrath's death. They are also facing several lawsuits in connection with the crime after allegedly providing minors with alcohol.Last year, the couple were sentenced to two years of accelerated rehabilitation plus 50 hours of community service, according to WTNH."On or about May 14, 2022, Defendants hosted a social gathering at their home on the premises during which a substantial amount of alcohol was served to, and consumed by, individuals under the age of [21]," states a 2023 lawsuit filed by Thomas Connery, the father of another minor who was stabbed that evening in 2022.After the fight at the Leifers' house in Shelton, teenagers described as St. Joseph High School students arrived at another party on Laurel Glen Drive in Shelton. Another fight ensued at the Laurel Glen Drive house, where four students were stabbed, including McGrath, who died of his injuries, according to a police report that Fox News Digital obtained at the time.Connery's lawsuit further alleges that after a fight broke out at the Leifers' home, the two parents allowed the party attendees, who had been drinking, to leave the premises instead of breaking up the fight, calling police or taking "otherwise appropriate action."CONNECTICUT HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE PLAYER JAMES MCGRATH LAID TO REST AFTER TRUMBULL FUNERAL MASSIn a second lawsuit, one of the minors who was harmed after the Leifers' party and his father similarly allege that the Leifers knew they were supplying alcohol to people who were underage at their home on May 14, 2022.Police responded to several 911 calls reporting a fight that occurred just before midnight on May 14, 2022, outside the Laurel Glen Drive property and found multiple victims on the front lawn. The owner of the residence where the party took place was home at the time of the incident, according to a warrant.At one point, there were about 25 people engaged in the fight on the front lawn of the home, witnesses told police. At least three juvenile suspects are mentioned in the report, including Valle, who is suspected of having a knife.McGrath had "one stab wound to the left side of the chest," the warrant states. "The stab wound went through the rib and heart."A doctor from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Connecticut told police that there were approximately 1.8 liters of blood in McGrath's lungs.WATCH:"Now that kids are coming up on graduation season a lot of more affluent people, they do not understand the dangers associated with so-called social hosting," Friedman said. "Providing or permitting the consumption of alcohol by minors the way the law can make it now is: if you're holding events, and let's just say it's three or four kids at your house, and then all of a sudden everyone goes on Instagram or Facebook, whatever these kids use these days, and they all say, 'Hey. There's a party at this house,' and then all of a sudden a huge group of people show up in Ubers."Under Connecticut law, parents have a responsibility to stop the procession of alcohol or call police, Friedman said, but sometimes parents "are reluctant to do that."CONNECTICUT HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE PLAYER MURDER: EXPERTS SAY LEGAL CONSEQUENCES FOR PARTY HOST PARENTSBoth attorneys noted that on top of the threat of criminal charges, parents who engage in social hosting and provide alcohol to minors can also face civil consequences if minors are injured at an event with underage drinking where parents were present.A representative from St. Joseph's told Fox News Digital in 2022 that Valle had been in good academic standing and had not been in any fights at school before the May 14 incident.Valle was released on $2 million bond just days after his arrest in May 2022.An obituary for McGrath described the 17-year-old as the "sunshine" of his parents' life and his sister's "best friend and confidant.""Many described Jim as a wonderfully happy person with a big heart who was a loving friend to many," the obituary states. "He loved his school, Fairfield Prep, and he excelled as an athlete in every sport he chose. He played football and lacrosse for Fairfield Prep and as a youth for Shelton and Connecticut Wolves as well. He understood the meaning of being part of a team."Fox News' Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

