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Trump Defends Ohio Data Centers, Warns They’ll Move to China if US Rejects Them

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Trump Defends Ohio Data Centers, Warns They’ll Move to China if US Rejects Them

President Trump on Saturday defended the rapid expansion of massive data centers, telling supporters in Ohio that blocking the technology projects could give China an economic and strategic advantage. He made the argument while urging voters to support Republican candidates in next month’s midterm elections.

“There’s so much money to be made for Ohio. You can’t just turn them off. They’ll go to China,” Trump said at a campaign rally outside Dayton. He called on voters to back Republican Sen. Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Trump repeatedly encouraged the crowd in the battleground state to approach the November 3 midterm elections as if his own name were on the ballot.

“Please pretend that I’m on the ballot, and you need to turn out for a midterm victory,” he said.

The president said his administration was taking “historic action” to ensure that the large technology companies building data centers also provide benefits to the communities around them.

Trump linked the data center boom to the global competition over artificial intelligence. He said the United States was ahead of China in the race to develop what he repeatedly described as “superintelligence.”

Trump said China “doesn’t want to see us” succeed, adding, “We’re beating China” in the technology race. He used that argument to oppose efforts to reject or restrict data center projects in the United States.

At the same time, Trump endorsed legislation backed by Husted that he said would “stop data centers from raising electricity costs and require them to pay their own way.”

Trump said nearly every Senate Democrat had voted several days earlier to block the proposal.

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He promised to sign the Ratepayer Protection Act “into law immediately within 24 hours” if Republicans won.

The rapid growth of data center construction has sparked bipartisan opposition in communities nationwide. Local officials and residents are confronting the vast quantities of electricity, water and land needed to operate the facilities.

The central dispute has focused on who should pay for the infrastructure required to support the projects.

Utilities may have to construct power plants, substations and transmission lines to handle the enormous electricity demand from data centers. That has raised concerns that households and other businesses could face higher bills if the expenses are distributed across the wider customer base.

Heavy water consumption, noise and sprawling development sites have added to the backlash, particularly when projects are built near residential neighborhoods or depend on already-strained water supplies.

Critics have also challenged the generous state and local tax incentives offered to data center developers. The facilities can cost billions of dollars to build while employing comparatively few workers after construction is completed.

Mounting political pressure has led officials in several states to reconsider the tax breaks and expedited approvals once used to attract the industry.

Some states have suspended tax incentives or permitting processes. Others have introduced special utility rates and new requirements designed to make developers bear more of the cost of providing service to their facilities.

Trump traveled to Ohio after stops in Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama this week as part of what he has described as a 32-day tour ahead of the midterm elections.

— With Post wires

Texas 7 Escape and Christmas Eve Robbery That Killed a Young Father

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Texas 7 Escape and Christmas Eve Robbery That Killed a Young Father

A brazen Texas prison escape that put seven dangerous convicts on the run ended in tragedy when a young father was killed on Christmas Eve.

Irving Police Officer Aubrey Hawkins was struck by a barrage of gunfire as the fugitives fled an armed robbery at a sporting goods store. The inmates had raided the business for guns, sleeping bags and camping supplies to help them survive while hiding from authorities. The case is featured in the season three premiere of Oxygen’s Prosecuting Evil with Kelly Siegler.

For weeks, investigators pursued the Texas 7 in a sweeping manhunt before finally locating the fugitives at an RV park in Colorado.

One of the escapees died by suicide, and authorities arrested the remaining fugitives. Yet their capture marked only the beginning of the fight to bring them to justice.

“Catching them was only half the battle,” Siegler said. “The State still had to hold all of these defendants accountable for capital murder.”

Who Were the Texas 7?

The group, identified by the media as the Texas 7, consisted of seven highly dangerous inmates:

“They were acting as a very close team of criminals, which you don’t find often,” Shook said. “That made them even more dangerous.”

How Did the Texas 7 Escape From Maximum Security Prison?

Six of the seven inmates held jobs in the maintenance department at the Connally Unit prison in Kenedy, Texas, when they carried out what became the largest prison escape in the state’s history on Dec. 13, 2000.

Working under civilian supervisors from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the prisoners appeared to perform their regular duties. In secret, however, the Texas 7 were planning their escape and fashioning shivs from scrap iron.

Once armed with the makeshift weapons, the inmates ambushed maintenance workers returning from lunch, bound them and locked them inside a closet.

“There were at least a dozen hostages taken,” said John Moriarty, chief of special operations for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. “The inmates are putting on the clothing that they take from the employees, and then went out to the tower. They jumped the guard that was in that building, tied him up, and put him in the bathroom.”

The tower also housed the prison armory. The escapees seized a shotgun, an AR-15 and roughly a dozen pistols before taking a prison truck and driving away from the facility.

“To have that many escape,” Moriarty said, “is a massive, massive security failure.”

During their search of the prison, investigators found a note left by Murphy accusing the prison system of being unjust.

“Today I fired the first shot in the new revolution,” the note read. “You haven’t heard the last of us yet.”

What Happened to Police Officer Aubrey Hawkins?

Several weeks later, about 300 miles away in Irving, Texas, nine-months-pregnant Misty Simpson was getting ready to spend Christmas Eve with her fiancé, Michael. He was a department manager at Oshman’s sporting goods store.

