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Fox News
a day ago
- General
- Fox News
California town rallies behind Trump as it hosts track and field championship amid trans athlete controversy
Clovis, California, will be the epicenter in the political battle over trans athletes in girls' sports this weekend. The town is set to host the state track and field championships, which has been thrust into the national spotlight amid a trans athlete competing in the girls' category after President Donald Trump called out the situation on Truth Social this week. Dianne Pearce, the town's mayor pro tem, told Fox News Digital she has been actively lobbying to make Trump aware of the situation for weeks and got her fellow local officials involved. "I've been in touch with the White House legislative affairs office to kind of see what would be needed from this community, from the Clovis area to show our support for the Trump administration's efforts to get California to comply with Title IX and his ["Keeping Men out of Women's Sports"] executive order," Pearce said. Pearce said her path to getting the White House involved was to "amplify the voices" of the town's residents, who only support female athletes competing in girls' sports. Pearce succeeded in that goal, which culminated in a press conference involving state and local leaders speaking out in support of Trump's executive order and against Democrats for enabling trans athletes to play in California girls' sports ahead of the championship meet. Pearce says Trump's post was a driving factor in driving enthusiasm for the cause. The press conference featured statements from Pearce, Clovis Unified School District board trustee Tiffany Stoker Madsen, state Assemblyman David Tangipa, who represents the district where Clovis is based, U.S. House Rep. Vince Fong, who also represents the district where Clovis is based, and Fresno County supervisors Gary Bredefeld and Nathan Maxson, all speaking in support of Trump's agenda on the issue. "We must stand for what is true and what is fair, especially in areas where biological differences make a difference," said Stoker Madsen. "What is happening in women's sports is wrong. These female athletes deserve a level playing field… I urge Governor Newsom and our California state legislatures to protect the women of California." Other residents and local officials, including Mayor Vong Mouanoutoua, stood behind the speakers in solidarity with the pro-Trump stance. While Mouanoutoua and Pearce are both Republicans, Clovis as a town has leaned left in recent years, albeit less left than other parts of the deep-blue state. The town's county of Fresno voted in favor of Trump in the 2024 election by a margin of 50.9% to 46.5%. However, the county voted Democrat in every prior presidential election dating back to 2008. Now, the issue of trans athletes appears to be potentially pushing the town, or at least its leadership, even further into Trump's corner. And residents will get an up-close look at the impact of the issue at this weekend's title meet. The state title meet will take place at Buchanan High School's Veterans Memorial Stadium, with the preliminary round on Friday and the finals on Saturday. The event is expected to feature protesters and security. In Trump's Tuesday Truth Social post, he claimed he would be "ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals." Pearce said she has no knowledge of this being communicated to the town's police force. "As far as I know that has not occurred," she said. A Clovis Unified Police Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that they are also unaware of any communication with Trump involving security procedures for the event. Still, Pearce is expecting a vigilante police presence at the event. "They are prepared to make sure that this weekend's state championships are a safe environment for our athletes and their families and those who choose to come out and support them this weekend," Pearce said. Once the competition begins, all eyes will be on the trans athlete, AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High School. Hernandez has dominated in girls' long jump and triple jump this postseason, taking first place in both events at the Southern Sectional finals on May 17 and the state qualifiers on May 24. Hernandez has garnered scrutiny during the athlete's dominant postseason run, often getting heckled by spectators at the meets. Pearce hopes that spectators treat Hernandez with respect during the events on Friday and Saturday. "I expect people to treat this athlete with compassion. I think, unfortunately, the failures of the adults who set this policy created this situation. They have allowed this particular athlete to be in a position where controversy surrounds him wherever he goes, and I think that's unfortunate," Pearce said. "I don't think anybody should do anything to make him unsafe while he's here in Clovis competing, but again, it's unfair for him to be in the girls' division." Pearce said her "worst-case scenario" for this weekend's meet would be a lack of respect and security for any of the competitors involved. "If there is anything that isn't respectful and challenges the safety and security of the environment and the atmosphere, that would be terrible," Pearce said. "These kids deserve better than that. They've been failed by the adults already at the legislative level and the policy level by the CIF, I hope those attendants don't fail them as well." What Pearce does hope to see is the female athletes emerge victorious in their respective events. However, she is also prepared for more potential fallout from the meet after helping to summon Trump's attention to the situation. Trump's insistence on enforcing his executive order has already resulted in a months-long feud between his administration and the Democrat-controlled state of Maine. The feud has resulted in multiple funding freezes, which have already been reversed, and a lawsuit against the state by the U.S. Department of Justice. With the Justice Department launching an investigation against California this week after Trump's post, Pearce knows that her state could very well be next in line for funding cuts on the issue. Additionally, as a public employee, she knows that it could affect her and her colleagues, but Pearce would fully support any funding cuts to her state over the issue anyway. To her, it is not a hard decision to support. "It's not a hard decision to come to, because more important to me is that our girls and that their spaces are respected and protected," Pearce said. "If they have to threaten that type action against CIF, Governor Newsom and state legislature that they would pull federal funding from the state, again, the decision rests with those leaders. They can do the right thing and we don't even have to talk about this." