FINNEY COUNTY —The first winter storm of the month of March is bringing winds of over over 70 and 80 mph to southwest Kansas with blowing dust. Mad Dog Metals, a business west of Garden City, lost its roof in the storm, and debris was reported in the roadway blocking the road to Holcomb.

Garden City is also reporting power outages.

On Tuesday morning crews were dispatched to Hwy 50 for a two vehicle collision, according to Kearney County Fire and Rescue. With the blowing dirt it made conditions hazardous.&nbsp;

Rescue crews have been paged out to multiple roll overs accidents. 

If you have to be out give your self extra time. Turn your headlights on and flashers while going through the blowing dirt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741118858361.png" alt="Photos Kearney County Fire Rescue" />
 <figcaption>Photos Kearney County Fire Rescue</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —The first winter storm of the month of March is bringing winds of over over 70 and 80 mph to southwest Kansas with blowing dust. Mad Dog Metals, a business west of Garden City, lost its roof in the storm, and debris was reported in the roadway blocking the road to Holcomb.Garden City is also reporting power outages.On Tuesday morning crews were dispatched to Hwy 50 for a two vehicle collision, according to Kearney County Fire and Rescue. With the blowing dirt it made conditions hazardous.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741119060079.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Rescue crews have been paged out to multiple roll overs accidents. If you have to be out give your self extra time. Turn your headlights on and flashers while going through the blowing dirt.

Damaging winds and power outages reported in SW Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;is encouraging Republican lawmakers to skip town halls that have been filled with protesters decrying the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-address-congress-updates">Trump administration's</a>&nbsp;slashing of federal government, echoing the president's claims that the demonstration's are fueled by professional protesters.

The speaker's advice Tuesday comes as GOP lawmakers often find themselves at a loss to explain the cuts, led by billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-emails-a3e7e9ab82f45bb15ef22bddab01f25e">Elon Musk's</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-firings-layoffs-federal-government-workers-musk-d33cdd7872d64d2bdd8fe70c28652654">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, that are leaving federal workers suddenly out of jobs in communities from coast to coast. Democrats are jumping in to shine a bright light on what is happening.

“We’ve seen this movie before,” Johnson said at a news conference.

“They’re professional protesters,” Johnson added. “So why would we give them a forum to do that right now?”

Johnson was repeating President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;claim posted on social media on Monday that “Paid ‘troublemakers’” are filling the GOP town halls to which the House Democratic Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hakeem-jeffries">Hakeem Jeffries</a>&nbsp;responded: "We don’t need paid protestors. The American people are with us."

The Republicans are finding themselves in an unusual spot — defending the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/johnson-trump-republicans-budget-vote-tax-cuts-4cb74ca15f6a74a7344355e4507ab9fe">deep budget cuts they have campaigned on</a>&nbsp;for years, but have rarely been able to accomplish because the reductions cut into federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-work-requirements-congress-republicans-90ec1119f1d95de067c76f79eec7fa87">programs and services</a>&nbsp;Americans in their districts rely on.

Trump and Musk's DOGE have fired tens of thousands of federal workers as they tear through the federal government in search of what they call waste, fraud and abuse. It's spiraling at a pace the Republicans in Congress could only imagine when the party swept control of the White House, House and Senate.

Republicans are feeling the heat back home.

Republican Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pardons-rioters-congress-republicans-police-15f121efe72c0ecea62eceeda0ebe89b">Roger Marshall</a>&nbsp;of Kansas was confronted over the week by spirited residents questioning him about the firings of veterans from the federal workforce.

Marshall, too, echoed claims of paid protesters. “Can confirm,” Marshall posted alongside Trump's comment.

The scenes at the town halls are reminiscent of past moments — from the Obama-era health care battles, when tea party Republicans fought against the Affordable Care Act, and also the George W. Bush era, when Democrats and others protested his proposed changes to Social Security.

But more immediately the town hall outbursts resemble the Trump-era protests of 2017 and 2018 when Republicans tried and failed to repeal Obamacare, and then approved sweeping GOP tax cuts — and Democrats campaign against them, sweeping the midterm elections and reclaiming control of the U.S. House.

The speaker protecting his thin-as-ever majority advised his lawmakers to choose other forums — smaller community gatherings or telephone town halls — to discuss the issues with voters.

“They’re running away from the people because they know how badly people have been hurt by what they’re doing,” said Senate Democratic Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/schumer-democrats-election-trump-7ee99496ac9f2a73493f1aa89a02a33d">Chuck Schumer</a>.

Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, and the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus said, “I think many House Republicans have to make a choice about whether they want to fulfill their job title as representative, where they can have a town hall and actually speak honestly to their constituents, or whether they want to change their job title to Elon Musk employee.”

As Trump and Musk bulldoze through the federal government, Republican leaders are looking to cut even further, enshrining the reductions and other changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-budget-republicans-health-care-4a13fc3528d7bf20ea52db4a5551c8bf">Medicaid</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-cuts-candy-soda-food-stamps-b6351b86a17b281b67480fe2d24b54f4">food stamps</a>&nbsp;and other programs into law as part of the budget process. They are hoping to reach some $2 trillion in cuts to help finance some $4.5 trillion tax breaks.

Outside groups, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrats-musk-trump-protests-congress-ccb64f2889d31aad8c25d37686f62d7a">Indivisible</a>, which led powerful demonstrations during the first Trump turn, are organizing in communities nationwide as voters opposed to the president's agenda seeks ways to show their discontent.

It has all left rank-and-file Republicans struggling to keep pace with the onslaught.

Asked in recent days what they have to say to fired federal workers, the GOP lawmakers have not always had a ready response.

“No pain, no gain,” Marshall told the Associated Press last week.

Marshall the senator from Kansas said voters understand that the U.S. government is running a nearly $2 trillion deficit, piling onto the debt load and that changes need to be made.

“I think a lot of people understand that there’s going to be some short term pain for the opportunity for long term gain," he said. "I think people overall very happy to see the cut, in the federal spending.”

Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming said she's supportive of Musk and his team, “but I still feel sorry for people who are losing their jobs.”

Her message to those fired federal workers was to think about the other Americans who are also struggling to get by. “You’ve got to think about the people who are paying for all this government," she said. “We have too much government.”

Republican Sen. Rick Scott said, “That’s what President Trump got elected to do.”

Asked about his message to those who’ve been fired and are out of work, Scott said that “I'll do everything I can to be helpful to them.”

Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas said he supports DOGE, “as a concept." But he said, "I think you got to be careful as to how you do it.”

His advice to fired federal workers? "Just be patient.”

