CASS COUNTY, Neb. —The Nebraska State Patrol announced Monday that Trooper Kyle McAcy #302 was killed in the line of duty in a traffic crash on Interstate 80.

Preliminary investigation shows that Trooper McAcy was responding with other troopers to a crash on Interstate 80 near mile marker 424, between Ashland and Greenwood. During that response, Trooper McAcy was outside his patrol unit and was struck by a snowplow.

Troopers immediately rushed to his aid, but Trooper McAcy succumbed to his injuries on scene. The Nebraska State Patrol has asked the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office to conduct the crash investigation. Trooper McAcy’s family has been notified and NSP personnel are providing support at this time.

“Our NSP family is devastated today,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Kyle was a dedicated trooper, a devoted public servant, and most importantly a good friend to many in Omaha and beyond. His loss is being felt by countless people. Please keep his family, friends, colleagues, and community in your hearts as they deal with this unimaginable loss.”

Trooper McAcy, 31, was a ten-year veteran of the Nebraska State Patrol. He was a graduate of Camp 56 and wore badge #302. Trooper McAcy has served in the Patrol Division, Carrier Enforcement, and as a Crisis Negotiator. He was stationed in Omaha.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739823420144.png" alt="Portions of I-80 were closed between mile markers 420 and 426 after the crash-photo courtesy KETV" />
 <figcaption>Portions of I-80 were closed between mile markers 420 and 426 after the crash-photo courtesy KETV</figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY, Neb. —The Nebraska State Patrol announced Monday that Trooper Kyle McAcy #302 was killed in the line of duty in a traffic crash on Interstate 80.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739843479943.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Preliminary investigation shows that Trooper McAcy was responding with other troopers to a crash on Interstate 80 near mile marker 424, between Ashland and Greenwood. During that response, Trooper McAcy was outside his patrol unit and was struck by a snowplow.Troopers immediately rushed to his aid, but Trooper McAcy succumbed to his injuries on scene. The Nebraska State Patrol has asked the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office to conduct the crash investigation. Trooper McAcy’s family has been notified and NSP personnel are providing support at this time.“Our NSP family is devastated today,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Kyle was a dedicated trooper, a devoted public servant, and most importantly a good friend to many in Omaha and beyond. His loss is being felt by countless people. Please keep his family, friends, colleagues, and community in your hearts as they deal with this unimaginable loss.”Trooper McAcy, 31, was a ten-year veteran of the Nebraska State Patrol. He was a graduate of Camp 56 and wore badge #302. Trooper McAcy has served in the Patrol Division, Carrier Enforcement, and as a Crisis Negotiator. He was stationed in Omaha.

Patrol IDs Trooper killed after struck by a snow plow

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday questioned the authority of billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency but was skeptical of a request to block DOGE from accessing sensitive data and firing employees at half a dozen federal agencies.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan held a hearing on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-musk-trump-lawsuit-states-fbb9695bcffaa96470752d56da20da57">a request from 14 states</a>&nbsp;for a temporary restraining order seeking to curtail Musk’s power in President Donald Trump’s quest to downsize the federal government. Chutkan said she would rule within 24 hours.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-secrecy-68a66370cbc67c457e0a1c6edb08c5ef">appointed Musk</a>&nbsp;to lead DOGE in a push to slash the federal workforce and reduce or end disfavored programs. The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-firing-probation-workforce-buyouts-layoffs-doge-159a6de411622c2eb651016b1e99da37">dismissed probationary employees</a>&nbsp;and Trump in an executive order told agency leaders to plan for “large-scale reductions.”

Democratic attorneys general from 14 states had filed a lawsuit challenging what they called Musk’s “unchecked power.” The states are seeking to block DOGE from firing employees and accessing data at the federal Office of Personnel Management along with six federal agencies that oversee health and human services, education, energy, transportation, labor, and commerce.

During the hourlong hearing held over Zoom, Chutkan said she didn’t think the states had shown necessary evidence of imminent harm to merit court intervention at this stage.

The attorneys general argued that Musk’s actions at the helm of DOGE can only be taken by a nominated and Senate-confirmed official under the Constitution. They also said citizens have concerns about the secure handling of sensitive information. The federal government countered that DOGE is acting in an advisory role, they don’t need Senate confirmation to access data, and that the states hadn’t shown Musk’s hunt for waste and fraud had harmed them.

“Nowhere have my friends offered a shred of anything, nor could they, to show that Elon Musk has any formal or actual authority to make any government decision himself,” Justice Department lawyer Harry Graver said.

The judge appeared to question that assertion.

“I think you stretch too far. I disagree with you there,” Chutkan replied but added that was what the merits of the case were about.

While Chutkan seemed skeptical if a temporary restraining order was merited, she seemed sympathetic to some of the states’ claims

“One of the challenges in plaintiff’s motion is that this is essentially a private citizen directing an organization that’s not a federal agency to have access to the entire workings of the federal government, fire, hire, slash, contract, terminate programs all without apparently any congressional oversight,” the judge said in describing the states’ claim.

She noted that DOGE doesn’t seem to be moving in any kind of orderly or predictable fashion, making it difficult for states to know what is coming next. Chutkan asked for the Justice Department to submit information about past and upcoming employment terminations.

