INTERNACIONAL
States leading nation on the biggest education battles gripping classrooms revealed in first-ever report
FIRST ON FOX: The escalating battle over what children should be taught in public schools continues to drive America’s culture wars, and a new report ranks every state on some of the most contentious issues affecting today’s classrooms.
Red states dominated the ranking, which measures all 50 states and Washington, D.C., on issues spanning parental rights, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), gender and sexuality, teacher and union policies, and foreign influence, according to Defending Education’s first-ever Rankings on Integrity in State Education, released Thursday.
Tennessee claimed the top spot, followed by Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and Iowa, while Washington, D.C. ranked last, followed by Rhode Island, California, Oregon, and Illinois.
The rankings do not account for test scores or graduation rates. Instead, the report said it is designed to show how states are approaching hot-button issues as parents demand greater transparency in their children’s education.
DOJ LAWSUIT TARGETS ALLEGED SCHOOL ‘SECRET GENDER TRANSITIONS’ POLICIES THAT KEEP PARENTS IN THE DARK
«For the first time, parents have a single resource to see how their state handles the issues they’ve voiced concerns about over the last five years, empowering them to evaluate local schools and hold leaders accountable at the ballot box,» Paul Runko, senior director of strategic initiatives at Defending Education, said in a statement to Digital.
Of the report’s five categories, the parental rights category ended in a four-way tie, with North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia earning the top spot. Each was awarded points for policies that give parents more say over student gender transitions, sex education instruction and whether their children participate in those lessons.
Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina, all red states, received perfect scores on teacher policies. According to the report, laws governing teacher unions, strikes and collective bargaining, along with work authorization requirements, were key factors in the scoring.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES STRIPPING TAX-EXEMPT STATUS FROM SCHOOLS USING RACE-BASED PROGRAMS
Iowa, Missouri and West Virginia topped the report’s DEI category after receiving high marks for laws restricting DEI initiatives and other policies related to restorative justice, teacher diversity and antisemitism.
Another major flashpoint in education has been a growing conversation on gender identity and transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. The report examined state policies blocking LGBTQ-specific curriculum, restricting transgender athlete participation, and state nondiscrimination and anti-bullying laws related to gender identity, finding Alabama, Florida and Indiana tied for the highest scores.
But the report went further than policies shaping the classroom. Seven red states received perfect scores for laws limiting Chinese government influence in education, including Confucius Institutes, China-backed language and cultural education centers. Alabama, Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas aced the category.
In another statement to Digital, Dr. Terry Stoops, director of government affairs at Defending Education, congratulated the frontrunners.
EXCLUSIVE: HOUSE COMMITTEE PROBES CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS OVER HIDING ‘GENDER AFFIRMATION’ FROM PARENTS
«If your state is at the top of Defending Education’s rankings, congratulations!» he said. «You live in a state with public school policies that prioritize sound academics over shameless antics.»
Stoops also blamed elected leaders for the lowest-scoring states, accusing them of having «sacrificed educational excellence at the altar of social justice.»
«For parents in bottom-feeder states who value rigor over ridiculousness, the choice is either fight or flight,» he said.
Despite more blue states embracing DEI and social justice policies, the report said it wants parents to have a clearer picture of where their state stands on education and how those policies could impact their children and future generations.
politics, education, culture opinion, dei, states rights, republicans elections
INTERNACIONAL
La cifra de muertos por los terremotos en Venezuela podría superar ampliamente el conteo oficial
El gobierno de Venezuela dice que 6509 personas murieron en los terremotos consecutivos en junio. Pero las proyecciones de diversas fuentes, entre ellas un análisis de The New York Times de edificios residenciales y el Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos (USGS, por su sigla en inglés), sugieren que es probable que se trate de un subregistro considerable.
El USGS ha usado durante años la seriedad de los sismos, datos históricos y la distribución de la población para intentar calcular las muertes después de un terremoto. La información suele ser más precisa en incidentes con un mayor número de víctimas, como este, dijo David Wald, un sismólogo en el USGS.
Para los terremotos de Venezuela, la estimación promedio del USGS es que murieron 53.000 personas, lo que significa que hay un 50 por ciento de probabilidad de que la cifra real sea superior a esa, y un 50 por ciento de probabilidad de que sea inferior.
El USGS también dice que hay aproximadamente un 81 por ciento de probabilidad de que la cifra real de muertes sea superior a 10.000.
Un obstáculo para calcular una cifra confiable de muertes en Venezuela es la ausencia de un censo oficial actualizado del gobierno.