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said while government funding remains important in particular areas, for cancer research and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nih-medical-research-funding-cut-indirect-costs-a75b8d7d56a29f1e880859d79ef744e4">National Institutes of Health</a>, “I think Elon Musk’s leadership and Doge has been terrific."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740918399359.png" alt="Senator Marshall at a town hall in Oakley on Saturday-Image from the video by Colin McRoberts went viral" />
 <figcaption>Senator Marshall at a town hall in Oakley on Saturday-Image from the video by Colin McRoberts went viral</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;is encouraging Republican lawmakers to skip town halls that have been filled with protesters decrying the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-address-congress-updates">Trump administration's</a>&nbsp;slashing of federal government, echoing the president's claims that the demonstration's are fueled by professional protesters.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Must watch video: <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerMarshallMD</a> stands up and leaves his own town hall meeting today after being asked why Republicans think it’s acceptable for DOGE to be firing Veterans. <a href="https://t.co/ErNJbYPy1Z">pic.twitter.com/ErNJbYPy1Z</a>&mdash; Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattmfm/status/1895904839437316595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The speaker's advice Tuesday comes as GOP lawmakers often find themselves at a loss to explain the cuts, led by billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-emails-a3e7e9ab82f45bb15ef22bddab01f25e">Elon Musk's</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-firings-layoffs-federal-government-workers-musk-d33cdd7872d64d2bdd8fe70c28652654">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, that are leaving federal workers suddenly out of jobs in communities from coast to coast. Democrats are jumping in to shine a bright light on what is happening.“We’ve seen this movie before,” Johnson said at a news conference.“They’re professional protesters,” Johnson added. “So why would we give them a forum to do that right now?”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Can confirm. <a href="https://t.co/Ru9qbspeOY">pic.twitter.com/Ru9qbspeOY</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1896583775557243254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Johnson was repeating President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;claim posted on social media on Monday that “Paid ‘troublemakers’” are filling the GOP town halls to which the House Democratic Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hakeem-jeffries">Hakeem Jeffries</a>&nbsp;responded: "We don’t need paid protestors. The American people are with us."The Republicans are finding themselves in an unusual spot — defending the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/johnson-trump-republicans-budget-vote-tax-cuts-4cb74ca15f6a74a7344355e4507ab9fe">deep budget cuts they have campaigned on</a>&nbsp;for years, but have rarely been able to accomplish because the reductions cut into federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-work-requirements-congress-republicans-90ec1119f1d95de067c76f79eec7fa87">programs and services</a>&nbsp;Americans in their districts rely on.Trump and Musk's DOGE have fired tens of thousands of federal workers as they tear through the federal government in search of what they call waste, fraud and abuse. It's spiraling at a pace the Republicans in Congress could only imagine when the party swept control of the White House, House and Senate.Republicans are feeling the heat back home.Republican Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pardons-rioters-congress-republicans-police-15f121efe72c0ecea62eceeda0ebe89b">Roger Marshall</a>&nbsp;of Kansas was confronted over the week by spirited residents questioning him about the firings of veterans from the federal workforce.Marshall, too, echoed claims of paid protesters. “Can confirm,” Marshall posted alongside Trump's comment.The scenes at the town halls are reminiscent of past moments — from the Obama-era health care battles, when tea party Republicans fought against the Affordable Care Act, and also the George W. Bush era, when Democrats and others protested his proposed changes to Social Security.But more immediately the town hall outbursts resemble the Trump-era protests of 2017 and 2018 when Republicans tried and failed to repeal Obamacare, and then approved sweeping GOP tax cuts — and Democrats campaign against them, sweeping the midterm elections and reclaiming control of the U.S. House.The speaker protecting his thin-as-ever majority advised his lawmakers to choose other forums — smaller community gatherings or telephone town halls — to discuss the issues with voters.“They’re running away from the people because they know how badly people have been hurt by what they’re doing,” said Senate Democratic Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/schumer-democrats-election-trump-7ee99496ac9f2a73493f1aa89a02a33d">Chuck Schumer</a>.Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, and the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus said, “I think many House Republicans have to make a choice about whether they want to fulfill their job title as representative, where they can have a town hall and actually speak honestly to their constituents, or whether they want to change their job title to Elon Musk employee.”As Trump and Musk bulldoze through the federal government, Republican leaders are looking to cut even further, enshrining the reductions and other changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-budget-republicans-health-care-4a13fc3528d7bf20ea52db4a5551c8bf">Medicaid</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-cuts-candy-soda-food-stamps-b6351b86a17b281b67480fe2d24b54f4">food stamps</a>&nbsp;and other programs into law as part of the budget process. They are hoping to reach some $2 trillion in cuts to help finance some $4.5 trillion tax breaks.Outside groups, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrats-musk-trump-protests-congress-ccb64f2889d31aad8c25d37686f62d7a">Indivisible</a>, which led powerful demonstrations during the first Trump turn, are organizing in communities nationwide as voters opposed to the president's agenda seeks ways to show their discontent.It has all left rank-and-file Republicans struggling to keep pace with the onslaught.Asked in recent days what they have to say to fired federal workers, the GOP lawmakers have not always had a ready response.“No pain, no gain,” Marshall told the Associated Press last week.Marshall the senator from Kansas said voters understand that the U.S. government is running a nearly $2 trillion deficit, piling onto the debt load and that changes need to be made.“I think a lot of people understand that there’s going to be some short term pain for the opportunity for long term gain," he said. "I think people overall very happy to see the cut, in the federal spending.”Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming said she's supportive of Musk and his team, “but I still feel sorry for people who are losing their jobs.”Her message to those fired federal workers was to think about the other Americans who are also struggling to get by. “You’ve got to think about the people who are paying for all this government," she said. “We have too much government.”Republican Sen. Rick Scott said, “That’s what President Trump got elected to do.”Asked about his message to those who’ve been fired and are out of work, Scott said that “I'll do everything I can to be helpful to them.”Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas said he supports DOGE, “as a concept." But he said, "I think you got to be careful as to how you do it.”His advice to fired federal workers? "Just be patient.”Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said while government funding remains important in particular areas, for cancer research and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nih-medical-research-funding-cut-indirect-costs-a75b8d7d56a29f1e880859d79ef744e4">National Institutes of Health</a>, “I think Elon Musk’s leadership and Doge has been terrific."

Speaker Johnson tells GOP lawmakers to skip town halls after onslaught of protests

FRANKLIN COUNTY —A police officer was forced to shoot a dog during an incident on Monday in Ottawa.

Just after 2p.m. Monday&nbsp;a citizen reported a Pitbull running loose and being aggressive in the 700 block of S. Cypress Street in Ottawa, according to a media release from police.

Responding officers arrived and located the canine and it charged at them. Officers attempted to catch the dog but could not due to the aggressive behavior of the canine, and requested a unit with a tranquilizer gun respond. 

 Prior to the officer arriving with the tranquilizer gun the dog charged another officer who discharged their duty weapon striking the canine.  The dog retreated to a fenced in pen with another dog that was aggressive, which delayed medical treatment.  Officers were able to retrieve the injured canine, and it was immediately transported to a local veterinarian for emergency treatment.

No officers or citizens were injured during the incident.

Police issued citations to 61-year-old Floyd Atchison, a 61-year-old of Ottawa on following charges:  Keeping Vicious Animal; Animal At Large; Keeping Prohibited Pit Bull; No City Animal Registration and No Current Rabies Vaccination.

FRANKLIN COUNTY —A police officer was forced to shoot a dog during an incident on Monday in Ottawa.Just after 2p.m. Monday&nbsp;a citizen reported a Pitbull running loose and being aggressive in the 700 block of S. Cypress Street in Ottawa, according to a media release from police.Responding officers arrived and located the canine and it charged at them. Officers attempted to catch the dog but could not due to the aggressive behavior of the canine, and requested a unit with a tranquilizer gun respond. Prior to the officer arriving with the tranquilizer gun the dog charged another officer who discharged their duty weapon striking the canine. The dog retreated to a fenced in pen with another dog that was aggressive, which delayed medical treatment. Officers were able to retrieve the injured canine, and it was immediately transported to a local veterinarian for emergency treatment.No officers or citizens were injured during the incident.Police issued citations to 61-year-old Floyd Atchison, a 61-year-old of Ottawa on following charges: Keeping Vicious Animal; Animal At Large; Keeping Prohibited Pit Bull; No City Animal Registration and No Current Rabies Vaccination.

Kan. man issued citations after police respond, shoot aggressive dog

EDINA, Minn. (AP) — Joey Molland, a guitarist with the Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger that was known for such 1970s hits as “No Matter What” and “Day After Day,” has died at age 77.

Molland was the last to join and had been the last survivor from the most famous lineup of the group, which recorded for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/beatles-artificial-intelligence-record-paul-mccartney-2dc3d8c818e12b708d4e9409cb7dc856">Beatles</a>&nbsp;’ Apple label. His death was confirmed Tuesday by Sam Sheffield-West, the funeral director at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels in Edina, Minnesota. Molland had lived in the state for decades. Additional details about his death weren't immediately available.

Badfinger was a quartet that also included singer-guitarist Pete Ham, bassist Tom Evans and drummer Tom Gibbins. They were among the first acts signed to Apple after the Beatles launched it in 1968 and would remain closely associated with the Beatles — not always to Badfinger's liking — throughout their brief years of success. Molland even grew up near Liverpool's Penny Lane, immortalized in the Beatles song of the same name.

Badfinger's breakout hit, “Come and Get It,” was written and produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/paul-mccartney">Paul McCartney</a>, and another top 10 single, “Day After Day,” was produced by George Harrison and featured Harrison's slide guitar. “No Matter What” was produced by Apple official/Beatles assistant Mal Evans, and another Badfinger song, “Without You,” became a hit for Beatles friend Harry Nilsson. Molland and his bandmates would also appear at Harrison's 1971 benefit concert for Bangladesh and provide backing on two Beatles member's solo albums: Harrison's “All Things Must Pass” and John Lennon's “Imagine.”

Critics could not stop likening Badfinger's catchy melodies, layered harmonies and tight arrangements to their benefactors: “It’s as if John, Paul, George, and Ringo had been reincarnated as Joey, Pete, Tom, and Mike of Badfinger," Rolling Stone wrote of them in 1970. Even the band's name originated from the Beatles. Badfinger had called itself the Ivies in the years preceding their joining Apple, but, at the suggestion of Apple official/Beatles assistant Neil Aspinall, agreed to change it to Badfinger. (The working title of the Beatles' “With a Little Help from My Friends” was “Bad Finger Boogie”).

Their time on top ended after 1972. Amid cutbacks at Apple and allegations of financial mismanagement, Badfinger left for Warner Bros., faded commercially and sustained a tragic loss when Ham took his life in 1975. After initially breaking up, the remaining members periodically reunited but never approached their early success.

Evans took his own life in 1983 and Gibbins died of a brain aneurysm in 2005.

Molland remained active well after Badfinger's prime, touring until his health began to fail last year and releasing such solo albums as “This Way Up” “After the Pearl” and “Be True To Yourself.”