“DOGE’s actions in this arena have been very unpredictable and scattershot, and I have no idea whether that is by design or simply by virtue of the scope of their remit,” Chutkan said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739451959798.png" alt="File photo Elon Musk during a press conference in the Oval Office last week -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo Elon Musk during a press conference in the Oval Office last week -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday questioned the authority of billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency but was skeptical of a request to block DOGE from accessing sensitive data and firing employees at half a dozen federal agencies.U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan held a hearing on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-musk-trump-lawsuit-states-fbb9695bcffaa96470752d56da20da57">a request from 14 states</a>&nbsp;for a temporary restraining order seeking to curtail Musk’s power in President Donald Trump’s quest to downsize the federal government. Chutkan said she would rule within 24 hours.Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-secrecy-68a66370cbc67c457e0a1c6edb08c5ef">appointed Musk</a>&nbsp;to lead DOGE in a push to slash the federal workforce and reduce or end disfavored programs. The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-firing-probation-workforce-buyouts-layoffs-doge-159a6de411622c2eb651016b1e99da37">dismissed probationary employees</a>&nbsp;and Trump in an executive order told agency leaders to plan for “large-scale reductions.”Democratic attorneys general from 14 states had filed a lawsuit challenging what they called Musk’s “unchecked power.” The states are seeking to block DOGE from firing employees and accessing data at the federal Office of Personnel Management along with six federal agencies that oversee health and human services, education, energy, transportation, labor, and commerce.During the hourlong hearing held over Zoom, Chutkan said she didn’t think the states had shown necessary evidence of imminent harm to merit court intervention at this stage.The attorneys general argued that Musk’s actions at the helm of DOGE can only be taken by a nominated and Senate-confirmed official under the Constitution. They also said citizens have concerns about the secure handling of sensitive information. The federal government countered that DOGE is acting in an advisory role, they don’t need Senate confirmation to access data, and that the states hadn’t shown Musk’s hunt for waste and fraud had harmed them.“Nowhere have my friends offered a shred of anything, nor could they, to show that Elon Musk has any formal or actual authority to make any government decision himself,” Justice Department lawyer Harry Graver said.The judge appeared to question that assertion.“I think you stretch too far. I disagree with you there,” Chutkan replied but added that was what the merits of the case were about.While Chutkan seemed skeptical if a temporary restraining order was merited, she seemed sympathetic to some of the states’ claims“One of the challenges in plaintiff’s motion is that this is essentially a private citizen directing an organization that’s not a federal agency to have access to the entire workings of the federal government, fire, hire, slash, contract, terminate programs all without apparently any congressional oversight,” the judge said in describing the states’ claim.She noted that DOGE doesn’t seem to be moving in any kind of orderly or predictable fashion, making it difficult for states to know what is coming next. Chutkan asked for the Justice Department to submit information about past and upcoming employment terminations.“DOGE’s actions in this arena have been very unpredictable and scattershot, and I have no idea whether that is by design or simply by virtue of the scope of their remit,” Chutkan said.

Judge set to rule on effort to block DOGE from assessing data, firing federal employees

KANSAS CITY– Employees with the IRS and the U.S. Postal Service are among three defendants who have been indicted by a federal grand jury for stealing and cashing a U.S. Treasury check, according to the United State's Attorney.

Sierra S. McCall, 31, of Independence, Mo., Jalen Koonce, 31, of Raytown, Mo., and Julian A. King, 31, address unknown, were charged in a three-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, Feb. 6. The indictment was unsealed and made public following Koonce’s arrest and initial court appearance on Friday, Feb. 7.

McCall is employed by the IRS as a customer contact representative. Koonce is employed by the U.S. Postal Service at the sorting facility where government checks are processed.

The federal indictment charges McCall, Koonce, and King together in one count of the theft of government property. The indictment alleges they aided and abetted each other to steal and cash a $72,236 U.S. Treasury check on Aug. 9, 2023.

The indictment also charges Koonce and King each with one count of money laundering related to financial transactions on Aug. 9, 2023, that involved the proceeds of the theft of government property.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General.

KANSAS CITY– Employees with the IRS and the U.S. Postal Service are among three defendants who have been indicted by a federal grand jury for stealing and cashing a U.S. Treasury check, according to the United State's Attorney.Sierra S. McCall, 31, of Independence, Mo., Jalen Koonce, 31, of Raytown, Mo., and Julian A. King, 31, address unknown, were charged in a three-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, Feb. 6. The indictment was unsealed and made public following Koonce’s arrest and initial court appearance on Friday, Feb. 7.McCall is employed by the IRS as a customer contact representative. Koonce is employed by the U.S. Postal Service at the sorting facility where government checks are processed.The federal indictment charges McCall, Koonce, and King together in one count of the theft of government property. The indictment alleges they aided and abetted each other to steal and cash a $72,236 U.S. Treasury check on Aug. 9, 2023.The indictment also charges Koonce and King each with one count of money laundering related to financial transactions on Aug. 9, 2023, that involved the proceeds of the theft of government property.The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General.

IRS, KC postal employees accused of stealing U.S. Treasury check

BUTLER COUNTY —Six people were injured in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Monday in Butler County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford Explorer driven by Braden&nbsp;Kirkpatrick, 28, Benton, was northbound on Southwest Adams Road three miles west of Benton

When crossing westbound traffic on Kansas 254, the driver failed to yield to westbound traffic at the well marked yield sign in the intersection.

