Midwest
400-plus farmers and growers groups urge Senate to confirm Trump's USDA pick
FIRST ON FOX — A coalition of more than 400 U.S. farm, agriculture and growers groups sent a letter to Senate leaders this week urging the swift confirmation of President-elect Donald Trump nominee Brooke Rollins to head up the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), praising her as a strong voice they see as well-positioned to speak to the interests of rural America.
The signatories included a whopping 417 national and state growers groups representing the interests of farmers, growers, hunters, ranchers, forest owners, renewable fuel associations and state departments of agriculture across the country — encompassing what they said is virtually “all aspects of American agriculture, food, nutrition and rural America.”
The USDA is the agency that oversees the nation’s agriculture and its practices. Its sprawling portfolio includes providing support for farmers, setting the standards for school meals and overseeing the safety of meat, poultry and eggs.
The letter was previewed exclusively to Fox News Digital and sent to Sens. John Boozman, R-La., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. — the chair and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, respectively — just one week before Rollins was slated to appear before the panel for her confirmation hearing.
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Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, “has been engaged in American agriculture since an early age.” (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
In the letter, signatories praised what they described as Rollins’ foundational knowledge of agriculture, combined with her policy and business bona fides that they said made her uniquely qualified for the role of U.S. agriculture secretary.
Rollins “has been engaged in American agriculture since an early age,” they said, noting Rollins’ childhood spent baling hay and growing livestock in Glen Rose, Texas — a small town some 70 miles outside of Dallas — as well as the summers she spent working on her family’s farm in Minnesota.
Later, Rollins majored in agricultural development at Texas A&M on a scholarship, before completing law school at the University of Texas. She went on to work for former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and then later served as director of the United States Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term as president. She then became president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, whose mission is to “advance policies that put the American people first.”
The nonprofit think tank has called on Congress to restrict China’s access to American farmland and has been critical of President Biden’s energy policies.
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In the letter, the groups said Rollins’ agriculture and farming bona fides, policy expertise and her business experience make her uniquely prepared to “provide effective executive leadership for USDA’s important, wide-ranging activities and large workforce.”
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The timing of the letter comes at a crucial time for U.S. growers groups and agribusinesses across the country. (NWS Gray/Twitter)
The timing of the letter and Rollins’ pending confirmation hearing, slated for Thursday, comes at a crucial time for U.S. growers groups and agribusinesses across the country.
It comes as lawmakers have stalled on a new farm bill, and on other key priorities for farmers and industry groups across the country.
The 11th-hour passage of a government spending bill in late December helped narrowly avert a government shutdown, but it failed to provide the full extent of farm aid and other agriculture subsidies in the amounts considered necessary for many in the U.S.
In the letter, the groups cited Rollins’ “close working relationship” with the incoming president, which they said will “ensure that agriculture and rural America have a prominent and influential voice at the table when critical decisions are made in the White House.”
United States Department of Agriculture Jamie L. Whitten federal building entrance sign.
In sum, the letter said, Rollins’ leadership at USDA is necessary to help “advocate for a new farm bill, stabilize an agricultural economy in decline, support the full food and agriculture and forestry value chain, and continue American agriculture’s long history of providing the most secure, affordable and nutritious food supply in the world.”
Rollins is not expected to face staunch opposition to her nomination to head up the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and lawmakers who have spoken out to date have praised both her experience and strong knowledge of the agriculture sector.
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Wisconsin
DHS urges Wisconsin ‘sanctuary’ county to keep illegal immigrant accused in elderly sexual assaults jailed
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The Department of Homeland Security is urging “sanctuary politicians in Wisconsin” not to release a Nicaraguan national who was arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting an elderly victim, according to a statement Wednesday.
Julio Cesar Morales-Jarquin, 31, is in local police custody after being charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault of an elderly victim, DHS said.
He was arrested last month after a residential care facility in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, reported to police that an employee may have assaulted vulnerable residents, according to local outlet WKOW.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer request on April 27 asking that Morales-Jarquin remain in custody.
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Julio Cesar Morales-Jarquin, 31, is accused of sexually assaulting an elderly victim at a Wisconsin care facility, according to authorities. (Department of Homeland Security)
DHS on Wednesday called on Dane County officials not to release Morales-Jarquin, accusing the county of being a “sanctuary jurisdiction” that refuses to honor ICE detainers.
The agency said the county has previously given ICE as little as 30 minutes to take custody of individuals in its jail.
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The Department of Homeland Security logo. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
According to DHS, Morales-Jarquin entered the United States in 2023 under the Biden administration’s humanitarian parole program for Nicaragua. Although the program was later ended, DHS said he remained in the country unlawfully.
“This illegal alien is charged with two counts of sexual assault of an elderly victim at an assisted living facility,” Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in the DHS statement. “This dirtbag was released into the country by the Biden Administration. DHS is calling on sanctuary politicians in Dane County, Wisconsin to NOT release this criminal from jail back onto the streets to commit more crimes.”
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The Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison, Wisconsin, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature along with the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor. (Jordan McAlister)
“We need Wisconsin sanctuary politicians to cooperate with us to remove criminals from our country,” she added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Dane County Executive’s Office for comment.
DETROIT – The sound and speed of the Detroit Grand Prix return to city streets in three weeks.
“Racing is in our blood. It’s in our DNA,” event chairman Bud Denker said.
Entering its fourth year downtown, the race hosts the NTT IndyCar Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship from May 29 through May 31.
“We’re not here once every 15 or 20 years like the Super Bowl or the Draft or Final Four,” Denker continued. “This event happens in our city every single year. You can plan on it.”
