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USC protests break out after anti-Israel valedictorian's commencement speech cancelled over safety concerns

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USC protests break out after anti-Israel valedictorian's commencement speech cancelled over safety concerns

Days after the University of Southern California (USC) announced it would cancel its valedictorian speech, along with all outside speakers during this year’s commencement ceremonies, protesters gathered on the school’s campus on Sunday to show support for the student.

USC announced it would not be allowing biomedical engineering major Asna Tabassum to give her valedictorian speech during the main stage commencement, which draws 65,000 people to the University Park Campus, following a series of social media posts she made about Israel. 

“Given the highly publicized circumstances surrounding our main-stage commencement program, university leadership has decided it is best to release our outside speakers and honorees from attending this year’s ceremony,” a statement posted on the university’s commencement website read. 

Tabassum’s social media, which critics called out as antisemitic, reportedly called for an end to the Jewish state. In a CNN interview, the USC valedictorian defended her position.

USC REMOVES OUTSIDE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS AFTER CANCELLING VALEDICTORIAN’S SPEECH

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As the LA Times Festival of Books was hosted this year at USC, CODEPINK rallied in solidarity with the silenced 2024 valedictorian, Asna Tabassum.  (X/@codepink)

“The abolishment of the state of Israel, I‘d like to clarify, is the abolishment of an apartheid system. It inherently is a system that subjugates Palestinians as dehumanized. And it subjugates Palestinian life as not worth the same as other human life,” she said.

USC’s move sparked outrage as an organization called “CODEPINK” organized a demonstration to demand the school allow Tabassum to give her speech. “As the LA Times Festival of Books was hosted this year at USC, we rallied in solidarity with the silenced 2024 valedictorian, Asna Tabassum! Shame on USC! Reinstate Asna’s speech!,” the group wrote in a post on X.

According to the organization’s website, CODEPINK is a feminist grassroots organization working to end U.S. warfare and imperialism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs.

A spokesperson for the group told Fox News Digital that with the cancelation of all the graduation speakers, they are working on their next strategy. 

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‘Our hopes are that the voice of a young Muslim woman is not censored and silenced. Shame on USC for doing so,” the group said. 

COLUMBIA JEWISH STUDENTS ‘NO LONGER FEEL SAFE,’ SAY ANTI-ISRAEL MOB CHASED THEM OFF CAMPUS

Hundreds of protesters gathered at the University of Southern California in support of Class of 2024 valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, after her commencement speech was canceled. (X/@codepink)

USC says the valedictorian is not being silenced for her political views on the ongoing unrest in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas but for the safety of Tabassum and others in attendance.

“After careful consideration, we have decided that our student valedictorian will not deliver a speech at commencement. While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to safety,” Andrew Guzman, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, wrote in the statement. 

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Guzman stated that the decision was necessary in order to maintain the school and its students’ safety. 

“To be clear: this decision has nothing to do with freedom of speech. There is no free-speech entitlement to speak at a commencement. The issue here is how best to maintain campus security and safety, period,” Guzman wrote. 

USC also told The Los Angeles Times that they had received threats via letters, phone calls, and emails.

Fox News’ Nikolas Lanum, Gabriel Hays, and Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report. 

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Hawaii

Hawaii County Surf Forecast for April 29, 2026 | Big Island Now

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Hawaii County Surf Forecast for April 29, 2026 | Big Island Now


Forecast for Big Island Windward and Southeast


Shores Tonight Wednesday
Surf Surf
PM AM AM PM
North Facing 1-3 1-3 1-3 1-3
East Facing 2-4 2-4 2-4 2-4
South Facing 1-3 1-3 1-3 1-3
TONIGHT
Weather Mostly cloudy. Occasional showers.
Low Temperature In the upper 60s.
Winds North winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides
Hilo Bay High 1.8 feet 01:18 AM HST.
WEDNESDAY
Weather Partly sunny. Scattered showers.
High Temperature Around 80.
Winds Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tides
Hilo Bay Low -0.3 feet 07:36 AM HST.
High 2.3 feet 02:26 PM HST.
Sunrise 5:52 AM HST.
Sunset 6:43 PM HST.

Forecast for Big Island Leeward


Shores Tonight Wednesday
Surf Surf
PM AM AM PM
West Facing 0-2 0-2 0-2 1-3
South Facing 1-3 1-3 1-3 1-3
TONIGHT
Weather Mostly cloudy until 12 AM, then partly
cloudy. Scattered showers.
Low Temperature In the upper 60s.
Winds East winds around 5 mph.
Tides
Kona Low 0.3 feet 08:23 PM HST.
High 1.4 feet 01:56 AM HST.
Kawaihae Low 0.3 feet 08:58 PM HST.
High 1.3 feet 02:21 AM HST.
WEDNESDAY
Weather Mostly sunny. Isolated showers.
High Temperature In the lower 80s.
Winds South winds around 5 mph.
Tides
Kona Low -0.2 feet 08:13 AM HST.
High 1.8 feet 03:04 PM HST.
Kawaihae Low -0.2 feet 08:22 AM HST.
High 2.0 feet 03:20 PM HST.
Sunrise 5:56 AM HST.
Sunset 6:47 PM HST.