A westbound 2007 Honda Pilot driven by John&nbsp;Arnaldi, 45, Haysville, struck the Ford.&nbsp;

EMS transported&nbsp;Kirkpatrick, a 6-year-old girl and 10-month-old girl in the Ford to Wesley Medical Center.&nbsp; EMS also transported Arnaldi and passengers in the Honda 42-year-old Raven&nbsp;Haule and 16-year-old&nbsp; &nbsp;Isabella&nbsp; Cook, both of Haysville, to Wesley Medical Center.&nbsp; The 6-year-old girl in the Ford was not in a child safety seat, according to the KHP.

BUTLER COUNTY —Six people were injured in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Monday in Butler County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford Explorer driven by Braden&nbsp;Kirkpatrick, 28, Benton, was northbound on Southwest Adams Road three miles west of BentonWhen crossing westbound traffic on Kansas 254, the driver failed to yield to westbound traffic at the well marked yield sign in the intersection.A westbound 2007 Honda Pilot driven by John&nbsp;Arnaldi, 45, Haysville, struck the Ford.&nbsp;EMS transported&nbsp;Kirkpatrick, a 6-year-old girl and 10-month-old girl in the Ford to Wesley Medical Center.&nbsp; EMS also transported Arnaldi and passengers in the Honda 42-year-old Raven&nbsp;Haule and 16-year-old&nbsp; &nbsp;Isabella&nbsp; Cook, both of Haysville, to Wesley Medical Center.&nbsp; The 6-year-old girl in the Ford was not in a child safety seat, according to the KHP.

3 Kan. adults, 3 children hospitalized after SUVs collide 

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Kansas man accused in a fatal crash that left passenger dead made a court appearance last week.

Charles Smith Jr. 30, man was charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery, DUI causing great bodily harm and driving while suspended, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 2:30a.m. December 14, police were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash in the 1700 block of S. Mosley in Wichita, according to a media release.

First responders located a white 4-door sedan that had collided with multiple trees.&nbsp; Lanashia Clay, 22, from Wichita was seated in the front passenger seat and was pronounced deceased at the scene despite life-saving efforts.

A 25-year-old woman from Wichita was the rear seat passenger. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries.

The 30-year-old driver later identified as Smith was also transported to a local hospital for treatment. After being medically cleared, he was taken into custody on requested charges of&nbsp;Involuntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Battery-DUI, and Driving after suspended.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Preliminary investigation indicated that alcohol and drugs were suspected to be contributing factors in the crash, according to police. Smith is no longer in custody. He is due back in court Feb. 20, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734260889156.png" alt="Smith photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Kansas man accused in a fatal crash that left passenger dead made a court appearance last week.Charles Smith Jr. 30, man was charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery, DUI causing great bodily harm and driving while suspended, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 2:30a.m. December 14, police were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash in the 1700 block of S. Mosley in Wichita, according to a media release.First responders located a white 4-door sedan that had collided with multiple trees.&nbsp; Lanashia Clay, 22, from Wichita was seated in the front passenger seat and was pronounced deceased at the scene despite life-saving efforts.A 25-year-old woman from Wichita was the rear seat passenger. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries.The 30-year-old driver later identified as Smith was also transported to a local hospital for treatment. After being medically cleared, he was taken into custody on requested charges of&nbsp;Involuntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Battery-DUI, and Driving after suspended.&nbsp;&nbsp;Preliminary investigation indicated that alcohol and drugs were suspected to be contributing factors in the crash, according to police. Smith is no longer in custody. He is due back in court Feb. 20, according to the district attorney's office.

Driver in crash that left Kan. woman dead made court appearance

MOSCOW (AP) —Russia has freed a U.S. citizen arrested earlier this month on drug smuggling charges, according to Russian media reports and a U.S. official.

The move appears to be an effort to ease tensions between Moscow and Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-us-saudi-talks-0c7f21c2125c97fd0a1f6459eebeb65b">ahead of talks</a>&nbsp;in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Kalob Byers, 28, was detained on Feb. 7 at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport after customs officials allegedly found cannabis-laced marmalade in his baggage. According to media reports, Byers had traveled from Istanbul with his Russian fiancee, who was also detained. The authorities said he had attempted to smuggle a “significant amount” of drugs into the country and put him in custody on the charges of drug smuggling, punishable by a prison term of up to 10 years.

Byers has been released from custody and is in the U.S. embassy in Moscow where he is awaiting a flight home, Russian independent news outlet Meduza reported Monday, citing a Facebook post by his parents. A U.S. official confirmed to The Associated Press that Byers was released to the embassy late on Sunday evening. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss sensitive matters.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday in response to a question about Byers that Moscow expects “to discuss restoring the entire complex of Russian-American relations” at the talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, “so certain events can be viewed in this context.”

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Byers’ fiancee was also released. Russian media reports identified her as Naida Mambetova and said she was placed in pre-trial detention on the same charges.

Arrests of American nationals in Russia have become increasingly common in recent years, with relations between Moscow and Washington sinking to Cold War lows over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>. Some have been released in prisoner exchanges. The most recent one included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-20ab40d17f8a9b4abf9b3498da979859">Marc Fogel, a teacher from Pennsylvania</a>&nbsp;imprisoned in Russia on charges similar to those Byers had faced.

