WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds taxpayers in Kansas that they can file their taxes quickly, easily and for free directly with the agency using IRS Direct File.

The web-based service, available in English and Spanish, offers guided help for preparing and filing a federal tax return from a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Direct File does not replace existing filing options like tax professionals, IRS Free File, free return preparation sites, commercial software or authorized e-file providers.

IRS customer service representatives staffing the Direct File support function can provide technical support and provide basic clarification of tax law related to the scope of Direct File. Questions related to issues other than Direct File will be routed to other IRS customer support, as appropriate.

Although the deadline to file a 2024 tax return and pay any tax owed is April 15, 2025, Direct File will be open until Oct. 15, 2025, for people who may need additional time to file.

Enhancements for the 2025 filing season

For the 2025 filing season, Direct File includes new features that make filing taxes quicker and easier.

· Import W-2 wages and other tax information directly from the IRS with step-by-step guidance

· Chat bot helps guide taxpayers through the eligibility checker

· Live chat feature is available in English and Spanish

· Opt-in option allows authenticated and verified taxpayers to access additional customer support or

· Request a callback from an IRS Direct File customer support representative.

Income. IRS Direct File is available for taxpayers who lived and worked in Kansas for all of 2024, file simple federal tax returns and report the following types of income: · W-2 wage income · SSA-1099 Social Security income · 1099-G unemployment compensation · 1099-INT interest income · 1099-R retirement income

Direct File is not available to taxpayers with other types of income, such as gig economy, rental or business income, or for taxpayers that itemize deductions. Taxpayers can check their eligibility and see if Direct File is a good fit. For those not eligible, they have alternative filing options.

Credits. IRS Direct File will automatically identify and apply the following tax credits for eligible taxpayers: · Earned Income Tax Credit · Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents · Child and Dependent Care Credit · Premium Tax Credit · Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled · Retirement Savings Contributions Credit

In addition to covering taxpayers claiming the standard deduction and deductions for student loan interest and educator expenses, Direct File supports taxpayers claiming deductions for Health Savings Account contributions.

Direct File won’t prepare Kansas state tax returns. Once taxpayers have completed their federal tax return, Direct File automatically guides them to Kansas services to complete their state taxes. Visit the state websites to find information about income tax filing in each state.

Free filing options for all taxpayers

· IRS Free File provides a free online alternative to file federal income tax returns online using guided tax preparation software to any individual or family who earned $84,000 or less in 2024. · People who make over $84,000 can use the IRS' Free File Fillable Forms. These are the electronic version of IRS paper forms. This product is best for people who are comfortable preparing their own taxes.

· People who generally make $67,000 or less, persons with disabilities, limited English-speaking taxpayers and those who are 60 years of age and older, can also find free one-on-one tax preparation help around the nation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. · The Department of Defense provides MilTax as a free tax resource for the military community. MilTax is a suite of tax services available for members of the military, as well as qualifying veterans and family members. There are no income limits. Eligible taxpayers can use MilTax to electronically file a federal tax return and up to three state returns for free.

Taxpayers may also use online resources at IRS.gov to quickly get answers to tax questions, check a refund status or pay taxes. There’s no wait time or appointment needed. Online tools and resources are available 24 hours a day, including the IRS’ Interactive Tax Assistant tool and Let us help you resources. Taxpayers considering using Direct File are encouraged to subscribe to the Direct File newsletter.

More information · Publication 5916, File for Free with IRS Direct File · Publication 5917, IRS Direct File – What You Need to Know · Publication 5949, Helpful Tips to Prepare You for IRS Direct File · Publication 5952, Are You Ready to File with IRS Direct File?

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds taxpayers in Kansas that they can file their taxes quickly, easily and for free directly with the agency using IRS Direct File.The web-based service, available in English and Spanish, offers guided help for preparing and filing a federal tax return from a smartphone, tablet or computer.Direct File does not replace existing filing options like tax professionals, IRS Free File, free return preparation sites, commercial software or authorized e-file providers.IRS customer service representatives staffing the Direct File support function can provide technical support and provide basic clarification of tax law related to the scope of Direct File. Questions related to issues other than Direct File will be routed to other IRS customer support, as appropriate.Although the deadline to file a 2024 tax return and pay any tax owed is April 15, 2025, Direct File will be open until Oct. 15, 2025, for people who may need additional time to file.Enhancements for the 2025 filing seasonFor the 2025 filing season, Direct File includes new features that make filing taxes quicker and easier.· Import W-2 wages and other tax information directly from the IRS with step-by-step guidance· Chat bot helps guide taxpayers through the eligibility checker· Live chat feature is available in English and Spanish· Opt-in option allows authenticated and verified taxpayers to access additional customer support or· Request a callback from an IRS Direct File customer support representative.EligibilityIncome. IRS Direct File is available for taxpayers who lived and worked in Kansas for all of 2024, file simple federal tax returns and report the following types of income: · W-2 wage income · SSA-1099 Social Security income · 1099-G unemployment compensation · 1099-INT interest income · 1099-R retirement incomeDirect File is not available to taxpayers with other types of income, such as gig economy, rental or business income, or for taxpayers that itemize deductions. Taxpayers can check their eligibility and see if Direct File is a good fit. For those not eligible, they have alternative filing options.Credits. IRS Direct File will automatically identify and apply the following tax credits for eligible taxpayers: · Earned Income Tax Credit · Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents · Child and Dependent Care Credit · Premium Tax Credit · Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled · Retirement Savings Contributions CreditIn addition to covering taxpayers claiming the standard deduction and deductions for student loan interest and educator expenses, Direct File supports taxpayers claiming deductions for Health Savings Account contributions.Direct File won’t prepare Kansas state tax returns. Once taxpayers have completed their federal tax return, Direct File automatically guides them to Kansas services to complete their state taxes. Visit the state websites to find information about income tax filing in each state.Free filing options for all taxpayers· IRS Free File provides a free online alternative to file federal income tax returns online using guided tax preparation software to any individual or family who earned $84,000 or less in 2024. · People who make over $84,000 can use the IRS' Free File Fillable Forms. These are the electronic version of IRS paper forms. This product is best for people who are comfortable preparing their own taxes.· People who generally make $67,000 or less, persons with disabilities, limited English-speaking taxpayers and those who are 60 years of age and older, can also find free one-on-one tax preparation help around the nation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. · The Department of Defense provides MilTax as a free tax resource for the military community. MilTax is a suite of tax services available for members of the military, as well as qualifying veterans and family members. There are no income limits. Eligible taxpayers can use MilTax to electronically file a federal tax return and up to three state returns for free.Additional resourcesTaxpayers may also use online resources at IRS.gov to quickly get answers to tax questions, check a refund status or pay taxes. There’s no wait time or appointment needed. Online tools and resources are available 24 hours a day, including the IRS’ Interactive Tax Assistant tool and Let us help you resources. Taxpayers considering using Direct File are encouraged to subscribe to the Direct File newsletter.More information · Publication 5916, File for Free with IRS Direct File · Publication 5917, IRS Direct File – What You Need to Know · Publication 5949, Helpful Tips to Prepare You for IRS Direct File · Publication 5952, Are You Ready to File with IRS Direct File?

Eligible taxpayers in Kansas file for free with IRS Direct File

LABETTE COUNTY—Authorities investigating a fatal crash during a police chase have identified the man who died as 52-year-old John H. Jones, according to a statement from the Labette County Sheriff.

Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday, while driving northbound on Wallace Road., a Labette County Deputy observed a tan Ford F-150 run the stop sign at 20000 and Wallace Road. at a high rate of speed, acc

Upon seeing the deputy, the driver later identified as Jones attempted several evasive maneuvers to lose the deputy, including driving through a field. 

 Upon activating the emergency lights, Jones started driving northbound on Wallace Road at speeds over 100 mph. 

The driver ran four motorists off the road and at one point, Jones slammed on their brakes, causing the deputy to sideswipe the suspect’s vehicle. 

