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Indiana parents warn nation after child is removed from home for improper pronoun usage: ‘Can happen anywhere’

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Indiana parents warn nation after child is removed from home for improper pronoun usage: ‘Can happen anywhere’

A Catholic couple in Indiana is asking the Supreme Court to hold the state accountable for keeping their child out of their home after they declined to use his chosen name and pronouns. 

In M.C. and J.C. v. Indiana Department of Child Services, Mary and Jeremy Cox are appealing to the Supreme Court after they were investigated by Indiana officials for refusing to refer to their son using pronouns and a name inconsistent with his biological sex. 

Becket is pursuing the case on behalf of the Coxes, arguing state courts allowed Indiana to keep the child from living in his parents’ home due to their disagreement with the child’s gender identity because of their religious beliefs. Notably, upon completing the investigation, the state determined the allegations of abuse against Mary and Jeremy were unsubstantiated, but still argued that the disagreement over gender identity was distressing to their child. 

Lori Windham, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, told Fox News Digital that no parent should ever have to endure what Mary and Jeremy have been forced to go through. 

RESEARCHERS ARGUE ‘RAPID ONSET GENDER DYSPHORIA’ DOES EXIST, DESPITE NARRATIVE AGAINST IT

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A transgender flag unfurled on a pole.  (Getty)

“Keeping a child away from loving parents because of their religious beliefs—even when the state admits there was no abuse or neglect—is wrong and it’s against the law,” she said. “The Court should take this case and make clear that other states can’t take children away because of ideological disagreements.”

In 2019, Mary and Jeremy’s son told them that he identified as a girl, but in line with their Catholic religious beliefs that God created human beings with an immutable sex, male or female, they did not believe in referring to him using pronouns and a name inconsistent with his biology. 

ACLU SUES CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOR HALTING ADULT TRANSGENDER SURGERIES

In addition, the Coxes believed their son was struggling with underlying mental health conditions, including an eating disorder, so they sought therapeutic care for both.

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But, in 2021, Indiana officials began investigating the Coxes after a report found they were not referring to their child by his preferred gender identity, removing the teen from their custody and placing him in a “gender-affirming” home. Despite the unsubstantiated claims of abuse, they claimed the Coxes made the child’s eating disorder worse even though it worsened after he was removed and placed in a transition-affirming home.

After publication, the Office of the Attorney General for Indiana Todd Rokita told Fox News Digital, “We always protect parental rights and religious liberty. Neither we nor the Indiana courts believe that the State can remove a child because of a parent’s religious beliefs, views about gender identity, or anything of the sort. Our office is fulfilling our statutory duty to defend this state agency and to keep an oath I swore when I took office. As the record shows, this state agency acted not on the use of pronouns but because of the child’s extreme eating disorder. The Indiana governor sets DCS policy and hires those employees. I am very sympathetic to the parents, and everyone who follows my work as attorney general knows that I am the biggest defender and proponent of parental rights.”

Protesters of Kentucky Senate Bill SB150, known as the Transgender Health Bill, cheer on speakers during a rally on the lawn of the Kentucky Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., March 29, 2023.  (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

“This is what every parent is afraid of,” Mary and Jeremy Cox said in a press release. “We love our son and wanted to care for him, but the state of Indiana robbed us of that opportunity by taking him from our home and banning us from speaking to him about gender.”

“We are hopeful that the Justices will take our case and protect other parents from having to endure the nightmare we did,” they added. 

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When the case was first heard in trial court, Indiana officials argued the child “should be in a home where she is [ac]cepted for who she is” and restricted the Coxes’ visitation time to a few hours once a week, which barred them from speaking to him about their religious views on human sexuality and gender identity. Even though the court determined the Coxes were fit parents, it upheld the removal of their child which was later upheld by the appeals court. 

“If this can happen in Indiana, it can happen anywhere,” Windhamn said. “Tearing a child away from loving parents because of their religious beliefs, which are shared by millions of Americans, is an outrage to the law, parental rights, and basic human decency. If the Supreme Court doesn’t take this case, how many times will this happen to other families?” 

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin lawmakers react to US and Israel attack on Iran

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Wisconsin lawmakers react to US and Israel attack on Iran


MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) -Wisconsin’s congressional delegation is responding to the United States and Israel’s attack on Iran, with members divided sharply along party lines.

Republicans back military action

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a retired U.S. Navy SEAL with multiple combat deployments across the Middle East, released a statement supporting the action.

“For decades, the Iranian regime has fueled terror and violence across the world. This regime has operated with impunity for far too long, spreading chaos while threatening the security of the United States and our partners. Their hands are stained with the blood of thousands of Americans,” Van Orden said.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) also posted support for the military operation on social media, writing: “May God bless and protect our troops as they attempt to liberate the long suffering people of Iran.”

Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) also expressed support for the military operation.

“My thoughts are with the brave U.S. forces carrying out these precision strikes and with the safety of American personnel in the region,” Tiffany said.

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Democrats condemn strikes as unconstitutional

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) criticized the military action on social media, suggesting the strikes were intended to distract from domestic issues.

“Eliminating a nuclear program (that Trump already said was eliminated) & Regime Change. Don’t look at your wallets & what you are paying more for due to Trump’s tariffs OR care about the Epstein files. Trump wants to divert your attention & is willing to kill people to do it,” Pocan said.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called the strikes illegal and demanded the Senate return to vote on the matter.

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“President Trump illegally bombed Iran, totally disregarding the Constitution, putting American troops in harm’s way, and starting another war in the Middle East with no end in sight,” Baldwin said. “The Constitution is clear: if the President wants to start a war, Congress – elected by the people – needs to sign off on it.”

Baldwin also drew comparisons to previous military engagements.

“Have we learned nothing from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Doubling down with another open-ended war without realistic goals or a strategy to win is not only foolish, but also recklessly puts Wisconsin’s sons and daughters at risk,” she said.

Baldwin noted that Trump had pledged to avoid foreign wars. “President Trump pledged to the American people that he would not get involved in another foreign war, and this is yet another broken promise from this President,” she said.

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Midwest

‘Family Mob’ gang members, associates charged in major Minneapolis fentanyl trafficking case: DOJ

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‘Family Mob’ gang members, associates charged in major Minneapolis fentanyl trafficking case: DOJ

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Five alleged members and associates of the “Family Mob” street gang have been charged in a major fentanyl trafficking case in Minneapolis, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Three indictments and two criminal complaints were unsealed in the District of Minnesota accusing the defendants of distributing fentanyl, crack cocaine and other controlled substances in south Minneapolis.

Authorities allege the group collectively possessed with intent to distribute more than seven kilograms of fentanyl since July 2025 and operated a de facto open-air drug market near Lake Street and Park Avenue, using force to push out other dealers.

Those charged include Silk Lamond Davis, 48, of Minneapolis; Alexisus Jarmon Mosby, 44, of Bloomington; Kiron Jamoll Williams, 43, of Minneapolis; Rashshon Jamahl Taggett, 44, of Minneapolis; and Lakendrick Darnell Gilliam, 38, of St. Paul.

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Seized narcotics are displayed as authorities announce the preliminary results of a large-scale investigation involving local and federal agencies on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office)

The charges range from possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine to distribution of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Law enforcement agencies executed multiple arrest and search warrants Wednesday morning targeting the gang and its members, officials said. 

If convicted, the defendants face penalties of up to life in prison on the most serious drug trafficking charges.

FBI BUSTS LATIN KINGS GANG NATIONWIDE, NEARLY 50 ARRESTED IN SWEEPING CRACKDOWN

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Federal and local law enforcement announced that they seized 3.5 million lethal doses of fentanyl in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (KMSP)

“Our investigation shows that combined, those charged were responsible for the distribution of enough fentanyl for more than 3.5 million lethal doses in the last seven months,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen at a press briefing.

He told reporters that seven others were also taken into custody on related state charges, bringing the total number arrested to 12.

Rick Evanchec, interim special agent in charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis field office, said the coordinated operation to dismantle the “Family Mob” gang involved a sweeping, multi-agency effort across the metropolitan area.

Before dawn, eight SWAT teams and law enforcement personnel from the FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed 14 search warrants targeting narcotics, firearms and other evidence tied to the alleged criminal enterprise.

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Seized narcotics are displayed as authorities announce the preliminary results of a large-scale investigation involving local and federal agencies on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office)

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Evanchec said the gang has operated since the 1990s, distributing narcotics and using violence to control territory in Minneapolis neighborhoods.

“The Family Mob Gang ruled by intimidation and violence, and wrongly assumed they could operate with impunity,” DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said in a statement. “Today, the combined efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement imparted a significant blow to the drug trafficking efforts of a gang that has spread poison through a beloved Minneapolis community.”

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Detroit, MI

Preview: February 28 vs. Detroit | Carolina Hurricanes

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Preview: February 28 vs. Detroit | Carolina Hurricanes


RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes will try to extend their point streak to a dozen games on Saturday, when they go head-to-head with the Detroit Red Wings.

When: Saturday, February 28

Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. ET

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Canes Record: 37-15-6 (80 Points, 1st – Metropolitan Division)

Canes Last Game: 5-4 Win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, Feb. 26

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Red Wings Record: 34-19-6 (74 Points, T-2nd – Atlantic Division)

Red Wings Last Game: 2-1 Win (OT) over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, Feb. 26



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