A school board meeting for the Lucia Mar Unified School District featured the testimony of junior Audrey Vanherweg, who spoke out against trans inclusion on her track and field team.

Chabad of Bel Air, California Rabbi Chaim Mentz and plastic surgeon Dr. Sheila Nazarian plea for Americans to 'speak up' against antisemitism following the killing of two Israeli Embassy staffers on 'Fox News @ Night.'

FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican is hoping to ensure that families of fallen loved ones can mourn at their gravesides on federal holidays, days they are usually closed to visitation.Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., is introducing legislation Thursdaythat would require the more than 170 cemeteries overseen by the federal government to stay open during legally recognized holidays, including Memorial Day, Christmas, Independence Day and others.Cemeteries operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and National Parks Service are typically closed during major holidays, save for Arlington National Cemetery, which is open on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, but closed for all other holidays.DEMOCRATS PREDICT PASSING TRUMP'S BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL WILL COST MANY REPUBLICANS THEIR SEATSDaines said in a statement to Fox News Digital that holidays like Memorial Day give Americans "the opportunity to remember all those brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms.""Our national cemeteries should be open on these special days, so that family and friends can pay their respects to their loved ones," he said. "Im proud to introduce this bill to ensure that our fallen service members can receive the tributes and honor that they deserve."TRUMP SUPRISES 104-YEAR-OLD WWII VETERAN WITH BIRTHDAY MESSAGE AFTER VIRAL TIKTOK INVITEThe federal government began operating national cemeteries during the Civil War in the early 1860s to offer final resting places for fallen Union soldiers, according to the National Park Service.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe practice has since grown into over 170 different national cemeteries operated by three government agencies, the Department of Defense, the VA and the National Park Service. Not every state, however, has a national cemetery.Montana, which Daines represents in the Senate, is home to two national cemeteries: the Fort Missoula Post Cemetery and Yellowstone National Cemetery.

Nearly two weeks after Taylor Swift was subpoenaed as a witness in Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's heated legal dispute, the Grammy Award-winning pop star is no longer required to testify as Baldoni's team has withdrawn the documents, Fox News Digital has confirmed.On Thursday, representatives for Lively expressed their approval of the reversal, saying they will continue to "stand up for any third party who is unjustly harassed or threatened in the process.""We are pleased that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties have withdrawn their harassing subpoenas to Taylor Swift and her law firm," Lively's team said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "We supported the efforts of Taylors team to quash these inappropriate subpoenas directed to her counsel and we will continue to stand up for any third party who is unjustly harassed or threatened in the process. The Baldoni and Wayfarer team have tried to put Taylor Swift, a woman who has been an inspiration for tens of millions across the globe, at the center of this case since day one."TAYLOR SWIFT SUBPOENAED IN BLAKE LIVELY, JUSTIN BALDONI'S LEGAL BATTLE"Exploiting Taylor Swifts celebrity was the original plan in Melissa Nathans scenario planning document, and it continues to this day," the statement continued. "Faced with having to justify themselves in federal court, they folded. At some point they will run out of distractions from the actual claims of sexual harassment and retaliation they are facing."A source with direct knowledge of the case tells Fox News Digital, "When information is voluntarily received, there is no need for subpoenas."A representative for Swift did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSAfter Swift was subpoenaed on May 10, a spokesperson for the pop star denied her involvement in the 2024 film "It Ends With Us" aside from the licensing of her song "My Tears Ricochet," which was featured in the movie's trailer and used in one scene."Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history," Swift's representative told Fox News Digital.TAYLOR SWIFT AND BLAKE LIVELY'S FRIENDSHIP 'HAS HALTED' DURING BALDONI LEGAL DRAMA: REPORT"The connection Taylor had to this film was permitting the use of one song, My Tears Ricochet,'" the spokesperson added. "Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swifts name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case."Lively filed her lawsuit against Baldoni and "It Ends With Us" film producer Jamey Heath for sexual harassment, retaliation and emotional distress. She first filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights department and later filed one in federal court in December.In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion and defamation.In an attempt to prove his claims that Lively had taken control of the movie's production, Baldoni's legal team suggested that the actress had used her friendship with the globally famous Swift to threaten him. While working on the film, Lively insisted on rewriting the infamous rooftop scene. Baldoni had been hesitant about the idea, but he told the actress he would "take a look at what she put together," according to the complaint.Afterward, Lively invited Baldoni over to her New York City home, where the actor said he had felt that Swift and Reynolds had pressured him into using the rewritten scene. "Later, Baldoni felt obliged to text Lively to say that he had liked her pages and hadnt needed Reynolds and her megacelebrity friend to pressure him," the complaint said.