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Miss America contestant, an Army National Guard sergeant, wants to unite a divided nation

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Miss America contestant, an Army National Guard sergeant, wants to unite a divided nation

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Miss America hopeful Sophia Parker wants everyone to have “a seat at the table” – regardless of their political affiliation.

Miss Vermont, a 27-year-old Army National Guard sergeant, will compete in the Miss America pageant on Sunday. She said her mission is to remind Americans that service and unity matter more than division.

“Unfortunately, we are living at a time of great division, and I’ve seen this grow even just in my lifetime,” Parker, a combat medic and nurse at the University of Vermont Medical Center, told Fox News Digital.

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Miss Vermont Sophia Parker is competing in this year’s Miss America pageant. The festivities are taking place on Sunday in Orlando. (Miss America IP INC.)

“Between the left and the right… there is a ton of division,” she shared. “However, one thing that I think is very important is for people of all different opinions from both sides and everyone in the middle to be able to come together and have the baseline be that we need to speak to each other with respect. We need to hear each other out.”

“I believe that the role of Miss America and Miss Vermont is to be that person who hears everyone’s perspective,” said Parker. 

“As Miss America, my goal would be to travel the country, listening to people’s stories, sharing my passion for wildlife rehabilitation, and encouraging young people to discover the joy of serving,” said Sophia Parker. (Miss America IP INC.)

“I, as Sophia, of course, have my own personal opinions about things. But as Miss Vermont, I’m not here to have strong political opinions. I’m here to listen to everyone, and to try to create a middle ground where everyone can feel heard and seen. I think that is the starting point to find solutions. Our Founding Fathers created this country to be a place where you can have different opinions… where everyone can come together and find a place at the table, find a seat at the table.”

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WATCH: MISS AMERICA HOPEFUL MISS VERMONT SEEKS TO BRIDGE POLITICAL DIVIDE

“As Miss America, as Miss Vermont, that is what I see as my job,” Parker added.

Parker said it was a teacher at her high school in Vermont who encouraged her to pursue pageants. It would be an outlet for her to connect with other everyday Americans.

Sophia Parker said she plans to work with legislators and other nonprofits to create more humane laws for wildlife in Vermont. (Miss America IP INC.)

“She recognized that if I was going to college, I would actually need some financial help and scholarships in order to do so,” said Parker. “… I had never thought about competing in a pageant before. I was… a tomboy.”

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Sophia Parker serves as a sergeant in the Vermont National Guard. (Miss America IP INC.)

“I raised wild animals that needed help and ran around in the woods with my friends,” she chuckled. “But I ended up absolutely falling in love with the organization… It’s been such a privilege and such an honor to be able to speak about this organization that I love so much.”

Miss America, a glitzy competition, was born from a 1921 Atlantic City beauty contest just a year after women were given the right to vote, The Associated Press reported. Many participants say the organization – a large provider of scholarship assistance to young women – has been life-altering, opening doors for them both personally and professionally.

Sophia Parker always knew she wanted to be a medic. (Miss America IP INC.)

The organization, one of the nation’s most recognized brands, awards more than $5 million in cash scholarships annually, plus millions more at the national, state and local levels.

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Sophia Parker of Addison graduated from Castleton University. (Miss America IP INC.)

Meeting other competitors from across the country and hearing their stories has given Parker a deeper appreciation for our country.

“I am extremely grateful to be an American every single day,” she said. “I wake up every single day with freedoms and privileges that people in any other country in the world do not have. One of the things that I am extremely grateful for is that I, as a woman, am able to be everything that I want to be. This is part of why I love being in the Vermont Army National Guard, why I love the Miss America Organization – I can stand here as someone who doesn’t really fit into a lot of boxes… I can wear a lot of different hats.”

Sophia Parker said her service has given her a deeper appreciation for America and its people. (Miss America IP INC.)

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“… We as women and as people can be passionate about any number of things,” said Parker. “I believe that as an American, you can be anything that you want to be. And I stand here as Miss Vermont, as a nurse, as a soldier, as a pageant girl, and I am so grateful for those [roles].”

