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Colorado college student vows to fight back after student board blocks TPUSA chapter
Crowds gather for Turning Point USA event despite rain
Fox News correspondent Madison Scarpino says thousands of people are expected to attend a Turning Point USA event at Ole Miss University featuring Vice President JD Vance and Erika Kirk on ‘America Reports.’
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A Colorado college student said he’s fighting back after his school’s student government blocked his effort to start a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter — a move he calls an attack on free expression.
“I mean, we have a lot of people that are in the background that are saying they would love to sponsor us to do a lawsuit, but I’m trying to do it sort of the Christian way and go little by little, like go up the chain,” said Flynn, a senior at Fort Lewis College.
Flynn stood before the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College board as it voted against establishing a TPUSA chapter in front of a crowded room last week. The board held a meeting to discuss Flynn’s proposal to launch a chapter. According to the Durango Herald, the four-hour meeting was “filled wall-to-wall with students and community members.”
Jonah Flynn, a senior at Fort Lewis College in Colorado, was inspired by Charlie Kirk’s debating method to start a Turning Point USA chapter. (Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“[M]ore than 30 students spoke in opposition to the measure. Around 15 additional attendees hoping to speak against the measure were unable to address the room due to time constraints,” the Herald reported.
NEWLY LAUNCHED TPUSA CHAPTER CAUSES UPROAR AT MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE FIRST MEETING
After a public comment session and Flynn pleading his case to launch the chapter, arguing the importance of debate and “keeping the conversation going,” his efforts were unsuccessful.
The seven elected senators on the board blocked the chapter.
“Many of our morals and interests must be pushed to the side,” said Asa Worthington, the student body president of the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College. “The safety of our student body and the FLC community has always been and always will be ASFLC’s top priority.”
Critics alleged that Flynn’s plan mirrored TPUSA’s national “professor watchlist,” which has faced backlash. The Herald reported that only three people supported Flynn’s proposal to start a chapter.
Flynn told Fox News Digital that he will not give up and plans to file an appeal with the Student Court.
The benefits of registering the TPUSA chapter on FLC’s campus is that organizers have access to the school’s facilities for events. Flynn hopes to host a larger event than the one he held before through TPUSA. The event, “Debate a Conservative,” was touted as a success.
TURNING POINT USA CHAPTER DENIED OFFICIAL STATUS BY LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Kirk’s debating style inspired Flynn to start a Turning Point USA chapter. His campus is located in La Plata County, which went heavily for Kamala Harris in 2024.
Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University, which has sparked a huge interest across the country to start new TPUSA chapters in high schools and colleges.
Colorado student Jonah Flynn is fighting back after the student government at his college struck down his effort to start a Turning Point USA chapter. (Fox News Digital)
“I was really upset by what happened to Charlie. I was just sort of mourning and emotional and upset about it. Then I decided that what we need to do is not sort of back down,” Flynn said.
He expected backlash when starting a chapter, but not to the extent of what occurred.
On Oct. 17, a petition which was launched by the Fort Lewis College community garnered over 400 signatures, arguing that TPUSA “has engaged in actions that directly harm our community.”
“At a college where many students identify as Indigenous, students of color, LGBTQ+, or from other underrepresented backgrounds, this harm cannot be ignored,” the petition reads. “We are calling on Fort Lewis College to take action that prioritizes student safety and well-being by refusing to recognize the TPUSA chapter as an RSO.”
STUDENT AT OHIO UNIVERSITY SAYS PEERS TEARING DOWN FLYERS, SENDING HATE OVER NEW TURNING POINT USA CHAPTER
Shortly after the chapter was denied, a counter-petition launched backing TPUSA, garnering over 1,000 signatures so far.
Vice President JD Vance greets Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, during a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
“We, therefore, call upon the administration of Fort Lewis College to reverse the decision reached by the ASFLC and approve TPUSA’s application for RSO status,” the petition reads.
Flynn was disappointed at the outcome of the chapter being denied.
“I was quite ashamed of them, actually,” Flynn told Fox News Digital.
He still feels hopeful that the chapter will be approved at the college. He argued further that the denial of the TPUSA chapter was a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution and the school’s student body constitution as well.
“I think it’s very likely to happen. I think even though there were a lot of people that didn’t want the club to go through, I think in the wake of it, people realized no matter how much you hate the club, that was actually a violation of people’s rights,” Flynn added.
Fort Lewis College officials sent Fox News Digital the following statement.
“The Associated Students of Fort Lewis College (ASFLC), composed entirely of elected student representatives, recently voted to deny recognition of a proposed Turning Point USA chapter,” the spokesperson said.
The stamenet went on to say, “ASFLC reviews all new student organization proposals through a peer-to-peer process that includes opportunities for applicants to appeal decisions. As a public institution of higher education, Fort Lewis College also upholds the rights to free speech and expression for all members of our community, consistent with college policies and state and federal law. Please review FLC’s Revised Expression Statement.”
“We encourage all students to continue engaging in dialogue that reflects our shared values of learning, respect, and inclusion.”