Para abordar ese problema, el USGS utiliza un modelo llamado LandScan para “envejecer” el censo más reciente. El modelo, desarrollado en el Laboratorio Nacional Oak Ridge, también utiliza cifras independientes de la Organización de Naciones Unidas para perfeccionar las proyecciones. LandScan utiliza decenas de otras variables, como el uso del suelo, los caminos y la proximidad a las áreas urbanas para calcular dónde es probable que estén las personas cuando la tierra tiembla.
El gobierno venezolano no respondió a los mensajes en los que se detallaban nuestros hallazgos y se le solicitaban comentarios.
Terremoto
INTERNACIONAL
Dr Oz takes Americans behind the doors of ‘clubhouse for crooks’ as feds hunt Medicare fraud
FIRST ON FOX: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz is taking Americans inside the Trump administration’s war on healthcare fraud in a new documentary highlighting massive Medicare schemes, suspected hospice scams and allegations of organized crime involvement.
The 27-minute film, «War on Fraud,» first obtained by Digital, follows Oz across the country as he spotlights alleged fraud schemes targeting taxpayer-funded health care programs and details the administration’s efforts to crack down on those responsible.
«All these programs come back to one basic issue: Fraudsters and criminals don’t give a s— about you. They want your money, and they will walk all over your health, sacrifice your life and betray society’s trust to get your hard-earned money,» said Oz in the video.
The documentary follows Oz across the country as he investigates suspected fraud involving Medicare, Medicaid, hospice care and other programs, with appearances from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Deputy Administrator Kim Brandt.
DR OZ SAYS 800 HOSPICE PROVIDERS SUSPENDED IN CALIFORNIA OVER ALLEGED $1B MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME
Digital accompanied Oz Tuesday as he confronted workers at New York City senior day care centers suspected of questionable Medicaid billing practices during a sweeping federal fraud investigation.
More than 80 New York City providers received warning letters from CMS over questionable billing practices as part of a broader operation involving the FBI, HHS-OIG, NYPD and other agencies.
«FBI New York, along with multiple other law enforcement agencies are conducting law enforcement activity in the area of Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn and other locations around New York City in connection with ongoing federal investigations,» an FBI spokesperson said of the crackdown.
ON THE STREETS WITH DR OZ AS SURPRISE FRAUD CRACKDOWN SENDS DAYCARE DIRECTORS SCRAMBLING
Oz flagged what he described as a series of irregularities, including low attendance despite high Medicaid billing, questionable wheelchair transportation charges, seniors entering without signing in, inconsistent attendance claims and sign-in sheets containing future-dated entries.
The crackdown comes as CMS is pulling back the curtain on its broader war on fraud, releasing a new documentary that takes viewers inside the agency’s efforts to track down schemes siphoning taxpayer dollars from America’s healthcare programs.
In one segment of the film, Oz highlights hospice care as a hotbed for potential fraud, pointing to the Los Angeles area, where he says roughly 2,000 hospice providers operate, a concentration he argues has raised serious concerns about fraudulent billing.
FBI ADDS 2 FUGITIVES TO ‘MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS’ LIST AMID HISTORIC $6.5B HEALTHCARE TAKEDOWN: PATEL
Oz claims in the documentary that Russian organized crime groups are involved in some suspected hospice fraud operations, alleging that unsuspecting patients are being enrolled in hospice care under false pretenses.
He claims the schemes involve falsely declaring patients terminally ill and misleading them into enrolling in hospice care, potentially limiting their access to treatment for conditions classified as terminal while allowing fraudulent operators to bill Medicare for services under false pretenses.
Minnesota has become a major focus of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on government benefits fraud following a series of high-profile scandals involving taxpayer-funded programs.
VANCE-LED TASK FORCE CUTS OFF $1.4B FROM HOME HEALTH, HOSPICE PROVIDERS SUSPECTED OF FRAUD
Oz said Minnesota’s $250 million «Feeding Our Future» scandal helped intensify the administration’s focus on large-scale fraud, pointing to a case that erupted into the national spotlight in 2022 and has since produced a wave of federal convictions.
The White House Task Force on Fraud, led by Vice President JD Vance, has joined Oz in a media blitz highlighting alleged scams as the administration ramps up its crackdown on corruption in taxpayer-funded programs.
The documentary highlights one of the largest alleged Medicare fraud schemes in U.S. history, involving $3.7 billion in fraudulent billing claims tied to medical equipment companies operating in Delray Beach, Florida, according to federal prosecutors.
Federal prosecutors allege the scheme involved billing for medical equipment patients never requested or needed, and the accused ringleader fled the U.S. before being captured in Turkey and returned to South Florida to face federal charges.