Sophia Parker is the 80th Miss Vermont. (Miss America IP INC.)

The eagerness to serve runs in Parker’s veins. Her grandfather served in World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded a Purple Heart. Growing up, Parker often listened to her grandfather’s stories from his time in the Army – “the good, the bad and everything that he lived through and saw.”

“One of the things that always stuck with me [was] how he was a part of something bigger than himself,” she explained. 

Sophia Parker is the youngest licensed rehabilitator in her home state. (Miss America IP INC.)

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“He had such a strong sense of comradery with the fellow soldiers that he served with. There’s nothing like it in the world, and I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself… I immediately knew that I wanted to be a medic if I was going to join. I talked to the recruiter in my town about what was involved. I took the ASVAB and ended up enlisting as a medic in the Vermont Army National Guard.”

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Sophia Parker told Fox News Digital she was inspired by her grandfather who served in World War II. (Miss America IP INC.)

Between the Miss America Organization and the Army National Guard, Parker was able to graduate debt-free from Castleton University last May with a nursing degree.

One of the key causes Parker wants to highlight this weekend is wildlife rehabilitation. The Green Mountain State native and her mother co-founded Otter Creek Wildlife Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating injured and orphaned birds and mammals across Vermont. 

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“Service is such a blessing both to those who receive it and those who give it,” said Sophia Parker. (Miss America IP INC.)

Parker said she has vivid memories as a child bringing home wildlife, caring for them and releasing them back to their natural habitat when they were healthy. She’s currently involved with several local organizations that aim to create better wildlife policies.

Sophia Parker and her mother operate Otter Creek Wildlife Rescue, which is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of injured Vermont birds and mammals. (Miss America IP INC.)

“Currently, the state of Vermont allows things like leghold trapping and hunting with hounds,” she said. “We’re working to make these things illegal or at least much more regulated.”

“We would never strive to ban hunting,” she clarified. “Hunting is an age-old tradition in Vermont. It’s very possible to be an extremely ethical hunter. I know many ethical hunters who go out and kill a deer and use it to feed their whole family. It’s one of the most ethical ways you can get your meat. But Vermont, unfortunately, has a lot of archaic politics that allow a lot of abuse of wildlife. And so, I’m actively working with our legislature to change these policies.”

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Sophia Parker hopes her journey will inspire others to get involved in their communities. (Miss America IP INC.)

“… I think it’s very important to not only view the natural world from the perspective of a consumer, but as someone who shares this world with other animals.”

Sophia Parker’s community service initiative is “Wildlife Rehabilitation and Stewardship of the National World.” (Miss America IP INC.)

Today, Parker hopes her journey will encourage others to support a cause they’re passionate about.

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“A life of service has changed my life,” she said. “It’s made me who I am today. It gives you a purpose in life. It gives you inspiration, and it’s grounding in a world where, frankly, the problems [are] overwhelming… You don’t have to have money. You don’t have to have some crazy talent. You just need to get involved in your community and make a difference.”

The Miss America competition is on Sept. 7. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Northeast

Video shows masked thieves using sledgehammer in brazen Lululemon heist before fleeing in U-Haul

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Video shows masked thieves using sledgehammer in brazen Lululemon heist before fleeing in U-Haul

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Pennsylvania authorities revealed Tuesday that surveillance video captured a brazen Lululemon smash-and-grab, with two masked individuals using a sledgehammer to carry out the overnight break-in.

The suspects, seen grabbing armfuls of merchandise during multiple rounds of theft, reportedly fled in a U-Haul truck, Lower Merion Police told Fox 29 Philadelphia.

The incident in the Ardmore shopping center reportedly occurred just before 2 a.m. Tuesday and resulted in an estimated $5,000 in stolen merchandise.

In the video released by police, two masked suspects dressed in all black swung what appeared to be a sledgehammer into the store’s windowed entrance. They then quickly rushed through the opening without hesitation, immediately targeting winter coats and shirts in the men’s section.

