KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Rescuers scoured flooded riverbanks littered with mangled trees Saturday and turned over rocks in the search for more than two dozen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">children from a girls’ camp</a>&nbsp;and many others missing after a wall of water blasted down a river in the Texas Hill Country. The storm killed at least 27 people, including nine children.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">destructive fast-moving waters</a>&nbsp;rose 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as torrential rains continued pounding communities outside San Antonio on Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect.

Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue stranded people in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads.

“People need to know today will be a hard day,” said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. “Please pray for our community.”

Authorities were coming under growing scrutiny Saturday over whether the camps and residents in places long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flood-deaths-flash-flooding-weather-408b11abe0389f38c93d8722b9d15dd0">vulnerable to flooding</a>&nbsp;received proper warning and whether enough preparations were made.

The hills along the Guadalupe River in central Texas are dotted with century-old youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the July Fourth holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing.

“We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” said City Manager Dalton Rice said on Saturday morning.

Raging storm hit camp in middle of the night

Some 27 children were among the missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river, he said.

“The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”

A raging storm woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs, she said.

Frantic parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for information.

On Saturday, the camp was mostly deserted. Helicopters roared above as a few people looked at the damage, including a pickup truck tossed onto its side and a building missing its entire front wall.

Among those confirmed dead was the director of a camp just up the road from Camp Mystic.

The flooding in the middle of the night caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise in the Hill Country, which sits northwest of San Antonio.

AccuWeather said the private forecasting company and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation.

“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,” AccuWeather said in a statement that called the Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water crossings.

Officials defended their actions while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area.

One National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week "did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

Helicopters, drones used in frantic search for missing

Search crews were facing harsh conditions while "looking in every possible location,” Rice said.

Authorities said about 850 people had been rescued. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters were flying in to assist.

One reunification center at an elementary school was mostly quiet Saturday after taking in hundreds of evacuees the day before.

“We still have people coming here looking for their loved ones. We’ve had a little success, but not much,” said Bobby Templeton, superintendent of Ingram Independent School District.

President Donald Trump said Saturday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was traveling to Texas and his administration was working with officials on the ground.

“Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy,” Trump said in a statement on his social media network.

In Ingram, Erin Burgess woke to thunder and rain in the middle of the night Friday. Just 20 minutes later, water was pouring into her home, she said. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree with her teenage son.

“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said.

Barry Adelman said water pushed everyone in his three-story house into the attic, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson.

“I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death,” he said.

Local resident know it as “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flash-flood-warning-watch-texas-986af31b0402a7a721fd9cc275622457">flash flood alley.</a>&nbsp;”

“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which was collecting donations. “It rushes down the hill.”

‘No one knew this kind of flood was coming’

The forecast for the weekend had called for rain, with a flood watch upgraded to a warning overnight Friday for at least 30,000 people. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area.

“Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we’re not exactly sure where it’s going to land," Patrick said. "Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that’s when the storm started to zero in.”

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's chief elected official, said: “We do not have a warning system.”

When pushed on why more precautions weren't taken, Kelly said no one knew this kind of flood was coming.

The slow-moving storm is bringing more rain Saturday, with the potential for pockets of heavy downpours and more flooding, said Jason Runyen, of the National Weather Service.

The threat could linger overnight and into Sunday morning, he said.

Cortez reported from Hunt, Texas. Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press reporter Susan Haigh contributed from Hartford, Connecticut.

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Crews searched through the dark early Saturday for two dozen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">children from a girls’ camp</a>&nbsp;and many others who were still missing after a wall of water rushed down a river in the Texas Hill Country during a powerful storm that killed at least 24 people. The death toll was certain to rise.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">destructive fast-moving waters</a>&nbsp;along the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes before dawn Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as more heavy rains were expected Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect for parts of central Texas.

Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue stranded people. The total number of missing was not known but one sheriff said about 24 of them were girls who had been attending Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river.

“The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers at Camp Mystic. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”

A raging storm woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with floodwaters whipping around their legs, she said.

At a news conference late Friday, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said 24 people were confirmed dead, including some children. Authorities said about 240 people had been rescued.

The flooding in the middle of the night on the Fourth of July holiday caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise. The Texas Hill Country, which sits northwest of San Antonio, is a popular destination for camping and swimming, especially around the summertime holiday.

Questions were being raised about whether enough warnings and preparations were made. Officials defended their actions while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months’ worth of rain for the area.

One National Weather Service forecast this week had called for only between three and six inches (76 to 152 millimeters) of rain, said Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

“It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” he said.

A river gauge near Camp Mystic recorded a 22 foot rise (6.7 meters) in about two hours, said Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. The gauge failed after recording a level of 29 and a half feet (9 meters).

“The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you,” Fogarty said.

More than 1,000 rescuers were on the ground. Rescue teams, helicopters and drones were being used, with some people being plucked from trees. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters were flying in to assist.

In Ingram, Erin Burgess woke to thunder and rain in the middle of the night Friday. Just 20 minutes later, water was pouring into her home from the river, she said. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree with her teenage son and waiting for the water to recede enough to walk up the hill to safety.

“Thankfully he’s over 6 feet tall. That’s the only thing that saved me, was hanging on to him,” she said.

Matthew Stone, 44, of Kerrville, said police came knocking on doors but that he had received no warning on his phone.

“We got no emergency alert. There was nothing,” Stone said. Then “a pitch black wall of death.”

At a reunification center in Ingram, families cried and cheered as loved ones got off rescue vehicles. Two soldiers carried an older woman who could not get down a ladder. Behind her, a woman clutched a small white dog.

Later, a girl in a white “Camp Mystic” T-shirt and white socks stood in a puddle, sobbing in her mother’s arms.

Barry Adelman said water pushed everyone in his three-story house into the attic, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson. Water started coming through the attic floor before receding.

“I was horrified,” he said. “I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death.”

The forecast for the weekend had called for rain, with a flood watch upgraded to a warning overnight Friday for at least 30,000 people.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area.

“Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we’re not exactly sure where it’s going to land,” Patrick said. “Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that’s when the storm started to zero in.”

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, said: “We do not have a warning system.”

When pushed on why more precautions weren’t taken, Kelly said no one knew this kind of flood was coming.

The slow-moving storm stuck over central Texas is expected to bring more rain Saturday, with the potential for pockets of heavy downpours and more flooding, said Jason Runyen, of the National Weather Service.

The area is known as “flash flood alley” because of the hills’ thin layer of soil, said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which was collecting donations to help nonprofits responding to the disaster.

“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” Dickson said. “It rushes down the hill.”

River tourism industry is a key part of the Hill Country economy. Well-known, century-old summer camps bring in kids from all over the country, Dickson said.

