Walz, Minnesota Board of Pardons clears convicted illegal alien child sex offender facing deportation

July 1, 2026 6:49pm EDT / Fox News

Laos national convicted of sexually assaulting 10-year-old girl has slate wiped clean

By Louis Casiano, Fox News

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Minnesota officials, including Democrat Gov. Tim Walz, last month pardoned an illegal immigrant who was previously convicted of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl and who was slated to be deported.

With the recommendation of the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission (CRC), the Minnesota Board of Pardons— led by Walz, state Attorney General Keith Ellison and state Chief Justice Natalie Hudson — granted a pardon for Laos national Tou Lue Vang, 42, at its June 10 meeting, according to a letter informing Vang of the decision from Carli Stark, the executive director of the state CRC.

The pardon essentially gives Vang a clean slate.

“Being granted a pardon is a notable achievement and a reflection of the work you have done since your conviction,” Stark wrote in her letter to Vang.

TIM WALZ PARDONS ILLEGAL ALIEN CONVICTED OF ARMED ROBBERY BEFORE ICE DEPORTATION TO LAOS

The Minnesota Clemency Review Commission voted to grant a pardon for Tou Lue Vang, 42, despite his conviction for sexually assaulting a young girl, just before he was expected to be deported back to Loas.(Getty Images; Department of Homeland Security)

Vang was convicted in 2006 of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Between 2002 and 2006, he repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl.

At one point, he offered her $10 to keep quiet about the abuse, according to DHS.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct in a plea deal that spared him from going to prison.

“Governor Tim Walz’s decision to pardon an illegal alien convicted child rapist so he can remain in our country is disgusting,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement. “These are the criminal illegal aliens he and his Minnesota sanctuary politicians are protecting.”

COLOMBIAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS FOR RAPING, IMPREGNATING 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN MISSOURI

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is part of the Minnesota Board of Pardons that granted a pardon for Laos national sex offender Tou Lue Vang.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, File)

Bis noted that Vang lost his legal status following his conviction.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Walz, the White House and the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted Vang for the assaults.

When he was arrested on charges in 2005, Vang admitted to having sexual contact with the girl but blamed cultural norms in Thailand, according to the complaint obtained by the New York Times.

The CRC, which includes nine members, voted to approve Mr. Vang’s petition in April. Four members voted in favor, two voted against, and three were absent, the Times reported.

The board takes the commission’s review into account but retains the ultimate authority to grant or deny pardons.

In his application, Vang cited his years of rehabilitation and argued that he has taken full responsibility for his actions.

WALZ POST CALLING SCOTUS GIRLS’ RULING ‘CRUEL’ BACKFIRES ONLINE AS CRITICS REVEAL WHAT’S EVEN CRUELER

https://www..com/video/6388399066112

Vang entered the U.S. through California in 1994, and was granted legal status by the Clinton administration. That status was revoked upon his conviction and final order of removal in 2006.

He was detained by federal authorities last year as part of the Trump administration’s “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota.

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President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized Walz and Minnesota officials over sanctuary policies that protect illegal immigrants, even those convicted of violent crimes, from federal authorities.

DHS noted that the Review Commission has granted pardons to undocumented immigrants before.

In May, the state pardoned Jai Vang, a Laotian citizen whose criminal history includes convictions for robbery, armed robbery of a business, and driving under the influence of liquor.

Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.

DOJ targets Spanberger, Newsom gun laws with twin lawsuits after SCOTUS affirms Second Amendment rights

2026-07-01T16:23:02-04:00 / Fox News

The lawsuits target California’s Glock-style pistol rules and Virginia’s assault weapons ban

By Elaine Mallon, Charles Creitz Fox News

Published July 1, 2026 4:23pm EDT | Updated July 1, 2026 6:06pm EDT

Marine veteran and Spotsylvania, Virginia, Commonwealth Attorney Ryan Mehaffey discusses his hardline stance against a new Gov. Abigail Spanberger-signed gun ban.

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The Justice Department escalated its push against state gun restrictions Wednesday, filing lawsuits against California and Virginia just a week after the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Second Amendment is not a “second-class right” in its decision in Wolford v. Lopez.

The coordinated legal challenges target Democratic-backed firearm laws in both states, with the department seeking to block California’s restrictions on the sale of new Glock-style semiautomatic pistols and Virginia’s ban on the manufacture, sale, transfer and purchase of certain semiautomatic firearms classified as assault weapons.

