INTERNACIONAL
Illegal trucker cases fuel GOP push to crack down on CDL mills as Dems largely silent
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Republicans in Pennsylvania are pressuring Democrats to act on a legislative crackdown targeting illegal immigrant truckers on America’s highways.
Several foreign nationals involved in dangerous incidents around the country were found to be holding commercial driver’s licenses from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, leading to tensions between Harrisburg and Homeland Security. Republicans have called on state Democrats to address the issue, arguing such discrepancies do not appear to occur at the same level in other states.
Democrats, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, previously alleged DHS failed to properly maintain its «alien verification» (SAVE) database, which PennDOT said it uses to verify an applicant’s «lawful presence,» while a top Republican recently demanded answers from PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll after illegal immigrants with CDLs were apprehended as far away as Oklahoma.
On Wednesday, Shapiro’s camp did not dismiss Republican-led bills aimed at addressing the issue, including efforts to shut down so-called «CDL mills,» which allegedly produce unqualified truckers and generate significant profits. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Biden administration adjusted rules to allow trucking schools to self-certify, creating a dynamic he compared to the Minnesota-Somali social-services fraud scandal and called «total bull—» at a recent conference.
LAWMAKERS WARNED PENNDOT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT-CDL CRISIS BEFORE BUST; GOP DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM SHAPIRO
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, left; a long-term work zone on US-22/Interstate 78 near Krumsville, Pennsylvania, largely spurred by an increase in truck traffic. (Valerie Plesch/Getty Images; Ben Hasty/The Reading Eagle via Getty Images)
«Highway safety is a cornerstone of our mission at PennDOT and the Shapiro administration remains unwavering in our work to make sure Pennsylvania’s roads are safe,» Shapiro spokeswoman Rosie Lapowsky said when presented with the bills newly passed out of Senate committee and considered favorable to the GOP-majority upper chamber.
Harrisburg has faced divided government for some time, as the House is 102-99 Democratic, with two Republican-favored seats vacant that would normally create a one-seat margin, while the Senate holds a 27-23 GOP majority.
Lapowsky pointed to the SAVE database and said PennDOT continues to issue CDLs to drivers verified by that and otherwise in accordance with applicable state and federal law.
ICE ARRESTS 13 AFTER TIP ON TRUCK DRIVERS AT PENNSYLVANIA DMV SPARKS CHAOTIC SCENE
Bekzhan Beishekeev, a 30-year-old national of Kyrgyzstan, is allegedly involved in a crash that left four dead in Indiana. (Fox News/DHS)
«The fact remains that every person who applies for a non-domiciled commercial driver’s license issued by PennDOT must provide proof of identity and proof of their lawful presence in the United States,» she said.
«We will monitor the bills as they go through the legislative process.»
However, Shapiro’s allies in the State House were mum on the subject.
When reached for comment, a representative for House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Southwest Philadelphia, said the lawmaker was unavailable due to a floor session and could not review Fox News Digital’s inquiry by next week.
House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, D-Schwenksville, House Majority Whip Mike Schlossberg, D-Allentown, and House Transportation Committee Chairman Ed Neilson, R-Northeast Philadelphia, did not respond by publication time.
While the top Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee that approved the bills — Sen. Judy Ward of Hollidaysburg — could not immediately be reached, other Republicans touted the plans as «commonsense reforms» needed to secure America’s highways.
DEM GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFULS RIPPED FOR PLAYING ‘GARBAGE’ RACE CARD OVER CRACKDOWN ON TRUCKERS’ ENGLISH
«Cracking down on CDL mills and requiring English language proficiency for truck drivers are easy ways for Pennsylvania to make the roads a little safer,» Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee chairman Jarrett Coleman, R-Allentown, told Fox News Digital.
Coleman previously led the charge against illegal immigrant truckers receiving CDLs in Pennsylvania after an Uzbek national residing in Philadelphia was nabbed in Kansas earlier this year.
In that case, Ahkror Bozorov was also found to be wanted back home in Tashkent on suspicion of ties to terrorist groups, according to DHS.
Coleman also highlighted a Senate fact-finding hearing involving Carroll and several trucking interests following another incident in which a Kyrgyz national with a PennDOT CDL caused a crash that killed a person in Indiana.
