SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are asking the public for help to locate the owner of a pet carrier dumped on a Kansas highway.

On Wednesday, the Shawnee County Sheriff's Animal Control Unit responded to a call on the northbound ramp to NW 75 Highway from NW 35th Street, according to a social media report. The officers found a pet carrier with multiple cats inside.

Anyone with information on owner of the cats or how they were left near the highway is asked to please contact the sheriff's office immediately (785-251-2200 or email SheriffACOs@snco.us

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737642720413.png" alt="Photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are asking the public for help to locate the owner of a pet carrier dumped on a Kansas highway.On Wednesday, the Shawnee County Sheriff's Animal Control Unit responded to a call on the northbound ramp to NW 75 Highway from NW 35th Street, according to a social media report. The officers found a pet carrier with multiple cats inside.Anyone with information on owner of the cats or how they were left near the highway is asked to please contact the sheriff's office immediately (785-251-2200 or email SheriffACOs@snco.us

Sheriff: Pet carrier with cats dumped on Kansas highway

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A shooting in a Nashville high school cafeteria Wednesday left a female student dead and another student wounded, nearly two years after another deadly school shooting in the city that ignited an emotional debate about gun control in Tennessee.

The 17-year-old shooter, who was also a student at Antioch High School, later shot and killed himself with a handgun, Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron said during a news conference. Police identified him as Solomon Henderson.

Police Chief John Drake said the shooter “confronted” student Josselin Corea Escalante, 16, in the cafeteria and opened fire, killing her.

The wounded student was grazed by a bullet. He was treated and released from the hospital, Drake said. Another student was taken to a hospital for treatment of a facial injury that happened during a fall, Aaron said.

Metro Nashville Police, federal and state agencies are examining “very concerning online writings and social media posts connected to 17-year-old Solomon Henderson” as they work to establish a motive, police said in a statement Wednesday evening.

Investigators at this point have not established a connection between Henderson and the victims, and police said the gunfire may have been random, according to the statement.

Two school resource officers were in the building when the shooting happened around 11 a.m., Aaron said. They were not in the immediate vicinity of the cafeteria and by the time they got down there the shooting was over and the gunman had killed himself, Aaron said.

The school has about 2,000 students and is in Antioch, a neighborhood about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of downtown Nashville.

The children were bussed from the school to a medical center where officials helped shocked parents reunite with their children.

Dajuan Bernard was waiting at a Mapco service station to reunite with his son, a 10th grader, who was being held in the auditorium with other students Wednesday afternoon. He first heard of the shooting from his son, who “was a little startled,” Bernard said. His son was upstairs from the cafeteria but said he heard the gunfire.

“He was OK and let me know that everything was OK,” Bernard said.

“This world is so crazy, it could happen anywhere," he said. "We’ve just got to protect the kids, and raise the kids right to prevent them from even doing this. That’s the hardest part.”

Fonda Abner said her granddaughter had called her a couple of times but that she only heard commotion and thought it was a pocket dial. They spoke briefly before being cut off.

“It’s nerve-racking waiting out here,” Abner said.

United Family Fellowship, a church in Antioch, was hosting a vigil Wednesday night “for anyone in the community who needs a space to pray, process, and find comfort,” the church said on Facebook.

Adrienne Battle, superintendent of Nashville schools, said earlier Wednesday that public schools have implemented a “range of safety measures," including partnerships with police for school resource officers, security cameras with weapon-detection software, shatter-resistant film for glass, and security vestibules that are a barrier between outside visitors and the main entrance.

“Unfortunately, these measures were not enough to stop this tragedy,” Battle said.

She said there are questions about whether stationary metal detectors should be considered.

“While past research has shown they have had limitations and unintended consequences, we will continue to explore emerging technologies and strategies to strengthen school safety,” Battle said.

In October, a 16-year-old Antioch High School student was arrested after school resource officers and school officials discovered through social media that he had taken a gun to school the day prior. When he was stopped the following morning, officials found a loaded gun in his pants, police said.

Wednesday’s school shooting comes nearly two years after a shooter opened fire at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-school-shooting-covenant-school-03aa394109a5e682877403c0c3e52aa7">separate Nashville private elementary school</a>&nbsp;and killed six people, including three children.

The tragedy prompted a monthslong effort among hundreds of community organizers, families, protesters and others pleading with lawmakers to consider passing gun control measures.

GOP lawmakers in the Republican-dominant state refused to do so. With the Republican supermajority intact after November’s election, it’s unlikely attitudes have changed enough to consider any meaningful bills that would address gun control.

Instead, lawmakers have been more open to adding more security to schools — including passing a bill last year that would allow some teachers and staff to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-arming-teachers-guns-2d7d80fa1f54f8f9585a6d2e98fec9fd">carry concealed handguns</a>&nbsp;on public school grounds, and bar parents and other teachers from knowing who was armed.

Antioch, a growing and diverse area of Nashville, has endured other prominent shootings in recent years. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f56b445a4e54468caff28c1844c55aa4">2017 fatal shooting</a>&nbsp;at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ killed one woman and wounded seven people. And in 2018, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b0da52acd5374c28a2495291b0819387">shooter killed four people at a Waffle House</a>.

State Rep. Shaundelle Brooks ran for office in large part due to her son’s death in the Waffle House shooting and was elected last year after the Covenant shooting. She said the Antioch High shooting reinforces the need for gun control reforms. “We must do better,” she said.

“Ever since I lost my son, Akilah, in a mass shooting in 2018, I have been fighting to ensure this never happens again,” the Nashville Democrat said in a statement. “Here we are almost 7 years later, and our communities are still being impacted by gun violence.”

Samantha Dickerson had taken her 14-year-old son’s phone away as a punishment, so when she got a message from his school about the shooting, she had no way to reach him.

“I was nervous,” she said. “I really was about to break down.”

After about three hours of waiting, she finally got a call from his English teacher and spoke with her son.

“When I heard his voice, I just broke down and started crying,” she said.