As she waited in the parking lot for Michael to finish closing the store, Simpson spotted a suspicious man inside the locked business. She also saw employees moving in a single-file line, each person with their hands on the shoulders of the worker ahead. Alarmed, she went to a pay phone and called 911.

“I just knew that this was off,” she later explained.

Several police units were dispatched, but Officer Aubrey Hawkins was the first to reach the scene. He drove to the rear of the store with his emergency lights flashing.

After pulling into the loading dock, Hawkins made his final radio call at 6:30 p.m. saying that he’d arrived at the store. 

Moments later, he was killed in a hail of bullets as the Texas 7 were fleeing the store with their stolen goods—including 44 guns, more than $70,000 in cash, camping equipment and winter clothes—in tow.

When Hawkins’ backup arrived a few minutes later, they discovered him lying dead on the ground.

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“He had been shot in the car. There were bullet holes through the windshield, gunshots through the driver side door,” recalled Irving Police Sgt. Jeff Spivey, the lead investigator. “We think he’s drug out of the car and run over. What that kind of action demonstrates is just a lack of humanity.”

The 15 hostages inside the store were safely recovered.

On the ground, authorities found a gun that was ultimately traced back to Connally Unit Prison, connecting the crime to the earlier prison break. The witnesses also provided descriptions of their kidnappers to sketch artists that matched the missing men, providing further evidence the crimes were connected.

Were the Texas 7 Ever Caught?

Authorities launched a massive manhunt to try to find the missing prisoners, sharing the story with media outlets and America’s Most Wanted.

In one broadcast, host John Walsh remarked, “We’re tracking down one of the most ruthless gangs of lawbreakers we’ve ever gone after.”

Then on Jan. 18, 2001, authorities got a tip that the group could be hiding out in the Coach Light RV park in Woodland Park, Colorado. A tipster had seen two of the men at a local bible study group. 

Once the information was confirmed, federal and Texas agents headed to the area.

Knowing the Texas 7 had police scanners, listened to radio traffic, were heavily armed and had positioned their RV so they could see others coming, the team had to be strategic about how they planned to capture the convicts.

They devised a plan using their own RV to get into the park undetected. But before they could descend on the inmates, they learned that some of the men were planning to flee. 

They captured the three men—Rivas, Rodriguez and Garcia—at a convenience store on their way out of town. After taking them into custody, they closed in on the RV. 

Though Halprin—who had been shot during the earlier robbery—surrendered, Harper died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The final two men, Murphy and Newbury, were tracked to a hotel in Colorado Springs and gave themselves up after doing an interview with the local media demanding prison reform.

“With all the suspects in custody, there was a collective sigh of relief,” Spivey said. “But there’s still a lot of hard work to do to convict them of capital murder in the murder of Officer Hawkins.”

Prosecutors Spent Years Prosecuting Texas 7

For three years, Shook prosecuted the surviving members of the Texas 7 in one capital murder trial after another. 

Prosecutors tried the men under the Texas law of parties, arguing that the men were equally responsible for Hawkins death, regardless of whether they’d fired the fatal shots, because they had acted together.

At the center of each trial was Hawkins’ widow Lori Acosta who emotionally recounted the agony of losing her soul mate and her stepson’s father.

“I just had to describe the evening to the court and the jury,” she told Prosecuting Evil. “That was really hard.”

Ringleader Rivas was the first to go to trial and was convicted and sentenced to death in 2001. Over the next three years, the five other defendants followed suit.

Where Are the Texas 7 Today?

Rodriguez, Rivas, Newbury and Garcia have all been executed. 

Halprin’s conviction was overturned in 2024 due to the judge’s antisemitic bias and he is awaiting a new trial.

As of October 2026, Murphy remains on death row.

“As hard as it was, justice for the most part has been served,” Acosta said. “I would say to anyone who has a loved one who’s a first responder, is a police officer, hug them tight, because it can be gone, as in my case, in 15 minutes.”

Ken Urker’s Sister Says Family Is “Disgusted” by Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Comments

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Ken Urker’s Sister Says Family Is “Disgusted” by Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Comments

Autumn, the sister of the late Ken Urker, has sharply criticized Gypsy Rose Blanchard over the comments she made after her former partner died suddenly at 34 earlier this week.

“We are disgusted by her statements. She hasn’t called my mother or anyone else in the family,” Autumn told The Daily Mail in an interview published Saturday, October 3.

Us previously reported that Urker was discovered dead at his home in Raceland, Louisiana, on Thursday, October 1—his 34th birthday. A spokesperson for the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that he “was found dead upon arrival” and said there were no initial signs of foul play. His cause of death has not yet been established.

After news of his death emerged, Blanchard told TMZ that she had texted Urker on Thursday to wish him a happy birthday but never received a response. Her half-brother and sister-in-law, Dylan and Anita Blanchard, later went to Urker’s home with his boss, Justin Daigle, where they found him unconscious in bed.

Gypsy Rose and Ken Relationship Timeline

Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Ken Urker first connected as pen pals. After watching the 2017 HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest, Urker wrote Blanchard a letter offering support while she was incarcerated. They continued communicating during her prison sentence and eventually shared a kiss when he visited her behind bars. (She […]

Blanchard, 35, addressed Urker’s death hours after it was reported, telling People that she did not know whether it had been “intentional or not.”

