Latest news with #FortBragg
Fox News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Army secretary vows 'grievous error' targeting pro-life groups will never happen again
FIRST ON FOX: Army Secretary Dan Driscoll called a set of training slides that deemed pro-life groups as terrorist organizations a "grievous error" that he'll work to ensure doesn't happen again, in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital. "This characterization was not only inaccurate but also deeply inappropriate," Driscoll wrote to a group of attorneys for the American Center for Law and Justice, who represented the pro-life groups affected. Thousands of soldiers at Fort Bragg were trained in counter-terrorism and security practices with slides that listed groups such as National Right to Life and Operation Rescue alongside recognized extremist organizations, and even pointed to pro‑life license plates as potential warning signs. The practice went on for seven years, until 2024. "Equally concerning was the previous administration's inadequate response to this serious incident. Its failure to provide full transparency or take responsibility for such a grievous error is wholly unacceptable." Driscoll said the Army has since reviewed all security training materials, including anti-terrorism training, and removed the slides that referenced pro-life groups, along with a slew of pro-animal and green groups like PETA, as "terrorist organizations." "Please be assured that I am firmly committed to rigorous oversight of all Army training materials to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future." Agnes Schaefer, assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and Reserve affairs, said that the training deck, which was used to teach 9,100 Army soldiers, was "inconsistent with Army's antiterrorism policy and training." The training module was used to instruct soldiers on what to look out for when guarding points of base access. She claimed there is "no evidence" to suggest the individual who created the slide deck did so to "deliberately subvert" Army policy or to "further a personal viewpoint." The slides caused a stir among congressional Republicans, who demanded answers from Army officials in a hearing last year and took issue with Schaefer's assurances the slide did not represent a personal viewpoint. "It's downright ridiculous to claim the slide deck doesn't 'further a personal viewpoint,' but there have been no consequences for the employee who ran anti-life training sessions at Fort Liberty that clearly violated Army policy," Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital in September. It's not clear if anyone involved in the slide's production and use has been fired or reprimanded.
Fox News
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Parents face possible arrest, steep fines in military town's tough new approach to combat youth crime
To curb rising youth violence, city leaders in Fayetteville, North Carolina, are implementing a new citywide curfew for minors. Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin told Fox News Digital that the city recorded nearly 2,000 incidents of interaction or arrest involving minors over about a 16-month period. "We looked at the last couple of quarters of the previous year, and then the first two quarters of this year, and it was almost 1,900 incidents of arrest or crimes that had been committed by juveniles. And so… we know we have a problem there, and we want to make sure that we're proactive to deal with it," Colvin said. With the new ordinance, kids under 16 are prohibited from being in any public space between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., with some exceptions, including those who are accompanied by parents or guardians or another authorized adult escort, running direct-route errands, traveling to and from work, responding to emergencies, attending supervised activities such as sports or school events, and participating in religious services. Fayetteville is home to Fort Bragg, known briefly as Fort Liberty, the largest U.S. Army base by population. As of this week, the city is still in an "educational" period in which those who violate the curfew will be informed of the new rules, but punishments such as citations and detentions may occur as time goes on. Adults 17 and up, including parents and business owners, who are responsible for youths found to be in violation of the curfew may face a Class 3 misdemeanor charge and a maximum fine of $500. "Right now, the way that the ordinance is set up… all of our punitive actions will take place against the parents. Whoever the responsible party is – the custodian of that kid – will be issued citations and possibly subject to fines and maybe arrest in certain cases of repeated violations," Colvin said. "And we're going to let them know that there are judicial consequences to inaction." If minors are continuing to be a problem because of parental neglect, then there are consequences. Colvin brought up one incident in particular that happened earlier this year, when a 12-year-old girl named Adrianna Bethea was shot at a carnival in March, according to the Fayetteville Police Department and the mayor's office. The young cheerleader was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition and is fighting to walk again after she was shot in the back and the chest, according to CBS 17. No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting so far. "A group of kids got into an altercation, and a gun was pulled, and a young lady was shot, and she's paralyzed," Colvin said. "That spoke volumes to me. I knew her family, and it really made me angry. I'm a father of three daughters, and I've taken my kids to carnivals. I just think that our citizens deserve firm action." The mayor's office introduced five new safety recommendations in April following the shooting, including the youth curfew, and the Fayetteville City Council – on which Colvin served four years before becoming mayor – adopted all of them. Two city council members, Deno Hondros and Mario Benavente, voted against the curfew. They did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Other cities have implemented similar youth curfews, including Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city. Colvin said Fayetteville's curfew model is based on Charlotte's. In addition to the curfew, Fayetteville expanded youth recreational activities "and partnerships with organizations who were already doing mentorship-type activities," the mayor said. He brought up a new youth "midnight" basketball program, which does not actually take place until midnight but was extended to later hours. Certain youth centers will also be expanding the activities they offer, according to Colvin. A new chief will join the Fayetteville Police Department next week, and Colvin expects the department head to help implement the new ordinance. "I'm certain that they will make sure that they are presenting a professional response to it. They're training their officers as to the terms and conditions of what their role will be. They're setting up the partnerships that are necessary because the city can't do this alone. We'll need social service, we'll need juvenile justice, and we need the other governmental units that have a role in this space. This is an ecosystem. That we all have to work in to create a safer, better environment for our young people."
