West

Dad surprised by his 3 kids with final family carpool before retirement

Published

12 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Dad surprised by his 3 kids with final family carpool before retirement

In honor of their dad’s retirement, a group of siblings teamed up to plan a surprise reminiscent of some of their most treasured childhood memories.

Matt Houlihan, from San Jose, California, came up with an idea to celebrate his dad working 41 years at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California, the same school he, his brother and sister attended.

A TikTok trend inspired Matt Houlihan to do something special for his dad, with a special Houlihan family twist, he said.

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“I was scrolling TikTok a week before, [and] I saw a video on a group of grandkids showing up and surprising their grandparents for a sleepover. That kind of got the wheels turning for me, and my dad’s retirement was coming up. And I wanted to do something special for him,” Matt Houlihan told Fox News Digital.

Matthew Houlihan (right) teamed up with siblings Kelsey Houlihan (middle) and Brian Houlihan (back right), and surprised their dad, Tim Houlihan (left), with one last carpool on his final day working as a school teacher. (Matt Houlihan)

Matt Houlihan’s idea required his two older siblings, Brian Houlihan and Kelsey Houlihan, to wake up early with him and show up to their parents’ home. The idea was to take one final carpool with their dad, like they did when they were kids.

The three siblings decided to go all out by looking back at some of the “rituals” they developed all those years traveling to school in the car with their dad.

“For about eight years, my dad was driving all of us up to high school,” Matt Houlihan shared.

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“And, in that time, obviously, you kind of developed some routines and rituals.”

Matt Houlihan reflected on all the time he spent in the car with his siblings and dad and thought it would be a great idea to pay homage to those memories. (Matt Houlihan)

After working out the logistics for the surprise, like figuring out how their own kids would get to school, the siblings finally worked together with their mom, Stephanie Houlihan, to make the surprise a success.

The Houlihan children showed up to their family home at 6 a.m. and met their dad with their backpacks, ready to make a trip filled with memories.

They made a playlist, including the songs they’d listen to with their dad while carpooling to school when they were younger, the No. 1 song being “Hey Ya” by Outkast, which was a No.1 hit on the Billboard charts in the early 2000s.

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“At one point, my dad had a CD that was just Outkast’s ‘Hey Ya’ on repeat. So, literally, it was 21 Outkast ‘Hey Ya’ songs burned onto a CD, and we listened for, like, I think, for probably six months. That’s the only thing we listened to in the car,” Matt Houlihan said.

“He always just wants to help everyone who is around him.”
— Matt Houlihan

The next family stop was their favorite bagel shop, House of Bagels, before heading to school and pulling into the same parking spot they had throughout high school.

When the three kids were in school, Tim Houlihan would send them off to class by reciting a quote from the classic film, “The Princess Bride.”

“He would always send us off by saying, ‘Have fun storming the castle,’” Matt Houlihan said, adding that he and his siblings repeated it before their dad walked into his final day of work.

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Tim Houlihan spent 41 years at Saint Francis High School in various roles, starting as a math teacher and bus driver and moving through positions such as office coordinator for the football team and athletic director.

Tim and Stephanie Houlihan with grandkids

Tim Houlihan retired after 41 years at Saint Francis High School and found himself wearing all sorts of hats and stepping into various roles throughout his time at the school. (Matt Houlihan)

He served as dean of students and the gold coach before finally settling into the role of construction management for new projects on the school’s campus.

“We actually got to walk through the last building that he just completed, which was super cool just to see the final kind of crown jewel piece of the campus that he coordinated and helped build,” Matt Houlihan said.

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“And, obviously, then [we] just got to see all the people coming up and saying congratulations to him and seeing all of his at-work relationships like we used to when we were [students] there.”

The Houlihan siblings captured the video of their dad’s final day of school and shared it on TikTok. (Matt Houlihan)

Matt Houlihan said he and his brother and sister loved celebrating their dad, someone who they always thought of as a “servant leader.”

“He always just wants to help everyone who is around him,” he said, adding that his dad would appreciate his colleagues each year by bringing plates of food to the school security guards who were working the night shift on holidays.

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He has always looked up to both of his parents for the way they care for others. And he saw that in the response of those at the school who said their farewells to his dad on his last day by showing their appreciation for all he did, some even getting emotional saying how much he affected them.

“He would always send us off [to school] by saying, ‘Have fun storming the castle.’”
— Matt Houlihan

Matt Houlihan is now appreciating those special carpools with his father, especially now that he is a parent to two little girls.

“Being a parent and getting to take your kids to school or taking them to sporting events, you know, those are always the [moments] where so much came out of those conversations in those car drives because, as kids, sometimes you take it for granted that you could spend that time with your parents.”

Tim Houlihan drove into retirement with kids by his side, just as they did when they were younger. (Matt Houlihan)

While Tim Houlihan may no longer use “The Princess Bride” quote with his kids, his youngest son Matt is passing that tradition onto his little girls.

