A retired FBI special agent is sounding the alarm after 10 inmates escaped from a New Orleans jail, with five remaining at large, saying this incident "should get everyone's attention.""This wasnt a complicated escape. Ten inmates got out through a hole behind a toilet. It took more than seven hours before anyone noticed they were gone," Jason Pack, a retired FBI special agent, said to Fox News Digital. "That tells you a lot about whats going on inside that jail. Too few people on staff. Not enough oversight. And likely not enough working equipment or security checks."On Tuesday, an Orleans Parish Jail maintenance worker was arrested and charged in connection with the escape.Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill shared in a statement that Sterling Williams, 33, had been arrested and charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and malfeasance in office.LOUISIANA JAIL WORKER ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY HELPING 10 INMATES ESCAPE ORLEANS PARISH FACILITY"Williams admitted to agents that one of the escapees advised him to turn the water off in the cell where the inmates escaped from," Murrill said in the statement. "Instead of reporting the inmate, Williams turned the water off as directed, allowing the inmates to carry out their scheme to successfully escape."Pack said the inmates' choice to target a maintenance worker for help was a smart and calculated move."If you think about it, maintenance people are not really looked after there. They're kind of low-key, and they have keys to doors. They have access to utilities and panels, so it was pretty smart to target him on the part of the criminals," Pack said.He added that the prison escape was also not a "crime of opportunity" and had most likely been planned for some time."Inmates are resourceful when it comes to things on the inside. It's not out of the realm of possibility that they hatched this plan over a few days or a few weeks," Pack said.Additionally, Williams' arrest may not be the only one coming, Pack theorized, stating that this could be just the first initial wave of arrests as other employees had been suspended."It seems like these inmates are going to exploit any crack in the system they can. And sometimes the cracks will lead to pressure whether waiting or not for folks who are in vulnerable positions. And that seemed to be what happened here, enough so that he (Williams) was able to turn the water off, they were able to pull the toilet out and escape through the corridor there and out the back door," Pack said."And I think when we say jailbreak from now on, all of us are going to remember that video of the 10 people just fleeing out the jail."Pack added that "the bigger issue is what allowed this to happen in the first place.""That jail had just 36 officers working with over 1,000 inmates. Thats not enough people to keep a place like that running safely. When staff are stretched that thin, its easy for things to slip through the cracks. Most jails around the country are dealing with similar problems low staffing, budget cuts and buildings that are falling apart," Pack said.The jail is only at 60% staffing, and at the time of the escape, four supervisors and 36 staff members were monitoring 1,400 inmates, authorities said.LOUISIANA STATE POLICE CAPTURES 4TH ESCAPED INMATE IN NOLA PRISON BREAK, 6 STILL AT LARGEFive of the 10 inmates remain on the run, with the fifth recaptured Tuesday in New Orleans.Corey Boyd, 19, who was briefly spotted last Friday hours after the jailbreak, was taken into custody Tuesday, the Louisiana State Police said. Boyd was originally jailed for second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery and threatening a public official.However, the escapee who is considered most dangerous is Derrick Groves, 27, who remains at large.He was convicted of killing two men during Mardi Gras in New Orleans Ninth Ward in 2018 and was in jail awaiting sentencing.LOUISIANA GOVERNOR BLASTS 'PROGRESSIVE PROMISES' AFTER NEW ORLEANS JAIL ESCAPEPack said what makes this case more unique than other prison breaks is the number of convicts that escaped at once."It's very unusual to have a 10-person manhunt in a prison escape like this. These don't happen regularly. And when they do, it just shows you the danger that folks can risk close to the community and why corrections officers are an important part of the law enforcement team," Pack said. "There is a nationwide shortage of correction officers around. They're low-paid and under-appreciated and it's a very difficult job dealing with inmates."Pack said the number one goal for law enforcement right now is getting the inmates "back into custody quickly and safely.""Some of them are facing serious charges, and when people are on the run, especially if theyre scared, things can get dangerous fast. They might steal a car, break into a house, or hurt someone if they feel cornered. The longer this drags out, the more chance someone gets hurt," Pack said.The five fugitives still on the run are Groves, Jermaine Donald, 42, Antoine Massey, 33, Leo Tate, 31, and Lenton Vanburen, 27.Pack added that while it is unlikely any of the convicts fled the country, they would run into obstacles anywhere trying to run, as there are agencies nationwide and around the world assisting in locating them."You can't outrun the feds, and you can't outrun the FBI or the Marshals Service, because they have offices around the country and indeed, around the world," Pack said. "So even if they do happen to make it to another country I'm not suggesting that that's what's happened yet but if they had to do that, the FBI and the Marshals and federal law enforcement have liaisons in other countries that are able to step in and help them even though they don't have jurisdiction there."So you can run, you can hide, but you can't hide forever. And just because this case may lose traction in the media, it's not going to lose traction with law enforcement."Pack added that having no incidents reported since the inmates escaped has been a "miracle in itself.""The fugitives get desperate out there and so when they feel the pressure, and they're feeling the heat, sometimes they act in desperation. So hopefully they'll continue not to. It's possible and likely that they have people on the outside that are helping them hide out in these matters," Pack said."Police dont want this to end with anyone getting injured, including the escapees. The goal is to find them, surround them, and bring them in without any drama," Pack continued. "Thats what officers train for. Its not about chasing headlines. Its about doing the job carefully and professionally, even when the public is watching."Fox News Digital's Peter D'Abrosca, Michael Dorgan and Alex Koch contributed to this report.

