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Iowa senator seeks to increase government transparency and end Biden administration's 'secret spending'

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Iowa senator seeks to increase government transparency and end Biden administration's 'secret spending'

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FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, will introduce a bill on Tuesday that seeks to bar government agencies from concealing details about reported transactions by mislabeling them as “other transaction agreements.” 

The legislation, titled the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2024, seeks to prevent bureaucratic agencies from using the term “OTA” in reporting their spending to the Government Accountability Office. 

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OTA’s are defined as “legally binding agreements other than standard contracts and grants that allow for flexible arrangements,” according to the GAO. 

According to the latest data, the current U.S. national debt stands at roughly $34.4 trillion and is increasing by about $1 trillion every 100-day period.

The legislation would insert the phrase “other transaction agreement” into the list of terms considered “federal awards,” thus requiring various disclosures about the transaction, such as the entities involved and the amounts.

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Ernst’s new measure geared toward increasing government spending transparency comes during 2024’s Sunshine Week, which celebrates and recognizes the importance of openness in government and the dangers of excessive confidentiality. National Freedom of Information Day falls on March 16. 

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Ernst described it as “disappointing” to need to address this issue during Sunshine Week. 

“Once again, Biden is hiding billions by not disclosing the details about the dollars his deputies are doling out using loosely defined deals referred to as ‘other transaction agreements,’ or OTAs,” she said. 

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Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill on March 6, 2024. (Reuters/Bonnie Cash)

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These agreements amount to “sweetheart deals,” the Iowa senator said. 

In fiscal years 2020-2022, the GAO found that more than $40 billion was reported by agencies under the term’s umbrella. The office further noted that about $10 billion was seemingly related to the COVID-19 pandemic but that the expenditures weren’t reported to the GAO as such. It also detailed that agencies appeared to use different strategies in reporting transactions as OTAs. Per the GAO, “Policymakers and the public will continue to lack complete spending information and transparency of OTAs” until they are considered federal rewards and held to that reporting standard.

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The Treasury Department (AP Photo/Jon Elswick/File)

Ernst slammed the Treasury Department in her statement to Fox News Digital for suggesting that OTA spending should not be reported to USASpending.gov because it isn’t currently defined as a federal award. 

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She cited the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, noting that it states “federal financial assistance and expenditures” totaling more than $25,000 should be reported.

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Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, speaks during a press conference, May 2, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“Seems pretty clear to me,” Ernst said. 

Because of this, she said she plans to give the department her monthly “Squeal Award.” The purpose of the recognition is to identify and call out “wasteful” expenses. 

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President Biden’s proposed fiscal 2025 budget, which was released Monday, includes borrowing $16.3 trillion. According to the White House, the amount would be partially offset by taxes raised on corporations and the nation’s highest earners. The Biden administration has said his budget proposal would actually lower the national deficit by $3 trillion over 10 years.

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Midwest

Judge orders Ilhan Omar attack suspect to remain in custody pending trial

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Judge orders Ilhan Omar attack suspect to remain in custody pending trial

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The man accused of squirting Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., with a syringe of apple cider vinegar during a town hall in Minneapolis last month will remain in custody until he stands trial, according to court documents.

Magistrate Judge David Schultz ordered Anthony Kazmierczak, 56, to remain in custody pending trial, citing “exceedingly serious and dangerous circumstances” of the assault allegations.

“The Court further finds detention is warranted in this case because clear and convincing evidence shows that no condition or combination of conditions of release will reasonably assure the safety of the community, should Mr. Kazmierczak be released pending trial,” Schultz wrote in the order of detention dated Monday.

Omar was speaking about immigration policy and called for a transparent investigation and legal action against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as the abolition of the agency when the alleged attack happened. She also said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign or “face impeachment.”

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A man is tackled after spraying an unknown substance later identified as apple cider vinegar at Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., during a town hall she was hosting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 27, 2026. (Octavio Jones / AFP via Getty Images)

Kazmierczak allegedly admitted to Minneapolis police during his arrest that he had squirted vinegar on Omar.