Associated Press writers Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville and Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737571189477.png" alt="Photo Metro Nashville Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Metro Nashville Police</figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A shooting in a Nashville high school cafeteria Wednesday left a female student dead and another student wounded, nearly two years after another deadly school shooting in the city that ignited an emotional debate about gun control in Tennessee.The 17-year-old shooter, who was also a student at Antioch High School, later shot and killed himself with a handgun, Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron said during a news conference. Police identified him as Solomon Henderson.Police Chief John Drake said the shooter “confronted” student Josselin Corea Escalante, 16, in the cafeteria and opened fire, killing her.The wounded student was grazed by a bullet. He was treated and released from the hospital, Drake said. Another student was taken to a hospital for treatment of a facial injury that happened during a fall, Aaron said.Metro Nashville Police, federal and state agencies are examining “very concerning online writings and social media posts connected to 17-year-old Solomon Henderson” as they work to establish a motive, police said in a statement Wednesday evening.Investigators at this point have not established a connection between Henderson and the victims, and police said the gunfire may have been random, according to the statement.Two school resource officers were in the building when the shooting happened around 11 a.m., Aaron said. They were not in the immediate vicinity of the cafeteria and by the time they got down there the shooting was over and the gunman had killed himself, Aaron said.The school has about 2,000 students and is in Antioch, a neighborhood about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of downtown Nashville.The children were bussed from the school to a medical center where officials helped shocked parents reunite with their children.Dajuan Bernard was waiting at a Mapco service station to reunite with his son, a 10th grader, who was being held in the auditorium with other students Wednesday afternoon. He first heard of the shooting from his son, who “was a little startled,” Bernard said. His son was upstairs from the cafeteria but said he heard the gunfire.“He was OK and let me know that everything was OK,” Bernard said.“This world is so crazy, it could happen anywhere," he said. "We’ve just got to protect the kids, and raise the kids right to prevent them from even doing this. That’s the hardest part.”Fonda Abner said her granddaughter had called her a couple of times but that she only heard commotion and thought it was a pocket dial. They spoke briefly before being cut off.“It’s nerve-racking waiting out here,” Abner said.United Family Fellowship, a church in Antioch, was hosting a vigil Wednesday night “for anyone in the community who needs a space to pray, process, and find comfort,” the church said on Facebook.Adrienne Battle, superintendent of Nashville schools, said earlier Wednesday that public schools have implemented a “range of safety measures," including partnerships with police for school resource officers, security cameras with weapon-detection software, shatter-resistant film for glass, and security vestibules that are a barrier between outside visitors and the main entrance.“Unfortunately, these measures were not enough to stop this tragedy,” Battle said.She said there are questions about whether stationary metal detectors should be considered.“While past research has shown they have had limitations and unintended consequences, we will continue to explore emerging technologies and strategies to strengthen school safety,” Battle said.In October, a 16-year-old Antioch High School student was arrested after school resource officers and school officials discovered through social media that he had taken a gun to school the day prior. When he was stopped the following morning, officials found a loaded gun in his pants, police said.Wednesday’s school shooting comes nearly two years after a shooter opened fire at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-school-shooting-covenant-school-03aa394109a5e682877403c0c3e52aa7">separate Nashville private elementary school</a>&nbsp;and killed six people, including three children.The tragedy prompted a monthslong effort among hundreds of community organizers, families, protesters and others pleading with lawmakers to consider passing gun control measures.GOP lawmakers in the Republican-dominant state refused to do so. With the Republican supermajority intact after November’s election, it’s unlikely attitudes have changed enough to consider any meaningful bills that would address gun control.Instead, lawmakers have been more open to adding more security to schools — including passing a bill last year that would allow some teachers and staff to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-arming-teachers-guns-2d7d80fa1f54f8f9585a6d2e98fec9fd">carry concealed handguns</a>&nbsp;on public school grounds, and bar parents and other teachers from knowing who was armed.Antioch, a growing and diverse area of Nashville, has endured other prominent shootings in recent years. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f56b445a4e54468caff28c1844c55aa4">2017 fatal shooting</a>&nbsp;at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ killed one woman and wounded seven people. And in 2018, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b0da52acd5374c28a2495291b0819387">shooter killed four people at a Waffle House</a>.State Rep. Shaundelle Brooks ran for office in large part due to her son’s death in the Waffle House shooting and was elected last year after the Covenant shooting. She said the Antioch High shooting reinforces the need for gun control reforms. “We must do better,” she said.“Ever since I lost my son, Akilah, in a mass shooting in 2018, I have been fighting to ensure this never happens again,” the Nashville Democrat said in a statement. “Here we are almost 7 years later, and our communities are still being impacted by gun violence.”Samantha Dickerson had taken her 14-year-old son’s phone away as a punishment, so when she got a message from his school about the shooting, she had no way to reach him.“I was nervous,” she said. “I really was about to break down.”After about three hours of waiting, she finally got a call from his English teacher and spoke with her son.“When I heard his voice, I just broke down and started crying,” she said.___Associated Press writers Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville and Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, contributed.

Police ID 16-year-old killed in shooting at Tennessee high school

WASHINGTON (AP)—Trump says he is nominating Secret Service veteran Sean Curran to head the U.S. Secret Service.

Curran was among the agents who rushed to Trump’s aid after he was shot in the ear in a failed assassination attempt at a July campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

In a post announcing his nomination, Trump praised Curran for his “fearless courage” during the Pennsylvania rally. He served as the assistant special agent in charge of the presidential protective division during Trump’s first term.

“Sean has distinguished himself as a brilliant leader, who is capable of directing and leading operational security plans for some of the most complex Special Security Events in the History of our Country, and the World,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720913971898.png" alt="Sean Curran, far right, on the day Trump was shot in a failed assassination attempt at a July campaign rally (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)" />
 <figcaption>Sean Curran, far right, on the day Trump was shot in a failed assassination attempt at a July campaign rally (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)—Trump says he is nominating Secret Service veteran Sean Curran to head the U.S. Secret Service.Curran was among the agents who rushed to Trump’s aid after he was shot in the ear in a failed assassination attempt at a July campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.In a post announcing his nomination, Trump praised Curran for his “fearless courage” during the Pennsylvania rally. He served as the assistant special agent in charge of the presidential protective division during Trump’s first term.“Sean has distinguished himself as a brilliant leader, who is capable of directing and leading operational security plans for some of the most complex Special Security Events in the History of our Country, and the World,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Agent who rushed to Trump’s aid in shooting will lead Secret Service

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon who left his 11-month-old daughter in the canal in Wichita is scheduled to learn his fate Thursday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Judge Tyler Roush will sentence 34-year-old Vincent Perez&nbsp;&nbsp;who was found guilty in December of aggravated endangering a child and aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In July, police were dispatched to conduct a welfare check in the vicinity of Interstate 135 and Pawnee in Wichita after receiving a report of a child in the canal, according to Officer Kristopher Gupilan.

Officers, with the assistance of the Wichita Fire Department, located the child within the canal. She was safely extracted from the canal and transported to a local hospital for precautionary medical evaluation and later placed into police protective custody, according to Gupilan.&nbsp;

Police believed Perez had information pertinent to the investigation and asked the public for assistance in locating him for questioning. The following day police booked&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=320252">Perez&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;into the Sedgwick County jail.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Perez has previous convictions for theft, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, criminal possession of a weapon and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721927142112.png" alt="Perez photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Perez photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon who left his 11-month-old daughter in the canal in Wichita is scheduled to learn his fate Thursday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp; Judge Tyler Roush will sentence 34-year-old Vincent Perez&nbsp;&nbsp;who was found guilty in December of aggravated endangering a child and aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In July, police were dispatched to conduct a welfare check in the vicinity of Interstate 135 and Pawnee in Wichita after receiving a report of a child in the canal, according to Officer Kristopher Gupilan.Officers, with the assistance of the Wichita Fire Department, located the child within the canal. She was safely extracted from the canal and transported to a local hospital for precautionary medical evaluation and later placed into police protective custody, according to Gupilan.&nbsp;Police believed Perez had information pertinent to the investigation and asked the public for assistance in locating him for questioning. The following day police booked&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=320252">Perez&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;into the Sedgwick County jail.&nbsp; &nbsp;Perez has previous convictions for theft, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, criminal possession of a weapon and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Sentencing Day for Kan. felon who left baby daughter in canal 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A bill proposed in the Kansas House seeks to remove people who are not U.S. citizens from the state’s voter rolls through temporary driver’s license records, invoking concern for potential disenfranchisement of Kansas voters.

A Kansas Secretary of State’s Office official said the records are “the best tool we have” to identify voters who are not U.S. citizens, of which the true number in Kansas is unknown.

There is no “magic list” disclosing all people who are not citizens in Kansas, said Bryan Caskey, the deputy secretary of state and director of elections, at a Tuesday hearing in the House Elections Committee. But the temporary driver’s license list is about as close as the office can get, he said.

“It is one of the rare pieces of factual, direct evidence of non-U.S. citizens,” Caskey said,&nbsp; “and so that’s why we want the list more often because it’s, quite frankly, one of the best tools that we have to verify non-U.S. citizens being on our voter registration list.”

The Kansas Secretary of State’s Office, which supports&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2020/" target="_blank">House Bill 2020</a>, has received a temporary driver’s license list about six times in the past 15 years, Caskey said.

About 38,000 people in Kansas have active temporary drivers licenses as of December.

Of the state’s more than 2 million voters, state officials found 202 potential matches when comparing a temporary driver’s license list and the voter rolls. About 120 of those were false positives, and 85 warranted additional investigation. About 21 of the 85 have a voting history attached to them and would require even further investigation to determine citizenship status.

Clay Barker, general counsel to the secretary of state’s office, said nothing prevents officials from investigating a case of a potential voter who is not a U.S. citizen.

“There has to be something more than an odd last name, but if you have reason to believe someone’s a noncitizen, you can conduct an investigation and gather more information,” Barker said.

When obtaining a driver’s license, a person must prove residency in Kansas, which could include proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status. In the latter case, a temporary driver’s license is typically issued. The aim of the bill is to compare the lists of people with temporary driver’s licenses to the secretary of state’s voter rolls to determine if people who are not U.S. citizens are participating in Kansas elections.

“The list shall contain the names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, dates of birth, temporary drivers’ license numbers and expiration dates of such licenses,” the text of the bill read. “The secretary of state shall compare such lists with the voter registration rolls and delete any names of noncitizens that appear on the voter rolls.”

However, the Secretary of State’s Office cannot modify voter rolls, a job reserved for county elections officials, and state officials said action cannot be taken unless they receive confirmation from an outside source of a person’s current citizenship status.