The Indiana coroner working to identify victims from Fox Hollow Farm says "several tragedies" still remain.In late April, Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison announced his office had identified the remains of Daniel Thomas Halloran at Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield, Indiana. He's the 10th victim of suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister, but investigators have linked Baumeister to at least 25 victims.A spokesperson for the coroner's office previously told Fox News Digital it still has three DNA profiles that haven't been identified.Jellison said his office is working through 10,000 bone fragments and doesn't know how many victims might be identified but told Fox News Digital in an interview there are "several tragedies."FOX HOLLOW FARM SERIAL KILLER'S 10TH VICTIM IDENTIFIED: CORONER"We have 10,000 bone and bone fragments, so how many victims, you know, that will be is undetermined," Jellison said. "I heard someone say recently that one death is a tragedy, two or more deaths is a statistic. And I think we have several tragedies because you have to treat each one of these individuals separately."So, we look at it really, you know, it's not how many potential victims do we have, but let's just continue working hard to identify. And then, at the end, we'll tally that up."SIGN UP TO GET THE TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTERJellison said in an interview he plans on continuing to identify more victims until he's no longer in office."This investigation will far exceed my time in this office," Jellison said.FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON XLaw enforcement believes Baumeister lured gay men to his home during the 1980s and 1990s, where he would kill them and bury their bodies on his 18-acre property, known as Fox Hollow Farm.FOX HOLLOW SERIAL KILLER'S SECRET TAPES COULD REVEAL MURDER HORRORS IF EVER FOUND: DOCUMENTARYHe often went to gay bars in the Indianapolis area when his family was out of town and, according to detectives, he would find men to bring home. Baumeister owned the Sav-A-Lot thrift store chain.Baumeister killed himself in 1996 at a Canadian park shortly after bone fragments were found on his property, prompting authorities to launch an investigation.GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUBA recent ABC News documentary, "The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer," revealed investigators believe Baumeister recorded his victims using a hidden camera inside his basement's air vent.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"Something to relive the murders," said retired Hamilton County Sheriffs Office Det. Cary Milligan. "Were looking through the bottom of the entertainment area and we noticed this vent. I was suspicious that if Herb was videotaping any activity that might have been going on. That may have been a way that Herb couldve gained power over the individuals that he was killing."

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Daniel Gade, a wounded soldier who refused to let the enemy win and built a career helping other soldiers in the classroom, is now assisting veterans as they cope with returning to normal life while facing dark times and possibly suicide.The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) National Veteran Suicide Prevention annual report, released in December 2024, revealed there were 47,891 suicides among all U.S. adults in 2022, averaging just over 131 per day. The numbers included 17.6 veteran suicides per day.Gade, a two-time Purple Heart recipient, serves as a senior advisor for Americas Warrior Partnership (AWP), which has a mission to partner with communities to prevent veteran suicide, while also helping communities figure out how to provide for their veterans.Through academic research with Duke University and other institutions, along with state and local agencies, AWP found that the veteran suicide rate is much higher than what is reported.BIPARTISAN BILL WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR MILITARY RECRUITS WITH MEDICAL ISSUES TO LAND DEFENSE JOBSIn fact, the research conducted by AWP and its partners shows the veteran suicide rate is actually higher, Gade said, because many deaths go unreported. The organization, he added, is conducting rigorous research that is getting to some of the root causes of veteran dislocation, a term Gade used because dislocation, or disconnectedness, is "kind of a precondition for suicide.""What they're looking at is the disconnectedness in order to better prevent suicide," he said. "So, it's not about dumping money into crisis lines, because by the time somebody calls a crisis line, it's way too late. And for a lot of people, they never call a crisis line; they just go to the gun safe. And that's not good enough."Instead, the process is about building veterans back up and helping them find their place in society, a process Gade said he personally experienced.Gade joined the Army in 1992 at the age of 17. A year later, he was accepted into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York. He graduated from the academy in 1997, becoming an armored officer in the Army. Seven years later, he was deployed to Iraq, where he was wounded twice.'DOWN TO ZERO': VETERAN SUICIDE CRISIS TARGETED IN VA BILL BY BIPARTISAN HOUSE COALITIONThe first time he was wounded was in November 2004, when the tank he was in was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. Gade said he was wounded mildly, though a young soldier next to him, Dennis Miller from La Salle, Michigan, was killed in the attack. Two months later, Gade was involved in another attack."I was hit by a roadside