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Homan tells Minnesota leaders to say ‘thank you’ instead of demanding reimbursement as ICE operation ends

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Homan tells Minnesota leaders to say ‘thank you’ instead of demanding reimbursement as ICE operation ends

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Border czar Tom Homan said Minnesota leaders should be grateful that the Trump administration made their state safer after some called on the federal government to reimburse damages they claim were caused during immigration enforcement operations.

A lot of things were broken, but it wasn’t because of Trump administration,” Homan said Sunday on “Fox & Friends Weekend.”

“The border — last four years, over 10 million illegal immigrants crossed that border. That was broken. Where were they then? Did Gov. Walz speak out against that, with the overdose deaths and the sex trafficking and… terrorists? No.”

TRUMP DEFENDS MINNEAPOLIS FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT, SAYS CRIME PLUNGED AFTER ‘THOUSANDS OF CRIMINALS’ REMOVED

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Border czar Tom Homan pushed back on requests for federal funds made by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. (Steve Karnowski/AP Photo; Go Nakamura/Reuters; Annabelle Gordon/Reuters)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey publicly requested federal funds after what they described as the major economic impact of recent immigration enforcement operations, while Homan argued the mission was a “great success” that made Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests safer and reduced sanctuary-style barriers to cooperation.

Frey claimed his city sustained “$203 million in economic impact in just January alone.”

“And so we’re calling on the federal government to fully step up, to provide direct financial assistance to our city,” he said at a press conference.

Federal agents prepare to depart the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on Feb. 4, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after border czar Tom Homan announced that 700 immigration enforcement personnel would be withdrawn from the state amid the winding down of Operation Metro Surge. (John Moore/Getty Images)

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TRUMP’S OPERATION METRO SURGE LOCATED 3,000 MISSING MIGRANT CHILDREN IN MINNEAPOLIS, EMMER SAYS

Walz said the federal government needed “to pay for what they broke.” He proposed a $10 million emergency relief package for small businesses across the state affected by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The proposal calls for forgivable loans ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 to be distributed to eligible businesses that are able to demonstrate “substantial revenue loss” during “specified dates” tied to Operation Metro Surge.

Homan argued that Democrats “broke the border” and President Donald Trump repaired it, adding that Minnesota refused to work with ICE because it is a “sanctuary state.”

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“Their county jails weren’t working with us across the state. So, you know what? We fixed it. They ought to be saying thank you. The state’s safer because of that,” he said, adding that ICE agents are also much safer making arrests in a jail than on the street.

The border czar also pointed to “over 4,000 arrests,” including “14 illegal aliens with homicide convictions, [and] 87 [with] sexual assaults, mostly of children.”

Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.

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South Dakota

Schedule, prediction for 2026 South Dakota softball state tournament

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Schedule, prediction for 2026 South Dakota softball state tournament


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The SDHSAA’s state softball tournament will run from Thursday, June 4, to Saturday, June 6. The Class AA tournament will be at Bowden Field at Augustana University, and the Class A and B tournaments will be at Players Softball Complex in Aberdeen.

All games will begin at 10 a.m. each day, with games set for every two hours after. The state semifinals will begin at 2 p.m. Friday, June 5, and the state championship games will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 6.

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Here’s everything you need to know for the weekend ahead:

South Dakota high school softball tournament schedule

Class AA

Quarterfinals, Thursday, June 4

  • No. 1 Sioux Falls Jefferson (20-0) vs. No. 9 Sioux Falls Lincoln (12-9), 10 a.m. CT
  • No. 4 Brandon Valley (14-4) vs. No. 5 Sioux Falls Roosevelt (14-6), noon CT
  • No. 2 Harrisburg (19-1) vs. No. 7 O’Gorman (13-7), 2 p.m. CT
  • No. 3 Sioux Falls Washington (19-3) vs. No. 6 Rapid City Stevens (14-5), 4 p.m. CT