Fogel was detained in 2021 when traveling to Russia to work at a school and handed a 14-year sentence for having what his family and supporters said was medically prescribed marijuana. He was released and brought back to the U.S. earlier this month in a swap that saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-us-prisoner-swap-fogel-vinnik-99c8ba8ab8ac31dc017148c7a94f9685">Alexander Vinnik, a Russian cryptocurrency expert</a>&nbsp;who faced Bitcoin fraud charges in the U.S., returned to Russia.

The release of Fogel and Byers come as tensions between Russia and the U.S. appear to ease.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday upended three years of U.S. policy toward Ukraine and Russia, saying he and Russia’s President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the conflict following a lengthy direct phone call.

MOSCOW (AP) —Russia has freed a U.S. citizen arrested earlier this month on drug smuggling charges, according to Russian media reports and a U.S. official.The move appears to be an effort to ease tensions between Moscow and Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-us-saudi-talks-0c7f21c2125c97fd0a1f6459eebeb65b">ahead of talks</a>&nbsp;in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.Kalob Byers, 28, was detained on Feb. 7 at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport after customs officials allegedly found cannabis-laced marmalade in his baggage. According to media reports, Byers had traveled from Istanbul with his Russian fiancee, who was also detained. The authorities said he had attempted to smuggle a “significant amount” of drugs into the country and put him in custody on the charges of drug smuggling, punishable by a prison term of up to 10 years.Byers has been released from custody and is in the U.S. embassy in Moscow where he is awaiting a flight home, Russian independent news outlet Meduza reported Monday, citing a Facebook post by his parents. A U.S. official confirmed to The Associated Press that Byers was released to the embassy late on Sunday evening. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss sensitive matters.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday in response to a question about Byers that Moscow expects “to discuss restoring the entire complex of Russian-American relations” at the talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, “so certain events can be viewed in this context.”It wasn’t immediately clear whether Byers’ fiancee was also released. Russian media reports identified her as Naida Mambetova and said she was placed in pre-trial detention on the same charges.Arrests of American nationals in Russia have become increasingly common in recent years, with relations between Moscow and Washington sinking to Cold War lows over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>. Some have been released in prisoner exchanges. The most recent one included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-20ab40d17f8a9b4abf9b3498da979859">Marc Fogel, a teacher from Pennsylvania</a>&nbsp;imprisoned in Russia on charges similar to those Byers had faced.Fogel was detained in 2021 when traveling to Russia to work at a school and handed a 14-year sentence for having what his family and supporters said was medically prescribed marijuana. He was released and brought back to the U.S. earlier this month in a swap that saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-us-prisoner-swap-fogel-vinnik-99c8ba8ab8ac31dc017148c7a94f9685">Alexander Vinnik, a Russian cryptocurrency expert</a>&nbsp;who faced Bitcoin fraud charges in the U.S., returned to Russia.The release of Fogel and Byers come as tensions between Russia and the U.S. appear to ease.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday upended three years of U.S. policy toward Ukraine and Russia, saying he and Russia’s President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the conflict following a lengthy direct phone call.—

American jailed in Moscow on drug charges is freed ahead of Russia-US talks

TORONTO (AP) — A Delta Airlines plane flipped upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson Airport and ended up on its roof Monday, injuring 19 people including three who are in critical condition.

The airport confirmed on X that an “incident” occurred with the Delta flight from Minneapolis and that 76 passengers and four crew are accounted for. Delta said in a statement the accident happened at 3:30 p.m.

Video from the scene shows the Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR upside down on the snowy tarmac as emergency workers hose it down. The plane was somewhat obscured by snow from a winter storm that hit Toronto over the weekend.

Ornge air ambulance said it was transporting one pediatric patient to Toronto’s SickKids hospital and two adults with critical injuries to other hospitals in the city.

“Emergency teams are responding,” the airport said in a post on the social platform X. “All passengers and crew are accounted for.”

It is too early to say what caused the plane to flip but weather may have played a factor. According to the Meteorological Service of Canada, the airport was experiencing blowing snow and winds of 32 mph (51 kph) gusting to 40 mph (65 kph). The temperature was about 16.5 degrees Fahrenheit (-8.6 Celsius).

"It’s very rare to see something like this,” said John Cox, CEO of aviation safety consulting firm Safety Operating Systems in St. Petersburg, Florida. “We’ve seen a couple of cases of takeoffs where airplanes have ended up inverted, but it’s pretty rare.”

Cox, who flew for U.S. Air for 25 years and has worked on NTSB investigations, said the CRJ900 aircraft is a proven aircraft that’s been in service for decades and does a good job of handling inclement weather.

“The weather conditions were windy. The wind was out of the west at 27 to 35 knots, which is about 38 miles an hour. So it was windy. But the airplanes are designed and certified to handle that. The pilots are trained and experienced to handle that."

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada would head up the investigation and provide any updates. The National Transportation Safety Board said it is leading a team of U.S. investigators to assist in the Canadian investigation.