Davis Hammet, president of voting rights organization Loud Light, supported the concept of the bill but expressed concern at the Tuesday hearing over its declaratory language and lack of detail.

“The most dangerous thing you could do is assume that you can take two list and perfectly compare them,” Hammet said.

The logistics of how the bill could be administered were missing, Hammet said. He warned oversimplification of legislation could run the risk of disenfranchising valid Kansas voters, as was the case with a law struck down in 2018 that illegally mandated Kansans show documented proof of citizenship to register to vote. The law blocked more than 35,000 Kansans from voting.

Brett Anderson, a Republican precinct committee member in Sedgwick County, questioned the difference between the proposed bill and the struck-down citizenship requirement.

“What has been passed to strengthen non-voter laws in Kansas? Isn’t this setting up for litigation when the main issue of citizenship is still in limbo in Kansas?” he asked in written public testimony.

Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican and chairman of the House Elections Committee, appeared frustrated with the comparison between the unlawful proof of citizenship requirement and HB 2020. He said this bill isn’t about how voters are registered but how voter rolls are maintained.

“Anyone who tells you that non-citizens aren’t voting in Kansas is lying to you,” he said in a news release distributed before the hearing. “The fact is we don’t know because we aren’t doing much to check.”

In&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/06/voter-fraud-myth-persists-despite-constant-failure-to-prove-claims/">litigation over the proof of citizenship requirement</a>, then-Secretary of State Kris Kobach failed to present evidence of widespread voter fraud. Fewer than 40 people who were not U.S. citizens had registered to vote over a 20-year period.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas expressed concerns over data privacy, pandering to conspiracy theories of illegal voting and inadequate appeals processes.

“HB 2020 plays into conspiracy theories about large numbers of non-citizens voting in Kansas elections, and altering the outcome of those elections,” said Rashane Hamby, director of policy and research for the ACLU of Kansas, in written testimony. “This simply isn’t true.”

Another&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hcr5004/" target="_blank">attempt at legislation</a>&nbsp;targeting people who are not U.S. citizens is set to appear at a Thursday hearing before the same committee. It involves a constitutional amendment that would require voters be citizens, 18 years old and a resident in their assigned voting area. It is already a felony crime for someone who is not a U.S. citizen to claim they are a citizen on a voter registration form.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737638955134.png" alt=" Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican and chair of the House elections committee, discusses a bill meant to remove non-U.S. citizens from Kansas voter rolls at a hearing on Jan. 21, 2025, in Topeka. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican and chair of the House elections committee, discusses a bill meant to remove non-U.S. citizens from Kansas voter rolls at a hearing on Jan. 21, 2025, in Topeka. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A bill proposed in the Kansas House seeks to remove people who are not U.S. citizens from the state’s voter rolls through temporary driver’s license records, invoking concern for potential disenfranchisement of Kansas voters.A Kansas Secretary of State’s Office official said the records are “the best tool we have” to identify voters who are not U.S. citizens, of which the true number in Kansas is unknown.There is no “magic list” disclosing all people who are not citizens in Kansas, said Bryan Caskey, the deputy secretary of state and director of elections, at a Tuesday hearing in the House Elections Committee. But the temporary driver’s license list is about as close as the office can get, he said.“It is one of the rare pieces of factual, direct evidence of non-U.S. citizens,” Caskey said,&nbsp; “and so that’s why we want the list more often because it’s, quite frankly, one of the best tools that we have to verify non-U.S. citizens being on our voter registration list.”The Kansas Secretary of State’s Office, which supports&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2020/" target="_blank">House Bill 2020</a>, has received a temporary driver’s license list about six times in the past 15 years, Caskey said.About 38,000 people in Kansas have active temporary drivers licenses as of December.Of the state’s more than 2 million voters, state officials found 202 potential matches when comparing a temporary driver’s license list and the voter rolls. About 120 of those were false positives, and 85 warranted additional investigation. About 21 of the 85 have a voting history attached to them and would require even further investigation to determine citizenship status.Clay Barker, general counsel to the secretary of state’s office, said nothing prevents officials from investigating a case of a potential voter who is not a U.S. citizen.“There has to be something more than an odd last name, but if you have reason to believe someone’s a noncitizen, you can conduct an investigation and gather more information,” Barker said.When obtaining a driver’s license, a person must prove residency in Kansas, which could include proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status. In the latter case, a temporary driver’s license is typically issued. The aim of the bill is to compare the lists of people with temporary driver’s licenses to the secretary of state’s voter rolls to determine if people who are not U.S. citizens are participating in Kansas elections.“The list shall contain the names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, dates of birth, temporary drivers’ license numbers and expiration dates of such licenses,” the text of the bill read. “The secretary of state shall compare such lists with the voter registration rolls and delete any names of noncitizens that appear on the voter rolls.”However, the Secretary of State’s Office cannot modify voter rolls, a job reserved for county elections officials, and state officials said action cannot be taken unless they receive confirmation from an outside source of a person’s current citizenship status.Davis Hammet, president of voting rights organization Loud Light, supported the concept of the bill but expressed concern at the Tuesday hearing over its declaratory language and lack of detail.“The most dangerous thing you could do is assume that you can take two list and perfectly compare them,” Hammet said.The logistics of how the bill could be administered were missing, Hammet said. He warned oversimplification of legislation could run the risk of disenfranchising valid Kansas voters, as was the case with a law struck down in 2018 that illegally mandated Kansans show documented proof of citizenship to register to vote. The law blocked more than 35,000 Kansans from voting.Brett Anderson, a Republican precinct committee member in Sedgwick County, questioned the difference between the proposed bill and the struck-down citizenship requirement.“What has been passed to strengthen non-voter laws in Kansas? Isn’t this setting up for litigation when the main issue of citizenship is still in limbo in Kansas?” he asked in written public testimony.Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican and chairman of the House Elections Committee, appeared frustrated with the comparison between the unlawful proof of citizenship requirement and HB 2020. He said this bill isn’t about how voters are registered but how voter rolls are maintained.“Anyone who tells you that non-citizens aren’t voting in Kansas is lying to you,” he said in a news release distributed before the hearing. “The fact is we don’t know because we aren’t doing much to check.”In&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/06/voter-fraud-myth-persists-despite-constant-failure-to-prove-claims/">litigation over the proof of citizenship requirement</a>, then-Secretary of State Kris Kobach failed to present evidence of widespread voter fraud. Fewer than 40 people who were not U.S. citizens had registered to vote over a 20-year period.The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas expressed concerns over data privacy, pandering to conspiracy theories of illegal voting and inadequate appeals processes.“HB 2020 plays into conspiracy theories about large numbers of non-citizens voting in Kansas elections, and altering the outcome of those elections,” said Rashane Hamby, director of policy and research for the ACLU of Kansas, in written testimony. “This simply isn’t true.”Another&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hcr5004/" target="_blank">attempt at legislation</a>&nbsp;targeting people who are not U.S. citizens is set to appear at a Thursday hearing before the same committee. It involves a constitutional amendment that would require voters be citizens, 18 years old and a resident in their assigned voting area. It is already a felony crime for someone who is not a U.S. citizen to claim they are a citizen on a voter registration form.

Kan. House bill would use driver’s license records to look for voters who are not citizens

KANSAS CITY—One person was critically injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Wednesday in Kansas City.

According to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino,&nbsp;a Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Ford F350 pickup truck was parked on the northbound curb of Grand, just north of 5th Street.

The driver of the City Vehicle put the pickup in drive and began traveling northbound and struck a pedestrian who was in front of the vehicle. The pedestrian went completely under the vehicle, according to DiMartino.

A KC Fire Department ambulance transported the pedestrian to a local hospital with serious injuries. The driver was not impaired.

KANSAS CITY—One person was critically injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Wednesday in Kansas City.According to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino,&nbsp;a Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Ford F350 pickup truck was parked on the northbound curb of Grand, just north of 5th Street.The driver of the City Vehicle put the pickup in drive and began traveling northbound and struck a pedestrian who was in front of the vehicle. The pedestrian went completely under the vehicle, according to DiMartino.A KC Fire Department ambulance transported the pedestrian to a local hospital with serious injuries. The driver was not impaired.