The California lawsuit was filed hours after the state’s new handgun restrictions took effect, following Attorney General Rob Bonta’s refusal to negotiate with the Justice Department over what federal officials contend are unconstitutional limits on gun rights. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said the administration is taking alleged infringements of the Second Amendment seriously.

COMER PROBES ALLEGED BIDEN COLLUSION WITH GUN CONTROL ACTIVISTS IN GLOCK LAWSUIT

The redistricting failure is another headache for newly-elected Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger.(Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

“This lawsuit is yet another example of this Justice Department enforcing the Second Amendment by protecting citizens against unconstitutional state regulation of firearms,” Dhillon said in a press release.

Bonta revealed Tuesday that the Justice Department had sent California a notice of intent to sue, arguing the law violates the Second Amendment. In a response letter, Bonta rejected the Department’s legal position and refused to negotiate.

“The Unsafe Handgun Act and Penal Code section 27595 are commonsense handgun design safety laws that help to prevent accidental discharges by experienced and non-experienced firearm users as well as the conversion of semiautomatic pistols into deadly automatic firing weapons,” Bonta wrote.

“If the U.S. Department of Justice decides to file the lawsuit described in your letter, it will not be breaking any new ground.”

Dhillon responded on X with a brief message: “See you in court.”

The Justice Department soon afterward announced its lawsuit against California, naming Dhillon and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jesus Osete as counsel.

SPANBERGER’S LATEST ‘GUN-GRABBING NONSENSE’ PROMPTS ACTION FROM TRUMP DOJ: ‘STAY TUNED!’

Gov. Gavin Newsom attends the 94th annual meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors in Long Beach, Calif., on June 4, 2026.(Myraneli Fabian/Anadolu)

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office accused the Trump administration of attempting to dismantle California’s gun safety laws.

“Our response is simple — these laws save lives,” Newsom spokeswoman Diana Crofts-Pelayo said. “California has proven that strong, evidence-based gun safety measures can reduce gun violence while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners.”

Crofts-Pelayo said California would not be “intimidated” by what she called politically motivated litigation and would continue enforcing laws designed to keep dangerous weapons off the streets.

California has some of the nation’s strictest firearm regulations, which state officials credit with helping produce one of the country’s lowest gun death rates.

The Golden State’s top elected Republican, however, appeared to agree with the DOJ that the law erodes Californians’ rights.

“The Second Amendment applies to every American, even those living in California. Unfortunately, California Democrats find that fact inconvenient, so they ignore it in their efforts to erode and ultimately eliminate Californians’ lawful access to firearms,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego.

“For decades, the Democrats in California have trampled the constitution with complete disregard for the rights of everyday Californians and banning the most popular firearm on the market is just the latest example,” he told Fox News Digital.

“That’s why action like this is needed and I’m grateful that the DOJ has decided to join the fight and help preserve our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms in California.”

The California lawsuit came shortly after the Justice Department sued Virginia over a newly enacted ban on so-called assault firearms.

The lawsuit challenges Senate Bill 749, sponsored by state Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Dunn Loring, and signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger in May. The ban took effect Wednesday, making it a misdemeanor to import, sell, manufacture, purchase or transfer certain semiautomatic firearms defined as assault weapons under state law.

SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN BLUE STATE’S ‘VAMPIRE RULE’ IN MAJOR WIN FOR GUN RIGHTS

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, left; a gun shop, right.(Mike Kropf/Getty Images; Charly Triballeau/Getty Images)

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Constitution “is not a suggestion” and that the Second Amendment is not a “second-class right.”

Dhillon said she warned Spanberger in April that the Justice Department would sue if she signed the legislation and said Wednesday the administration was following through on that pledge.

A spokesperson for Spanberger defended the law, saying the governor “firmly believes that firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong in our communities, near our kids and schools, or on Virginia’s streets.”

“The Governor signed this commonsense legislation to save lives and protect law enforcement officers, kids, and families from gun violence — and the Governor remains committed to making the Commonwealth a safer home for every family,” the spokesperson said.

Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, welcomed the lawsuit, saying the state is now using taxpayer dollars to defend “an unconstitutional gun ban against the United States itself.”

“That is where the Richmond Democrats’ agenda has led — into court, on the wrong side of the Constitution,” Kilgore told Fox News Digital.