“It’s generally a very tranquil river with really beautiful clear blue water that people have been attracted to for generations,” Dickson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751724125124.png" alt="Heavy rains in Kerr County and elsewhere in Central Texas have caused severe flooding and loss of life. Credit: City of Kerrville Facebook page" />
 <figcaption>Heavy rains in Kerr County and elsewhere in Central Texas have caused severe flooding and loss of life. Credit: City of Kerrville Facebook page</figcaption>
 </figure>KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Rescuers scoured flooded riverbanks littered with mangled trees Saturday and turned over rocks in the search for more than two dozen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">children from a girls’ camp</a>&nbsp;and many others missing after a wall of water blasted down a river in the Texas Hill Country. The storm killed at least 27 people, including nine children.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">💔 <a href="https://t.co/ylhTDXGVly">pic.twitter.com/ylhTDXGVly</a>&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1941512723449446807?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">destructive fast-moving waters</a>&nbsp;rose 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as torrential rains continued pounding communities outside San Antonio on Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Air rescue missions like this are being done around the clock. We will not stop until everyone is accounted for. <a href="https://t.co/tqwTr1RkEi">pic.twitter.com/tqwTr1RkEi</a>&mdash; Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1941236386646077698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue stranded people in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/USCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCG</a> is punching through storms to evacuate Americans from central Texas. We will fly throughout the night and as long as possible. This is what the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard do. <a href="https://t.co/2vOgkS5Hun">pic.twitter.com/2vOgkS5Hun</a>&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1941280141260488771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“People need to know today will be a hard day,” said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. “Please pray for our community.”Authorities were coming under growing scrutiny Saturday over whether the camps and residents in places long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flood-deaths-flash-flooding-weather-408b11abe0389f38c93d8722b9d15dd0">vulnerable to flooding</a>&nbsp;received proper warning and whether enough preparations were made.The hills along the Guadalupe River in central Texas are dotted with century-old youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the July Fourth holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing.“We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” said City Manager Dalton Rice said on Saturday morning.<h2>Raging storm hit camp in middle of the night</h2>Some 27 children were among the missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river, he said.“The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”A raging storm woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs, she said.Frantic parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for information.On Saturday, the camp was mostly deserted. Helicopters roared above as a few people looked at the damage, including a pickup truck tossed onto its side and a building missing its entire front wall.Among those confirmed dead was the director of a camp just up the road from Camp Mystic.The flooding in the middle of the night caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise in the Hill Country, which sits northwest of San Antonio.AccuWeather said the private forecasting company and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation.“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,” AccuWeather said in a statement that called the Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water crossings.Officials defended their actions while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area.One National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week "did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.<h2>Helicopters, drones used in frantic search for missing</h2>Search crews were facing harsh conditions while "looking in every possible location,” Rice said.Authorities said about 850 people had been rescued. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters were flying in to assist.One reunification center at an elementary school was mostly quiet Saturday after taking in hundreds of evacuees the day before.“We still have people coming here looking for their loved ones. We’ve had a little success, but not much,” said Bobby Templeton, superintendent of Ingram Independent School District.President Donald Trump said Saturday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was traveling to Texas and his administration was working with officials on the ground.“Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy,” Trump said in a statement on his social media network.<h2>Residents clung to trees, fled to attics</h2>In Ingram, Erin Burgess woke to thunder and rain in the middle of the night Friday. Just 20 minutes later, water was pouring into her home, she said. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree with her teenage son.“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said.Barry Adelman said water pushed everyone in his three-story house into the attic, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson.“I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death,” he said.Local resident know it as “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flash-flood-warning-watch-texas-986af31b0402a7a721fd9cc275622457">flash flood alley.</a>&nbsp;”“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which was collecting donations. “It rushes down the hill.”<h2>‘No one knew this kind of flood was coming’</h2>The forecast for the weekend had called for rain, with a flood watch upgraded to a warning overnight Friday for at least 30,000 people. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area.“Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we’re not exactly sure where it’s going to land," Patrick said. "Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that’s when the storm started to zero in.”Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's chief elected official, said: “We do not have a warning system.”When pushed on why more precautions weren't taken, Kelly said no one knew this kind of flood was coming.<h2>More pockets of heavy rains expected</h2>The slow-moving storm is bringing more rain Saturday, with the potential for pockets of heavy downpours and more flooding, said Jason Runyen, of the National Weather Service.The threat could linger overnight and into Sunday morning, he said.___Cortez reported from Hunt, Texas. Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press reporter Susan Haigh contributed from Hartford, Connecticut.------------------KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Crews searched through the dark early Saturday for two dozen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">children from a girls’ camp</a>&nbsp;and many others who were still missing after a wall of water rushed down a river in the Texas Hill Country during a powerful storm that killed at least 24 people. The death toll was certain to rise.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">destructive fast-moving waters</a>&nbsp;along the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes before dawn Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as more heavy rains were expected Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect for parts of central Texas.Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue stranded people. The total number of missing was not known but one sheriff said about 24 of them were girls who had been attending Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river.Frantic parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for information.“The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers at Camp Mystic. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”A raging storm woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with floodwaters whipping around their legs, she said.At a news conference late Friday, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said 24 people were confirmed dead, including some children. Authorities said about 240 people had been rescued.The flooding in the middle of the night on the Fourth of July holiday caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise. The Texas Hill Country, which sits northwest of San Antonio, is a popular destination for camping and swimming, especially around the summertime holiday.Questions were being raised about whether enough warnings and preparations were made. Officials defended their actions while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months’ worth of rain for the area.One National Weather Service forecast this week had called for only between three and six inches (76 to 152 millimeters) of rain, said Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.“It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” he said.<h2>Helicopters, drones used in frantic search for missing</h2>A river gauge near Camp Mystic recorded a 22 foot rise (6.7 meters) in about two hours, said Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. The gauge failed after recording a level of 29 and a half feet (9 meters).“The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you,” Fogarty said.More than 1,000 rescuers were on the ground. Rescue teams, helicopters and drones were being used, with some people being plucked from trees. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters were flying in to assist.<h2>‘Pitch black wall of death’</h2>In Ingram, Erin Burgess woke to thunder and rain in the middle of the night Friday. Just 20 minutes later, water was pouring into her home from the river, she said. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree with her teenage son and waiting for the water to recede enough to walk up the hill to safety.“Thankfully he’s over 6 feet tall. That’s the only thing that saved me, was hanging on to him,” she said.“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said.Matthew Stone, 44, of Kerrville, said police came knocking on doors but that he had received no warning on his phone.“We got no emergency alert. There was nothing,” Stone said. Then “a pitch black wall of death.”<h2>‘I was scared to death’</h2>At a reunification center in Ingram, families cried and cheered as loved ones got off rescue vehicles. Two soldiers carried an older woman who could not get down a ladder. Behind her, a woman clutched a small white dog.Later, a girl in a white “Camp Mystic” T-shirt and white socks stood in a puddle, sobbing in her mother’s arms.Barry Adelman said water pushed everyone in his three-story house into the attic, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson. Water started coming through the attic floor before receding.“I was horrified,” he said. “I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death.”<h2>‘No one knew this kind of flood was coming’</h2>The forecast for the weekend had called for rain, with a flood watch upgraded to a warning overnight Friday for at least 30,000 people.Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area.“Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we’re not exactly sure where it’s going to land,” Patrick said. “Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that’s when the storm started to zero in.”Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, said: “We do not have a warning system.”When pushed on why more precautions weren’t taken, Kelly said no one knew this kind of flood was coming.<h2>More pockets of heavy rains expected</h2>The slow-moving storm stuck over central Texas is expected to bring more rain Saturday, with the potential for pockets of heavy downpours and more flooding, said Jason Runyen, of the National Weather Service.The threat could linger overnight and into Sunday morning, he said.<h2>Popular tourism area prone to flooding</h2>The area is known as “flash flood alley” because of the hills’ thin layer of soil, said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which was collecting donations to help nonprofits responding to the disaster.“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” Dickson said. “It rushes down the hill.”River tourism industry is a key part of the Hill Country economy. Well-known, century-old summer camps bring in kids from all over the country, Dickson said.“It’s generally a very tranquil river with really beautiful clear blue water that people have been attracted to for generations,” Dickson said.