«I can’t imagine how anyone could be opposed to these types of changes, and quite frankly they’re overdue,» said Coleman, a former commercial pilot and ex-member of the Parkland School Board.
The first of the bills, SB 1294, seeks to crack down on so-called CDL mills that produce undertrained truck driver candidates who pay for their services.
DOT CRACKDOWN PULLS HUNDREDS OF ENGLISH-ILLITERATE, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKERS OFF ROADS AS CRASHES MOUNT
Ward, whose family owns the regionally prominent Ward Trucking firm out of Altoona, was listed as the lead sponsor of all three pieces of the package, accompanied by several colleagues as co-sponsors, including Sens. Camera Bartolotta, R-Washington, Wayne Langerholc, R-Johnstown, and Lisa Baker, R-Dallas.
The first piece officially creates a CDL school licensing board and enforces $25,000 penalties on people who provide entry-level driver training without being certified.
The second bill in the package would require English to be the primary language spoken or understood in testing applications in order to operate commercial vehicles in excess of 40 tons on Pennsylvania highways.
The third bill, SB 1296, establishes new penalties for out-of-service violations issued to unsafe CDL drivers, including operating a heavy commercial vehicle on public highways without English comprehension.
A Pennsylvania Democratic source familiar with the topic also pointed Fox News Digital to a recent hearing before Ward’s committee, where Deputy Secretary of Education Lynnette Kuhn testified about commercial vehicle safety policies under the Shapiro administration.
Kuhn pointed out that the federal government lists 1,273 Pennsylvania-based CDL training firms, but only 40 are registered with Harrisburg.
«Registration is a self-certifying process, and an applicant only needs to check a box attesting that they have met all applicable state requirements,» Kuhn said. «Additionally, FMCSA (a USDOT sub-agency focused on trucking) registration does not require a physical or mailing address, phone number, email address, website, business information, or an individual’s personal information, making it extremely difficult to locate a provider based on the registry.»
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«As a result, unlicensed training providers can appear legitimate to consumers, employers, and state regulatory agencies.»
With the package likely to be approved by the full Senate soon, the fight will shift to McClinton’s chamber, where just a few Democratic defections on a nationally spotlighted issue could seal the deal.
pennsylvania, politics, immigration, illegal immigrants, democrats elections
Trump admin releases files on UFOs, alien life in ‘world exclusive’
White House correspondent Peter Doocy reports on the Trump administration’s release of the first batch of UFO and «alien life» files. He details videos from the Department of War and historical Apollo 17 transcripts, noting the administration’s push for transparency. Doocy also recalls President Trump’s previous remarks on the existence of aliens, triggering further discussion among the hosts.
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The Trump administration’s decision to declassify a batch of UFO and UAP files Friday drew unexpected praise from a prominent Democratic lawmaker.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., the leader of Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, cheered the release of dozens of never-before-seen images and videos, stating, «Transparency is the only path to truth.»
«I am encouraged that the administration has finally heard my call and the call of millions of Americans to begin unsealing these files,» Gillibrand wrote on social media, adding that she has long advocated for the declassification and release of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) files.
«This is another important step, but there is much more work to do,» the New York Democrat went on. «I will continue to fight to ensure the administration finally meets its legal obligation to the American people.»
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., was among a handful of Democratic lawmakers to praise President Donald Trump’s release of UFO-related material on Friday. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images)
DECLASSIFIED APOLLO MOON DOCS DESCRIBE UNEXPLAINED MYSTERIES, UFO LIGHTS ‘LIKE THE FOURTH OF JULY’
The Trump administration’s file dump, available on the newly created website war.gov/UFO, contains records related to UAP, including inexplicable lights and phenomena captured during the Apollo 12 mission in 1969 and Apollo 17 in 1972.
President Donald Trump in February directed the Department of War and other agencies to declassify and publish files related to alien and extraterrestrial life. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Friday that the administration would continue its declassification work.
GOP lawmakers widely praised the administration’s effort to bring more transparency to UAP-related material.
«This is a massive first step in the right direction,» Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who has long pushed for the file release, said Friday.
Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., also called the move «historic» and said he hoped the file release would be the first of many.
The Pentagon’s disclosure also prompted tepid enthusiasm from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who omitted the Trump administration in his statement.
«For decades, UFO disclosure has been a distant object — unidentified and unexplained,» he said. «That’s starting to change. I’ll keep pushing until we land on the truth.»