Police: KC Parks and Rec pickup ran over pedestrian

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that requires the detainment of unauthorized migrants accused of theft and violent crimes, marking the first legislation that President Donald Trump can sign as Congress, with some bipartisan support, swiftly moved in line with his plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-day-1-priorities-deportations-drilling-ukraine-6747c6e64b0440978f59450b928f61d1">crackdown on illegal immigration</a>.

Passage of the Laken Riley Act, which was named after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-riley-immigrants-crime-63181cbc7a89fe9fe28b1d0cf84c8b9a">a Georgia nursing student</a>&nbsp;who was murdered last year by a Venezuelan man, shows just how sharply the political debate over immigration has shifted to the right following Trump's election victory. Immigration policy has often been one of the most entrenched issues in Congress, but a crucial faction of 46 politically vulnerable Democrats joined with Republicans to lift the strict proposal to passage on a 263-156 vote tally. All members of the Kansas House delegation including Democrat Sharice Davids voted with the majority. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted in favor of the bill on Monday.

“For decades, it has been almost impossible for our government to agree on solutions for the problems at our border and within our country,” said Sen. Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican. She called the legislation “perhaps the most significant immigration enforcement bill” to be passed by Congress in nearly three decades.

Still, the bill would require a massive ramp up in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's capabilities, but does not include any new funding.

Meanwhile, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-immigration-homan-asylum-inauguration-ac10480dc636b758ab3c435b974aeb19">new president has launched</a>&nbsp;a slew of executive orders intended to seal off the border of Mexico to immigration and ultimately deport millions of migrants without permanent legal status in the U.S. On Wednesday, Trump also canceled refugee resettlement and his administration has signaled intentions to prosecute local law enforcement officials who do not enforce his new immigration policies.

Republican congressional leaders have made it clear they intend to follow suit, though their toughest challenge will be finding a way to approve the funding to actually implement Trump’s hardline plans.

“What he’s doing is kickstarting what will ultimately be our legislative agenda,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

House Republicans initially passed the legislation last year with support from 37 Democrats in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-laken-riley-immigration-ibarra-georgia-34b06b0829772900eb55c123fe151845">move that was intended</a>&nbsp;to deliver a political rebuke to then-President Joe Biden’s handling of the southern border. It then languished in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

This year, Republicans, now with control of both congressional chambers, have made it their top priority. When it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-immigration-laken-riley-trump-4011a282775d58d509d953a9830aa367">came before the Senate</a>, 12 Democrats voted in favor of passage, and when the House voted on a version of the bill earlier this month, 48 Democrats supported it.

The vast majority of U.S. adults favor deporting immigrants convicted of violent crimes, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-poll-deportation-trump-border-security-40b2a28e34f8d0c76b4a6589f3db1ba3">recent survey</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>. However, only about 37% of U.S. adults are in favor of deporting immigrants in the U.S. illegally who have not been convicted of a crime.

“While the bill is not perfect, it sends a clear message that we think that criminals should be deported,” said Rep. Tom Suozzi, a New York Democrat who has called on his party to support tougher immigration enforcement.

Under the legislation, federal authorities would be required to detain any migrant arrested or charged with crimes like shoplifting. The scope of the proposal was widened in the Senate to also include those accused of assaulting a police officer or crimes that injure or kill someone.

The bill also gives legal standing to state attorneys general to sue the federal government for harm caused by federal immigration decisions. That gives states new power in setting immigration policy when they have already been trying to push back against presidential decisions under both the Trump and Biden administrations. Democrats unsuccessfully pushed to have that provision stripped from the bill in the Senate, saying it would inject even more uncertainty and partisanship into immigration policy.

Ultimately, even the Trump administration is likely to struggle to implement the new requirements unless Congress follows up later this year with funding. Republicans are currently strategizing how to push their priorities through Congress through a party-line process known as budget reconciliation. They have put the cost of funding Trump’s border and deportation priorities at roughly $100 billion.

Trump has “laid out the largest domestic logistical undertaking of our lifetimes -- that being the deportation of the vast majority of illegal aliens present in the United States," Ken Cuccinelli, who directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during Trump’s first presidency, told a Senate panel recently.

Cuccinelli said it would require a surge of immigration judges, prosecutors and other staff, but Trump has also paved the way to use military troops, bases and other resources to carry out the mass deportations.

The Department of Homeland Security has estimated the Laken Riley Act would cost $26.9 billion in the first year to implement, including an increase of 110,00 ICE detention beds.

Most Democrats criticized the lack of funding in the bill as proof that it is a piecemeal approach that would do little to fix problems in the immigration system, but saddle federal authorities with new requirements.

“The bill’s authors claimed it’s going to result in the arrest and detention of serious criminals, but it will not do that because it’s a totally unfunded mandate,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

Others raised concerns that the bill would strip due process rights for migrants, including minors or recipients of the Deferred Action for Unaccompanied Minors program. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said that federal authorities would now be forced to prioritize detention of migrants arrested for low-level crimes like shoplifting, rather than those who commit violent felonies.

On the whole, there is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-violent-crime-trump-republican-convention-bd40d14546bc7eb9a1dbbadfcb190950">no evidence</a>&nbsp;that immigrants are more prone to violent crime. Several studies have found immigrants commit lower rates of crime than those born in the U.S. Groups that advocate for restrictive immigration policies dispute or dismiss those findings.

But Republicans pointed to the bill’s namesake, Laken Riley, and how she was killed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley-immigrant-d8d75ccc6d81e7a88eb7890829d9fc9c">a Venezuelan migrant</a>&nbsp;who had previously been arrested by local authorities but released as he pursued his immigration case.

