A new Congress starts this week, with questions about whether House Speaker Mike Johnson can stay in his job and if GOP in-fighting will be an obstacle as the new Trump administration kicks off.
Sabrina Carpenter, ‘America’s Got Talent’ winner Richard Goodall among breakout music stars of 2024
2024 was a big year for the music industry, with many new stars breaking onto the scene.
Singers including Taylor Swift’s protégé Gracie Abrams and “Espresso” songstress Sabrina Carpenter had wildly successful debuts.
Abrams scored her first No. 1 hit, while Carpenter had multiple hits which were labeled the songs of the summer, not to mention a hugely successful tour.
Here are some of the year’s biggest breakout stars in music.
TAYLOR SWIFT WENT ON ‘WILD RIDE’ WITH FORMER VICTORIA’S SECRET MODEL CARA DELEVINGNE AS ROOMMATES
Gracie Abrams
Gracie Abrams, right, opened for Taylor Swift on “The Eras Tour.” (TAS2024/Getty Images)
Gracie Abrams released her debut album in February 2023, but her star power skyrocketed in 2024 with the release of her second album, “The Secret of Us,” in June.
The effort included many popular songs, including “Close to You,” which was featured on the hit Netflix show “Emily in Paris,” and was later used in the trailer for another hit Netflix show, “Nobody Wants This.” Shortly after the release of the album, Abrams dropped a deluxe edition, which included the song “That’s So True,” her highest performing song to date.
“That’s So True” peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., and topped the charts in the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
“It’s nuts,” Abrams told Variety in November about the success of the song. “The concept of even one person anywhere in the world liking the song as much as I do makes my heart crack open and then grow ten sizes. I’m grateful and I’m in disbelief.”
TAYLOR SWIFT TAKES ON NEW CAREER CHALLENGE AS RECORD-SETTING ERAS TOUR WRAPS UP

Gracie Abrams was invited to her first Met Gala in May. (Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Abrams was an opening act for Swift on “The Eras Tour,” while also gearing up for her highly anticipated “The Secret of Us Tour.” She received her first Grammy nomination at the 2024 Grammy Awards, where she was nominated for best new artist, as well as a nomination for best pop duo performance for her recording of “Us” with Swift.
In addition, 2024 was the year Abrams attended her first Met Gala, and is sure to be back in years to come.
Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter scored her first No. 1 hit in June with “Please Please Please.” (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for AEG)
Sabrina Carpenter got her start as a child actress with a role on the Disney Channel series, “Girl Meets World.” Following the end of the show, she pivoted from acting to singing and slowly began building a following.
While she had already released five studio albums, Carpenter hadn’t reached mainstream success until the release of her hit song “Espresso” in April, just one day before she performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California for the first time.
The tune went on to become the song of the summer, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also was certified platinum in 14 countries and diamond in France, and was Billboard’s No. 1 global song of the summer for 2024. She followed the success of “Espresso” with the release of her next single, “Please Please Please,” which became her first No. 1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Top 100 chart.
Carpenter then released her third single, “Taste,” which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 100. At long last, her highly anticipated sixth album, “Short n’ Sweet,” was released in August, and became her best-performing album to date, being certified platinum, reaching No. 1 in the U.S. and eventually getting nominated for album of the year at the upcoming Grammy Awards.

Sabrina Carpenter was nominated for six Grammy Awards, including album of the year and song of the year, in November. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)
She also received Grammy nominations in the record of the year, song of the year, best new artist, best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album categories. Carpenter recently wrapped up the North American leg of her “Short n’ Sweet Tour” and is gearing up to start the European leg in March.
“I never had the plan B, and it wasn’t even a thought in my mind that it wouldn’t work out,” she told Rolling Stone in August. “I just always knew it was about not if it would happen but when it would happen.”
Carpenter was also featured on the cover of Time Magazine’s 100 Next Most Influential Rising Stars issue, and won an MTV VMA honor for the “Espresso” music video.
Richard Goodall