“I was raised to go to work — to get up in the morning and go to work,” he told The Associated Press in 2001.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741106286479.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>EDINA, Minn. (AP) — Joey Molland, a guitarist with the Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger that was known for such 1970s hits as “No Matter What” and “Day After Day,” has died at age 77.Molland was the last to join and had been the last survivor from the most famous lineup of the group, which recorded for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/beatles-artificial-intelligence-record-paul-mccartney-2dc3d8c818e12b708d4e9409cb7dc856">Beatles</a>&nbsp;’ Apple label. His death was confirmed Tuesday by Sam Sheffield-West, the funeral director at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels in Edina, Minnesota. Molland had lived in the state for decades. Additional details about his death weren't immediately available.Badfinger was a quartet that also included singer-guitarist Pete Ham, bassist Tom Evans and drummer Tom Gibbins. They were among the first acts signed to Apple after the Beatles launched it in 1968 and would remain closely associated with the Beatles — not always to Badfinger's liking — throughout their brief years of success. Molland even grew up near Liverpool's Penny Lane, immortalized in the Beatles song of the same name.Badfinger's breakout hit, “Come and Get It,” was written and produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/paul-mccartney">Paul McCartney</a>, and another top 10 single, “Day After Day,” was produced by George Harrison and featured Harrison's slide guitar. “No Matter What” was produced by Apple official/Beatles assistant Mal Evans, and another Badfinger song, “Without You,” became a hit for Beatles friend Harry Nilsson. Molland and his bandmates would also appear at Harrison's 1971 benefit concert for Bangladesh and provide backing on two Beatles member's solo albums: Harrison's “All Things Must Pass” and John Lennon's “Imagine.”Critics could not stop likening Badfinger's catchy melodies, layered harmonies and tight arrangements to their benefactors: “It’s as if John, Paul, George, and Ringo had been reincarnated as Joey, Pete, Tom, and Mike of Badfinger," Rolling Stone wrote of them in 1970. Even the band's name originated from the Beatles. Badfinger had called itself the Ivies in the years preceding their joining Apple, but, at the suggestion of Apple official/Beatles assistant Neil Aspinall, agreed to change it to Badfinger. (The working title of the Beatles' “With a Little Help from My Friends” was “Bad Finger Boogie”).Their time on top ended after 1972. Amid cutbacks at Apple and allegations of financial mismanagement, Badfinger left for Warner Bros., faded commercially and sustained a tragic loss when Ham took his life in 1975. After initially breaking up, the remaining members periodically reunited but never approached their early success.Evans took his own life in 1983 and Gibbins died of a brain aneurysm in 2005.Molland remained active well after Badfinger's prime, touring until his health began to fail last year and releasing such solo albums as “This Way Up” “After the Pearl” and “Be True To Yourself.”“I was raised to go to work — to get up in the morning and go to work,” he told The Associated Press in 2001.

Joey Molland, guitarist with 70s Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger, dies at 77

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation that aimed to bar transgender women and girls nationwide from participating in school athletic competitions designated for female athletes failed to advance Monday night in a divided Senate as Democrats stood united against an issue that Republicans leveraged in last year’s elections.

A test vote on the bill failed to gain the 60 votes needed to advance in the chamber as senators stuck to party lines in a 51-45 vote tally.

The bill sought to determine Title IX protections “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” The vote came as Republicans have homed in repeatedly on the social cause, casting it as an issue of ensuring athletic fairness for women and girls. President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-athletes-3606411fc12efffec95a893351624e1b">signed an executive order</a>&nbsp;last month giving federal agencies wide latitude to ensure entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX in alignment with the administration’s view, which interprets “sex” as the gender someone was assigned at birth.

Still, Republicans in Congress have set their sights on enshrining that policy into law by amending the 1972&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/title-ix">Title IX law</a>, which protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.

“Around the country we have seen men — biological men who identify as women — take up spaces and medals in athletics meant for actual women,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., adding, “This is a matter of fairness and equality.”

The House had already passed similar legislation with only two Democrats in support, but the setback for the bill in the Senate showed the steep climb for any legislation that targets LGBTQ people. Democrats slammed the bill as both a distraction from more pressing issues and a federal overreach into local school decisions.

“What Republicans are doing today is inventing a problem to stir up a culture war and divide people against each other,” Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said in a floor speech.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said, “This is a decision for sports leagues to thoughtfully craft policy that actually takes seriously what is best for all players, not blanket mandates that will undoubtedly have unintended consequences for the safety of all students.”

Still, Republicans nationwide appear determined to press the issue. During his presidential campaign, Trump found that the topic resonated beyond the usual party lines. More than half the voters surveyed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/votecast/">AP VoteCast</a>&nbsp;said support for transgender rights in government and society has gone too far.

Following Trump’s executive order, the NCAA changed its participation policy for transgender athletes to limit competition in women’s sports to athletes who were assigned female at birth.

In Minnesota Monday, the state House braced for a similar debate on a GOP-backed bill that would apply to primary and secondary schools. Ahead of the debate, several dozen supporters rallied on the steps of the state Capitol in St. Paul, framing the bill as protection for opportunities and safety for girls in sports, and ensuring that they have a level playing field.

Democrats and LGBTQ+ rights activists denounced the measure as bullying.

Following the Senate bill’s failure, Kelley Robinson, the president of Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement: “Every child should have the opportunity to experience the simple joys of being young and making memories with their friends. But bills like these send the message that transgender kids don’t deserve the same opportunities to thrive as their peers simply because of who they are.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741059898703.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran on the Senate floor during the vote count Monday night image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran on the Senate floor during the vote count Monday night image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation that aimed to bar transgender women and girls nationwide from participating in school athletic competitions designated for female athletes failed to advance Monday night in a divided Senate as Democrats stood united against an issue that Republicans leveraged in last year’s elections.A test vote on the bill failed to gain the 60 votes needed to advance in the chamber as senators stuck to party lines in a 51-45 vote tally.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741059669540.png" alt="These Senators voted against advancing the measure" />
 <figcaption>These Senators voted against advancing the measure</figcaption>
 </figure>The bill sought to determine Title IX protections “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” The vote came as Republicans have homed in repeatedly on the social cause, casting it as an issue of ensuring athletic fairness for women and girls. President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-athletes-3606411fc12efffec95a893351624e1b">signed an executive order</a>&nbsp;last month giving federal agencies wide latitude to ensure entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX in alignment with the administration’s view, which interprets “sex” as the gender someone was assigned at birth.Still, Republicans in Congress have set their sights on enshrining that policy into law by amending the 1972&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/title-ix">Title IX law</a>, which protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.“Around the country we have seen men — biological men who identify as women — take up spaces and medals in athletics meant for actual women,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., adding, “This is a matter of fairness and equality.”The House had already passed similar legislation with only two Democrats in support, but the setback for the bill in the Senate showed the steep climb for any legislation that targets LGBTQ people. Democrats slammed the bill as both a distraction from more pressing issues and a federal overreach into local school decisions.“What Republicans are doing today is inventing a problem to stir up a culture war and divide people against each other,” Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said in a floor speech.Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said, “This is a decision for sports leagues to thoughtfully craft policy that actually takes seriously what is best for all players, not blanket mandates that will undoubtedly have unintended consequences for the safety of all students.”Still, Republicans nationwide appear determined to press the issue. During his presidential campaign, Trump found that the topic resonated beyond the usual party lines. More than half the voters surveyed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/votecast/">AP VoteCast</a>&nbsp;said support for transgender rights in government and society has gone too far.Following Trump’s executive order, the NCAA changed its participation policy for transgender athletes to limit competition in women’s sports to athletes who were assigned female at birth.In Minnesota Monday, the state House braced for a similar debate on a GOP-backed bill that would apply to primary and secondary schools. Ahead of the debate, several dozen supporters rallied on the steps of the state Capitol in St. Paul, framing the bill as protection for opportunities and safety for girls in sports, and ensuring that they have a level playing field.Democrats and LGBTQ+ rights activists denounced the measure as bullying.Following the Senate bill’s failure, Kelley Robinson, the president of Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement: “Every child should have the opportunity to experience the simple joys of being young and making memories with their friends. But bills like these send the message that transgender kids don’t deserve the same opportunities to thrive as their peers simply because of who they are.”<h2>___</h2>

45 U.S. Senators vote to block ban on transgender athletes 

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating reported package thefts and asking the public for help to identify suspects

Security cameras show an individual involved in several package thefts from front porches in the Overland Park area..  These incidents occurred north of 75th Street near Marty, between January 31, and February 3, according to Officer John Lacy

Security footage shows the suspect walking through the neighborhood carrying a large bag. The individual is observed placing the packages into the bag and continuing down the street checking porches along the way. 

If you have any information regarding the identity of the pictured individual, you are asked to contact the Overland Park Police Department at 913-890-1374 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.Officer John Lacy #653Police Public Information Officer

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741032613259.png" alt="Photo Overland Park Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Overland Park Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating reported package thefts and asking the public for help to identify suspectsSecurity cameras show an individual involved in several package thefts from front porches in the Overland Park area.. These incidents occurred north of 75th Street near Marty, between January 31, and February 3, according to Officer John LacySecurity footage shows the suspect walking through the neighborhood carrying a large bag. The individual is observed placing the packages into the bag and continuing down the street checking porches along the way. If you have any information regarding the identity of the pictured individual, you are asked to contact the Overland Park Police Department at 913-890-1374 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.Officer John Lacy #653Police Public Information Officer

Police ask for help to ID Kansas porch pirate

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;long-threatened&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-b19e004dddb579c373b247037e04424b">tariffs against Canada and Mexico</a>&nbsp;went into effect Tuesday, putting global markets on edge and setting up costly retaliations by the United States’ North American allies.