“If this act had been the law of the land, he never would have had the opportunity to kill her,” said Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732127765713.png" alt="Laken Riley photo courtesy Poole Funeral Home" />
 <figcaption>Laken Riley photo courtesy Poole Funeral Home</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that requires the detainment of unauthorized migrants accused of theft and violent crimes, marking the first legislation that President Donald Trump can sign as Congress, with some bipartisan support, swiftly moved in line with his plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-day-1-priorities-deportations-drilling-ukraine-6747c6e64b0440978f59450b928f61d1">crackdown on illegal immigration</a>.Passage of the Laken Riley Act, which was named after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-riley-immigrants-crime-63181cbc7a89fe9fe28b1d0cf84c8b9a">a Georgia nursing student</a>&nbsp;who was murdered last year by a Venezuelan man, shows just how sharply the political debate over immigration has shifted to the right following Trump's election victory. Immigration policy has often been one of the most entrenched issues in Congress, but a crucial faction of 46 politically vulnerable Democrats joined with Republicans to lift the strict proposal to passage on a 263-156 vote tally. All members of the Kansas House delegation including Democrat Sharice Davids voted with the majority. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted in favor of the bill on Monday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, Congress passed the Laken Riley Act, which will make communities in Kansas and across the country safer by requiring the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants who commit offenses including theft, assaults on law enforcement, and violent crimes. <a href="https://t.co/8CtZHwjV6R">pic.twitter.com/8CtZHwjV6R</a>&mdash; Rep. Derek Schmidt Press (@RepDerekSchmidt) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDerekSchmidt/status/1882208422973866441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“For decades, it has been almost impossible for our government to agree on solutions for the problems at our border and within our country,” said Sen. Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican. She called the legislation “perhaps the most significant immigration enforcement bill” to be passed by Congress in nearly three decades.Still, the bill would require a massive ramp up in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's capabilities, but does not include any new funding.Meanwhile, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-immigration-homan-asylum-inauguration-ac10480dc636b758ab3c435b974aeb19">new president has launched</a>&nbsp;a slew of executive orders intended to seal off the border of Mexico to immigration and ultimately deport millions of migrants without permanent legal status in the U.S. On Wednesday, Trump also canceled refugee resettlement and his administration has signaled intentions to prosecute local law enforcement officials who do not enforce his new immigration policies.Republican congressional leaders have made it clear they intend to follow suit, though their toughest challenge will be finding a way to approve the funding to actually implement Trump’s hardline plans.“What he’s doing is kickstarting what will ultimately be our legislative agenda,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.House Republicans initially passed the legislation last year with support from 37 Democrats in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-laken-riley-immigration-ibarra-georgia-34b06b0829772900eb55c123fe151845">move that was intended</a>&nbsp;to deliver a political rebuke to then-President Joe Biden’s handling of the southern border. It then languished in the Democratic-controlled Senate.This year, Republicans, now with control of both congressional chambers, have made it their top priority. When it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-immigration-laken-riley-trump-4011a282775d58d509d953a9830aa367">came before the Senate</a>, 12 Democrats voted in favor of passage, and when the House voted on a version of the bill earlier this month, 48 Democrats supported it.The vast majority of U.S. adults favor deporting immigrants convicted of violent crimes, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-poll-deportation-trump-border-security-40b2a28e34f8d0c76b4a6589f3db1ba3">recent survey</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>. However, only about 37% of U.S. adults are in favor of deporting immigrants in the U.S. illegally who have not been convicted of a crime.“While the bill is not perfect, it sends a clear message that we think that criminals should be deported,” said Rep. Tom Suozzi, a New York Democrat who has called on his party to support tougher immigration enforcement.Under the legislation, federal authorities would be required to detain any migrant arrested or charged with crimes like shoplifting. The scope of the proposal was widened in the Senate to also include those accused of assaulting a police officer or crimes that injure or kill someone.The bill also gives legal standing to state attorneys general to sue the federal government for harm caused by federal immigration decisions. That gives states new power in setting immigration policy when they have already been trying to push back against presidential decisions under both the Trump and Biden administrations. Democrats unsuccessfully pushed to have that provision stripped from the bill in the Senate, saying it would inject even more uncertainty and partisanship into immigration policy.Ultimately, even the Trump administration is likely to struggle to implement the new requirements unless Congress follows up later this year with funding. Republicans are currently strategizing how to push their priorities through Congress through a party-line process known as budget reconciliation. They have put the cost of funding Trump’s border and deportation priorities at roughly $100 billion.Trump has “laid out the largest domestic logistical undertaking of our lifetimes -- that being the deportation of the vast majority of illegal aliens present in the United States," Ken Cuccinelli, who directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during Trump’s first presidency, told a Senate panel recently.Cuccinelli said it would require a surge of immigration judges, prosecutors and other staff, but Trump has also paved the way to use military troops, bases and other resources to carry out the mass deportations.The Department of Homeland Security has estimated the Laken Riley Act would cost $26.9 billion in the first year to implement, including an increase of 110,00 ICE detention beds.Most Democrats criticized the lack of funding in the bill as proof that it is a piecemeal approach that would do little to fix problems in the immigration system, but saddle federal authorities with new requirements.“The bill’s authors claimed it’s going to result in the arrest and detention of serious criminals, but it will not do that because it’s a totally unfunded mandate,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.Others raised concerns that the bill would strip due process rights for migrants, including minors or recipients of the Deferred Action for Unaccompanied Minors program. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said that federal authorities would now be forced to prioritize detention of migrants arrested for low-level crimes like shoplifting, rather than those who commit violent felonies.On the whole, there is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-violent-crime-trump-republican-convention-bd40d14546bc7eb9a1dbbadfcb190950">no evidence</a>&nbsp;that immigrants are more prone to violent crime. Several studies have found immigrants commit lower rates of crime than those born in the U.S. Groups that advocate for restrictive immigration policies dispute or dismiss those findings.But Republicans pointed to the bill’s namesake, Laken Riley, and how she was killed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley-immigrant-d8d75ccc6d81e7a88eb7890829d9fc9c">a Venezuelan migrant</a>&nbsp;who had previously been arrested by local authorities but released as he pursued his immigration case.“If this act had been the law of the land, he never would have had the opportunity to kill her,” said Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga.___

Kan. lawmakers help send Laken Riley Act to President Trump's desk

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a Monday homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 18-year-old&nbsp;Amauri Holland-Williams, according to&nbsp;KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just after 7:30p.m. January 20, police were dispatched to 56th and Westridge in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according to DiMartino.

Upon arrival they were directed to a residence near the intersection. In the yard they located Holland-Williams suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Several witnesses were rendering aid to him as officers arrived.

 Officers took over life saving measures and ordered EMS.&nbsp; EMS transported him from the scene with life threatening injuries.&nbsp; Several hours later he died at the hospital, according to DiMartion.

This is being investigated as a homicide and no one is in custody. Detectives and crime scene personnel are working to determine what led up to the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737478624532.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a Monday homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 18-year-old&nbsp;Amauri Holland-Williams, according to&nbsp;KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.Just after 7:30p.m. January 20, police were dispatched to 56th and Westridge in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according to DiMartino.Upon arrival they were directed to a residence near the intersection. In the yard they located Holland-Williams suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Several witnesses were rendering aid to him as officers arrived. Officers took over life saving measures and ordered EMS.&nbsp; EMS transported him from the scene with life threatening injuries.&nbsp; Several hours later he died at the hospital, according to DiMartion.This is being investigated as a homicide and no one is in custody. Detectives and crime scene personnel are working to determine what led up to the incident.

Police ID teen shooting victim who died at KC hospital

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 8p.m. Wednesday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Audi A6 driven by&nbsp;Oldfield, Delbert Kevin Oldfield, 61, Baldwin City, was northbound Interstate 35 just south of 75th Street at a high rate of speed.&nbsp;

The driver swerved to the left to avoid striking another vehicle. The car traveled off the road, struck the median barrier wall, rode the wall before coming back onto the interstate, spun around and came to rest backwards in the number four lane.

EMS transported Oldfield to Overland Park Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 8p.m. Wednesday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Audi A6 driven by&nbsp;Oldfield, Delbert Kevin Oldfield, 61, Baldwin City, was northbound Interstate 35 just south of 75th Street at a high rate of speed.&nbsp;The driver swerved to the left to avoid striking another vehicle. The car traveled off the road, struck the median barrier wall, rode the wall before coming back onto the interstate, spun around and came to rest backwards in the number four lane.EMS transported Oldfield to Overland Park Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after violent crash into median barrier wall

On Wednesday, President Trump signed an Executive Order re-designating Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Houthis’ activities threaten the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East.

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101&nbsp;et seq.) (INA), it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.&nbsp; Purpose. &nbsp;This order sets in motion a process by which Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, shall be considered for designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, consistent with section 219 of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1189).

Supported by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF), which arms and trains terrorist organizations worldwide, the Houthis have fired at U.S. Navy warships dozens of times since 2023, endangering American men and women in uniform. &nbsp;Since seizing most Yemeni population centers by force from the legitimate Yemeni government in 2014-2015، the Houthis have launched numerous attacks on civilian infrastructure, including multiple attacks on civilian airports in Saudi Arabia, the deadly January 2022 attacks on the United Arab Emirates, and more than 300 projectiles fired at Israel since October 2023.&nbsp; The Houthis have also attacked commercial vessels transiting Bab al-Mandeb more than 100 times, killing at least four civilian sailors and forcing some Red Sea maritime commercial traffic to reroute, which has contributed to global inflation.

The Houthis’ activities threaten the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the safety of our closest regional partners, and the stability of global maritime trade.

Sec. 2. &nbsp;Policy. &nbsp;It is the policy of the United States to cooperate with its regional partners to eliminate Ansar Allah’s capabilities and operations, deprive it of resources, and thereby end its attacks on U.S. personnel and civilians, U.S. partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea.

Sec. 3. &nbsp;Implementation. &nbsp;(a) &nbsp;Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State shall, after consultation with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of the Treasury, submit a report to the President, through the National Security Council, concerning the designation of Ansar Allah as a foreign terrorist organization consistent with 8 U.S.C. 1189.

(b) &nbsp;Within 15 days after submitting the report required under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of State shall take all appropriate action, consistent with 8 U.S.C. 1189, with regards to a designation of Ansar Allah as a terrorist organization.

(d) &nbsp;Following any designation of Ansar Allah as a foreign terrorist organization under 8 U.S.C. 1189, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) shall jointly conduct a review of the United Nations partners, nongovernmental organizations, and contractors through which USAID works in Yemen, and identify any entities with a relationship with USAID that has:

(i)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; made payments to members of, or governmental entities controlled by, Ansar Allah; or

(ii)&nbsp;&nbsp; has criticized international efforts to counter Ansar Allah while failing to document Ansar Allah’s abuses sufficiently.

(e) &nbsp;The Administrator of USAID shall take all appropriate action to terminate the projects, grants, or contracts identified under subsection (e) of this section as appropriate.