Semifinals, Friday, June 5

  • Semifinal 1, 2 p.m. CT
  • Semifinal 2, 4 p.m. CT

Championship game, Saturday, June 6

  • State title game, 4 p.m. CT

Class A

Quarterfinals, Thursday, June 4

  • No. 1 Madison (14-2) vs. No. 8 Elk Point-Jefferson (9-6), 10 a.m. CT
  • No. 4 West Central (14-6) vs. No. 5 Beresford (16-8), noon CT
  • No. 2 Tri-Valley (17-2) vs. No. 7 Lennox (8-5), 2 p.m. CT
  • No. 3 Dakota Valley (12-4) vs. No. 6 Sioux Valley (21-4), 4 p.m. CT

Semifinals, Friday, June 5

  • Semifinal 1, 2 p.m. CT
  • Semifinal 2, 4 p.m. CT

Championship game, Saturday, June 6

  • State title game, 4 p.m. CT

Class B

Quarterfinals, Thursday, June 4

  • No. 1 Castlewood (18-4) vs. No. 8 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (11-7), 10 a.m. CT
  • No. 4 Hanson (18-4) vs. No. 5 Avon (16-7), noon CT
  • No. 2 McCook Central/Montrose (20-2) vs. No. 7 Redfield (10-7), 2 p.m. CT
  • No. 3 Florence/Henry (15-4) vs. No. 6 Gayville-Volin (14-5), 4 p.m. CT

Semifinals, Friday, June 5

  • Semifinal 1, 2 p.m. CT
  • Semifinal 2, 4 p.m. CT

Championship game, Saturday, June 6

  • State Title Game, 4 p.m. CT

Analysis

Class AA

This feels like a three-horse race, with Sioux Falls Jefferson, Harrisburg and Sioux Falls Washington having established themselves as the clear top three.

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Jefferson has a win over each team, while Harrisburg swept a pair of games against Washington. Neither team lost to anyone else.

The Cavaliers have the top pitching staff in the state with Tya Devericks and Mak Bierman, while also having Macy Bryant post an absurd .828 batting average this season. Devericks posted a 0.93 ERA in 68 innings with 99 strikeouts, and Bryant added 18 doubles, eight triples, seven home runs, 37 RBIs, 51 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. Her slash line is .828/.845/1.688. Brooklyn Herrera has also been a major contributor in the middle of the Jefferson lineup.

Harrisburg also has a potent lineup, with Peyton LaFramboise, Alexis Fey, Jayci Olson, Kennedy Kokenge and Maleia Knutson all helping the Tigers average a Class AA-high 13.4 runs per game.

Washington is led by pitcher Maddy Mescher, who has thrown to a 1.53 ERA in 93 innings with 127 strikeouts. The Warriors have averaged just 2.7 runs in their losses and 11.4 runs in their wins. The Warriors will need to keep their offense hot, having scored in double digits each of the last three games.

Brandon Valley, Sioux Falls Roosevelt and O’Gorman all got hot right before the state tournament and could present early problems for the top teams. One of Brandon Valley and Roosevelt will be eliminated in the second game of the first day, and then will likely face Jefferson.

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Rapid City Stevens and Sioux Falls Lincoln don’t necessarily come into the weekend limping, but haven’t had the best stretches. They have Washington and Jefferson, respectively, and those aren’t the best matchups for struggling sides.

This will likely be a three-team race, and I think Jefferson is unbeaten for a reason. The Cavaliers have the best player (Bryant) and probably the best pitcher (Devericks) in the state, and they should take home their second consecutive state championship

Prediction: Sioux Falls Jefferson

Class A

Class A is as wide open as any class, with five teams I feel have a decent chance to win a state championship.

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Let’s start with the defending champions from West Central. The Trojans had a more rocky season than normal, but a dynamic lineup can turn things around in a hurry. West Central has wins over the top two seeds and Beresford, its first opponent, so confidence should be high.

Madison is the top seed with losses only to West Central and Tri-Valley. The Lady Bulldogs have the second-best average run differential in the tournament and have scored in double digits in 11 of their 14 wins.

Tri-Valley was both the best team at preventing and scoring runs in Class A, and the Mustangs ripped off an eight-game winning streak during the middle of their season. Tri-Valley went 7-2 against teams that made a state tournament this season, proving it’s a battle-tested side.

Sioux Valley and Dakota Valley are similar, but the Cossacks got a lower seed despite winning seven more games this season. Sioux Valley went just 6-2 against Class A competition, with four of those wins coming against Sioux Falls Christian. Dakota Valley only has two losses coming to South Dakota teams, with one each against Madison and Tri-Valley.