The Apollo 11 spacecraft orbits the moon during NASA’s 1969 mission, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. (The Pentagon)
TULSI GABBARD TELLS PODCASTER ALIENS MAY BE REAL: ‘WE’RE CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR THE TRUTH’
Trump argued Friday that his administration’s transparency efforts related to government secrets far surpassed those of his predecessors.
«Whereas previous Administrations have failed to be transparent on this subject, with these new Documents and Videos, the people can decide for themselves, «WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?» Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social announcing the release of the files. «Have Fun and Enjoy!»
President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order on the declassification and release of records related to the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Oval Office of the White House on Jan. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
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The Trump administration also declassified records last year related to former President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and the 1937 disappearance of Amelia Earhart.
politics, ufos, democrats elections, republicans elections, tulsi gabbard, kirsten gillibrand
INTERNACIONAL
Three hikers killed after climbing restricted Indonesian volcano to create online content, police say
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Three people are dead and five others were injured Friday when Mount Dukono erupted on a remote Indonesian island, where the hikers were in a restricted area, authorities said.
About 20 climbers set out Thursday to climb the nearly 1,355-meter (4,445-foot) volcano in Halmahera, Indonesia, despite safety restrictions, North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu said.
«They were aware that climbing was prohibited as the mountain is a restricted zone due to its high alert status, but insisted on going ahead,» Pasaribu said.
Despite warnings on social media and signs at the site, «many people remain determined to climb, driven by the desire to create online content,» Pasaribu said.
‘RECKLESS’ TOURISTS ON ISLAND HOT SPOT COULD BE SLAPPED WITH FINES FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES USE
In this photo released by the Badan Geologi, the geological agency of Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mount Dukono releases volcanic materials during an eruption in North Halmahera, Indonesia, Friday, May 8, 2026. (Badan Geologi via AP)
Pasaribu said that three people, including one local resident and two Singaporeans, were killed in the eruption. The Indonesian victim was from Ternate, which is in the same province as Mount Dukono.
The three victims’ bodies remain on the volcano, with ongoing eruptions and difficult terrain preventing them from being evacuated by rescue teams, Pasaribu said.
The group became stranded when the volcano erupted at 7:41 a.m. local time, sending a column of ash over six miles into the sky.
STUNNING PHOTOS CAPTURE MOMENT ONE OF INDONESIA’S MOST ACTIVE VOLCANOES ERUPTS
Rescue teams were deployed after receiving an emergency signal from the mountain area.
Joint search and rescue (SAR) teams prepare to evacuate victims affected by the eruption of Mount Dukono in North Halmahera, Maluku Province, Indonesia, on May 08, 2026. At least three Singaporeans have been killed, while 17 others are still being searched for. (Basarnas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
As of Friday afternoon, 17 climbers had been safely evacuated, including seven Singaporean nationals and two Indonesians who joined the rescue operation and provided information on climbing routes of the victims before the eruption, National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said.
Five of those evacuated were reported injured.
MORE THAN 20 ‘ILL-PREPARED’ HYPOTHERMIC HIKERS RESCUED FROM SNOWY CONDITIONS ON NEW ENGLAND’S HIGHEST PEAK
Joint search and rescue (SAR) teams prepare to evacuate victims affected by the eruption of Mount Dukono in North Halmahera, Maluku Province, Indonesia, on May 08, 2026. At least three Singaporeans have been killed, while 17 others are still being searched for. (Photo by Basarnas/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Basarnas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Pasaribu said that police will question those who joined the hikers up the mountain. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Indonesian National Police for additional information.
According to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program, Mount Dukono has been continuously erupting since 1933.
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«Friday’s eruption was among the strongest during this period,» said Lana Saria, who heads Indonesia’s Geology Agency at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
disasters, disaster response disasters, camping hiking, travel, natural disasters
La expansión de los alojamientos de renta corta ha modificado profundamente el turismo en la República Dominicana, desplazando buena parte de la oferta tradicional hacia plataformas digitales y estancias flexibles.
Para el año 2022, estos alquileres ya representaban el 57.6 % de la oferta habitacional turística nacional, según el estudio “Resultados Turismo Dominicano 2024” retomado por Listín Diario y elaborado por la Asociación de Hoteles y Turismo de la República Dominicana (Asonahores). Este dato señala un cambio de paradigma en el sector y anticipa una transformación estructural en la industria hotelera del país.