bomb, an IED [improvised explosive device] that caused me to lose my entire right leg. So, I'm a right leg, hip-level amputee," he said, adding that the wounds forced him to spend a year in the hospital. "During that time I had to find a way to rebuild myself."Rebuilding meant Gade had to rediscover who he was going to be professionally and personally. It also meant pondering the type of athletics he would be able to do and whether he would be able to provide for his family."All of those were really critical questions 20 years ago when I was trying to solve that problem, and since then, Ive had a great career," he said.U.S. SOLDIER WOUNDED DURING GAZA PIER MISSION DIES MONTHS AFTER BEING INJUREDA year to the day after Gade was injured, he started to work on his masters degree at the University of Georgia. Upon completion, he was invited to the White House to serve as an associate director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under George W. Bushs administration."I went from being sort of a user-level wounded warrior to being at the very highest levels of government, you know, helping to formulate policy that would help wounded warriors," Gade said.Gade retired from the Army in 2017, spending the last six years of his service as a professor at West Point, which he calls "a phenomenal place."After that, Gade dabbled in politics, making a run for the U.S. Senate in Virginia in 2020 as a Republican against Democratic Sen. Mark Warner. Gade ultimately lost, but he was able to join Glenn Youngkins campaign for Virginia governor as an advisor, and when Youngkin won, Gade was tapped to serve as the commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services."I got to go back to my roots, kind of, serving veterans, which is what Ive done as a personal mission for many years now, basically since I became a wounded warrior back in 2005," Gade said.Today, Gade owns a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business called Interfuse, which is involved in chemical and biological defense products for the Air Force, Army and Navy.BENGHAZI LEGEND MARK GEIST PRESENTS K9 SERVICE DOG TO COMBAT VETERAN IN N.J.He also continues to help veterans through AWP by connecting veterans to their communities and giving them purpose and value while connecting them with other people. When you do that, Gade said, you find suicidality or the propensity to commit suicide goes down "a good bit."One of the communities the organization has worked with is the Navajo Nation."If you think about people in society who are disadvantaged you always sort of think about, you know, minorities in the inner city or people born into a tough situation like that," Gade explained. "But very few people know the plight of the American Indian."Gade grew up in North Dakota, where the Navajo Nation owns several large reservations. Those reservations, he said, suffer from poverty, alcoholism, dysfunctional families, divorce and many other issues.He explained that many people in the Navajo Nation join the military because they are patriotic, but also because they are searching for a way to escape and better themselves. Oftentimes, they go on to do great things in the military, Gade said, pointing to the Navajo Code Talkers, who used their native language to create secret codes during World War II.After serving their country, the tribal members return to their communities, but according to Gade, they bring back post-traumatic stress, physical injuries or other conditions that get laid on top of what were already tough economic and social conditions for them."Americas Warrior Partnership, through its connectedness with the Navajo Nation, [is] taking sort of a whole-of-society approach," Gade said. "Its not just helping police figure out how you divert somebody instead of arresting somebody. In some cases, you might want to offer them resources so they can escape that path themselves."Part of that community connection also gives insight into whom the veterans are, not just to prevent suicide, but also to get better statistics on what is leading to veteran suicide.AWP created a project called Operation Deep Dive that digs further into veteran causes of death.FOX NEWS' PETE HEGSETH OPENS UP ABOUT POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AFTER IRAQ DEPLOYMENTWhile the VA reports a veteran suicide rate of about 17%, AWP found through Operation Deep Dive that the rate is almost double that.Gade said the difference came down to unreported suicides. For example, there may be a 25-year-old veteran who crashes a vehicle at midnight, but it is not known why he crashed the car. The coroner may just write the cause of death as a single-vehicle accident, but a deeper dive by Operation Deep Dive may look into the persons life. That same investigation may find the veteran was despairing, had just gone through a divorce or something along those lines.Another example where Operation Deep Dive may help is if someone has an overdose of a prescription medication prescribed by the VA. The coroner has to determine if it is accidental or suicide, and by doing a deep dive, the organization is finding that the deaths are more likely than not to have been self-harm or accidental self-harm, rather than just pure accidents."Thats where the difference comes its expanding our definition of unnatural death to include these others," Gade said. "And then you realize, oh, man, a whole lot of these are suicides and not just single-vehicle accidents.""Every suicide is tragic, but every suicide, you know, suicide is a disease of despair," he added. "What America's Warrior Partnership is doing is really trying to get at the roots of that and defeat suicide before it comes into somebody's life."