Beresford is the first team I feel is off the true title contention list, mostly because of the lack of offensive firepower against quality competition. Lennox and Elk Point-Jefferson are both just a few games over .500 and haven’t reached 10 wins, and have tough opening matchups.

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I feel the second seed has all the tools to win this, but Madison and West Central are also very strong contenders for the crown.

Prediction: Tri-Valley

Class B

Three lower seeds won in the SoDak 16, with No. 14 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy beating No. 3 Deuel, No. 11 Redfield taking down No. 6 Baltic and No. 9 Gayville-Volin beating No. 8 Chester.

Castlewood, McCook Central/Montrose and Hanson appear to have separated themselves from the pack. Each team boasts solid average run differentials and can get hot over the weekend.

Castlewood has been great at run prevention, McCook Central/Montrose has scored tons of runs and Hanson has managed to thread the middle ground of those two styles.

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Florence/Henry, Avon and Gayville-Volin have also shown to be quality opposition, but they’ve just come up short a few too many times against the cream of the crop.

Redfield and Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy need to keep their momentum from the SoDak 16, but have a tall task to make a run here.

This is mostly a coin flip between the top three, but I’m going with Class B’s only 20-game winner.

Prediction: McCook Central/Montrose



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Wisconsin

Free fishing, trails and parks kick off Wisconsin’s summer | Paul A. Smith

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Free fishing, trails and parks kick off Wisconsin’s summer | Paul A. Smith


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Fishing, hiking and the other skills we now call “outdoor activities” were essential parts of life for thousands of years in this area known as Wisconsin.

In recent times the activities have become recreational for most people.

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That doesn’t make them unimportant. In fact, time spent outdoors is arguably more critical now than it’s ever been for physical and mental health.

Studies over recent decades have shown Americans adopting more sedentary lifestyles – spending less time connecting with nature and more time indoors on digital devices.

Wisconsin officials have seen it, too, in declining or flat participation in certain outdoor activities.

In an effort to spark interest in angling, in 1987 the Department of Natural Resources offered Wisconsin’s first Free Fishing Day. It allowed anyone, state resident or visitor, to fish without a license.

In 1994 it doubled in size to become Free Fishing Weekend, traditionally held on the first full weekend in June, according to state records.

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And in 2013 the concept was further expanded to Free Fun Weekend. In addition to free fishing, the two days included no entrance fee at state parks and no trail pass required for state trails.

That’s where we stand this year, as the DNR has continued to promote the free opportunities in roughly the same package.

In addition to their contributions to health and wellness, outdoor activities are a large part of the Wisconsin economy. In 2024, the outdoor industry contributed a record-breaking $12 billion to the state’s gross domestic product, supported more than 100,000 jobs and provided more than $5.7 billion in salary and wages to Wisconsinites, according to the state Office of Outdoor Recreation.

Here’s what to know about Free Fun Weekend in 2026:

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When will the opportunities be offered this year?

Free Fun Weekend will be June 6 and 7, 2026.

Where are the free privileges offered on Free Fun Weekend?

Wisconsin has 50 state parks, 15 state forests, 44 state trails, 84,000 miles of rivers and streams and approximately 15,000 inland lakes, according to the DNR.

What does Free Fun Weekend mean at state parks?

The state park entry fee is waived for June 6 and 7. Often called a vehicle admission pass, it costs most Wisconsin residents $28 a year and is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas.

“If you’ve never checked out a Wisconsin state park before, Free Fun Weekend is the perfect opportunity to come visit for the first time,” Steve Schmelzer, DNR bureau director of parks and recreation management, said in a statement.

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Schmelzer invited people to bring their friends and family to a state park or trail to enjoy time at a beach, have a picnic or go for a hike.

Here’s a link to the DNR’s guide to Wisconsin State Parks.

What does Free Fun Weekend mean for state trails?

Similar to the parks, the state trail pass fee is waived for June 6 and 7. A state trail pass ($25 annual fee) is typically required to hike, bike, ski, in-line skate or ride horses, as appropriate, on state trails.

In addition, ATVs, UTVs and OHMs (off-highway motorcycles) are exempt from registration requirements on Free Fun Weekend, according to the DNR. Resident and nonresident all-terrain vehicle operators do not need a trail pass to ride state ATV trails.