Desperate search for two dozen girls from summer camp amid Texas floods

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Supporters of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-gop-taxes-ced365c347de9320eef2ccb8df16dda2">sweeping tax and spending legislation</a>&nbsp;that President Donald Trump signed into law say the changes to Medicaid, food aid and other programs will encourage personal responsibility and halt those scamming the system.

Critics of the bill, given final congressional approval Thursday, say the requirements will upend lives.

Here’s a look at what people are saying about the new law.

Work requirements added for accessing more federal benefits

To enroll and stay on Medicaid, many ages 19 through 64 would be required to work, go to school or perform at least 80 hours of community service a month.

The Medicaid work requirement would apply to people in 40 states who are enrolled through expanded access that states agreed to put in place since 2014. Ten states, including Texas and Florida, did not expand the program.

For the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which already requires adults ages 18 to 55 to work, working would become mandatory for many until they turn 65.

For both benefits, there would be exceptions, including for parents who are caregivers to children under age 14.

Most people covered by Medicaid already meet the work requirement or qualify for an exception.

The requirements are sparking worry for some enrollees

Theresa Gibbs, who lost her job as a school bus driver, is enrolled in both Medicaid and SNAP. She likely would be exempt from the work mandate because she has three children under age 14. But Gibbs said she is applying for jobs anyway.

“I don’t think people should just live off the state if they’re perfectly capable to work,” said Gibbs, 34, of Jefferson City, Missouri.

Amanda Hinton, 39, of St. Martins, Missouri, receives Medicaid and SNAP benefits. She puts in enough hours at a part-time gas station job to likely meet the new requirements but is concerned should her fibromyalgia, which causes pain and fatigue, keep her from working for a time.

“I’m panicked. I mean I have some chronic health conditions that are not curable, and I rely on my medication to help me just get through the day,” she said. “And without my Medicaid, I couldn’t afford these.”

Brittany Phillips, 32, of Greensboro, North Carolina, said being on Medicaid has helped her stay afloat both financially and health-wise while she works a temporary, remote medical services job paying about $600 weekly.

“I do believe that Medicaid should be available for everyone regardless of who they are -- regardless of capacity, faculty -- everyone should have Medicaid,” she said.

It’s not just the work requirement; it’s also the paperwork

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gop-bill-trump-medicaid-cuts-coverage-health-bb4f090d2706ffb3d5652e70f246a10e">11.8 million fewer people</a>&nbsp;could have health insurance by 2034 because of the changes, which also include booting off non-citizens who are not in the U.S. permanently and legally. And that doesn’t include those who could lose coverage for other reasons.

Advocates say that even people who are covered by exceptions to the work requirement could lose their Medicaid coverage. One major reason is a requirement that people’s eligibility would be assessed at least every six months.

“Every additional paper someone has to submit separately from their application,” said Deborah Steinberg, a senior health policy analyst at the Legal Action Center, “you lose people.”

Julia Bennker, who runs an in-home daycare in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, relies on SNAP and Medicaid and has had paperwork issues under existing Medicaid requirements. She said that earlier this year, she didn’t have health coverage for a month after she was told her forms were late — though she believes she submitted them on time.

That meant going a month without therapy and needing to reschedule another appointment with a prescriber.

Some of the conditions that would trigger exceptions — mental illness or substance use disorder — are not currently tallied in Medicaid computer systems.

“It’s not like you wave a magic wand and everyone who should be exempt is exempt,” said Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

States will face pressure - and deadlines - to revamp their programs

State health care and social services agencies will have to rework their computer systems to account for the various changes while also dealing with federal funding reductions. That’s cause for concern for some health care advocates.

The legislation requires all states to shoulder more of the administrative costs of SNAP starting in 2027 and, for the first time, could force some states to pay for a portion of food assistance benefits starting in 2028.

States also must implement the Medicaid work requirement by 2027.

“It will be a very tight and difficult timeline for many of these states,” said Sophia Tripoli, senior health policy director at Families USA, a health care advocacy organization. “There’s a huge cost burden on states from the administrative side just to stand up these systems.”

Julieanne Taylor, a lawyer at the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy in North Carolina, said her organization’s clients already face delays in verifications for the food program.

“To add more to them, it’s going to be a disaster,” she said. “It’s going to cause people to drop off because they’re like, ‘I don’t want to have to do this every year or every six months.’”

Rural hospitals could face financial struggles

The bill could also put rural hospitals at financial risk, experts say, because it seeks to cap the taxes that states impose on hospitals and other health care providers in a way that boosts Medicaid funding.

The nonprofit KFF, which studies health care issues, estimates that Medicaid spending in rural areas would decrease by $155 billion over the next decade under the bill.

“While there are already a number of small and rural hospitals that are vulnerable,” said R. Kyle Kramer, CEO of Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, Connecticut, “it’s going to lead to a lot of closures.”

The bill includes a $50 billion fund to partially offset those reductions.

Planned Parenthood would lose federal money

Federal taxpayer money is already barred from paying for abortions in most cases.

The bill would also ban federal funds going to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-funding-pills-clinic-closures-56694deb186a0339e1fe9fe3e1c1c363">Planned Parenthood,</a>&nbsp;the nation’s largest abortion provider, for other purposes like family planning programs and cancer screenings.

The group says that one-third of its roughly 600 clinics across the U.S. could face closure as a result of the legislation, and that states where abortion is legal would be hardest hit.

At least one other group says it also stands to lose funding because of the provision. Maine Family Planning has 19 sites and subcontracts with other health care organizations, including Planned Parenthood, to provide services at other locations across the rural state.

Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, and Gary D. Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750772403338.png" alt="(Photo by Lance Cheung/USDA)." />
 <figcaption>(Photo by Lance Cheung/USDA).</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Supporters of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-gop-taxes-ced365c347de9320eef2ccb8df16dda2">sweeping tax and spending legislation</a>&nbsp;that President Donald Trump signed into law say the changes to Medicaid, food aid and other programs will encourage personal responsibility and halt those scamming the system.Critics of the bill, given final congressional approval Thursday, say the requirements will upend lives.Here’s a look at what people are saying about the new law.<h2>Work requirements added for accessing more federal benefits</h2>To enroll and stay on Medicaid, many ages 19 through 64 would be required to work, go to school or perform at least 80 hours of community service a month.The Medicaid work requirement would apply to people in 40 states who are enrolled through expanded access that states agreed to put in place since 2014. Ten states, including Texas and Florida, did not expand the program.For the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which already requires adults ages 18 to 55 to work, working would become mandatory for many until they turn 65.For both benefits, there would be exceptions, including for parents who are caregivers to children under age 14.Most people covered by Medicaid already meet the work requirement or qualify for an exception.<h2>The requirements are sparking worry for some enrollees</h2>Theresa Gibbs, who lost her job as a school bus driver, is enrolled in both Medicaid and SNAP. She likely would be exempt from the work mandate because she has three children under age 14. But Gibbs said she is applying for jobs anyway.“I don’t think people should just live off the state if they’re perfectly capable to work,” said Gibbs, 34, of Jefferson City, Missouri.But the changes worry others.Amanda Hinton, 39, of St. Martins, Missouri, receives Medicaid and SNAP benefits. She puts in enough hours at a part-time gas station job to likely meet the new requirements but is concerned should her fibromyalgia, which causes pain and fatigue, keep her from working for a time.“I’m panicked. I mean I have some chronic health conditions that are not curable, and I rely on my medication to help me just get through the day,” she said. “And without my Medicaid, I couldn’t afford these.”Brittany Phillips, 32, of Greensboro, North Carolina, said being on Medicaid has helped her stay afloat both financially and health-wise while she works a temporary, remote medical services job paying about $600 weekly.“I do believe that Medicaid should be available for everyone regardless of who they are -- regardless of capacity, faculty -- everyone should have Medicaid,” she said.<h2>It’s not just the work requirement; it’s also the paperwork</h2>The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gop-bill-trump-medicaid-cuts-coverage-health-bb4f090d2706ffb3d5652e70f246a10e">11.8 million fewer people</a>&nbsp;could have health insurance by 2034 because of the changes, which also include booting off non-citizens who are not in the U.S. permanently and legally. And that doesn’t include those who could lose coverage for other reasons.Advocates say that even people who are covered by exceptions to the work requirement could lose their Medicaid coverage. One major reason is a requirement that people’s eligibility would be assessed at least every six months.“Every additional paper someone has to submit separately from their application,” said Deborah Steinberg, a senior health policy analyst at the Legal Action Center, “you lose people.”Julia Bennker, who runs an in-home daycare in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, relies on SNAP and Medicaid and has had paperwork issues under existing Medicaid requirements. She said that earlier this year, she didn’t have health coverage for a month after she was told her forms were late — though she believes she submitted them on time.That meant going a month without therapy and needing to reschedule another appointment with a prescriber.Some of the conditions that would trigger exceptions — mental illness or substance use disorder — are not currently tallied in Medicaid computer systems.“It’s not like you wave a magic wand and everyone who should be exempt is exempt,” said Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.<h2>States will face pressure - and deadlines - to revamp their programs</h2>State health care and social services agencies will have to rework their computer systems to account for the various changes while also dealing with federal funding reductions. That’s cause for concern for some health care advocates.The legislation requires all states to shoulder more of the administrative costs of SNAP starting in 2027 and, for the first time, could force some states to pay for a portion of food assistance benefits starting in 2028.States also must implement the Medicaid work requirement by 2027.“It will be a very tight and difficult timeline for many of these states,” said Sophia Tripoli, senior health policy director at Families USA, a health care advocacy organization. “There’s a huge cost burden on states from the administrative side just to stand up these systems.”Julieanne Taylor, a lawyer at the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy in North Carolina, said her organization’s clients already face delays in verifications for the food program.“To add more to them, it’s going to be a disaster,” she said. “It’s going to cause people to drop off because they’re like, ‘I don’t want to have to do this every year or every six months.’”<h2>Rural hospitals could face financial struggles</h2>The bill could also put rural hospitals at financial risk, experts say, because it seeks to cap the taxes that states impose on hospitals and other health care providers in a way that boosts Medicaid funding.The nonprofit KFF, which studies health care issues, estimates that Medicaid spending in rural areas would decrease by $155 billion over the next decade under the bill.“While there are already a number of small and rural hospitals that are vulnerable,” said R. Kyle Kramer, CEO of Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, Connecticut, “it’s going to lead to a lot of closures.”The bill includes a $50 billion fund to partially offset those reductions.<h2>Planned Parenthood would lose federal money</h2>Federal taxpayer money is already barred from paying for abortions in most cases.The bill would also ban federal funds going to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-funding-pills-clinic-closures-56694deb186a0339e1fe9fe3e1c1c363">Planned Parenthood,</a>&nbsp;the nation’s largest abortion provider, for other purposes like family planning programs and cancer screenings.The group says that one-third of its roughly 600 clinics across the U.S. could face closure as a result of the legislation, and that states where abortion is legal would be hardest hit.At least one other group says it also stands to lose funding because of the provision. Maine Family Planning has 19 sites and subcontracts with other health care organizations, including Planned Parenthood, to provide services at other locations across the rural state.___Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, and Gary D. Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

Medicaid, food aid recipients worry about safety net cuts in Trump's big bill

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 11p.m. in Kansas City, Kansas.

According to Kansas City, Kansas police, a vehicle was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes in the 3000 Block of Parallel Parkway and struck a westbound vehicle head-on. 

The wrong-way driver died of his injures at an area hospital, according to police. EMS transported the two adults and three juveniles from the westbound vehicle for treatment of serious injuries. The accident remains under investigation&nbsp; by the KCKPD traffic division. Police released no additional details early Saturday.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 11p.m. in Kansas City, Kansas.According to Kansas City, Kansas police, a vehicle was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes in the 3000 Block of Parallel Parkway and struck a westbound vehicle head-on. The wrong-way driver died of his injures at an area hospital, according to police. EMS transported the two adults and three juveniles from the westbound vehicle for treatment of serious injuries. The accident remains under investigation&nbsp; by the KCKPD traffic division. Police released no additional details early Saturday.

1 dead, 2 adults, 3 children injured in wrong-way Kansas crash

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo.&nbsp;– Approximately 200 Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, are conducting a movement to Florida, to augment U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) interior immigration enforcement mission with critical administrative and logistical capabilities at locations as directed by ICE, according to a statement from the U.S. Northern Command.

Responding to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) request received May 9, 2025, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4218703/statement-by-chief-pentagon-spokesman-sean-parnell-on-dod-administrative-and-lo">Secretary of Defense</a>&nbsp;approved a mobilization of up to 700 Active, National Guard, and Reserve component forces operating under Title 10 authority.

These Marines are the first wave of U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM’s) support of this ICE mission. Other support locations will include Louisiana and Texas. Service members participating in this mission will perform&nbsp;strictly non-law enforcement&nbsp;duties within ICE facilities. Their roles will focus on administrative and logistical tasks, and they are&nbsp;specifically prohibited&nbsp;from direct contact with individuals in ICE custody or involvement in any aspect of the custody chain.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733965183962.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo.&nbsp;– Approximately 200 Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, are conducting a movement to Florida, to augment U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) interior immigration enforcement mission with critical administrative and logistical capabilities at locations as directed by ICE, according to a statement from the U.S. Northern Command.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740147958319.png" alt="File photo (Courtesy of Miami ICE Enforcement &amp; Removal Operations office)" />
 <figcaption>File photo (Courtesy of Miami ICE Enforcement &amp; Removal Operations office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Responding to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) request received May 9, 2025, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4218703/statement-by-chief-pentagon-spokesman-sean-parnell-on-dod-administrative-and-lo">Secretary of Defense</a>&nbsp;approved a mobilization of up to 700 Active, National Guard, and Reserve component forces operating under Title 10 authority.These Marines are the first wave of U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM’s) support of this ICE mission. Other support locations will include Louisiana and Texas. Service members participating in this mission will perform&nbsp;strictly non-law enforcement&nbsp;duties within ICE facilities. Their roles will focus on administrative and logistical tasks, and they are&nbsp;specifically prohibited&nbsp;from direct contact with individuals in ICE custody or involvement in any aspect of the custody chain.