Surf along north and west facing shores will remain small tonight before a small bump is possible on Wednesday. An upward trend is then expected during the second half of the week as another northwest swell arrives as early as Wednesday night. This swell originates from a storm-force low that tracked into the Bering Sea this past weekend, as confirmed by scatterometry. Therefore, this swell appears more likely to materialize. Looking further ahead, a storm-force low east of Japan will send a moderate, longer-period northwest swell toward the islands for Friday and Saturday, with surf heights potentially approaching advisory levels along exposed north and west facing shores.

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Surf along south-facing shores will remain small through much of the week, with mainly background south to southwest swell expected. Another south-southwest pulse may arrive by this weekend from recent activity within our swell window east of New Zealand, providing a small increase in surf.

Surf along east-facing shores will remain relatively small and choppy through midweek, with a slight rise possible Thursday and Friday as trades strengthen.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

NORTH EAST

am        pm  

Surf: Minimal (ankle high or less) surf.

Conditions: Semi choppy with ESE winds 5-10mph in the morning increasing to 10-15mph in the afternoon.

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NORTH WEST

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

am        pm  

Surf: Minimal (ankle high or less) surf.

Conditions: Clean in the morning with ESE winds less than 5mph. Bumpy/semi bumpy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting W 5-10mph.

WEST

am        pm  

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

Surf: Minimal (ankle high or less) surf.

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Conditions: Light sideshore texture in the morning with NNW winds 5-10mph. Bumpy/semi bumpy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting to the WNW.

SOUTH EAST

am        pm  

Surf: Minimal (ankle high or less) surf.

Conditions: Sideshore texture/chop with NE winds 10-15mph.

Data Courtesy of NOAA.gov and SwellInfo.com

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Idaho

Idaho Steelheads | STEELHEADS ELIMINATED IN 6-3 LOSS TO AMERICANS

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Idaho Steelheads | STEELHEADS ELIMINATED IN 6-3 LOSS TO AMERICANS


BOISE, ID – The Idaho Steelheads (1) fell 6-3 in Game 5 of the Mountain Division Semifinals to the Allen Americans (4) Tuesday night at Idaho Central Arena to end their season with a 4-1 series defeat to Allen. 

Idaho found the icebreaker just under nine minutes into the first period as Brendan Hoffmann sprung Kaleb Pearson for a breakaway tally by Marco Costantini to give the Steelheads a 1-0 lead in Game 5.

Ten minutes later, Allen responded, as the Americans got a power play goal from Danny Katic, who corralled a loose puck at the top of the crease and beat Jake Barczewski to tie the game 1-1.

The response came quickly for the Steelheads in the middle frame, as just 44 seconds into the frame Jade Miller wired a puck by Costantini from the high slot to put Idaho back ahead 2-1.

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Seven minutes later, the Americans tied the game 2-2 as Brayden Watts took advantage of a broken play in front and threw in his fourth goal of the series.

In the back half of the second period, Ty Pelton-Byce struck for Idaho to notch a power play goal for his fourth straight game and put the Steelheads back in front for a 3-2 edge.

In the final seconds of the second period, Allen tied the contest 3-3 as Spencer Asuchak tipped a slot shot through traffic and by Barczewski to bring the teams even heading into the final frame.

Eight minutes into the third period, the Americans took their first lead of the contest, as Mark Duarte ripped a shot into the net from the right circle for a 4-3 Americans lead.

Despite an Idaho push, Allen extended their advantage to 5-3 with just under six minutes left in regulation on a power play goal by Danny Katic.

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Two minutes later, the Americans secured the series with an empty net goal by Katic, who netted his fifth goal of the series and sealed a 6-3 Allen win.

Idaho’s Jake Barczewski made 27 saves in the losswhile Allen’s Marco Constantini turned aside 25 shots in the win.

BOX SCORE

ICCU THREE STARS
1) Danny Katic (ALN, 3-1-4, +2, 7 shots)
2) Kaleb Pearson (IDH, 1-1-2, +1, 6 shots)
3) Sam Sedley (ALN, 0-3-3, +1, 3 shots)

Stay up to date with all things Steelheads on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Watch all Steelheads home games on FloHockey and KTVB 24/7 (Channel 7.2) and listen on the Steelheads flagship station 95.3 FM/ 1350 AM KTIK “The Ticket”.

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Montana

Bring your Treasures to the Montana Appraisal Fair in Billings

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Bring your Treasures to the Montana Appraisal Fair in Billings


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Thank You

Your email address is now confirmed.


You’ll start receiving the latest news, benefits ,events and
programs related to AARP’s mission to empower people
to choose how they live as they age.


You can also
manage your communication preferences
by updating your account at anytime.
You will be asked to register and login.

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Your email address is now confirmed.

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