Starting just past midnight, imports from Canada and Mexico are now to be taxed at 25%, with Canadian energy products subject to 10% import duties.

The 10% tariff that Trump placed on Chinese imports in February was doubled to 20%, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-tariffs-farm-soy-trump-7442b02ac829347f0d4fc6ad0955d368">Beijing retaliated Tuesday</a>&nbsp;with tariffs of up to 15% on a wide array of U.S. farm exports. It also expanded the number of U.S. companies subject to export controls and other restrictions by about two dozen.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would slap tariffs on more than $100 billion of American goods over the course of 21 days. Mexico didn't immediately detail any retaliatory measures.

The U.S. president's moves raised fears of higher inflation and the prospect of a trade war even as he promised the American public that taxes on imports are the easiest path to national prosperity. He has shown a willingness to buck the warnings of mainstream economists and put his own public approval on the line, believing that tariffs can fix what ails the country.

“It’s a very powerful weapon that politicians haven’t used because they were either dishonest, stupid or paid off in some other form," Trump said Monday at the White House. "And now we’re using them.”

U.S. markets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-china-rates-inflation-72339ddf1ecb65d7815f4bb5272197d7">dropped sharply Monday</a>&nbsp;after Trump said there was “no room left” for negotiations that could lower the tariffs. Shares in Europe and Asia were mostly lower Tuesday after they took effect.

The Canada and Mexico tariffs were supposed to begin in February, but Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-canada-mexico-china-sheinbaum-trudeau-017efa8c3343b8d2a9444f7e65356ae9">agreed to a 30-day suspension</a>&nbsp;to negotiate further with the two largest U.S. trading partners. The stated reason for the tariffs is to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fentanyl-border-mexico-trump-tariffs-drug-canada-3b7f4b39aaa1c9e2ca9a2b1c4cb40715">address drug trafficking</a>&nbsp;and illegal immigration, and both countries say they've made progress on those issues. But Trump has also said the tariffs will only come down if the U.S. trade imbalance closes, a process unlikely to be settled on a political timeline.

The tariffs may be short-lived if the U.S. economy suffers. But Trump could also impose more tariffs on the European Union, India, computer chips, autos and pharmaceutical drugs. The American president has injected a disorienting volatility into the world economy, leaving it off balance as people wonder what he’ll do next.

“It’s chaotic, especially compared to the way we saw tariffs rolled out in the first (Trump) administration," said Michael House, co-chair of the international trade practice at the Perkins Coie law firm. "It’s unpredictable. We don’t know, in fact, what the president will do.’’

Democratic lawmakers were quick to criticize the tariffs, and even some Republican senators raised alarms.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she’s “very concerned” about the tariffs going into effect because of her state’s proximity to Canada.

“Maine and Canada’s economy are integrated,” Collins said, explaining that much of the state’s lobsters and blueberries are processed in Canada and then sent back to the U.S.

The world economy is now caught in the fog of what appears to be a trade war.

Even after Trump announced Monday that the tariffs were going forward, Canadian officials were still in touch with their U.S. counterparts.

“The dialogue will continue, but we are ready to respond,” Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said in Ottawa as he went into a special Cabinet meeting on U.S.-Canada relations. “There are still discussions taking place.”

Shortly after Blair spoke, Trudeau said Canada would impose 25% tariffs on $155 billion Canadian ($107 billion U.S.) worth of American goods, starting with tariffs on $30 billion Canadian ($21 billion U.S.) worth of goods immediately and on the remaining amount on American products in three weeks.

“Our tariffs will remain in place until the U.S. trade action is withdrawn, and should U.S. tariffs not cease, we are in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures,” Trudeau said.

The White House would like to see a drop in seizures of fentanyl inside the United States, not just on the northern and southern borders. Administration officials say that seizures of fentanyl last month in everywhere from Louisiana to New Jersey had ties to foreign cartels.

Damon Pike, technical practice leader for customs and trade services at the tax and consulting firm BDO, suggested the responses of other countries could escalate trade tensions and possibly increase the economic pressure points.

“Canada has their list ready," Pike said. "The EU has their list ready. It’s going to be tit for tat.’’

Tim Houston, the leader of Canada’s Atlantic coast province of Nova Scotia, said he would direct the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation to remove all U.S. alcohol from store shelves. Houston also said his government will limit access to provincial procurement for American businesses and double the cost for commercial vehicles from the United States on a tolled highway.

The Trump administration has suggested inflation will not be as bad as economists claim, saying tariffs can motivate foreign companies to open factories in the United States. On Monday, Trump announced that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the computer chipmaker, would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tsmc-chip-manufacturing-tariffs-42980704ffca62e823182422ee4b7b83">investing $100 billion</a>&nbsp;in domestic production.

Still, it can take time to relocate factories spread across the world and train workers with the skills they need.

Greg Ahearn, president and CEO of The Toy Association, said the 20% tariffs on Chinese goods will be “crippling” for the toy industry, as nearly 80% of toys sold in the U.S. are made in China.

“There’s a sophistication of manufacturing, of the tooling,” he said. “There’s a lot of handcrafting that is part of these toys that a lot of people don’t understand … the face painting, the face masks, the hair weaving, the hair braiding, the cut and sew for plush to get it to look just so. All of that are very high hands, skilled labor that has been passed through generations in the supply chain that exists with China."

For a president who has promised quick results, Ahearn added a note of caution about how quickly U.S. factories could match their Chinese rivals.

"That can’t be replicated overnight,” he said.

Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writers Anne D’Innocenzio in New York and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;long-threatened&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-b19e004dddb579c373b247037e04424b">tariffs against Canada and Mexico</a>&nbsp;went into effect Tuesday, putting global markets on edge and setting up costly retaliations by the United States’ North American allies.Starting just past midnight, imports from Canada and Mexico are now to be taxed at 25%, with Canadian energy products subject to 10% import duties.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CBS: President Trump says there&#39;s a simple solution for countries that want to avoid tariffs — MAKE THEIR PRODUCTS IN AMERICA! <a href="https://t.co/zFVx3IfgpJ">pic.twitter.com/zFVx3IfgpJ</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1896735148122751134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The 10% tariff that Trump placed on Chinese imports in February was doubled to 20%, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-tariffs-farm-soy-trump-7442b02ac829347f0d4fc6ad0955d368">Beijing retaliated Tuesday</a>&nbsp;with tariffs of up to 15% on a wide array of U.S. farm exports. It also expanded the number of U.S. companies subject to export controls and other restrictions by about two dozen.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would slap tariffs on more than $100 billion of American goods over the course of 21 days. Mexico didn't immediately detail any retaliatory measures.The U.S. president's moves raised fears of higher inflation and the prospect of a trade war even as he promised the American public that taxes on imports are the easiest path to national prosperity. He has shown a willingness to buck the warnings of mainstream economists and put his own public approval on the line, believing that tariffs can fix what ails the country.“It’s a very powerful weapon that politicians haven’t used because they were either dishonest, stupid or paid off in some other form," Trump said Monday at the White House. "And now we’re using them.”U.S. markets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-china-rates-inflation-72339ddf1ecb65d7815f4bb5272197d7">dropped sharply Monday</a>&nbsp;after Trump said there was “no room left” for negotiations that could lower the tariffs. Shares in Europe and Asia were mostly lower Tuesday after they took effect.The Canada and Mexico tariffs were supposed to begin in February, but Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-canada-mexico-china-sheinbaum-trudeau-017efa8c3343b8d2a9444f7e65356ae9">agreed to a 30-day suspension</a>&nbsp;to negotiate further with the two largest U.S. trading partners. The stated reason for the tariffs is to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fentanyl-border-mexico-trump-tariffs-drug-canada-3b7f4b39aaa1c9e2ca9a2b1c4cb40715">address drug trafficking</a>&nbsp;and illegal immigration, and both countries say they've made progress on those issues. But Trump has also said the tariffs will only come down if the U.S. trade imbalance closes, a process unlikely to be settled on a political timeline.The tariffs may be short-lived if the U.S. economy suffers. But Trump could also impose more tariffs on the European Union, India, computer chips, autos and pharmaceutical drugs. The American president has injected a disorienting volatility into the world economy, leaving it off balance as people wonder what he’ll do next.“It’s chaotic, especially compared to the way we saw tariffs rolled out in the first (Trump) administration," said Michael House, co-chair of the international trade practice at the Perkins Coie law firm. "It’s unpredictable. We don’t know, in fact, what the president will do.’’Democratic lawmakers were quick to criticize the tariffs, and even some Republican senators raised alarms.Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she’s “very concerned” about the tariffs going into effect because of her state’s proximity to Canada.“Maine and Canada’s economy are integrated,” Collins said, explaining that much of the state’s lobsters and blueberries are processed in Canada and then sent back to the U.S.The world economy is now caught in the fog of what appears to be a trade war.Even after Trump announced Monday that the tariffs were going forward, Canadian officials were still in touch with their U.S. counterparts.“The dialogue will continue, but we are ready to respond,” Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said in Ottawa as he went into a special Cabinet meeting on U.S.-Canada relations. “There are still discussions taking place.”Shortly after Blair spoke, Trudeau said Canada would impose 25% tariffs on $155 billion Canadian ($107 billion U.S.) worth of American goods, starting with tariffs on $30 billion Canadian ($21 billion U.S.) worth of goods immediately and on the remaining amount on American products in three weeks.“Our tariffs will remain in place until the U.S. trade action is withdrawn, and should U.S. tariffs not cease, we are in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures,” Trudeau said.The White House would like to see a drop in seizures of fentanyl inside the United States, not just on the northern and southern borders. Administration officials say that seizures of fentanyl last month in everywhere from Louisiana to New Jersey had ties to foreign cartels.Damon Pike, technical practice leader for customs and trade services at the tax and consulting firm BDO, suggested the responses of other countries could escalate trade tensions and possibly increase the economic pressure points.“Canada has their list ready," Pike said. "The EU has their list ready. It’s going to be tit for tat.’’Tim Houston, the leader of Canada’s Atlantic coast province of Nova Scotia, said he would direct the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation to remove all U.S. alcohol from store shelves. Houston also said his government will limit access to provincial procurement for American businesses and double the cost for commercial vehicles from the United States on a tolled highway.The Trump administration has suggested inflation will not be as bad as economists claim, saying tariffs can motivate foreign companies to open factories in the United States. On Monday, Trump announced that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the computer chipmaker, would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tsmc-chip-manufacturing-tariffs-42980704ffca62e823182422ee4b7b83">investing $100 billion</a>&nbsp;in domestic production.Still, it can take time to relocate factories spread across the world and train workers with the skills they need.Greg Ahearn, president and CEO of The Toy Association, said the 20% tariffs on Chinese goods will be “crippling” for the toy industry, as nearly 80% of toys sold in the U.S. are made in China.“There’s a sophistication of manufacturing, of the tooling,” he said. “There’s a lot of handcrafting that is part of these toys that a lot of people don’t understand … the face painting, the face masks, the hair weaving, the hair braiding, the cut and sew for plush to get it to look just so. All of that are very high hands, skilled labor that has been passed through generations in the supply chain that exists with China."For a president who has promised quick results, Ahearn added a note of caution about how quickly U.S. factories could match their Chinese rivals."That can’t be replicated overnight,” he said.___Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writers Anne D’Innocenzio in New York and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.