“House Republicans said this law could not stand. A Virginia court has already blocked it, and now the Justice Department agrees. It should be repealed.”

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The National Association for Gun Rights also praised the department’s actions.

“Thank God a small number of committed individuals in DC realize we only have a few years of opportunity to make moves like this, and they’re seizing it,” the group said.

Hannah Hill, executive director of the National Foundation for Gun Rights, said the Supreme Court’s ruling in Wolford v. Lopez, which she said strengthened Second Amendment protections, gave the Justice Department additional legal support for its latest lawsuits against California and Virginia.

“The timing is perfect for the Department of Justice to begin to be filing these lawsuits to strike out gun bans all across the country, it’s a really bad time to be a gun grabber,” Hill told Fox News Digital.

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The lawsuits came the same day the Supreme Court agreed to hear two Second Amendment cases next term challenging state and local bans on certain semiautomatic rifles.

Fox News Digital reached out to Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones for comment.

Elaine Mallon is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business covering national politics.

In one NYC neighborhood, dozens of adult daycares bill millions to taxpayers. Now the feds have questions.

2026-07-01 5:25 PM EDT / CBS News

By

Dozens of Medicaid-funded social adult daycare centers are packed into one New York City neighborhood, a CBS News data analysis has found.

The proliferation of the facilities has caught the attention of federal authorities, who confirmed they are investigating across New York whether the rapid spread of centers catering to seniors is indicative of fraud.

“It begs the question: How many social adult daycare centers do you need?” Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told CBS News.

Social daycare facilities offer meals, personal care, social activities and other assistance to seniors and people with disabilities. Those services are then billed to the state government and covered by federal and state tax dollars.

The costs have been rising — especially in New York state, a CBS News data analysis found. Medicaid paid adult daycare providers $3.35 billion nationwide in 2024, and 17% of that money went to the 375 facilities across New York state — more than any other state. New York spending on these adult daycares ballooned in recent years, with the bill to taxpayers nearly quadrupling from 2018 to 2024.

Those numbers have not gone unnoticed. Investigations are underway into some social adult daycare centers across New York with potential federal action against them anticipated, CBS News has learned.

The epicenter of the spike in spending is the bustling neighborhood of Flushing, Queens, the densest cluster of social adult daycare facilities in the country: 64 within a one-mile radius, according to a CBS News analysis of Medicaid data.

Maps show locations of social adult daycare centers in New York City, including 64 in the neighborhood of Flushing, Queens. CBS News

The facilities in Flushing bill Medicaid for the equivalent of more than 90% of local Medicaid-eligible seniors.

Enrollment at these facilities is far outpacing the population growth for seniors in the area, CBS News found. From 2018 to 2024, the neighborhood’s Medicaid-eligible senior population grew about 20%, the same as the rest of the country. But the number of seniors that its social adult daycares billed for nearly quintupled — up 390%.

So the question for investigators becomes: are facilities legitimately billing for so many more people here or are they submitting fraudulent claims?

A spokesperson for the New York State Department of Health told CBS News the state has taken action in the past to root out abuses in Medicaid, including instituting a new tracking process and enhanced oversight and compliance reviews. Since 2021, the agency has referred 387 centers for investigation and a third of those were elevated to the Office of the Attorney General for law enforcement action, the spokesperson said.

“The Governor and the Department have taken strong action in recent years to control costs and root out abuses while preserving and improving quality of care,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

Allegations of fraud in Medicaid and other federal programs have drawn increased attention in recent years.

A CBS News investigation earlier this year found an extreme concentration of taxpayer-funded hospices in Los Angeles County, with hundreds of hospice offices showing multiple red flags for fraud. State prosecutors filed charges in April against 21 suspects in an alleged hospice fraud scheme that California Attorney General Rob Bonta said defrauded the state of $267 million. Federal authorities have also brought health care fraud charges in recent months.

Federal prosecutors in Minnesota allege billions of dollars in taxpayer money may have been lost to fraud in several high-risk programs in recent years, including childcare centers and programs for children with autism. And state officials in Mississippi alleged in 2021 that over $77 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families money was misspent.

Carlos Perez Beltran contributed to this report.