“I always tell them, ‘Have fun storming the castle,’ and then I drop them off at school, so that [the tradition is] carried,” Matt Houlihan said.

Sydney Borchers is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital.

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Oregon

No utility rate increases until wildfire lawsuits resolved, Oregon lawmakers propose

Published

18 minutes ago

December 25, 2024

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No utility rate increases until wildfire lawsuits resolved, Oregon lawmakers propose

Three Oregon lawmakers say they plan to introduce a bill that would bar utilities from raising rates if they have unresolved wildfire lawsuits for three or more years, describing it as an effort to hold PacifiCorp accountable as the utility faces a series of lawsuits stemming from the deadly 2020 wildfires that ravaged the state.

Republican state Reps. Jami Cate, Virgle Osborne and Ed Diehl announced their proposal in a statement Monday, on the heels of an approved rate increase for PacifiCorp customers and a federal lawsuit against the electric power company.

The federal government sued PacifiCorp last week over the Archie Creek Fire, which ignited in Oregon’s Douglas County in September 2020 and burned more than 200 square miles, about half of which was federal land. The complaint accuses the company of negligence for failing to maintain its power lines to prevent wildfires. In its filing, the government says it brought the suit to recover “substantial costs and damages.”

A PacifiCorp spokesperson said in an emailed statement Monday that the company was working with the U.S. government to resolve the claims.

“It is unfortunate the U.S. government decided to file a lawsuit in federal district court, however PacifiCorp will continue to work with the U.S. government to find reasonable resolution of this matter,” the statement said.

The federal lawsuit was filed on the same day the Oregon Public Utility Commission approved a 9.8% rate increase for PacifiCorp’s residential customers next year. In its rate case filings, the company said its request to increase rates was partly due to higher costs stemming from wildfire risk and activity.

When the new rate takes effect in January, PacifiCorp rates will have increased nearly 50% since 2021, according to the Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board, which advocates on behalf of utility customers.

The three lawmakers said they will introduce their bill in the upcoming legislative session, which starts in January.

“The federal government is doing the right thing by filing this lawsuit, and we stand firmly behind it,” Osborne, who is set to be the future bill’s co-chief sponsor, said in a statement. “PacifiCorp needs to pay up and take responsibility for the destruction they’ve caused, and putting a stop to rate hikes is the best way to achieve it.”

PacifiCorp is poised to be on the hook for billions in damages in the series of lawsuits over Oregon’s 2020 fires.

The company has already reached two settlement agreements over the Archie Creek Fire, including one for $299 million with 463 plaintiffs impacted by the blaze and another for $250 million with 10 companies with commercial timber interests, according to its website.

In other litigation, an Oregon jury in June 2023 found it liable for negligently failing to cut power to its 600,000 customers despite warnings from top fire officials and determined it should have to pay punitive and other damages — a decision that applied to a class including the owners of up to 2,500 properties. Since then, other Oregon juries have ordered the company to pay tens of millions to other wildfire victims.

The wildfires that erupted across Oregon over Labor Day weekend in 2020 were among the worst natural disasters in state history, killing nine people and destroying thousands of homes.

— The Associated Press

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Utah

Judge orders legal fees paid to Utah newspaper that defended libel suit

Published

1 hour ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Judge orders legal fees paid to Utah newspaper that defended libel suit

SALT LAKE CITY — A businessman has been ordered to pay almost $400,000 to the weekly Utah newspaper he sued for libel.

It’s to cover the legal fees of the Millard County Chronicle Progress. In September, it became the first news outlet to successfully use a 2023 law meant to protect First Amendment activities.

The law also allows for victorious defendants to pursue their attorney fees and related expenses. The plaintiff, Wayne Aston, has already filed notice he is appealing the dismissal of his lawsuit.

As for the legal fees, Aston’s attorneys contended the newspaper’s lawyers overbilled. But Judge Anthony Howell, who sits on the bench in the state courthouse in Fillmore, issued an order Monday giving the Chronicle Progress attorneys everything they asked for – $393,597.19.

Jeff Hunt, a lawyer representing the Chronicle Progress, said in an interview Tuesday with FOX 13 News the lawsuit “was an existential threat” to the newspaper.

“It would have imposed enormous financial cost on the on the newspaper just to defend itself,” Hunt said.

“It’s just a very strong deterrent,” Hunt added, “when you get an award like this, from bringing these kinds of meritless lawsuits in the first place.”

Aston sued the Chronicle Progress in December 2023 after it reported on his proposal to manufacture modular homes next to the Fillmore airport and the public funding he sought for infrastructure improvements benefiting the project. Aston’s suit contended the Chronicle Progress published “false and defamatory statements.”

The suit asked for “not less” than $19.2 million.