A young Pennsylvania man recently took his own life, months after he underwent corrective laser eye surgery.His parents blame their son's suicide on the "debilitating" side effects he experienced, but vision experts claim that the procedure is generally "safe and effective."Ryan Kingerski, 26, a young officer with the Penn Hills Police Department, was "funny and witty just a genuine person," according to Tim and Stefanie Kingerski, who spoke with Fox News Digital during an on-camera interview. (See the video at the top of the article.)COMMON AGING SYMPTOM COULD WORSEN LONELINESS IN SENIORS"Ryan would always try and help in some way, even if it was a stranger," Stefanie Kingerski said. "He was just a very sincere person he meant what he said and he said what he meant. He was passionate."Ryan was very close with his twin brother, Jacob, as they both followed in their fathers footsteps to enter law enforcement. He enjoyed playing golf and spending time with his friends and girlfriend, his parents shared.In August 2025, Ryan underwent LASIK eye surgery, a decision that "changed his life forever," according to the Kingerskis.Ryan had worn glasses and contacts since middle school, but he opted for the surgery so that he wouldnt need them anymore."My son was told he would go in, have the procedure and be back to work in a couple of days," said Tim Kingerski. "That never happened."GIRL DESPERATE TO SEE THE WORLD BEFORE SHE GOES COMPLETELY BLINDOn the way home from the surgery, Ryan said that "something wasnt right," complaining that his right eye was blurry."We told him to give it some time, but it just got worse," his father said.As the weeks progressed, Ryan suffered from a litany of symptoms, including severe headaches, double vision, starbursts, ghosting, halos and other visual disturbances."It was complication after complication and no improvement," Stefanie Kingerski said. "We made continuous efforts to see different specialists, trying to get different opinions.""They just kept saying he needed to heal."Ryans mother claimed the laser surgery had left her son with "higher-order aberrations," which are distortions in the eye that cause visual disturbances.One corneal specialist said that Ryan had very thin corneas, which should have ruled out the surgery."In a nutshell, he was not a candidate, and they should have caught that and they should have warned him," his mother said.ELTON JOHNS VISION LOSS: HOW AN EYE INFECTION CAN CAUSE BLINDNESSAs the effects got worse, Ryan withdrew from the activities he once loved and became very reserved, his parents said.In January 2025, five months after the surgery, Ryan took his own life."The note that we got left was: 'LASIK took everything from me. I can't take it anymore,'" Tim Kingerski said. "It ruined his life. It debilitated him."Ryans parents are adamant that his suicide was not the result of preexisting mental health issues."If this was a mental health issue and something that my son was dealing with before, I wouldn't be talking about this," said Tim Kingerski. "But there's only one reason he's not here."The Kingerskis have since connected with other families who have had similar experiences. "We hear from people constantly who just say, I don't know if I can do this anymore. I don't know if I can take it," Ryans father said.BABY'S ADORABLE REACTION TO HIS NEW GLASSES ATTRACTS WORLDWIDE ATTENTION: 'MELTS HEARTS'Ryan's parents now aim to raise awareness and are calling for "transparency and accountability." They have also filed a complaint with the FDA."What we're really looking for is accountability from the industry," said Stefanie Kingerski. "We want the FDA to step up, start investigating, start looking deeper, start finding out what the long-term effects are.""The implied consent is just a piece of paper that they give you without explaining," Tim Kingerski noted. "The consent form should say that LASIK can and has caused permanent damage that makes you want to kill yourself, because that is a fact.""People are being hurt every day by something that is touted as safe and effective, which we can tell you it's not."Previous suicides have been reported following laser eye surgeries.In 2018, Jessica Starr, a Michigan meteorologist, took her own life two months after the procedure. She had experienced chronic dry eye and blurry vision, according to local reports.Starr left behind video journals detailing her struggles, saying she had lived "six weeks of hell."In 2016, a Texas college student, Max Cronin, committed suicide at the age of 27. His obituary states that his death was the result of "devastating complications from an elective laser eye surgery."Dr. James Kelly, MD, a renowned refractive surgeon specialist and comprehensive ophthalmologist in New York City, said he is not aware of peer-reviewed literature that reports higher rates of suicide in patients who have had LASIK versus the same matched population demographics that have not had the procedure.RARE SPINAL CANCER TUMOR REMOVED THROUGH PATIENTS EYE AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL"The most common side effect is dry eye, for which there are many effective treatments, and the condition often improves in the several months after the procedure," he said."The most important message to patients who are having eye problems is to seek the care of an experienced professional, and the same is true for anyone experiencing mental health conditions."The Refractive Surgery Council, an organization that aims to "help people make informed decisions about their vision correction choices," spoke to Fox News Digital in defense of these procedures."An enormous body of scientific data supports LASIK as both safe and effective for those who are good candidates, a fact the FDA has repeatedly affirmed and validated with independent research," a spokesperson said.For those considering a vision correction procedure, the Council recommends being "as informed as possible," which includes understanding whether they are a good candidate, choosing the right surgeon and having a thorough conversation with the care team."As with all surgical procedures, there is a risk of side effects and complications from LASIK," the spokesperson noted. "Clinical research finds serious sight-threatening LASIK complications occur in less than 1% of patients."