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Fox News
5 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
High-speed rail isn't California's only expensive boondoggle
Print Close By Michael Feuz Published July 25, 2025 California Gov. Gavin Newsom is suing the Trump administration for pulling back $4 billion in federal funding for high-speed rail. But President Donald Trump hasn't actually derailed any trains. And all the lawsuit has really done is expose the trainwreck that is California's fiscal situation. For months, Newsom has bragged about California having the world's fourth-largest economy and sending back more money to Washington than it takes in. He's right, but he's also conveniently ignoring that California also boasts the nation's highest real poverty rate and a projected budget deficit as high as $20 billion. That just scratches the surface of the fiscal mess Californians deal with every day – not just in Sacramento, but at every level of government. Let's start with the high-speed rail project. Voters approved it in 2008 to run from San Francisco to Los Angeles at an approximate cost of $40 billion with a completion date of 2033. As of June of this year, the projected cost was as high as $128 billion with no track laid. CALIFORNIA'S GREEN NEW SCAM COULD COST YOU $20,000 Los Angeles residents know this kind of bureaucratic ineptitude all too well. Complex and sometimes conflicting county and state environmental regulations played an important role in the closure of the county's second-largest landfill, Chiquita Canyon, at the end of 2024. Residents now have to fund the added expense of hauling trash to a landfill farther away while local politicians obsess over "price-gouging" by those who haul and handle residents' garbage. Taxpayers are burdened enough with the political junk Sacramento sends their way; local officials would be a lot more useful if they reduced, instead of added, to the heap. Los Angeles, meanwhile, can't seem to provide essential services at any price, gouged or otherwise. Check out all of the fire hydrants that didn't work during the recent fires and the empty city-run reservoir nearby. Anyone who oversaw those failures and still has a job is gouging taxpayers with every paycheck. Paying for incompetence is bad enough, but what about corruption? That's what taxpayers across the state have funded for years as officials in state, county and city governments have colluded in a Medicaid reimbursement scheme by allowing government-owned providers to charge as much as 13 times more for certain services than the private sector is allowed to charge. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Not only has this practice squeezed private providers, thereby limiting care options for non-Medicaid patients, but it has allowed California to paper over its unfunded pension obligations for government employees by pocketing the difference. And those obligations will come due faster than policymakers prefer as the nation's highest cost-of-living and top marginal tax rates continue to drive taxpayers and businesses out of the state. "Businesses that want to grow and parents who want to provide for their families have been moving out of California for a decade, especially to states like Texas and Florida that have no or minimal income taxes," said Vance Ginn, Ph.D., chief economist for the Office of Management and Budget during the first Trump administration. "And that trend isn't likely to reverse itself because lawmakers and regulators up and down the state keep spending more and regulating and taxing themselves out of residents." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Cleaning up California's fiscal mess will take a lot more than creative accounting tricks, piecemealing federal funding grants and soaking the taxpayers – like the one-time windfall of capital gains taxes that created the temporary surplus in 2022. It requires reining in out-of-control spending while also reducing the regulatory burden on residents and businesses. That's why Newsom's lawsuit over the train funds isn't about infrastructure. It's about image. His flip on gender identity issues and sudden support for reducing California's atrocious housing regulations were sops to "the middle," but he also wants to make the Left happy by showing he can stand up to Trump. At federal taxpayer expense, of course, all the while claiming that he's keeping California "innovative" while basic governance collapses underneath. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM MICHAEL FEUZ Print Close URL
Fox News
7 days ago
- Fox News
Bryan Kohberger speaks just three words when given chance to explain why he killed four Idaho college students