Military sending 200 Marines to help ICE in Florida

ELLSWORTH COUNTY —The recovery effort for a man and teen missing at Kanopolis Lake continues, according to a social media report from the Ellsworth Couinty Sheriff late Friday.

High winds have been hampering efforts. KDWP along with three area dive teams have been at it steadily since early Friday. The sheriff office asked holiday boaters, to stay away from the search personnel and vessels.

According to Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard, at around&nbsp;7:15-7:30pm&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;Ellsworth County dispatch reported three people who went missing after being on a boat at the lake.

A 14-year old girl was recovered by an individual in the area and was taken for treatment.

According to Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.

By:&nbsp;NICOLAS FIERRO Salina Post

ELLSWORTH COUNTY - The search for two people missing at Kanopolis Lake in Ellsworth County continued Friday morning.

According to Sheriff Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.

Multiple agencies including the Rice County Sheriff's Office, Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office, Marquette County Sheriff's Office, Marquette Fire Department, Ellsworth Fire Department and Law Enforcement Dive Teams from Salina and the Kansas Game Wardens were assisting with the investigating at the scene.

Sheila Watkins a resident of Salina who was at the scene after the report, commented on the investigation. "It is scary and sad," said Watkins. "I am hoping for the best possible scenario and I am just praying for the families."

&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available..

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751708351076.png" alt="google map" />
 <figcaption>google map</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLSWORTH COUNTY —The recovery effort for a man and teen missing at Kanopolis Lake continues, according to a social media report from the Ellsworth Couinty Sheriff late Friday.High winds have been hampering efforts. KDWP along with three area dive teams have been at it steadily since early Friday. The sheriff office asked holiday boaters, to stay away from the search personnel and vessels.According to Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard, at around&nbsp;7:15-7:30pm&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;Ellsworth County dispatch reported three people who went missing after being on a boat at the lake.A 14-year old girl was recovered by an individual in the area and was taken for treatment.According to Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751619956983.png" alt="Scene at 11:30p.m. Thursday at Kanopolis Lake as multiple agencies search for two people, photo by Nicolas Fierro Salina Post" />
 <figcaption>Scene at 11:30p.m. Thursday at Kanopolis Lake as multiple agencies search for two people, photo by Nicolas Fierro Salina Post</figcaption>
 </figure>---------By:&nbsp;NICOLAS FIERRO Salina PostELLSWORTH COUNTY - The search for two people missing at Kanopolis Lake in Ellsworth County continued Friday morning.According to Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard, at around&nbsp;7:15-7:30pm&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;Ellsworth County dispatch reported three people who went missing after being on a boat at the lake.A 14-year old girl was recovered by an individual in the area and was taken for treatment.According to Sheriff Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.Multiple agencies including the Rice County Sheriff's Office, Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office, Marquette County Sheriff's Office, Marquette Fire Department, Ellsworth Fire Department and Law Enforcement Dive Teams from Salina and the Kansas Game Wardens were assisting with the investigating at the scene.Sheila Watkins a resident of Salina who was at the scene after the report, commented on the investigation. "It is scary and sad," said Watkins. "I am hoping for the best possible scenario and I am just praying for the families."&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available..

Recovery effort continues for man, teen at Kanopolis Lake

Fighter jets and stealth bombers streaked through the sky over the annual White House Fourth of July picnic on Friday.

“America's winning, winning, winning like never before,” Trump said, noting last month's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-sites-bombing-hegseth-trump-4014575fca3923cf29772d1c0b876206">bombing campaign</a>&nbsp;against Iran's nuclear program, which he said the flyover was meant to honor. “Promises made, promises kept, and we've kept them.”

The White House was hung with red, white and blue bunting for the Independence Day festivities. The U.S. Marine Band played patriotic marches.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751672721412.png" alt="The fighter jets and B2 bomber over the Washington monument on Friday-Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>The fighter jets and B2 bomber over the Washington monument on Friday-Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>Fighter jets and stealth bombers streaked through the sky over the annual White House Fourth of July picnic on Friday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">White House B-2 bomber flyover. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/4thofJuly?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#4thofJuly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/July4th?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#July4th</a> <a href="https://t.co/aFcSxASKpM">pic.twitter.com/aFcSxASKpM</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1941279537704096154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“America's winning, winning, winning like never before,” Trump said, noting last month's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-sites-bombing-hegseth-trump-4014575fca3923cf29772d1c0b876206">bombing campaign</a>&nbsp;against Iran's nuclear program, which he said the flyover was meant to honor. “Promises made, promises kept, and we've kept them.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751740938382.jpeg" alt="photo White House" />
 <figcaption>photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>The White House was hung with red, white and blue bunting for the Independence Day festivities. The U.S. Marine Band played patriotic marches.

🎥 Dramatic flyover at White House Fourth of July picnic

KANSAS CITY—Police are still working to locate a suspect involved in an alleged aggravated assault that occurred on June 28 in the area of W 40th Street and Washington Street in Kansas City, Missouri.

After asking the public for help,&nbsp; police reported Friday they had identified the suspect, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez,

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751574066687.png" alt="KCPD" />
 <figcaption>KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Police are still working to locate a suspect involved in an alleged aggravated assault that occurred on June 28 in the area of W 40th Street and Washington Street in Kansas City, Missouri.After asking the public for help,&nbsp; police reported Friday they had identified the suspect, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez,

KCPD still working to locate aggravated assault suspect

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed his package of tax breaks and spending cuts into law Friday after his cajoling produced almost unanimous Republican support in Congress for the domestic priority that could cement his second-term legacy.

Flanked by Republican legislators including Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and members of his Cabinet, Trump signed the multitrillion-dollar legislation outside the White House, and then banged down the gavel that House Speaker Mike Johnson gifted him that was used during the bill's final passage Thursday.

Against odds that at times seemed improbable, Trump achieved his goal of celebrating a historic — and divisive — legislative victory in time for the nation's birthday. Fighter jets and a stealth bomber streaked through the sky over the annual White House Fourth of July picnic as Trump and first lady Melania Trump stepped out onto the White House balcony.

“America's winning, winning, winning like never before,” Trump said, noting last month's bombing campaign against Iran's nuclear program, which he said the flyover was meant to honor. “Promises made, promises kept and we've kept them.”

The White House was hung with red, white and blue bunting for the regular Fourth of July festivities. The United States Marine Band played patriotic marches — and, in a typical Trumpian touch, tunes by 1980s pop icons Chaka Khan and Huey Lewis. The two separate flyovers bookended Trump’s appearance and the band playing the national anthem.

Democrats assailed the package as a giveaway to the rich that will rob millions more lower-income people of their health insurance, food assistance and financial stability.