Two former prosecutors say that the insanity defense planned by the defense attorney representing former Letcher County, Kentucky, Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines will not hold up.Stines is accused of shooting and killing District Judge Kevin Mullins in the judge's chambers inside the Letcher County Courthouse on Sept. 19, 2024, in an attack that was captured on surveillance video."It's very rare in most states, including Kentucky, the insanity defense and similar mental health defenses rarely work, because if the person knows right from wrong at the time they committed some criminal act, then any mental health issues are, I guess, secondary," Phil Holloway, a former prosecutor and legal analyst based in Georgia, told Fox News Digital. "If they know right from wrong, they can still be convicted even if they have a mental health issue."'EXTREMELY PARANOID' KENTUCKY SHERIFF QUESTIONED BY POLICE MOMENTS AFTER JUDGE'S FATAL SHOOTING: VIDEOLast week, Fox News Digital released video footage of a Kentucky State Police (KSP) investigator and two troopers questioning a paranoid Stines in the immediate aftermath of the shooting."I leave this building, I won't draw another breath," Stines told KSP Investigator Clayton Stamper, who led the investigation."Y'all are gonna kill me, aren't you?" he asked at one point in the interview. "Y'all are gonna kill me, I know you are. Let's just get it over with. Let's just go."FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON XHolloway said even if the sheriff was paranoid, he still knew that the killing was wrong."If you look at the sheriff's video from his discussions with law enforcement in the hallway right after the shooting, the sheriff expresses that he's concerned that the police or some other unnamed third party might hurt him or kill him," Holloway said.KENTUCKY SHERIFF SEEN IN FOOTAGE SHOOTING AT JUDGE IN SHOCKING PRELIMINARY HEARING"And he's asking the cops, you know, he's even alleging that the police might stop en route to the jail to allow somebody else to do something. Now, those things might seem paranoid, and they may seem irrational, but at the same time, when he expresses those things to the officers, to me that indicates that he knows that killing is wrong."It's interesting because he's telling the cop, he's telling the police not to do it. So, in a way, he's telegraphing that he knows right from wrong. And he knows that killing is wrong because he's asking the police to not kill him."SIGN UP TO GET THE TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTERMichael Wynne, a former prosecutor based in Houston, agrees with Holloway, especially given the surveillance footage from Mullins' chambers in the moments leading up to the shooting."I think this is a frivolous defense," he told Fox News Digital. "The video shows he knows what he's doing is wrong. If you don't know what you're doing is wrong, you don't usher everybody else out of the room, and you don't go ahead and make sure the door is closed. Those are all things that show that he has an ability to make cognizant decisions."KENTUCKY COURTHOUSE WHERE SHERIFF ALLEGEDLY KILLED JUDGE PLAGUED BY SEX ABUSE ALLEGATIONS: LAWSUITWynne said he believes the best Stines will be able to do is plead guilty to the charges in hopes of taking the death penalty off the table, or potentially being given an opportunity for parole."Based on the facts, he will lose the case [and] there will be a guilty verdict," Wynne said. "Now, the jury and judge are not supposed to weigh the fact that the defense puts on a case here of insanity. But people are people. And, you know, he'll be punished by the judge and the jury for raising what I think this is a frivolous defense."According to Stines' attorney, Jeremy Bartley, his defense is closely tied to allegations of sexual abuse that plagued Letcher County authorities, including some in the courthouse.Three days before the shooting, Stines was deposed in a civil sexual assault case against his former deputy, Ben Shields, who was accused of sexually abusing a woman. Stines was also named for failing to supervise Fields.MOTIVE REVEALED IN KENTUCKY SHERIFF'S ALLEGED KILLING OF JUDGE AS BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT ANALYZES NEW VIDEOBartley declined to comment for this story but previously told Fox News Digital, "I think one of the big things is that my client felt there had been pressure placed on him not to say too much during the deposition, and not to talk about things that happened within the courthouse, particularly in the judge's chambers."Bartley said that threats against Stines' family caused the paranoia to reach a fever pitch."On the day that this [shooting] happened, my client had attempted multiple times to contact his wife and daughter, and he firmly believed that they were in danger," Bartley said. "He believed that they were in danger because of what he knew to have happened within the courthouse. And there was pressure, and there were threats made to him to sort of keep him in line, to keep them from saying more than these folks wanted him to say."