Once the deputy went around the suspect’s vehicle, the Jones sped up, attempting to ram the deputy’s vehicle.&nbsp; Jones continued northbound at high speeds on Wallace Road., ignoring the warning signs. The suspect missed the curve at 22097 Wallace Road., then collided with a tree near 22097 Wallace Road

 Emergency medical and Oswego and Neosho fire departments were dispatched to the accident scene. Jones was transported to Labette Health, where he died of his injuries.&nbsp;

Deputies learned that Jones’ was driving while suspended and had arrest warrants issued out of Montgomery County and Neosho County.&nbsp; He also had previous convictions for aggravated burglary, theft, criminal threat obstruction and seven for drug related activity, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

LABETTE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash during a police chase that occurred just before 2p.m. Thursday in Labette County.

According to the Patrol, law enforcement was northbound on Wallace Road one mile south of U.S. 400 in pursuit of a vehicle. 

The the driver of the suspect vehicle failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right struck a tree.&nbsp; The KHP released no additional details early Friday.

Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

LABETTE COUNTY—Authorities investigating a fatal crash during a police chase have identified the man who died as 52-year-old John H. Jones, according to a statement from the Labette County Sheriff.Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday, while driving northbound on Wallace Road., a Labette County Deputy observed a tan Ford F-150 run the stop sign at 20000 and Wallace Road. at a high rate of speed, accUpon seeing the deputy, the driver later identified as Jones attempted several evasive maneuvers to lose the deputy, including driving through a field. Upon activating the emergency lights, Jones started driving northbound on Wallace Road at speeds over 100 mph. The driver ran four motorists off the road and at one point, Jones slammed on their brakes, causing the deputy to sideswipe the suspect’s vehicle. Once the deputy went around the suspect’s vehicle, the Jones sped up, attempting to ram the deputy’s vehicle.&nbsp; Jones continued northbound at high speeds on Wallace Road., ignoring the warning signs. The suspect missed the curve at 22097 Wallace Road., then collided with a tree near 22097 Wallace Road Emergency medical and Oswego and Neosho fire departments were dispatched to the accident scene. Jones was transported to Labette Health, where he died of his injuries.&nbsp;Deputies learned that Jones’ was driving while suspended and had arrest warrants issued out of Montgomery County and Neosho County.&nbsp; He also had previous convictions for aggravated burglary, theft, criminal threat obstruction and seven for drug related activity, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.---------------LABETTE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash during a police chase that occurred just before 2p.m. Thursday in Labette County.According to the Patrol, law enforcement was northbound on Wallace Road one mile south of U.S. 400 in pursuit of a vehicle. The the driver of the suspect vehicle failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right struck a tree.&nbsp; The KHP released no additional details early Friday.Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

KHP investigating fatal crash during police chase

WASHINGTON —The Internal Revenue Service provided taxpayers with six tips to make filing their 2024 tax return easier.&nbsp;

Most of the information below is also available on the IRS.gov&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fhelp%2Flet-us-help-you/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/6tzKZs7L4FRxi3jy585b8sz97BQ1dLiF2EH3wOTfIJM=390">Let Us Help You</a>&nbsp;page. Taxpayers should follow these handy suggestions as they prepare to file:&nbsp;

1. Gather all important and necessary tax paperwork and records&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Findividuals%2Fget-ready-to-file-your-taxes/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/cXPGyXHcuTkesKxKRYC7hR89BCl_f22BcRwLwfUSwfA=390">needed for filing</a>&nbsp;a complete and accurate tax return.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Ftaxtopics%2Ftc303/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/yH3oxbUZ3S9WiNsEoRLOMTuHBHGHoFE6raCkW0Akgko=390">Errors and omissions</a>&nbsp;can lead to&nbsp;missing a deduction or credit&nbsp;and slow down tax return processing and refunds.&nbsp;

Before filing, taxpayers should have their:&nbsp;

• Social Security numbers for everyone listed on the tax return.. Bank account and routing numbers. • Tax forms such as W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, records of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/digital-assets">digital asset</a>&nbsp;transactions and other income documents. • Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace statement. • IRS letters they may have citing an amount received for a certain tax deduction or credit.

2. Report all types of income on the tax return to avoid receiving a notice or a bill from the IRS.&nbsp;Include income from:&nbsp;

• Goods created and sold on online platforms. • Investment income. • Part-time or seasonal work. • Self-employment or other business activities. • Services provided and paid through mobile apps.&nbsp;

3. Avoid paper returns.&nbsp;Filing electronically with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Frefunds%2Fget-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/fd9lJg3e85dbtrRThqrvIXMIwwBGYNRRA3n9STOxcLU=390">direct deposit</a>&nbsp;is the fastest way to get a refund.&nbsp;Plus, tax software helps taxpayers avoid mistakes. It does the math and guides people through each section of their tax return.&nbsp;

4. Consider IRS&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Ffile-your-taxes-for-free/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/EA6YAE2HTBzGeY2WJJ5gPuNwUCqoOfs5LwPXnMKQgSs=390">free resources</a>&nbsp;to help eligible taxpayers file.&nbsp;

• <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/irs-free-file-do-your-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>&nbsp;provides a free online alternative to filing a paper tax return to any individual or family who earned $84,000 or less in 2024. • <a href="https://directfile.irs.gov/">Direct File</a>&nbsp;is available in 25 participating states for eligible taxpayers to file online directly with the IRS for free. This year, Direct File supports reporting more income types and claiming more credits and deductions. The free web-based service – available in English and Spanish –&nbsp;provides access to IRS customer service representatives through a live chat feature and works on mobile phones, laptops, tablets or desktop computers. Direct File guides taxpayers through a series of questions to prepare their federal tax return step-by-step and automatically guides taxpayers to state tools to complete their state taxes. • People who make over $84,000 can use the IRS'&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a>. These are the electronic version of IRS paper forms. This product is best for people who are comfortable preparing their own taxes. • People who generally make $67,000 or less, persons with disabilities, limited English-speaking taxpayers and those who are 60 years of age and older, can also find free one-on-one tax preparation help around the nation through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly</a> (TCE) programs. • The Department of Defense provides&nbsp;<a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/taxes/miltax-military-tax-services/">MilTax</a> as a free tax resource for the military community. MilTax is a suite of tax services available for members of the military, as well as qualifying veterans and family members. There are no income limits.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/taxes/miltax-military-tax-services/">Eligible taxpayers</a>&nbsp;can use MilTax to electronically file a federal tax return and up to three state returns for free.&nbsp;

5. Choose tax filing options based on personal situation and comfort level with tax preparation:&nbsp;

• Personally file taxes. • Use online filing services. • Hire a tax professional and choose carefully.&nbsp;Most tax return preparers are professional, honest and provide excellent service to their clients. However, dishonest tax return preparers who file false income tax returns do exist. The IRS has a&nbsp;<a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>&nbsp;and more on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choosing a tax pro</a>&nbsp;on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/">IRS.gov</a>.&nbsp;

6. Use online resources at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/">IRS.gov&nbsp;</a>to quickly&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fhelp%2Ftax-law-questions/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/EfQNV9SCr0hCfiGlRdNt2-3xKe61f_cEcb9sDZYkqxw=390">get answers to tax questions</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Frefunds/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/0gFKCOKbxwGbpgm8v9ISi5xcc9M0lPRplvNNe4UNlJE=390">check a refund status</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fpayments/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/Y8D-bHtQ9T73KtUqfvZDe-g2Wv3JPN-pTKKUj548cLc=390">pay taxes</a>.&nbsp;There’s no wait time or appointment needed.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fhelp%2Ftools/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/lyT6LFLYeR8jVGCeKtapIcQyyYko9Sg6T70FJpN-AtQ=390">Online tools</a>&nbsp;and resources are available 24 hours a day, including the IRS’&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fhelp%2Fita/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/CLVGUPe1slUERSwaNqTigbni-rh2ZvtRA9_mxlrjYl0=390">Interactive Tax Assistant tool</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fhelp%2Flet-us-help-you/2/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/ctRY5zJC5I8nRoGmpk9Iekpk5X6bjH5FoqVSXeJc3Y4=390">Let Us Help You</a>&nbsp;resources, which are especially helpful.&nbsp;