US tariffs on Canada and Mexico take effect; China takes aim at US farm exports

CAMENDEN COUNTY —A 2-year-old drowned Monday at Lake of the Ozarks.

At 4:47 p.m., the Missouri State Highway Patrol was asked to assist in the search for the missing girl from a residence off Tenney Road in Camden County.

At 8:13 p.m., she was found deceased next to a dock in Bollinger Creek Cove&nbsp;at the 44 mile mark.&nbsp; Investigators do not know how she entered the water. The Patrol released no additional details.&nbsp;&nbsp;

CAMENDEN COUNTY —A 2-year-old drowned Monday at Lake of the Ozarks.At 4:47 p.m., the Missouri State Highway Patrol was asked to assist in the search for the missing girl from a residence off Tenney Road in Camden County.At 8:13 p.m., she was found deceased next to a dock in Bollinger Creek Cove&nbsp;at the 44 mile mark.&nbsp; Investigators do not know how she entered the water. The Patrol released no additional details.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Missing two-year-old girl drowns at Lake of the Ozarks

KANSAS CITY —On Wednesday February 26, while attempting to conduct an annual inspection of the Cloverleaf Apartments, 14554 US-71 Highway, Kansas City, Missouri, the Kansas City Fire Department learned that there was no longer a property management team in place, according to KCFD Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Multiple fire violations were found in all of the buildings along with deplorable and unsustainable living conditions. Appropriate leadership within the fire department and the city was notified along with members of Leumas, an agency operating on behalf of HUD. A decision was made to shut the complex down and tenants were given 48 hours, Friday 5:00 p.m., to be relocated.

Tenants were given Saturday and Sunday to continue to move household items. Leumas/HUD had 76 individuals on their list of legal tenants and worked to relocate them to temporary and in some cases permanent housing. Other individuals staying at the property either legally or illegally were provided with resources through the city to relocate. Many chose to relocate on their own.

On Monday, members of the Kansas City Police Department did a building by-building sweep of the property to ensure every unit, and every building was empty. At which time, a contractor provided by the city began boarding up each building. All utilities to the property have been shut off and the property is considered closed and uninhabitable.

The decision to close the property for fire code violations along with health concerns is not a decision the Kansas City Fire Department took lightly, but one that was made with compassion and life safety as the driving force. The unfortunate and tragic situation the residences found themselves living in was no fault of their own, but that of a negligent property owner.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741038734676.png" alt="Image courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —On Wednesday February 26, while attempting to conduct an annual inspection of the Cloverleaf Apartments, 14554 US-71 Highway, Kansas City, Missouri, the Kansas City Fire Department learned that there was no longer a property management team in place, according to KCFD Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.Multiple fire violations were found in all of the buildings along with deplorable and unsustainable living conditions. Appropriate leadership within the fire department and the city was notified along with members of Leumas, an agency operating on behalf of HUD. A decision was made to shut the complex down and tenants were given 48 hours, Friday 5:00 p.m., to be relocated.Tenants were given Saturday and Sunday to continue to move household items. Leumas/HUD had 76 individuals on their list of legal tenants and worked to relocate them to temporary and in some cases permanent housing. Other individuals staying at the property either legally or illegally were provided with resources through the city to relocate. Many chose to relocate on their own.On Monday, members of the Kansas City Police Department did a building by-building sweep of the property to ensure every unit, and every building was empty. At which time, a contractor provided by the city began boarding up each building. All utilities to the property have been shut off and the property is considered closed and uninhabitable.The decision to close the property for fire code violations along with health concerns is not a decision the Kansas City Fire Department took lightly, but one that was made with compassion and life safety as the driving force. The unfortunate and tragic situation the residences found themselves living in was no fault of their own, but that of a negligent property owner.

Renters ordered to move out of Kansas City apartment complex

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Monday to confirm former wrestling executive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/linda-mcmahon">Linda McMahon</a>&nbsp;as the nation’s education chief, a role that places her atop a department that President Donald Trump has vilified and vowed to dismantle.

McMahon will face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-executive-order-8519eaa465385cc13f4ddcae90228dd3">the competing tasks</a>&nbsp;of winding down the Education Department while also escalating efforts to achieve Trump’s agenda. Already the Republican president has signed sweeping orders to rid America’s schools of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-critical-race-theory-colleges-diversity-db8317ad37931558dd5a396cf5ab3d42">diversity programs</a>&nbsp;and accommodations for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-athletes-3606411fc12efffec95a893351624e1b">transgender students</a>&nbsp;while also calling for expanded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-choice-trump-education-vouchers-c6ecc22879fe329da4acfac3aa7410e6">school choice</a>&nbsp;programs.

At the same time, Trump has promised to shut down the department and said he wants McMahon “to put herself out of a job.”

The Senate voted to confirm McMahon 51-45. Both Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.

A billionaire and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, McMahon, 76, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-trump-education-secretary-wwe-613016d0c164b89765af761404cbb123">an unconventional pick</a>&nbsp;for the role. She spent a year on Connecticut’s state board of education and is a longtime trustee at Sacred Heart University but otherwise has little traditional education leadership.

McMahon's supporters see her as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcmahon-education-department-trump-cabinet-d40c13d94ecbd1f02f9624087796ae36">a skilled executive</a>&nbsp;who will reform a department that Republicans say has failed to improve American education. Opponents say she’s unqualified and fear her budget cuts will be felt by students nationwide.

“Americans believe in public education,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said before the confirmation vote. “They don’t want to see the Department of Education abolished. If the Trump administration follows through on cuts to education, schools will lose billions in funding.”

At&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-education-confirmation-hearing-417b1d36f9347b8279798fd311d211dc">her confirmation hearing</a>, McMahon distanced herself from Trump’s blistering rhetoric. She said the goal is to make the Education Department “operate more efficiently,” not to defund programs.

She acknowledged that only Congress has the power to close the department, and she pledged to preserve Title I money for low-income schools, Pell grants for low-income college students, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-cancellation-forgiveness-debt-774b0ee69f911f68f646a066031ee604">the Public Service Loan Forgiveness</a>&nbsp;program. Yet she suggested some operations could move to other departments, saying Health and Human Services might be better suited to enforce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-iep-disability-civil-rights-trump-85a6687d9ef1f5236f2637924d66a560">disability rights laws</a>.

Weeks before McMahon's confirmation hearing, the White House was considering an executive order that would direct the education secretary to cut the agency as much as legally possible while asking Congress to shut it down completely. Some of McMahon’s allies pressed the White House to hold the order until after her confirmation to avoid potential backlash.

Created by Congress in 1979, the Education Department’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-linda-mcmahon-9fc4fcef00e11b842063235798119cfc">primary role</a>&nbsp;is to disburse money to the nation’s schools and colleges. It sends billions of dollars a year to K-12 schools and oversees a $1.6 trillion federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/student-loans">student loan</a>&nbsp;portfolio.