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How about fishing?

People can fish Wisconsin waters June 6 and 7 without a license and without an inland or Great Lakes stamp, if appropriate.

Justine Hasz, DNR bureau director of fisheries management, said in a statement Free Fun Weekend was “a great chance to try fishing yourself, introduce a child or catch a fresh meal.”

Hasz also encouraged people who don’t have fishing gear to borrow it from one of many DNR tackle loaner sites in the state.

The DNR also offers the Wisconsin Fishing Finder for people looking for help finding a place to fish.

In addition, on June 6 free fishing clinics will be offered at seven sites, including Beaver Dam, New Berlin and Oshkosh.

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One important note: All Wisconsin fishing regulations such as bag limits and size limits are still in effect on Free Fishing Weekend.



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Detroit, MI

Fired Detroit TV anchor Taryn Asher files sex discrimination lawsuit against old station, claims new GM protected men

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Fired Detroit TV anchor Taryn Asher files sex discrimination lawsuit against old station, claims new GM protected men


A fired Detroit TV news anchor blasted her former station, and their parent company, for letting her male colleagues’ bad behavior slide and then axing her when she complained about the unfair treatment, a new lawsuit claims.

Taryn Asher filed the federal sexual discrimination lawsuit on Wednesday against Fox Television Stations and her former workplace, WJBK TV, known as Fox 2 Detroit, in connection with her sudden termination in November.

Taryn Asher filed a federal lawsuit against her former station, Fox 2 Detroit, for sexual discrimination. Linkedin / Taryn Asher

The station went downhill after Fox 2 hired Paul McGonagle as their general manager —  sparking a slew of female firings, while men, including Asher’s co-anchor Roop Raj, were offered more perks, the 26-page complaint obtained by The Post alleged.

“If Asher had not been female, she would not have been treated in the same discriminatory manner,” the filing, first reported by Deadline Detroit, said.

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Raj was treated “more favorably” and offered “more guest interview segment opportunities on the evening news,” as well as scheduling adjustments, Asher claimed.

In one example, Asher alleged the station refused to let her adjust her schedule to host a show called “Let it Rip,” though Raj was given the leeway to host his show, “The Pulse.”

The suit also alleged that WJBK allowed him to “circumvent and undermine” Asher’s work responsibilities.

She later emailed McGonagle about the situation, writing, “I’m concerned about the lack of balance and equity, particularly compared to my co-anchor who holds the same responsibilities but has a more accommodating schedule.”

Asher alleged her co-anchor, Roop Raj, was offered more guest interview segment opportunities and schedule accommodations. Facebook / Roop Raj¿

McGonagle met with Asher to tell her she would not be adjusting the schedule, and her new program would be put on hold, according to court papers.

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An Emmy award-winning veteran broadcast journalist, Asher claimed that Raj had also been assigned all of the guest interviews they were supposed to split for Election Day, court documents said.

After complaining to management to no avail, Asher decided to speak with the co-anchor about her concerns that he was receiving “preferable treatment.”

The lawsuit denied that Asher had any “outbursts” that warranted her to be fired. Linkedin / Taryn Asher

The next day, Raj contacted human resources and “offensively labeled Asher as ‘jealous,’ and grossly mischaracterized Asher’s complaints of sex-based discrimination as Asher ‘[having] an issue with men vs. women,” court papers claim.

Shortly after, Asher was placed on leave “pending an investigation into alleged complaints of ‘egregious behavior’” with her Fox colleagues — and fired after a two-week probe for “outbursts” in the newsroom, the lawsuit said.

Asher denied having any such “outbursts” that warranted her to be fired, according to court papers.

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Several male employees at the station had also exhibited “unprofessional behavior and misconduct” with lesser consequences, the filing alleged.

Among the examples, Raj was allegedly “merely suspended” for two weeks after being arrested for driving under the influence in 2012, and McGonagle was also allegedly promoted after a DUI arrest at a different Fox station.

Asher is seeking unspecified damages from Fox Television Stations and WJBK TV.

The action followed the longtime Detroit anchor’s complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that was subjected to “less favorable treatment” than male employees.

Neither Fox, McGonagle, nor Raj responded to The Post’s request for comment.

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