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A Georgia judge denied Jose Ibarra’s motion for a new trial following his conviction in the killing of nursing student Laken Riley.

Lawyers for Ibarra argued his constitutional rights were violated when the judge declined two defense motions before trial. One was a request to delay the trial to give an expert witness time to review and analyze DNA data. The other would have excluded some cellphone evidence. 

"As the only evidence admitted at trial derived exclusively from the cellphone was the Rubin location data, and that data is cumulative of the timing advance records provided directly from the service provider, any error in failing to suppress the cellphone is harmless," Superior Court Judge Patrick Haggard wrote, rejecting the request and leaving in place Ibarra’s sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. "Even excluding the cellphone location data, the Court finds the remaining evidence, including the DNA, fingerprint, trace, and video evidence, overwhelming and sufficient to support Defendant's conviction. Hence, any error arising from the admission of the cellphone evidence is harmless."

Ibarra, a Venezuelan migrant, was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, hindering a 911 call, tampering with evidence and peeping tom in connection with Riley’s death.

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A spokesperson for Ibarra’s attorneys said they plan to file an appeal.

Ibarra, 28, had entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was allowed to stay while he pursued his immigration case under former President Joe Biden's open border.

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Ibarra encountered Riley while she was running on the University of Georgia campus in Athens on Feb. 22, 2024, and killed her during a struggle. Riley was a student at Augusta University College of Nursing, which also has a campus in Athens, about 70 miles (115 kilometers) east of Atlanta.

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Ibarra’s trial attorneys had asked the judge to delay the trial after a DNA expert said she would need six weeks to review evidence analyzed using TrueAllele Casework, software used to interpret DNA and assist the defense. The judge wrote in his order Monday that Ibarra’s lawyers "effectively challenged the TrueAllele DNA evidence at trial" and concluded that Ibarra was not harmed by the denial of a delay.

The DNA expert testified during a January hearing on the motion for a new trial, and the judge wrote that he did not find her opinion to be persuasive or credible and that it would not have changed the trial outcome.

Ibarra’s attorneys also had challenged the seizure of two cellphones from his apartment, saying they were not listed on the search warrant, and sought to exclude evidence pulled from them. Haggard wrote that there were "exigent circumstances authorizing the seizure of the cellphones" and that the phones were not searched until after warrants were issued authorizing the search of the contents of the phones.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Washington parents are demanding answers after a 62-year-old physical education teacher and athletic director at Skykomish K-12 School was arrested Friday on suspicion of sexually abusing a student for more than a year.

Records obtained by Fox News Digital show that a Washington state man was booked March 6 by the King County Sheriff’s Office during the investigation of the rape of a child.

Fox News Digital is not naming the individual because he has not been formally charged.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said on Tuesday that it has not yet received the case but expects it Wednesday from the sheriff’s office for a charging decision.

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According to investigators, the female student, now 14, transferred to the school in seventh grade and bonded with the teacher over a shared interest in soccer after experiencing the traumatic loss of a friend at her previous school.

She was allegedly given gifts and special treatment from the teacher before the interactions became sexual in eighth grade.

The alleged abuse, which included sexual intercourse, continued for about a year and a half and took place in multiple locations on campus, including in closets, stairwells and the gymnasium during the school day, according to the probable cause statement.

WEST VIRGINIA TEACHER FIRED AFTER ARREST ON CHILD SEX ABUSE CHARGE

The relationship became increasingly personal over time, with frequent communication through his school district email account that investigators allege included coded references to sexual activity. 

Deputies also allege the teacher admitted to repeated sexual contact with the student inside the school and acknowledged purchasing gifts for her, including lingerie.

The probable cause statement says multiple staff members and students raised concerns about the relationship.

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Investigators allege the principal at the school instructed the 62-year-old not to be alone with the student, but instead of assigning adult supervision, another student, described as autistic, was present while the two were in the same area.

The case came to light after the student’s mother discovered nude images and videos on her daughter’s phone and contacted law enforcement, according to investigators.

"I’m shaking right now because I’m pretty irritated about this," said Maria, a parent of a young child in the district, who didn't want to provide her last name, in an interview with local Fox 13.

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She said her son saw the teacher being arrested and was "very upset about it."

The Skykomish School District released a statement on Sunday, telling parents it had "no advance notice that the employee was under investigation until the day of his arrest."

Superintendent Destry Jones said the school is "cooperating fully with the investigation" and described student safety and well-being as its "highest priority."

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Jones said the district will aim to remain transparent as more information becomes available while "respecting the privacy of the youth involved."

