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A marathon in every state: Navy vet and former NYPD cop runs across US to help deserving nonprofit

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A marathon in every state: Navy vet and former NYPD cop runs across US to help deserving nonprofit

A miliary veteran has hit the ground running in terms of helping other heroes.

John Barnett, a U.S. Navy veteran and retired New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) police officer, has set out to run a marathon in all 50 U.S. states to raise awareness for local nonprofit Paws of War, which helps rescue and train service dogs for veterans.

The Long Islander enlisted with the Navy in 1986 and retired as a commander in 2011. Barnett continued his service with the MTA police department after he left the military, until an incident on the Fourth of July ended his career.

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On July 4, 2012, the officer was on routine patrol at the Long Island Railroad’s Jamaica Station when he was “ambushed” on the sidewalk, he told Fox News Digital in an interview.

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The criminal, who had a knife, attacked Barnett — and stabbed him in the eye.

John Barnett, pictured here, served as a detective with the NYPD until 2012. (Paws of War)

“I told him to drop the knife, and then I shot him,” he said. (See the video at the top of this article.)

Barnett underwent several surgeries to restore his retina — but his vision was beyond repair. 

He was left blind in his left eye. 

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ARIZONA DOG GIVES BIRTH ON MEMORIAL DAY, PUPS WILL BE GIFTED TO VETERANS FOR SUPPORT

“I’ve been retired ever since,” he said. 

Since the attack, Barnett has been receiving eye treatment and therapy for PTSD.

Barnett, pictured at center, was in “great spirits, laughing with colleagues as he left the hospital” after the incident, according to Paws of War. (Paws of War)

After the incident, Barnett noticed a sign outside Paws of War’s headquarters in Nesconset, New York, located less than half a mile from his house.

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The sign mentioned that the organization helps America’s veterans and first responders.

“This is just my way of giving back and helping other first responders, brothers and sisters.”

“And I said, ‘Oh, well, I need to go in there, because I need help, and I’m a first responder — and a veteran,” he said. “So, I went in and they helped me out.”

Since then, Barnett said Paws of War has offered him “numerous” services, including veteran training for his two dogs, counseling and “camaraderie” within a community of other veterans.

Barnett has two service dogs, a German weimaraner and a German shorthaired pointer, both pictured here. (Paws of War)

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While Barnett has always been an avid runner and has completed more than 30 marathons, the veteran decided to run for Paws of War to increase others’ awareness of the nonprofit and its good works.

“This is just my way of giving back and helping other first responders, brothers and sisters,” he told Fox News Digital.

“Everyone who goes through Paws of War has struggles, and if I can help one person, I feel good.”

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Barnett emphasized that the organization has helped him “significantly” through its various services.

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“I would love for other first responders and veterans to receive the same help that I got from Paws of War,” he said. “By running, I can help others … This is my main goal. Just helping and giving back.”

Barnett said that listening to music, specifically to Steve Winwood or Elton John, while running a marathon helps him “feel great.” (Paws of War)

He added, “I think it’s one of the best services in the world for veterans and first responders.”

The Montana Marathon in Billings, Montana, on May 19 marked Barnett’s first run for Paws of War. His next race will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, on June 22 — which will mark his 27th U.S. state marathon.

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Although Barnett has run the New York City Marathon five times, he said his top two favorite marathons were in Burlington, Vermont, and Sugarloaf, Maine.

“Because you smell pine trees for 26 miles,” he said. “If you love the smell of pine trees, you’ll love that marathon.”

As Barnett’s goal is to get more veterans and first responders the help they need, he encouraged them to also reach out to their local VA hospital for immediate help.

“If I could just reach one veteran while I’m running a marathon and for them to reach out to Paws of War and say, ‘I need help’ — that would be great.” (Paws of War)

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Paws of War co-founder Robert Misseri, who is based in New York, expressed his support for Barnett in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“John’s resilience and appreciation of giving back to Paws of War is another reason why we need to support our veterans and first responders,” he said. 

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

“His efforts could save someone’s life.”

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Paws of War’s mission, according to its website, is “to honor and support our veterans, active military members, and first responders with services that enrich their lives through the rescue and training of service dogs for independence, adoption of companion animals, rescue of overseas animals in war zones, and other essential services to assist our heroes in need.”

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Maine

Hearts of Pine halt 4-game skid with emphatic win

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Hearts of Pine halt 4-game skid with emphatic win


PORTLAND — Perhaps the June Swoon is over for the Portland Hearts of Pine.

A flurry of second-half activity Wednesday night resulted in four goals and a much-needed 5-1 USL League One victory against the Richmond Kickers that had fans buzzing with feel-good frenzy at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

Ollie Wright scored the go-ahead goal on a header off a great cross from Jaden Jones-Reilly in the 57th minute. In short order, Konstantinos Georgallides and Aboubacar Camara each added a goal, and then Camara got a second late in extra time.

Diego Gonzalez, playing his third game with Portland, added friskiness to the midfield and opened the scoring with a header in the first half. He also assisted on Camara’s first goal with a slick through pass.

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Portland had lost four straight games, including three in a row in USL1. The Hearts are now 4-5-5 in league play and moved from 13th to 10th in the 17-team league, just three points out of the eight-team playoff picture.