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER" I really love what you did. It really does help a lot. Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Ryan and Taylor [emoji] You really are a talent across the board. Really excited nd [sic] grateful to do this together," Baldoni's text read, according to the complaint.Lively shared a lengthy response, in which she referred to Swift and Reynolds as "dragons" who protect her."Both Ryan and [redacted] have established themselves as absolute titans as writers and storytellers outside of their primary gig just singing or just acting or [redacted] just directing. I'm so lucky to have them as creative barometers," Lively's text, included in the complaint, read. "But also to have them as people who prop me up and make sure I'm seen for all I can, and do offer. Because they know firsthand all I contribute. They also know I'm not always as good at making sure I'm seen and utilized for fear of threatening egos, or fear of affecting the ease of the process. They don't give a s--- about that. And because of that, everyone listens to them with immense respect and enthusiasm. So I guess I have to stop worrying about people liking me."Baldoni believed that "the message could not have been clearer," according to the lawsuit. "Baldoni was not just dealing with Lively. He was also facing Livelys dragons, two of the most influential and wealthy celebrities in the world, who were not afraid to make things very difficult for him."The legal conflict is currently set to head to trial before a New York court in March 2026.Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this post.

North Korean dictator Kim Jung Un was left fuming this week when he attended the botched launch of a new 5,000-ton naval destroyer.The launch, at the northeastern port of Chongjin, was intended to tout the communist nations military advancement but ended in embarrassment for Kim after the ship slid off a ramp and became stuck, state media reported.The flatcar failed to move alongside the ship, throwing it off balance and crushing parts of the ships bottom, North Korean news agency KCNA reported. Its stern slid down the launch slipway while its bow section failed to leave the ramp.KIM JONG UN SUPERVISES NORTH KOREA'S AIR DRILLS, PUSHES FOR ENHANCED WAR PREPARATIONThe total extent of the damage was unclear and it isnt known if there were any injuries.North Korea did not release photos from the scene, although satellite imagery released by South Korea on Thursday indicated that the ship was lying on its side in the water after the failed launch.According to KCNA, Kim, who was present at the ceremony on Wednesday, blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for a "serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism."Kim warned that the errors caused by the "irresponsibility of the relevant officials" would need to be investigated at a ruling Workers Party meeting slated for late June.He said that restoring the destroyer before the meeting was directly related to the prestige of the state and the restoration should be completed unconditionally.Moon Keun-sik, a navy expert who teaches at Seouls Hanyang University, said that despite the embarrassment, Kim still wanted to publicly report on the mishap."It's a shameful thing, but the reason why North Korea disclosed the incident is it wants to show it's speeding up the modernization of its navy forces and expresses its confidence that it can eventually build," he told The Associated Press.Moon suspected that the incident likely happened because North Korean workers aren't yet familiar with such a large warship and had been rushed to put it in the water.It was the second naval destroyer the secretive nation launched in a month after Kim attended the successful launch of another 5,000-ton destroyer from Nampo, a port on the west coast of North Korea. Kim later watched missiles fired from the ship, with experts saying that it appeared to have been built with Russian technology.Experts said that both ships are likelydesigned to carry weapons systems including nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.600 NORTH KOREAN TROOPS KILLED WHILE FIGHTING UKRAINE, SOUTH KOREA SAYSA report by the North Korea-focused 38 North website assessed last week that the destroyer in Chongjin was being prepared to be launched sideways from the quay, a method that has rarely been used in North Korea. The report said the destroyer launched in Nampo, in contrast, used a floating dry dock.Kim has framed the arms buildup as a response to perceivedthreats from the United Statesand South Korea, which have been expanding joint military exercises in response to the Norths advancing nuclear program.In March, Kim oversaw tests of newly developed AI-powered suicide drones and called for their increased production. Hewas seen walking with aides on what appeared to be anunmanned surveillance aircraft that resembles