• Follow the&nbsp;IRS’ official <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-social-media">social media accounts</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/e-news-subscriptions">email subscription lists</a>&nbsp;to stay current on the latest tax topics and alerts. • Download the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a> mobile app. • Watch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/irsvideos">IRS YouTube videos</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708975908202.jpg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON —The Internal Revenue Service provided taxpayers with six tips to make filing their 2024 tax return easier.&nbsp;Most of the information below is also available on the IRS.gov&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fhelp%2Flet-us-help-you/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/6tzKZs7L4FRxi3jy585b8sz97BQ1dLiF2EH3wOTfIJM=390">Let Us Help You</a>&nbsp;page. Taxpayers should follow these handy suggestions as they prepare to file:&nbsp;1. Gather all important and necessary tax paperwork and records&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Findividuals%2Fget-ready-to-file-your-taxes/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/cXPGyXHcuTkesKxKRYC7hR89BCl_f22BcRwLwfUSwfA=390">needed for filing</a>&nbsp;a complete and accurate tax return.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Ftaxtopics%2Ftc303/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/yH3oxbUZ3S9WiNsEoRLOMTuHBHGHoFE6raCkW0Akgko=390">Errors and omissions</a>&nbsp;can lead to&nbsp;missing a deduction or credit&nbsp;and slow down tax return processing and refunds.&nbsp;Before filing, taxpayers should have their:&nbsp;• Social Security numbers for everyone listed on the tax return.. Bank account and routing numbers. • Tax forms such as W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, records of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/digital-assets">digital asset</a>&nbsp;transactions and other income documents. • Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace statement. • IRS letters they may have citing an amount received for a certain tax deduction or credit.2. Report all types of income on the tax return to avoid receiving a notice or a bill from the IRS.&nbsp;Include income from:&nbsp;• Goods created and sold on online platforms. • Investment income. • Part-time or seasonal work. • Self-employment or other business activities. • Services provided and paid through mobile apps.&nbsp;3. Avoid paper returns.&nbsp;Filing electronically with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Frefunds%2Fget-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/fd9lJg3e85dbtrRThqrvIXMIwwBGYNRRA3n9STOxcLU=390">direct deposit</a>&nbsp;is the fastest way to get a refund.&nbsp;Plus, tax software helps taxpayers avoid mistakes. It does the math and guides people through each section of their tax return.&nbsp;4. Consider IRS&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Ffile-your-taxes-for-free/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/EA6YAE2HTBzGeY2WJJ5gPuNwUCqoOfs5LwPXnMKQgSs=390">free resources</a>&nbsp;to help eligible taxpayers file.&nbsp;• <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/irs-free-file-do-your-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>&nbsp;provides a free online alternative to filing a paper tax return to any individual or family who earned $84,000 or less in 2024. • <a href="https://directfile.irs.gov/">Direct File</a>&nbsp;is available in 25 participating states for eligible taxpayers to file online directly with the IRS for free. This year, Direct File supports reporting more income types and claiming more credits and deductions. The free web-based service – available in English and Spanish –&nbsp;provides access to IRS customer service representatives through a live chat feature and works on mobile phones, laptops, tablets or desktop computers. Direct File guides taxpayers through a series of questions to prepare their federal tax return step-by-step and automatically guides taxpayers to state tools to complete their state taxes. • People who make over $84,000 can use the IRS'&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a>. These are the electronic version of IRS paper forms. This product is best for people who are comfortable preparing their own taxes. • People who generally make $67,000 or less, persons with disabilities, limited English-speaking taxpayers and those who are 60 years of age and older, can also find free one-on-one tax preparation help around the nation through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly</a> (TCE) programs. • The Department of Defense provides&nbsp;<a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/taxes/miltax-military-tax-services/">MilTax</a> as a free tax resource for the military community. MilTax is a suite of tax services available for members of the military, as well as qualifying veterans and family members. There are no income limits.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/taxes/miltax-military-tax-services/">Eligible taxpayers</a>&nbsp;can use MilTax to electronically file a federal tax return and up to three state returns for free.&nbsp;5. Choose tax filing options based on personal situation and comfort level with tax preparation:&nbsp;• Personally file taxes. • Use online filing services. • Hire a tax professional and choose carefully.&nbsp;Most tax return preparers are professional, honest and provide excellent service to their clients. However, dishonest tax return preparers who file false income tax returns do exist. The IRS has a&nbsp;<a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>&nbsp;and more on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choosing a tax pro</a>&nbsp;on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/">IRS.gov</a>.&nbsp;6. Use online resources at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/">IRS.gov&nbsp;</a>to quickly&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fhelp%2Ftax-law-questions/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/EfQNV9SCr0hCfiGlRdNt2-3xKe61f_cEcb9sDZYkqxw=390">get answers to tax questions</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Frefunds/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/0gFKCOKbxwGbpgm8v9ISi5xcc9M0lPRplvNNe4UNlJE=390">check a refund status</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fpayments/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/Y8D-bHtQ9T73KtUqfvZDe-g2Wv3JPN-pTKKUj548cLc=390">pay taxes</a>.&nbsp;There’s no wait time or appointment needed.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fhelp%2Ftools/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/lyT6LFLYeR8jVGCeKtapIcQyyYko9Sg6T70FJpN-AtQ=390">Online tools</a>&nbsp;and resources are available 24 hours a day, including the IRS’&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fhelp%2Fita/1/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/CLVGUPe1slUERSwaNqTigbni-rh2ZvtRA9_mxlrjYl0=390">Interactive Tax Assistant tool</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fhelp%2Flet-us-help-you/2/01000194b82f65fe-e844f080-5715-479f-9ac8-d0a699a3eb4e-000000/ctRY5zJC5I8nRoGmpk9Iekpk5X6bjH5FoqVSXeJc3Y4=390">Let Us Help You</a>&nbsp;resources, which are especially helpful.&nbsp;Stay updated&nbsp;• Follow the&nbsp;IRS’ official <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-social-media">social media accounts</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/e-news-subscriptions">email subscription lists</a>&nbsp;to stay current on the latest tax topics and alerts. • Download the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a> mobile app. • Watch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/irsvideos">IRS YouTube videos</a>.

IRS: Top tips to make tax time easier  

GREAT BEND&nbsp; – The Heartland Center for Spirituality, known as a retreat-conference center for people of all faiths and a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, is observing 40 years of serving others. 

The first of its anniversary celebrations is a gathering open to the public at its Dominican Chapel of the Plains, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, on Sunday, February 16 at 1 p.m.

Bishop John B. Brungardt will offer prayer and a blessing for the Heartland Spirituality Center.

Accomplished mezzo-soprano Hayley Shoemaker will share a range of spiritual selections and a French operatic piece. Shoemaker is a voice professor at Fort Hays State University who offers public performances regularly and recently reprised the role of Carmen at the 2024 Eutiner Festspiele in Eutin, Germany.

“We are blessed to be experiencing a renewal at Heartland. We are excited about what is to come and new opportunities opening to the public -near and far - this year,” says Ann Axman, co-director Heartland. “We will touch on a few upcoming events including a Lenten Retreat during the kick-off occasion but the full rundown and explanation of what’s ahead in 2025 will be revealed soon, so stay tuned for that.”

Keith Funk, another co-director of Heartland says, “Our vision is to build bridges between different faiths in the community, which is the same belief of our sponsors, the Dominican Sisters of Peace, who promote interfaith collaboration and welcome associates from a variety of faith traditions. Everyone here is very excited for what is ahead in 2025.”

Tours of the Heartland Spirituality Center will be available after the February 16 event and refreshments will be offered.

The Heartland Center for Spirituality provides overnight accommodations, meeting space for individuals, church organizations and non-profits who are interested in spiritual enrichment, education programs, staff development, conferences, and retreats.