"We ask community members to be mindful and respectful of student privacy when sharing information with each other and the community about this topic. Our focus remains on maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students," the superintendent added.

The King County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital that detectives with the Special Assault Unit are continuing to investigate the case.

Authorities believe there are no additional victims at this time and said they welcome any relevant information from members of the public.

Fox 13 reported the teacher is being held on $750,000 bail.

Two NYPD officers are being honored by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after jumping into action to thwart an alleged ISIS-inspired terror attack outside Gracie Mansion over the weekend. 

NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro received high praise from Mamdani and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at a press conference on Monday, just days after both men put their lives on the line to stop a potentially catastrophic terrorism attack after two explosive devices were dropped at a protest on Saturday. 

Edwards reportedly jumped over a barrier and tackled Emir Balat, 18, to the ground after he allegedly hurled an improvised explosive device at a group of protesters and was about to throw a second batch handed to him by Ibrahim Kayumi, 19.

As the chaos unfolded, Navarro ran toward a second improvised explosive device as it was lit and smoking after allegedly being dropped on the ground by Balat, "without hesitation and without regard for [his] own safety," Tisch said.

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Mamdani thanked both men for their bravery after also recognizing them in a private meeting. 

"That is courage, that is selflessness, and I am deeply grateful to both of them and to every member of the NYPD who works every single day to keep New Yorkers safe," Mamdani said.

Edwards was recently promoted to borough chief of Manhattan North in December of last year after serving nearly 23 years as an NYPD officer, according to the New York Post.

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Edwards was inspired to become an officer after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City. 

"I was a college student back in September 2001," the new commanding officer of the NYPD’s Patrol Borough Manhattan North told the Post last year. "I saw what happened, and I took one of the first tests" for the academy.

"I saw it, I felt it. When everyone was running out [of the Twin Towers], we had our police officers and the other first-responders running in. I thought that was selfless heroism. It just drew me to the profession," Edwards said. "Since I started, I fell in love with policing."

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On Monday, Tisch said the officer’s actions on Saturday followed the same theme of his inspiration to join the department. 

"We saw that same spirit carried forward in the way that he responded," Tisch said, according to the New York Daily News.

Additionally, Navarro has reportedly been on the force for 11 years and joined the NYPD after a friend encouraged him to take the exam. Like Edwards, he was promoted to his current rank in December. 

Both Balat and Kayumi are facing federal terrorism charges stemming from the alleged attack. 

The NYPD did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 

Health and Human Service Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken aim at Starbucks and Dunkin' over sugar-loaded coffee drinks — but how much sugar do those drinks actually contain?

During an "Eat Real Food" rally in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 26, Kennedy referenced plans to challenge the two brands on the amount of sugar their iced coffee drinks contain.

"We're going to ask Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks, 'Show us the safety data that show that it's OK for a teenage girl to drink an iced coffee with 115 grams of sugar in it,'" Kennedy said.

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"I don't think they're going to be able to do it."

Publicly available nutrition information shows that sugar totals vary widely depending on the drink and size ordered.

It appears that not all frozen coffees are created equal.

For example, the Starbucks website notes that a Grande Starbucks Frappuccino can have more than 45 grams of total sugar per drink — and that's not counting whipped cream and syrups. 

A Grande Caramel Starbucks Frappuccino has about 55 grams of sugar. 

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Dunkin' Frozen Coffees appear to have substantially more sugar than Starbucks drinks. A medium Caramel Crème Frozen Coffee has 132 grams of sugar, according to Dunkin' menus.

A medium Frozen Coffee with Cream has 81 grams of sugar — a high number considering its lack of added syrups.

On "Fox & Friends First" on Friday, family and emergency medicine physician Dr. Janette Nesheiwat said there was truth to Kennedy's concerns.

WHY AMERICANS CAN'T STOP COMING BACK FOR COFFEE, EVEN AS DINING BUDGETS TIGHTEN

"When you think about it, 100 grams of sugar — that's equivalent to about 25 teaspoons of sugar," she said.

"Think of 25 of those little cubes of sugar that you are putting in your drink. And really, many teenagers aren't aware of how much sugar they are consuming. That's why education is so important."

Excess sugar is extremely harmful "for your metabolism and increases your risk of chronic disease," Nesheiwat noted.

"We see obesity, diabetes, heart disease — and now we're seeing a lot of young patients with what we call non-alcoholic fatty liver disease," she said. 

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"And then, of course, let's not forget about the cavities that all the sugar can cause."