In a later statement, Gypsy Rose described Urker as “an amazing father” and a deeply loved man, saying he would always remain her “soulmate” and “red string”—a bond she said could not be broken by time, distance or death. “Above all, Ken loved our daughter Aurora,” she wrote. “She is a beautiful reflection of his enduring spirit, and through her, a part of him will always remain with us. I will make sure she grows up knowing how deeply her father loved her and who he was beyond what strangers on the internet chose to say about him. He will be deeply missed, forever loved and never forgotten.”

Aurora has since accused Gypsy Rose of presenting an inaccurate version of her relationship with Ken, alleging that the pair had already separated when he died. Urker and Blanchard initially met in 2017, after he sent her a supportive letter during her prison sentence for pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her late mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard. The couple split in 2018, reunited after Blanchard’s 2024 separation from her former husband, Ryan Anderson, and welcomed daughter Aurora later that year.

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In her interview, Autumn accused Blanchard of prioritizing public attention over the people closest to her. “She had to be in the limelight. She had to be that girl. She didn’t care what it cost everyone around her,” Autumn said. “She loved the attention at everybody else’s expense.”

1 Ken Urkers Sister Autumn Says Family is Disgusted by Gypsy Rose Blanchards Comments After His Death


Ken Urker, daughter Aurora and Gypsy Rose Blanchard Courtesy Instagram / Gypsy Rose Blanchard

Autumn also claimed that the online support Blanchard received often outweighed the criticism aimed at her. “For all the hate she got, she received twice as much support and comments telling her to keep doing what she was doing and ignore the haters,” she said. “But ignoring the haters led to people around her receiving death threats and feeling uncomfortable.”

According to Autumn, Ken told her during their final phone conversation that he wanted to bring daughter Aurora “back home” to his mother. She further alleged that he felt he had “failed Aurora because of Gypsy.”

“It was always her way, or she was screaming at him because she believed he was trying to control her like her mother did,” Autumn alleged. “Gypsy is not this sweet person.”

Autumn remembered her brother as a “great man” who was willing to love people even when they were “broken.”

“He would still fight for you. That’s who he was, and he tried so hard for Gypsy because of it,” Autumn said. “My brother was a good father, a good brother, a good son and a good friend. We were all lucky and blessed to have known him.”

Us has contacted a representative for Gypsy Rose Blanchard for comment.

France’s Violent Student Protests Are a ‘Cautionary Tale’ for America

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France’s Violent Student Protests Are a ‘Cautionary Tale’ for America

Violent student demonstrations in France have prompted renewed criticism of open-border immigration policies, with some U.S. commentators presenting the unrest as a warning for America.

“As we sit here in beautiful New York City, I would call this a cautionary tale,” Tomi Lahren, co-host of “The Big Weekend Show,” said Saturday.

Lahren argued that the turmoil offered lessons from Europe, saying countries that embraced open borders and promoted diversity as a source of strength were now facing the consequences. She also pointed to former President Joe Biden’s four years in office, saying the U.S. is now reversing similar policies.

Policemen stand in front of burning garbage during a student protest in Paris.

Policemen stand in front of burning garbage as they face students during a protest against under-resourced schools in Paris on Friday. (Aurelien Morissard/AP Photo)

“When you let so many people come into your country and take advantage of the system, the people who are from there will eventually become upset,” Lahren said.

She acknowledged that anger can be misdirected and condemned the destruction caused by protesters. Still, she argued that countries presenting themselves as a home for everyone ultimately bear the cost, with native citizens often suffering the greatest impact.

The protests began late last month, as students in Paris objected to overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, extended school days and worsening conditions. Demonstrators blamed the French government for failing to provide sufficient funding for education.

A student kicks a tear gas canister during a protest in Paris.

A student kicks a tear gas canister during a protest against under-resourced schools in Paris on Friday. (Aurelien Morissard/AP Photo)

Initially peaceful demonstrations in poorer Paris suburbs soon reached the capital and spread across France, including Marseille, Strasbourg, Tours, Nantes, Toulouse ​and Lille. As the movement expanded, confrontations became increasingly violent.

Anger also intensified after the government unveiled its 2027 budget Thursday. The plan calls for education spending to increase by just 1.7%, excluding teacher pensions—an amount below the inflation rate, according to Reuters.

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Authorities say rioters have set fires, damaged property, hurled objects at police and assaulted people in some instances. Police have used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.

Students block the entrance of Voltaire high school in Paris during a protest.

Students block the entrance of Voltaire high school in Paris as they protest against under-resourced schools on Friday. (Aurelien Morissard/AP Photo)

More than 5,000 people were arrested nationwide this week, Reuters reported, while over 400 schools were still closed as of Friday.

At least 65 education workers—including 40 school principals—and about 170 students have been injured since the unrest began, Euronews reported Friday.

More than 100 high schools sustained what Education Minister Édouard Geffray called “severe damage.”

French intelligence officials told a government crisis meeting Thursday that politicians affiliated with the hard-left France Unbowed party, or LFI, had helped launch the protest movement, Reuters reported Friday.

Anti-riot police officers face protesting students carrying out blockading action outside the secondary school Le Corbusier, in Aubervilliers, northern Paris on October 1, 2026.

Anti-riot police officers face protesting students carrying out blockading action outside the secondary school Le Corbusier, in Aubervilliers, northern Paris on Friday. (Lou Benoist / AFP via Getty Images)

LFI rejected the accusation, claiming President Emmanuel Macron’s government was politicizing the demonstrations ahead of France’s 2027 presidential election.

Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ senior envoy to Europe, told News Media on Thursday that the unrest began with legitimate complaints but has since escalated into a much broader crisis.

“The students’ concerns about missing teachers and deteriorating schools were initially genuine,” Rodan-Benzaquen said. “But dousing a principal with gasoline and attacking firefighters are acts of extreme violence. The political significance lies in the attempt to transform frustration over schools into a much wider confrontation with the government.”

Trump Curses While Boasting He “Shoved It Up” Democrats

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Trump Curses While Boasting He “Shoved It Up” Democrats

Donald Trump brought his signature intensity to an Ohio campaign rally, urging supporters to help Republicans defeat Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections.

On Saturday, the President was campaigning for Republican Senator Jon Husted, who is seeking reelection, and former DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy, who is running for governor.

With Democrats widely expected to compete strongly for control of the House and possibly the Senate, Trump energized the crowd at Butler High School in Vandalia, near Dayton, by predicting a major Republican victory.

“You gotta get out and vote, and if you do, we’re gonna win big and we’re gonna shove it up their a**,” Trump told the cheering audience.

He also attacked Democrats with an insult referring to them as “dumb sons of b****es” and revived his recently coined nickname, “Dumbocrats.”

Trump then turned his attention to CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, a familiar target in his public criticism and frequent clashes with the news network.

“She’s such an unhappy person,” Trump said of Collins. “Young, nice person, but she never smiles. She’s a very unhappy person.”

Ramaswamy and Husted joined Trump at the event, while Super Bowl-winning NFL coach Jon Gruden also delivered a spirited speech to rally the crowd.

Donald Trump brought his trademark lively energy and an explicit promise against Democrats during a rally in Ohio where he was stumping for key candidates ahead of the midterms

Donald Trump displayed his trademark energy and vowed to defeat Democrats during an Ohio rally supporting key Republican candidates before the midterm elections

The President was campaigning for Republican Senator Jon Husted's reelection and former DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy in his gubernatorial campaign

The President was campaigning for Republican Senator Jon Husted’s reelection bid and former DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy’s run for governor

After Gruden finished speaking, Trump praised him in front of the enthusiastic audience, calling him “one of my favorite coaches in the whole world.”

Trump and Gruden have previously spent time together, including at least one round of golf in 2025.

“He’s a great coach and he’s a very good golfer too,” Trump said. “Right, Jon? We had a great time. He’s a great winner. He’s a winner.”

The crowd responded warmly to Trump’s remarks, which followed Gruden’s energetic address about his Ohio roots.

“I came back for one reason,” Gruden told the audience. “I’m from Ohio. My mom and dad are from Cleveland. I was born in Sandusky and I went to the University of Dayton, and I’m damn proud of it, man!”

Supporters at Vandalia’s Butler High School answered Gruden with loud cheers and applause.

Trump says he is beginning a 32-day campaign blitz ahead of the November 3 elections. His schedule includes stops this week in the deep-red states of Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama, followed by a visit to Ohio, a key battleground with one of the cycle’s most closely watched Senate races.

Husted was appointed to the Senate seat left vacant when JD Vance became vice president and is now campaigning to secure the position through election.

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Trump also took another shot at CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins (pictured), a frequent target and sparring partner in the Oval Office

Trump again criticized CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, pictured, who has frequently been the subject of his attacks and exchanges with the President

A supporter holds a "Trump Country" flag as US President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio

A supporter waves a “Trump Country” flag as President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio

There is likely no path to a Senate majority for Democrats without flipping Ohio, where former three-term Senator Sherrod Brown is trying to return to the Senate after losing to Republican Bernie Moreno two years ago.

Since last year, Democrats have listed Ohio, along with states such as North Carolina and Maine, as key races to win control of the Senate. 

And this past week, the head of the Senate GOP´s campaign arm said Ohio is among 10 battleground races that are ‘within striking distance.’

At his rallies, Trump has been trying to convince voters that the economy is better than they feel it is, even though polls show Americans are frustrated with the way he’s handled it. 

The high cost of living, including gas prices elevated by Trump’s war on Iran, is a top issue in the Dayton area, too. 

And just days before Trump’s rally, nearly 1,400 people were laid off from a truck factory in nearby Springfield.

‘Your state is booming. Every – I hate to say it – every state is booming,’ Trump insisted Saturday. ‘They’re all booming.’

Trump’s rally comes as Republicans worry that Husted’s campaign has failed to adequately catch fire with voters in the Republican-dominated state. 

Trump had plenty of backup with Ramaswamy and Husted both speaking, as well as a pep talking from Super Bowl-winning NFL coach Jon Gruden

Trump had plenty of backup with Ramaswamy and Husted both speaking, as well as a pep talking from Super Bowl-winning NFL coach Jon Gruden

The 80-year-old Trump's speech was well received by his followers, if far more subdued than Gruden's earlier message

The 80-year-old Trump’s speech was well received by his followers, if far more subdued than Gruden’s earlier message

Brown and allied groups have hammered Husted for his data-centers role, and the NRSC has pinpointed it as a political vulnerability.

Meanwhile, in the governor’s race, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy faces Democrat Dr. Amy Acton, the state’s former Covid-era health director.

A wealthy biotech entrepreneur and 2024 presidential candidate, Ramaswamy’s star appeal among conservatives led to quick backing by Ohio Republicans and hopes of an easy victory in the Republican-dominated state. 