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Don Bacon on Trump Tariffs Power: 'Constitution Is Clear'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. U.S. House Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) pointed to the Constitution for the answer on the question of President Donald Trump's power to impose tariffs: He doesn't. Trump is facing a battle in the courts over his use of national emergency powers to implement many of his tariffs on American trading partners across the world. A federal trade court ruled he did not, but an appeals court has allowed the tariffs to remain in place temporarily as the issue works through the legal process. "Article One Section Eight gives Congress the power over taxes and tariffs. The Constitution is clear," Bacon, a rare Republican critic of Trump, posted to X. Another X user replied to say the 1934 Reciprocal Tariff Act delegated that power to the president when there is a national emergency. Trump had declared an emergency over trade imbalances, saying they threatened national security and the domestic economy, so he could impose the tariffs. "Courts just ruled on your emergency. It doesn't convince folks," Bacon replied. The White House has accused "unelected judges" of treading on Trump's presidential powers and democratic mandate. This is a developing article. Updates to follow.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Won't Call Putin…': Trump Govt Refuses To Label Russian President A War Criminal, War Erupts In US
'Won't Call Putin…': Trump Govt Refuses To Label Russian President A War Criminal, War Erupts In US Source: A political firestorm erupted during a heated U.S. House hearing as Team Trump refused to label Russian President Vladimir Putin a 'war criminal.' The refusal triggered a fierce clash among lawmakers, with tempers flaring across party lines. US Secretary Of State Marco Rubio, defending the administration's stance, pushed back with the line, 'It's not that simple,' further fuelling the uproar. Watch.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Republican Danny Tarkanian announces bid for Nevada attorney general's office
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Republican Danny Tarkanian announced his candidacy for Nevada attorney general on Wednesday, joining Democrat Zach Conine in the contest to replace Aaron Ford. Tarkanian, son of legendary UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian and civic leader Lois Tarkanian, vowed 'to defend Nevada families, and bring real accountability to the Attorney General's office,' a campaign website said. A possible third candidate for the office, Democratic State Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro, has not made an announcement. Tarkanian has run for office nearly a dozen times. He is currently a Douglas County commissioner, elected in 2020. He narrowly lost a U.S. House seat to Democrat Jacky Rosen in 2016, losing by 3,943 votes. Former Nevada GOP chair asked Florida police officer if her judge friend could get rid of DUI charge: report Tarkanian practiced law for seven years and founded the Tarkanian Basketball Academy, a nonprofit organization that works with at-risk youth. Conine has served as Nevada State Treasurer for the past six years. He announced his candidacy earlier this month. Ford has announced his intention to challenge Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in 2026, and he is ineligible to return as attorney general due to term limits. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Public lands advocates fear for Colorado's national parks under Trump budget proposals
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democrat, speaks at a press conference on protecting public lands alongside U.S. House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse, a Lafayette Democrat, May 28, 2025, at the Lake Estes Marina. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) After the 2013 Colorado floods devastated communities surrounding Rocky Mountain National Park, locals worked tirelessly to get their businesses back up and running in time for the peak fall season. The federal government shut down for about two weeks shortly after the flood, but U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat who was governor at the time, said Colorado agreed to pay the salaries for every employee in Rocky Mountain National Park so the park could still open to visitors. 'That's the way the state government, the federal government used to work together around public lands, and I think it's worth revisiting that it was a team effort, that everyone was on the same page,' Hickenlooper said. 'The businesses desperately needed that retail period to be open to maximize the largest influx of visitors' to Estes Park, and we got it.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX That spirit of cooperation is a far cry from the threatened cuts to National Park Service staff and funding under President Donald Trump's administration, Hickenlooper and other public lands advocates said in Estes Park Wednesday. Hickenlooper and U.S. House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse, a Lafayette Democrat, called on Congress and Trump to reverse the cuts and maintain protections for the country's public lands. Former Rocky Mountain National Park Superintendent Darla Sidles said national parks have historically 'always enjoyed bipartisan support,' and that she's 'never seen anything like we're seeing today' in terms of threats to public lands and national parks. 'National parks aren't blue. National parks are not red. National parks are for everyone. They transcend political boundaries,' Sidles said. 