Richard Goodall won “America’s Got Talent” at the age of 55. (Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)
Richard Goodall captured the hearts of viewers when he auditioned for “America’s Got Talent” earlier this year.
The former janitor from Terre Haute, Indiana, became an instant celebrity when he surprised everyone, including the judges, with his rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” leading Heidi Klum to hit the Golden Buzzer and send Goodall directly to the live shows.
“I just had an absolutely amazing time with all these people out here and anybody who is even remotely thinking about it, if you’ve got even just a little bit of talent, and you think that you might have something, give it a shot!” Goodall said. “I mean, I’m going to be 55 in October and look at me… Six months ago, I would have thought you were crazy and look at me now. It was just because Ang [his wife] said, ‘Get on that plane and make it happen.’”
He went on to win the whole competition, but not before performing with Journey during the show’s finale, and Goodall has since performed the National Anthem at an Indiana Pacers game in November.
Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan’s debut was a sleeper hit, hitting mainstream audiences months after its initial release in late 2023. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Chappell Roan released her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” in September 2023, and while it was critically well-received, it didn’t start picking up steam among listeners until earlier this year.
Throughout 2024, Roan performed songs off the album at various festivals, including Coachella and Lollapalooza, and was the opening act for Olivia Rodrigo during her “Guts World Tour,” which led to “Midwest Princess” slowly rising up the charts, eventually reaching the top five in the U.S.
Soon after, many of her tunes, such as “Pink Pony Club,” also climbed up the charts. Roan released her latest single, “Good Luck, Babe!” in April, which peaked in the top 10 in the U.S.
She went on to win best new artist honors at the MTV VMAs, and received six Grammy nominations in various categories, including for record of the year, album of the year, song of the year, best new artist, best solo pop performance and best pop vocal performance.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Shaboozey

Shaboozey’s star power rose significantly in 2024. (Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage)
Shaboozey first began making music a decade ago, releasing his first single, “Jeff Gordon,” in 2014. He has continued issuing music consistently since then, releasing his debut album, “Lady Wrangler,” in October 2018, and his second album, “Cowboys Live Forever, Outlaws Never Die,” in October 2022.
It wasn’t until 2024, however, that the artist broke through to mainstream audiences, when he was featured on two songs on Beyoncé’s country album, “Cowboy Carter,” including “Spaghettii” and “Sweet / Honey / Buckiin.'”
The musician scored his own hit song, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which was the fourth single from his third album, “Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going.” The tune was an instant hit and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for 19 weeks.
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” officially tied the record for the longest a song has stayed at the top of the chart, matching Lil Nas X’s mark of 19 weeks, which he achieved with “Old Town Road.” It has also been at the top of the country chart for 27 weeks and counting.

Shaboozey is nominated for best new artist at the upcoming Grammy Awards. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
“Everyone in their career hopes you can have something like this happen,” Shaboozey told American Songwriter in May. “I’ve had a rocky career. I’ve had points where I was like, ‘Man, am I really meant to do this?’ To have something like this that’s really working in such a real way shows that I’m meant to be here. I just needed to write the right song, and I just needed to just be consistent.”
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” was nominated for single of the year at the 2024 CMA Awards, song of the summer at the 2024 MTV VMAs, song of 2024 at the People’s Choice Country Awards and is up for song of the year and best country song at the upcoming Grammy Awards.
In addition to the success of the song, Shaboozey has seen a rise in popularity as well, having won new artist of 2024 honors at the People’s Choice Country Awards, and he was nominated for best new artist at both the CMA Awards and the Grammy Awards. He is also gearing up for the European leg of his headlining tour.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
2024 Most Memorable Election Moments: December 29, 2024
Choose your Most Memorable Election Moment of 2024.
Choose between President Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 race for the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris on Special Report with Bret Baier, and Donald Trump surprising McDonald’s customers at a drive-through.
Then see how your choice ranks and share the results with your friends.
Check back each day this week to pick your Most Memorable Moments of 2024.
Thanks for playing!
Apple Mail app redesign introduces new categorization feature in iOS 18.2
Apple’s new Mail Categories in iOS 18.2 and later are here to help you take control and make managing your email a lot easier.
Let’s dive into how you can make the most of these new inbox features on your iPhone.
Apple’s new Mail Categories in iOS 18.2 (Apple)
How to update your software to iOS 18.2 or later
First things first, let’s update your software to iOS 18.2 or later:
GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS, SIGN UP FOR KURT’S NEWSLETTER – THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE
- Open Settings
- Tap General
- Select Software Update
- Tap Update Now
- Enter your passcode and agree to terms
- Wait for the installation to complete

