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Texas National Guard members removed from 60-day Illinois deployment for failing ‘mission requirements’

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Texas National Guard members removed from 60-day Illinois deployment for failing ‘mission requirements’

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The Texas Military Department (TMD) confirmed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday that it replaced seven National Guard members who were deployed to Illinois amid civil unrest, citing the service members’ failure to meet “mission requirements.”

About 200 Texas National Guard troops were deployed to Illinois on Oct. 7 for a 60-day mission to protect federal personnel and property during anti-immigration protests, the Pentagon previously confirmed.

During the pre-mission validation process, the Texas National Guard identified and replaced seven service members who did not meet mission requirements, a TMD spokesperson said. 

The affected Guardsmen were returned to their home station, though the department did not specify the reasoning for their removals.

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HOMAN CONFIRMS TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD ‘ON THE GROUND’ IN ILLINOIS, WARNS ANTI-ICE RHETORIC FUELING ‘BLOODSHED’

A protester wearing an American flag face covering stands opposite of several Cook County Sheriffs outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Ill., on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.  (Adam Gray/AP Photo)

The announcement comes after a photo showing a group of service members arriving in Illinois went viral on social media, with critics speculating about their fitness.

“The Texas National Guard echoes Secretary [of War Pete] Hegseth’s message to the force: ‘Our standards will be high, uncompromising, and clear,’” a TMD spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

U.S. service members were criticized for their weight on social media after a photo of their arrival in Illinois went viral. (Erin Hooley/AP)

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SEN TAMMY DUCKWORTH: THE NATIONAL GUARD SWORE AN OATH TO THE CONSTITUTION, NOT DONALD TRUMP

Hegseth in September called for service members in combat roles to meet the highest male standards for physical fitness.

Department officials did not confirm if the service members in the viral photo were the same Guardsmen removed from the mission.

Law enforcement detains a protester near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Ill., on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.  (Erin Hooley/AP)

TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYS 200 TROOPS TO ILLINOIS FOR FEDERAL PROTECTION MISSION AMID PROTESTS

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A federal judge ruled Saturday National Guard troops can stay in Illinois but cannot patrol or protect federal property. 

The decision followed a request from the Trump administration to lift a prior block on their deployment. The temporary restraining order keeps the troops in place pending further court arguments.

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Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Knee irritation forces Shohei Ohtani out of Friday start, All‑Star game

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Knee irritation forces Shohei Ohtani out of Friday start, All‑Star game

Shohei Ohtani will not make his scheduled start Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks because of continued irritation in his left knee, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Friday.

Ohtani left a June 11 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to irritation in his left knee, which underwent surgery in 2019 to correct a congenital condition called bipartite patella.

According to ESPN, he has been managing the issue since.

Due to the injury, Ohtani will also not travel to Philadelphia or participate in the 2026 All‑Star Game.

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The two-way star will serve as the designated hitter through the weekend, and after the series, “he will have some interventions on his knee to put him in the best position for the second half of the season,” according to the Dodgers.

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Los Angeles, Ca

O.C. police prep for beach, theme park ‘takeovers’ promoted on social media

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O.C. police prep for beach, theme park ‘takeovers’ promoted on social media

A woman injured during the chaotic Fourth of July beach takeover in Newport Beach is speaking out as authorities prepare for a similar event that could target nearby Huntington Beach this weekend, as well as an Orange County theme park.

The July 4 gathering in Newport Beach devolved into violence, with fires set, businesses looted and law enforcement officers targeted with explosives.

More than 400 people were arrested in connection with the unrest. Authorities later said many of those taken into custody had traveled from Arizona and Nevada.

Among the dozens of people injured was Cassandra Torres, a longtime Orange County resident who said she never expected to become a victim while celebrating the holiday in a city she has visited for years.

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“It’s horrible. It’s disgusting behavior, and now we’re paying for it,” Torres told KTLA.

Torres said she was riding her e-bike when a large crowd of young people suddenly rushed toward her.