"I never thought that I’d be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene,” Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said during a record-breaking speech that delayed the bill's passage by eight-plus hours. “It’s a crime scene, going after the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people.”

The legislation extends Trump’s 2017 multitrillion-dollar tax cuts and cuts Medicaid and food stamps by $1.2 trillion. It provides for a massive increase in immigration enforcement. Congress’ nonpartisan scorekeeper projects that nearly 12 million more people will lose health insurance under the law.

The legislation passed the House on a largely party-line vote Thursday, culminating a monthslong push by the GOP to cram most of its legislative priorities into a single budget bill that could be enacted without Senate Democrats being able to block it indefinitely by filibustering.

It passed by a single vote in the Senate, where North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis announced he would not run for reelection after incurring Trump’s wrath in opposing it. Vice President JD Vance had to cast the tie-breaking vote.

In the House, where two Republicans voted against it, one, conservative maverick Tom Massie of Kentucky, has also become a target of Trump’s well-funded political operation.

The legislation amounts to a repudiation of the agendas of the past two Democratic presidents, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, in rolling back Obama’s Medicaid expansion under his signature health law and Biden’s tax credits for renewable energy.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-big-beautiful-bill-trump-republican-deficit-debt-d432b67a965790e4a26de46ea8db1266">Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimates the package will add&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-trump-tax-bill-republicans-senate-5f591bea21bd95eec45ba90c93c50687">$3.3 trillion to the deficit</a>&nbsp;over the decade and 11.8 million more people will go without health coverage.

Trump exulted in his political victory Thursday night in Iowa, where he attended a kickoff of events celebrating the country's 250th birthday next year.

“I want to thank Republican congressmen and women, because what they did is incredible,” he said. The president complained that Democrats voted against the bill because “they hate Trump — but I hate them, too.”

The package is certain to be a flashpoint in next year's midterm elections, and Democrats are making ambitious plans for rallies, voter registration drives, attack ads, bus tours and even a multiday vigil, all intended to highlight the most controversial elements.

Upon his return to Washington early Friday, Trump described the package as “very popular,” though polling suggests that public opinion is mixed at best.

For example, a Washington Post/Ipsos poll found that majorities of U.S. adults support increasing the annual child tax credit and eliminating taxes on earnings from tips, and about half support work requirements for some adults who receive Medicaid.

But the poll found majorities oppose reducing federal funding for food assistance to low-income families and spending about $45 billion to build and maintain migrant detention centers. About 60% said it was “unacceptable” that the bill is expected to increase the $36 trillion U.S. debt by more than $3 trillion over the next decade.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751666137902.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall greets President Trump moments before the signing of the Big, Beautiful Bill -image from White House video&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall greets President Trump moments before the signing of the Big, Beautiful Bill -image from White House video&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed his package of tax breaks and spending cuts into law Friday after his cajoling produced almost unanimous Republican support in Congress for the domestic priority that could cement his second-term legacy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IS NOW OFFICIALLY THE LAW OF THE LAND! <a href="https://t.co/mOpYN0tiZ0">pic.twitter.com/mOpYN0tiZ0</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1941253557665321187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Flanked by Republican legislators including Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and members of his Cabinet, Trump signed the multitrillion-dollar legislation outside the White House, and then banged down the gavel that House Speaker Mike Johnson gifted him that was used during the bill's final passage Thursday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Getting ready to watch President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> sign the One Big, Beautiful Bill on America’s birthday 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/L3NZojsnQ8">pic.twitter.com/L3NZojsnQ8</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1941247991123411282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Against odds that at times seemed improbable, Trump achieved his goal of celebrating a historic — and divisive — legislative victory in time for the nation's birthday. Fighter jets and a stealth bomber streaked through the sky over the annual White House Fourth of July picnic as Trump and first lady Melania Trump stepped out onto the White House balcony.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751666108451.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and Missouri 8th District Rep. Jason Smith greet First Lady Melania Trump-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and Missouri 8th District Rep. Jason Smith greet First Lady Melania Trump-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>“America's winning, winning, winning like never before,” Trump said, noting last month's bombing campaign against Iran's nuclear program, which he said the flyover was meant to honor. “Promises made, promises kept and we've kept them.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> watch B2s, F35s, and F22s fly over the White House for July 4th! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/G7SoA3xlNd">pic.twitter.com/G7SoA3xlNd</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1941247843123277922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The White House was hung with red, white and blue bunting for the regular Fourth of July festivities. The United States Marine Band played patriotic marches — and, in a typical Trumpian touch, tunes by 1980s pop icons Chaka Khan and Huey Lewis. The two separate flyovers bookended Trump’s appearance and the band playing the national anthem.Democrats assailed the package as a giveaway to the rich that will rob millions more lower-income people of their health insurance, food assistance and financial stability."I never thought that I’d be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene,” Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said during a record-breaking speech that delayed the bill's passage by eight-plus hours. “It’s a crime scene, going after the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people.”The legislation extends Trump’s 2017 multitrillion-dollar tax cuts and cuts Medicaid and food stamps by $1.2 trillion. It provides for a massive increase in immigration enforcement. Congress’ nonpartisan scorekeeper projects that nearly 12 million more people will lose health insurance under the law.The legislation passed the House on a largely party-line vote Thursday, culminating a monthslong push by the GOP to cram most of its legislative priorities into a single budget bill that could be enacted without Senate Democrats being able to block it indefinitely by filibustering.It passed by a single vote in the Senate, where North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis announced he would not run for reelection after incurring Trump’s wrath in opposing it. Vice President JD Vance had to cast the tie-breaking vote.In the House, where two Republicans voted against it, one, conservative maverick Tom Massie of Kentucky, has also become a target of Trump’s well-funded political operation.The legislation amounts to a repudiation of the agendas of the past two Democratic presidents, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, in rolling back Obama’s Medicaid expansion under his signature health law and Biden’s tax credits for renewable energy.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-big-beautiful-bill-trump-republican-deficit-debt-d432b67a965790e4a26de46ea8db1266">Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimates the package will add&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-trump-tax-bill-republicans-senate-5f591bea21bd95eec45ba90c93c50687">$3.3 trillion to the deficit</a>&nbsp;over the decade and 11.8 million more people will go without health coverage.Trump exulted in his political victory Thursday night in Iowa, where he attended a kickoff of events celebrating the country's 250th birthday next year.“I want to thank Republican congressmen and women, because what they did is incredible,” he said. The president complained that Democrats voted against the bill because “they hate Trump — but I hate them, too.”The package is certain to be a flashpoint in next year's midterm elections, and Democrats are making ambitious plans for rallies, voter registration drives, attack ads, bus tours and even a multiday vigil, all intended to highlight the most controversial elements.Upon his return to Washington early Friday, Trump described the package as “very popular,” though polling suggests that public opinion is mixed at best.For example, a Washington Post/Ipsos poll found that majorities of U.S. adults support increasing the annual child tax credit and eliminating taxes on earnings from tips, and about half support work requirements for some adults who receive Medicaid.But the poll found majorities oppose reducing federal funding for food assistance to low-income families and spending about $45 billion to build and maintain migrant detention centers. About 60% said it was “unacceptable” that the bill is expected to increase the $36 trillion U.S. debt by more than $3 trillion over the next decade.