Print Close By Alexandra Koch Published July 23, 2025 Killer Bryan Kohberger spoke just three words in court on Wednesday when he was given a chance to explain why he killed four University of Idaho students in November 2022. "I respectfully decline," Kohberger said, partially standing up. The 30-year-old was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without parole for the murders, plus 10 years for burglary and $290,000 in financial penalties to the victims' families. "The more we struggle to seek explanation for the unexplainable, the more power and control we give to him," Judge Steven Hippler said. "In my view, the time has now come to end Mr. Kohberger's 15 minutes of fame." IDAHO VICTIMS' FAMILIES TO ADDRESS KILLER DIRECTLY AT KOHBERGER SENTENCING Earlier this month, Kohberger pleaded guilty to the Nov. 13, 2022, murders of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. He admitted to sneaking into the students' off-campus house in the early morning hours and killing the friends with a Ka-Bar knife. Prosecutors said Kohberger killed Mogen and Goncalves in an upstairs bedroom before killing Kernodle on the main floor. He then attacked Chapin, who was asleep in a bedroom. TRUMP WEIGHS IN ON BRYAN KOHBERGER'S PLEA DEAL AHEAD OF CRUCIAL IDAHO MURDERS SENTENCING During a news conference Wednesday following Kohberger's sentencing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that if it were up to President Donald Trump, he would have "forced this monster" to explain himself. "We are so sorry for the grief and the pain that you have experienced at the hands of such a vicious and evil killer. Our nation grieves with you and we will never forget the precious souls who were lost in this horrific act of evil," she said. "If it were up to the president, he would have forced this monster to publicly explain why he chose to steal these innocent souls." "May God bless everyone affected by this unimaginable tragedy," Leavitt added. "Especially the parents who lost their children." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Before the sentencing, prosecutors asked a Boise judge to extend the order barring Kohberger from contacting the victims' families for an additional 99 years. The current no contact orders expire Jan. 5, 2027. Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report. Print Close URL
Fox News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
27 inmates from notorious Iranian prison still at large after Israeli strike: Tehran
Print Close By Rachel Wolf Published July 22, 2025 Iranian media reported that 27 inmates from the notorious Evin Prison remain at large following an Israeli airstrike last month. After Israel's strike during the 12-day war, 75 inmates escaped from Evin prison, according to the Associated Press, which cited a news website affiliated with Iran's judiciary. In the article, Iranian Judiciary Spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said that out of the 75 escapees, 48 were either recaptured or returned voluntarily, the Associated Press added. Jahangir also stated that the escapees had been serving time for minor offenses. IRAN CLAIMS ITS PRESIDENT WAS INJURED IN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE LAST MONTH In June, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, which was aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities. While Iranian officials said 71 were killed in the strike, local media reported that there were 80 killed, including staff, soldiers, inmates and visiting family members, according to the Associated Press. Sayeh Seydal, a jailed Iranian dissident who survived Israel's strike on Evin Prison, told relatives that being in the facility was a "slow death," according to the Associated Press, which obtained a recording of the conversation. "The bombing by the U.S. and Israel didn't kill us. Then the Islamic Republic brought us to a place that will practically kill us," Seydal said. On Tuesday, Amnesty International called for an investigation of Israel's strike on the prison as a possible war crime, saying it constituted "a serious violation of international humanitarian law." IRAN ACKNOWLEDGES DEATH TOLL FROM ISRAEL'S STRIKE ON NOTORIOUS EVIN PRISON Erika Guevara Rosas, who serves as Amnesty International's Senior Director for research, advocacy, policy and campaigns, said "the evidence establishes reasonable grounds to believe that the Israeli military brazenly and deliberately attacked civilian buildings." Evin Prison is infamous for its harsh conditions and became a place for Iranian officials to throw protesters. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Iranian officials and entities responsible for a crackdown on protesters, including Evin Prison warden Hedayat Farzadi, who was known for his brutal tactics. The department said that protesters thrown in Evin Prison under Farzadi's watch were subjected to torture and physical abuse. Print Close URL
Express Tribune
20-07-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
A messiah for the sick descended in Pakistan
Since the Drug Pricing Policy was announced in February 2015 and had come into effect from July, which provides a method for the annual increase in the prices of drugs according to the Consumer Price Index. PHOTO: FOXNEWS It was Chaand Raat in 1976, the night before the Eid Festival following the fasting month of Ramadan, when Bashir Rustom suffered a very severe asthma attack associated with kidney and heart malfunction. He was from Mauritius and was my classmate in the third year at Dow Medical College, Karachi. Bashir was living in the hostel and was rushed to the emergency room of the Civil Hospital, which was in the same compound. He was immediately admitted in the general ward of Medical Unit – II (section B), which was on call that evening, as there was no ICU in the hospital at that time. The Professor leading Medical Unit-II (section B) had recently moved from the UK and joined the Civil Hospital. He was informed by the duty doctors about Bashir's critical condition to seek guidance for treatment. It was not expected that the Professor would come to the ward on such a special night, which is widely celebrated in Pakistan. But to everyone's amazement, he did. The ward had minimal facilities at the time. The only equipment available were oxygen cylinders