比利时上演大逆转 连扳两球再绝杀塞内加尔挤入16强

2026年7月2日 07:10 / 联合早报

蒂莱曼斯（中下）在第89分钟完成绝平，并在加时赛命中罚球双响，帮助比利时逆转取胜。 （路透社）

“欧洲红魔”比利时在新加坡时间星期四（7月2日）上午的2026年世界杯32强赛的常规时间最后时刻连扳两球后，再于加时赛上演绝杀，最终以3比2逆转淘汰塞内加尔，惊险挺入16强。

塞内加尔凭借迪亚拉（Diarra）和萨尔（Sarr）在第24分钟和第51分钟的进球，早早手握2比0的领先。但没想到临近补时阶段，下半场登场的33岁前锋卢卡库（Lukaku）在第86分钟扳回一城，仅仅三分钟后再由蒂莱曼斯（Tielemans）绝平，比利时死里逃生将比赛拖入加时赛。

加时赛上半场双方并没有建树，而正当大家都在等待进入点球大战时，塞内加尔中场卡马拉（Camara）在第119分钟禁区内踢倒蒂莱曼斯。

在录像助理裁判（VAR）介入后，洪都拉斯主裁判马丁内斯（Martinez）给出罚球，蒂莱曼斯稳稳罚中，梅开二度帮助比利时反超比分。

塞内加尔在第130分钟于比利时禁区外获得一个位置极佳的自由球，不过随着萨尔踢飞，这场大战也宣告结束。实现惊天大逆转的比利时，下一轮会面对美国和波黑之间的胜者。

点击《联合早报》世界杯专页，获知世界杯比分、赛程和最新新闻等资讯。

Democratic Socialist who ousted 15-term incumbent speaks to OutFront: ‘Voters taking power into their own hands’

2026-07-01 19:46 EDT / CNN

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/01/politics/video/ebof-melat-kiros-colorado-dem-socialist-house-primary-win

Erica Hill talks to Melat Kiros who oustsed 15-term incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette in the Colorado House primary race, marking another win for the party’s ascendant democratic socialist movement.

3:37 • Source: CNN

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About 2,000 U.S. troops supporting relief efforts after Venezuela earthquakes

July 1, 2026 / 5:54 PM EDT / CBS News
By Eleanor Watson

About 2,000 U.S. service members are supporting relief efforts in Venezuela after last week’s devastating earthquakes, according to the head of the U.S. military’s Southern Command.

“The U.S. military, the Department of War, has roughly 2,000 teammates in the area on land, air and sea around Venezuela,” Gen. Francis Donovan said in a briefing Wednesday. “They are working hard daily to help in the search and rescue efforts, to help in the recovery efforts to deliver needed supplies.”

Donovan told reporters that the focus right now is looking for survivors — Wednesday marked the seventh day since the two earthquakes.

“In these situations, you have anywhere from 3 to 7 days that you have to respond to hopefully recover people that are still living and maybe injured in the rubble,” Donovan said.

Venezuela’s government on Wednesday said over 2,000 people have died as a result of the earthquakes, and over 10,000 were injured.

Shortly after the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes, the U.S. military helped fly in about 310 specialists from urban search and rescue teams who are now on the ground, according to John Barrett, the chargé d’affaires for the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. He said they have rescued five survivors, including a mother and her toddler.

After the U.S. military conducted an overnight raid in January to capture Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration outlined a three-phase plan for Venezuela that consisted of stabilization, economic recovery and transition with free and fair elections.

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“That reconstruction looks a little bit different, of course, since the devastating earthquake, but the economic recovery had already begun,” Barrett said. “I’m focused right now on saving lives, but we will get back to Phase 2 and Venezuela’s economic recovery.”

Barrett said the U.S. has provided over $300 million in humanitarian assistance since the disaster.

U.S. Southern Command in a statement listed support from the military, including a coordination cell to transport humanitarian aid. Some of the teams on the ground include a specialized Army medical unit to provide surgical support and a U.S. Marine Combat Logistics Company that has a water purification system, a mobile potable water container, and a military-grade tow truck.

Barrett told reporters that removing the debris from collapsed buildings would be a “huge task.”

“We will continue to work with the Venezuelan people to adjust these needs, including sanitation, water, energy generation, and we will continue along that path as long as it takes,” Barrett said.

