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Massachusetts foster parents stripped of license for refusing to sign transgender policy

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Massachusetts foster parents stripped of license for refusing to sign transgender policy

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A Massachusetts couple says their foster license was revoked after they refused to sign a state contract requiring them to “affirm” a child’s gender identity because of their Christian beliefs.

Lydia and Heath Marvin, who live in Woburn, Massachusetts, with their three teenage children, have fostered eight children under age 4 since 2020, including a baby with special medical needs they fostered for 15 months.

“We decided that we wanted to do foster care because it’s a key part of being Christian to care for those who are most in need, like orphans,” Heath Marvin told Fox News Digital.

But everything changed after the Marvins received a new parent agreement in August 2024 asking them to agree they would “support” and “affirm” the LGBTQIA+ identity of children in their care.

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SUPREME COURT SKEPTICAL OF ‘CONVERSION THERAPY’ LAW BANNING TREATMENT OF MINORS WITH GENDER IDENTITY ISSUES

Lydia and Heath Marvin said they pleaded with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families to provide religious accomodation to the gender policy but were denied. (The Marvins/Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Marvins asked for an accommodation or waiver from the state, citing their Christian beliefs about gender and sexuality. They said they assured the agency that any child in their home would be loved and taken care of.

“We would absolutely love, care, and support any child in our home, but this was asking us to go against our Christian faith,” Lydia Marvin told Fox News Digital. “We were ultimately told, ‘No, you have to sign the form as is, or else you will lose your license.’ And so, in fact, we lost our license in April of this year.”

The Marvins said they had just completed medical training in order to take care of another child with specialized needs when they learned they were no longer approved by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) to do so.

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“It’s obviously not been what we’ve been hoping for,” Heath said, adding that their focus has always been on providing a loving home for kids who need help.

CHRISTIAN FOSTER FAMILIES FIGHT BACK AGAINST MASSACHUSETTS TRANSGENDER MANDATE

Protesters for and against gender-affirming care for transgender minors demonstrate outside the Supreme Court on Dec. 4, 2024, in Washington, D.C.  (Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press file)

The couple appealed the decision in May and found out in September that the state upheld the decision to revoke their license. 

According to DCF policy, the agency “actively recruits, screens, and assesses foster families for their ability and willingness to support and affirm LGBTQIA+ children placed in their care, including recruiting foster families that identify as LGBTQIA+.” But religious liberty advocates argue this requirement forces families of faith to violate their beliefs.

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At least two other Christian foster families in the state are fighting the policy in court.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is representing the Schrocks and the Jones in a federal lawsuit against the DCF, alleging the policy violates their clients’ constitutional rights. These families also foster young children and refused to sign the gender contract. The Schrocks had their license revoked in June.

WASHINGTON STATE’S RADICAL NEW LAW TURNS PRIESTS INTO GOVERNMENT INFORMANTS

Nick and Audrey Jones, two foster parents who are suing Massachusetts over its “gender-affirming” policy. (Alliance Defending Freedom; Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

According to the suit, Massachusetts did not previously require foster families to pledge verbal affirmation of a child’s gender identity. That changed between 2023 and 2024, when the state began requiring families to sign agreements to speak and act in certain ways, including affirming a foster child’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

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Senior Counsel Hal Frampton told Fox News Digital the state’s actions are hurting vulnerable children instead of helping them.

“What really hurts about all of this is that this hurts kids more than anything else,” he said. “Every child deserves a loving home. And children suffer when the government excludes people of faith who are ready to provide those homes to them based on the government’s radical ideology.”

ADF argues the policy is particularly harmful to children at a time when the state faces a foster parent shortage.

“They have more kids than homes ready to support them,” Frampton said. “And so the idea that you’re going to take loving families like the Marvins, like the Shrocks, like Joneses, the people we represent in our case, who have successfully provided for kids for years and say, now those people are just out of the system. In the end, what that does is it deepens the crisis, and it results in more kids not having loving homes.”

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The Trump administration has also weighed in on the Marvins’ case.

In a Sept. 30 letter addressed to the DCF from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families Andrew Gradison called the state’s policy “troubling” and in violation of the Constitution.

“These policies and developments are deeply troubling, clearly contrary to the purpose of child welfare programs, and in direct violation of First Amendment protections,” the letter said, according to the Massachusetts Family Institute.

“It’s really heartening to see the administration noticing this issue and taking it seriously and coming down on the side of loving families like the Marvins and recognizing that states shouldn’t be in the business of using their radical gender ideology to hurt kids,” Frampton added.

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A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital.