However, despite a massive fundraising lead and more than $12 million spent in campaign advertising, he is now locked in a close fight with Acton with weeks to go until Election Day.

‘I’m so grateful to this state and to this country for giving a kid like me opportunities that would not have been available to my family in any other country on planet earth,’ Ramaswamy said at the rally ahead of Trump’s arrival, as he underscored the American dream for his Indian immigrant family.

Super Bowl-Winning Coach Jon Gruden Joins Trump at Ohio Rally to Support Jon Husted

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Super Bowl-Winning Coach Jon Gruden Joins Trump at Ohio Rally to Support Jon Husted

Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden made an unexpected appearance at a Republican rally in Vandalia, Ohio, campaigning for incumbent U.S. Senator Jon Husted ahead of President Donald Trump’s address. The Super Bowl-winning coach spoke to supporters gathered at the event.

After Gruden left the stage, Trump highlighted his presence, telling the enthusiastic crowd, “We even have one of my favorite coaches in the whole world here, Jon Gruden.”

Trump and Gruden are already acquainted, having shared at least one round of golf in 2025, along with any other meetings they may have had.

“He’s a great coach and he’s a very good golfer too,” Trump said. “Right, Jon? We had a great time. He’s a great winner. He’s a winner.”

Trump, 80, was warmly received by his supporters, although his remarks generated a noticeably calmer response than Gruden’s high-energy speech earlier in the program.

“I came back for one reason,” Gruden declared. “I’m from Ohio. My mom and dad are from Cleveland. I was born in Sandusky and I went to the University of Dayton and I’m damn proud of it, man!”

Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, from left, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and Jon Gruden applaud as President Donald Trump speaks during an event at Butler High School in Vandalia

Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, from left, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and Jon Gruden applaud as President Donald Trump speaks during an event at Butler High School in Vandalia

President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an event at Butler High School on Saturday

President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an event at Butler High School on Saturday

Supporters inside Butler High School, located just north of Dayton, answered Gruden with loud cheers.

Gruden praised Husted not only as a friend but also as a former football standout. “Jon Husted is a lot more than my friend; he was a great player,” Gruden said, noting that Husted recorded 17 interceptions during his playing career. He credited the senator’s work ethic, commitment and mental toughness for his success, adding that Husted “will never quit on you or anybody.”

The crowd again responded with a powerful burst of applause.

“Let’s hear it for Husted,” Gruden urged.

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Husted, a longtime conservative who has drawn criticism over his shifting position on Trump’s controversial tariffs, is facing populist Democrat Sherrod Brown in a closely watched U.S. Senate contest.

With the November 3 election approaching, Gruden encouraged the audience to support Husted at the ballot box and persuade friends and family to do the same.

“Before you know it, this election is over,” Gruden said. “But what we got to do is we got to do our part. Early voting starts Tuesday. Can we be there or not? Let’s be there! And I know you guys got a lot more friends than I do. Get your friends and get their friends and their friends and let’s get Husted back in action! Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Recent polling has shown Brown with an advantage over Husted, generally leading by between 3 and 4 percentage points.

Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (left) was also on hand

Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (left) was also on hand

Trump referred to Gruden as a good golfer and a 'winner' - a word he repeated several times

Trump praised Gruden as a talented golfer and a “winner,” repeating the description several times

Gruden’s conservative political views have become increasingly apparent over the years.

During his first period with the Oakland Raiders and his Super Bowl-winning run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gruden generally avoided political commentary. He took much the same approach while working as an ESPN analyst from 2009 through 2018.

What wasn’t known at the time was Gruden’s disdain for top Democrats like President Barack Obama and his Vice President, Joe Biden.

It wasn’t until after Gruden’s 2018 return to the Raiders that these beliefs were leaked to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal in a series of emails he’d sent to Washington Redskins executive Bruce Allen, the brother of Republican former Virginia Governor and Senator, George Allen.

When those emails did surface in 2021, they also contained Gruden’s racist comments about then-NFL union chief DeMaurice Smith, who is black, as well as homophobic attacks on commissioner Roger Goodell.

Although Gruden would ultimately step down as Raiders coach, he later sued the NFL and Goodell for $150 million, claiming the league leaked the emails to the Times and Journal. A league spokesman has denied the claim and a jury trial is scheduled to begin in May of 2027.

Teen accused of driving BMW into football fans pictured for the first time

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Teen accused of driving BMW into football fans pictured for the first time

The 18-year-old driver accused of crashing a gold BMW into Newcastle Knights supporters, injuring 10 people, has appeared in court and will remain behind bars until next week.

NSW Police allege Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe was behind the wheel of the red P-plated luxury vehicle, which carried the personalised number plates “INDIKA”, when it struck the crowd. A five-year-old girl suffered critical injuries.

Handcuffed and wearing a Dove’s Home Cooked Food T-shirt, the teenager did not seek bail. It was formally refused during a brief hearing conducted from Newcastle Police Station.

His lawyers also asked the judge whether a warrant could be issued so Samarasinghe could undergo a health assessment in custody. The court heard the examination would likely include a review of his “mental health”.

Samarasinghe was discharged from hospital on Saturday and taken to Newcastle police station, where he was charged with nine offences and had his licence suspended.

Earlier, court records revealed that his licence had already been suspended in February.

He challenged the suspension in April but lost the appeal, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Police have charged Samarasinghe with three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, three counts of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and three counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct in charge of a motor vehicle.

