Southwest
Cruz, Allred trade barbs in heated Texas Senate debate: 'Extreme,' 'threat to democracy'
The Texas Senate debate between longtime Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Rep. Colin Allred was not without its share of name-calling and fiery exchanges in the state’s first and only debate before the November election.
Abortion, immigration and transgender issues brought out the most contention between the two candidates.
While Cruz sought to destroy any attempt of Allred being portrayed as a moderate candidate by continually bringing up his voting record throughout the hour-long debate on Tuesday night, Allred painted Cruz as an “extremist” who opposes exceptions to abortions, like in instances of rape.
‘BOYS PLAYING GIRLS’ SPORTS’ AD LANDS TEXAS DEM IN HOT WATER WITH LGBTQ ACTIVISTS ON EVE OF PIVOTAL DEBATE
Abortion, immigration, and transgender issues brought out the most contention between Rep. Colin Allred and Sen. Ted Cruz. (Getty Images)
“You’re not pro-life,” Allred said to Cruz. “It’s not pro-life to deny women care so long that they can’t have children anymore. It’s not pro-life to force a victim of rape to carry their rapist’s baby.”
Cruz, during his opening statement, said, “In Texas, we overwhelmingly support that parents should be notified and have to consent before their child gets an abortion.”
“In Texas, we overwhelmingly agree that late-term abortions in the eighth and ninth months, that’s too extreme, and I’ll tell you, in Texas, we overwhelmingly agree that taxpayer money shouldn’t pay for abortions,” he added.
At one point during the squabble over abortion, one of the hosts, WFAA’s Jason Whitely, repeatedly probed Cruz but did not do the same to Allred.
“Why is this an issue you won’t address, about saying whether you support or oppose exceptions like rape or incest?” Whitely asked Cruz.
“Why do you keep asking me that?” Cruz shot back. “But yet I’ve asked Congressman Allred twice about his voting record and the fact that he voted to strike down Texas’ parental notification law and parental consent law. You haven’t asked him about that.”
Cruz said during the debate he supports abortion being left up to each state.
TEXAS DEM’S SENATE AD FEATURES BORDER WALL HE ONCE BLASTED AS ‘RACIST’
Sen. Ted Cruz, the two-term Republican who has held the seat for the last 12 years. (Fox News Digital)
When it came to border security, Allred contended that Cruz voted against the bipartisan White House deal – which Republicans tanked, arguing it didn’t actually address border security – earlier this year.
“In fact, he does worse than nothing when the toughest border security bill in a generation came up in the United States Senate, $20 billion for border security,” Allred said. “And you know, listen, this is not this is a pattern for him. He’s never there for us when we need him.”
“He’s voted against the border wall, not once, not twice, but three times, every single time there’s a serious measure in the House to secure the border,” Cruz responded. “Colin Allred is Kamala Harris. Their records are the same.”
During another part of the debate, Allred recounted his experience during the Jan. 6 riot, and said, “You’re a threat to democracy.”
TEXAS DEM ALLRED SAYS HE OPPOSES ‘BOYS IN GIRLS’ SPORTS’ DESPITE PAST OF ALLOWING IT, FIGHTING PARENTAL RIGHTS
Rep. Colin Allred speaks to constituents during a roundtable discussion on Aug. 29, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Regarding the issue of trans women competing in women’s sports and sharing facilities – topics Cruz has targeted in several attack ads – Allred firmly reiterated that he does not support any of the “ridiculous things he’s talking about.”
To escape the hot seat, Allred redirected the issue back to abortion.
“But what he wants you thinking about is kids in bathrooms, so you’re not thinking about women in hospitals, because it’s indefensible,” Allred said.
Cruz, the two-term Republican who has held the seat for the last 12 years, kept pinning his main point on Allred at every turn: “He said not a word about his own record.”
In October 2021, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law restricting transgender student athletes from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity.
Texas is one of 23 states with laws in place to prevent transgender inclusion in women’s sports. In June 2023, Allred co-sponsored a bill that would require public schools to permit biological male student athletes who identify as transgender on girls’ sports teams.
The Texas Senate race is a likely GOP win, according to the latest Fox News Power Rankings. The most recent Real Clear Politics polling average shows Cruz with a four-point lead in the race.
Fox News Digital’s Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Read the full article from Here
Los Angeles, Ca
Pasadena motorist knocked unconscious in unprovoked assault after other driver flashes high beams at him
A motorist was rendered unconscious after what authorities are calling an unprovoked attack that occurred after another driver flashed their high beams at him, authorities say.
According to the Pasadena Police Department, the victim, a 63-year-old man, was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue near Washington Boulevard when a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction flashed him around 1 a.m. Saturday.