🎥Kan. U.S. Senator in attendance as Big, Beautiful Bill signed into law

TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp;(KDHE)&nbsp;and&nbsp;local health departments&nbsp;continue to respond to measles cases in Kansas.

On Friday, the&nbsp; KDHE reported a measles exposure that occurred at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita&nbsp;so individuals can take steps to protect their health and help prevent further spread.&nbsp;There is no risk of measles exposure outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;specific unit,&nbsp;dates and times&nbsp;listed. Individuals who were not in the affected&nbsp;unit&nbsp;during that&nbsp;time, including those in other parts of the hospital or its departments,&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;considered exposed.

On Wednesday, the KDHE reported three new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 83 cases in 11 counties.

The measles virus can stay in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. Because the measles virus is highly contagious, anyone who was a patient, staff or visitor to the fifth-floor pediatric unit in Building 4 at Wesley Medical Center on any of the dates and times listed above may have been exposed to measles and should take the following steps:&nbsp;&nbsp;

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs.&nbsp;

The best way to prevent measles is to get the MMR vaccine. If you have had measles or have been vaccinated, your risk of contracting the disease is very low. However, a few people (about three out of 100) can still get measles even after two MMR vaccine doses if they are near someone who is sick.&nbsp;

For questions, contact the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline by phone at 877-427-7317 or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov">kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records, and answers to common questions, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Measles Resource Hub at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2Fmeasles%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000197d6d48f8c-655dcf99-c212-4ab7-9b7a-feb6d4cd27e3-000000/79OTFaS4apBq2mxz6LWVEqeelC6ZsgOfH4u1hSxA6bM=412">www.kdhe.ks.gov/measles</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743085628490.png" alt="Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp;(KDHE)&nbsp;and&nbsp;local health departments&nbsp;continue to respond to measles cases in Kansas.On Friday, the&nbsp; KDHE reported a measles exposure that occurred at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita&nbsp;so individuals can take steps to protect their health and help prevent further spread.&nbsp;There is no risk of measles exposure outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;specific unit,&nbsp;dates and times&nbsp;listed. Individuals who were not in the affected&nbsp;unit&nbsp;during that&nbsp;time, including those in other parts of the hospital or its departments,&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;considered exposed.<ul>
 <li>Location:&nbsp;Fifth-Floor Pediatric Unit, Building 4, Wesley Medical Center</li><li>Address:&nbsp;550 N Hillside St, Wichita, KS 67214</li><li>Dates and times:&nbsp;Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 10 p.m. until Thursday, July 3, 2025, 4:45 p.m.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>On Wednesday, the KDHE reported three new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 83 cases in 11 counties.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751488873961.png" alt="KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The measles virus can stay in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. Because the measles virus is highly contagious, anyone who was a patient, staff or visitor to the fifth-floor pediatric unit in Building 4 at Wesley Medical Center on any of the dates and times listed above may have been exposed to measles and should take the following steps:&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Understand if you are susceptible to infection.&nbsp;Check if you’ve received a measles-containing vaccine, like the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, have medical documentation of past measles infection, or have laboratory evidence of immunity. People who are not vaccinated and have not previously had measles are especially vulnerable to becoming infected.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Watch for symptoms.&nbsp;Monitor yourself for 21 days after your exposure. Look out for any symptoms—especially a fever and a new or unexplained skin rash—and contact your healthcare provider or local health department if symptoms develop.If you were at the fifth-floor pediatric unit, Building 4, Wesley Medical Center in Wichita on:&nbsp;July 1, 2025, monitor until the end of Tuesday, July 22.July 2, 2025, monitor until the end of Wednesday, July 23.July 3, 2025, monitor until the end of Thursday, July 24.</li><li>If you were at the fifth-floor pediatric unit, Building 4, Wesley Medical Center in Wichita on:&nbsp;July 1, 2025, monitor until the end of Tuesday, July 22.July 2, 2025, monitor until the end of Wednesday, July 23.July 3, 2025, monitor until the end of Thursday, July 24.</li><li>July 1, 2025, monitor until the end of Tuesday, July 22.</li><li>July 2, 2025, monitor until the end of Wednesday, July 23.</li><li>July 3, 2025, monitor until the end of Thursday, July 24.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Avoid high-risk settings.&nbsp;If you are not&nbsp;immune, consider staying home to prevent the spread of measles.&nbsp;If you cannot remain home,&nbsp;stay away from large gatherings and&nbsp;people&nbsp;that&nbsp;might&nbsp;be susceptible to measles, including those&nbsp;who&nbsp;are unvaccinated, pregnant women, infants, or people who are immunocompromised.&nbsp;If you need medical care, call your provider ahead of time&nbsp;and let them know you may have been exposed to measles&nbsp;so they can take any necessary steps&nbsp;to&nbsp;protect others from potential measles exposure.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Talk to&nbsp;a healthcare provider.&nbsp;If you have any questions about your health or your immunity status, contact&nbsp;your&nbsp;healthcare provider. If you are not immune to measles,&nbsp;a healthcare provider&nbsp;can&nbsp;determine&nbsp;whether you need&nbsp;treatment&nbsp;to help prevent or lessen the severity of infection.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs.&nbsp;The best way to prevent measles is to get the MMR vaccine. If you have had measles or have been vaccinated, your risk of contracting the disease is very low. However, a few people (about three out of 100) can still get measles even after two MMR vaccine doses if they are near someone who is sick.&nbsp;For questions, contact the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline by phone at 877-427-7317 or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov">kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records, and answers to common questions, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Measles Resource Hub at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2Fmeasles%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000197d6d48f8c-655dcf99-c212-4ab7-9b7a-feb6d4cd27e3-000000/79OTFaS4apBq2mxz6LWVEqeelC6ZsgOfH4u1hSxA6bM=412">www.kdhe.ks.gov/measles</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KDHE: Measles exposure risk at a Wichita hospital

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22SUSAN%20HAIGH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By SUSAN HAIGH Associated Press</a>

Famed competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut reclaimed his title Friday at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joey-chestnut-nathans-hotdog-eating-contest-2024-c1d4ac988ca44ffc1bd5ea691dc161ac">skipping last year’s</a>&nbsp;gastronomic battle in New York for the coveted Mustard Belt.

Chestnut, 41, consumed 70 1/2 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, falling short of his 2021 record of 76 wieners and buns. It marked the 17th win in 20 appearances for the Westfield, Indiana, eater at the internationally televised competition, which he missed last year over a contract dispute.

“I wish I ate a couple more. Sorry guys,” a smiling Chestnut&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/hot-dog-eating-contest-joey-chestnut-nathans-d7dae7c4578e6ed9ac71c5be1d04ab37">told the crowd</a>, many chanting his name. “I’ll be back next year.”

Defending champion in the women’s division, Miki Sudo of Tampa, Florida, won her 11th title, downing 33 dogs, besting a dozen competitors. Last year, she ate a record 51 links. She also was apologetic for her performance.