Steps to update your software to iOS 18.2 or later (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
GET ORGANIZED: NEW IOS 18 CALENDAR FEATURE
Using Categories in Mail on iPhone
In iOS 18.2 and later, the Mail app enhances email management by automatically sorting messages into distinct categories. This feature is designed to help you quickly find and manage your emails.
Categories overview
- Primary: Contains personal messages and time-sensitive information.
- Transactions: Tracks confirmations, receipts and shipping notices.
- Updates: Includes news, newsletters and social media updates.
- Promotions: Displays coupon and sales emails.
Note: If a message in the Transactions, Updates or Promotions categories contains time-sensitive information, it will also appear in the Primary category.

Steps to use Categories in Mail on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
IOS 18’S NEW TEXT FORMATTING AND EFFECTS IN MESSAGES
Using the New Mail categorization feature
Now that you’re all set with iOS 18.2 or later, let’s explore how to use the new Mail Categorization feature:
- Open the Mail app on your iPhone.
- At the top, you’ll see the four new categories: Primary, Transactions, Updates and Promotions.
- Tap on any category to view emails sorted specifically for that section.
- If you want to see all your emails together, swipe from right to left at the top to reveal the “All Mail” option.
- Once you update to iOS 18.2 or later, the default will be the “Categories” view. If you tap the three horizontal dots in the top right corner of your inbox, you’ll see it is set to Categories.
- If you prefer not to use categories, tap the three horizontal dots again and select List View.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Steps to use the New Mail categorization feature (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
SECRET TRICK TO SEND A TEXT MESSAGE AGAIN WITH IOS 18’S NEW “SEND LATER” FEATURE
Ensuring important emails land in Primary
To make sure important emails, like the CyberGuy newsletter, land in the “Primary” category:
- Scroll through your inbox and locate and tap any email from the CyberGuy Newsletter.
- If you don’t have one handy, check your “Junk” or “Promotions” folders.
- Tap the leftward arrow.
- Click where it says “Categorize Sender.”
- Tap Primary.
- Then, tap Continue.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Steps to ensure important emails land in Primary (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
This simple action helps signal its importance. Once you manually move an email to the Primary category, Apple’s Mail app will learn from this action.
SUBSCRIBE TO KURT’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR QUICK VIDEO TIPS ON HOW TO WORK ALL OF YOUR TECH DEVICES
Kurt’s key takeaways
Apple’s new Mail Categories feature aims to streamline your email management by automatically sorting your messages. While it can be incredibly helpful, it may take some time to adjust and fine-tune. Remember to periodically check other categories to ensure important emails aren’t misclassified. With a bit of patience and customization, you can transform your inbox into a more organized and efficient space.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Have you found the new email categorization feature helpful, or do you wish you could go back to the way things were? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover
Follow Kurt on his social channels
Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:
New from Kurt:
Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Failed negotiations resulted in union members walking out on the job at news outlets in 2024
Years-long contract fights at media companies came to a head in 2024. Unions from the New York Times, NBC and Forbes issued warnings to leadership about their intentions during critical events for the company in recent months.
Here is a breakdown of some of the biggest moments:
The New York Times Tech Guild
The New York Times‘ ability to provide Election Day coverage and analysis was in jeopardy during this year’s election week as hundreds of the giant newspaper’s disgruntled tech staffers went on strike in protest of its ongoing clash with management, citing “unfair labor practices.”
Beginning on November 4, the day before the 2024 Election, the New York Times Tech Guild announced it was going on a strike, which lasted for a week. The Tech guild voted to unionize in March 2022 and was in negotiations with leadership for over two and a half years in an effort to get a contract.
The New York Times Tech Guild went on strike this year over “unfair labor practices.” (Fox News Digital)
The Tech Guild’s 600 members are in charge of the back-end systems that power the paper’s extensive digital operations, working in Engineering, Product, Design, Data and the project management office.
NEW YORK TIMES TECH EMPLOYEES REMAIN ON STRIKE, GUILD TARGETS HIGH-PAID CEO MEREDITH KOPIT
During election week, Times staffers dressed in red marched and chanted outside the paper’s Midtown Manhattan office with “Scabby,” the giant, inflatable rat that is symbolic of New York City labor disputes, perched outside 620 Eighth Avenue.
“We are not a joke, we are not playing,” a Guild leader told the crowd on Nov. 4.
A New York Times Company spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital that the newspaper was “disappointed” in the timing of the strike.

