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Charlie Kirk’s security chief says police promise to cover rooftops failed before assassination

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Charlie Kirk’s security chief says police promise to cover rooftops failed before assassination

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Two months after Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University, his security director said the tragedy exposed preventable flaws in how the event was coordinated and secured.

Brian Harpole, a veteran law enforcement officer and founder of Integrity Security Solutions, told “The Shawn Ryan Show” his team repeatedly raised concerns about rooftop exposure, drone restrictions and staffing gaps in the days before the Sept. 10 event.

“We were told the roof was covered,” Harpole said. “The chief said, ‘I got you covered.’ I took him at his word.

“We can’t break the law to do what needs to be done, so we relied on the police, and no one was up there.”

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CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION WITNESSES DESCRIBE MINIMAL SECURITY, HORRIFYING SHOOTING

Investigators search a taped-off area in Orem, Utah, Sept. 11, 2025. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

Harpole said he had asked for additional security based on previous high-risk events. He recalled a Turning Point USA appearance in San Francisco where protesters breached barriers, and his team had to fight its way out with little law enforcement help.

“We’ve seen it before,” he said. “In San Francisco, we had a street takeover, people climbing fences, our exit routes compromised. We knew how fast things can go bad.”

Those experiences, he said, shaped his requests for extra officers and aerial support in Utah.

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“We told them this one was open air, surrounded by elevated ground. We needed more eyes, more coverage. But we were told it would be handled.”

CHARLIE KIRK’S KILLING AT UTAH UNIVERSITY PROMPTS SCRUTINY OF SECURITY MEASURES

The scene after shots were fired at an appearance by Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking on his American Comeback Tour when he was shot in the neck and killed.   (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

Harpole said Integrity brought 12 contractors, nearly double its usual staffing, but jurisdictional limits confined them to about 30 meters around the stage.

“Our responsibility stopped at the bubble,” he said. “We can’t make arrests or block student buildings. That’s law enforcement’s job.”

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He said the Orem Police Department, which operates a drone and SWAT unit, was never asked to assist despite a mutual-aid agreement.

“They told us later they were never asked to come,” Harpole said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Orem Police Department for comment.

TURNING POINT USA SAYS SECURITY LACKED JURISDICTION TO MONITOR ROOFTOP WHEN CHARLIE KIRK WAS ASSASSINATED

Harpole said he specifically flagged student stairways leading to rooftops that offered a clear line of sight to the stage.

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“Three meters to the right or 10 to the left and there is no shot. That’s how precise the angle was,” he said.

He said his team prepared to deploy drones for watch over the event but was denied authorization under FAA and campus restrictions.

“This is Utah, not Iraq,” Harpole said. “We couldn’t put snipers on roofs or launch drones. We did what we could within the rules.”

SCRUTINY INTENSIFIES OVER SECURITY LAPSES SURROUNDING THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING

UVU students pause to reflect as they gaze over the spot where Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Orem, Utah, Sept. 17, 2025. (Matthew Finn/Fox News)

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Harpole said Integrity coordinated with UVU for nearly two weeks and relied on campus police for rooftops and overwatch due to jurisdictional limits. He said promised coverage wasn’t in place.

“This was a textbook example of what happens when lines of authority aren’t clear,” he said. “We couldn’t act outside our jurisdiction, and the people who could didn’t.”

He added that Integrity’s 12-member detail “built concentric zones and double presidential-style barricades and used vehicles as hard barriers behind the stage,” but those measures couldn’t compensate for gaps in police coverage.

The Utah Department of Public Safety confirmed that its State Bureau of Investigation is leading the criminal inquiry alongside the Utah County Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors have charged Tyler James Robinson, 22, with capital murder in the shooting and intend to seek the death penalty.

ONE MONTH AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S MURDER, KEY QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED

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Tyler Robinson, left, and Charlie Kirk  (Utah State Courts/Handout, Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via Reuters.)

UVU officials have said an internal review of the shooting and security procedures is ongoing.

“The comprehensive and independent third-party analysis will be made public once complete and will provide valuable insights into improving safety and security on college campuses,” the university said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital by a firm representing UVU. “UVU is committed to integrating these findings into its safety protocols to benefit UVU and the broader Utah higher education community and campus events.”

The university also emphasized the role of its police officers and new safety investments.

“University police officers play a vital role in maintaining a safe, secure and welcoming environment by enforcing local, state and federal laws while upholding the university’s values of respect, integrity and inclusion,” the statement continued. “Officers protect students, employees, visitors and property and take a proactive approach to crime prevention, education and community engagement.”

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First responders work where Charlie Kirk was shot during an event at Utah Valley University Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah.  (George Frey)

UVU said it is hiring eight additional police officers and two new security managers to strengthen oversight and support for campus events.

Harpole said his decision to speak publicly was about ensuring lessons are learned from what happened at Utah Valley.

“Just show the facts,” he said. “If mistakes were made, fix them so it never happens again.”

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UVU officials said their ongoing third-party review will guide new safety policies and staffing expansion aimed at strengthening campus event security across Utah’s higher education system.

Fox News Digital reached out to Turning Point USA and Integrity Security Solutions for comment.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.

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New Mexico

NM FAST launches space SBIR/STTR accelerator for New Mexico startups

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NM FAST launches space SBIR/STTR accelerator for New Mexico startups


NM FAST (New Mexico Federal and State Technology) is now accepting applications for a free space-sector accelerator cohort designed to help New Mexico-based technology companies compete for federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The cohort targets founders and researchers pursuing grants from NASA, Space Force and related federal agencies, with programming set to launch July 21.