When asked about the scale of the U.S. military support, Gen. Donovan said each crisis is different but the current support is probably larger than what was provided after Hurricane Melissa last year in Jamaica but smaller than after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

“We are focused on saving lives right now, finding folks still in the rubble and setting conditions for logistics, you know, delivery of relief supplies, so right now it’s what we call ‘full speed ahead,’” Donovan said.

中国海军舰艇编队抵达香港

2026年7月2日 07:26 / 联合早报

中国海军舰艇编队、携舰载直升机、陆战队员抵达香港，展开为期五天的系列开放参观和文化交流活动。

据中国央视新闻报道，由中国人民解放军海军导弹驱逐舰南宁舰、导弹护卫舰衡阳舰组成的海军舰艇编队，携舰载直升机、陆战队员，星期四（7月2日）上午抵达香港。

这是南宁舰、衡阳舰首次抵达香港。南宁舰、衡阳舰也将从星期五至星期天（3日至5日）在昂船洲军营码头面向港澳民众、青少年学生等群体开放，并开展军事体验、训练展示等互动交流活动。

中国官方早前公布，海军舰艇编队将赴香港组织系列开放参观和文化交流活动，让香港澳门民众更加直观、深入地了解新时代国防和军队建设发展情况。

Fox News Poll: A close Senate contest is brewing in Iowa

2026-07-01T18:00:05-04:00 / Fox News

Inflation is top of mind as voters choose a candidate

By Victoria Balara, Fox News

Published July 1, 2026 6:00pm EDT

Iowa Democrats seek to flip US Senate seat

FOX Business correspondent Grady Trimble reports on state Rep. Josh Turek and state Sen. Zach Wahls competing for the chance to challenge the GOP U.S. Senate candidate in a key race on ‘Special Report.’

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The race to succeed Iowa’s retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is on track to be one of the closest Senate contests in 2026.Ernst, the first woman senator to represent the Hawkeye State, won by 6.5 points in 2020, and President Donald Trump carried it by 8 points that year and by 13 in 2024.

A new statewide Fox News survey finds Iowans now view Trump negatively by 13 points (42% favorable vs. 55% unfavorable). That’s a 19-point swing compared to his +6 rating (52-46%) in the November 2024 Iowa Fox News Voter Analysis (FNVA) election survey.

The last time Iowa elected a Democratic senator was Tom Harkin nearly 20 years ago (2008). As it stands, Democrat Josh Turek has an early 4-point advantage over Republican Ashley Hinson: 50% vs. 46%. It’s an edge that’s within the poll’s margin of error.

Among voters who say they are extremely motivated to vote, Turek holds a 15-point lead, coming largely from greater enthusiasm among Democrats (67% extremely motivated) than Republicans (53%).

FOX NEWS POLL: MAINE SENATE RACE IS TIGHT, WITH CONCERNS ABOUT BOTH CANDIDATES

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Hinson’s net favorability is more positive than Trump’s, yet still negative by 7 points (42% favorable, 49% unfavorable) while Turek is much more popular with a net positive rating of 18 points (51%-33%). Sixteen percent have no opinion of Turek while 9% say the same of Hinson.

In the head-to-head, Turek benefits from the support of women with a college degree (65%), independents (59%), urban voters (59%), and voters under age 30 (55%).

Hinson’s backing comes from White evangelical Christians (67%), men ages 45 and over (55%), veterans (52%), and men without a college degree (52%). Her support is strongest among MAGA Republicans, who are 23 points more likely to back her than non-MAGA GOPers (95% vs. 72%).

Overall, by 8 points, more Democrats support Turek (96%) than Republicans back Hinson (88%).

FOX NEWS POLL: LOOKING AHEAD TO AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

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By a 10-point margin, more of Turek’s supporters (82%) than Hinson’s (72%) say they are certain to support their candidate in November. Nearly 3 in 10 Hinson supporters say they may change their mind.

More Hinson supporters say their vote is for her rather than against her opponent compared to Turek supporters (77% vote is for Hinson vs. 60% for Turek).

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Trump endorsed Hinson last September and voters are divided over her ties to the president: 50% say they are extremely or very concerned she’s too close to Trump, while 48% say they’re not very or not at all concerned.

Fewer voters are worried Turek’s positions on the issues are too liberal: 37% concerned vs. 59% not concerned.

“Iowa has turned red during the last decade, but these data suggest a reversion to swing status,” says Republican Pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson. “A trifecta of issues helps Democrats: Iowans have been hit hard by rising prices, they are notoriously skeptical about foreign engagements, and the agricultural community isn’t happy about tariffs.”