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Surveillance footage shows a masked suspect smashing through a Lululemon store entrance during an overnight break-in. (Lower Merion Police/Fox 29 Philadelphia)

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The suspects appeared to grab entire racks of puffer jackets and sweatshirts before returning outside. The video then shows the men returning to the store a second time after dropping off the stolen items to take even more merchandise.

The footage shows the heist lasted roughly five minutes.

The thieves fled after loading the stolen merchandise into the bed of a U-Haul pickup truck parked outside, Fox 29 reported.

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SUSPECTED THIEVES CAUGHT ON CAMERA SMASHING WASHINGTON STATE STOREFRONT WITH TRUCK IN ATM HEIST ATTEMPT

Police say suspects fled in a U-Haul truck after the overnight Lululemon smash-and-grab. (Lower Merion Police/Fox 29 Philadelphia)

By the afternoon, the store had reopened, but the front door’s glass remained shattered, with a large banner placed in front of the entrance, the local station reported. 

According to an employee from another business nearby, Tuesday’s incident was not the first time the Lululemon store was targeted. 

“I walked out here with my bartender, and we looked, and it’s scary that it’s happening right across the way from us,” Gina Picciano, general manager of Lola’s Garden, told Fox 29.

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MASKED LOOTERS CAUGHT ON CAMERA TRASHING FLORIDA STORE, STEALING CLOTHES

The Lululemon store’s glass entrance was left shattered after the smash-and-grab burglary, authorities said. (Lower Merion Police/Fox 29 Philadelphia)

Last year, Picciano said, a theft occurred during store hours. 

“All of the sudden, a bunch of people were just running out with armfuls of stuff. So, it happens in broad daylight,” Picciano added. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s night or day, and that’s crazy.”

The Lower Merion Police told Fox 29 that delayed alarm alerts can delay response times, emphasizing crime prevention and partnerships with merchants.

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“Sometimes there’s a delay in receiving these calls with Lululemon because their operations center, they’re the ones that receive the video and the alarm,” Superintendent of Police Andy Block said. “Prevention here is the key for this, and we’re always concerned about the criminal element coming into our communities. And our officers work all the time to try to prevent this. We want to work with our merchants to try to make our community safer.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Lower Merion Police and Lululemon for more information.

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Boston, MA

Ex-Yankees 1st-rounder among non-roster invitees to Red Sox spring training

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Ex-Yankees 1st-rounder among non-roster invitees to Red Sox spring training


Come February a former New York Yankees first-round draft pick, will get a chance to prove himself to their longtime rivals.

Left-hander T.J. Sikkema, 27, is one of seven non-roster invitees to Red Sox spring training, the club announced Tuesday.

Catcher Jason Delay, infielder Vinny Capra, lefty Alec Gamboa, and right-handers Osvaldo Berrios, Hobie Harris and Devin Sweet round out the group.

The Yankees drafted Sikkema 38th overall in the ‘19 draft. He was one of three minor league pitchers they dealt to the Kansas City Royals for former Red Sox star Andrew Benintendi at the ‘22 MLB trade deadline.

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Sikkema spent the last two years in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Last year he reached Triple-A for the first time, and pitched to a 3.47 ERA over five games (four starts) with nine earned runs allowed over 23.1 innings, following the late-August promotion.

While the Red Sox had a top-ranked farm system last year, their catching depth is notoriously thin. Delay, 30, has 134 games of big-league experience with the 2022-24 Pittsburgh Pirates, including 131 behind the dish, a career .231/.333/.400 line in the majors. He spent last season with the Double-A and Triple-A levels of the Atlanta Braves organization.

Capra, 29, appeared in 47 major league games last season, 24 with the Milwaukee Brewers and 23 with the Chicago White Sox. Since his debut with the ‘22 Toronto Blue Jays, he has played 67 big-league games over the last four years.

Though a lifetime .133/.181/.188 hitter in the majors, Capra brings defensive versatility to the table. In just 58 fielding games, he has already covered third base, second, shortstop, left and right field, and made three pitching appearances.