The cohort will admit six to 10 New Mexico companies and run for 10 to 12 weeks, meeting in weekly sessions of approximately one and a half to two hours. Programming covers the full arc of federal commercialization strategy, including space-sector SBIR/STTR opportunities and federal funding pathways, proposal development for technical narratives and commercialization components, federal procurement positioning and agency discovery, capital strategy and follow-on funding options, and transition planning from Phase I to Phase II awards. Participants also receive targeted one-on-one advisory support throughout the program. The cohort is offered at no cost to accepted companies.



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Oregon

How to stay cool and limit health risks during Oregon summer heat

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How to stay cool and limit health risks during Oregon summer heat


PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – As we approach the hottest days of the year, people are finding ways to stay cool.

It’s been two weeks since Portland turned on splash pads across the city.

The water was just one of the ways people were keeping cool on Friday.

“Did you see our cooler? We have a bunch of water in there. More water, stay in the shade, I mean look at these trees, it makes you feel comfortable,” said Beaverton resident Ailan Roman.

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Oregon Health Authority says young children and older adults are just a couple of groups of people that face a higher risk of heat related illness.

OHA says in addition to staying hydrated and lounging in the shade, wearing loose fitted, lightweight clothing can make a big difference.

Roman makes sure her, and her grand kids are protected using several different defenses.

“Sunscreen, we have to put that in order to protect our skin,” Roman said.

When temperatures rise, OHA officials recommend staying in air-conditioned buildings.

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But for some Portlanders, that’s not always an option, so to cool down, they must get creative.

“We get cheap kiddy pools, and we just stick our feet in it, drink lots of water and beer and weight our feet in the pool and that’s how we stay cool,” said park goer, Jill.

And most Oregonians can agree, water in all its forms is the best way to beat the heat.“You have the water view and then you have the water fountain and I think it’s quiet, I don’t see no issues around,” said Roman.

The CDC shares how you can recognize heat related illnesses. While OHA shares how to avoid issues in the heat.

Copyright 2026 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.

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Utah

United States is flying at men’s World Cup, and Utah soccer fans are taking note

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United States is flying at men’s World Cup, and Utah soccer fans are taking note


SANDY — Vibes were as high as the temperature in some cases as thousands gathered at Real Salt Lake’s home stadium to cheer on the United States’ 2-0 win over Australia in the second match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Fernando Sanchez took it all in, between belts of his drum standing in front of more than 4,000 people at the Sandy stadium.

“I was born and raised in Mexico City,” said Sanchez, who hosts a podcast called the “Fercho Show” from his current home in Utah. “But I’m from the U.S. now.”

Four years after scoring just two goals in three group games before a 3-1 exit to the Netherlands in the Round of 16, the United States is flying under Mauricio Pochettino, exciting fans across the country — from the sellout crowd at 69,000-seat Lumen Field in Seattle to watch parties around the world, including Friday in Sandy.

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“The vibe is amazing,” Sanchez told KSL.com. “You can see all of the people who came out, everybody is happy because this World Cup means so much for Utah, for everybody. It’s the best of the best from each country fighting on the field. That’s what it feels like, and it’s so good to be part of this game.”

Less than 24 hours after some 9,200 fans showed up at America First Field for Mexico’s 1-0 win over South Korea, Real Salt Lake employees braced to host as many as 6,000 American fans who submitted an RSVP to spend a portion of the Juneteenth holiday in 94-degree weather.

In-game hydration breaks became as much of a necessity for fans as the players in Seattle, with hundreds flooding the open hydration stations, concessions area, and a few food trucks at each “quarter break” installed by FIFA for the first time at a men’s World Cup.

While final attendance dropped to around 4,500 fans in Sandy, the spirits remained high as Folarin Balogun, who scored two goals in a 4-1 win over Paraguay in the World Cup opener, forced the opening goal off Australia’s Cameron Burgess.

Alex Freeman, the son of former Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman who at 21 is the youngest player on the roster, doubled the advantage in the 43rd minute off a set piece that was initially ruled offside.

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But after a lengthy video review where fans refused to sit down, pandemonium ensued as the U.S. fans in Sandy recognized their national team was moments away from clinching passage out of the group in the first men’s World Cup on home soil since 1994.

It’s the first time the United States men’s national team has won consecutive games at a World Cup tournament since 1930.

Yet it’s not just the wins, but how the Yanks are winning that has Americans excited about a sport that has made significant strides domestically in three decades since the founding of Major League Soccer.

The U.S. is winning with an exciting brand of attacking soccer led by Balogun, who grew up in England but chose to represent the country of his birth over his parents’ native Nigeria in 2023, and Christian Pulisic, the AC Milan winger with 33 goals in 87 international appearances from Pennsylvania who did not play Friday due to a calf injury.

About 4,500 United States fans and supporters gathered for a watch party in Sandy, Utah, as the USA defeated Australia 2-0 in a group-stage game at the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup, Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo: Sean Walker, KSL.com)

“There’s a lot of American pride,” said St. George youth soccer player Tate Hurst, who showed up to the watch party with a half-dozen club teammates at Fire SC during Western Presidents Cup regional this weekend. “The American dream.”

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Sunburn, heat and hydration aside, the moment created a memory for thousands of soccer fans and casuals alike. That included RSL season ticket holders, waiting until the end of the month-long international break for the club’s MLS season to resume in July.

But for one afternoon — and perhaps another, as the club plans to host a similar watch party next Thursday when the United States hosts Türkiye in Los Angeles (8 p.m. MT, FS1) — each soccer fan was pulling for the same team.

Except, perhaps, for the dozen or so Australia fans in the corner of the east lawn who represented their own Socceroos for the entire 90 minutes.

“Soccer brings everybody together,” one RSL staff member said over the public-address system as fans headed for the parking lot while James Brown’s “Living in America” blasted over the sound system after the full-time whistle. “That’s what today was all about.”

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