To find out more about the Center go here please go here. To view the current calendar of events for Heartland Spirituality Center please see this.

About the Dominican Sisters of Peace

Dominican Sisters of Peace, members of the Order of Preachers, are vowed Catholic women who preach the Gospel of Christ through lives of service and peace-making. The Dominican Sisters of Peace are present in 22 states and Nigeria. The Sisters serve God’s people in many ways, including education, health care, spirituality, pastoral care, prison ministry, the arts, and care of creation. There are more than 300 Sisters and more than 300 lay women and men associated with the congregation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738859480799.jpeg" alt="Heartland Center for Spirituality, Great Bend. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Heartland Center for Spirituality, Great Bend. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>GREAT BEND&nbsp; – The Heartland Center for Spirituality, known as a retreat-conference center for people of all faiths and a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, is observing 40 years of serving others. The first of its anniversary celebrations is a gathering open to the public at its Dominican Chapel of the Plains, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, on Sunday, February 16 at 1 p.m.Bishop John B. Brungardt will offer prayer and a blessing for the Heartland Spirituality Center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738859588426.jpeg" alt="Hayley Shoemaker, FHSU professor. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Hayley Shoemaker, FHSU professor. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Accomplished mezzo-soprano Hayley Shoemaker will share a range of spiritual selections and a French operatic piece. Shoemaker is a voice professor at Fort Hays State University who offers public performances regularly and recently reprised the role of Carmen at the 2024 Eutiner Festspiele in Eutin, Germany.“We are blessed to be experiencing a renewal at Heartland. We are excited about what is to come and new opportunities opening to the public -near and far - this year,” says Ann Axman, co-director Heartland. “We will touch on a few upcoming events including a Lenten Retreat during the kick-off occasion but the full rundown and explanation of what’s ahead in 2025 will be revealed soon, so stay tuned for that.”Keith Funk, another co-director of Heartland says, “Our vision is to build bridges between different faiths in the community, which is the same belief of our sponsors, the Dominican Sisters of Peace, who promote interfaith collaboration and welcome associates from a variety of faith traditions. Everyone here is very excited for what is ahead in 2025.”Tours of the Heartland Spirituality Center will be available after the February 16 event and refreshments will be offered.The Heartland Center for Spirituality provides overnight accommodations, meeting space for individuals, church organizations and non-profits who are interested in spiritual enrichment, education programs, staff development, conferences, and retreats.To find out more about the Center go here please go here. To view the current calendar of events for Heartland Spirituality Center please see this.About the Dominican Sisters of Peace Dominican Sisters of Peace, members of the Order of Preachers, are vowed Catholic women who preach the Gospel of Christ through lives of service and peace-making. The Dominican Sisters of Peace are present in 22 states and Nigeria. The Sisters serve God’s people in many ways, including education, health care, spirituality, pastoral care, prison ministry, the arts, and care of creation. There are more than 300 Sisters and more than 300 lay women and men associated with the congregation.

Heartland Center for Spirituality holds 40th anniversary celebration kick-off Feb. 16

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of miles from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk’s</a>&nbsp;office in the White House complex, a federal worker based in the Pacific Northwest is wondering whether to quit.

Musk, one of President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-21153a742fbad86284369bb173ec343c">most powerful advisers</a>, has orchestrated an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-buyouts-to-all-federal-employees-f67f5751a0fd5ad8471806a5a1067b5e">unprecedented financial incentive</a>&nbsp;for people to leave their government jobs, promising several months of pay in return for their resignation. The worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, wants to take the money and move overseas.

But she’s worried. What if the offer is too good to be true? What if this is really a covert effort to make a list of disloyal government employees?

Her situation is a microcosm of the uncertainty sweeping through the federal government, which is the country’s single largest employer. More than 2 million workers — analysts, nurses, scientists, accountants, food inspectors and loan processors — face a deadline of 11:59 p.m. EST Thursday to decide if they should leave.

<a href="https://www.opm.gov/fork/faq">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the frequently asked questions on the buyout

Trump administration is urging workers to take the deal

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-buyout-offer-federal-workers-doge-bdb6cd89e383ff1120eeb262904b4060">deferred resignation program</a>&nbsp;is part of Trump’s plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-power-border-tiktok-history-e77458bc0312c60f3f2b0eeb131d0056">remake the federal government</a>, weakening what allies describe as the “deep state” that undermined the Republican president during his first term. Administration officials said they can save taxpayer money by presenting employees with “a valuable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to stop working while still collecting a paycheck until Sept. 30.

On Wednesday, the administration ramped up its pressure on employees to leave, sending a reminder that layoffs or furloughs could come next.

“The majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force,” said the message from the Office of Personnel Management, which has been a nexus of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-congress-4e0c025629e8a0c758d13dc916ab4f43">Musk's efforts to downsize the government</a>.

The email said anyone who remains will be expected to be “loyal” and “will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward.” Some employees could be reclassified to limit civil service protections as well.

“Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination,” the email said.

Democrats and unions warn that workers could be stiffed

Democrats said workers shouldn't accept the deferred resignation program because it wasn't authorized by Congress, raising the risk they won't get paid. Unions have sued to stop Trump's plans, and a judge will consider whether to block the buyout offer at a hearing Thursday afternoon in Boston.

“It’s a scam and not a buyout,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees.

Kelley said he tells workers that “if it was me, I wouldn’t do it.”

An employee at the Department of Education, who also spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, said the administration appeared desperate to get people to sign the agreement. However, she said there were too many red flags, such as a clause waiving the right to sue if the government failed to honor its side of the deal.

The deal is ‘exactly what it looks like,’ says Trump official

Trump put Musk, the world's richest man, in charge of the so-called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-government-trump-executive-order-1a2fb7235b9d6f178c764cf6c78d3317">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, which is a sweeping initiative to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. The original email offering the deferred resignation program was titled “Fork in the road,” echoing a similar message that Musk sent Twitter employees two years ago after he bought the social media platform.

Trump administration officials have organized question-and-answer sessions with employees as the deadline approaches.

Rachel Oglesby, the chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Education who previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, said Trump is trying to reduce the federal workforce.

“I know there’s been a lot of questions out there about whether it’s real and whether it’s a trick,” she said, according to a recording obtained by The Associated Press. “And it’s exactly what it looks like. It’s one of the many tools that he’s using to try to achieve the campaign promise to bring reform to the civil service and changes to D.C.”

The issue was also discussed during a meeting with Department of Agriculture employees, according to another recording obtained by the AP. Marlon Taubenheim, a human resources official, acknowledged that “these are very trying times” and “there’s a lot of stress.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t have all the answers,” he said.

Jacqueline Ponti-Lazaruk, another agency leader, said employees “probably didn’t have the runway of time that you might have liked to make a life-changing decision.”

For those who remain, she said, "we’ll just keep plugging along.”

Assurances from administration officials have not alleviated concerns across a range of agencies. Some federal workers said they did not trust the validity of the offers, doubting that Trump has the authority to disburse money. Others point to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/10bbe40a86774bac9ad1fbd3a936c808">record of stiffing contractors</a>&nbsp;as a New York real estate mogul.

Musk's plans spark demonstrations in Washington

Scattered protests have sprung up outside federal buildings, including on Tuesday at the Office of Personnel Management.

“I’m taking a risk and being bold and trying to get more federal workers to take a risk to speak out," said Dante O’Hara, who said he works for the government. "Because if we don’t, then we’re all going to lose our jobs and they’re going to put all these loyalists or people that will be their shock troops.”

Government jobs have often been considered secure positions, but O’Hara said there’s fear in the workforce. The sense from his colleagues is “I don’t know if I’m going to be here tomorrow because, like, we don’t know what’s going to happen.’”

Dan Smith, a Maryland resident whose father was a research scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said federal workers are “so underappreciated and so taken for granted.”