Teenage driver Indika Samarasinghe appeared briefly in court, handcuffed, and did not apply for bail on the nine charges

Teenager Indika Samarasinghe made a brief court appearance in handcuffs and did not apply for bail on the nine charges

Police alleged 18-year-old Indika Samarasinghe was the driver of the red P-plated gold BMW which ploughed into the crowds of Knights fans waving off the team on Saturday

Police allege 18-year-old Indika Samarasinghe was driving the red P-plated gold BMW that struck crowds of Knights supporters waving off the team on Saturday

The teenage driver who allegedly ploughed his gold BMW into a crowd of footy fans cheering on the Newcastle Knights, injuring ten, has been identified as 18-year-old Indika Samarasinghe

Indika Samarasinghe, 18, has been identified as the teenage driver accused of crashing his gold BMW into Newcastle Knights fans, injuring 10 people

Prosecutors told the bail court on Sunday that the first charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

While he remained in custody, angry members of the public posted messages on Samarasinghe’s TikTok account condemning the alleged incident.

Friends or supporters responded to the criticism, arguing that people were “acting like he meant it … he was doing a burnout while 100s of people stood on the side of the road”.

The crash happened on Saturday morning as Knights supporters gathered to wave off the team bus before the NRL Grand Final in Newcastle, north of Sydney. Police allege the vehicle struck people in the crowd.

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Emergency crews were called to the Newcastle Link Road roundabout on Transfield Avenue at about 9.30am after reports that a vehicle had hit people on the pavement following alleged erratic driving.

Samarasinghe was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for mandatory testing. Of the 10 people injured, the five-year-old girl remains in a critical but stable condition in an induced coma.

Newcastle mayor Gavin Morris said on Instagram that “our thoughts remain with those who were hurt or injured in yesterday’s incident”, while specifically expressing concern for “our little girl”.

“She’s had a very tough time, she is now in a stable condition,” he said. “Our thoughts are with her, and her mother is still in hospital as well.”

Among the ten injured, the five-year-old girl is in a critical but stable condition in an induced coma

The five-year-old girl is among 10 people injured and remains in a critical but stable condition in an induced coma

Ashleigh Gibbs, who is understood to be a relative of the child, has launched a GoFundMe to help support the child, along with her mother who was also injured in the crash.

‘A beautiful five-year-old child is currently in an induced coma after suffering serious injuries and has already required multiple operations,’ she wrote.

‘Their mum was also seriously injured and will require multiple operations and a long period of recovery.

‘Both mum and child now have a long road ahead of them, with ongoing surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation and recovery.

‘Sadly, because of the severity of their injuries, mum will not be able to work for some time, placing enormous financial pressure on the family while they focus on healing and being there for each other.’ 

Ms Gibbs said funds would go towards medical bills, everyday costs, travel and other unexpected expenses.

‘Our biggest hope is that this family can focus on what matters most – getting through each day, supporting their little one, and recovering together – without having to worry about how they will manage financially,’ she wrote.

A 67-year-old man was also in a critical condition but police confirmed that has been downgraded to a serious but stable condition.

Indika Samarasinghe will next appear in Newcastle Local Court on October 15.  

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Ryan Seacrest, 51, Flaunts Six-Pack in Shirtless Thirst Trap

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Ryan Seacrest, 51, Flaunts Six-Pack in Shirtless Thirst Trap

Ryan Seacrest showcased his defined six-pack in a shirtless Instagram photo that quickly drew attention over the weekend.

The 51-year-old television personality, who is preparing to host the 25th season of American Idol, shared the image on Saturday while enjoying the sunshine at the beach.

The post arrives after Seacrest’s noticeably lean appearance and changing look prompted concern among some fans in recent months.

In the photo, Seacrest went shirtless and showed off his toned physique during a relaxed bike ride, pairing black shorts with his casual look.

A second image showed the star outdoors at night as he paused to admire the bright moon.

“This is what a day off looks like from start to finish. Go dawgs @georgiafootball,” he wrote in the caption.

Ryan Seacrest, 51, put his ripped six-pack abs on display as he posed for a thirst trap which was shared to Instagram over the weekend; seen in September in Las Vegas

Ryan Seacrest, 51, displayed his defined six-pack in a weekend Instagram post; he was seen in September in Las Vegas

Seacrest could be seen posing shirtless to unveil his toned physique while donning a pair of black shorts on a lowkey bike ride

Seacrest revealed his toned physique while riding a bike in black shorts

In the caption of the post, he penned: 'This is what a day off looks like from start to finish. Go dawgs @georgiafootball'

“This is what a day off looks like from start to finish. Go dawgs @georgiafootball,” Seacrest wrote

Daily Mail has contacted Seacrest’s representatives for comment but has not received a response.

Fans and fellow celebrities quickly filled the comments, with Diplo joking, “ryan relax!!!”

“Let’s gooo!!! Shredded,” Dancing With the Stars professional Gleb Savchenko wrote, while another user commented, “Sir!! This physique is INSANEEEE!”

“Alright Ryan! Showing the world us 40+ guys still got it!” another fan added.

The television host has previously given followers a look at his workout routine, sharing a fitness video on his main Instagram account last month.

The clip showed Seacrest lifting weights beside a sandy shoreline, with more weights placed nearby.

In January, fans also expressed concern about Seacrest’s appearance after he congratulated his Wheel of Fortune co-host Vanna White on her surprise wedding.