The sugar content in these drinks can easily exceed daily recommendations, said Mackenzie Burgess, a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian nutritionist and recipe developer at Cheerful Choices. 

"The American Heart Association suggests limiting added sugar to about 25 grams per day for women and 36 grams for men, yet many drinks contain far more than that," Burgess told Fox News Digital.

"For example, a medium Dunkin' Frozen Coffee has around 84 grams of added sugar, while a Grande Starbucks Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino has about 60 grams. That means one drink alone can have two to three times more sugar than recommended for the entire day."

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She compared a medium Dunkin' Frozen Coffee to three Snickers bars — and said most Frappuccinos "are comparable to a theater-size box of M&Ms.

"Another thing to keep in mind is that when you drink sugar instead of eating it, it often doesn't feel as filling, so it's easier to consume a large amount of sugar without realizing it," Burgess said. 

Some studies show that excess sugar can cause inflammation in the brain's memory, she said.

But the dietitian added that avoiding sugar doesn't mean you need to go without a pick-me-up.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

"As a dietitian, I always recommend starting with a base of unsweetened coffee and building from there," she said. "Choose iced coffee, cold brew or plain-brewed coffee first, then customize it."

Most major chains have sugar-free syrups and a multitude of milk options, including 2% and skim milk.

"Lately, I've enjoyed ordering a Grande Cold Brew with one pump of sugar-free vanilla, a splash of cream and cinnamon powder on top, which totals zero grams of added sugar," Burgess suggested.

Fox News Digital reached out to Starbucks and Dunkin' for comment.

Fox News Digital's Michael Sinkewicz contributed reporting.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sparked a social media firestorm after reports that his wife’s social media presence included "mass liking" of posts critics say were celebrating the Oct. 7 massacre of Israelis carried out by Hamas.

Rama Duwaji, a Houston-born illustrator who identifies as Syrian and married Mamdani in early 2025, liked several posts in the immediate aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack that were critical of Israel, Jewish Insider first reported. Duwaji also liked a February 2024 Instagram post claiming The New York Times’ investigation into sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attack was "fabricated," according to The Free Press.

The reports sparked immediate and intense backlash toward the socialist mayor from conservatives and pro-Israel accounts online. Mamdani was widely criticized during his campaign, particularly by Jewish leaders, over his anti-Israel comments and positions dating back to his college days.

"This is who they are," UPenn student Eyal Yakoby posted on X.

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"Why is this is a story?" Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy posted on X. "Of course Mamdani’s wife celebrated the Oct 7th attack.  The Mamdani’s haven’t hid who they are at all. They are Terrorist sympathizing communists. They wear it loud and proud. Anybody who paid an ounce of attention knew that going in and he still won.   That’s the real problem.   Not that the terrorist lover is acting like a terrorist lover."

"Democrats are now the ultra-left party that defends terror groups," GOP strategist and attorney Mehek Cooke posted on X. "Get ready for more ‘Death to America’ signs on our own streets. Mamdani’s wife is the least of our worries."

"Our First Lady, Rama Duwaji, who shares a home and a life with our esteemed mayor, literally SUPPORTED HAMAS the day after the October 7 massacre," Republican New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov posted on X. 

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"Remember when the media and the left tried to remove Alito because of his wife’s flag?" Conservative commentator Dana Loesch posted on X.

"You get what you vote for," actor James Woods posted on X.

"Make sure every Jewish citizen who voted for Mamdani receive a copy of this tweet! SHAMEFUL," Leo Terrell, civil rights attorney and chair of the Department of Justice Taskforce on Antisemitism and senior counsel at the Justice Department, posted on X.

"Wait Mamdani’s wife celebrated the Oct 7th attack where hamas t*rrorists r*ped, kiIIed and kidnapped over 1,000 men women and children including Americans?" conservative influencer account LibsofTikTok posted on X. "Holy s***."

When asked about the reports, Mamdani did not deny that his wife liked the posts, but argued she is a "private person."

"My wife is the love of my life, and she's also a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall," Mamdani said. "I, however, was elected to represent all 8.5 million people in the city, and I believe that it's my responsibility, because of that role, to answer any questions about my thoughts and my policies and my decisions."

"Mayor Mamdani has been clear and consistent: Hamas is a terrorist organization, October 7 was a horrific war crime, and he has condemned that violence unequivocally," a City Hall spokesperson told Jewish Insider.

President Donald Trump's latest push to slash prescription drug prices promises relief at the pharmacy counter, but behind the headline savings lie trade-offs that could reshape how drugs are developed, priced and delivered in the United States.