FBI BRINGS BACK FUGITIVE ACCUSED IN $3.7B MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME AFTER CAPTURE IN TURKEY
The documentary also shows Oz during an earlier visit to Flushing, Queens, where he describes a cluster of businesses — including a social adult daycare center, pharmacy and medical center — as a «clubhouse for crooks,» alleging the businesses are part of a fraudulent billing operation.
Oz says they recruit seniors, get them in, game the system and they use their ID numbers to charge everybody, «which means they are charging you.»
The documentary will be released Wednesday at 4 P.M. ET on Oz’s X account.
minnesota fraud exposed, mehmet mz, health care healthy living, new york city
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Pope Leo XIV will need no further treatment for lung cancer after final tests confirmed the disease was localized, his doctors said Wednesday.
Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora announced the findings just over a week after surgeons removed a tumor from the pontiff’s right lung.
«The final histopathology and molecular testing reports on the tissue removed during the Holy Father’s surgery were issued today,» the doctors said in a statement.
POPE LEO WELCOMED BACK AS HE DELIVERS ANGELUS PRAYER DAYS AFTER LUNG CANCER SURGERY
«The results confirmed that the tumor was a lung adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized. A subsequent oncological assessment has confirmed that no further treatment is necessary.»
Pope Leo underwent surgery Oct. 13 at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The operation lasted about 90 minutes, with the pope spending approximately three hours in the operating room, according to the Holy See.
«The doctors said it was successful and there were no complications,» the Holy See press office said after the procedure.
The pontiff awoke normally and returned to his hospital room following a brief observation period, Vatican News reported.
RECOVERING FROM LUNG SURGERY, POPE LEO URGES PUTIN TO AGREE TO CEASEFIRE IN RUSSIAN-HELD UKRAINE CITY
Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd during the weekly general audience at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City, on October 21, 2026. (Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
He was discharged Saturday after blood tests and a chest X-ray confirmed he was well enough to return to the Vatican. Thousands of supporters gathered outside the hospital, shouting «Papa!» as he departed.
Before leaving, Leo visited the children’s oncology ward, where young patients had sent him letters during his hospital stay.
POPE LEO’S LUNG TUMOR RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT CANCER RISK FOR NONSMOKERS
Pope Leo reacts while sitting in a car as he leaves Gemelli Hospital following his lung surgery and cancer diagnosis, in Rome, Italy, October 17, 2026. (Remo Casilli/Reuters)
«Pope Leo, our prayers are for you,» a girl named Eleonora wrote in a letter released by Vatican News.
«May God, the Most Holy Virgin, and the guardian angels always protect you,» she added.
Eleonora’s mother told the pope her daughter was now healthy, according to the Vatican.
«Faith moves mountains,» Eleonora wrote. «God has heard our prayers.»
Fox News Digital’s Robert McGreevy contributed to this report.
pope leo xiv, health, cancer, world
La cifra de muertos por los terremotos en Venezuela podría superar ampliamente el conteo oficial
Caputo desactivó una rueda de gran presión sobre el dólar y logró alargar la paz cambiaria
La explicación del Gobierno sobre por qué Milei usó una venda en el cuello durante su viaje a España
Gimansia de la Plata vs Sarmiento: formaciones, hora y dónde ver por tv
Cómo siguen las negociaciones entre la AFA y Scaloni: cuándo podría anunciarse la decisión final
Dr Oz takes Americans behind the doors of ‘clubhouse for crooks’ as feds hunt Medicare fraud
El Gobierno pone en marcha un nuevo plan de retiros voluntarios y busca que haya 20.000 empleados menos en el Estado
Alerta roja en Sudamérica por el Súper Niño: cambio climático, inundaciones extremas y el hallazgo de microplásticos y metales en el granizo
“Feliz día a la mejor mamá del mundo”: el doble gesto del Chato Prada con Lourdes Sánchez y la reacción de ella
De cara al debate por el endeudamiento familiar, el Gobierno sostiene un discurso duro y considera que funciona para la imagen de Milei
POLITICA2 días agoEl Gobierno pone en marcha un nuevo plan de retiros voluntarios y busca que haya 20.000 empleados menos en el Estado
- CLIMA2 días ago
Alerta roja en Sudamérica por el Súper Niño: cambio climático, inundaciones extremas y el hallazgo de microplásticos y metales en el granizo
- POLITICA2 días ago
El Gobierno reconoció que “está bajo análisis” la postura argentina en el Comité de Descolonización de la ONU