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SAN FRANCISCO – An 8-year veteran of the San Francisco Police Department received a hero’s sendoff Thursday afternoon as she was discharged from San Francisco General Hospital, less than three weeks after surviving a life-threatening shooting in the line of duty.
First time opening up to the public
The backstory:
Officer Brittney Taylor was greeted by a formation of first responders clapping to show their appreciation and respect as she emerged from the hospital in a wheelchair.
The discharge marks the first time Taylor has spoken publicly since the violent encounter on the night of May 31. According to newly released police body-camera footage, Taylor was shot in the upper leg and foot by a robbery suspect following a pursuit that ended in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood.
“I almost lost my life,” Taylor said. “It’s the little things you take for granted. Holy crap, you get to sit back and look at the big picture.”
When asked if she felt any fear during the incident, Taylor admitted she did that night, though not in the moments leading up to it.
“I knew what could happen,” she said, describing the entire ordeal as an eye-opener. “It is difficult to think about it. You replay it, and it absolutely causes me to lose sleep.”
Credit where credit is due
Dig deeper:
Taylor credited the hospital’s medical team, specifically trauma surgeon Dr. Andre Campbell, with saving her life.
However, Dr. Campbell emphasized that the quick actions of Taylor’s fellow officers at the scene played a critical role in her survival.
Instead of waiting for an ambulance, officers recognized the severity of her injuries, placed her into a patrol car, and rushed her directly to the hospital.
“Which was great,” Dr. Campbell said.
Taylor also highlighted the deep bond shared within her “close-knit police family.”
A squad of female officers and their commanding sergeant have maintained a constant presence at the hospital to offer continuous support throughout her stay.
The native San Franciscan expressed that she has no regrets and hopes her experience will encourage other officers to do their best.
“I love the city,” Taylor said. “I don’t like it when people come to my city and destroy it or hurt the citizens here. That takes a toll on me. I’m going to do something about it.”
The road to recovery
What’s next:
When asked how she would respond to people calling her a hero, Taylor remained humble.
“It’s my job. I was doing my job that night. I’m glad to be put in that position of being a hero.”
Following her release, Taylor received a full police escort as she headed home.
While she notes that her full recovery could take anywhere from six months to a year, she remains resolute about her future.
“You gotta let me put my uniform back on and get back out there,” Taylor said, adding that she has no hesitation about continuing her career. “Honestly, no. I got to slow it down. I have time now.”
The Source: Interview with SFPD Officer Brittney Taylor
Denver, CO
Claimed by Christ, Free in Him: Archbishop Golka Celebrates First Juneteenth Mass in Denver
The annual archdiocesan celebration highlighted human dignity, Black Catholic faith and the healing power of Christ’s love.
“This is my first Juneteenth celebration as a priest or a bishop. I’m honored that this could be my first, right here,” Denver Archbishop James Golka said during the Mass commemorating Juneteenth at Curé d’Ars Parish in Denver on Sunday, June 14.
Celebrating the day the Emancipation Proclamation reached enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States. This year’s annual archdiocesan Mass, organized by the Office of Black Catholic Ministry and bringing together parishes and groups from across Northern Colorado, also served to welcome the recently arrived archbishop, who was warmly greeted with processions by the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, liturgical participation by the Curé d’Ars youth group and choir, and additional music by the Queen of Peace African Catholic Society.
“You have a very beautiful church here. The building is okay, also,” Archbishop Golka remarked, noting the beauty of the people of God, the Church, amid laughter and applause.
Carolyne Richardson, member of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary at St. Ignatius of Loyola, was particularly touched by Golka’s quiet enthusiasm.
“The church was overflowing with diverse ethnicities joining in this celebration. Everyone was elated to meet Archbishop Golka. He seemed to look each parishioner in the eye with genuine care and concern,” she noted. “It was sheer jubilation watching him sing the gospel songs along with the choir.”
Recalling his time with fellow bishops at their annual spring meeting in Florida, the archbishop reflected on Pope Leo’s encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, and its discussion on the reality of slavery.
“Although there was not always consistency in practice — slavery was long tolerated before being unequivocally condemned — there has been a continuous affirmation throughout history of the dignity of every human being created in the image of God, even if it took eighteen centuries for the full incompatibility with slavery to be explicitly recognized,” the Holy Father wrote. “This constitutes a wound in Christian memory, one for which we cannot consider ourselves detached. It is impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many in stark contrast to their immeasurable dignity as persons infinitely loved by the Lord” (Magnifica Humanitas 176).
“Finally, Pope Leo says this to you, to all of us,” the archbishop noted as he finished quoting the Holy Father’s encyclical. “‘For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon.”
(Photos by Matt Walker/Denver Catholic)
In his characteristically deeply pastoral way, Archbishop Golka offered the deep, personal love of Christ as a spiritual foundation and antidote to any and all attacks against humanity, be they in the form of slavery or the lurking dangers of artificial intelligence.