the U.S. RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude surveillance aircraft parked on the tarmac in the background.Other images showed a fixed-wing drone zeroing in on a tank-shaped target then exploding in flames.Kimhas saidthat unmanned control andAI capabilitymust be the top priorities in modern arms development.Kim was also seen walking to a large aircraftwith four engines and a radar dome mounted on the fuselage. Analysts have previously reported thatNorth Koreawas converting the Russian-made Il-76 cargo aircraft for an early-warning role to help augment the North's existing land-based radar systems, which are sometimes limited by the peninsula's mountainous terrain,London's International Institute for Strategic Studies said in a report in September.North Korea also revealed this year that it has anuclear-powered submarine under construction, a weapons system that could pose a major security threat to South Korea and the U.S.Meanwhile, North Korea has sent between 11,000 and 15,000 military personnel to fight alongside Russia in the war against Ukraine in its first involvement in a large-scale conflict since the 1950-53 Korean War.The South Korean military assessed that around 4,700 of them have been killed or wounded.The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA's MVP Wednesday night, and someone who's been there through it all could not have been happier.Shortly after Gilgeous-Alexander won the award, the first of his career, AT&T released a video highlighted by a voicemail left for the MVP by his mother, Charmaine."Finally! You got it!" she began.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"You deserve it. Like I said, be you, stay focused and everything else will work out. You're definitely on your way to being one of the best to ever play the game. And now? Another thing checked off your list. This is why your whole life has been consistent. Be careful and continue to dominate and be the best leader on and off the court. The world finally gets to see you the way I've always seen you."You know how much I love you. I'm so, so, so proud of you. Well-deserved. Bye, love you."The Canadian star and league's leading scorer posted career highs with 32.7 points and 6.4 assists per game, carrying the Oklahoma City Thunder to the No. 1 seed in the West with an NBA-best 68-14 record.Gilgeous-Alexander was the MVP runner-up last year to Nikola Joki of the Denver Nuggets. The Thunder defeated Joki's Nuggets in seven games in the second round this season.KNICKS CHOKE AWAY DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD LATE AFTER PACERS PULL OFF REGGIE MILLER-ESQUE HEROICSGilgeous-Alexander was the 11th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 2018 but was quickly traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He only spent one year there, though, and was part of a package that sent Paul George to Los Angeles.Since the trade, Gilgeous-Alexander has been a diamond in the rough, and he will soon be named first-team All-NBA a third straight year. He's also led the NBA in free throws made per game the last two seasons.Oklahoma City kicked off the Western Conference finals with a 114-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who fell in the same round to the Dallas Mavericks last year. OKC trailed by four points at the half but outscored Minnesota 70-40 in the second half.This is the furthest OKC has gotten in the playoffs since 2016, when the Thunder blew a 3-1 lead to the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in the conference finals. The Warriors then did the same to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.Oklahoma City, formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics, is still looking for its first NBA title since moving (Seattle won the NBA title in 1979). The Thunder last made the NBA Finals in 2012, when they lost to James and the Miami Heat.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Authorities raided the Chicago apartment of a 30-year-old left-wing activist accused of killing two Israeli embassy workers outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., Thursday, a day after the surprise attack, as the FBI looks to verify the authenticity of an apparent antisemitic "manifesto" circulating online.Agents and officers in tactical gear, carrying rifles and at least one ballistic shield, were seen swarming the brick building around 9 a.m.Elias Rodriguez is accused of lurking outside an event at the museum and then opening fire on two people as they were leaving.TWO ISRAELI EMBASSY WORKERS SHOT, KILLED DURING EVENT AT CAPITAL JEWISH MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON, DCImages from FOX 32 Chicago show investigators on scene for much of Thursday morning, coming and going from an apartment complex in the Albany Park neighborhood.One of them also showed a sign hanging in a window reading, "Justice for Wadea."A neighbor, John Wayne Fry, told reporters outside Thursday that the window belonged to Rodriguez."That gave me the impression that they were very, very sensitive people, especially about the issue of Palestine," he said.WITNESS RECOUNTS MOMENT JEWISH MUSEUM SHOOTER ALLEGEDLY CONFESSED I DID THIS FOR GAZAIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the suspect a "brutal terrorist" Thursday and condemned liberal governments in Europe that he accused of supporting Hamas over Israel.After the Metropolitan Police Department took Rodriguez into custody, he