White revealed the news during an episode of the popular game show alongside Seacrest.

Another slide captured him taking in the bright moon as he continued to spend time outdoors at night

Another image showed Seacrest enjoying the bright moon during an evening outdoors

The star recently offered a glimpse into his fitness regime by sharing a clip to his main Instagram page last month

Last month, Seacrest shared a video offering followers a glimpse of his weight-training routine

Earlier this year in January, the media personality sparked fan concern over his appearance as he congratulated Wheel Of Fortune co-host Vanna White on her surprise wedding

In January, fans voiced concern about Seacrest’s appearance as he congratulated Vanna White on her surprise wedding

In a reel uploaded to Instagram at the time, he happily congratulated White on set of the show, but some social media users jumped to X to note that he seemingly looked thinner. 

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One wrote, ‘That’s Ryan Seacrest??? No way. Absolutely no way,’ while another had typed, ‘Wow, Ryan Seacrest looks….different.’ 

An X user questioned, ‘Why are so many people in Hollywood suddenly starting to look like this?’

A few months later in May, fans were also left baffled by his different look while attending a charity event in Los Angeles. 

Some commented on footage as Seacrest took time to have a conversation with PauseRewind during the festivities. 

One shared, ‘Tf happened to his face,’ while another wrote, ‘did he get a lash lift.’ 

A social media user also commented, ‘Can we all just start aging naturally pls,’ while one added, ‘His face makes me feel uncomfortable.’

Seacrest was confirmed last week to be returning as host of American Idol for the show’s 25th season which is set to air on ABC next year in 2027. 

Lionel Richie is also set to return to the singing competition series alongside judges Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.

The major update was shared during the Luke Bryan & Friends concert in Nashville last week, with the moment later being uploaded to Instagram.

Underwood and Bryan were seen on stage together while addressing the crowd before Richie appeared in a video via a large screen behind the duo.

A few months later in May, fans were also left baffled by his different look while attending a charity event in Los Angeles (seen above)

A few months later in May, fans were also left baffled by his different look while attending a charity event in Los Angeles (seen above)

Seacrest was confirmed last week to be returning as host of American Idol for the show's 25th season which is set to air on ABC next year in 2027; seen in September in Las Vegas

Seacrest was confirmed last week to be returning as host of American Idol for the show’s 25th season which is set to air on ABC next year in 2027; seen in September in Las Vegas 

It was revealed earlier this month that the show's production will be relocating from Los Angeles to Atlanta, per Deadline; seen on American Idol in April

It was revealed earlier this month that the show’s production will be relocating from Los Angeles to Atlanta, per Deadline; seen on American Idol in April 

‘Hello, Nashville!’ Richie called out as the audience inside the Bridgestone Arena erupted into cheers and applause. He then asked Underwood and Bryan if they could share their ‘secret.’

As Underwood filmed a selfie video on stage, Bryan shared, ‘I’m so surprised that I’ve been able to keep this a secret. Are you ready, Carrie?’

After the songstress said she was, Bryan excitedly announced, ‘We’re coming back for the 25th season of American Idol!’

The pair paused as the crowd broke into cheers while the camera panned to the fans inside the venue.

‘And of course, what would American Idol be without Mr. Ryan Seacrest. He will be back as well,’ Underwood added.

Bryan cut in to say ‘Go tell someone to audition! It’s gonna be legendary right?’ which prompted the Before He Cheats singer to yell out, ‘Legendary!’

It was revealed earlier this month that the show’s production will be relocating from Los Angeles to Atlanta, per Deadline.

‘It’s super cool,’ Seacrest said of the show’s move to Atlanta while talking to Entertainment Tonight. ‘It’s convenient for Luke [Bryan] and Carrie [Underwood], right? Not too far. Lionel [Richie] and I will be zigzagging a little bit.’ 

4 Teens Arrested in Nashville Student’s Fatal Shooting After Game

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4 Teens Arrested in Nashville Student’s Fatal Shooting After Game

Four teenagers have been arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting that killed a Tennessee high school student after a football game in late August.

The arrests came exactly six weeks after 16-year-old Cameron Frierson was fatally shot in front of his younger brother, Chris. The siblings had attended a football game at Pearl-Cohn High School in Nashville on Aug. 21, police said.

Jon’quavous Johns-Collins, 18, Marcelle Stem Jr., 17, Lil Tay Webster, 17, and Zachkeius Brown, 16, each face charges of criminal homicide and criminal conspiracy, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department announced Friday.

During Friday’s court appearance, Cameron’s mother, Brittany Frierson, came face-to-face with one of the teens accused in her son’s killing. She warned all four suspects that they “will see my face at every court hearing.”

“I don’t care how long it takes. I’m going to be here every day,” the grieving mother told local ABC affiliate WKRN-TV.

Police said the four teens were inside a vehicle when “multiple shots were fired” at about 10:30 p.m. on the night of the shooting.

Cameron, a junior at Hunters Lane High School, was struck by the gunfire. Responding officers found him suffering from several gunshot wounds.

He was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Cameron’s younger brother was not injured in the shooting.

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Authorities said the motive remained under investigation.

Witnesses told investigators that the shots came from a white sedan with tinted windows, according to WKRN-TV.

All four suspects were under 18 when the shooting occurred and were charged in juvenile court, according to a police department news release.