“At your Baptism, you were claimed by Jesus Christ. That’s our identity. The evil one tries to make us forget that. We forget that we are beloved children of God. We begin to think that maybe we are worthless, that there’s no reason why we’re here. That is a lie,” the archbishop emphasized. “When God created the universe, he had you in mind, to be here at this time, and this place for his purposes. And he wants to use you in everything. That means, he can use your weakness and your mistakes if you let him.”
The call to surrender more completely to the Lord of love, whose Sacred Heart burns in love for souls, resonated deeply with those in attendance.
“The Mass was more beautiful than I could have imagined,” said Kateri Williams, director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry. “Archbishop Golka’s homily deeply touched those in attendance, and many were moved to tears as he spoke of the Father’s unconditional love and as he reminded us that each of us has a unique purpose and calling in God’s plan.”
Osahon “Osi” Ogbeide, one of several members of the Youth Ministry at Curé d’Ars who read the Prayers of the Faithful, was also taken by the seeming contradiction in Archbishop Golka’s homily.
“The homily focusing on being a slave and surrendering to the lord was very impactful because it reminded me that God wants the best for us. And that can only be achieved in surrendering to him,” he said.
As we continue to surrender to God and follow his plan, even when it surprises and confounds us, we participate in the Kingdom of God, the archbishop concluded.
“God’s purposes are much more immense than my plan. My plan is pretty puny,” Archbishop Golka said. “God’s purposes began with creation, and they’re going to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Reign of God. We get to participate in the Reign of God coming, if you use God’s gifts for God and God’s purposes.”
Seattle News Weekly S1E44: FIFA Frenzy hits the PNW
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is off and running as Seattle prepares to host the United States vs. Australia match on Friday. With more matches to be played in the Emerald City after that, FOX 13’s David Rose, Dan Griffin and Austin Lane are taking a closer look at the biggest stories surrounding the international tournament. Dan is hearing from fans on Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s decision to turn on CCTV cameras during the World Cup, Austin is taking a deeper dive into why ties are a good thing in the group stage, and David revisits the lessons learned from the first match hosted in Seattle between Egypt and Belgium.
SEATTLE – The FIFA World Cup has taken Seattle by storm, bringing global excitement to our city and visitors from across the world.
On this week’s episode of the ‘Seattle News Weekly’ podcast, David Rose, Dan Griffin and Austin Lane discuss the top headlines of the week that have emerged alongside the buzz about the FIFA World Cup 2026.
A Massive Tournament Expansion
The hosts open the podcast with a discussion on how historically large this year’s FIFA World Cup is compared to years past. Expanded to 48 teams (up from 32), the tournament features a record 104 matches over 39 days across 16 host cities. Seattle is hosting six of those matches.
Austin explains the value of “ties” in the group stage—especially with the new format where 32 teams advance to the knockout stage instead of 16—meaning a single point from a tie carries significant weight.
At the time of recording, the US had already defeated Paraguay and is preparing to face Australia at “Seattle Stadium,” where a win would guarantee advancement.
Transit Tactics
Dan Griffin reports on the city’s transit system, noting that while the light rail is moving a massive influx of people smoothly, transit authorities are actively “throttling” passengers.
This practice involves controlling crowd flow onto platforms to ensure safety, which has caused wait times of over an hour for some fans on TikTok. Transit officials recommend that fans walk to stations slightly further away from the stadium district to get moving faster.
The CCTV Security Debate
The hosts talk about how security is a major focal point. The FBI has already had to confiscate drones being flown illegally downtown. More prominently, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson activated controversial closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the Stadium District following “general but credible threats” identified by law enforcement.
While an activist group called Community, Not Cameras expressed fears that the surveillance puts vulnerable populations at risk due to federal agency presence, visitors and fans interviewed largely welcomed the extra layer of security. The cameras are expected to be turned off after the World Cup concludes.
Cultural Celebrations and Fan Experiences
The hosts play a clip from reporter Lauren Donovan who provides a colorful look at the fan festivities happening in the city. She highlights the “March to the Match,” describing Monday morning where Belgian fans swarmed Victory Hall alongside middle school band directors from the Stanwood-Camano district who were recruited to drum for them.
She also joins celebrating Egyptian fans, whose match against Belgium ended in an enthusiastic tie. The hosts note that international fans (like those from Australia) are already flooding local attractions, including Seattle Mariners baseball games, turning the sporting event into a broader West Coast vacation.
Seattle News Weekly is a podcast that goes in depth and gives context to the stories that matter to the western Washington community. Check back every Thursday for a new episode on your favorite podcast platform, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Audible or YouTube.
MORE WORLD CUP NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
USA players want to lay off the ‘Layup’ chatter ahead of Australia matchup
How Seattle is preparing for USMNT vs. Australia World Cup match on Juneteenth
FIFA World Cup billboards in Seattle spark sexual health conversations
Seattle’s Ballard to host Pride celebration, FIFA watch party on June 26
Seattle reviews FIFA World Cup 2026 transit options after post-match congestion
Egypt’s World Cup pride, Mohamed Salah’s legacy and one fan’s love for the Pharaohs
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
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