Trump argues the department has been overtaken by liberals who press their ideology on America’s schools.

Schools and colleges have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-dei-schools-dear-colleague-6cca8440afa62689991d373cc4903a4c">navigating a demand</a>&nbsp;to eliminate diversity programs or risk having their federal funding pulled. The Trump administration gave them a Feb. 28 deadline to comply. The Education Department addressed questions about its guidance in a document released Saturday, saying in part that changing program names that reference “diversity” or “equity” alone is not enough if they treat students differently by race.

During the presidential campaign, Trump vowed to close the department and grant its authority to states. Schools and states already wield significantly greater authority over education than the federal government, which is barred from influencing curriculum. Federal money makes up roughly 14% of public school budgets.

Already, the Trump administration has started overhauling much of the department’s work.

Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has cut&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ies-musk-doge-education-cuts-4461d7bdbe9d55c5a411d8465999b011">dozens of contracts</a>&nbsp;it dismissed as “woke” and wasteful. It gutted the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers data on the nation’s academic progress, and the administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-paid-leave-dei-ad8ab48fabba227316e394dc5ad32770">fired or suspended</a>&nbsp;scores of employees.

Some of the cuts have halted work that’s ordered under federal law. At her hearing, McMahon said the agency will spend money that’s directed by Congress, and she played down DOGE’s cuts as merely an audit.

McMahon is a longtime Trump ally who left WWE in 2009 to launch a political career, running unsuccessfully twice for the U.S. Senate. She has given millions of dollars to Trump’s campaigns and served as leader of the Small Business Administration during his first term.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741043570945.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall met with McMahon in January-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall met with McMahon in January-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Monday to confirm former wrestling executive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/linda-mcmahon">Linda McMahon</a>&nbsp;as the nation’s education chief, a role that places her atop a department that President Donald Trump has vilified and vowed to dismantle.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇺🇸 <a href="https://twitter.com/EDSecMcMahon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EDSecMcMahon</a>’s confirmation as Secretary of Education is a huge step at this transformational time to improve the American education system and ensure parents, students, and teachers are at the forefront of learning instead of Washington D.C. bureaucrats. <a href="https://t.co/537TKTEBRw">pic.twitter.com/537TKTEBRw</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1896899917555409287?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>McMahon will face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-executive-order-8519eaa465385cc13f4ddcae90228dd3">the competing tasks</a>&nbsp;of winding down the Education Department while also escalating efforts to achieve Trump’s agenda. Already the Republican president has signed sweeping orders to rid America’s schools of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-critical-race-theory-colleges-diversity-db8317ad37931558dd5a396cf5ab3d42">diversity programs</a>&nbsp;and accommodations for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-athletes-3606411fc12efffec95a893351624e1b">transgender students</a>&nbsp;while also calling for expanded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-choice-trump-education-vouchers-c6ecc22879fe329da4acfac3aa7410e6">school choice</a>&nbsp;programs.At the same time, Trump has promised to shut down the department and said he wants McMahon “to put herself out of a job.”The Senate voted to confirm McMahon 51-45. Both Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.A billionaire and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, McMahon, 76, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-trump-education-secretary-wwe-613016d0c164b89765af761404cbb123">an unconventional pick</a>&nbsp;for the role. She spent a year on Connecticut’s state board of education and is a longtime trustee at Sacred Heart University but otherwise has little traditional education leadership.McMahon's supporters see her as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcmahon-education-department-trump-cabinet-d40c13d94ecbd1f02f9624087796ae36">a skilled executive</a>&nbsp;who will reform a department that Republicans say has failed to improve American education. Opponents say she’s unqualified and fear her budget cuts will be felt by students nationwide.“Americans believe in public education,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said before the confirmation vote. “They don’t want to see the Department of Education abolished. If the Trump administration follows through on cuts to education, schools will lose billions in funding.”At&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-education-confirmation-hearing-417b1d36f9347b8279798fd311d211dc">her confirmation hearing</a>, McMahon distanced herself from Trump’s blistering rhetoric. She said the goal is to make the Education Department “operate more efficiently,” not to defund programs.She acknowledged that only Congress has the power to close the department, and she pledged to preserve Title I money for low-income schools, Pell grants for low-income college students, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-cancellation-forgiveness-debt-774b0ee69f911f68f646a066031ee604">the Public Service Loan Forgiveness</a>&nbsp;program. Yet she suggested some operations could move to other departments, saying Health and Human Services might be better suited to enforce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-iep-disability-civil-rights-trump-85a6687d9ef1f5236f2637924d66a560">disability rights laws</a>.Weeks before McMahon's confirmation hearing, the White House was considering an executive order that would direct the education secretary to cut the agency as much as legally possible while asking Congress to shut it down completely. Some of McMahon’s allies pressed the White House to hold the order until after her confirmation to avoid potential backlash.Created by Congress in 1979, the Education Department’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-linda-mcmahon-9fc4fcef00e11b842063235798119cfc">primary role</a>&nbsp;is to disburse money to the nation’s schools and colleges. It sends billions of dollars a year to K-12 schools and oversees a $1.6 trillion federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/student-loans">student loan</a>&nbsp;portfolio.Trump argues the department has been overtaken by liberals who press their ideology on America’s schools.Schools and colleges have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-dei-schools-dear-colleague-6cca8440afa62689991d373cc4903a4c">navigating a demand</a>&nbsp;to eliminate diversity programs or risk having their federal funding pulled. The Trump administration gave them a Feb. 28 deadline to comply. The Education Department addressed questions about its guidance in a document released Saturday, saying in part that changing program names that reference “diversity” or “equity” alone is not enough if they treat students differently by race.During the presidential campaign, Trump vowed to close the department and grant its authority to states. Schools and states already wield significantly greater authority over education than the federal government, which is barred from influencing curriculum. Federal money makes up roughly 14% of public school budgets.Already, the Trump administration has started overhauling much of the department’s work.Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has cut&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ies-musk-doge-education-cuts-4461d7bdbe9d55c5a411d8465999b011">dozens of contracts</a>&nbsp;it dismissed as “woke” and wasteful. It gutted the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers data on the nation’s academic progress, and the administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-paid-leave-dei-ad8ab48fabba227316e394dc5ad32770">fired or suspended</a>&nbsp;scores of employees.Some of the cuts have halted work that’s ordered under federal law. At her hearing, McMahon said the agency will spend money that’s directed by Congress, and she played down DOGE’s cuts as merely an audit.McMahon is a longtime Trump ally who left WWE in 2009 to launch a political career, running unsuccessfully twice for the U.S. Senate. She has given millions of dollars to Trump’s campaigns and served as leader of the Small Business Administration during his first term.___

Moran, Marshall help Senate confirm McMahon to lead Education Dept.

WILSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8p.m. Monday in Wilson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford Explorer driven byHeather I. Vanleeuwen, 33,&nbsp;Savonburg, Kansas, was eastbound on Kansas 39 Highway in central Wilson County.

The SUV traveled into the westbound lane and struck the front driver corner of a 2022 Kenworth semi driven by&nbsp; Ruslan&nbsp;Shcherbakov 34, Cary, Illinois.&nbsp; After impact the SUV traveled off the road and overturned.

Vanleeuwen died of her injuries and was transported to&nbsp;Wickham Funeral Home in Chanute. Shcherbakov was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

WILSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8p.m. Monday in Wilson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford Explorer driven byHeather I. Vanleeuwen, 33,&nbsp;Savonburg, Kansas, was eastbound on Kansas 39 Highway in central Wilson County.The SUV traveled into the westbound lane and struck the front driver corner of a 2022 Kenworth semi driven by&nbsp; Ruslan&nbsp;Shcherbakov 34, Cary, Illinois.&nbsp; After impact the SUV traveled off the road and overturned.Vanleeuwen died of her injuries and was transported to&nbsp;Wickham Funeral Home in Chanute. Shcherbakov was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies after SUV, semi crash

KANSAS CITY —A man on parole after being convicted in Kansas of Involuntary Manslaughter for killing his father in 2019.  was convicted this week for a felony related to threatening two people with a knife,&nbsp; according to Jackson County prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

A Jackson County<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2518/Arnold-Redacted-Complaint-1">&nbsp;jury convicted</a>&nbsp;27-year-old&nbsp;Zachary Arnold, Independence, Mo. of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, a Class E felony. The range of punishment for a Class E felony is imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not to exceed four years.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2517/Arnold-Probable-Cause-1">According to court records</a>, Independence police responded to a park regarding an assault and contacted two victims who said Arnold was living at their residence and made several threats to harm them. The victims moved out of their residence as the defendant’s behavior became more erratic. When the victims visited their residence to feed their animals, the Arnold brandished a large silver bladed knife and pointed it at the victims.&nbsp;

“This verdict sends a clear message that Jackson County will not tolerate violent behavior, especially for those who were given a second chance and released early through the parole system,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “Let this also be a reminder that threatening someone with any weapon—even a knife—is a serious crime that can result in prison time. Our office remains committed to holding violent offenders accountable and keeping our community safe.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740844298888.png" alt="Arnold photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Arnold photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A man on parole after being convicted in Kansas of Involuntary Manslaughter for killing his father in 2019. was convicted this week for a felony related to threatening two people with a knife,&nbsp; according to Jackson County prosecutor Melesa Johnson.A Jackson County<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2518/Arnold-Redacted-Complaint-1">&nbsp;jury convicted</a>&nbsp;27-year-old&nbsp;Zachary Arnold, Independence, Mo. of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, a Class E felony. The range of punishment for a Class E felony is imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not to exceed four years.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2517/Arnold-Probable-Cause-1">According to court records</a>, Independence police responded to a park regarding an assault and contacted two victims who said Arnold was living at their residence and made several threats to harm them. The victims moved out of their residence as the defendant’s behavior became more erratic. When the victims visited their residence to feed their animals, the Arnold brandished a large silver bladed knife and pointed it at the victims.&nbsp;“This verdict sends a clear message that Jackson County will not tolerate violent behavior, especially for those who were given a second chance and released early through the parole system,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “Let this also be a reminder that threatening someone with any weapon—even a knife—is a serious crime that can result in prison time. Our office remains committed to holding violent offenders accountable and keeping our community safe.”