To deliver on that promise, the administration has rolled out TrumpRx, a federal price-comparison platform aimed at lowering out-of-pocket costs. The effort unfolds against the backdrop of the midterm election cycle, where rising healthcare costs remain a central concern for voters and a defining campaign issue.

The political appeal is clear, but experts warn the economics are messier. Economists point to a basic trade-off: lower prices today can shape how and whether new drugs are developed tomorrow.

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"When drug prices are capped or negotiated down, companies anticipate lower returns, reducing investment in drug research and development," said Olivia Mitchell, a professor of business economics and public policy at the Wharton School.

"Economic evidence shows that lower prices depress incentives to develop new drugs," she added. 

"In the short term, patients and payers can see meaningful savings through lower prices and out-of-pocket costs, but in the longer term, there is more risk of fewer or slower-arriving new medicines, especially in areas most exposed to price controls."

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Michael Baker, director of healthcare policy at the American Action Forum, said government price setting does not eliminate costs so much as redistribute them.

"At the most basic level, government price setting only limits what patients pay for a drug — usually reflected in an out-of-pocket or co-insurance payment," Baker said. "This does nothing to address the overall cost of the drug, which someone still has to pay, nor does it lower the cost associated with development."

As a result, he said, those costs could reemerge through tighter health coverage rules, fewer treatment options or reduced future innovation.

Supporters of the administration counter that the policy does not amount to strict government price caps. Instead, they describe it as a negotiated arrangement.

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Ed Haislmaier of the Heritage Foundation said companies appear to be lowering prices in exchange for expanded market access or other relief, a structure he argues avoids the most disruptive effects of traditional price controls.

"In such cases, companies are likely calculating that revenue losses from lower prices will be offset by revenue gains from more sales," Haislmaier told Fox News Digital. 

"The kind of government price controls that are most damaging to innovation are ones that limit the initial price a company can charge for a new product. That is the situation in some countries, but fortunately not yet in the United States," he added.

For patients squeezed by rising costs, the promise of immediate savings is hard to dismiss. 

But economists say the long run question is whether the system can deliver cheaper drugs without dulling the incentives that produce the next generation of treatments — an issue both parties are likely to keep pressing as health costs stay front and center.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill could soon add another priority to their growing agenda as Republicans work to navigate a partial government shutdown and other deadlines looming in the next several weeks — weighing whether to provide additional cash to fund President Donald Trump's operation in Iran.

Early chatter is beginning in the House of Representatives over a potential supplemental funding bill to aid the U.S. and Israel's joint strikes on Iran, depending on how long the operation lasts and how much both countries bear down on the Islamic Republic.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., told reporters last week that he would "expect" a supplemental funding request from the Department of War "well before the end of the year."

"We've been told the Pentagon is looking at it, but we haven't been given anything about an amount or time frame yet," Cole said.

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Asked by Fox News Digital about what kind of price tag he would expect, Cole speculated, "Maintaining two carrier battle groups in action is not a cheap thing, not to mention all the other resources that are being expended. So I would expect it to be very robust."

"It's been a pretty frequent part of conversation," House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital of an Iran funding bill.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., also told Fox News Digital he would "absolutely" back a defense supplemental funding bill.

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A senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, said they envisioned a modest increase in funding for Iran but said there were multiple variables at work that made a total cost unknowable at this point.

"It depends on how long it lasts," they said. "A lot of this depends on, do our Gulf Coast partners participate? If they do, that helps. It depends on how long Israel goes. But we'll definitely need some more munitions, so I'd say a small supplemental is probably important to just restock."

But it will likely be difficult to sell the need for more Iran funding to House Democrats, many of whom have argued Trump's involvement has amounted to an illegal war.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it in terms of if the administration makes a request to Congress to consider additional funding," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told NBC's "Meet The Press" on Sunday. "But at this particular point in time, the administration has failed to make its case as to the rationale or justification for this war of choice in the Middle East."

And with the House GOP's razor-thin majority, which is expected to grow to two votes after a special election in Georgia this week, Republican leaders could have a tough time appeasing fiscal hawks in their own party.

"We need to know what the terms of the conflict are going to be, how long — a lot of us are very happy with going after and taking out Iran's capabilities and taking out a lot of their bad guys, but what's the endgame?" Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said to Fox News Digital.

"Number two, is it paid for? So, you know, general support for what we're doing to go after the bad guys, but we've got to know what the limits are and how much it's gonna cost, and if it's paid for."

Even if it passes the House, such legislation would need 60 votes to advance in the Senate, meaning at least several Democrats would need to be on board. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of War for additional comment.