New York Times tech worker strike (Fox News)
At stake was the Times’ famous “Election Needle,” which would show the likelihood of Trump or Harris winning. While the needle eventually made it onto the NYT’s website, albeit a bit later in the night than in previous years, no state-level or non-presidential needles were live on election night.
In addition, because of the strike, IOS news was not displaying ads intermittently, marking a significant loss of revenue for the company, the apps and website were slow to load, publishing issues produced error messages for readers on articles and updates, and Times subscribers received hundreds of thousands of emails with broken links, according to the NYT Tech Guild announcement.
However, a Times spokesperson described the newspaper’s election week coverage as “by far our smoothest site performance during an election ever,” according to a statement to Fox News Digital.
After a week of striking, the New York Times tech workers returned to work without a contract. But, on December 11, the NewsGuild of New York, which represents the Times Tech Guild, reached a deal on a three-year contract following the union’s week-long strike in November.

Members of the The New York Times news division stood in solidarity with tech employees on strike during Election Day 2024. (Fox News Digital)
NBC Digital Union
NBC’s digital employees also took action this year in an effort to get a contract for their newly formed media union. On the evening of November 21, the group projected scathing messages onto 30 Rock, blasting company leadership for dragging its feet on a contract.
NBC Digital NewsGuild, a collective bargaining unit of the NewsGuild of New York, called out NBC News executives for alleged “unlawful behavior” by lighting up “breaking news” messages on the company’s flagship building in midtown Manhattan.
The NBC Digital NewsGuild, which represents reporters, editors, designers, video journalists, animators, social media strategists and editorial staff of NBC News Digital, have been negotiating their first contract since the group unionized in 2019.
HUNDREDS OF NEW YORK TIMES TECH STAFFERS GO ON STRIKE AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY
The projections specifically targeted NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde, as well as NBC News Editorial President Rebecca Blumenstein, Executive Vice President of Programming Janelle Rodriguez, Executive Vice President of News Catherine Kim and Executive Vice President of TODAY and Lifestyle Libby Leist for engaging in tactics that they say have violated labor laws, including layoffs of more than 20 union journalists without bargaining and retaliating against union members for taking part in protected activity.
“Cesar Conde and his leadership team have a bad habit of breaking the law,” Tate James, video editor and union leader, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “But now he’s dealing with a newsroom full of journalists who are sick and tired of working without a contract and trying to chase their bosses down in court. NBC News executives are obsessed with shareholder value, but they’re disrespecting the workers that create that value in the first place. We deserve a fair contract, and we’re not backing down from this fight until we get one.”
Additionally, in 2021, the National Labor Relations Board found that NBC had unlawfully withheld more than $350,000 in raises from union journalists, according to a press release shared with Fox News Digital. The union has not reached a deal with union management.
Forbes Union
The Forbes Union, which was also formed in recent years, walked off the job on December 3, 2024, a crucial day for the company.
The union, which represents the magazine’s editorial staffers, issued a warning to management, scheduling its walkout on the same day as the release of Forbes’ well-known “30 Under 30” list, which includes 20 lists of 30 influential people under 30 years old who are recognized for their achievements in various industries.
Members of the union, who said they are fighting for fair wages and reductions in force and severance protections, told Fox News Digital that management has been stalling at the bargaining table for nearly three years.
The Forbes Union demanded that the company stop “illegally and unilaterally” pulling people out of the bargaining unit.
A Forbes Union spokesperson told Fox News Digital that management has incorrectly claimed that some of the Forbes Union members are “management” and, as a result, should not be part of the union. The union said the tactic is a common anti-union practice, which it is fighting through its unfair labor practice charge on management’s misclassification of members, in an attempt to shrink the Forbes Union.

