U.S. Flag Display Controversy and Military Preparedness Highlight National News
Several events across the United States captured headlines this week, ranging from a flag controversy in California to military preparedness in Minnesota and the selection of flagbearers for the upcoming Winter Olympics.
In San Diego, California, a first-grade teacher at Audubon Elementary School, identified as Bailey Ringer, faced scrutiny after a video circulated showing her flipping an American flag upside down in her classroom, according to Fox News. The video, shared by the conservative X account Libs of TikTok, sparked an investigation by the San Diego Unified School District.
Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Pentagon's Northern Command stood down over 1,500 federal troops who had been placed on alert for potential deployment, ABC News reported. The troops, from the 11th Airborne Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, were initially ordered to prepare for a possible mission to the Twin Cities. Additional units across the country, including approximately 200 Texas National Guard troops, were also directed to make preparations, according to U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the situation. ABC News noted that no specific mission was ever outlined.
Elsewhere, the Department of War was reviewing its partnership with Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America, Fox News stated. Sean Parnell, assistant to the Secretary of War for public affairs, said in a statement that the review focused on the department's financial relationship with the organization, including its involvement in the National Jamboree. The Department of War is requiring Scouting America to return to "core values" and eliminate DEI policies to remain eligible for federal support.
In sports news, speedskater Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca were chosen as the U.S. flagbearers for the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, February 3, 2026, according to the Associated Press, as reported by ABC News. Jackson, 33, already made history as the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Olympics. Del Duca, 34, is a sergeant in the Army and comes from a family with deep Italian roots. They were selected by a group of their fellow Olympians.
These events unfolded against a backdrop of national discussion, with some contrasting the perceived turmoil in cities like Minneapolis with the sense of unity and purpose found in communities like Mobile, Alabama, as highlighted by Fox News.
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