“The next thing I know, I’m waking up with strangers around me, which I’m grateful for all of them, and all I hear is, ‘She got pushed off her bike,’” she recalled.

She was taken to a hospital, where she was treated for multiple injuries, including serious cuts, bruising and a concussion.

“I’ve never seen a hospital that busy in my life,” Torres said. “It was supposed to be a safe, fun day, and it turned into a nightmare.”

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As victims continue to recover and investigators sort through the aftermath, law enforcement agencies are now focused on preventing another large-scale disturbance after social media posts promoted a so-called “Beach Bash” in Huntington Beach.

The Huntington Beach Police Department acknowledged the online flyer in a social media post Thursday, writing:

“Dear ‘Beach Bash’ organizers… Thanks for the flyer. We’ve seen it too. We have no intention of allowing that to happen here.”

In a statement to KTLA, the department said it has implemented a comprehensive public safety plan.

“Our comprehensive public safety plan includes increased staffing, proactive enforcement and the deployment of specialized resources throughout the city,” police said. “We are coordinating closely with our regional law enforcement partners and are prepared to respond quickly to any criminal activity.”

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Officials also warned that anyone who organizes, promotes, encourages or participates in criminal acts associated with a takeover event could face arrest and prosecution.

Officials at Knott’s Berry Farm said they were also aware of a social media post promoting a teen takeover of the park over the weekend. Buena Park police officials said they plan to have an increased presence at the park.

As for Torres, a GoFundMe has been organized to cover her medical expenses as she continues to recover and follow up with specialists.

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Los Angeles, Ca

California teen e-biker baiting police to chase tracked by drone, arrested

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California teen e-biker baiting police to chase tracked by drone, arrested

Police in Palm Springs deployed a drone to track and assist in the arrest of a teen e-bike rider who had reportedly been trying to bait officers into a high-speed chase.

In footage released on social media Wednesday by the Palm Springs Police Department, the teen can be seen doing wheelies and donuts while stopped at a traffic light. He is also seen performing similar stunts in an intersection.

“Instead of giving the suspect the pursuit he seemed to be looking for, officers used drone technology and coordinated tactics to safely monitor his movements into Cathedral City,” police said in an Instagram post.

Police in Palm Springs deployed a drone to track and assist in the arrest of a teen e-bike rider who had reportedly been trying to bait officers into a high-speed chase. (Palm Springs PD)

Video shows the rider traveling through grass at a nearby park before getting off the e-bike in the shade of a pavilion.

Police quickly moved into the park and took the teen into custody. Video appears to show a physical struggle before he was eventually placed into a patrol vehicle.

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“While seated in a PSPD patrol vehicle, the suspect apparently wasn’t thrilled with the accommodations and shattered a window, adding felony vandalism to his list of charges,” police said.

  • Palm Springs e-biker arrested
  • Palm Springs e-biker arrested
  • Palm Springs e-biker arrested
  • Palm Springs e-biker arrested

The teen, who has not been identified, was booked on suspicion of reckless driving, resisting arrest and felony vandalism.

E-bikes and e-motorcycles have been a growing concern for law enforcement across Southern California.

Data released in Riverside County shows e-bike crashes surged from 224 in 2023 to 494 in 2024, then nearly doubled again to 958 in 2025, according to county officials, who added that at least 416 incidents have already been reported this year.

Cities in Orange County have enacted new laws that include stricter penalties for violations.

On June 7, shoppers at an Orange County Walmart were left shaken after a group of teens was captured on video riding electric bikes through the store, narrowly missing customers and creating a dangerous scene.

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Video obtained by KTLA shows several riders weaving through aisles at a Foothill Ranch store while customers scrambled to get out of the way.

In April, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced felony charges against the mother of a 14-year-old boy accused of fatally striking an 81-year-old man while riding an e-bike in Lake Forest. Prosecutors allege the mother knew her son had repeatedly engaged in reckless riding behavior before the crash.

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