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERThe American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) also commented to Fox News Digital about the situation."While we dont know the clinical details of Ryans case, we do know that the answer to the question of why a person chooses to die by suicide is complex and most often related to depression and emotional trauma," said Stephen D. McLeod, MD, CEO of the AOO."We have no idea what role LASIK itself might have played. Regardless, this is a tragedy, and our hearts go out to Ryan Kingerskis family."The Academy noted that while "most patients" are good candidates, "LASIK is not for everyone."For more Health articles, visitwww.foxnews.com/health"The Academy recommends patients talk with their ophthalmologist to understand the potential risks and to ensure they are a good candidate," McLeod advised. "An ophthalmologist is the most qualified physician to advise patients on all types of refractive surgery."Fox News Digital reached out to LASIK and to the FDA requesting comment.

Gary Sinise would make a Hollywood comeback if the opportunity was right.During an interview with Fox News Digital ahead of the PBS National Memorial Day Concert, the actor said that he would return to the film and television business if the circumstances aligned."I can't leave home for the amount of time that I used to go and shoot a movie or something like that, but if the right thing came along under the right circumstances and it felt right and the timing was good and it didn't take me away from home too much I would absolutely consider it," Sinise said."It's all about timing, and it's all about the project and the people that would be involved in it. I've been blessed, you know, like I said, when you're on television on a hit show for nine years ('CSI: NY'), you can put some money away, and I've been able to use that money for good, and you know, now I can kind of be selective about what I'm doing in life."GARY SINISE THANKFUL FOR INNER CIRCLE, STRANGERS' SUPPORT FOLLOWING SON'S DEATHBack in 2019, Sinise took a break from Hollywood to care for his son McCanna, known as Mac, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called chordoma. Mac died from cancer in 2024.Sinise is grateful for his movie and TV career, giving him the financial freedom to care for his son during his final years.WATCH: Gary Sinise would return to Hollywood under the 'right circumstances'"I had a blessed career and I financially did well. And I've been able to build a foundation. I've been able to take care of the family. I was able to take care of my son during a very difficult time because he needed round-the-clock nursing care and that's not paid for by the insurance. So, there were a lot of things I've been able to do because I had a successful movie and television career," said Sinise."If the right project came. I would consider it, no doubt. I'm not out there pounding the pavement right now. Occasionally doing a paid speech or paid narration or something that only takes a little bit of time, doesn't take me away from home too long," he said. "So, I put a little money away, and it helps keeps things flat, where I don't have to dip into the investments too much because I save those for special things that I want to support and donate to."APP USERS CLICK HERESinise told Fox News Digital that there were projects he passed on to be home with his family.WATCH: Gary Sinise turned down opportunities to be with his family"There have been some things I've had to say I was unavailable for the amount of time that it would take. Some television series that would take me away from home, you know, every week and that kind of thing. I just can't do it with the situation that we're in now. With the family. I have to find the right... kind of thing," he said.Sinise said he's been talking to some people about projects that would align with his current lifestyle."I'm talking to a few people about a couple of different things that would fit the lifestyle right now a little bit better. And that's important, you know. I got five grandkids. We're hoping for more. Leaving home for long periods of time is just not anything I want to do," he said.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS"I put in my time doing that for many years and had some great wonderful projects, and they took me away from home quite a bit when my kids were young.""Right now, I want to stay home a lot more, and I'm fulfilled with the mission of the Gary Sinise Foundation." he admitted.The actor founded his foundation in 2011 to support veterans, first responders and their families through various programs, including smart homes, mental wellness initiatives and community outreach.Aside from running the Gary Sinise Foundation, the "CSI: NY" actor will be returning for the 19th year as the PBS Memorial Day Concert's co-host.Sinise told Fox News Digital that he initially got involved in the event after being invited by NFL legend Joe Montana."He called me and said, Have you heard about the National Memorial Day Concert? And I said, 'No, I haven't.' He said, 'Well, I just got involved with it a couple of years ago. It's a big concert on the West Lawn of the Capitol, and it's televised on PBS,'" Sinise said.Montana then invited Sinise and his band to perform at the 2005 Memorial Day concert. The following year, he was asked to come back and co-host with Montana.WATCH: Gary Sinise says the Memorial Day Concert is about remembering fallen heroesSinise described the annual concert as a "national memorial service for our fallen heroes."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"Memorial Day is about remembering and honoring those who have sacrificed, given their lives in service to our country over the years. We still have over 130,000 Americans buried in 26 different cemeteries overseas because of the sacrifices that were made during World War II and what not. That's a lot of sacrifice to keep us free over the years," he said.During the show, military service members and their families are showcased, and a spotlight is shined on those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.The National Memorial Day Concert will air on PBS on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. The show can also be live-streamed on PBS on Memorial Day.

