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American flag hung upside down in Yosemite National Park in protest over layoffs

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American flag hung upside down in Yosemite National Park in protest over layoffs

A “distress” signal hung on one of Yosemite National Park’s most iconic sites by staff members was done in protest of recent layoffs by the Trump administration.

The inverted Stars and Stripes hung on the side of El Capitan, a 3,000-foot wall of sheer granite, on Saturday, Feb. 22. 

Anand K Sankaran captured footage, and told media-gathering website Storyful the flag was hung upside-down just before “firefall,” a period of time when the small waterfall Horsetail Fall “can glow orange when it’s backlit by sunset,” the park’s website says. 

Flying a flag upside down is traditionally a sign of “dire distress,” the United States Flag Code states. The symbol of protest was done by park staffers, media outlets report. The practice dates back at least 50 years, according to the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University.

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The upside-down flag was placed by Yosemite Park workers on Saturday to protest layoffs by the Trump administration.  (Brittany Colt, www.brittanycolt.com, @brittanycolt)

“We’re bringing attention to what’s happening to the parks, which are every American’s properties,” Gavin Carpenter, a Yosemite maintenance mechanic and disabled military veteran who assisted Saturday, told the San Francisco Chronicle. 

“It’s super important we take care of them, and we’re losing people here, and it’s not sustainable if we want to keep the parks open,” he continued.

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A close-up look of the upside-down flag hung in protest at Yosemite National Park in California. (Brittany Colt, www.brittanycolt.com, @brittanycolt)

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Last week, the Trump administration fired about 1,000 newly hired National Park Service employees who maintain and clean parks, educate visitors and perform other functions as part of its broad-based effort to downsize government, the Associated Press reported.

Facing outcry, the administration plans to restore at least 50 jobs across the parks. The park service also said in a new memo it will hire more seasonal workers than normal. The park service has about 20,000 employees.

The flag was hung at a time when many tourists look at Horsetail Fall for the phenomenon that creates an orange glow.  (Brittany Colt, www.brittanycolt.com, @brittanycolt)

At least a dozen of those who lost their jobs worked at Yosemite.

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“The National Park Service is aware of the unauthorized and inappropriate display that occurred at Yosemite National Park over the weekend,” an Interior Department spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“This blatant disregard for park regulations and respect for our national symbols is unacceptable. The NPS does not condone such actions, and the flag was removed as soon as possible. We take the protection of our national parks seriously and will not tolerate behavior that undermines their integrity,” the statement concluded.

The White House did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Montana

French Montana, Rick Ross & Max B Turn the BET Awards Into “ – BET Awards 2026 | BET

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French Montana, Rick Ross & Max B Turn the BET Awards Into “ – BET Awards 2026 | BET


French Montana, Rick Ross & Max B Turn the BET Awards Into “

06/28/2026

French Montana, Rick Ross and Max B hit the BET Awards stage draped in furs for “Ever Since U Left Me” and “Minks in Miami.”
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Nevada

One dead, four hospitalized after head-on crash on I-15 in Clark County

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One dead, four hospitalized after head-on crash on I-15 in Clark County


LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nevada Highway Patrol responded to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 15 near mile marker 94 Sunday evening.

The crash was reported at 6:43 p.m. on June 28.

MORE ON FOX5: Driver sustains life-threatening injuries in Las Vegas multi-vehicle crash

A passenger sedan and a pickup truck were involved in the crash. One vehicle was traveling southbound, lost control, crossed through the median, and struck the other vehicle head-on in the northbound travel lane.

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One adult male died at the scene. Two people were transported by ground ambulance, and two others were transported by life flight to a local hospital.

Road closures

All northbound I-15 travel lanes were closed at mile marker 94, but have since opened as of Sunday night.

Nevada Highway Patrol said further information will be provided following the preliminary investigation.

Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.



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New Mexico

Search operation continues to close area in Cochiti Lake

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Search operation continues to close area in Cochiti Lake


COCHITI LAKE, N.M. — Emergency responders are still conducting an active search operation Sunday night for a person who went missing in Cochiti Lake.

The Pueblo de Cochiti, Cochiti Fire Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers established a unified command to coordinate all search and response operations. The pueblo and Army Corps issued a closure order for the affected area which remains in effect Sunday night.

“We respectfully ask all members of the public to honor this closure and avoid entering the restricted area. Keeping the area clear allows emergency personnel to operate safely and efficiently and helps ensure the best possible conditions for the ongoing search,” the Cochiti Fire Department stated.

The fire department encouraged everyone to avoid the area and not interfere with emergency operations.

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Details are limited. However, the department stated the area will be closed until further notice and a statement will be issued when it is reopened.



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