Ancient military fortifications dating back to the Ptolemaic and Roman eras of Egyptian history were recently uncovered by archaeologists.The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery in a Facebook post, which was translated from Arabic to English, on May 3. Officials said that a recent excavation at the Tell Abu Sefeh site led to the uncovering of an expansive military complex.The Tell Abu Sefeh site is located in North Sinai, near the Egyptian city of Ismailia and the Suez Canal.ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVER LONG-LOST TOMB OF UNKNOWN PHARAOH IN EGYPTDescribed as one of Egypt's "important strategic locations," Tell Abu Sefeh emerged as a prominent location in antiquity. The ministry of tourism and antiquities said the site played a "pivotal role in protecting Egypt's eastern borders."There, archaeologists "uncovered remains of military fortifications, soldiers' residential units, and a trench indicating the possibility of another fortress in the area," according to the ministry.Aerial pictures show the sophisticated ancient military fortifications, along with artifacts such as basins and pots.Experts also believe that trees once lined a road to the fortress."[M]ore than 500 clay circles were uncovered on both sides of the stone road, likely used for planting trees that adorned the entrance of the fortress during the Ptolemaic era," the release noted.ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER TREASURES FROM 3,000-YEAR-OLD GOLD MINE IN EGYPT THAT 'REVEALS HISTORICAL SECRETS'Egyptian officials added that the soldiers' residences "provide a clear picture of the daily life of cavalry stationed at the Roman fortress during the reigns of Emperor Diocletian and Emperor Maximian.""[T]he discovery of four large kilns used for producing quicklime [also indicate] the site's transformation into an industrial center at the end of the Roman era, leading to the destruction of all stone structures at the site," the statement added.Archaeologists also discovered a road that was over 330 feet long and 36 feet wide.It was "paved with limestone slabs, extending from outside the eastern gate of the Roman fortress to the heart of the site."For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle"[This] road is built over an older road from the Ptolemaic era, constructed from limestone slabs," the statement said.Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy said in a statement that the discovery "sheds light on the secrets of Egypt's eastern military fortifications during the Ptolemaic and Roman eras.""[It also] highlights the significance of Tell Abu Sefeh as a military and industrial center throughout the ages," the official added.Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mohamed Ismail Khaled echoed Fathy's sentiment.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERThe excavation "contributes to a more accurate depiction of the map of Egypt's defenses on its eastern borders, reaffirming that Sinai has always been Egypt's eastern gateway and first fortress," he added."[The mission also] managed to uncover a distinctive architectural design for the eastern gates of the previously discovered Ptolemaic and Roman fortresses at the site, aiding in re-imagining the shape of defensive entrances at that time, along with a massive defensive trench over two meters deep at the entrance of the Ptolemaic fortress, believed to be part of a defensive system that could be disabled when threatened," Khaled added.The announcement comes weeks after the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the unusual discovery of a false door at an ancient Egyptian tomb.Before that, the ministry reported another rare find: a 3,000-year-old mining complex, complete with remnants of millennia-old baths, workshops and homes.

In addition to facing life in prison, Sean "Diddy" Combs could lose the assets hes built up while becoming a music mogul, including his mansions, cars, a private jet and even his Bad Boy Records label.Diddy, whose trial started this month, has been charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.He has also been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, also known as RICO, which means he could lose any of his assets deemed to have been used while committing a crime.Diddy has been the subject of dozens of lawsuits since his ex, Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura filed a lawsuit accusing the rapper of years of abuse and rape in November 2023.CASSIE TESTIFIES AGAINST SEAN DIDDY COMBS IN SEX TRAFFICKING CASEAnd while he has denied all of the accusations and charges against him as he goes into trial, his legal team has hired a consultant a federal prosecutor, who is an expert on federal asset forfeiture law after spending 30 years in the Department of Justice specializing in asset forfeiture and money laundering."RICO forfeiture is intended to be very broad, and so it has significant consequences," Stefan Cassella told USA Today, adding that he couldnt go into specifics of Diddys case because of his