The court hearing was an emotional but important moment for Cameron’s mother. Despite her grief, she said she was “thankful that my son is going to get the justice that he deserves because he didn’t deserve this.”

“He was mine, and you didn’t have a right to take him from me,” Brittany Frierson said.

Frierson said she has sympathy for the difficult circumstances some of the arrested teens may have faced while growing up, but she stressed that their backgrounds do not excuse the alleged attack.

“I feel a lot of empathy for them because I know what type of background they came from, and I know they probably didn’t have the easiest route, but that doesn’t give them the right to hurt somebody else,” she told the outlet.

“My son did nothing to them,” she said. Frierson added that “if it wasn’t Cameron, it would have been somebody that night because they already had it in their heads. That’s what they wanted to do.”

She also urged adults to take greater responsibility for young people, saying, “we have to do better with our kids.” The teens, she said, were “obviously hurting bad enough where they felt the need to go out and hurt someone else.”

“It starts at home,” Frierson emphasized.

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Mayor Andy Burnham Drops Controversial Plans to Curb Jury Trials

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Mayor Andy Burnham Drops Controversial Plans to Curb Jury Trials

Andy Burnham has abandoned the Government’s disputed proposals to restrict the use of jury trials.

The Prime Minister reversed the policy, first brought forward under former premier Sir Keir Starmer, which was intended to ease the severe backlog facing courts across the UK.

Under the revised approach, only selected fraud and other financial cases will be eligible to be tried by a judge alone, without a jury, the Ministry of Justice said.

Justice Secretary Alex Norris said he had decided to “change course” after taking into account the “strength and feeling” expressed against the proposals.

Labour MPs on the backbenches, opposition parties and leading barristers had all raised concerns about fairness. Critics also questioned whether removing juries would genuinely reduce the huge number of outstanding cases.

Barrister Karl Turner, who lost the Labour Whip earlier this year after speaking out against the plans, welcomed the decision to drop the legislation.

He also thanked Mr Burnham “for his support during my campaign”.

Mr Turner, the outspoken MP for Kingston upon Hull East since 2010, said he had held direct discussions with the Justice Secretary about the proposals in recent weeks.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham applauds at the end of Britain's Labour Party's annual conference

Prime Minister Andy Burnham applauds at the close of the Labour Party’s annual conference

Pictured: Outspoken barrister and MP for Kingston upon Hull East Karl Turner

Outspoken barrister and Kingston upon Hull East MP Karl Turner

Reacting to the Government’s decision, Mr Turner said: “I strongly welcome the fact that the new Justice Secretary, Alex Norris, has rightly binned the unworkable plans to curtail jury trials pursued under the previous Labour prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer.”

The Hull East MP said he would continue urging ministers to uphold the public’s right to a fair trial.

“This is an important step, but the fight to protect access to justice and ensure justice is properly served for both victims and the accused does not end here.”

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy had been a leading supporter of limiting jury trials, but the proposed legislation faced intense opposition in Parliament.

Mr Lammy previously argued that the reforms were “desperately needed” to stop victims enduring what he described as “agonising delays”.

Ministry of Justice figures recorded 80,829 cases waiting to be heard in court at the end of June. The backlog has doubled since 2020.

Under Mr Lammy’s proposed Courts and Tribunals Bill, jury trials in England and Wales would have been reserved for cases expected to result in sentences of at least three years, including offences such as murder and rape.

Cases carrying a likely sentence of three years or less would instead have been heard by a single Crown Court judge, without a jury.

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Justice Secretary Alex Norris leaving Westminster Abbey after attending the annual Judges Service on October 1

Justice Secretary Alex Norris leaves Westminster Abbey after attending the annual Judges Service on October 1

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy speaking about criminal court reform last year

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy discusses criminal court reform last year

Mr Norris insisted that scrapping the proposal would allow the Government to reduce the backlog faster, as it would require less structural change.

The Ministry of Justice also announced that criminals accused of ‘relatively minor crimes’ will lose the right to choose a Crown Court jury trial over a Magistrates’ Court hearing.

This change would give courts the final say on where and how the ‘either-way’ offences are dealt with in the legal system. 

The Justice Secretary said: ‘This Government inherited criminal courts on the brink of collapse, with victims waiting years for their day in court.

‘I remain committed to bringing down the backlog and delivering swifter justice for those who so desperately need it.

‘But I have heard the strength of feeling on the proposals for increasing the number of judge-alone trials in the crown court and have made the decision to change course.

Mr Norris added that the cancelled plans will mean victims do not have to endlessly wait for justice. 

‘Justice delayed is justice denied, and I am committed to maximising efficiencies in our system alongside record investment. 

‘I remain committed to structural reform which is crucial if we are to bring down the backlog.’

The changes will be made to the Courts and Tribunals Bill, when it is back on the agenda in Parliament later this month.  

Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy said: ‘This is a major victory for everyone who fought to defend trial by jury, and Conservatives led that fight from day one. 

‘Labour have been forced to abandon its central attack on jury trials in the Crown Court.

‘Labour are restricting juries by the back door, scrapping the right to elect one and dumping those cases on magistrates whose backlog is at a record high.’

The proposed reforms were a response to recommendations made by Sir Brian Leveson to overhaul the courts system.

In his review, the former senior judge found there is ‘no constitutional or common law’ right, or right within European human rights law, for a defendant to be tried by a jury, and so there was no need to limit reforms because of this. 

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