It is at least the fourth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aviation-safety-crash-close-call-fire-faa-fe26b6cf0a4857f9b9336c3f5680e97b">major aviation mishap</a>&nbsp;in North America in the past month. A commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/plane-helicopter-collision-timeline-washington-crash-c7c6adc6c26d057aebbc6979e0aea3d7">collided near the nation’s capital</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 29,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-collision-victims-ee829891574aa35a30d8262b7e07e638">killing 67 people</a>. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-pa-plane-crash-incident-9f5cfa83125137bf523558cc3738a370">medical transportation plane crashed</a>&nbsp;in Philadelphia on Jan. 31, killing the six people on board and another person on the ground and 10 were killed in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missing-aircraft-alaska-search-10-people-eb496188285ed54c9a527f658d4ff70a">plane crash in Alaska.</a>

Delta said in a statement that “initial reports were that there are no fatalities."

"Several customers with injuries were transported to area hospitals. Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted," the airline added.

Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford said on X he is "relieved there are no casualties after the incident at Toronto Pearson.” Toronto is the capital of Ontario.

“Provincial officials are in contact with the airport and local authorities and will provide any help that’s needed,” Ford said.

Endeavor Air, based in Minneapolis, is a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines and the world’s largest operator of CRJ-900 aircraft. The airline operates 130 regional jets on 700 daily flights to over 126 cities in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, according to the company’s website.

The CRJ900, a popular regional jet, was developed by Canadian aerospace company Bombardier. It’s in the same family of aircraft as the CRJ700, the type of plane involved in the midair collision near Reagan National Airport on Jan. 29.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739827893796.png" alt="The Delta Airlines CRJ-900 departed from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. Image courtesy CBC" />
 <figcaption>The Delta Airlines CRJ-900 departed from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. Image courtesy CBC</figcaption>
 </figure>TORONTO (AP) — A Delta Airlines plane flipped upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson Airport and ended up on its roof Monday, injuring 19 people including three who are in critical condition.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Toronto Pearson is aware of an incident upon landing involving a Delta Airlines plane arriving from Minneapolis. Emergency teams are responding. All passengers and crew are accounted for.&mdash; Toronto Pearson (@TorontoPearson) <a href="https://twitter.com/TorontoPearson/status/1891577633747386756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The airport confirmed on X that an “incident” occurred with the Delta flight from Minneapolis and that 76 passengers and four crew are accounted for. Delta said in a statement the accident happened at 3:30 p.m.Video from the scene shows the Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR upside down on the snowy tarmac as emergency workers hose it down. The plane was somewhat obscured by snow from a winter storm that hit Toronto over the weekend.Ornge air ambulance said it was transporting one pediatric patient to Toronto’s SickKids hospital and two adults with critical injuries to other hospitals in the city.“Emergency teams are responding,” the airport said in a post on the social platform X. “All passengers and crew are accounted for.”It is too early to say what caused the plane to flip but weather may have played a factor. According to the Meteorological Service of Canada, the airport was experiencing blowing snow and winds of 32 mph (51 kph) gusting to 40 mph (65 kph). The temperature was about 16.5 degrees Fahrenheit (-8.6 Celsius)."It’s very rare to see something like this,” said John Cox, CEO of aviation safety consulting firm Safety Operating Systems in St. Petersburg, Florida. “We’ve seen a couple of cases of takeoffs where airplanes have ended up inverted, but it’s pretty rare.”Cox, who flew for U.S. Air for 25 years and has worked on NTSB investigations, said the CRJ900 aircraft is a proven aircraft that’s been in service for decades and does a good job of handling inclement weather.“The weather conditions were windy. The wind was out of the west at 27 to 35 knots, which is about 38 miles an hour. So it was windy. But the airplanes are designed and certified to handle that. The pilots are trained and experienced to handle that."The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada would head up the investigation and provide any updates. The National Transportation Safety Board said it is leading a team of U.S. investigators to assist in the Canadian investigation.It is at least the fourth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aviation-safety-crash-close-call-fire-faa-fe26b6cf0a4857f9b9336c3f5680e97b">major aviation mishap</a>&nbsp;in North America in the past month. A commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/plane-helicopter-collision-timeline-washington-crash-c7c6adc6c26d057aebbc6979e0aea3d7">collided near the nation’s capital</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 29,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-collision-victims-ee829891574aa35a30d8262b7e07e638">killing 67 people</a>. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-pa-plane-crash-incident-9f5cfa83125137bf523558cc3738a370">medical transportation plane crashed</a>&nbsp;in Philadelphia on Jan. 31, killing the six people on board and another person on the ground and 10 were killed in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missing-aircraft-alaska-search-10-people-eb496188285ed54c9a527f658d4ff70a">plane crash in Alaska.</a>Delta said in a statement that “initial reports were that there are no fatalities.""Several customers with injuries were transported to area hospitals. Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted," the airline added.Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford said on X he is "relieved there are no casualties after the incident at Toronto Pearson.” Toronto is the capital of Ontario.“Provincial officials are in contact with the airport and local authorities and will provide any help that’s needed,” Ford said.Endeavor Air, based in Minneapolis, is a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines and the world’s largest operator of CRJ-900 aircraft. The airline operates 130 regional jets on 700 daily flights to over 126 cities in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, according to the company’s website.The CRJ900, a popular regional jet, was developed by Canadian aerospace company Bombardier. It’s in the same family of aircraft as the CRJ700, the type of plane involved in the midair collision near Reagan National Airport on Jan. 29.