involvement as a consultant. "So, it's going to boil down to what they can prove was part of the enterprise."Fox News Digital has reached out to Cassella for comment.What assets of Diddys could be seized?Last year, Forbes said it conservatively estimated Diddys net worth to be around $400 million, saying his fortune had fallen along with his reputation after he was once poised to become a billionaire.The mogul owns several homes in the U.S., including a nearly $40 million home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Holmby Hills, another one he bought near Los Angeles in Toluca Lake for $5.25 million, two side-by-side waterfront homes on Miami Beach's Star Island that he paid $35 million and $14.5 million for, as well as a nearly $3 million Miami condo, according to Realtor.com.MEET THE JURORS SET TO DECIDE DIDDY'S FATE IN SEX CRIMES TRIALHe also sold a home in New Yorks East Hampton last year for $4.7 million.His homes in L.A. and Miami were raided last year as part of the federal sex trafficking investigation against him."The properties themselves could be included or referenced in the indictment as a means that served the ends of those alleged crimes, and they could be seized," Priya Sopori, a partner at Greenberg Glusker and a member of the firms litigation group, told Fox News Digital last year.She added, "In other words, if we were talking about charges that involved sex trafficking, the government would likely ask, Were these properties used to introduce victims of sex trafficking to potential abusers and sex offenders?""Were these properties an effective co-conspirator in these alleged crimes allowing and facilitating Mr. Combs alleged engagement in illegal activities? If so, and if Mr. Combs were to be found guilty of those alleged crimes, then the properties themselves could be seized by the government."Along with his properties, Diddy also owns a Gulfstream G550 jet through his LoveAir LLC valued at around $25 million.The plane was built in 2015, carries 14 passengers and was available to charter following Diddys arrest, Business Insider reported last year.Diddy also owns a luxury car collection, which GigWise estimated to be worth around $1.6 million last year, and includes a $500,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom, a Ferrari 360 Spider, a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder and a Cadillac Escalade.DIDDY TRIAL TIMELINE: HOW RAPPER LANDED IN HOT SEAT FACING LIFE BEHIND BARSDiddy has an extensive art collection, including Kerry James Marshalls"Past Times"painting, which he purchased at Sothebys for$21.1 million in 2018.His art advisor told artnet.com a year ago, before his arrest, that he had no plans to sell that painting or any others in his collection.Even the rappers businesses, including Bad Boy Records, which he started in 1993, could be seized. The company still makes money through music and publishing rights, but its value has plummeted because of his allegations, according to USA Today.His other businesses, which all fall under parent company Combs Global, include Combs Wines and Spirits, Revolt Media, Sean John fashion and fragrances brand and his nonprofit, the Sean Combs Foundation.Diddy sold his majority stake in Revolt Media last year.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSIn 2016, Sean Johns annual retail sales totaled $450 million, according to Womens Wear Daily, but has floundered since then.Macys began selling Sean Johns sportswear collection exclusively in 2010, but started to phase it out by 2023."Big box retail stores are always considering whats relevant and Sean John was no longer remotely popular with consumers. The brand lost its swagger," Ted Jenkin, president of Exit Stage Left Advisors, told FOX Business last year.The indictment against Diddy lumps all of his businesses together as the "Combs Business," saying it includes "among other things, record labels, a recording studio, an apparel line, an alcoholic spirits business, a marketing agency and a television network and media company," USA Today reported.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"Theyve written a very broadly worded forfeiture allegation," James Trusty, a former chief of DOJs Organized Crime and Gang Section, told USA Today. "Its so vague and so broad that I would think the defense would push for a bill of particulars," or a more specific explanation of what the feds are going after.The main decline in Diddys wealth last year was the end of his partnership with Diageo, an alcoholic beverage company, through his Croc vodka after sales began to decline starting in 2014, according to Forbes."Anything [Combs] did as an artist probably has lost substantial value, as has his brand," John Branca, Michael Jacksons estate attorney, told Forbes.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPBoth Casella and Trusty told USA Today that victims could seek a share of any assets seized from Diddy in future lawsuits.Investigators are also searching for any assets that Diddy may have hidden in an attempt to avoid having them seized.