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Connecticut

Hibachi Grill Supreme Buffet In South Plainfield Offers Endless Delicious Options

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Hibachi Grill Supreme Buffet In South Plainfield Offers Endless Delicious Options


The Greater Danbury area isn’t exactly known as a buffet hotspot, but if you’re willing to venture beyond your zip code, the state delivers some awe-inspiring all-you-can-eat experiences. A recent “Only In Your State” feature crowned one buffet as the best in Connecticut — and that raised a very local question: Do any buffets near Danbury compare?

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The Top 5 Buffets in Connecticut

Topping the statewide list is the Pacific Buffet & Grill in Wallingford, celebrated by Only In Your State as Connecticut’s best. This place is the gold standard, known for its huge seafood selection, sushi bar, hibachi grill, and sheer variety. Crab legs, shrimp, steak, noodles — it’s all here, and it’s why people happily drive across the state for it.

Other standout buffets earning consistent praise include Osaka Hibachi Buffet in Stratford, loved for its cleanliness and sushi options, and Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet in South Plainfield, which boasts hundreds of rotating items and a popular cook-to-order hibachi station. Rounding out the top five are Imperial China Buffet in Watertown a dependable classic, and Royal Buffet Sushi and Grill in New Milford, which is especially important for Greater Danbury diners.

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So… What About Buffets Near Danbury?

Here’s the honest truth: Danbury doesn’t have a Pacific-level buffet. But there are a couple of respectable local options. Grand Century Buffet at 1 Padanaram Road remains the city’s most familiar buffet, offering a wide selection at reasonable prices. It’s not flashy, but it gets the job done.

Meanwhile, Agogo Asian & Sushi Buffet, 15-19 Backus Ave., has earned strong reviews for quality — especially sushi — even if the buffet itself is smaller than the state’s heavy hitters.


The Bottom Line

If you’re chasing Connecticut’s best buffet, it’s worth the drive. But if you’re staying local, New Milford and Danbury still offer solid options that satisfy the all-you-can-eat craving without a road trip.

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Maine

Maine secures $1.9M settlement for bitcoin kiosk scam victims

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Maine secures .9M settlement for bitcoin kiosk scam victims


A major cryptocurrency ATM operator will pay $1.9 million to Maine residents who were defrauded by scammers using the company’s kiosks, according to a consent agreement with the state.

The agreement, between Bitcoin Depot and the Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection, follows a two-year investigation that included the Office of the Maine Attorney General. It was signed in December and announced Monday.

Bitcoin Depot is based in Atlanta and operates over 25,000 kiosks in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Mexico and Hong Kong, according to its website. The company operated about 80 unlicensed kiosks in Maine — until the state passed emergency legislation in June to regulate virtual currency ATMs.

Bitcoin Depot’s website no longer lists kiosks in Maine. “They’ve been gone since last summer,” said Linda Conti, bureau superintendent.

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Most of the company’s machines were in York, Cumberland, Kennebec and Penobscot counties, Conti said.

It’s unclear how many Mainers have been scammed through Bitcoin Depot kiosks, exactly where they were located or how much money each victim might receive.

“We will not know how much each refund will be until we have received and reviewed all of the claims,” according to information posted on the bureau’s website.

Claims must be filed on or before April 1, 2026, and may be submitted online. The bureau will begin issuing refunds in May.

INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY

The bureau said the scams involved transactions made at Bitcoin Depot kiosks, where people purchased cryptocurrency and deposited it into “unhosted wallets” provided by third-party fraudsters.

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An unhosted wallet is a type of digital wallet that is hosted and controlled by a user, rather than by a financial institution, money transmitter, exchange or other virtual asset service provider.

Although Bitcoin Depot no longer has kiosks in Maine,nearly 100 other cryptocurrency ATMs are still operating across the state, Conti said, including CoinFlip, CoinStar and Coinme machines.

In March 2023, bureau investigators found that Bitcoin Depot kiosks in Maine appeared to provide money transmission functions and invited the company to apply for a money transmitter license, according to the consent agreement.

The company applied for a license that month, but the application wasn’t deemed complete until February 2025 and was denied in April 2025. Bitcoin Depot appealed the decision in May.

In July 2025, the bureau provided Bitcoin Depot with a list of consumer transactions at its kiosks in which Maine consumers may have suffered financial loss and harm as a result of third-party fraudsters.

As part of the consent agreement, Bitcoin Depot must send a $1.9 million check to Maine’s attorney general by Feb. 2 and has agreed to fully comply with Maine’s consumer protection laws as a now-licensed money transmitter.

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Bitcoin Depot is still licensed to transmit funds in Maine through online transactions, Conti said.

The bureau continues to investigate other cryptocurrency kiosk operators, she said. “The kiosks are where the trouble happens,” Conti said.

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Gov. Janet Mills praised the bureau for securing an agreement with Bitcoin Depot “that will put money back into the pockets of Maine people who were defrauded by predatory third-party scammers.”