El epicentro de este fenómeno se ubica en el Gran Santo Domingo, que en 2022 acumulaba 10,613 alojamientos, lo que equivale al 26.9 % del total nacional. Plataformas como Airbnb y Vrbo lideran la modalidad de estancias inferiores a tres meses, permitiendo que tanto inversionistas nacionales como extranjeros participen activamente en la economía turística dominicana.
El dinamismo del sector se refleja en la cantidad de alojamientos activos: actualmente existen cerca de 31,800 unidades ofertadas a través de estas plataformas, de acuerdo con datos de Airbtics y Asonahores. La rentabilidad es uno de los principales atractivos, con un ingreso promedio de USD 91 por noche y hasta USD 14,667 al año para los anfitriones.
El crecimiento está vinculado al flujo constante de visitantes: en el primer trimestre de 2024, la República Dominicana recibió 3,710,374 turistas, lo que impulsó la demanda y fortaleció la inversión inmobiliaria tanto nacional como internacional. Así, el modelo de renta corta se posiciona como el eje de la nueva oferta de alojamiento en el país.
Entre 2018 y 2022, el ritmo de expansión fue sostenido, con un crecimiento promedio anual del 22.5 % en habitaciones activas. Cada año se sumaron unas 1,671 nuevas unidades en comparación con el punto de partida en 2018. El Gran Santo Domingo fue la provincia con mayor aumento absoluto, mientras que otras demarcaciones como Santiago Rodríguez y Duarte superaron el promedio nacional en términos relativos, aunque con menos de 200 habitaciones adicionales cada una.
El mapa del turismo dominicano también cambió en su distribución. En 2018, Puerto Plata concentraba el 25 % de las habitaciones de renta corta, cifra que bajó al 19 % en 2022. Las provincias de La Altagracia, Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional y Santiago ganaron presencia, lo que refleja el dinamismo y la diversificación del sector.
El auge de los alquileres temporarios ha abierto el debate sobre la necesidad de una regulación específica que garantice competencia leal frente a los hoteles tradicionales y aborde temas de fiscalización y seguridad. El ministro de Turismo, David Collado, anunció en la feria FITUR 2024 que se alcanzó un consenso con plataformas como Airbnb para firmar próximamente un acuerdo regulatorio, pendiente solo de ajustes finales con el sector privado. La intención es establecer reglas claras que aseguren condiciones equitativas y control estatal sobre la actividad.
En el ámbito legislativo, se discute la creación de la Superintendencia de Condominios, propuesta por el diputado Tobías Crespo. La iniciativa contempla un registro obligatorio, control tributario y supervisión para las actividades de hospedaje fuera del circuito hotelero formal. A esto se sumó el intento gubernamental de aplicar el ITBIS a plataformas extranjeras como Airbnb, mediante el decreto 30-25 de marzo de 2025, que fue derogado poco después.
En contraste con otras ciudades donde la expansión de estos alojamientos genera presión sobre la vivienda, en la República Dominicana el 40 % de las reservas en plataformas digitales corresponde al turismo doméstico, según datos internos de Airbnb citados por Listín Diario. Las preferencias de los viajeros se orientan hacia destinos como Punta Cana, La Romana, Juan Dolio, Puerto Plata y Las Terrenas, aunque el mayor volumen de oferta se mantiene en el Gran Santo Domingo.
La proliferación de la modalidad ha provocado reacciones en zonas residenciales, donde empiezan a verse letreros prohibiendo el uso de Airbnb en determinados edificios. Sin embargo, la ausencia de restricciones estrictas y la facilidad de inversión siguen siendo aspectos resaltados por actores inmobiliarios y asesores legales, quienes enfatizan la lucratividad del alquiler de corta duración para inversionistas y propietarios.
El mercado dominicano de alquileres temporarios se encuentra en un proceso de consolidación y ajuste, en el que la regulación inminente, la digitalización y la inversión privada anticipan un nuevo ciclo para la industria turística, marcado tanto por la competencia como por la búsqueda de equilibrio entre los modelos tradicionales y emergentes.
Viajes,alojamiento,República Dominicana,turismo,planificación,reservas,llaves,smartphone,mapas,hogar
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