Former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, and President Donald Trump have each commented on the grim news of President Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis."Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family. Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery," Obama noted in posts on social media.Biden served as vice president during Obama's White House tenure from early 2009 through early 2017.JOE BIDEN DIAGNOSED WITH AGGRESSIVE FORM OF PROSTATE CANCER WITH METASTASIS TO THE BONEHe was diagnosed with prostate cancer last week, according to a statement his personal office released on Sunday."Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone. While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management. The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians," the statement noted.President Donald Trump also commented on the news.POLITICAL WORLD REACTS TO FORMER PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AGGRESSIVE CANCER DIAGNOSIS: INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT"Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Bidens recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery," he noted in a post on Truth Social.The Clintons both commented as well."My friend Joe Bidens always been a fighter. Hillary and I are rooting for him and are keeping him, Jill, and the entire family in our thoughts," former President Bill Clinton noted."Im thinking of the Bidens as they take on cancer, a disease theyve done so much to try to spare other families from. Wishing you a speedy, full recovery," former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost the 2016 presidential election to Donald Trump, said in social media posts.BIDEN BATTLING MOST AGGRESSIVE TYPE OF PROSTATE CANCER WITH BONE METASTASIS, MEDICAL EXPERT SAYSBiden, who left office earlier this year on Jan. 20, is 82 years old.Fox News' Peter Doocy contributed to this report

A rookie driver celebrated an unlikely pole victory for the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.While Team Penske was disqualified before the final two rounds of qualifying, Robert Shwartzman won the pole.The 25-year-old was driving for PREMA Racing and became the first Indy 500 rookie to qualify for the pole since 1983. Shwartzman, who has dual nationality in Israel and Russia, initially raced under the Russian flag. He currently competes under the Israeli flag, which makes the Tel Aviv native the first driver from Israel to make "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMUntil Shwartzman's win, Teo Fabi was the last rookie to qualify for the Indy 500 pole. Coincidentally, he was an Italian just like Prema, which was also founded in 1983. Prema is established in Europe and races in the Formula 2 series. It made its IndyCar debut this season.Prema is the first team making its debut in the Indy 500 to land on the pole since Mayer Motor Racing put Tom Sneva there in 1984.KYLE LARSON SHRUGS OFF FRIDAY CRASH, QUALIFIES 21ST FOR INDY 500The event also marked Shwartzman's racing debut on an oval. He said the victory felt like a dream."Honestly it feels like I'm dreaming. I just had it in my dreams when I was going how would it feel to do such a good job in quali," he said. "It's the Indy 500. It's the main race of the year. Honestly it feels unbelievable."Shwartzman had been pursuing a career in Formula 1 and was part of the Ferrari development program as well as its reserve driver from 2021 until the end of last season. Prema then nabbed him for its two-car team.The pole was first wide open for the taking when Team Penske was disqualified from qualifying for an illegal modification on the cars of two-time defending Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden and Will Power. Then, Scott McLaughlin destroyed his car in a Sunday morning crash during practice.The three Penske drivers all started on the front row last year, but will be 10th, 11th and 12th in the fourth row together next weekend.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitals sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The U.S. Department of Education has rescinded a $37.7 million fine, with prejudice, against Grand Canyon University for alleged deceptive practices, according to the university.The proposed fine was the largest ever issued by the department against a university.University President Brian Mueller welcomed the decision to rescind the fine."The facts clearly support our contention that we were wrongly accused of misleading our Doctoral students, and we appreciate the recognition that those accusations were without merit," Mueller said in a statement.HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT TAKES 25% PAY CUT AMID TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FUNDING FREEZE"GCU is a leader in innovation, transparency and best practices in higher education and we look forward to working cooperatively with the Department in the future just as we have with all regulatory agencies," he continued.The fine was imposed in October 2023 after the federal government reported that an investigation found that 78% of doctoral students who graduated between 2017 and 2022 required additional courses and incurred additional costs of at least $10,000 to complete their programs.The university appealed the fine the following month, with Mueller accusing the federal government of being "out of control" and targeting one of the largest Christian universities in the country, according to a statement at the time.Mueller also said in a speech at the time that the fine was "ridiculous" and noted that another top Christian university, Liberty University, was reportedly being threatened with a $37 million fine for allegedly underreporting crimes.TRUMP TITLE IX TEAM PROBING EDUCATION CHIEF WHO CALLED IT 'INACCURATE' TO SAY THERE ARE ONLY BOYS AND GIRLS"Its interesting, isnt it, that the two largest Christian universities in the country, this one and Liberty University, are both being fined almost the identical amount at almost the identical time?" he said. "Now is there a cause and effect there? I dont know. But its a fact."The Department of Education's move to rescind the fine ends a yearslong legal battle for the university.