Boise State Public Radio, which has been serving Idaho for nearly five decades, is an NPR-member station that could be severely affected if the Trump administration successfully halts federal funding of public media.PresidentDonald Trumpsigned an executive order earlier this month instructing theCorporation for Public Broadcastingand other federal agencies "to cease Federal funding for NPR" and other public media outlets. NPR has vowed to challenge the order "by all means available," but local station leaders are preparing for the federal spigot to be shut off.Boise State Public Radio receives about 15-20% of its $4.8 million budget from CPB funding. The station receives about 12% of its budget from a Community Service Grant, with additional government resources coming from programming grants designed to help regional journalism."To lose that funding would also likely mean loss of services locally," Boise State Public Radio general manager Tom Michael told Fox News Digital.THIS LOCAL NPR CEO IS SPEAKING OUT AS TRUMP ORDER THREATENS FUNDING FOR PUBLIC STATIONS"Idaho is a very rural state," he continued. "We have transmitters in locations with a couple thousand people, and the reason were able to do that is because of funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting."Trump contends NPR is a far-left outlet that doesn't merit public funding, while NPR has fired back that the president's order is an affront to the First Amendment that jeopardizes stations like Michael's.Michael believes "anything in the public realm is up for debate," and is eager to explain to critics why Boise State Public Radio cant simply make up the lost cash through additional advertising or other ways a for-profit station would attempt to generate additional revenue."We have a non-profit mission; were on the non-commercial band and the Federal Communications Commission classifies us as a Noncommercial Educational. We have a mission of service," Michael said."We cant do political ads, for example. Thats just not allowed on FCC broadcast rules," he said. "We have restrictions on us that we cant do commercial messaging."Boise State Public Radio serves a variety of small Idaho towns such as Salmon, Stanley and Challis, with tiny populations, some with fewer than 1,000 residents."A commercial broadcast probably wouldnt find a return on investment in some of those places, but we do it because of the public-private partnership we have, and because its our duty based on the 1967 Broadcasting Act to serve as many Americans as we can," he said."When people ask, Why should taxpayers fund this? Well, part of this is because of our mission of universal service," Michael continued. "Trying to serve as many people as we can, no matter where theyre from. Its not just a bottom-line business interest; we need to be in those areas."PBS CHIEF WARNS CUTTING FEDERAL MONEY WILL 'DEVASTATE' LOCAL STATIONS AS WHITE HOUSE SEEKS TO PULL FUNDINGMichael said that the emergency alert system is another reason why public radio stations are vital in rural areas. Boise State Public Radio is essentially the primary service for a "huge part" of Idaho, feeding smaller stations with emergency messaging."No matter if they're commercial stations or religious broadcasters or whomever, we help originate that signal. And so that's really important," Michael said."In the heart of New York City, you're always going to get a signal. That's not the case in Idaho. You know, broadband connectivity isnt strong in a lot of places. And, you know, we have wildfires," he continued.Michael also recalled the 2022 Four Corners Fire, which forced about 600 people to flee their homes. Afternoon host Troy Oppie provided residents with evacuation orders."Radio, which is an old technology, is still very relevant for people who might not have great cell service, might have lost electricity there is no paywall. They can access it [for] free, and we feel its our duty to share that information," he said.PBS, NPR BLAST 'BLATANTLY UNLAWFUL' TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER HALTING PUBLIC FUNDING, VOW CHALLENGESBoise State Public Radio has a staff of roughly 30 people with half of them on the content side of the business. The station is funded through September, when the fiscal year ends, and Michael has been telling concerned staffers its "full steam ahead" at the moment, but employees are anxious.Michael explained that the CPB typically provides about $600,000 in grants to Boise State Public Radio, and he believes it would have an "outpouring of local support" if Trump succeeds in withholding that cash. But it might not be enough."I dont necessarily believe in our low-population state that wed have, you know, 600 new major donors suddenly appear," he said, noting that a "major donor" gives $1,000 or more."Its not just one year of funding, its year after year, and it allows us to do all of these things," he said.Michael said Boise State Public Radio also helps fill a "hole" in local news coverage, as regional newspapers such as the Idaho Press and Idaho Statesman have seen their staff dwindle in recent years.TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO SLASH TAXPAYER FUNDS TO PBS, NPR: RADICAL, WOKE PROPAGANDAThe debate over NPR's funding comes amid the taxpayer-backed outlet grappling with accusations of liberal bias that critics say betrays the public trust. Former editor Uri Berliner resigned last year after calling out how NPR covered such major topics as Russiagate, the COVID lab leak theory, and Hunter Bidens scandalous laptop.Michael, who previously worked in public radio in Texas and has interviewed figures like Sen.Ted Cruz, R-Texas,and former First Lady Laura Bush, said its important for public media to touch a wide range of topics."I dont agree with everything I hear on the radio, but I appreciate the public radio service because its pluralistic, right? It covers a lot of issues," Michael said."I think every public radio station should reflect the issues of the community," he added. "We lean into that here."The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.Fox News Digital's David Rutz contributed to this report.