Forbes Union three-day walkout in January 2024 (Forbes Union)
Members of the union spoke with Fox News Digital about the timing of the walkout, which coincided with the launch of the company’s “30 Under 30” list to highlight the work it takes to put out the lists.
NATION’S LARGEST LABOR UNION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES REBUKES GOP’S EFFORTS TO END TELEWORK
“The Under 30 list is a really high profile list for Forbes. It gets us a lot of attention,” Andrea Murphy, unit chair and statistics editor for Forbes, said. “But it does take the work of basically every single team in the newsroom, months and months of work to put a list like this together.”
“The scope is intense,” she added. “There’s not really one part of the newsroom that’s not involved in this, and so we felt like walking out on this day kind of highlights how much work it takes to do this level of journalism day in and day out. We want to basically use some of the attention and spotlight that this list gets every year and shine a little bit of it on our contract fight.”

Forbes Union three-day walkout in January 2024 (Forbes Union)
Murphy said management has been dragging its feet and suspects it is a tactic used by companies to diminish the enthusiasm for a union by “slow walking” the contract fight.
“Of course, they don’t tell us that when we’re sitting at the bargaining table,” she added. “They claim they’ve been doing this in good faith all along.”
The union has not reached a contract with Forbes management.
Fox News Digital’s David Rutz, Brian Flood and Nik Lanum contributed to this report.
‘Gate lice’ and ‘seat squatters’ among 2024’s most viral travel trends
Many Americans traveled far and wide across the U.S. throughout 2024.
Travelers may have participated in, or noticed, a few different travel trends that emerged in 2024.
As 2024 wraps up and the New Year of 2025 soon begins, here is a round-up of some of the biggest travel trends of the past year.
Gate lice
“Gate lice” refers to passengers who cut lines in the hope of boarding a flight early.
American Airlines announced it is expanding its new technology to counter “gate lice” at over 100 airports.
AMERICAN AIRLINES EXPANDS ‘GATE LICE’ CRACKDOWN TO MORE THAN 100 AIRPORTS
The system audibly flags when a passenger attempts to board the plane before his or her designated assignment is called — and will automatically reject the person’s ticket.
Mattress runs
With “mattress runs,” guests book hotel rooms to earn free nights or accumulate status points even if they’re not staying in the hotel room. (iStock)
Dubbed “mattress runs,” the fad has people booking hotel rooms in order to earn free nights or accumulate status points.
These travelers, however, are apparently not completing their stays, yet they still reserve rooms in the hope of racking up rewards.
Alston Causey, vice president of Travelmation, a U.S.-based travel agency, told Fox News Digital, “A ‘mattress run’ is more for people who are on the cusp and tend to find themselves there every year.”
Flying naked

This trend has allowed people to have a smooth travel day without worrying about getting stuck in security lines or missing luggage on the second half of their connecting flight, social media users say. (AzmanJaka)
“Flying naked” is a trend in which passengers fly without checked or carry-on luggage, bringing only essentials like a phone, charger, and wallet.
Advocates appreciate the convenience of avoiding baggage fees and the hassle of overhead bin space — while critics find the concept too limiting.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
TikTok users posted videos showing their participation in the trend, with one creator sharing a series of travel videos titled “Traveling with No Bags, Just Vibes.”
‘FLYING NAKED’ IS THE LATEST TRAVEL TREND DIVIDING THE INTERNET, AND IT DOESN’T MEAN WHAT YOU THINK
In 2023, airlines made over $33 billion in baggage fees, FOX Business reported.
Seat squatters

A travel industry expert suggested that instead of stealing seats, flyers can try their luck on board by simply asking others to swap seats with them. (iStock)
The term “seat squatters” refers to airline passengers who occupy seats not assigned to them, hoping to secure a more desirable spot without paying extra fees.
‘SEAT SQUATTERS’ ON PLANES ARE LATEST TRAVEL TREND TAKING OVER SOCIAL MEDIA
This trend has gained attention on social media, with travelers sharing experiences of confronting such individuals.
Travel industry expert Gary Leff, based in Texas, emphasized that passengers are entitled to the seat indicated on their boarding pass.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle
He suggested that those seeking a different seat should politely request a swap, offering a reasonable trade in return.
Sleep divorce