Weight-loss medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, which have gained popularity for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, have been shown to have the surprising secondary benefit of reducing alcohol intake.A team of international researchers from Ireland and Saudi Arabia followed 262 adult patients with obesity who started taking two GLP-1 medications: liraglutide or semaglutide.Among the regular drinkers, weekly alcohol intake decreased by 68%, from approximately 23 units of alcohol to around 8 units.WEIGHT LOSS, DIABETES DRUGS CAN CAUSE MOOD CHANGES: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BEHAVIORAL SIDE EFFECTSThe findings were recently published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and were also presented last week at the European Congress on Obesity in Spain.GLP-1 agonists mimic a hormone called GLP-1, which is released from the gastrointestinal system after eating, according to study co-author Carel Le Roux, a professor at University College Dublin.These medications activate GLP-1 receptors in the brain, decreasing the sense of "reward" people feel after eating or drinking, eventually leading to reduced cravings for both food and alcohol, he told Fox News Digital."It is this commonality of function that suggests the GLP-1 receptors in the brain may be a therapeutic target for not just the disease of obesity, but also for alcohol use disorder," the professor said.Before the participants started the weight-loss drugs, they self-reported their weekly alcohol intake, then were categorized as non-drinkers, rare drinkers or regular drinkers.Approximately 72% had at least two follow-up visits and 68% reported regular alcohol consumption.WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS IMPACT ON CANCER RISK REVEALED IN NEW STUDYAfter starting the weight-loss medications, the participants weekly average alcohol intake decreased by almost two-thirds overall from approximately 11 units of alcohol to four units after four months of treatment with the GLP-1 agonists.The reduction in alcohol use was comparable to the decrease that can be achieved by nalmefene, a drug that decreases the "buzz" feeling in people with alcohol use disorder in Europe, according to the researchers.For the 188 patients who were followed over an average of four months, none had increased their alcohol intake after starting the weight-loss medications.Patients reported that after an evening meal, they were too full to have their usual drink and when they did drink, they reported becoming full extremely quickly and drinking at a slower pace, Le Roux noted.This suggests that the experience was less enjoyable, partly due to the reduced rate of alcohol absorption.Some patients also reported that they didnt enjoy the flavor of the alcoholic beverages as much, and also that hangovers were much worse.All of these experiences showed that the weight-loss medications create "guard rails" that prevent most patients from drinking excessively, giving them a degree of control over their alcohol intake, according to Le Roux."The findings in this study suggest that we may have just found a therapeutic target for alcohol use disorder the GLP-1 receptor," the professor told Fox News Digital."This finding potentially opens the possibility of an entirely new pharmacological treatment paradigm, which could be used in conjunction with conventional methods, such as behavior therapy and group support."The study was limited by its relatively small number of patients, the researchers acknowledged.Also, the researchers were not able to verify the participants self-reported alcohol intake, and roughly one-third of them were not available for follow-up.SEMAGLUTIDE FOUND TO HAVE SHOCKING BENEFIT FOR LIVER DISEASE PATIENTS IN NEW STUDYThere was also no control group, which means the researchers couldnt prove that taking weight-loss medication reduces alcohol intake."Randomized, controlled trials with diverse patient populations including patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder are needed to provide the quality and quantity of data that could be used to support an application for licensing the medication for the treatment of alcohol use disorder," Le Roux said.(One such trial is currently underway in Denmark.)With the current medications available to treat alcohol use disorder, the "major problem" is compliance, Le Roux said "because the cravings for alcohol tend to come in waves.""This means a patient might be fully committed to treatment at one point in the week, but then stop taking the medication later in the week when a craving comes," the professor added.There are currently three FDA-approved medications to treat alcohol use disorder: naltrexone (which helps decrease cravings by reducing the "buzz" feeling that comes with drinking alcohol); disulfiram (which helps some people avoid alcohol by making them feel sick when they drink),and acamprosate (which restores the balance of hormones in the brain to reduce cravings), according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERBut less than 10% of people with alcohol use disorder get the proper treatment, with many resuming use within the first year of treatment, past research shows.The main advantage of the GLP-1 agonists is that they only need to be taken once a week and continue to work for the entire week.Outside experts say the studys findings highlight the potential of weight-loss medications to help treat alcohol use disorder."This research suggests a promising ancillary benefit of GLP-1 analogs, potentially influencing cravings for alcohol and offering a new avenue for managing alcohol use disorder,"Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, who was not part of the study, told Fox News Digital.For more Health articles, visitwww.foxnews.com/health"While the exact mechanisms are still being explored, the findings contribute to our understanding of the broader benefits of GLP-1 analogs beyond obesity treatment," Stanford added.