Man on parole for killing his father found guilty of new crime

OKLAHOMA CITY —A State Trooper impounded a Ferrari on Sunday for Taxes Due to the State, according to a social media post from the Oklahoma Highway Paterol

The tag on the car expired in June of 2024. The driver was traveling 106mph through traffic on the Kilpatrick Turnpike in the Oklahoma City area.&nbsp; The driver was given citations for Reckless Driving and Taxes Due to the State.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741009404611.png" alt="Photo Oklahoma Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Photo Oklahoma Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY —A State Trooper impounded a Ferrari on Sunday for Taxes Due to the State, according to a social media post from the Oklahoma Highway PaterolThe tag on the car expired in June of 2024. The driver was traveling 106mph through traffic on the Kilpatrick Turnpike in the Oklahoma City area.&nbsp; The driver was given citations for Reckless Driving and Taxes Due to the State.

State Trooper impounds Ferrari that was traveling 106mph in traffic

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday directed a “pause” to U.S. assistance to Ukraine after a disastrous Oval Office meeting as he seeks to pressure Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;to engage in peace talks with Russia.

A White House official said Trump is focused on reaching a peace deal to end the more than three-year war sparked by Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, and wants Zelenskyy “committed” to that goal. The official added that the U.S. was “pausing and reviewing” its aid to "ensure that it is contributing to a solution.” The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the assistance.

The moment comes some five years after Trump held up congressionally authorized assistance to Ukraine in 2019 as he sought to pressure Zelenskyy to launch investigations into Joe Biden, then a Democratic presidential candidate. The moment led to Trump’s first impeachment.

Trump in the leadup to his 2024 election win vowed to quickly end the war in Ukraine. He's expressed increasing frustration with Zelenskyy over the war, while simultaneously expressing confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin can be trusted to keep the peace if a truce in the conflict is reached.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;earlier on Monday slammed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;for suggesting that the end of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia's war</a>&nbsp;against Ukraine likely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-zelenskyy-starmer-trump-b025877c40ffe0ddf2a92adad1715231">"is still very, very far away."</a>

The comments come as prominent Trump allies escalate pressure on Zelenskyy to dramatically change his approach to the U.S. president, who has made quickly ending the war a top priority, or step aside.

The long complicated relationship between the leaders has reached a nadir following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-oval-office-ukraine-russia-blowup-8aa63e55c859e8fea963911478c376ee">disastrous White House meeting</a>&nbsp;in which Trump and Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;excoriated Zelenskyy for not being sufficiently thankful for U.S. support for Ukraine since Putin ordered the February 2022 invasion.

“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform about the comments Zelenskyy made late Sunday while speaking to reporters in London.

Trump at an event at the White House later on Monday referred to Zelenskyy's reported comments, and asserted the Ukrainian leader “better not be right about that.”

“If somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, I think that person won’t be around very long,” Trump added. "That person will not be listened to very long.”

Trump took issue with Zelenskyy suggesting it would take time to come to an agreement to end the war. The Ukrainian leader also tried to offer a positive take on the U.S.-Ukraine relationship in the aftermath of last week's White House meeting.

Asked by a reporter about the outlines of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-britain-zelenskyy-europe-starmer-trump-russia-b980170ead74a1a7914c565f14ee6cc9">new European initiative</a>&nbsp;to end Russia’s war, Zelenskyy said: “We are talking about the first steps today, and, therefore, until they are on paper, I would not like to talk about them in great detail.”

“An agreement to end the war is still very, very far away, and no one has started all these steps yet," he added.

But Trump was only further irritated by Zelenskyy’s suggesting it will take time for the conflict to come to a close.

“It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. — Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia,” Trump added in his post. “What are they thinking?”

Zelenskyy&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1896619374469099824">took to social media</a>&nbsp;soon after Trump's latest criticism. He did not directly refer to Trump's comments, but underscored that it “is very important that we try to make our diplomacy really substantive to end this war the soonest possible.”

“We need real peace and Ukrainians want it most because the war ruins our cities and towns,” Zelenskyy added. “We lose our people. We need to stop the war and to guarantee security.”

Trump's national security adviser said Zelenskyy’s posture during Friday’s Oval Office talks “put up in the air” whether he’s someone the U.S. administration will be able to deal with going forward.

“Is he ready, personally, politically, to move his country towards an end to the fighting?” Mike Waltz said on Fox News' "America’s Newsroom" earlier Monday. "And can he and will he make the compromises necessary?”

Waltz added another layer of doubt about U.S. support as other high-profile Trump allies have suggested that the relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy is becoming untenable.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday that Zelenskyy “needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude or someone else needs to lead the country” for Ukraine to continue pursuing a peace deal negotiated by the United States.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally who has been a vociferous supporter of Ukraine, said soon after the Oval Office meeting that Zelenskyy “either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.”

Angela Stent, a former national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council, said Putin is likely in no rush to end the war amid the fissures between Trump and Zelenskyy and Europe and the U.S. about the way ahead.

“He is not interested in ending the war,” said Stent, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. “He thinks Russia is winning. ... And he thinks that as time goes on, the West will be more fractured.”

Trump administration and Ukrainian officials had been expected to sign off on a deal during Zelenskyy's visit last week that would have given the U.S. access to Ukraine's critical minerals in part to pay back more than $180 billion in aid the U.S. has sent Kyiv since the start of the war. The White House has also billed such a pact as a way to tighten U.S.-Ukrainian relations in the long term.

The signing was scrapped after the leaders' Oval Office talks went off the rails and White House officials asked Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian delegation to leave.

Trump on Monday, however, suggested he hasn't given up on the economic pact, calling it “a great deal.” He added that he expected to speak to the deal during his Tuesday address before a joint session of Congress.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican who co-chairs the Congressional Ukraine Caucus,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/repbrianfitz/status/1896663350370566156?s=46">spoke</a>&nbsp;with Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, on Monday about getting the mineral rights deal back on track.