More couples are admitting they’re sleeping in separate beds or in separate rooms while on vacation, according to Hilton. (iStock)
The concept of “sleep divorce,” in which couples choose to sleep separately to enhance their sleep quality, has been gaining in popularity, especially during vacations.
Hilton’s 2025 Trends report indicates that 63% of travelers sleep better alone, and 37% prefer separate beds from their partners while traveling.
‘SLEEP DIVORCE’ ON VACATION: TRAVEL TREND HAS COUPLES ‘BREAKING UP’ AT BEDTIME
Sleep expert Dr. Wendy Troxel, a RAND Corporation senior behavioral specialist and a licensed clinical psychologist in Utah, told Fox News Digital that some couples are opting to sleep separately while on vacation with the “goal of improving sleep quality.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“This trend reflects a growing awareness that sleep is crucial not only for personal health and well-being but also for relationship health,” said Troxel.
US government formally designates American teacher jailed in Russia as wrongfully detained
The State Department announced that an American teacher arrested at a Russian airport on drug charges more than three years ago has been designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. government.
Marc Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, is serving a 14-year prison sentence after his arrest in August 2021 at a Russian airport for being in possession of drugs, which his family and supporters said were medically prescribed marijuana.
Fogel was left out of a massive prisoner swap in August that freed multiple Americans, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and corporate security executive Paul Whelan.
US CITIZEN IMPRISONED IN RUSSIA GIVEN NEW 15-YEAR SENTENCE IN WAKE OF ESPIONAGE CONVICTION
Lisa Hyland, left, and other family members of Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia since August 2021, rally outside the White House for his release, July 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP)
After the prisoner exchange, which also freed a dozen German nationals, lawyers for Fogel’s family again pushed for the Biden administration to work toward securing his freedom, including by designating him as wrongfully detained.
The State Department considers several factors when choosing whether to designate an American jailed in a foreign country as wrongfully detained, such as whether there is credible information that the person is innocent or if they are being held primarily to influence U.S. policy or secure concessions from the U.S. government.
“The United States has been working to secure Marc Fogel’s release for some time,” the State Department said in a statement. “We have long called for his humanitarian release and tried to include him in the August 1 deal, but were unable to. The Secretary determined Marc is wrongfully detained in October.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined that Marc Fogel is wrongfully detained in October, according to the State Department. (Photos courtesy Ellen Keelan and Lisa Hyland)
Designating someone as wrongfully detained traditionally moves supervision of their case to the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs’s office, which is within the State Department and focuses on negotiating for the release of hostages and other Americans classified as being wrongfully detained in foreign countries.
Fogel’s wife, Jane, and his sons, Ethan and Sam, said in a statement they were grateful that the State Department “has finally acknowledged what we have known all along — that our husband and father, Marc Fogel, has and continues to be wrongfully detained.”
RUSSIA DETAINS SUSPECT ACCUSED OF KILLING HIGH-RANKING GENERAL IN MOSCOW

The exterior of the State Department complex is seen on March 14, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Now that we have the full force of the U.S. government behind us, we must do everything in our power to bring Marc home as quickly and safely as possible,” the family continued.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Washington state teens charged as adults in gang-linked stabbing of boy, 14, who was tied to tree, cut open
Two 17-year-olds have been charged as adults in the gruesome stabbing earlier this month of a 14-year-old in Snohomish County, Washington.
Milo Canales and Hayden Lusebrink have been charged with first-degree assault, first-degree robbery and first-degree kidnapping, according to FOX 13.
The victim was allegedly tied to a tree in Lions Park in Everett, Washington, Dec. 16, after he went there with a girl. The two male suspects allegedly grabbed him as he was opening a door for the girl, who then drove away, FOX 13 reported, citing court documents.
BROOKLYN HOMELESS SHELTER WORKER STABBED TO DEATH BY MASKED SUSPECT
Two 17-year-olds have been charged as adults in the alleged stabbing earlier this month of a 14-year-old in Snohomish County, Wash. (KCPQ)
The teen later told investigators he thought he had been set up by the girl, the station reported.
Canales and Lusebrink are accused of ordering the victim to take off his clothes, tying him to a tree and stabbing him at least eight times around his stomach.
The stabbing left him “disemboweled,” according to the news station.