The United States has a hair-on-fire problem: its debt. This reality is not disputed by pretty much any credible person or entity, including the Treasury and the Fed. U.S. government debt is massive, currently north of 120% of GDP, an amount that is close to double what many institutions consider to be sustainable debt levels. Our deficit is running at a wartime level, around double the historic average as a percent of GDP, and interest on the debt has now surpassed spending on defense, which is not a healthy indicator for a country and its fiscal stability.A main cause of this issue is Congress and their years of reckless overspending. Unfortunately, it lies in their hands to fix the problem they helped create.US HEADING TOWARDS ECONOMIC HEART ATTACK IF DEBT IS NOT CUT SOON: WORLDS LARGEST HEDGE FUND FOUNDERCurrently, Congress is at work on "one big, beautiful bill" to address taxes and spending. And what we have seen thus far is still too big and doesnt address the critical issues at hand. Frankly, the new bill needs a "fat shot" (the humorous moniker President Donald Trump used for weight-loss drugs like Ozempic). And without it, we are just going to push our country nearer to a fiscal cliff.The problem with our finances is not one of tax collection, it is a spending problem. Federal government "revenue" was nearly $5 trillion for last fiscal year. That is more than the GDP of every country on earth, except the U.S. and China. Still, that is not enough for the government, which then spends that $5 trillion plus another $2 trillion around 6-7% of GDP which then needs to be financed.After decades of being irresponsible, we are dangerously close to that fiscal cliff. I worry about the prospects of a debt spiral. That is where the interest on our debt drives up the deficit (as it has). As the government needs to finance that deficit, the supply of Treasury debt increases. That then drives up Treasury yields, which increases our interest costs. That increases the deficits, which again have the same impact and that vicious cycle continues. SEAN HANNITY: THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION IS A 'TOTAL, UNMITIGATED DISASTER'And thats with debt servicing costs, running at $1.2 trillion at the end of 2024, plus entitlements already exceeding the tax revenue collected, before considering any other spending.Yet, while everyone knows our debt position is a problem, there doesnt seem to be the political will to fix it. In a recent X post, Stephen Moore, who has advised Trump on economic issues, posted, "Youll need a microscope to see the GOPs spending cuts! The CBO projects a staggering $89.3 trillion in federal spending over the next decade. The House plan proposes a mere $1.2 trillion reduction, leading to a total of $88.1 trilliona tiny 1.5% cut! Meanwhile, the Senate suggests an almost laughable $4 billion reduction against $521 billion in increases. By 2035, the GOPs starvation diet still lands us at $10 trillion in spendingup from last years $7 trillion, only 40% increase instead of 50%." This does not bode well for our financial future.SHOCKING GOVERNMENT REPORT REVEALS NATIONAL DEBT CRISIS GREW MUCH WORSE UNDER BIDENThe Trump administration has several paths available to be able to buy us some time, patch up our fiscal foundation and solidify our future. However, none of those options make sense if Congress cant be reined in long term.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONConsider the DOGE efforts. We know that the program has identified a great deal of waste, fraud and abuse already. While that is great in theory, we need to see it moved by Congress into concrete, long-term spending reductions.Given that, with GOP control of Congress, spending is still not being reined in, our long-term fiscal prospects are grim.We need a small, beautiful bill or, even better, a bunch of small, focused bills, with a real plan to reduce spending and to make sure Congress cant continue to run up our debt, deficit and interest expense.If we dont give the bill and our spending a "fat shot," our country will die from its fiscal obesity.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM CAROL ROTH