A young Pennsylvania man recently took his own life, months after he underwent corrective laser eye surgery.His parents blame their son's suicide on the "debilitating" side effects he experienced, but vision experts claim that the procedure is generally "safe and effective."Ryan Kingerski, 26, a young officer with the Penn Hills Police Department, was "funny and witty just a genuine person," according to Tim and Stefanie Kingerski, who spoke with Fox News Digital during an on-camera interview. (See the video at the top of the article.)COMMON AGING SYMPTOM COULD WORSEN LONELINESS IN SENIORS"Ryan would always try and help in some way, even if it was a stranger," Stefanie Kingerski said. "He was just a very sincere person he meant what he said and he said what he meant. He was passionate."Ryan was very close with his twin brother, Jacob, as they both followed in their fathers footsteps to enter law enforcement. He enjoyed playing golf and spending time with his friends and girlfriend, his parents shared.In August 2025, Ryan underwent LASIK eye surgery, a decision that "changed his life forever," according to the Kingerskis.Ryan had worn glasses and contacts since middle school, but he opted for the surgery so that he wouldnt need them anymore."My son was told he would go in, have the procedure and be back to work in a couple of days," said Tim Kingerski. "That never happened."GIRL DESPERATE TO SEE THE WORLD BEFORE SHE GOES COMPLETELY BLINDOn the way home from the surgery, Ryan said that "something wasnt right," complaining that his right eye was blurry."We told him to give it some time, but it just got worse," his father said.As the weeks progressed, Ryan suffered from a litany of symptoms, including severe headaches, double vision, starbursts, ghosting, halos and other visual disturbances."It was complication after complication and no improvement," Stefanie Kingerski said. "We made continuous efforts to see different specialists, trying to get different opinions.""They just kept saying he needed to heal."Ryans mother claimed the laser surgery had left her son with "higher-order aberrations," which are distortions in the eye that cause visual disturbances.One corneal specialist said that Ryan had very thin corneas, which should have ruled out the surgery."In a nutshell, he was not a candidate, and they should have caught that and they should have warned him," his mother said.ELTON JOHNS VISION LOSS: HOW AN EYE INFECTION CAN CAUSE BLINDNESSAs the effects got worse, Ryan withdrew from the activities he once loved and became very reserved, his parents said.In January 2025, five months after the surgery, Ryan took his own life."The note that we got left was: 'LASIK took everything from me. I can't take it anymore,'" Tim Kingerski said. "It ruined his life. It debilitated him."Ryans parents are adamant that his suicide was not the result of preexisting mental health issues."If this was a mental health issue and something that my son was dealing with before, I wouldn't be talking about this," said Tim Kingerski. "But there's only one reason he's not here."The Kingerskis have since connected with other families who have had similar experiences. "We hear from people constantly who just say, I don't know if I can do this anymore. I don't know if I can take it," Ryans father said.BABY'S ADORABLE REACTION TO HIS NEW GLASSES ATTRACTS WORLDWIDE ATTENTION: 'MELTS HEARTS'Ryan's parents now aim to raise awareness and are calling for "transparency and accountability." They have also filed a complaint with the FDA."What we're really looking for is accountability from the industry," said Stefanie Kingerski. "We want the FDA to step up, start investigating, start looking deeper, start finding out what the long-term effects are.""The implied consent is just a piece of paper that they give you without explaining," Tim Kingerski noted. "The consent form should say that LASIK can and has caused permanent damage that makes you want to kill yourself, because that is a fact.""People are being hurt every day by something that is touted as safe and effective, which we can tell you it's not."Previous suicides have been reported following laser eye surgeries.In 2018, Jessica Starr, a Michigan meteorologist, took her own life two months after the procedure. She had experienced chronic dry eye and blurry vision, according to local reports.Starr left behind video journals detailing her struggles, saying she had lived "six weeks of hell."In 2016, a Texas college student, Max Cronin, committed suicide at the age of 27. His obituary states that his death was the result of "devastating complications from an elective laser eye surgery."Dr. James Kelly, MD, a renowned refractive surgeon specialist and comprehensive ophthalmologist in New York City, said he is not aware of peer-reviewed literature that reports higher rates of suicide in patients who have had LASIK versus the same matched population demographics that have not had the procedure.RARE SPINAL CANCER TUMOR REMOVED THROUGH PATIENTS EYE AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL"The most common side effect is dry eye, for which there are many effective treatments, and the condition often improves in the several months after the procedure," he said."The most important message to patients who are having eye problems is to seek the care of an experienced professional, and the