Delta flight flips on landing: Badly hurt child among casualties

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration wants the Supreme Court to permit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-office-of-special-counsel-firing-lawsuit-a57d4261fb63ecfe8e62455a5c1b4e0a">the firing of the head of the federal agency</a>&nbsp;dedicated to protecting whistleblowers, according to documents obtained Sunday that would mark the first appeal to the justices since President Donald Trump took office.

The emergency appeal is the start of what probably will be a steady stream from lawyers for the Republican president and his administration seeking to undo lower court rulings that have slowed his second term agenda.

The Justice Department's filing obtained by The Associated Press asks the conservative-majority court to lift a judge’s court order temporarily reinstating Hampton Dellinger as the leader of the Office of Special Counsel.

Dellinger has argued that the law says he can only be dismissed for problems with the performance of his job, none of which were cited in the email dismissing him.

The petition came hours after a divided appeals court panel refused on procedural grounds to lift the order, which was filed Wednesday and expires on Feb. 26.

The case is not expected to be docketed until after the Supreme Court returns from the Presidents Day holiday weekend. The justices would not act until Tuesday at the earliest.

It’s not clear what reception Trump will get from the conservative-dominated court that includes three justices he nominated in his first term.

The case began last week when Dellinger sued over his removal as head of the Office of Special Counsel, which is responsible for guarding the federal workforce from illegal personnel actions, such as retaliation for whistleblowing. He was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate to a five-year term in 2024.

Dellinger said the office’s work “needed now more than ever,” noting the “unprecedented” number of firings, without cause, of federal employees with civil service protections in recent weeks by the Trump administration.

The administration argues that the order reinstating Dellinger for two weeks wrongly restricts what the president can do. The brief cites the Supreme Court decision that gave Trump immunity from criminal prosecution and reflected a muscular view of executive power.

“Until now, as far as we are aware, no court in American history has wielded an injunction to force the president to retain an agency head,” acting Solicitor General Sarah M. Harris wrote.

The brief references some of the dozen or more cases where judges have slowed Trump’s agenda, including by ordering the temporary lifting of a foreign aid funding freeze and blocking workers with Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency team from accessing Treasury Department data for now.

The executive branch has argued since the Carter administration that the Office of Special Counsel is the kind of job where the president should have the power to hire and fire, and letting the order in Dellinger's case stand could “embolden” judges to issue additional blocks in the roughly 70 lawsuits the Trump administration is facing so far, the Justice Department argues.

Dellinger’s firing was the latest move in Trump’s sweeping effort to shrink and reshape the federal government, testing the limits of well-established civil service protections by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-usaid-musk-doge-7ec0a2b4032d4782d41c00164003b5de">moving to dismantle federal agencies</a>&nbsp;and push out staffers.

The independent Office of Special Counsel is separate from Justice Department special counsels such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jack-smith">Jack Smith</a>, who are appointed by the attorney general for specific investigations, such as Smith's criminal investigation of Trump before he returned to the White House.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739200424502.png" alt="President Trump greeting members of the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of the State of the Union address in 2019-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump greeting members of the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of the State of the Union address in 2019-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration wants the Supreme Court to permit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-office-of-special-counsel-firing-lawsuit-a57d4261fb63ecfe8e62455a5c1b4e0a">the firing of the head of the federal agency</a>&nbsp;dedicated to protecting whistleblowers, according to documents obtained Sunday that would mark the first appeal to the justices since President Donald Trump took office.The emergency appeal is the start of what probably will be a steady stream from lawyers for the Republican president and his administration seeking to undo lower court rulings that have slowed his second term agenda.The Justice Department's filing obtained by The Associated Press asks the conservative-majority court to lift a judge’s court order temporarily reinstating Hampton Dellinger as the leader of the Office of Special Counsel.Dellinger has argued that the law says he can only be dismissed for problems with the performance of his job, none of which were cited in the email dismissing him.The petition came hours after a divided appeals court panel refused on procedural grounds to lift the order, which was filed Wednesday and expires on Feb. 26.The case is not expected to be docketed until after the Supreme Court returns from the Presidents Day holiday weekend. The justices would not act until Tuesday at the earliest.It’s not clear what reception Trump will get from the conservative-dominated court that includes three justices he nominated in his first term.The case began last week when Dellinger sued over his removal as head of the Office of Special Counsel, which is responsible for guarding the federal workforce from illegal personnel actions, such as retaliation for whistleblowing. He was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate to a five-year term in 2024.Dellinger said the office’s work “needed now more than ever,” noting the “unprecedented” number of firings, without cause, of federal employees with civil service protections in recent weeks by the Trump administration.The administration argues that the order reinstating Dellinger for two weeks wrongly restricts what the president can do. The brief cites the Supreme Court decision that gave Trump immunity from criminal prosecution and reflected a muscular view of executive power.“Until now, as far as we are aware, no court in American history has wielded an injunction to force the president to retain an agency head,” acting Solicitor General Sarah M. Harris wrote.The brief references some of the dozen or more cases where judges have slowed Trump’s agenda, including by ordering the temporary lifting of a foreign aid funding freeze and blocking workers with Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency team from accessing Treasury Department data for now.The executive branch has argued since the Carter administration that the Office of Special Counsel is the kind of job where the president should have the power to hire and fire, and letting the order in Dellinger's case stand could “embolden” judges to issue additional blocks in the roughly 70 lawsuits the Trump administration is facing so far, the Justice Department argues.Dellinger’s firing was the latest move in Trump’s sweeping effort to shrink and reshape the federal government, testing the limits of well-established civil service protections by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-usaid-musk-doge-7ec0a2b4032d4782d41c00164003b5de">moving to dismantle federal agencies</a>&nbsp;and push out staffers.The independent Office of Special Counsel is separate from Justice Department special counsels such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jack-smith">Jack Smith</a>, who are appointed by the attorney general for specific investigations, such as Smith's criminal investigation of Trump before he returned to the White House.