In its dismissal motion, attorneys for the newspaper said the reporting was accurate and protected by a statute the Utah Legislature created in 2023 to safeguard public expression and other First Amendment activities.

Howell, in a ruling in September, said the 2023 law applies to the Chronicle Progress. He also repeatedly pointed out how the plaintiff didn’t dispute many facts reported by the newspaper.

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Washington

Notre Dame football continues transfer portal haul with TE Ty Washington

Published

1 hour ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Notre Dame football continues transfer portal haul with TE Ty Washington

Ty Washington’s 2024 season ended abruptly. The redshirt sophomore tight end was dismissed from Arkansas in late October for what head coach Sam Pittman described as a violation of team rules.

Notre Dame football wants to give Washington a second chance. The 6-foot-4, 247-pound tight end with two seasons of eligibility remaining announced Wednesday his commitment to transfer to Notre Dame.

Maybe Washington can find more success with the Irish after catching 14 passes for 212 yards and four touchdowns in 21 career games with the Razorbacks. Pro Football Focus gave Washington the second-lowest offensive grade on Arkansas’ roster for his play in the 2024 season. He received a 42.3 offensive grade on his 116 offensive snaps. The lowest offensive grade on Notre Dame’s offense so far this season is reserve offensive tackle Ty Chan’s 47.8 on eight snaps.

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Washington will be a depth option for Notre Dame’s tight end room. The Irish will lose starting tight end Mitchell Evans to the NFL this offseason with four seasons of eligibility used. Reserve tight end Davis Sherwood will also have exhausted his eligibility. Seldom-used graduate senior Kevin Bauman still has one season of eligibility remaining, but it’s unclear if he’ll be on Notre Dame’s roster next season.

The obvious options to return to Notre Dame next season are current junior Eli Raridon, sophomore Cooper Flanagan, freshman Jack Larsen and 2025 signee James Flanigan. Raridon has played in all 13 games this season and caught nine passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns so far. Flanagan caught four passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games this season.

So Washington’s impact at Notre Dame seems far from guaranteed, but that’s much better than the situation he was in at Arkansas. Washington shared his side of the story about his dismissal on the “4th and 5 Podcast.” Washington refused to enter a 58-25 victory over Mississippi State in the fourth quarter when the coaching staff wanted to put him in the game. Prior to the game, Washington said, he learned that his grandmother was in poor health and that put him in a bad place mentally.

“Our team was kicking butt,” Washington said on the podcast. “Our tight ends were doing their thing. Shout-out to Luke [Hasz] and shout-out to Andreas [Paaske] because they were playing a hell of a ballgame. To be honest, I didn’t think that I needed to go in to just try to fight through something and look bad or mess up the team in general when I’m already going through something mentally.

“To be honest, that messed me up and I should’ve taken accountability for that because that was the reason why I was thrown off the team — for not going into the game. I know I could’ve handled it differently, but at the time I let that shut me down. And it shut me down because mentally I’ve been going through a lot of stuff and physically I’ve been going through a lot of stuff. It broke me down a little bit. I’m only human.”

Pittman declined to expand on Washington’s dismissal after reporters heard Washington’s retelling of it. Hasz, Arkansas’ starting tight end this season, has already committed to transfer to Ole Miss.

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Washington signed with Arkansas as a three-star recruit out of Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County. Rivals ranked him as the No. 31 tight end in the 2022 class.

Washington redshirted his true freshman season by playing in four regular season games and a bowl game. His only catch of the season was a 17-yard touchdown in the first quarter of a 55-53 win over Kansas in the Liberty Bowl.

Washington’s playing time increased in 2023 with three starts in nine games, but his season ended with a shoulder injury. He recorded 11 receptions for 170 yards and two touchdowns in the four-game stretch before his injury. The 2023 season was Washington’s best, according to PFF. He received a 77.3 offensive grade with an 86.6 in the passing game.

Washington started just one game this past season and caught two passes for 25 yards and one touchdown in seven games played. His dismissal came after the eighth game of the season for Arkansas.

Notre Dame’s incoming transfer portal class is currently bigger than its outgoing transfer class. The Irish added Alabama defensive back DeVonta Smith, Virginia wide receiver Malachi Fields and Wisconsin wide receiver Will Pauling prior to Washington. Fields and Pauling announced their commitments on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, making Washington the third commitment in three days.

Notre Dame’s three outgoing transfer portal players were no longer with the team for most of the season. Defensive tackle Tyson Ford and defensive end Aiden Gobaira weren’t on the roster this season. Cornerback Jaden Mickey opted to seek a transfer after playing in the first four games of 2024, which allowed him to preserve a season of eligibility. Both Ford and Mickey have already committed to Cal.

Notre Dame has yet to address arguably its biggest transfer portal need this offseason: defensive tackle. At least in terms of public commitments. But at the rate this week has gone, who knows how quickly that could change.

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