Sec. 4. &nbsp;General Provisions.&nbsp; (a)&nbsp; Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)&nbsp;&nbsp; the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)&nbsp; the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b)&nbsp; This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)&nbsp; This order is not intended to and does not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, o

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1561036312700.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On Wednesday, President Trump signed an Executive Order re-designating Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Houthis’ activities threaten the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East.The executive order is printed below.By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101&nbsp;et seq.) (INA), it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1.&nbsp; Purpose. &nbsp;This order sets in motion a process by which Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, shall be considered for designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, consistent with section 219 of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1189).Supported by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF), which arms and trains terrorist organizations worldwide, the Houthis have fired at U.S. Navy warships dozens of times since 2023, endangering American men and women in uniform. &nbsp;Since seizing most Yemeni population centers by force from the legitimate Yemeni government in 2014-2015، the Houthis have launched numerous attacks on civilian infrastructure, including multiple attacks on civilian airports in Saudi Arabia, the deadly January 2022 attacks on the United Arab Emirates, and more than 300 projectiles fired at Israel since October 2023.&nbsp; The Houthis have also attacked commercial vessels transiting Bab al-Mandeb more than 100 times, killing at least four civilian sailors and forcing some Red Sea maritime commercial traffic to reroute, which has contributed to global inflation.The Houthis’ activities threaten the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the safety of our closest regional partners, and the stability of global maritime trade.Sec. 2. &nbsp;Policy. &nbsp;It is the policy of the United States to cooperate with its regional partners to eliminate Ansar Allah’s capabilities and operations, deprive it of resources, and thereby end its attacks on U.S. personnel and civilians, U.S. partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea.Sec. 3. &nbsp;Implementation. &nbsp;(a) &nbsp;Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State shall, after consultation with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of the Treasury, submit a report to the President, through the National Security Council, concerning the designation of Ansar Allah as a foreign terrorist organization consistent with 8 U.S.C. 1189.(b) &nbsp;Within 15 days after submitting the report required under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of State shall take all appropriate action, consistent with 8 U.S.C. 1189, with regards to a designation of Ansar Allah as a terrorist organization.(d) &nbsp;Following any designation of Ansar Allah as a foreign terrorist organization under 8 U.S.C. 1189, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) shall jointly conduct a review of the United Nations partners, nongovernmental organizations, and contractors through which USAID works in Yemen, and identify any entities with a relationship with USAID that has:(i)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; made payments to members of, or governmental entities controlled by, Ansar Allah; or(ii)&nbsp;&nbsp; has criticized international efforts to counter Ansar Allah while failing to document Ansar Allah’s abuses sufficiently.(e) &nbsp;The Administrator of USAID shall take all appropriate action to terminate the projects, grants, or contracts identified under subsection (e) of this section as appropriate.Sec. 4. &nbsp;General Provisions.&nbsp; (a)&nbsp; Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i)&nbsp;&nbsp; the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or(ii)&nbsp; the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b)&nbsp; This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c)&nbsp; This order is not intended to and does not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, o

Read the order: U.S. redesignates Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two children and two adults were killed Wednesday when a fire swept through an apartment complex in a Kansas City, Missouri, suburb in freezing temperatures.

The fire was reported around 6 a.m. at the Indy Ridge Apartments in Independence. The victims, including children ages 3 and 8, were found after the flames were extinguished, Independence Fire Chief Jimmy Walker said during a news conference.

“It is a sad day for the community," Walker said. "We will pull together.”

Walker said it damaged two dozen units. Fire crews spent four hours at the complex battling the blaze and putting out hot spots with winds gusting at speeds up to 24 mph and temperatures in the 20s.

Walker declined to release the names of the victims, saying their relatives are still being notified. He said 32 others were displaced, and two firefighters also suffered burns. The Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter.

Carissa Schulke told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article298957205.html">The Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;that she was awakened by the sounds of popping before hearing sirens.

“All of a sudden, they didn’t even knock on my door, they just busted in, ‘Hey you need to get out, you need to get out,’” Schulke recalled, as she stood outside in the cold with her dog shivering as firefighters battled the blaze.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737601332558.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two children and two adults were killed Wednesday when a fire swept through an apartment complex in a Kansas City, Missouri, suburb in freezing temperatures.The fire was reported around 6 a.m. at the Indy Ridge Apartments in Independence. The victims, including children ages 3 and 8, were found after the flames were extinguished, Independence Fire Chief Jimmy Walker said during a news conference.“It is a sad day for the community," Walker said. "We will pull together.”Walker said it damaged two dozen units. Fire crews spent four hours at the complex battling the blaze and putting out hot spots with winds gusting at speeds up to 24 mph and temperatures in the 20s.Walker declined to release the names of the victims, saying their relatives are still being notified. He said 32 others were displaced, and two firefighters also suffered burns. The Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter.Carissa Schulke told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article298957205.html">The Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;that she was awakened by the sounds of popping before hearing sirens.“All of a sudden, they didn’t even knock on my door, they just busted in, ‘Hey you need to get out, you need to get out,’” Schulke recalled, as she stood outside in the cold with her dog shivering as firefighters battled the blaze.

2 adults, 2 children die in fire at an apartment in KC suburb 

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Sheriff's deputies saved two dogs from an icy Kansas pond on Monday.

Just after 4:30pm, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding two&nbsp; dogs stuck in a pond in the 5800 block of SW Auburn Road, according to a media release.

 Two deputies arrived and immediately began taking action. The deputies used their smarts and quick thinking to find a nearby kayak. The Auburn Fire Department assisted and pulled the kayak with the deputies and dogs back to shore.

The dogs were reunited with their owners and taken to their veterinarian to be checked out. 

Sheriff Brian Hill commends the decisiveness and quick thinking of the deputies while rescuing these dogs. "We appreciate the callers for notifying the Dispatch and the teamwork that ensued."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737566958649.png" alt="Image from body camera video provided by Shawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Image from body camera video provided by Shawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Sheriff's deputies saved two dogs from an icy Kansas pond on Monday.Just after 4:30pm, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding two&nbsp; dogs stuck in a pond in the 5800 block of SW Auburn Road, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737566893597.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> Two deputies arrived and immediately began taking action. The deputies used their smarts and quick thinking to find a nearby kayak. The Auburn Fire Department assisted and pulled the kayak with the deputies and dogs back to shore.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737567275013.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The dogs were reunited with their owners and taken to their veterinarian to be checked out. Sheriff Brian Hill commends the decisiveness and quick thinking of the deputies while rescuing these dogs. "We appreciate the callers for notifying the Dispatch and the teamwork that ensued."

Deputies rescue dogs from icy Kansas pond

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Pentagon says it has begun deploying 1,500 troops to help secure the southern border, putting in motion plans Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-immigration-homan-asylum-inauguration-ac10480dc636b758ab3c435b974aeb19">laid out in executive orders</a>&nbsp;shortly after he took office to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/refugees-flights-trump-immigration-border-resettlement-33ebaa34bc4d0c069a22ee7aa5f8ff6d">crack down on immigration</a>.

Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said the troops will fly helicopters to assist Border Patrol agents and help in the construction of barriers. The Pentagon also will provide military aircraft for Department of Homeland Security deportation flights for more than 5,000 detained migrants.

The number of troops and their mission may soon change, Salesses said in a statement. “This is just the beginning,” he said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will begin deploying as many as 1,500 active duty troops to help secure the southern border in the coming days, U.S. officials said Wednesday, putting in motion plans President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-immigration-homan-asylum-inauguration-ac10480dc636b758ab3c435b974aeb19">laid out in executive orders</a>&nbsp;shortly after he took office to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/refugees-flights-trump-immigration-border-resettlement-33ebaa34bc4d0c069a22ee7aa5f8ff6d">crack down on immigration</a>.

Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses was expected to sign the deployment orders on Wednesday, but it wasn’t yet clear which troops or units will go, and the total could fluctuate. It remains to be seen if they will end up doing law enforcement, which would put American troops in a dramatically different role for the first time in decades.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not yet been made.

The active duty forces would join the roughly 2,500 U.S. National Guard and Reserve forces already there. There are currently no active duty troops working along the border.

Troops are prohibited by law from doing law enforcement duties under the Posse Comitatus Act, but that may change. Trump has directed through executive order that the incoming secretary of defense and incoming homeland security chief report back within 90 days if they think an 1807 law called the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/declaring-a-national-emergency-at-the-southern-border-of-the-united-states/" target="_blank">Insurrection Act</a>&nbsp;should be invoked. That would allow those troops to be used in civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil.