shouted the anti-Israel protest slogan, "Free, free Palestine!"Wadea al-Fayoume was a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy killed in his family's Illinois home in a hate crime attack days after Hamas launched a terror attack against Israel that authorities called the worst terrorist attack in Israel's history.WHO IS THE SUSPECT IN THE KILLING OF 2 ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFFERS?It left more than 1,200 civilians dead, including at least 40 Americans, according to the Defense Department.Seven days after the Hamas attack, Wadea's landlord Joseph Czuba, 73, stabbed him 26 times with a knife and attacked his mother, too. A jury found him guilty in February of murder, attempted murder, hate crimes and other charges.A possible manifesto condemning Israel's response to the Hamas attack has been circulating online, attributed to Rodriguez without confirmation. Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, wrote on X that the bureau was aware of the document and investigating its authenticity."The subject is in custody and interviewed last night at approximately 1 a.m.," he added. "As this is a pending investigation, we will share more with you when we are able."Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said Rodriguez is the only suspect.In 2017, he was photographed by Liberation a self-described socialist news site outside then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel's house during a dual protest against Amazon and the death of a Black man who had been killed by a police officer.The article appears to have been taken down, but an archived version shows he accused Amazon of "whitening Seattle" and claimed that the corporation forced people into "deeper and deeper poverty."The outlet described him as a member of the "Party for Socialism and Liberation" at least at the time. The group, which has publicly criticized Israel's response to the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terror attack, disavowed Rodriguez Tuesday and condemned the shooting."He had a brief association with one branch of the PSL that ended in 2017. We know of no contact with him in over 7 years.The victims of Wednesday night's shooting have been identified as Sarah Milgrim, a U.S. citizen who worked at the embassy, and Yaron Lischinsky, a Christian Israeli.Lischinsky's father, Daniel Lischinsky, told Fox News' Trey Yingst that the two were dating, and his son had planned to propose to Milgrim soon."They were in love, one for the other," he said. "The embassy told us they were like a star couple at the embassy. I never expected something like this."They were killed walking out of an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee that focused on finding humanitarian solutions for Palestinians in Gaza.Fox News' Alexandra Koch and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.

The NBAs greatest-player-of-all-time debate has raged on as LeBron James has continued to excel in the twilight of his NBA career.Some fans say the NBAs best-ever is Michael Jordan, the fierce competitor who won six titles in eight seasons. Other fans say it is James, a four-time champion and the leagues all-time leading scorer.Jordans longtime agent, David Falk, added fuel to the fire that is the "G.O.A.T" debate.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMFalk listed Jordan as his best-ever but, shockingly, did not have James as his second-best ever, and took a swipe at the current Los Angeles Lakers star.The agent said his next-best player after Jordan is either Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Kobe Bryant."I really like LeBron," Falk said, via Sports Business Journal. "But I think if Jordan had cherry-picked what teams he wanted to be on and two other superstars, he wouldve won 15 championships."Falk said James would "probably" land in his top ten best players ever.CAITLIN CLARK MAKES BOLD STATEMENT AFTER PACERS' INCREDIBLE COMEBACK WIN OVER KNICKSJordans former agent referenced James tenure with the Miami Heat with his "cherry-picked" comment.James, after being unable to capture a title in his first seven seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, departed in free agency for the Miami Heat.James, alongside star center Chris Bosh, signed with the Heat in free agency to join Dwayne Wade, and created the "Big 3." A lot of fans credit the Heat for being the first to create a "superteam."In his four seasons with the Heat, James won two championships.Jordan, on the other hand, stuck with the Chicago Bulls until after his second retirement, when he joined the Washington Wizards.Follow Fox News Digitals sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