In the 2024 FNVA, 31% of Iowans said they were falling behind financially. That number is now 42% — nearly 4 times as many as those saying they are getting ahead (11%). Nearly half say they are holding steady (46%).

Four in 10 Iowans say the most important issue to their Senate vote will be inflation (39%). Healthcare (14%), immigration/border security (13%), and political divisions (13%) lag behind, and even fewer say abortion (6%), jobs/unemployment (6%), Iran (4%), and crime (2%).

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Turek has the edge on voters who say their most important issues are inflation (+15 points), healthcare (+53), and political divisions (+20). Hinson has a whopping 88-point advantage on the issue of immigration.

Like Ernst, Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds opted not to seek a third term.

The new survey finds Democratic nominee Rob Sand with a 9-point lead over Republican challenger Zach Lahn in the race to succeed Reynolds.

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Sand benefits from some crossover support, as 11% of Hinson supporters favor him for governor compared to 7% of Turek supporters backing Lahn.

More Sand supporters say they’re certain of their choice than Lahn backers (81% to 74%).

Sand enjoys a +21 personal rating: 54% favorable, 33% unfavorable. Lahn’s ratings are negative by 3 points, with 20% unable to rate him (38% favorable, 41% unfavorable, 20% no opinion).

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Conducted June 23-27, 2026 under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News Poll includes interviews with a sample of 1,003 Iowa registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (104) and cellphones (662) or completed the survey online after receiving a text message (237). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ± 3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Results among subgroups are only shown when the sample size is at least N=100.

Democratic senator on victories by Democratic socialists: ‘I believe in a big tent’

Published 6:51 PM EDT, Wed July 1, 2026 / CNN Politics

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/01/politics/video/senator-john-hickenlooper-colorado-democratic-socialists

Democratic senator on victories by Democratic socialists: ‘I believe in a big tent’

The Lead

Senator John Hickenlooper joins The Lead.

1:13 • Source: CNN

NCAA leader says no plan to change rules on transgender athletes after Supreme Court ruling

July 1, 2026 / 7:44 PM EDT / CBS News

NCAA President Charlie Baker does not believe the organization will need to change its rules on transgender athletes in light of a Supreme Court ruling earlier this week that allowed states to ban their participation in school sports.

“I had said to folks, Democrats and Republicans in Washington, after I got this job, that we needed some sort of clarity around what the national standard for this would be, and we adopted and comply with the standard that was put forth by the Trump administration,” Baker told CBS News senior White House and political correspondent Ed O’Keefe. “I think what happens at the state level is a different question.”

Just over two weeks after returning to office last year, President Trump signed an executive order seeking to ban transgender women and girls from women’s sports, taking on a contentious issue spotlighted by his 2024 campaign.

The following day, the NCAA’s board voted to align its policy with the president’s order, deciding women’s teams would not be open to athletes who were recorded as male at birth or taking testosterone therapy. There are no restrictions for participation on men’s teams.

Outside the NCAA, policies vary widely. Many states have enacted bans on transgender participation in girls’ and women’s sports, but others allow their participation. This week, the Supreme Court ruled states can pass bans, finding policies that base eligibility on biological sex do not violate the Constitution or the landmark gender discrimination law Title IX.

In an interview set to air Sunday on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Baker told CBS News that regardless of any disputes over state law, “our national standard is going to be what we expect our schools to use with respect to eligibility issues for college sports.”

“But obviously, different states will have different standards about how to deal with high school and youth sports,” the NCAA leader and former Massachusetts governor continued.

Very few collegiate athletes are openly transgender — Baker testified to Congress in late 2024 that he was aware of fewer than 10. But the issue has drawn intense scrutiny in recent years, driven in part by some high-profile transgender athletes. Supporters of bans argue they ensure fair competition, while opponents argue they could unnecessarily exclude people.

Baker said in his view, “the most important thing about it is to have a clear policy and to have one that is consistent with federal policy, because that eliminates … all the gray with respect to how this should be dealt with.”

Baker on NCAA’s transgender athletes policy

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/charlie-baker-says-supreme-courts-ruling-transgender-athletes-ban-doesnt-change-ncaa-policy/

Supreme Court ruling on transgender athletes ban doesn’t change NCAA’s policy, Baker says

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