Mills urged all Mainers “to talk with their loved ones about the threats of scammers and precautions to take to avoid these cruel and often sophisticated schemes.” 

Maine has recently adopted laws that protect consumers from third-party scammers, including the Maine Money Transmission Modernization Act, which the governor signed in 2024.

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In June 2025, Mills also signed emergency legislation that limits daily transmission amounts from virtual currency kiosks, caps fees and exchange rates, and provides redress for consumers.

“Maine’s new consumer protection laws have allowed us to reach this consent agreement,” Conti said. “Whenever you have new technologies, you’re going to have people who are vulnerable and need to be protected.”

The laws include an unhosted wallet provision, which requires money transmitters to employ new technologies to ensure that Maine consumers own and control their virtual wallets.

To be eligible for a portion of the $1.9 million, claimants must have been a Maine resident between 2022 and 2025; used a Bitcoin Depot kiosk in Maine during that period to convert cash to cryptocurrecy; and deposited the cryptocurrency into an unhosted wallet provided by a scammer or third-party fraudster.

The full consent agreement and FAQs for consumers are available on the bureau’s website. For more information call 800-332-8529 or 207-624-8527.

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Massachusetts

NESN’S Tom Caron, Dave O’Brien Named 2025 NSMA Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters Of The Year

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NESN’S Tom Caron, Dave O’Brien Named 2025 NSMA Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters Of The Year


New England Sports Network (NESN) on Monday announced that Boston Red Sox broadcast leaders Tom Caron and Dave O’Brien have been named 2025 Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters of the Year by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA).

Caron and O’Brien serve as the cornerstone voices of NESN’s Red Sox coverage, leading the network’s studio and game productions, respectively. Together, they anchor NESN’s comprehensive Red Sox broadcasts, delivering in-depth analysis, trusted storytelling and championship-caliber coverage to fans across New England.

“Tom and Dave represent the gold standard of sports broadcasting,” said David Wisnia, President & CEO of NESN. “Their credibility, storytelling, and deep connection to Red Sox fans elevate every broadcast. This recognition by NSMA is a well-deserved honor and a reflection of their impact on New England sports media.”

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This recognition continues NESN’s tradition of broadcast excellence, following Jack Edwards’ selection as the 2024 NSMA Massachusetts Sportscaster of the Year for his work as the play-by-play voice of the Boston Bruins.

Tom Caron joined NESN in 1995, recently celebrating 30 years with the network. For the past 24 seasons, he has been a central figure in NESN’s Red Sox coverage, serving as the network’s first baseball sideline reporter before becoming host of the Red Sox pregame and postgame shows during the club’s historic 2004 championship season. In addition to leading NESN’s Red Sox studio programming and hosting the “310 To Left” VODcast, Caron has served as studio host for Boston Bruins hockey and as play-by-play announcer for premier New England college hockey events, including the Beanpot Tournament and Hockey East Championship. A nine-time New England Emmy Award winner, Caron was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2021 and is deeply involved in numerous charitable organizations throughout the region, including serving as Co-Chair of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund.

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Dave O’Brien has served as NESN’s primary play-by-play voice of the Red Sox since 2016, following nine years with the Red Sox Radio Network. In addition to leading NESN’s game broadcasts, O’Brien is also the lead play-by-play announcer for college football and basketball on ESPN’s ACC Network. His career includes Major League Baseball postseason broadcasts, international World Series coverage, and play-by-play roles with the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves. A Boston native, O’Brien is a recipient of multiple national and regional broadcasting honors and is widely respected as one of the sport’s premier voices.

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The National Sports Media Association annually recognizes excellence in sports media across the country, honoring broadcasters who demonstrate outstanding professionalism, longevity, and impact in their markets.

About NESN
NESN is consistently one of the top-rated regional sports networks in the country with award-winning Red Sox and Bruins coverage, and recently named RSN of the Year by Cynopsis. NESN and NESN+ are delivered throughout the six-state New England region and are available anytime, anywhere, on any device on the NESN 360 app via direct subscription or TV authentication. The network is also distributed nationally as NESN National. NESN’s free ad-supported streaming (FAST) channel, NESN NATION, offers 35+ hours of weekly live and original programming, including exclusive sports content, interviews, and behind-the-scenes features, available on Samsung TV Plus, Prime Video, Roku, LG, Twitch, Plex, and TCLtv+. NESN.com is one of the country’s most visited sports websites with dedicated digital video production and always-on news coverage. NESN’s social responsibility program, NESN Connects, is proud to support and connect its employees with charitable organizations in the Greater Boston community. NESN also manages SportsNet Pittsburgh, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates for all regionally televised games in and around Pittsburgh, as well as other local sports content. NESN is owned by Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox) and Delaware North (owners of the Boston Bruins).

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