Fitzpatrick after the lengthy call predicted the “deal will be signed in short order.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740765106318.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday directed a “pause” to U.S. assistance to Ukraine after a disastrous Oval Office meeting as he seeks to pressure Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;to engage in peace talks with Russia.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">WATCH: Full Meeting between President Trump, Vice President Vance and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Oval Office. <a href="https://t.co/Xf6cyErem7">pic.twitter.com/Xf6cyErem7</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1895602226472550410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A White House official said Trump is focused on reaching a peace deal to end the more than three-year war sparked by Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, and wants Zelenskyy “committed” to that goal. The official added that the U.S. was “pausing and reviewing” its aid to "ensure that it is contributing to a solution.” The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the assistance.The moment comes some five years after Trump held up congressionally authorized assistance to Ukraine in 2019 as he sought to pressure Zelenskyy to launch investigations into Joe Biden, then a Democratic presidential candidate. The moment led to Trump’s first impeachment.Trump in the leadup to his 2024 election win vowed to quickly end the war in Ukraine. He's expressed increasing frustration with Zelenskyy over the war, while simultaneously expressing confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin can be trusted to keep the peace if a truce in the conflict is reached.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741050340181.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;earlier on Monday slammed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;for suggesting that the end of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia's war</a>&nbsp;against Ukraine likely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-zelenskyy-starmer-trump-b025877c40ffe0ddf2a92adad1715231">"is still very, very far away."</a>The comments come as prominent Trump allies escalate pressure on Zelenskyy to dramatically change his approach to the U.S. president, who has made quickly ending the war a top priority, or step aside.The long complicated relationship between the leaders has reached a nadir following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-oval-office-ukraine-russia-blowup-8aa63e55c859e8fea963911478c376ee">disastrous White House meeting</a>&nbsp;in which Trump and Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;excoriated Zelenskyy for not being sufficiently thankful for U.S. support for Ukraine since Putin ordered the February 2022 invasion.“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform about the comments Zelenskyy made late Sunday while speaking to reporters in London.Trump at an event at the White House later on Monday referred to Zelenskyy's reported comments, and asserted the Ukrainian leader “better not be right about that.”“If somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, I think that person won’t be around very long,” Trump added. "That person will not be listened to very long.”Trump took issue with Zelenskyy suggesting it would take time to come to an agreement to end the war. The Ukrainian leader also tried to offer a positive take on the U.S.-Ukraine relationship in the aftermath of last week's White House meeting.Asked by a reporter about the outlines of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-britain-zelenskyy-europe-starmer-trump-russia-b980170ead74a1a7914c565f14ee6cc9">new European initiative</a>&nbsp;to end Russia’s war, Zelenskyy said: “We are talking about the first steps today, and, therefore, until they are on paper, I would not like to talk about them in great detail.”“An agreement to end the war is still very, very far away, and no one has started all these steps yet," he added.But Trump was only further irritated by Zelenskyy’s suggesting it will take time for the conflict to come to a close.“It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. — Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia,” Trump added in his post. “What are they thinking?”Zelenskyy&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1896619374469099824">took to social media</a>&nbsp;soon after Trump's latest criticism. He did not directly refer to Trump's comments, but underscored that it “is very important that we try to make our diplomacy really substantive to end this war the soonest possible.”“We need real peace and Ukrainians want it most because the war ruins our cities and towns,” Zelenskyy added. “We lose our people. We need to stop the war and to guarantee security.”Trump's national security adviser said Zelenskyy’s posture during Friday’s Oval Office talks “put up in the air” whether he’s someone the U.S. administration will be able to deal with going forward.“Is he ready, personally, politically, to move his country towards an end to the fighting?” Mike Waltz said on Fox News' "America’s Newsroom" earlier Monday. "And can he and will he make the compromises necessary?”Waltz added another layer of doubt about U.S. support as other high-profile Trump allies have suggested that the relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy is becoming untenable.House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday that Zelenskyy “needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude or someone else needs to lead the country” for Ukraine to continue pursuing a peace deal negotiated by the United States.Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally who has been a vociferous supporter of Ukraine, said soon after the Oval Office meeting that Zelenskyy “either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.”Angela Stent, a former national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council, said Putin is likely in no rush to end the war amid the fissures between Trump and Zelenskyy and Europe and the U.S. about the way ahead.“He is not interested in ending the war,” said Stent, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. “He thinks Russia is winning. ... And he thinks that as time goes on, the West will be more fractured.”Trump administration and Ukrainian officials had been expected to sign off on a deal during Zelenskyy's visit last week that would have given the U.S. access to Ukraine's critical minerals in part to pay back more than $180 billion in aid the U.S. has sent Kyiv since the start of the war. The White House has also billed such a pact as a way to tighten U.S.-Ukrainian relations in the long term.The signing was scrapped after the leaders' Oval Office talks went off the rails and White House officials asked Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian delegation to leave.Trump on Monday, however, suggested he hasn't given up on the economic pact, calling it “a great deal.” He added that he expected to speak to the deal during his Tuesday address before a joint session of Congress.Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican who co-chairs the Congressional Ukraine Caucus,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/repbrianfitz/status/1896663350370566156?s=46">spoke</a>&nbsp;with Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, on Monday about getting the mineral rights deal back on track.Fitzpatrick after the lengthy call predicted the “deal will be signed in short order.”

Trump orders 'pause' on US aid to Ukraine after Oval dustup

WASHINGTON—After a weekend off social media, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall returned to the online platform Monday. Marshall commented on a post from President Donald Trump suggesting "paid troublemakers" are attending town hall meetings.

&nbsp;Marshall hosted a town hall to visit with voters on Saturday morning at the Logan County Hospital in Oakley.&nbsp; Many in attendance said Marshall left the meeting before they were finished asking questions.&nbsp; On Monday morning, NBC's TODAY Show&nbsp; featured a clip of Marshall telling those at the the meeting he would leave if they were rude to him.

The Senator did answered questions on budget cuts, layoffs and funding freezes from the somewhat hostile crowd and according to a video taken by Colin McRoberts, Marshall left the event before it was finished.

Marshall did not use social media to promote the town hall in Oakley or livestream the event. On Sunday, a member of Marshall's staff used social media to explain what happened to those who believed he left the town hall meeting early.

Marshall is back in Washington to vote for Linda  McMahon to run President Trump's Education Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740919102880.png" alt="Image from the video by Colin McRoberts went viral" />
 <figcaption>Image from the video by Colin McRoberts went viral</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON—After a weekend off social media, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall returned to the online platform Monday. Marshall commented on a post from President Donald Trump suggesting "paid troublemakers" are attending town hall meetings.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Can confirm. <a href="https://t.co/Ru9qbspeOY">pic.twitter.com/Ru9qbspeOY</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1896583775557243254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The REAL Oakley, KS. <a href="https://t.co/JfQBqvycQf">pic.twitter.com/JfQBqvycQf</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1896641733808795946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>&nbsp;Marshall hosted a town hall to visit with voters on Saturday morning at the Logan County Hospital in Oakley.&nbsp; Many in attendance said Marshall left the meeting before they were finished asking questions.&nbsp; On Monday morning, NBC's TODAY Show&nbsp; featured a clip of Marshall telling those at the the meeting he would leave if they were rude to him.The Senator did answered questions on budget cuts, layoffs and funding freezes from the somewhat hostile crowd and according to a video taken by Colin McRoberts, Marshall left the event before it was finished.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kansas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kansas</a> Sen. Roger Marshall town hall in far western Kansas. Really far. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/senate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#senate</a> <a href="https://t.co/C2SjdAX8Os">pic.twitter.com/C2SjdAX8Os</a>&mdash; sam zeff (@samzeff) <a href="https://twitter.com/samzeff/status/1895932702429159626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Marshall did not use social media to promote the town hall in Oakley or livestream the event. On Sunday, a member of Marshall's staff used social media to explain what happened to those who believed he left the town hall meeting early.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Brent Robertson, Chief of Staff to Senator Roger Marshall, released the following statement in response to the town hall hosted by <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerMarshallMD</a> in Oakley, KS today: <a href="https://t.co/JPQfDLh54N">pic.twitter.com/JPQfDLh54N</a>&mdash; Emily Flower (@_emily_flower) <a href="https://twitter.com/_emily_flower/status/1896043930598412594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Marshall is back in Washington to vote for Linda McMahon to run President Trump's Education Department.

🎥Kan. U.S. Senator's town hall mentioned on network TV morning show

NASHVILLE (AP) —Carl Dean,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/dolly-parton">Dolly Parton's</a>&nbsp;devoted husband of nearly 60 years who avoided the spotlight and inspired her timeless hit “Jolene,” died Monday. He was 82.

According to a statement provided to The Associated Press by Parton's publicist, Dean died in Nashville, Tennessee. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending.

“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy," Parton wrote in a statement.

The family has asked for respect and privacy. No cause of death was announced.

Parton met Dean outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat the day she moved to Nashville at 18.

“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me)," Parton described the meeting. "He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680118652824.jpeg" alt="Dolly Parton File photo AP" />
 <figcaption>Dolly Parton File photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE (AP) —Carl Dean,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/dolly-parton">Dolly Parton's</a>&nbsp;devoted husband of nearly 60 years who avoided the spotlight and inspired her timeless hit “Jolene,” died Monday. He was 82.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/RMTaz47BdC">pic.twitter.com/RMTaz47BdC</a>&mdash; Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) <a href="https://twitter.com/DollyParton/status/1896718434941173792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>According to a statement provided to The Associated Press by Parton's publicist, Dean died in Nashville, Tennessee. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending.“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy," Parton wrote in a statement.The family has asked for respect and privacy. No cause of death was announced.Parton met Dean outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat the day she moved to Nashville at 18.“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me)," Parton described the meeting. "He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”They married two years later, on Memorial Day — May 30, 1966 — in a small ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia.Dean was a businessman, having owned an asphalt-paving business in Nashville. His parents, Virginia “Ginny” Bates Dean and Edgar “Ed” Henry Dean, had three children. Parton referred to his mother as “Mama Dean.”Dean is survived by Parton and his two siblings, Sandra and Donnie.He inspired Parton’s classic, “Jolene.” Parton&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2008/10/09/95520570/dolly-partons-jolene-still-haunts-singers">told NPR in 2008</a>&nbsp;that she wrote the song about a flirty a bank teller who seemed to take an interest in Dean.“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” she said. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us — when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.’ So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”Parton and Dean kept strict privacy around their relationship for decades, Parton telling The Associated Press in 1984: “A lot of people say there’s no Carl Dean, that he’s just somebody I made up to keep other people off me.”She joked that she’d like to pose with him on the cover of a magazine “So that people could at least know that I’m not married to a wart or something.”In 2023,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dolly-parton-new-album-rockstar-15f6efbfe89e9370eee4bf71e0ea26de">Parton told AP</a>&nbsp;Dean helped inspired her 2023 “Rockstar” album.“He’s a big rock and roller,” she said. The song “My Blue Tears,” which was written when Parton was with “The Porter Wagoner Show” in the late 1960s and early ’70s, is “one of my husband’s favorite songs that I ever wrote,” she said. “I thought, ’Well, I better put one of Carl’s favorites of mine in here.”