'The idea of preserving a nation's historical, natural, and cultural heritage and making these places accessible to all has always united people across all the political spectrums.' While public lands have survived budget cuts in the past, Sidles said current staff cuts overwhelm those still working at the parks, who then have to pick up responsibilities from two to three other positions to make up for the staff who left and cannot be replaced due to the hiring freeze. Safety concerns arise, too, when the staff who remain pick up responsibilities they've never had before. Tracy Coppola, Colorado senior program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has ordered park managers to keep trails, campgrounds and visitors open and operating 'even when they believe it's unmanageable.' She said that makes clear that 'protecting parks is no longer the priority, but protecting appearances is.' She and Sidles said existing park staff will do everything they can to give park visitors the best experience despite their continued struggles. 'Depending where you are this year, it might look OK. It might seem OK. It's hard to tell, but I want to emphasize that that is a facade,' Coppola said. 'Under the surface, the administration is forcing a skeleton crew to cobble together basic visitor services, and it's clear that the administration is prioritizing appearances over park resource protection and visitor safety.' The uncertainty of whether NPS staff will continue to have a job is causing 'an incredible amount of stress and anxiety' among staff, Sidles said, as many live in the national parks they work at and could therefore lose their housing, too. Trump's budget proposal calls for a $1.2 billion decrease in the NPS budget, which she said equates to about 40% of the agency's funding. 'Behind the scenes, morale is low. On the surface, you will always see people doing their best and trying their hardest,' Sidles said. 'These are people the parks can't do without: wildlife management, vegetation management, ecosystem management, fire management, veterinary specialists that help when parks have issues with wildlife.' Neguse said cuts to staff whose work protects public lands are 'reckless, shortsighted, and do not put safety first.' He recalled the Cameron Peak Fire, the largest fire in Colorado's history, which burned an estimated 208,913 acres in Larimer County in 2020 and led to the closure of 'multiple access points out of this community,' he said of Estes Park. 'Countless folks employed by the National Park Service, by the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest, stood up and protected this community when it needed them the most,' Neguse said. 'And to think that now, those same individuals are being terminated by the Trump administration. I just can't think of anything more shortsighted.' Neguse and Hickenlooper are both sponsors of the Save Our Forests Act and the Save Our Parks Act, which would reinstate civil servants to their positions within the Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service. Lori Hodges, director of emergency management for Larimer County, started with the county after the 2012 High Park Fire and the 2013 flood to help with recovery efforts and create an emergency management program. Hodges said she's seeing 'a concerning shift in focus' from wildfire prevention and mitigation to response alone. That includes the cancellation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program through FEMA, for example. 'That provided vital funding to strengthen our infrastructure like bridges and culverts against those impacts of post-fire flooding,' Hodges said. 'Without that support, we're much more vulnerable.' Loss of funding opportunities, staff shortages, and program cancellations set off a ripple effect 'that reaches far beyond today,' Hodges said. She said visitors may not think of the people who patrol public lands for unintended campfires and other safety concerns, but when they aren't there to do that job, the burden falls on local governments. 'They affect not only how we respond to emergencies now, but how we'll be able to protect our communities for future generations,' Hodges said. 'To truly safeguard our public lands and the people who live near or enjoy them, we need to treat these systems as if they're interconnected, and strengthening one part means strengthening the whole and reducing that risk to everyone.' Hickenlooper said over 6,000 people who work to take care of national parks and national forests across different agencies have either been fired or left their jobs. 'We're going to see more risk this summer and this spring from wildfires, from extreme weather,' Hickenlooper said. 'We're going to see more risks than we've seen before in all … aspects of the droughts we've had and the water we have to use, at a time when we're dramatically diminishing the number of firefighters we're going to have available to fight fires in the West.' Neguse noted that a provision from the Republican budget bill that would have sold public lands in Utah and Nevada was cut before the bill made it to the House floor because of the opposition it garnered. He said public pressure combined with building bipartisan support can lead to more changes like this as additional concerns arise. 'Public feedback matters,' Neguse said. 'There's this temptation for us to believe that our public institutions are impervious to public opinion, and that they will simply ignore the views of the American public. I don't believe that to be the case. I actually think that if enough citizens make their voices heard and that the outcry builds to a sufficient crescendo, that you can potentially influence the course of events in Washington, D.C.' Hickenlooper said people who care about public lands need to use 'social media like we've never used it before' to communicate the reality of how policy proposals will affect them. 'We make sure that our networks of people tell their networks of people what this really means, what this could do when you cripple an outdoor recreation economy that is actually paying for the maintenance of preservation and the access to these incredible public lands,' he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