A career Democratic operative and ex-Biden communications flack is helping handle public relations for a new book about the former president's decline while in office.CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson's new book, "Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," was released on Tuesday and has generated considerable publicity. It details Joe Biden's mental acuity concerns while in office, accusing the Biden White House of hiding the truth about his fitness for office. Tapper and Thompson retained the crisis management firm Heller to help handle public relations for the book which has generated significant coverage and criticism and interested reporters have been directed to send questions to Heller senior vice president Nate Evans, a veteran Democratic communications aide.TAPPER ADMITS FEELING 'HUMILITY' ABOUT PAST BIDEN COVERAGE AS LIBERALS DISPARAGE NEW BOOKEvans, who joined Heller after Biden left office five months ago, spent nearly three years working at a New York-based role for the State Department during Bidens presidency, according to his LinkedIn.Before that, Evans served as a senior White House communications advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris from September through December 2024 after she replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee. He also held various roles in Sen. Amy Klobuchars, D-Minn., office, and he served as a communications director for the Biden campaign in Wisconsin in 2020, according to his LinkedIn page.The roles Evans occupied would have "little-to-no face time" with Biden, a source familiar with Biden administration staffing told Fox News Digital.FLASHBACK: KARINE JEAN-PIERRE DECLARED THERE IS 'NO COVER-UP' OF BIDEN'S HEALTH AFTER HE DROPPED OUT OF RACEHe also worked for Harris' first presidential campaign in 2019, worked on Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign and also served in the Obama White House.Evans personal X account noted that he was a spokesperson for both Harris and Biden until Thursday afternoon. The bio section was scrubbed shortly after Fox News Digital inquired about his past work.Evans did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Risa Heller, the founder and CEO of the firm, previously served as communications director for Senator Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., from 2005 to 2007, according to her LinkedIn.The book features startling behind-the-scenes coverage of Biden's mental decline in office that worried many Democrats who failed to speak out at the time. Conservatives, however, have pilloried the book as coming too late to the same conclusion they did before Biden's debate performance laid bare his cognitive deficiencies.FORMER BIDEN MEDICAL ADVISOR SAYS HE 'PROBABLY' HAD CANCER AT BEGINNING OF PRESIDENCYTapper has acknowledged "humility" about his past coverage of Biden during multiple stops on his promotional book tour."I think some of the criticism is fair, to be honest," Tapper told CNN last week as he was pressed on the criticisms of himself and the book. "Of me, certainly. Im not going to speak for anybody else, but knowing then what I know now, I look back at my coverage during the Biden years and I did cover some of these issues, but not enough. I look back on it with humility."Tapper declined to comment on the record, while Thompson didn't respond to a request for comment.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFox News Digitals Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.

Disney CEO Bob Iger and other executives have reportedly asked the co-hosts of "The View" to turn down their heated political rhetoric.Multiple Disney sources told The Daily Beast that both Iger and ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic recently suggested that the all-female daytime talk show panel be less antagonistic on political issues, though the recommendation was reportedly not taken too seriously. The co-hosts of "The View" have become known as being some of President Donald Trumps fiercest media critics since he began his political career."This is what our audience wants. Isnt it gonna look kind of bad if were all of a sudden not talking about politics?" one source told the outlet, paraphrasing how the co-hosts replied to the ABC and Disney executives.BIDEN TELLS 'THE VIEW' HE WASN'T SURPRISED HARRIS LOST, BLAMES SEXISM AND RACISMAs the outlet reported, "Karamehmedovic convened a meeting with The Views executive producer Brian Teta and its hosts, and suggested the panel needed to broaden its conversations beyond its predominant focus on politics."The ABC News president pointed to successful, less political segments with famous guests and suggested the co-hosts focus on this kind of content.The sources described how the shows hosts pushed back against the suggestion, with Ana Navarro reacting the most forcefully. She told the ABC News head that audiences want the hosts to speak out on political issues.FORMER BIDEN MEDICAL ADVISOR SAYS HE 'PROBABLY' HAD CANCER AT BEGINNING OF PRESIDENCYThe sources stated that Navarro and her colleagues found the request "silly" and insisted they were going to "keep doing their thing."They also spoke of a conversation that Navarro had with Iger during an event last week held by the ABC parent company intended to woo new advertisers.The co-host reportedly expressed gratitude to Iger for allowing her and her co-hosts to continue doing the show in a politically divisive time. The Disney boss told Navarro he supports the show, but added that it needs to relax with its political commentary.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREMultiple sources told The New York Post in February that "The View" executive producer Brian Teta had asked the hosts to try "going easy" on Trump in the weeks leading up to his inauguration.The request was reportedly the cause of morale being "low" on set at the time.One of The Daily Beasts sources noted that ABC will "constantly have conversations with talent based on viewer feedback," noting that this latest instance with Iger and Karamehmedovic is "no different."A spokesperson for ABC News declined to comment for this story. Representatives from Disney did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's request for comment.