The victim is expected to survive. (KCPQ)
He was also allegedly pistol-whipped by the suspects and had the letter “N” carved into his chest, referring to the “Norte” or “Norteno” gang, which is active in the area.
Investigators said the suspects were motivated by gang ties and an altercation they had with the victim at their school.
The victim told investigators he recognized his assailants as fellow students at his high school.
PREGNANT WOMAN STABBED 14 TIMES IN FRONT OF YOUNG DAUGHTER OVER BAD PIZZA DELIVERY TIP: DEPUTIES
The victim managed to untie himself and ran to a nearby house for help.
He was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.
Canales and Lusebrink were arrested within 24 hours of the stabbing.
Canales’ bail was set at $1 million. Lusebrink’s was set at $300,000, and he was released on bond, according to FOX 13.

Milo Canales and Hayden Lusebrink have been charged with first-degree assault, first-degree robbery and first-degree kidnapping. (KCPQ)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Canales was allegedly found with the victim’s bloody clothing, the station reported.
He had already been facing felony charges for a robbery in Seattle last month, but he was released on bail earlier this month, according to KOMO-TV.
Oakland police investigating crash involving BART police cars that left several injured
A multi-vehicle crash involving two police vehicles left several people injured in Oakland, California, on Saturday, according to law enforcement officials.
The Oakland Police Department (OPD) told Fox News Digital that the crash occurred in the 700 block of Mandela Parkway, near the West Oakland train station. Photos of the scene showed wrecked police vehicles with broken windows and open doors, along with debris in the street.
Authorities were alerted to the situation at around 2:45 p.m. local time. According to Oakland police, two police cars belonging to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Police Department were involved in the crash.
“Several vehicle occupants sustained injuries during the collision,” an OPD spokesperson said. “Paramedic personnel responded to the scene to assist and transported the individuals to area hospitals for treatment.”
BROOKLYN HOMELESS SHELTER WORKER STABBED TO DEATH BY MASKED SUSPECT
Two police cars belonging to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Police Department were involved in the crash in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday. (KTVU)
Authorities are still investigating the crash and what led up to it.
“It is unknown if alcohol or drugs are a factor in this collision,” the statement added.
The OPD did not disclose whether BART officers were injured.
PREGNANT WOMAN STABBED 14 TIMES IN FRONT OF YOUNG DAUGHTER OVER BAD PIZZA DELIVERY TIP: DEPUTIES

The crash is under investigation. (KTVU)
In August, the president of the Oakland Police Officer’s Association (OPOA) slammed progressive then-Mayor Sheng Thao, who was recalled in November, for allegedly not doing enough to fight crime in the city, which is considered one of the most dangerous in the Golden State.
“Every day, our citizens feel the tragedies. That they cannot exit their own home or walk to the streets of Oakland, calling 911 and not getting the services they need,” the OPOA’s Huy Nguyen said at the time.

The crash took place in the 700 block of Mandela Parkway in Oakland. (KTVU)
In July, the Oakland Police Department was criticized for allegedly under-reporting its crime statistics after claiming that crimes had fallen 33%. At the time, the police’s report was touted by Thao as an accomplishment for the city.

The crash involved BART Police Department vehicles. (KTVU)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital reached out to the BART Police Department, but did not immediately hear back.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Colorado suspect wanted in failed bank robbery after handing teller note that was illegible
A Colorado man allegedly attempted to rob a bank but left with nothing after handing a note to a teller who was unable to decipher what he had written, according to police.
The incident happened shortly before 5 p.m. on Dec. 17 at First National Bank at 750 North Lincoln Ave. in Loveland, Colorado, according to the Loveland Police Department.
Police said the man walked into the bank and handed the teller a note.
COLORADO SKI RESORT MALFUNCTIONS, 174 RESCUED: ‘ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME-EXPERIENCE’
A Colorado man allegedly attempted to rob a bank but left with nothing after handing a note to a teller who was unable to decipher what he had written. (Loveland Police Department)
The teller, however, had a difficult time reading the note since it was allegedly almost completely illegible, according to CBS Colorado.
The man allegedly grew frustrated as the teller was struggling to read the note, so he quickly left the bank, the outlet noted.
AURORA, COLORADO, POLICE SAY HOME INVASION ‘WITHOUT QUESTION’ TREN DE ARAGUA GANG ACTIVITY

The incident happened shortly before 5 p.m. on Dec. 17 at First National Bank at 750 North Lincoln Avenue in Loveland, Colorado. (Loveland Police Department)
Police are still searching for the suspect.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The man was captured in surveillance images wearing a brown hoodie, green pants, a green baseball cap, sunglasses and brown gloves.











