Salem News Channel

Bomb Squad Responds To Utah State University Ahead Of TPUSA Event

A law-enforcement bomb squad disposal team responded to Utah State University's campus Tuesday afternoon, after a building was evacuated following a bomb threat ahead of the Turning Point USA event in Logan, Utah.

Trump Executive Order Boosts Childhood Cancer Research With AI

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday to bolster the use of artificial intelligence and provide an additional $50 million in research grants aimed at finding cures for childhood cancers, according to a White House official. The order builds on the National Cancer Institute's Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, a 10-year, $500 million program announced by Trump during his 2019 State of the Union Address focused on gathering and sharing data on childhood cancers. "Pediatric cancer remains the leading cause of chronic disease-related deaths for children in the United States, and its incidence has increased by more than 40% since 1975," Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said in a briefing. Data gathered through the 2019 initiative now make it possible for researchers to use AI to "improve clinical trials, sharpen diagnoses, fine-tune treatment, unlock cures and strengthen prevention strategies," Kratsios said. The data initiative proposed $50 million in funding over 10 years. According to a White House official, the National Institutes of Health will be doubling its investment by an additional $50 million to take advantage of, and improve, existing data, with more investments planned. The funding is aimed at attracting scientific teams through competitive research grants, the official said. The announcement follows Trump's 2026 budget proposal for cutting the NCI budget by 37%, cuts that were ignored in both the House and Senate 2026 budget proposals, which have not yet been finalized. Advances in the use of artificial intelligence in pediatric cancers have lagged those in adult cancers, in part because of the diversity and rarity of pediatric cancers, and ethical issues tied to data protection for young patients, according to a 2024 editorial in The Lancet. According to the World Health Organization, some 400,000 children from infants to age 19 are diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year.

Senior Military Leaders Gather At Marine Corps Base Quantico

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slammed "fat generals" and diversity initiatives that he said led to decades of decay in the military and told a rare gathering of commanders on Tuesday they should resign if they don't support his agenda. "Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading and we lost our way. We became the 'Woke Department,'" Hegseth said as he kicked off the event in Quantico, Virginia. "But not anymore," he said. Addressing a room full of America's top generals and admirals, summoned from around the world without explanation last week, Hegseth promised sweeping changes to how discrimination complaints are handled and how accusations of wrongdoing are investigated at the Pentagon. He said all fitness tests would be set to male benchmarks only and emphasized the importance of grooming standards. "The era of unprofessional appearance is over. No more beardos," Hegseth told the audience, which sat in silence. The U.S. military is meant to be apolitical, loyal to the U.S. Constitution and independent of any party or political movement. Javed Ali of the University of Michigan, who worked as a senior counter terrorism expert in the government said, the military is also reviewing how to brace for the future. "How do you draw on the lessons of the last 20 plus years, and even going back to Vietnam or other conflicts that were at best those were stalemates." The Pentagon has undergone eight months of blistering changes since Trump took office, including firings, banning books from academy libraries and ordering lethal strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela. Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense the "Department of War," reverting to a title it held until after World War Two when officials sought to emphasize the Pentagon's role in preventing conflict. The name change will require congressional approval.

Eric Trump Discusses His New Book

Turning Point Moves Forward Without Charlie Kirk

Turning Point USA's college tour is returning to Utah for the first time since founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated earlier this month. Kirk was killed Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. The tour is now headlined by other speakers. Tuesday's event at Utah State University will feature speakers like podcaster Alex Clark and a panel with Sen. Mike Lee and Gov. Spencer Cox. Erika Kirk, Charlie's widow, has pledged to continue the organization's work.

Hamas Says It Will Study Trump's Peace Plan Before Responding

Hamas says it will study U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza both within the group and with other Palestinian factions before responding. There was no indication on Tuesday when that response might come. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already thrown his support behind the proposal. Hamas faces a bitter tradeoff — the proposal demands that it effectively surrender and disarm. But if it rejects the deal, the U.S. could give Israel an even freer hand to continue its punishing campaign in the already devastated territory. Meanwhile, Israeli forces killed at least 31 Palestinian in Gaza.

Pfizer Lowering Prescription Drug Costs For Medicaid

Drugmaker Pfizer has agreed to lower drug costs and invest $70 billion in U.S. manufacturing under a deal struck with President Donald Trump's administration. Trump made the announcement with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla at the White House on Tuesday. The announcement comes as the Republican president has for months sought to lower drug costs. Trump says under the agreement New York-based Pfizer will charge most-favored-nation pricing to Medicaid and guarantee that pricing on newly launched drugs. That involves matching the lowest price offered in other developed nations.

Protect Our Kids!

Tom Weiler if elected as Senator from Minnesota will introduce a bill to protect children in school.

Trump says US government reached deal with Harvard University

Pete Hegseth Addresses Military Leaders

U.S. Government On Brink Of Shutdown

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says Republicans are trying to “bully” Democrats by refusing to negotiate as a standoff over health care and spending threatens to trigger the first U.S. government shutdown in almost seven years. Schumer says President Donald Trump and fellow Republicans have until midnight Tuesday “to get serious.” Trump is threatening retribution, saying that a shutdown could include “cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like.” The government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday if the Senate does not pass a House measure that would extend federal funding for seven weeks. Senate Democrats say they won’t vote for it unless Republicans include an extension of expiring health care benefits.

Louisiana Governor Requests 1,000 National Guard Troops to Support Crime Fight

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry is requesting up to 1,000 National Guard troops to assist law enforcement in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport. Landry, a Republican and ally of President Donald Trump, cited the success of federal partnerships in other cities, including Washington, Memphis, and Los Angeles, where troops have been deployed to assist local authorities. He said additional support would also be helpful during major events, such as Mardi Gras, to ensure public safety. The request would cover troop deployments through the end of the fiscal year 2026.

Second Detainee Dies Following Dallas ICE Office Shooting

An update to a tragic story from last week: a second detainee shot during an attack at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office has died. Family members confirmed that 32-year-old Miguel Ángel García-Hernández was removed from life support and did not survive. He was one of three detainees shot during the September 24 attack at the ICE facility. Authorities had previously identified the first victim as Norlan Guzman-Fuentes, while one other man remains in critical condition. Officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Police Search for Motive in Michigan Church Attack

A weekend attack on Mormon churchgoers in Michigan was a targeted act of violence, with evidence suggesting religious hatred drove an ex-Marine to crash his truck into a house of worship before unleashing a deadly storm of gunfire and arson, officials said on Monday. Four people were killed and eight others were wounded in the rampage, which unfolded during Sunday morning services at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Grand Blanc Township, about 60 miles northwest of Detroit, according to police. The suspect, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from the nearby town of Burton, was shot dead in a parking lot outside the building about eight minutes after the carnage began, police said.