“It’s one thing to downsize the government. It’s one thing to try to obliterate it," Smith said. "And that’s what’s going on. And that is what is so frightening and disgusting and requires pushback.”

Mary-Jean Burke, a physical therapist for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indianapolis, said she's worried that too many people will leave, jeopardizing health care services.

Burke, who also serves as a union official, said doubts have also been growing over whether to take the offer.

“Originally, I think people were like, ‘I’m out of here,'" she said. But then they saw a social media post from DOGE, which said employees can "take the vacation you always wanted, or just watch movies and chill, while receiving your full government pay and benefits.”

The message backfired because "that kind of thing sounded a little bit too good to be true and people were hesitant,” Burke said.

Either way, she said, Trump has achieved his apparent goal of shaking up the federal workforce.

“Every day, it’s something,” Burke said. “If he signed up to be a disrupter, he’s doing it.”

Associated Press writers Nancy Benac, Nathan Ellgren, Gary Fields, Joshua Goodman and Brian Witte contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738846495320.png" alt="White House file photo" />
 <figcaption>White House file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of miles from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk’s</a>&nbsp;office in the White House complex, a federal worker based in the Pacific Northwest is wondering whether to quit.Musk, one of President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-21153a742fbad86284369bb173ec343c">most powerful advisers</a>, has orchestrated an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-buyouts-to-all-federal-employees-f67f5751a0fd5ad8471806a5a1067b5e">unprecedented financial incentive</a>&nbsp;for people to leave their government jobs, promising several months of pay in return for their resignation. The worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, wants to take the money and move overseas.But she’s worried. What if the offer is too good to be true? What if this is really a covert effort to make a list of disloyal government employees?Her situation is a microcosm of the uncertainty sweeping through the federal government, which is the country’s single largest employer. More than 2 million workers — analysts, nurses, scientists, accountants, food inspectors and loan processors — face a deadline of 11:59 p.m. EST Thursday to decide if they should leave.<a href="https://www.opm.gov/fork/faq">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the frequently asked questions on the buyout<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738115904337.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Trump administration is urging workers to take the deal</h2>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-buyout-offer-federal-workers-doge-bdb6cd89e383ff1120eeb262904b4060">deferred resignation program</a>&nbsp;is part of Trump’s plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-power-border-tiktok-history-e77458bc0312c60f3f2b0eeb131d0056">remake the federal government</a>, weakening what allies describe as the “deep state” that undermined the Republican president during his first term. Administration officials said they can save taxpayer money by presenting employees with “a valuable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to stop working while still collecting a paycheck until Sept. 30.On Wednesday, the administration ramped up its pressure on employees to leave, sending a reminder that layoffs or furloughs could come next.“The majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force,” said the message from the Office of Personnel Management, which has been a nexus of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-congress-4e0c025629e8a0c758d13dc916ab4f43">Musk's efforts to downsize the government</a>.The email said anyone who remains will be expected to be “loyal” and “will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward.” Some employees could be reclassified to limit civil service protections as well.“Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination,” the email said.<h2>Democrats and unions warn that workers could be stiffed</h2>Democrats said workers shouldn't accept the deferred resignation program because it wasn't authorized by Congress, raising the risk they won't get paid. Unions have sued to stop Trump's plans, and a judge will consider whether to block the buyout offer at a hearing Thursday afternoon in Boston.“It’s a scam and not a buyout,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees.Kelley said he tells workers that “if it was me, I wouldn’t do it.”An employee at the Department of Education, who also spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, said the administration appeared desperate to get people to sign the agreement. However, she said there were too many red flags, such as a clause waiving the right to sue if the government failed to honor its side of the deal.<h2>The deal is ‘exactly what it looks like,’ says Trump official</h2>Trump put Musk, the world's richest man, in charge of the so-called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-government-trump-executive-order-1a2fb7235b9d6f178c764cf6c78d3317">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, which is a sweeping initiative to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. The original email offering the deferred resignation program was titled “Fork in the road,” echoing a similar message that Musk sent Twitter employees two years ago after he bought the social media platform.Trump administration officials have organized question-and-answer sessions with employees as the deadline approaches.Rachel Oglesby, the chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Education who previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, said Trump is trying to reduce the federal workforce.“I know there’s been a lot of questions out there about whether it’s real and whether it’s a trick,” she said, according to a recording obtained by The Associated Press. “And it’s exactly what it looks like. It’s one of the many tools that he’s using to try to achieve the campaign promise to bring reform to the civil service and changes to D.C.”The issue was also discussed during a meeting with Department of Agriculture employees, according to another recording obtained by the AP. Marlon Taubenheim, a human resources official, acknowledged that “these are very trying times” and “there’s a lot of stress.”“Unfortunately, we don’t have all the answers,” he said.Jacqueline Ponti-Lazaruk, another agency leader, said employees “probably didn’t have the runway of time that you might have liked to make a life-changing decision.”For those who remain, she said, "we’ll just keep plugging along.”Assurances from administration officials have not alleviated concerns across a range of agencies. Some federal workers said they did not trust the validity of the offers, doubting that Trump has the authority to disburse money. Others point to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/10bbe40a86774bac9ad1fbd3a936c808">record of stiffing contractors</a>&nbsp;as a New York real estate mogul.<h2>Musk's plans spark demonstrations in Washington</h2>Scattered protests have sprung up outside federal buildings, including on Tuesday at the Office of Personnel Management.“I’m taking a risk and being bold and trying to get more federal workers to take a risk to speak out," said Dante O’Hara, who said he works for the government. "Because if we don’t, then we’re all going to lose our jobs and they’re going to put all these loyalists or people that will be their shock troops.”Government jobs have often been considered secure positions, but O’Hara said there’s fear in the workforce. The sense from his colleagues is “I don’t know if I’m going to be here tomorrow because, like, we don’t know what’s going to happen.’”Dan Smith, a Maryland resident whose father was a research scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said federal workers are “so underappreciated and so taken for granted.”“It’s one thing to downsize the government. It’s one thing to try to obliterate it," Smith said. "And that’s what’s going on. And that is what is so frightening and disgusting and requires pushback.”Mary-Jean Burke, a physical therapist for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indianapolis, said she's worried that too many people will leave, jeopardizing health care services.Burke, who also serves as a union official, said doubts have also been growing over whether to take the offer.“Originally, I think people were like, ‘I’m out of here,'" she said. But then they saw a social media post from DOGE, which said employees can "take the vacation you always wanted, or just watch movies and chill, while receiving your full government pay and benefits.”The message backfired because "that kind of thing sounded a little bit too good to be true and people were hesitant,” Burke said.Either way, she said, Trump has achieved his apparent goal of shaking up the federal workforce.“Every day, it’s something,” Burke said. “If he signed up to be a disrupter, he’s doing it.”___Associated Press writers Nancy Benac, Nathan Ellgren, Gary Fields, Joshua Goodman and Brian Witte contributed to this report.

Real or a trick? Federal workers debate legitimacy of buyout offer as deadline nears

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;DAVID KLEPPER&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/farnoush-amiri">FARNOUSH AMIRI</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to be President Donald Trump director of national intelligence cleared a key Senate committee Tuesday despite concerns raised about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-trump-intelligence-director-russia-ukraine-syria-20b7a404704efe88aa56a06ce1894f9a">her past comments</a>&nbsp;sympathetic to Russia and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-syria-assad-trump-b7518871e72a5e19c618c5ff52dedfd2">meeting</a>&nbsp;with Syria’s now-deposed leader.

A former Democratic congresswoman, Gabbard is one of Trump’s most divisive nominees, with lawmakers of both parties also pointing to her past support for government leaker Edward Snowden. But the Senate Intelligence Committee, including Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, advanced her nomination in a closed-door 9-8 vote, and it now heads to the full Senate for consideration. A vote has not been scheduled yet.

Following a contentious confirmation hearing last week, where some Republican senators questioned Gabbard harshly, GOP support for her fell into place following a pressure campaign over the weekend unleashed by Trump supporters and allies, including Elon Musk.