He was subsequently charged with one felony count of terroristic threats and one count of fifth-degree assault.

BROTHER OF MAN ACCUSED OF SPRAYING ILHAN OMAR SAYS SUSPECT HATED SOMALI COMMUNITY FOR YEARS

Kazmierczak made an initial court appearance earlier this month. He was wearing a yellow jumpsuit, a color that his court-appointed defense attorney John Fossum told the courtroom signifies his client was being held in solitary confinement. Fossum also expressed concern for Kazmierczak’s mental state.

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Anthony James Kazmierczak was later charged with one felony count of terroristic threats and one count of fifth-degree assault. (Hennepin County Jail)

During the appearance, Kazmierczak waived his right to a hearing on probable cause.

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Kazmierczak has a criminal history and was convicted of driving while intoxicated in 2009 and again in 2010. Records indicate he served one day in jail followed by five years supervised probation for the 2010 conviction and was put on home detention for 30 days in relation to his 2009 conviction.

Fox News’ Rachel Wolf, Adam Sabes, Jessica Sonkin and David Spunt contributed to this report.

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Detroit, MI

RECAP: Detroit’s lack of execution results in 5-2 loss at Carolina | Detroit Red Wings

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RECAP: Detroit’s lack of execution results in 5-2 loss at Carolina  | Detroit Red Wings


RALEIGH, N.C. – Wrapping up the February portion of their 2025-26 regular-season schedule, the Detroit Red Wings unfortunately spent most of their Saturday night playing catch-up in an eventual 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center.

“They’re a heck of a team,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. “This is a hard building to play in…They’re the class of the East, and you got to come in here at some point and get points. I just didn’t think we executed. We allowed them to be on top of us and come back in waves on Talbs.”

Goalie Cam Talbot made 30 saves in his first start since Jan. 22 for the Red Wings (34-20-6; 74 points), who moved to 11-5-2 on the road since Dec. 6. Meanwhile, turning aside 27 shots netminder Frederik Andersen helped the Hurricanes (38-15-6; 82 points) win their fifth straight game and extend their point streak to 12.

“We’re leaving without points, so that’s real disappointing,” Detroit head coach Todd McLellan said. “I thought that the game was real fast to begin with. There was a lot of pace going both ways. It was a good game for us to play in. A lot of their offensive opportunities came off of basically our tape…[Carolina] really took advantage of our mistakes.”

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Detroit held steady against Carolina’s characteristically heavy, initial 10-minute push in the opening frame, but the leaders of the Metropolitan Division went up 1-0 when Taylor Hall blocked Simon Edvinsson’s shot attempt in their defensive zone and proceeded to score on a breakaway at 14:05.  Then with eight seconds left in the period, while the hosts were on the man advantage, Sebastian Aho’s shot from the left face-off circle deflected off Edvinsson’s stick down low and into the back of the net to extend their lead to 2-0.

“They come out flying and shoot a lot of pucks,” Larkin said. “You can’t really pay attention to the shot clock because they fire it from everywhere, but I liked our start. It’s just that we had some times where we didn’t execute, and they score with eight seconds left. That’s a tough one, but we responded well. We won the second period.”

The Hurricanes struck again just 2:52 into that second period, as Eric Robinson jammed a wrist shot from the top of the crease to push ahead 3-0. But in a span of just 47 seconds late in the stanza, the Red Wings beat Andersen twice to put the hosts on their heels and make it a one-goal game going into the second intermission.



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Milwaukee, WI

At the Bar

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At the Bar


The bar can be “the place” where memories are made, friendships blossom, and stories live forever. This episode of Real Stories MKE features stories from Dasha Kelly, Kristia Wildflower, Shep Crumrine, and Katelyn Nye. Real Stories MKE is hosted by Kim Shine and Joel Dresang with support from producer Jasmine Gonzalez and audio engineer Sam Woods.



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