“The victim reported that he was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue from Washington Boulevard when he observed a vehicle traveling southbound flashing its high beams at him,” a Pasadena Police Department spokesperson confirmed to KTLA. “The victim stated he stopped his vehicle and exited. He was then assaulted by an unknown suspect. The assault was unprovoked.”
The attack left the man unconscious and with a three-inch deep laceration to his head, police added. Upon regaining consciousness, the man transported himself to Huntington Hospital, and it was around 1:20 a.m. when police responded there to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon and began their investigation.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the victim told police that, due to his injuries, he was not able to provide a description of a suspect, vehicle or the weapon used, nor was he able to tell police the exact location where the assault occurred, although it was confirmed to be somewhere near Raymond Avenue and Washington Boulevard. La Pintoresca Park is located near that intersection.
No further details were immediately available.
Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department right away.
Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.
Los Angeles, Ca
Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach
A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing the street on Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach.
On June 3, the female pedestrian was using the crosswalk at Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue around 4:50 a.m.
She had walked against a red light and was hit by a 19-year-old driver in a Chevy sedan, Long Beach police said.
Despite lifesaving efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.
“At this time, impaired driving, distracted driving and excessive speed are not believed to be a factor in this collision,” police said.
The woman’s name is being withheld pending identification by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information on the incident is asked to call Detective Joseph Johnson at 562-570-7355.
Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Los Angeles, Ca
Man wanted for deadly Los Angeles road rage shooting extradited from Mexico
A man wanted for a deadly road rage shooting in Los Angeles was arrested and extradited from Mexico after fleeing the U.S. in 2024.
The suspect was identified as Christian Rojas, 21, of Bellflower, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities had been searching for him since the deadly incident on October 10, 2024.
Rojas and a second suspect, Joshua Rojas Sr., 47, of Downey, were driving on the northbound 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights around 4 p.m. when they became involved in an altercation with another driver that escalated into a shooting.
Video of the tense confrontation showed the suspects, who were driving a Dodge Durango SUV, opening fire on two men in a Cadillac sedan.
The shooting forced the victim to pull over abruptly. That’s when a suspect ran up to the Cadillac, opened the passenger-side door and fired several shots at close range.
In a panic, the Cadillac driver tried to escape by making a sudden U-turn and driving against oncoming traffic. He eventually crashed head-on into several vehicles.
The suspects ditched their SUV and fled toward a freeway exit on foot. The Cadillac driver was left with serious injuries and his passenger was killed. Their identities were not released.
The incident caused a miles-long backup that left thousands of motorists stranded on the freeway for hours and authorities worked to clear the scene.
Following an extensive investigation, detectives identified the two men as the suspects involved.
Joshua Rojas Sr. was arrested in San Bernardino on October 22, 2024, on a murder charge. He remains in custody awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, Christian Rojas had fled the U.S. and was hiding in Mexico, detectives said. A $4.3 million bail warrant was issued for his arrest.
“Through a coordinated international effort, investigators determined that Rojas was living in Palomo de Arriba, Mexico,” CHP officials said. “The U.S. Marshals Service worked with Mexican state police to locate and arrest him on the outstanding warrant.”
On June 2, 2026, Christian was arrested and extradited to the U.S. to face a murder charge.
“This arrest demonstrates that time and distance will not shield violent offenders from justice,” said CHP Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris. “For nearly two years, our detectives remained relentless in their pursuit of those responsible for this senseless act of violence. Through exceptional collaboration with the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in Mexico, we located and apprehended this suspect and brought him back to face the charges. We remain committed to protecting the public, supporting victims and their families, and holding violent criminals accountable wherever they may try to hide.”
-
Sports2 minutes agoGolden Tempo, 2026 Kentucky Derby winner, takes home 158th Belmont Stakes
-
Technology5 minutes agoWhy scammers target retirees in a 6-week summer window
-
Business11 minutes agoEarwormy Kars4Kids jingle is back as charity appeals in California court
-
Entertainment17 minutes agoReview: A family braces for the worst, unsentimentally and with nuanced charm, in ‘Renoir’
-
Lifestyle20 minutes agoAt 100, Route 66 still beckons as a cross-country caravan takes off from Santa Monica
-
Politics25 minutes agoJudge pauses USDA plan to tie SNAP benefits to Trump’s gender, immigration ideology
-
Science32 minutes agoA flesh-eating worm from the 1960s is re-invading the U.S. Are CA cattle at risk?
-
Sports35 minutes agoNorth Carolina’s Jason DeCaro shuts out USC baseball to force decisive Game 3