Until three GOP members seen as swing votes announced their support, it wasn’t clear her nomination would advance beyond the Intelligence Committee. Given strong Democratic opposition and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-election-results-mike-johnson-5103c8b5c0ef03a1e61a1c0f9ca3dd4f">thin Republican margins</a>, Gabbard will need almost all GOP senators to vote yes to win confirmation to the top intelligence job.

Given the sensitive nature of the work it does, the Intelligence Committee regularly meets privately, and Tuesday’s vote on Gabbard was held during such a session. While the votes of members of the committee were not released, support for Gabbard has fallen along party lines, with no Democrats expressing support.

Gabbard is a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard who deployed twice to the Middle East and ran for president in 2020. She has no formal intelligence experience, however, and has never run a government agency or department.

Gabbard’s past praise of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-797f390ee28b4bfbb0e1b13cfedf0593">Snowden</a>&nbsp;drew particularly harsh questions during the nomination hearing. The former National Security Agency contractor fled to Russia after he was charged with revealing classified information about surveillance programs.

Gabbard said that while Snowden revealed important facts about surveillance programs she believes are unconstitutional, he violated rules about protecting classified secrets. “Edward Snowden broke the law,” she said.

A 2017 visit with Syrian President Bashar Assad is another flash point. Assad was recently deposed following a brutal civil war in which he was accused of using chemical weapons. Following her visit, Gabbard faced criticism that she was legitimizing a dictator and then more questions when she said she was skeptical that Assad had used chemical weapons.

Gabbard defended her meeting with Assad, saying she used the opportunity to press the Syrian leader on his human rights record.

She has also repeatedly echoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-science-health-donald-trump-300742272576985618e1d5a30f53bb23">Russian propaganda</a>&nbsp;used to justify the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine and in the past opposed a key U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-surveillance-fisa-702-congress-reform-7dc1b506b58ce74de0d7983dfba98909">surveillance program</a>.

In the latest instance of the “Make America Great Again” base pressuring senators to support Trump’s nominees, Musk blasted Republican Sen. Todd Young of Indiana as a “deep-state puppet” in a now-deleted social media post before the two men spoke and Musk later called him an ally.

Young, whose critical questioning of Gabbard had prompted speculation he might oppose her, confirmed Tuesday he would back Gabbard. Young said his tough questions for Gabbard were just part of the process.

“I have done what the framers envisioned for senators to do: use the consultative process to seek firm commitments, in this case commitments that will advance our national security,” he wrote in statement announcing his support for Gabbard.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738022744738.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran met with Gabbard in December" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran met with Gabbard in December</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;DAVID KLEPPER&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/farnoush-amiri">FARNOUSH AMIRI</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to be President Donald Trump director of national intelligence cleared a key Senate committee Tuesday despite concerns raised about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-trump-intelligence-director-russia-ukraine-syria-20b7a404704efe88aa56a06ce1894f9a">her past comments</a>&nbsp;sympathetic to Russia and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-syria-assad-trump-b7518871e72a5e19c618c5ff52dedfd2">meeting</a>&nbsp;with Syria’s now-deposed leader.A former Democratic congresswoman, Gabbard is one of Trump’s most divisive nominees, with lawmakers of both parties also pointing to her past support for government leaker Edward Snowden. But the Senate Intelligence Committee, including Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, advanced her nomination in a closed-door 9-8 vote, and it now heads to the full Senate for consideration. A vote has not been scheduled yet.Following a contentious confirmation hearing last week, where some Republican senators questioned Gabbard harshly, GOP support for her fell into place following a pressure campaign over the weekend unleashed by Trump supporters and allies, including Elon Musk.Until three GOP members seen as swing votes announced their support, it wasn’t clear her nomination would advance beyond the Intelligence Committee. Given strong Democratic opposition and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-election-results-mike-johnson-5103c8b5c0ef03a1e61a1c0f9ca3dd4f">thin Republican margins</a>, Gabbard will need almost all GOP senators to vote yes to win confirmation to the top intelligence job.Given the sensitive nature of the work it does, the Intelligence Committee regularly meets privately, and Tuesday’s vote on Gabbard was held during such a session. While the votes of members of the committee were not released, support for Gabbard has fallen along party lines, with no Democrats expressing support.Gabbard is a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard who deployed twice to the Middle East and ran for president in 2020. She has no formal intelligence experience, however, and has never run a government agency or department.Gabbard’s past praise of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-797f390ee28b4bfbb0e1b13cfedf0593">Snowden</a>&nbsp;drew particularly harsh questions during the nomination hearing. The former National Security Agency contractor fled to Russia after he was charged with revealing classified information about surveillance programs.Gabbard said that while Snowden revealed important facts about surveillance programs she believes are unconstitutional, he violated rules about protecting classified secrets. “Edward Snowden broke the law,” she said.A 2017 visit with Syrian President Bashar Assad is another flash point. Assad was recently deposed following a brutal civil war in which he was accused of using chemical weapons. Following her visit, Gabbard faced criticism that she was legitimizing a dictator and then more questions when she said she was skeptical that Assad had used chemical weapons.Gabbard defended her meeting with Assad, saying she used the opportunity to press the Syrian leader on his human rights record.She has also repeatedly echoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-science-health-donald-trump-300742272576985618e1d5a30f53bb23">Russian propaganda</a>&nbsp;used to justify the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine and in the past opposed a key U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-surveillance-fisa-702-congress-reform-7dc1b506b58ce74de0d7983dfba98909">surveillance program</a>.In the latest instance of the “Make America Great Again” base pressuring senators to support Trump’s nominees, Musk blasted Republican Sen. Todd Young of Indiana as a “deep-state puppet” in a now-deleted social media post before the two men spoke and Musk later called him an ally.Young, whose critical questioning of Gabbard had prompted speculation he might oppose her, confirmed Tuesday he would back Gabbard. Young said his tough questions for Gabbard were just part of the process.“I have done what the framers envisioned for senators to do: use the consultative process to seek firm commitments, in this case commitments that will advance our national security,” he wrote in statement announcing his support for Gabbard.

Moran helps advance Trump’s pick to oversee US spy agencies

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Sunday that Americans could feel “some pain” from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-china-mexico-canada-inflation-economy-69bd5b4f66eeef3e0e803e0595888f23">emerging trade war</a>&nbsp;triggered by his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-trade-china-mexico-canada-inflation-753a09d56cd318f2eb1d2efe3c43b7d4">tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China</a>, and claimed that Canada would “cease to exist” without its trade surplus with the United States.

The trade penalties that Trump signed Saturday at his Florida resort caused a mix of panic, anger and uncertainty, and threatened to rupture a decades-old partnership on trade in North America while further straining relations with China.

Trump on Sunday night returned from Florida and threatened to impose steeper tariffs elsewhere, telling reporters that the import taxes will “definitely happen” with the European Union and possibly with the United Kingdom as well.

He brushed aside retaliatory measures from Canada, saying, “If they want to play the game, I don’t mind. We can play the game all they want." Trump said he plans to speak with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts on Monday.

By following through on his tariffs campaign pledge, Trump may also have simultaneously broken his promise to voters in last year's election that his administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inflation-grocery-prices-energy-production-consumers-c8afa45fc2b44471d55a1516e99ea351">could quickly reduce inflation.</a>&nbsp;That means the same frustration he is facing from other nations might also spread domestically to consumers and businesses.

“WILL THERE BE SOME PAIN? YES, MAYBE (AND MAYBE NOT!),” Trump said in a social media post. “BUT WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, AND IT WILL ALL BE WORTH THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID.”

His administration has not said what specific improvements would need to be seen in stopping illegal immigration and the smuggling of fentanyl to merit the removal of the tariffs that Trump imposed under&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/imposing-duties-to-address-the-flow-of-illicit-drugs-across-our-national-border/">the legal justification of an economic emergency</a>. But Trump, speaking to reporters after Air Force One, landed said that the trade imbalances with Canada and Mexico would also need to be erased as a condition for lifting the tariffs.