Gamboa, 28, comes to the Red Sox after a season split between the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets and the Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball League. He was the Dodgers’ ninth-round pick in ‘19, and owns a 4.23 ERA over 131 career minor league games, including 41 starts.

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Berrios is one of several former St. Louis Cardinals who will be in Red Sox camp next month. The Puerto Rico native split last season between Cardinals’ Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis. Working primarily in relief, he logged a 5.12 ERA and struck out 62 over 58 innings (40 games, four starts).

Harris’ name will likely be familiar to Red Sox fans, as he spent all of last season in Triple-A Worcester. The 32-year-old righty posted a 4.05 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 31 relief appearances and one start. He also has 16 games of major league experience, from his time with the ‘23 Washington Nationals.

Like Sikkema, Harris is a former Yankees draft pick; they selected him in the 31st round in 2015.

The Red Sox signed Sweet to a minor league deal last month. He has seven games of big-league experience between the ‘23 Seattle Mariners and then-Oakland Athletics. He spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies’ Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, with whom he posted a 5.08 ERA over 46 games, including two starts, and struck out 49 batters in 51.1 innings.

Tumbling from top spot

Entering last spring training, the Red Sox earned the top spot in Baseball America’s farm system rankings for the first time since the publication began their assessments in 1984.

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“The Red Sox have returned to the top of the farm system rankings, even after dealing four prospects to the White Sox to bring Garrett Crochet to Boston,” Baseball America’s explanation stated. “No other organization can match the trio of Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer, and Boston’s pitching depth has improved as well.”

The publication’s annual Prospect Handbook ranks the Red Sox 14th.

Chalk some of that up to the aforementioned trio making their respective big-league debuts and progressing out of prospect eligibility. Players like Anthony don’t exactly grow on trees.

Other top prospects, like slugging outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia, have since been traded away. (Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow has made a staggering 49 trades since taking the reins in November ’23.)

At present, most of Boston’s current top prospects are in the lower levels of the farm system. Three of the organization’s top five on MLB Pipeline are expected to debut in 2027 or later; the exceptions are lefties Payton Tolle (No. 2) and Connelly Early (No.4), who both debuted late last season but remain prospect-eligible.

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Pittsburg, PA

Puppy zipped in suitcase almost ready for adoption at Pittsburgh rescue

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Puppy zipped in suitcase almost ready for adoption at Pittsburgh rescue


A puppy is being cared for by the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh in Homewood after police said his owner zipped him inside a suitcase on Christmas Day. 

When you see him, you would never know how his little life got started. The little white dog loves to play and has quickly become a favorite at HARP.

However, nearly two weeks ago, Pittsburgh police said his owner, 56-year-old Jayme White, zipped him inside a suitcase she was carrying on Christmas Day. They said a witness told them she was yelling at the dog and hit it several times before putting it in the bag.

A puppy is being cared for by the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh in Homewood after police said his owner zipped him inside a suitcase on Christmas Day. 

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(Photo: KDKA)


Now White is facing several charges, including animal neglect and public drunkenness.

HARP executive director Dan Cody said animal control brought them the puppy the next morning.

“When the dog arrived, he was in relatively good condition, given the circumstances,” Cody said. 

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They couldn’t find any signs of physical abuse.

“He was a little bit shy, but he very quickly warmed up,” Cody said.

They believe he’s about two and a half months old now, and expect he’ll be a large breed. Most importantly, they said he’s completely healthy.

“He’s just so energetic and loving,” Cody said.

The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office told KDKA that White has surrendered custody of the animal to the rescue, so once he’s neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, he should be up for adoption in the coming days.

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“We’ll find a great home for him,” Cody said.

While the circumstances remain unclear, Cody hopes this case serves as a reminder that owning a pet comes with a great responsibility.

“If you do know someone who is struggling or needs help, we are a place where you can come for resources,” Cody said.

White is now out of jail after a judge ruled she get a mental health evaluation. Her preliminary hearing is set for April.

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