same is true for anyone experiencing mental health conditions."The Refractive Surgery Council, an organization that aims to "help people make informed decisions about their vision correction choices," spoke to Fox News Digital in defense of these procedures."An enormous body of scientific data supports LASIK as both safe and effective for those who are good candidates, a fact the FDA has repeatedly affirmed and validated with independent research," a spokesperson said.For those considering a vision correction procedure, the Council recommends being "as informed as possible," which includes understanding whether they are a good candidate, choosing the right surgeon and having a thorough conversation with the care team."As with all surgical procedures, there is a risk of side effects and complications from LASIK," the spokesperson noted. "Clinical research finds serious sight-threatening LASIK complications occur in less than 1% of patients."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERThe American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) also commented to Fox News Digital about the situation."While we dont know the clinical details of Ryans case, we do know that the answer to the question of why a person chooses to die by suicide is complex and most often related to depression and emotional trauma," said Stephen D. McLeod, MD, CEO of the AOO."We have no idea what role LASIK itself might have played. Regardless, this is a tragedy, and our hearts go out to Ryan Kingerskis family."The Academy noted that while "most patients" are good candidates, "LASIK is not for everyone."For more Health articles, visitwww.foxnews.com/health"The Academy recommends patients talk with their ophthalmologist to understand the potential risks and to ensure they are a good candidate," McLeod advised. "An ophthalmologist is the most qualified physician to advise patients on all types of refractive surgery."Fox News Digital reached out to LASIK and to the FDA requesting comment.

Dugan, ICE Agents, DC Shooting

Dugan, ICE Agents, DC Shooting

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued stricter orders on Friday for journalists accessing the Pentagon building, as the Trump administration places further restrictions on the press.The new rules ban credentialed reporters from most of the Department of Defense headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, without official approval and escort, Hegseth said in a memorandum.Hegseth described the protection of classified national intelligence information and sensitive unclassified information on operational security as "an unwavering imperative for the Department.""While the Department remains committed to transparency, the Department is equally obligated to protect [Classified National Security Information] and sensitive information - the unauthorized disclosure of which could put the lives of U.S. Service members in danger," the secretary said.PENTAGON STOPPING GENDER TRANSITION TREATMENT FOR TRANSGENDER TROOPSHegseth's order will also soon require members of the Pentagon press corps to sign a form acknowledging their responsibility to protect national intelligence and sensitive information. Journalists will also be issued new badges that clearly identify them as members of the press."We also anticipate a forthcoming announcement of additional security measures and enhanced scrutiny on the issuance of [credentials]," the memo said. "Failure by any member of the resident or visiting press to comply with these control measures will result in further restrictions and possibly revocation of press credentials."The Pentagon Press Association, a membership organization representing the press corps covering the U.S. military, said the new rules seem to demonstrate a "direct attack on the freedom of the press."BIPARTISAN BILL WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR MILITARY RECRUITS WITH MEDICAL ISSUES TO LAND DEFENSE JOBS"The decision is purportedly based on concerns about operational security," the group said in a statement. "But the Pentagon Press Corps has had access to non-secured, unclassified spaces in the Pentagon for decades, under Republican and Democratic administrations, including in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, without any concern about OP-SEC from DoD leadership."Last month, the Pentagon fired three officials after announcing a leak investigation in March at the Department of Defense.The Pentagon has also required legacy news outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, NPR, CNN and NBC News, to vacate their office spaces in the building as part of a new rotation system to bring in other outlets, most of which are generally more friendly to the Trump administration, including the New York Post, Breitbart, the Daily Caller and One America News Network.The department said the rotation system aimed to allow other media outlets the opportunity to cover the Pentagon as resident members of the press corps.Additionally, the administration has begun using lie detector tests to probe unauthorized leaks at federal agencies. Some Department of Homeland Security officials were told they could be fired for refusing polygraphs.The White House said Trump will not tolerate leaks to the media and that federal employees who leak material should be held accountable.Reuters contributed to this report.