Wall Street Journal
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Standards Slip at Fort Bragg
'On Display at D.C.'s Parade: Tanks, Drones and the Military's Identity Crisis' (Review, June 14) cites President Trump's speech at Fort Bragg in which he used a group of soldiers as stage props in a piece of political theater. The authors refer to it as 'a breach of traditional decorum.' I believe it is an egregious violation of U.S. military standards of conduct. Our armed forces have sedulously separated themselves from partisan politics—and soldiers on duty, in uniform, booing or cheering remarks in a blatantly political speech are acting in contravention to those standards. One might note that politicians don't campaign on military installations; nor should they. That a politician would use soldiers in this way is profoundly disrespectful to the Constitution and to the troops who are sworn to defend it. It appears that refresher training in standards of conduct would be in order at Fort Bragg. Moreover, someone might inform the president of what type of speech or behavior is appropriate for uniformed military audiences.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
11 young men will be presented at Alpha Phi Alpha's annual beautillion on Fort Bragg
A Fayetteville fraternity is hosting a beautillion next month on Fort Bragg, featuring 11 young men from the Eastern North Carolina region. The Epsilon Rho Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is hosting the beautillion at 7 p.m. July 12 in the Iron Mike Convention Center on Fort Bragg. The theme of the event is "Fantastic Voyage: The Journey from Beaus to Men." Tickets are $60 and can be purchased online at According to a news release, the students from Cumberland, Hoke and Harnett counties who will be presented during the ceremony are: Chris Baring, son of Christina McAllister, Northwood Temple Academy in Fayetteville Nigel Cooper, son of Niakeya and Marvin Cooper, Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville Christian DeWitt, son of Kacheckia and Maurice DeWitt, Lee Early College in Sanford Jeremiah Headley, son of Cathy Headley, Hoke County High School in Raeford Terrell Jackson, son of Terrell Jackson and Sherice Alford, Berean Baptist Academy in Fayetteville Cayden McKoy, son of Carolyn and Clifton McKoy, Overhills High School in Spring Lake Mekhi Moreland, son of Teonte' Thomas and Moe Green, Cape Fear High School in Fayetteville Arrington Richardson, son of Vertis Richardson and Laquanda Gipson, Massey Hill Classical High School in Fayetteville Xavier Scott, son of Joyce Burgess, SandHoke Early College High School Zion Welch, son of Tracy Welch and Kevin Johnson, Pine Forest High School in Fayetteville Tony Woodard, son of Monique McLeod, E.E. Smith High School in Fayetteville 2024 beaus: 8 young men will be presented at Alpha Phi Alpha's annual beautillion in Fayetteville Alpha Phi Alpha was the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American students, the release said. It was founded at Cornell University in 1906. The Epsilon Rho Lambda Chapter was chartered in Fayetteville in 1952, according to the release. The chapter's initiatives have included the March of Dimes Walk for Babies Campaign; scholarships for high school students; feeding the homeless during the holiday season; and volunteer work at the Salvation Army homeless shelter, the release said. Email Jeffery Womble at jmauricewomble@ for more information about the beautillion or the chapter's programs. Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@ This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Epsilon Rho Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha to hold 2025 beautillion
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nicolle Wallace Unloads on Trump's ‘Perverted' Military Parade
MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace called out Donald Trump for 'gleefully and brazenly using troops as pawns' ahead of the big big military parade that will mark his 79th birthday Saturday, Wallace, guest-hosting Pod Save America with former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau on Friday, discussed 'the North Korean-style birthday party' Trump has 'wanted for years.' 'This is so perverted from what's normal,' Wallace said of Trump's usurping the Army's 250th birthday for his own celebration. As Trump's team reportedly screened the military members in the audience for allegiance and physical appearance ahead of his Fort Bragg speech Tuesday, Wallace wondered aloud, 'Who else is being vetted? Who else is being staged? Who else is being pushed out of the picture for being fat? I mean, what else is really happening there?' Trump's military parade is expected to take place Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The president's birthday celebration will cost taxpayers an estimated $45 million, but Wallace said Trump's 'perversion' of the non-partisan military will cost Americans more than just tax dollars long-term. 'I think that we probably only see the tip of the iceberg,' she said. The Fort Bragg speech, which served as a 'pre-celebration' of sorts for the president, featured men and women in uniform booing Democrats. Wallace, a former communications director for George W. Bush, reflected on the traditional separation of politics from the U.S. military. 'You and I both wrote speeches for presidents that were delivered in front of troops,' she said. 'You're cognizant that the applause lines don't have anything to do with your president's policies because you don't want them to look like they have to applaud a policymaker.' 'You craft the speeches so that there's only an applause when you're celebrating the men and women of the military, either their current courage or their historic greatness,' she continued. For Trump to have encouraged and cherry-picked uniformed military members into a divisive display of loyalty to one side is troubling, Wallace said, but not surprising. 'To see this event at Fort Bragg and to see the way they are gleefully and brazenly using troops as pawns—the greatest victim of that is the troops, is the military,' she said. 'And I think it's actually shocking that the Republican senators are complicit.' Wallace went on to express little hope that any Republican lawmakers will speak out. 'Where are the people who are still willing to sort of put their body between brazen partisanship and the military?' she asked. 'In the Republican Party, there aren't any.' 'Even the former generals are afraid to speak out, or restrained from speaking out,' Wallace said, but she maintained that she will not be keeping quiet. 'I'm not not scared. I just don't think it makes me safer to be quiet,' she explained. 'I feel that way as a cable host. I'm not not concerned that they're not looking for anyone in the media to make a mistake and then come after the media. I just don't think you're in a safer posture in a defensive crouch.'