and a suction machine; there was nothing to monitor the patient's oxygen levels, pulse, heart rate, etc. Laboratory tests were limited and took a long time to report, as only one hospital laboratory conducted testing for all the thirty wards. The delays were further prolonged due to reduced staffing during the Eid holidays. Upon arrival, the Professor immediately took charge of Bashir's treatment. What the staff of Medical Unit-II witnessed that night and over the following two days and two nights had never been seen before, and I doubt will ever be seen again. Even today, when I narrate this story, people find it hard to believe. The Professor positioned himself next to Bashir's bed, monitoring his condition closely. Throughout the night, he stood or sat beside him as his condition was serious, continuously treating and observing him in an effort to save his life. But Bashir's condition did not improve on Eid day, so the Professor remained in the ward, either by Bashir's bedside or in his room, a truly extraordinary happening. A Professor choosing to stay in the hospital on Eid rather than with his family was unheard of. As Bashir's condition remained unstable, the Professor continued his care through the second night. All other duty staff kept changing according to their working hours but the Professor remained in the ward. The second day of Eid dawned but Bashir's condition was still life-threatening. He was breathless with asthma, electrolytes were disturbed, kidneys were not functioning well and heart was showing mild failure. Even though the Professor was exhausted but he continued his efforts to save Bashir. During the third night he started responding to medications. Finally, on the morning of the third day, Bashir showed significant improvement and came out of the critical state and became clinically stable. Only then did the Professor leave the hospital, after providing detailed instructions for further management. Has anyone heard of a medical specialist who offered such care, even to a close relative? I am confident there is no parallel to this in the medical history of Pakistan. Who was this exceptional individual? He was Dr. Camer Vellani, the Associate Professor of Medical Unit-II at Civil Hospital, Karachi, who had recently migrated from the UK. It was said that he had been placed at Civil Hospital by the headquarters of His Highness Aga Khan to understand the dynamics of healthcare in Pakistan. There was talk that he would later lead medical services at the under-construction Aga Khan Hospital, which proved true. For me, Dr. Vellani became a role model. I started admiring not only his clinical acumen but also his extraordinary courtesy towards patients, staff and the students. His concern for patients was unparalleled. His humility, gentleness, sincerity, and unwavering respect towards all patients was unbelievable. He treated the most underprivileged and the rich alike. Even the dirty, smelly patients were examined by him with similar details without any hesitation and given time as much as he would give to anyone from the elite class. I remember hearing the chowkidars (guards) at the OPD grumbling about the 'mad Professor' who stayed alone in the OPD, seeing patients untill after 5 p.m., long after other staff had disappeared by 1 p.m. Dr. Vellani's dedication went beyond the call of his duty, as I have witnessed him giving bedpans to the patients in the ward when the lower cadre staff were unavailable and the patient had an urgent need for it. Has any medical personnel ever seen such a spectacle? One must realize that all patients in the ward were from low income groups, to whom most of the faculty members looked upon as objects of teaching and rarely ever touched them – how could they ever provide bedpan service to any patient? Once, my brother's friend Aamir Hussain asked me if there is any outstanding doctor in Civil Hospital. His younger brother, in his late 20s, had been suffering from persistent headaches that were unresponsive to treatment. He was seen by a leading medical specialist and a neurosurgeon of Karachi and both of them considered him to be a case of depression headaches, as headaches started six months after his marriage. The family was told that the young patient is probably unhappy with the marriage and has sunk in depression, which is causing these headaches. The patient and family strongly disagreed with their diagnosis but the specialists did not took out time to examine him in detail and maintained their stance. At that time, brain scan facility was not available in Pakistan and the diagnosis relied entirely on thorough physical examination, which was not done by any of the two specialists. I recommended he see Dr. Vellani. After securing an appointment, Aamir Bhai took his brother to Dr. Vellani's home on Tariq Road, where he saw only a few referred patients in the evening. They entered the consulting room of Dr. Vellani at 6.00 pm and came out at 8.30 pm with a diagnosis – a tumour in the pituitary fossa of the brain. The diagnosis was made through a meticulous clinical examination. I was amazed at the details of physical examination done, as I had not observed any of my teachers spending more than a few minutes in examining the patient. Each clinical examination conducted and its finding was recorded in a long note, which exceeded more than twenty pages. This was a serious diagnosis and required immediate surgical intervention. Dr. Vellani gave them a referral letter for the neurosurgeon who had seen the