The president also tried to clarify his post about the possible inflation, saying on Sunday: “We may have in the short term, a little pain, and people understand that. But long term, the United States has been ripped off by virtually every country in the world.”

The tariffs are set to launch Tuesday and triggered confusion as Canada's U.S. ambassador, Kirsten Hillman, told ABC News that her country was perplexed by the move because “we view ourselves as your neighbor, your closest friend, your ally.”

In his Truth Social post, Trump took particular aim at Canada, which responded with retaliatory measures. Trump is placing a 25% tariff on Canadian goods, with a 10% tax on oil, natural gas and electricity. Canada is imposing 25% tariffs, more than $155 billion Canadian (US$105 billion), on U.S. products, including alcohol and fruit.

Despite Trump’s assertions that the U.S. does not need Canada,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-oil-trump-alberta-premier-tariffs-b46238a96660c643ead3079e289121e8">one-quarter of the oil</a>&nbsp;that America consumes per day is from its ally to the north. He reiterated his false claim that America subsidizes Canada by running a trade imbalance, a reflection in part of Canada exporting energy to the U.S.

Trump contended that without that surplus, "Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country. Harsh but true! Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada — AND NO TARIFFS!”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is encouraging Canadians to buy more Canadian goods, and says Trump's moves will only cause pain across North America. More than 75% of Canada's exports go to the U.S. Canada will first target alcohol, cosmetics and paper products; a second round later will include passenger vehicles, trucks, steel and aluminum products, certain fruits and vegetables, beef, pork, dairy products and more.

Canada is the largest export market for 36 states and Mexico is the largest trading partner of the U.S.

Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, also announced new tariffs and suggested the U.S. should do more within its own borders to address drug addiction. She and Trudeau spoke after Trump's announcement and agreed “to enhance the strong bilateral relations” between Canada and Mexico, according to the prime minister's office.

The Chinese government said it would take steps to defend its economic interests and intends to file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization.

For Trump, the open question is whether inflation could be a political pressure point that would cause him to back down. As a candidate, Trump repeatedly hammered Democrats over the inflation under President Joe Biden that resulted from supply chain issues during the coronavirus pandemic, the Biden administration’s own spending to spur the recovery and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Trump said his previous four years as president had low inflation, so the public should expect the same if he came back to the White House. But he also said specifically that higher inflation would stagger the U.S. as a nation, a position from which he now appears to be retreating with the promise of even more tariffs to come.

The U.S. president did not offer details Sunday about when he would impose tariffs elsewhere, but he said they would be coming “pretty soon” for the EU, which is also composed of U.S. allies.

Larry Summers, treasury secretary in the Clinton administration, said the tariffs were a "self-inflicted wound to the American economy."

He told CNN's “Inside Politics” that “on the playground or in international relations, bullying is not an enduringly winning strategy. And that’s what this is.” And the ultimate winner, Summers suggested, would be Chinese leader Xi Jinping because “we’ve moved to drive some of our closest allies into his arms” and “we're legitimating everything he’s doing by violating all the international norms that we set up.”

Outside analyses make clear that Trump's tariffs would hurt the voters that he intended to help, meaning that he might ultimately need to find a resolution.

An analysis by the Budget Lab at Yale shows that if the tariffs were to continue, an average U.S. household would lose roughly $1,245 in income this year, in what would be the overall equivalent of a more than $1.4 trillion tax increase over the next 10 years.

Goldman Sachs, in a Sunday analyst note, stressed that the tariffs go into effect on Tuesday, which means they're likely to proceed “though a last-minute compromise cannot be completely ruled out.”

The investment bank concluded that because of the possible economic damage and possible conditions for removal “we think it is more likely that the tariffs will be temporary but the outlook is unclear.”

Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in New York and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738546806165.png" alt="President Trump spoke to reporters Sunday night -photo by Margo Martin, Assistant to the President" />
 <figcaption>President Trump spoke to reporters Sunday night -photo by Margo Martin, Assistant to the President</figcaption>
 </figure>PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Sunday that Americans could feel “some pain” from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-china-mexico-canada-inflation-economy-69bd5b4f66eeef3e0e803e0595888f23">emerging trade war</a>&nbsp;triggered by his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-trade-china-mexico-canada-inflation-753a09d56cd318f2eb1d2efe3c43b7d4">tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China</a>, and claimed that Canada would “cease to exist” without its trade surplus with the United States.The trade penalties that Trump signed Saturday at his Florida resort caused a mix of panic, anger and uncertainty, and threatened to rupture a decades-old partnership on trade in North America while further straining relations with China.Trump on Sunday night returned from Florida and threatened to impose steeper tariffs elsewhere, telling reporters that the import taxes will “definitely happen” with the European Union and possibly with the United Kingdom as well.He brushed aside retaliatory measures from Canada, saying, “If they want to play the game, I don’t mind. We can play the game all they want." Trump said he plans to speak with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts on Monday.By following through on his tariffs campaign pledge, Trump may also have simultaneously broken his promise to voters in last year's election that his administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inflation-grocery-prices-energy-production-consumers-c8afa45fc2b44471d55a1516e99ea351">could quickly reduce inflation.</a>&nbsp;That means the same frustration he is facing from other nations might also spread domestically to consumers and businesses.“WILL THERE BE SOME PAIN? YES, MAYBE (AND MAYBE NOT!),” Trump said in a social media post. “BUT WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, AND IT WILL ALL BE WORTH THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID.”His administration has not said what specific improvements would need to be seen in stopping illegal immigration and the smuggling of fentanyl to merit the removal of the tariffs that Trump imposed under&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/imposing-duties-to-address-the-flow-of-illicit-drugs-across-our-national-border/">the legal justification of an economic emergency</a>. But Trump, speaking to reporters after Air Force One, landed said that the trade imbalances with Canada and Mexico would also need to be erased as a condition for lifting the tariffs.The president also tried to clarify his post about the possible inflation, saying on Sunday: “We may have in the short term, a little pain, and people understand that. But long term, the United States has been ripped off by virtually every country in the world.”The tariffs are set to launch Tuesday and triggered confusion as Canada's U.S. ambassador, Kirsten Hillman, told ABC News that her country was perplexed by the move because “we view ourselves as your neighbor, your closest friend, your ally.”In his Truth Social post, Trump took particular aim at Canada, which responded with retaliatory measures. Trump is placing a 25% tariff on Canadian goods, with a 10% tax on oil, natural gas and electricity. Canada is imposing 25% tariffs, more than $155 billion Canadian (US$105 billion), on U.S. products, including alcohol and fruit.Despite Trump’s assertions that the U.S. does not need Canada,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-oil-trump-alberta-premier-tariffs-b46238a96660c643ead3079e289121e8">one-quarter of the oil</a>&nbsp;that America consumes per day is from its ally to the north. He reiterated his false claim that America subsidizes Canada by running a trade imbalance, a reflection in part of Canada exporting energy to the U.S.Trump contended that without that surplus, "Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country. Harsh but true! Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada — AND NO TARIFFS!”Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is encouraging Canadians to buy more Canadian goods, and says Trump's moves will only cause pain across North America. More than 75% of Canada's exports go to the U.S. Canada will first target alcohol, cosmetics and paper products; a second round later will include passenger vehicles, trucks, steel and aluminum products, certain fruits and vegetables, beef, pork, dairy products and more.Canada is the largest export market for 36 states and Mexico is the largest trading partner of the U.S.Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, also announced new tariffs and suggested the U.S. should do more within its own borders to address drug addiction. She and Trudeau spoke after Trump's announcement and agreed “to enhance the strong bilateral relations” between Canada and Mexico, according to the prime minister's office.The Chinese government said it would take steps to defend its economic interests and intends to file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization.For Trump, the open question is whether inflation could be a political pressure point that would cause him to back down. As a candidate, Trump repeatedly hammered Democrats over the inflation under President Joe Biden that resulted from supply chain issues during the coronavirus pandemic, the Biden administration’s own spending to spur the recovery and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Trump said his previous four years as president had low inflation, so the public should expect the same if he came back to the White House. But he also said specifically that higher inflation would stagger the U.S. as a nation, a position from which he now appears to be retreating with the promise of even more tariffs to come.The U.S. president did not offer details Sunday about when he would impose tariffs elsewhere, but he said they would be coming “pretty soon” for the EU, which is also composed of U.S. allies.Larry Summers, treasury secretary in the Clinton administration, said the tariffs were a "self-inflicted wound to the American economy."He told CNN's “Inside Politics” that “on the playground or in international relations, bullying is not an enduringly winning strategy. And that’s what this is.” And the ultimate winner, Summers suggested, would be Chinese leader Xi Jinping because “we’ve moved to drive some of our closest allies into his arms” and “we're legitimating everything he’s doing by violating all the international norms that we set up.”Outside analyses make clear that Trump's tariffs would hurt the voters that he intended to help, meaning that he might ultimately need to find a resolution.An analysis by the Budget Lab at Yale shows that if the tariffs were to continue, an average U.S. household would lose roughly $1,245 in income this year, in what would be the overall equivalent of a more than $1.4 trillion tax increase over the next 10 years.Goldman Sachs, in a Sunday analyst note, stressed that the tariffs go into effect on Tuesday, which means they're likely to proceed “though a last-minute compromise cannot be completely ruled out.”The investment bank concluded that because of the possible economic damage and possible conditions for removal “we think it is more likely that the tariffs will be temporary but the outlook is unclear.”___Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in New York and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.