Trump makes first appeal to Supreme Court since taking office

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a college student for an alleged prank phone call.

Just before 9p.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;responded to a dormitory on the Benedictine College campus to investigate a report that someone was being chased with a knife, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 The investigation that followed determined the report was false and that a student had made a prank call to a college staff person resulting in law enforcement response.

Police arrested 20-year-old Lydia C. Fontenot, 20, Southlake Texas, at 1020 North 2nd Street. She was jailed on a requested charge in connection with transmitting false information to request emergency service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739807980534.png" alt="Fontenot photo Atchison Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Fontenot photo Atchison Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a college student for an alleged prank phone call.Just before 9p.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;responded to a dormitory on the Benedictine College campus to investigate a report that someone was being chased with a knife, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson. The investigation that followed determined the report was false and that a student had made a prank call to a college staff person resulting in law enforcement response.Police arrested 20-year-old Lydia C. Fontenot, 20, Southlake Texas, at 1020 North 2nd Street. She was jailed on a requested charge in connection with transmitting false information to request emergency service.&nbsp;

Student jailed for alleged prank phone call on Kan. college campus

CASS COUNTY, Neb. —The Nebraska State Patrol announced that a Nebraska State Trooper died in the line of duty on Monday.

A motor vehicle crash occurred while the trooper and others were responding to another crash on Interstate 80 between Ashland and Greenwood, according to a statement from the patrol.&nbsp;

The Patrol asked the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office to conduct the crash investigation.&nbsp;The name of the trooper has not been released or additional details of the incident.

As winter weather conditions continue across the state, the Nebraska Patrol urged all motorists to be safe if they must travel.

&nbsp;I-80 remains closed between mile markers 420 and 426.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739823420144.png" alt="Portions of I-80 remained closed between mile markers 420 and 426 after the crash-photo courtesy KETV" />
 <figcaption>Portions of I-80 remained closed between mile markers 420 and 426 after the crash-photo courtesy KETV</figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY, Neb. —The Nebraska State Patrol announced that a Nebraska State Trooper died in the line of duty on Monday.A motor vehicle crash occurred while the trooper and others were responding to another crash on Interstate 80 between Ashland and Greenwood, according to a statement from the patrol.&nbsp;The Patrol asked the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office to conduct the crash investigation.&nbsp;The name of the trooper has not been released or additional details of the incident.As winter weather conditions continue across the state, the Nebraska Patrol urged all motorists to be safe if they must travel.&nbsp;I-80 remains closed between mile markers 420 and 426.

Nebraska state trooper killed while responding to crash

Good news from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.&nbsp; The Department's Game Warden social media page released a video last week of amazing effort by a warden in November.

According to the post, last Thanksgiving, a Kansas Game Wardens was called out on his day off to a whitetail buck stuck in a fence.

 It was apparent that the buck had been there most of the night, as he was very tired and not happy. The buck appeared to have a nylon rope tied to an aluminum pipe that was caught in his antlers, and when he attempted to jump the fence it must have got caught.

 The game warden was able to successfully cut the deer free without harm. Wardens across the state frequently get these types of calls during the months when deer are on the move, and many times wonder if they survive such a stressful incident. This story has a happy ending as a local passerby posted a photo he took of what appears to be the same buck in the area approximately one month later.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739460602264.png" alt="image from the video" />
 <figcaption>image from the video</figcaption>
 </figure>Good news from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.&nbsp; The Department's Game Warden social media page released a video last week of amazing effort by a warden in November.According to the post, last Thanksgiving, a Kansas Game Wardens was called out on his day off to a whitetail buck stuck in a fence.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkdwpgamewardens%2Fvideos%2F606352438774414%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=8" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div> It was apparent that the buck had been there most of the night, as he was very tired and not happy. The buck appeared to have a nylon rope tied to an aluminum pipe that was caught in his antlers, and when he attempted to jump the fence it must have got caught. The game warden was able to successfully cut the deer free without harm. Wardens across the state frequently get these types of calls during the months when deer are on the move, and many times wonder if they survive such a stressful incident. This story has a happy ending as a local passerby posted a photo he took of what appears to be the same buck in the area approximately one month later.

Kansas game warden frees whitetail buck stuck in a fence

SALINE COUNTY —Police in Salina are investigating a double-homicide and have a registered Kansas violent offender in custody.

Just after 5:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 700 block of Vassar Drive in Salina, according to a media release.

First responders located two women in the driveway of the home who were deceased due to an apparent homicide.

Moments later, officers located the suspect, later identified as 35-year-old Preston James Reyna a couple blocks from the scene and took him into custody without incident.

Reyna, of Salina, is being held on requested charges that include two counts of 1st Degree Murder, 2 counts of Aggravated DV Battery, Aggravated Kidnapping, 2 counts of DV Battery, and DV Damage to Property.