The last time the act was invoked was in 1992 during rioting in Los Angeles in protest of the acquittal of four police officers charged with beating Rodney King.

The widely expected deployment, coming in Trump’s first week in office, was an early step in his long-touted plan to expand the use of the military along the border. In one of his first orders on Monday, Trump directed the defense secretary to come up with a plan to “seal the borders” and repel “unlawful mass migration.”

On Tuesday, just as Trump fired the Coast Guard commandant, Adm. Linda Fagan, the service announced it was surging more cutter ships, aircraft and personnel to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4035591/coast-guard-announces-immediate-action-in-support-of-presidential-executive-ord/" target="_blank">“Gulf of America”</a>&nbsp;— a nod to the president’s directive to rename the Gulf of Mexico.

Trump said during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/trump-inauguration-updates">his inaugural address</a>&nbsp;on Monday that “I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places in which they came.”

Military personnel have been sent to the border almost continuously since the 1990s to help address migration. drug trafficking and transnational crime.

In executive orders signed Monday, Trump suggested the military would help the Department of Homeland Security with “detention space, transportation (including aircraft), and other logistics services.”

In his first term, Trump ordered active duty troops to the border in response to a caravan of migrants slowly making its way through Mexico toward the United States in 2018. More than 7,000 active duty troops were sent to Texas, Arizona and California, including military police, an assault helicopter battalion, various communications, medical and headquarters units, combat engineers, planners and public affairs units.

At the time, the Pentagon was adamant that active duty troops would not do law enforcement. So they spent much of their time transporting border patrol agents to and along the border, helping them erect additional vehicle barriers and fencing along the border, assisting them with communications and providing some security for border agent camps.

The military also provided border patrol agents with medical care, pre-packaged meals and temporary housing.

It’s also not yet clear if the Trump administration will order the military to use bases to house detained migrants.

Bases previously have been used for that purpose, and after the 2021 fall of Kabul to the Taliban, they were used to host thousands of Afghan evacuees. The facilities struggled to support the influx.

In 2018, then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis ordered Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas, to prepare to house as many as 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children, but the additional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-7d3602ecab3f4bf9bc68381b40eacd82">space ultimately wasn’t needed</a>&nbsp;and Goodfellow was determined not to have the infrastructure necessary to support the surge.

In March 2021, the Biden administration greenlighted using property at Fort Bliss, Texas, for a detention facility to provide beds for up to 10,000 unaccompanied migrant children as border crossings increased from Mexico.

The facility, operated by DHS,&nbsp;<a href="https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/OEI-07-21-00251.pdf" target="_blank">was quickly overrun,</a>&nbsp;with far too few case managers for the thousands of children that arrived, exposure to extreme weather and dust and unsanitary conditions, a 2022 inspector general report found.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Pentagon says it has begun deploying 1,500 troops to help secure the southern border, putting in motion plans Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-immigration-homan-asylum-inauguration-ac10480dc636b758ab3c435b974aeb19">laid out in executive orders</a>&nbsp;shortly after he took office to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/refugees-flights-trump-immigration-border-resettlement-33ebaa34bc4d0c069a22ee7aa5f8ff6d">crack down on immigration</a>.Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said the troops will fly helicopters to assist Border Patrol agents and help in the construction of barriers. The Pentagon also will provide military aircraft for Department of Homeland Security deportation flights for more than 5,000 detained migrants.The number of troops and their mission may soon change, Salesses said in a statement. “This is just the beginning,” he said.--------WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will begin deploying as many as 1,500 active duty troops to help secure the southern border in the coming days, U.S. officials said Wednesday, putting in motion plans President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-immigration-homan-asylum-inauguration-ac10480dc636b758ab3c435b974aeb19">laid out in executive orders</a>&nbsp;shortly after he took office to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/refugees-flights-trump-immigration-border-resettlement-33ebaa34bc4d0c069a22ee7aa5f8ff6d">crack down on immigration</a>.Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses was expected to sign the deployment orders on Wednesday, but it wasn’t yet clear which troops or units will go, and the total could fluctuate. It remains to be seen if they will end up doing law enforcement, which would put American troops in a dramatically different role for the first time in decades.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not yet been made.The active duty forces would join the roughly 2,500 U.S. National Guard and Reserve forces already there. There are currently no active duty troops working along the border.Troops are prohibited by law from doing law enforcement duties under the Posse Comitatus Act, but that may change. Trump has directed through executive order that the incoming secretary of defense and incoming homeland security chief report back within 90 days if they think an 1807 law called the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/declaring-a-national-emergency-at-the-southern-border-of-the-united-states/" target="_blank">Insurrection Act</a>&nbsp;should be invoked. That would allow those troops to be used in civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil.The last time the act was invoked was in 1992 during rioting in Los Angeles in protest of the acquittal of four police officers charged with beating Rodney King.The widely expected deployment, coming in Trump’s first week in office, was an early step in his long-touted plan to expand the use of the military along the border. In one of his first orders on Monday, Trump directed the defense secretary to come up with a plan to “seal the borders” and repel “unlawful mass migration.”On Tuesday, just as Trump fired the Coast Guard commandant, Adm. Linda Fagan, the service announced it was surging more cutter ships, aircraft and personnel to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4035591/coast-guard-announces-immediate-action-in-support-of-presidential-executive-ord/" target="_blank">“Gulf of America”</a>&nbsp;— a nod to the president’s directive to rename the Gulf of Mexico.Trump said during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/trump-inauguration-updates">his inaugural address</a>&nbsp;on Monday that “I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places in which they came.”Military personnel have been sent to the border almost continuously since the 1990s to help address migration. drug trafficking and transnational crime.In executive orders signed Monday, Trump suggested the military would help the Department of Homeland Security with “detention space, transportation (including aircraft), and other logistics services.”In his first term, Trump ordered active duty troops to the border in response to a caravan of migrants slowly making its way through Mexico toward the United States in 2018. More than 7,000 active duty troops were sent to Texas, Arizona and California, including military police, an assault helicopter battalion, various communications, medical and headquarters units, combat engineers, planners and public affairs units.At the time, the Pentagon was adamant that active duty troops would not do law enforcement. So they spent much of their time transporting border patrol agents to and along the border, helping them erect additional vehicle barriers and fencing along the border, assisting them with communications and providing some security for border agent camps.The military also provided border patrol agents with medical care, pre-packaged meals and temporary housing.It’s also not yet clear if the Trump administration will order the military to use bases to house detained migrants.Bases previously have been used for that purpose, and after the 2021 fall of Kabul to the Taliban, they were used to host thousands of Afghan evacuees. The facilities struggled to support the influx.In 2018, then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis ordered Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas, to prepare to house as many as 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children, but the additional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-7d3602ecab3f4bf9bc68381b40eacd82">space ultimately wasn’t needed</a>&nbsp;and Goodfellow was determined not to have the infrastructure necessary to support the surge.In March 2021, the Biden administration greenlighted using property at Fort Bliss, Texas, for a detention facility to provide beds for up to 10,000 unaccompanied migrant children as border crossings increased from Mexico.The facility, operated by DHS,&nbsp;<a href="https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/OEI-07-21-00251.pdf" target="_blank">was quickly overrun,</a>&nbsp;with far too few case managers for the thousands of children that arrived, exposure to extreme weather and dust and unsanitary conditions, a 2022 inspector general report found.