Trade war: What President Trump says to expect

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — An American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">collided with an Army helicopter</a>&nbsp;while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River. There were multiple fatalities, according to a person familiar with the matter, but the precise number of victims was unclear as rescue crews hunted for any survivors.

Three soldiers were onboard the helicopter, an Army official said.

There was no immediate word on the cause of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-cebb142d24859ba0c4e0e4fd6c33773f">the Wednesday collision</a>, but all takeoffs and landings from the airport were halted as dive teams scoured the site and helicopters from law enforcement agencies across the region flew over the scene in a methodical search for bodies.

Images from the river showed boats around the partly submerged wing and what appeared to be the mangled wreckage of the plane's fuselage.

“We are going to recover our fellow citizens,” District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a somber news conference at the airport in which she declined to say how many bodies had been recovered.

The person who told The Associated Press that there had been multiple deaths was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas said, “When one person dies it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die it’s an unbearable sorrow.”

President Donald Trump said he had been “fully briefed on this terrible accident" and, referring to the passengers, added, “May God Bless their souls.”

Passengers on the flight included a group of figure skaters, their coaches and family members who were returning from a development camp that followed the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement.

Two of those coaches were identified by the Kremlin as Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won the pairs title at the 1994 world championships and competed twice in the Olympics. The Skating Club of Boston lists them as coaches and their son, Maxim Naumov, is a competitive figure skater for the U.S.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the midair crash occurred before 9 p.m. EST when a regional jet that had departed from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military helicopter on a training flight while on approach to an airport runway. It occurred in some of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just over three miles south of the White House and the Capitol.

Investigators will try to piece together the aircrafts' final moments before their collision, including contact with air traffic controllers as well as a loss of altitude by the passenger jet.

American Airlines Flight 5342 was inbound to Reagan National at an altitude of about 400 feet and a speed of about 140 miles per hour when it suffered a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River, according to data from its radio transponder. The Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine jet, manufactured in 2004, can be configured to carry up to 70 passengers.

A few minutes before landing, air traffic controllers asked the arriving commercial jet if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Reagan National and the pilots said they were able. Controllers then cleared the plane to land on Runway 33. Flight tracking sites showed the plane adjust its approach to the new runway.

Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight. The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later: “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.” Seconds after that, the two aircraft collided.

The plane’s radio transponder stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet short of the runway, roughly over the middle of the river.

Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center showed two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to join in a fireball.

“I know that flight. I've flown it several times myself,” said Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas. He said he expected that many people in Wichita would know people who were on the flight.

“This is a very personal circumstance,” he said.

The collision occurred on a warm winter evening in Washington, with temperatures registering as high as 60 degrees Fahrenheit, following a stretch days earlier of intense cold and ice. On Wednesday, the Potomac River was 36 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The National Weather Service reported that wind gusts of up to 25 mph were possible in the area throughout the evening.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed “deep sorrow” for the crash and said the company was focused on the needs of passengers, crew, first responders and families and loved ones of those involved.

Some 300 first responders were on scene. Inflatable rescue boats were launched into the Potomac River from a point along the George Washington Parkway, just north of the airport, and first responders set up light towers from the shore to illuminate the area near the collision site. At least a half-dozen boats were scanning the water using searchlights.

“It’s a highly complex operation,” said D.C. fire chief John Donnelly. "The conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders.”

The U.S. Army described the helicopter as a UH-60 Blackhawk based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. The helicopter was on a training flight. Military aircraft frequently conduct training flights in and around the congested and heavily-restricted airspace around the nation’s capital for familiarization and continuity of government planning.

The crash is serving as a major test for two of the Trump administration’s newest agency leaders. Pete Hegseth, sworn in days ago as defense secretary, posted on social media that an investigation has been “launched immediately” by the Army and the Defense Department. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, just sworn in earlier this week, said at a somber news conference at the airport early Thursday that his agency would provide all possible resources to the investigation.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">last major fatal crash</a>&nbsp;involving a U.S. commercial airline occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, New York. Everyone aboard the Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane was killed, including 45 passengers, 2 pilots and 2 flight attendants. Another person on the ground also died, bringing the total death toll to 50. An investigation determined that the captain accidentally caused the plane to stall as it approached the airport in Buffalo.

Reagan Airport will reopen at 11 a.m. Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced. The FAA has previously said it would be closed until 5 a.m. Friday.

Located along the Potomac River, just southwest of the city. Reagan National is a popular choice because it’s much closer than the larger Dulles International Airport, which is deeper in Virginia.

Depending on the runway being used, flights into Reagan can offer passengers spectacular views of landmarks like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol. It’s a postcard-worthy welcome for tourists visiting the city.

The collision recalled the crash of an Air Florida flight that plummeted into the Potomac on January 13, 1982, that killed 78 people. That crash was attributed to bad weather.

An American Airlines jet with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-cebb142d24859ba0c4e0e4fd6c33773f">collided Wednesday</a>&nbsp;with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River.

There was no immediate word on casualties or the cause of the collision, but takeoffs and landings from the airport near Washington were halted as helicopters from law enforcement agencies across the region flew over the scene in search of survivors.

Rescuers search in near freezing river water for survivors

Hundreds of rescuers were searching the frigid waters of the Potomac River for any survivors of the plane crash.

Images showed boats around a partly submerged wing and what appeared to be the mangled wreckage of the plane’s fuselage.

Helicopters flew overhead with powerful search lights scanning the murky waters, while emergency vehicles lit up the banks of the Potomac in a long line of blinking red lights.

The water temperature was just above freezing.

Global skating community ‘deeply shocked and heartbroken’

The international governing body for figure skating said the global skating community was “deeply shocked” and heartbroken to learn that figure skaters and those close to them were onboard the flight that collided with a military helicopter.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is more than a sport — it’s a close-knit family — and we stand together,” the International Skating Union said in a statement.

Group of figure skaters and coaches were on the jet

Passengers on the jet included a group of figure skaters, their coaches and family members who were returning from a development camp held after the national U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement.

The organization confirmed that “several members of the skating community” were on the flight. It did not provide more details.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” the organization said. “We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”

‘We don’t know yet,' fire chief says of possible survivors

Officials offered few details on the status of the victims as they concluded their early-morning press briefing Thursday.

“I can’t say anything about the rescue operation right now,” said Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, as reporters continue to press for updates on the passengers.

Misc