Racing up Franklin Street and down Jefferson Avenue, drivers can always count on a challenge from the nine-turn, 1.7-mile circuit.
“One little error and you’re going to hit a wall and end your day,” five-time Belle Isle winner and Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing sports car driver Jordan Taylor said. “It takes a lot of risk. It takes a lot of commitment. The car has to be fast. This is one of those events where you need everything to go right.”
The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear took the green flag for the first time in 1982 as a Formula One event, transitioning to IndyCar/CART in 1989.
Through layout and location changes, the event continues to reflect the city’s culture.
“Energy, warmth, and sense of togetherness make the Detroit Grand Prix special,” Reden Le said. A student at the College for Creative Studies, Le designed the poster for this year’s race. “Working on this poster made me actually see how the community in Detroit is so diverse and so fun.”
The fun includes concerts, festivities, and promotions adjacent to the track throughout race week, along with documented economic and charitable impacts.
“We love racing for all those reasons,” General Motors Vice President of Performance and Motorsports Jim Campbell said. “Certainly, to have a race in our hometown means a lot, and it’s also a great way to give back.”
Approximately 1,350 volunteers sign up with the Detroit Grand Prix Association each year, but community assistance goes both ways.
“We put thousands of people to work,” Denker added. “We bring 100 million dollars to the city every year, and we show off these kids.”
Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit created seven murals adorning the wall to the right side of the pit lane exit.
Serving as a clear reminder of the community that makes this race what it is, they’re also tough for drivers to see at speeds in excess of 180 miles per hour.
“We’re one of only 20 cities in the world that have a downtown street course event,” Denker said. “We should never take that for granted.”
The track build has already begun, with most construction occurring at night to avoid disrupting traffic.
Friday, May 29, is Fifth Third Free Prix Day, welcoming fans to grandstands one and nine with no ticket required.
Reserved seats for all three days are on sale now.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam talks greater involvement, Giannis future
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam says that he will have a greater involvement with the team and that includes the decision on if to re-sign Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In his first press conference to discuss on-court basketball matters with the Milwaukee Bucks, one in which the organization introduced Taylor Jenkins as its new head coach on May 6, co-owner Jimmy Haslam didn’t waste any time in providing a bit of clarity with the direction of the franchise the Haslam Sports Group bought into in 2023.
Haslam, who said he anticipates being around the Bucks more often going forward, flatly stated the team will decide either trade superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo or continue to build the team around him by the NBA draft, which will be held June 23-24.
It was a stark departure from the last calendar year, when the organization and locker room navigated through a consistent barrage of trade speculation about the two-time Most Valuable Player.
“I just think before the draft is a natural time, right, because if Giannis does play somewhere else we ought to get a lot of assets,” Haslam said. “And that’s [general manager] Jon [Horst’s] job to do. And if he’s here, you build the team differently.”
Haslam then took a beat to add, without a prompt, “I just want to stress though, that our relationship with him – despite what is reported by certain ESPN writers – is very positive.”
Questions about Antetokounmpo’s future with the organization didn’t entirely dominate Jenkins’ reintroduction to Milwaukee, as the former Bucks assistant and Memphis Grizzlies head coach was able to lay out some aspects of his vision for the team, his partnership with Horst and how he seeks to re-establish a winning culture.
But Jenkins did acknowledge the looming decision on which direction the team is going to take with – or without – Antetokounmpo was a key point in the hours long discussions he had with co-owners Haslam and Wes Edens, as well as Horst.
“It’s a big one,” Haslam said of the decision over the future of its franchise cornerstone. “It’s a big one. And you gotta get it right. And Jon knows it and Wes knows it. And we didn’t hold back with Taylor. We just said, listen, he may or may not be with us, so don’t come because of that because you want to be straight up with people.”
Horst added that Antetokounmpo did not meet with Jenkins in the interview process, but the head coach and the star have spoken.
And, Antetokounmpo gave an endorsement on the hire to the Journal Sentinel.
“I think he’s an incredible person,” Antetokounmpo said. “Obviously, he’s an incredible coach. I was able to be with him in 2019 and we made the Eastern Conference finals.
“After that he left, he was one of the first coaches that left the coaching staff and went to Memphis and he had an incredible six years in Memphis. He made them contenders in the West. He had incredible culture in Memphis.
“I had the conversation. I don’t think Milwaukee is just getting just a good coach, I think they’re getting a good person. And that’s where it starts with. Having a good person around that’s gonna be able to set the tone, that set the culture and what Milwaukee Bucks basketball is all about. He’s a really good coach.”
As for the prospect of being coached by Jenkins, Antetokounmpo said, “We’ll see.”
And clearly that is the approach the organization is taking as well.
“Giannis has brought Milwaukee its second championship and the first in 50 years,” Haslam said. “He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a phenomenal person. He’s arguably one of the best basketball players in the world and we will do what’s best for Giannis and what’s best for the organization.
“We don’t know whether Giannis will stay with us or not, but we’ll work through that with Giannis in the coming weeks.”
For his part, Antetokounmpo addressed how he was going to approach his immediate future with the team on April 12.
“Nothing – phone on do not disturb,” he said after the Bucks’ season finale in Philadelphia. “Working hard every single day to improve my game, be in the best physical shape that I can be and just stay away from it – all of it.
“I feel like this season, not just because of the way it went, it was draining for me for sure and how everybody approached my situation and the Bucks situation. But again, if it was draining for me, it was definitely draining for the team and for the organization, but I feel like sometimes people just don’t listen.
“They listen to the sources, and the main source is me. It is what it is. So again, do not disturb phone, go about my day, improve and come back better.”
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