patient earlier. An early appointment with the neurosurgeon was arranged through special efforts. Unfortunately, the neurosurgeon dismissed the diagnosis of Dr. Vellani, tossed the long note into the trash in front of the family without reading it, and called Dr. Vellani a "crazy doctor" who over estimates his clinical skills. The neurosurgeon told the family that the patient does not have any brain tumour as he had no classical symptoms and signs associated with the brain tumour and reaffirmed his belief that it was simply depression that is causing headaches and the patient should be treated by a psychiatrist. Sadly, the patient's condition deteriorated over the next six months. The family tried spiritual, homeopathic and herbal treatments also, but nothing worked. As worsening continued, he developed most of the signs and symptoms of the brain tumour. The patient was again taken to a medical specialist who also referred him back to the same neurosurgeon, as he was considered the best in the city. At that point, the neurosurgeon agreed with the diagnosis of brain tumour and operated, but by then it was too late and the young man could not survive. The family and me often wondered if earlier intervention based on Dr. Vellani's diagnosis might have saved him. In another case, Dr. Vellani diagnosed a very tiny tumour, only a few mm size in the thyroid of a patient, just by palpation and referred the patient for the radioactive Iodine Scan to diagnose suspicious cancer. At that time, the scan was done only at the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center, where the Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department refused to believe that any doctor could ever palpate such a small tumour. But fortunately, to prove his point he agreed to do the scan and the tumour was detected. The patient received timely treatment and recovered well. In a few years, Dr. Vellani left Civil Hospital and began leading the small medical team that led the foundation for the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). I had graduated and was hired to initiate the outpatient services at the Filter Clinic, which was later named as the Community Health Center. One Sunday morning, my mother complained of unusual chest pain on the back, which she was experiencing from several hours. She took some pain killers for it but had no relief. There were no other associated signs such as radiation to arm or nausea and vomiting. I called Dr. Vellani for advice and he told me to bring her to the AKUH, where he would meet us within 30 minutes. The hospital was close to my home and we reached the AKUH within few minutes and he arrived soon. On arrival, Dr. Vellani examined her and also conducted the ECG himself, which revealed ischaemic changes indicating a mild heart attack. At that time, only limited outpatient services were functioning at AKUH under my care, hence I inquired where to shift my mother. He in his usual calm and soft tone, said, 'We will manage her here." I was surprised on this response as the in-patient services of the hospital had not started functioning till then. He moved her to the area where ICU facilities were available and made the required arrangements. He himself set up the area for her care, which had the bed, monitors, oxygen facility, me as the attending doctor and nursing staff. The blood samples were sent to the laboratory for the tests and my mother was given the required medicines and oxygen. Dr. Vellani decided to leave when blood reports arrived and my mother's chest pain settled. The entire process from his arrival to departure took almost three hours. I walked down with him towards the parking area, discussing the prognosis of my mother, her treatment plan and to thank him for this very special favour to me. I was stunned, when I saw his wife and daughters sitting in the car. They were dressed up for an occasion and waiting for him. At that point I learned then that they were en route to a faculty member's son's wedding when Dr. Vellani stopped at the hospital to see my mother. I just could not believe as he neither mentioned the occasion nor expressed any urgency during the entire process of setting up the treatment facility for my mother. What was further more unbelievable was the calm, with which his family waited in the car for three hours. In all my years in medicine, I have never encountered anyone with clinical skills or compassion comparable to Dr. Camer Vellani. There are many more examples of his clinical brilliance and humility towards the patients and their families, but I believe the above are enough to affirm that he has been an incomparable medical professional in Pakistan; and may be one of the few in the world. I have always felt very blessed that my clinical training and understanding of patient care was by someone as extraordinary as Dr. Camer Vellani – a Messiah. Dr. Arjumand Faisel MBBS, MCPS, MPH, FCPS is a leading Public Health Specialist in Pakistan. He graduated in 1979 from Dow Medical College and has served at the Aga Khan University, USAID/Islamabad and WHO/EMRO. He has been a Consultant for the World Bank, ADB, LSHTM and many other INGOs and NGOs for public health programmes.
Fox News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Fox News Entertainment Newsletter: Diddy found guilty on two counts as jury reaches mixed verdict
This is a special edition of the Fox News Entertainment Newsletter. HIGH-PROFILE RULING - Diddy beats RICO, found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