Pentagon has begun deploying troops to help secure the border

KANSAS CITY —A Jackson County judge sentenced a Kansas City man to 10 years in prison for a shooting that caused serious physical injury to a juvenile, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

Jeremy Brown, Jr., 21, pled guilty to Unlawful Use of a Weapon last year.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2484/2216-CR03767-01---Jeremy-Brown---PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Lee’s Summit Police officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of SW Arbor Creek Drive in Lee’s Summit on August 15, 2022, and made contact with a juvenile suffering a gunshot wound to his lower back.&nbsp;

At the scene with the victim were three other juveniles who said they had a confrontation with another juvenile who drives a white Ford Escape. After the confrontation, the juveniles left the area in a vehicle and said they were being chased by the juvenile driving the white Ford Escape. When they were around the area of SW Kline, they said someone from the Ford Escape, later identified as Brown, began shooting at them and the victim was struck.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737148558985.png" alt="Brown photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Brown photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Jackson County judge sentenced a Kansas City man to 10 years in prison for a shooting that caused serious physical injury to a juvenile, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.Jeremy Brown, Jr., 21, pled guilty to Unlawful Use of a Weapon last year.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2484/2216-CR03767-01---Jeremy-Brown---PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Lee’s Summit Police officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of SW Arbor Creek Drive in Lee’s Summit on August 15, 2022, and made contact with a juvenile suffering a gunshot wound to his lower back.&nbsp;At the scene with the victim were three other juveniles who said they had a confrontation with another juvenile who drives a white Ford Escape. After the confrontation, the juveniles left the area in a vehicle and said they were being chased by the juvenile driving the white Ford Escape. When they were around the area of SW Kline, they said someone from the Ford Escape, later identified as Brown, began shooting at them and the victim was struck.&nbsp;

Prison for chasing down, shooting juvenile in Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday demanded an apology from the Episcopal bishop of Washington after she made a direct appeal to him during a prayer service marking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-biden-democracy-power-00d5651a0ac611c2c6e3b555c4a8ad11">his inauguration</a>&nbsp;to have mercy on the LGBTQ+ community and migrant workers who are in the United States illegally.

Referencing Trump’s belief that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dac_uOOKL-Q">he was saved by God</a>&nbsp;from assassination, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde said, “You have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”

After he returned to the White House, Trump said, “I didn't think it was a good service” and “they could do much better.” But later, in an overnight post on his social media site, he sharply criticized the “so-called Bishop” as a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater.”

“She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart,” said Trump, a Republican, adding that Budde didn't mention that some migrants have come to the United States and killed people.

“Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one. She is not very good at her job!” Trump said. “She and her church owe the public an apology!”

A cathedral spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Wednesday.

The Trump administration has already issued executive orders rolling back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sex-gender-transgender-dei-order-245350b97e0c4dcc221fefc49ef44699">transgender rights</a>&nbsp;and toughening&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-immigration-homan-asylum-inauguration-ac10480dc636b758ab3c435b974aeb19">immigration policies</a>.

The Washington National Cathedral service was largely focused on national unity. Trump and Vice President JD Vance and their families attended, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump's defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth.

In her sermon, Budde said they gathered “to pray for unity as a people and a nation — not for agreement, political or otherwise — but for the kind of unity that fosters community across diversity and division.”

Evangelicals were at the service but not on the program

More than a dozen religious leaders spoke during the interfaith service, including those from Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu traditions.

Notably absent from the invited clergy with speaking roles were conservative evangelicals, who are among Trump’s strongest supporters.

Nonetheless, some of those evangelical supporters were in the pews.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737558352400.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday demanded an apology from the Episcopal bishop of Washington after she made a direct appeal to him during a prayer service marking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-biden-democracy-power-00d5651a0ac611c2c6e3b555c4a8ad11">his inauguration</a>&nbsp;to have mercy on the LGBTQ+ community and migrant workers who are in the United States illegally.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepLisaMcClain?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepLisaMcClain</a> on Mariann Edgar Budde&#39;s remarks at the National Prayer Service: &quot;The Bishop was extreme in her views, extremely out of line and out of touch. What she did was uncalled for. Perhaps we should pray for her.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/lxXiOHFVYR">pic.twitter.com/lxXiOHFVYR</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1882086652748898555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Referencing Trump’s belief that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dac_uOOKL-Q">he was saved by God</a>&nbsp;from assassination, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde said, “You have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde: &quot;The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors...may I ask you to have mercy Mr. President on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/iXaHJrPsof">pic.twitter.com/iXaHJrPsof</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1881761682944397728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>After he returned to the White House, Trump said, “I didn't think it was a good service” and “they could do much better.” But later, in an overnight post on his social media site, he sharply criticized the “so-called Bishop” as a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737573998569.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart,” said Trump, a Republican, adding that Budde didn't mention that some migrants have come to the United States and killed people.“Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one. She is not very good at her job!” Trump said. “She and her church owe the public an apology!”A cathedral spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Wednesday.The Trump administration has already issued executive orders rolling back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sex-gender-transgender-dei-order-245350b97e0c4dcc221fefc49ef44699">transgender rights</a>&nbsp;and toughening&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-immigration-homan-asylum-inauguration-ac10480dc636b758ab3c435b974aeb19">immigration policies</a>.The Washington National Cathedral service was largely focused on national unity. Trump and Vice President JD Vance and their families attended, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump's defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth.In her sermon, Budde said they gathered “to pray for unity as a people and a nation — not for agreement, political or otherwise — but for the kind of unity that fosters community across diversity and division.”She added, “Unity is not partisan.”<h2>Evangelicals were at the service but not on the program</h2>More than a dozen religious leaders spoke during the interfaith service, including those from Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu traditions.Notably absent from the invited clergy with speaking roles were conservative evangelicals, who are among Trump’s strongest supporters.Nonetheless, some of those evangelical supporters were in the pews.In attendance were Robert Jeffress, a longtime Trump supporter and pastor of Dallas’ First Baptist Church; Paula White-Cain, a televangelist and key spiritual adviser during Trump’s first term; and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sewell-benediction-king-dream-a9550188ef39184a2d5fd14b67843a28">Lorenzo Sewell</a>, the pastor of Detroit’s 180 Church, who gave a spirited benediction at Monday’s inauguration.<h2>A new kind of inaugural prayer service</h2>The Washington National Cathedral has hosted 10 official inaugural prayer services for presidents of both major political parties. The tradition dates back to 1933.The latest service had a different emphasis than previous ones. Its focus was on the nation instead of the new administration — a plan made before Election Day.“We are in a unique moment in our country’s history, and it is time to approach this differently,” said the Very Rev. Randy Hollerith, dean of the Episcopal cathedral, in an October statement. “This will be a service for all Americans, for the well-being of our nation, for our democracy.”The texts and songs revolved around themes of compassion and togetherness, including a reading from Deuteronomy 10:17-21, which speaks of taking care of orphans and widows and all who are in need.Sermons at inaugural services have often been given by ministers aligned with the incoming administration. In 2021, the Rev. William Barber, a progressive civil rights leader, preached before President Joe Biden, a Democrat, at the cathedral.Budde, who gave this year’s sermon, has joined other cathedral leaders in criticizing Trump previously,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2d1c74038bbe48a4af2e0807a5b49e52">rebuking</a>&nbsp;his “racialized rhetoric” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/faith-leaders-including-trump-allies-condemn-capitol-riot-958fbf612ab94cd9fa1f0f3738eb90dc">blaming</a>&nbsp;him for inciting violence on Jan. 6, 2021, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">a mob of his supporters</a>&nbsp;attacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to keep him in power.Budde was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-mn-state-wire-politics-09f54acd0aadf861ea3aadc5b79c0fd8">“outraged”</a>&nbsp;in 2020 after Trump staged an appearance in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, which is near the White House. He held up a Bible after the area had been cleared of peaceful protesters.Her sermon directed at Trump on Tuesday provoked a lively reaction on social media. Austen Ivereigh, a biographer of Pope Francis, wrote on X that the bishop “named the truth” when she spoke to Trump and Vance. “Their expressions of fury and discomfort suggest she nailed it,” Ivereigh said.Jeffress, in contrast, posted on X that Budde “insulted rather than encouraged our great president” and that “there was palpable disgust in the audience with her words.”<h2>Music made for Trump</h2>The one part of Tuesday's service that seemed tailor-made for Trump was the inclusion of opera singer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christopher-macchio-inauguration-national-anthem-trump-9ba855e4802789e18d3fc86b321b5e86">Christopher Macchio</a>, who also sang the national anthem at the inauguration.The tenor sang “Ave Maria,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-town-hall-concern-dancing-24290775c8e11223fde1d440a7a5cf7c">a favorite song</a>&nbsp;of Trump and one that Macchio sang at a Trump rally and the Republican National Convention.Before the service began, Macchio performed hymns like “How Great Thou Art” and another Trump favorite, “Hallelujah,” written by Leonard Cohen.As the prayer service neared its end, Trump joined others in singing “America the Beautiful.”Trump also thanked many of the clergy members who participated as they processed past him — except for Budde, whom he did not acknowledge.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.