It was a dramatic reversal from Portland’s most recent game, a 5-1 loss at Westchester SC on Friday that was shown live back in Portland at an open-air setting in Monument Square.

PREVIOUSLY IN JUNE

When the month of May ended with a gritty home win against Spokane, Portland was 3-2-4 in league play and overcoming injuries.

June has not been as kind. Portland entered Wednesday’s game on a four-game losing streak. Digging into the numbers, the skid looked even worse.

It was the first time the Hearts had lost four straight games in their brief year-and-a-half history. They were outscored 15-5 in that stretch, and 15-3 starting with the two extra-time goals they allowed in a 3-2 loss at Corpus Christi.

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Portland had also lost three straight against USL League One games for the first time.

Two of the four losses were ugly 5-1 affairs. Portland didn’t lose by more than three goals and had just four losses by two or more goals in 2025.

RETURNS AND NOTES

Portland was glad to have Mikey Lopez back on the game-day roster. Lopez, who had bene out more than month because of an injury, entered as a 75th-minute sub with Portland leading 4-1. … Sean Vinberg, one of Portland’s primary starting center backs in 2025, became the second former Hearts player to return to Fitzpatrick, wearing the captain’s band for Richmond. Vinberg was released at the end of the 2025 season. He made 33 starts for Portland, second most on the team. … Maine Gatorade High School Soccer Players of the Year Finn Coburn (Scarborough) and Noelle Mallory (Cape Elizabeth) handled the honorary coin toss before the match.



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Massachusetts

Massachusetts man accused of wanting sex with girl busted in World Cup trafficking operation

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Massachusetts man accused of wanting sex with girl busted in World Cup trafficking operation


A Massachusetts man who allegedly looked to have sex with a 15-year-old girl and bring drugs and alcohol to the meet-up has been arrested during a crackdown on human trafficking amid the World Cup.

Richard Lallier, 34, of Rehoboth, is one of 13 individuals who face exploitation and trafficking charges stemming from an operation that the FBI Boston has partnered on with the Massachusetts State Police and Rhode Island State Police during the global soccer tournament, dubbed “Operation Red Card.”

“Participating agencies emphasized that while major international sporting events bring significant economic and cultural benefits to host communities,” the Rhode Island State Police said in a statement on Tuesday, “they may also create opportunities for traffickers and those who exploit vulnerable populations.”

“Law enforcement agencies throughout the region remain committed to proactive enforcement efforts designed to deter human trafficking, identify victims, and hold offenders accountable,” the State Police added.

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The Rhode Island State Police arrested six individuals, including Lallier, while the Massachusetts State Police apprehended seven suspects during a five-day operation between June 12 and 16.

The suspects arrested in Massachusetts range in age between 21 and 71, all of whom have been arraigned on state charges of sex for a fee with a child under 18, enticement of a child under 16, and attempted rape of a child.

In Rhode Island, Lallier, with a last known address in Rehoboth, is being held without bail on charges of attempted enticement, attempted interstate travel for sexual contact with a minor under 16 years old, and attempted transmission of obscene material to a minor.

Lindsay Laurie, a Rhode Island state trooper who went undercover to operate a Facebook profile that featured “age-regressed images” of herself, said in an affidavit that she informed Lallier via Messenger that he was speaking to a 15-year-old.

In response, Lallier, who went by the name of “Frank Land” on Facebook, allegedly said he was 34 years old before he asked for a “naughty video.”

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Lallier also allegedly “sent multiple videos of his penis” to the undercover profile.

Two days later, last Wednesday, Lallier messaged the undercover profile again, explaining that he wanted to find “snow,” a “code word for cocaine,” Laurie stated. Lallier said he would “bring weed and fireball” to a meetup.

Last Friday, after Lallier confirmed to the undercover profile that he arrived in Rhode Island’s Lincoln Woods State Park, authorities arrested him, according to Laurie’s affidavit.

Major international events, such as the World Cup, lead to “large-scale travel” and “increased demand for lodging,” creating “opportunities for criminal exploitation,” according to Michael Soper, the program director of Boston Hotel Watch, an intelligence network connecting hotels and law enforcement.

Soper pointed to the “rapid expansion of short-term rental platforms” in creating a “significant and evolving challenge” to prevent human trafficking since the accommodations often have “less oversight, fewer standardized security protocols, and limited participation in established reporting networks.”

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“As a result,” Soper said in a statement shared with the Herald, “illicit activity may occur outside the visibility of hospitality professionals and law enforcement partnerships, making the full scope of the problem difficult to measure.”



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New Hampshire

Charlevoix County farm arson suspect arrested in New Hampshire after January blaze

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Charlevoix County farm arson suspect arrested in New Hampshire after January blaze


CHARLEVOIX COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — A Northern Michigan man accused of torching a Charlevoix County farm is now behind bars in New Hampshire.

Investigators said 23-year-old Daniel Fournier is linked to a January fire that caused an estimated $500,000 in damage.

Authorities tracked him to Merrimack, where he was arrested during a traffic stop while allegedly carrying a loaded pistol.

A search of his apartment turned up more firearms, suspected incendiary devices and evidence investigators say ties him to the Michigan arson.

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Fournier is fighting extradition and remains jailed pending another court hearing.



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