“I feel like I let the fans down a little bit. I heard people in the crowd saying, ‘Go for 52,’” Sudo told ESPN. “Obviously, I’m always setting my goals high, but the hot dogs weren’t cooperating. For some reason, the buns felt larger today.”

A large crowd, peppered with foam hot dog hats, turned out to witness the annual eat-a-thon, held outside the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, since 1972. Many fans showed up to see Chestnut’s much-awaited return to an event he has called “a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.”

Chestnut bested 14 fellow competitors from across the U.S. and the world, including Australia, the Czech Republic, Ontario, England and Brazil. Last year's winner, Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago, came in second place after gobbling up 46 1/2 hot dogs and buns, falling short of the 58 he ate to earn the 2024 men’s title.

“I love being here,” Chestnut told ESPN after his win. “As soon as I found out I was coming, my body — it was easy to train. I love doing it. And love pushing myself and beating the heck out of people.”

Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bb233e8b1ac14ab6aa89ced674ffb420">Major League Eating</a>&nbsp;event organizer George Shea said Chestnut would not be participating in the contest due to a contract dispute. Chestnut had struck a deal with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods.

Chestnut told The Associated Press last month that he had never appeared in any commercials for the company’s vegan hot dogs and that Nathan’s is the only hot dog company he has worked with. But Chestnut acknowledged he “should have made that more clear with Nathan’s.”

Last year, Chestnut ate 57 dogs — in only five minutes — in an exhibition with soldiers, at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. He said that event was “amazing” and that he was pleased to still have a chance to eat hot dogs — a lot of them — on July Fourth.

“I’m happy I did that, but I’m really happy to be back at Coney Island,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751665442234.jpeg" alt="Competitive eater Joey Chestnut eats hot dogs during the 2025 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in the Coney Island section of the Brooklyn borough of New York, Thursday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)" />
 <figcaption>Competitive eater Joey Chestnut eats hot dogs during the 2025 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in the Coney Island section of the Brooklyn borough of New York, Thursday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22SUSAN%20HAIGH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By SUSAN HAIGH Associated Press</a>Famed competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut reclaimed his title Friday at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joey-chestnut-nathans-hotdog-eating-contest-2024-c1d4ac988ca44ffc1bd5ea691dc161ac">skipping last year’s</a>&nbsp;gastronomic battle in New York for the coveted Mustard Belt.Chestnut, 41, consumed 70 1/2 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, falling short of his 2021 record of 76 wieners and buns. It marked the 17th win in 20 appearances for the Westfield, Indiana, eater at the internationally televised competition, which he missed last year over a contract dispute.“I wish I ate a couple more. Sorry guys,” a smiling Chestnut&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/hot-dog-eating-contest-joey-chestnut-nathans-d7dae7c4578e6ed9ac71c5be1d04ab37">told the crowd</a>, many chanting his name. “I’ll be back next year.”Defending champion in the women’s division, Miki Sudo of Tampa, Florida, won her 11th title, downing 33 dogs, besting a dozen competitors. Last year, she ate a record 51 links. She also was apologetic for her performance.“I feel like I let the fans down a little bit. I heard people in the crowd saying, ‘Go for 52,’” Sudo told ESPN. “Obviously, I’m always setting my goals high, but the hot dogs weren’t cooperating. For some reason, the buns felt larger today.”A large crowd, peppered with foam hot dog hats, turned out to witness the annual eat-a-thon, held outside the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, since 1972. Many fans showed up to see Chestnut’s much-awaited return to an event he has called “a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.”Chestnut bested 14 fellow competitors from across the U.S. and the world, including Australia, the Czech Republic, Ontario, England and Brazil. Last year's winner, Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago, came in second place after gobbling up 46 1/2 hot dogs and buns, falling short of the 58 he ate to earn the 2024 men’s title.“I love being here,” Chestnut told ESPN after his win. “As soon as I found out I was coming, my body — it was easy to train. I love doing it. And love pushing myself and beating the heck out of people.”Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bb233e8b1ac14ab6aa89ced674ffb420">Major League Eating</a>&nbsp;event organizer George Shea said Chestnut would not be participating in the contest due to a contract dispute. Chestnut had struck a deal with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods.Chestnut told The Associated Press last month that he had never appeared in any commercials for the company’s vegan hot dogs and that Nathan’s is the only hot dog company he has worked with. But Chestnut acknowledged he “should have made that more clear with Nathan’s.”Last year, Chestnut ate 57 dogs — in only five minutes — in an exhibition with soldiers, at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. He said that event was “amazing” and that he was pleased to still have a chance to eat hot dogs — a lot of them — on July Fourth.“I’m happy I did that, but I’m really happy to be back at Coney Island,” he said.

Joey Chestnut reclaims title in Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Thursday that he’s thinking of staging a UFC match on the White House grounds with upwards 20,000 spectators to celebrate 250 years of American independence.

“We have a lot of land there,” said Trump, a UFC enthusiast who has attended several of its mixed martial arts matches in recent months and is close friends with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ufc-mma-white-trump-boxing-46293310e62565e99b28b99acf0f4fff">Dana White</a>, the league’s president.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-america-250th-birthday-iowa-e6fb5df832cdba107ae4e9c62f2577e9">announced his plan in Iowa</a>&nbsp;during the kickoff for a year’s worth of festivities to celebrate America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.

The Republican president also announced a culminating festival on the National Mall in Washington, and a separate athletic competition featuring high school athletes from across the country.

“So every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of America 250. And I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight,” Trump said.

″Think of this on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there,” he said, adding that it would be a “full fight” with 20,000 to 25,000 people.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Thursday that he’s thinking of staging a UFC match on the White House grounds with upwards 20,000 spectators to celebrate 250 years of American independence.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">“We’re going to have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there. We&#39;re gonna build a little - Dana&#39;s gonna do it... Championship fight, full fight, like 20, 25,000 people. And we&#39;re going to do that as part of A250&quot; - Trump in Iowa <a href="https://t.co/5Dkam2IFWU">pic.twitter.com/5Dkam2IFWU</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1941078076903043230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We have a lot of land there,” said Trump, a UFC enthusiast who has attended several of its mixed martial arts matches in recent months and is close friends with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ufc-mma-white-trump-boxing-46293310e62565e99b28b99acf0f4fff">Dana White</a>, the league’s president.Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-america-250th-birthday-iowa-e6fb5df832cdba107ae4e9c62f2577e9">announced his plan in Iowa</a>&nbsp;during the kickoff for a year’s worth of festivities to celebrate America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.The Republican president also announced a culminating festival on the National Mall in Washington, and a separate athletic competition featuring high school athletes from across the country.“So every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of America 250. And I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight,” Trump said.″Think of this on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there,” he said, adding that it would be a “full fight” with 20,000 to 25,000 people.A White House spokesperson said they had no details to share beyond the president’s announcement, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later said Trump was “dead serious” about those plans.Trump has recently enjoyed standing ovations and cage-side seats for several UFC fights, including an appearance&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-match-new-york-8d5bfbccd32c1115cf2f6b54b8c58a0e">immediately after his 2024 reelection</a>&nbsp;and another just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mma-ufc-trump-tyson-c0d9279b626e69cc0ca62474c7dafa2f">last month</a>&nbsp;alongside White for two championship fights.