Reyna has been listed as a Registered Offender since 2014 after a 2009 conviction in Saline County for second degree murder.&nbsp; According to the Associated Press, Reyna was to be evaluated at Larned State Hospital after he pleaded guilty to unintentional second-degree murder in death of Nicolas Chavez Castro. He beat Castro to death with a board.

During trial, Reyna's mother, Rosalinda Reyna, testified that on the day Castro was killed, she was trying to get someone to help her get her son to the Salina Regional Health Center. Prosecutors say Castro was killed because Reyna mistakenly believed he had kidnapped and raped his mother.&nbsp;Reyna has been previously been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739792336312.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Police in Salina are investigating a double-homicide and have a registered Kansas violent offender in custody.Just after 5:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 700 block of Vassar Drive in Salina, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739789789567.png" alt="Reyna photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Reyna photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located two women in the driveway of the home who were deceased due to an apparent homicide.Moments later, officers located the suspect, later identified as 35-year-old Preston James Reyna a couple blocks from the scene and took him into custody without incident.Reyna, of Salina, is being held on requested charges that include two counts of 1st Degree Murder, 2 counts of Aggravated DV Battery, Aggravated Kidnapping, 2 counts of DV Battery, and DV Damage to Property.Reyna has been listed as a Registered Offender since 2014 after a 2009 conviction in Saline County for second degree murder.&nbsp; According to the Associated Press, Reyna was to be evaluated at Larned State Hospital after he pleaded guilty to unintentional second-degree murder in death of Nicolas Chavez Castro. He beat Castro to death with a board.During trial, Reyna's mother, Rosalinda Reyna, testified that on the day Castro was killed, she was trying to get someone to help her get her son to the Salina Regional Health Center. Prosecutors say Castro was killed because Reyna mistakenly believed he had kidnapped and raped his mother.&nbsp;Reyna has been previously been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.

Suspect in death of 2 women has previous Kan. murder conviction 

The USD 305 school board unanimously voted to appoint Heath Hogan as the district’s new superintendent, effective July 1, 2025.

“We are confident that Mr. Hogan will bring strong leadership and experience to our students, educators and community,” said USD 305 Board President Gabe Grant. “Mr. Hogan’s proven track record will build on the foundation of excellence that has been established.” The board made the decision at a special meeting on Monday, February 17.

He will replace Linn Exline, retiring at the school year's end.

Hogan, 53, said, “It is an honor to be selected for this position. Salina Public Schools has a reputation as an innovative and progressive school system. I am excited for the opportunity to continue the strong partnerships with staff, stakeholders and the board as we move forward and build upon the district’s accomplishments.”

Currently superintendent at Smoky Valley USD 400, Hogan has 28 years of experience in public education. He worked at Garden City Public Schools, USD 457, for 25 years, serving in many different roles, including deputy superintendent, human resources director, elementary principal and teacher.

With 6,752 students, Salina Public Schools (SPS) is the 16th largest school district in Kansas. The district offers personalized learning and many opportunities to engage every student beyond the classroom. By embracing challenges, creating belonging, fostering pride and inspiring hope, SPS prepares students to transform Salina and the world. An early learning center, a 6-12 virtual school, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools serve pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 students.

For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usd305.com/">www.usd305.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739540128637.jpeg" alt="Heath Hogan&nbsp; courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Heath Hogan&nbsp; courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>USD 305The USD 305 school board unanimously voted to appoint Heath Hogan as the district’s new superintendent, effective July 1, 2025.“We are confident that Mr. Hogan will bring strong leadership and experience to our students, educators and community,” said USD 305 Board President Gabe Grant. “Mr. Hogan’s proven track record will build on the foundation of excellence that has been established.” The board made the decision at a special meeting on Monday, February 17.He will replace Linn Exline, retiring at the school year's end.Hogan, 53, said, “It is an honor to be selected for this position. Salina Public Schools has a reputation as an innovative and progressive school system. I am excited for the opportunity to continue the strong partnerships with staff, stakeholders and the board as we move forward and build upon the district’s accomplishments.”Currently superintendent at Smoky Valley USD 400, Hogan has 28 years of experience in public education. He worked at Garden City Public Schools, USD 457, for 25 years, serving in many different roles, including deputy superintendent, human resources director, elementary principal and teacher.With 6,752 students, Salina Public Schools (SPS) is the 16th largest school district in Kansas. The district offers personalized learning and many opportunities to engage every student beyond the classroom. By embracing challenges, creating belonging, fostering pride and inspiring hope, SPS prepares students to transform Salina and the world. An early learning center, a 6-12 virtual school, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools serve pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 students.For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usd305.com/">www.usd305.com</a>.

New superintendent selected to lead school district in Salina

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has halted the firings of hundreds of federal employees who were tasked with working on the nation's nuclear weapons programs, in an about-face that has left workers confused and experts cautioning that DOGE's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-musk-trump-lawsuit-states-fbb9695bcffaa96470752d56da20da57">blind cost cutting</a>&nbsp;will put communities at risk.

Three U.S. officials who spoke to The Associated Press said up to 350 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration were abruptly laid off late Thursday, with some losing access to email before they'd learned they were fired, only to try to enter their offices on Friday morning to find they were locked out. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

One of the hardest hit offices was the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, which saw about 30% of the cuts. Those employees work on reassembling warheads, one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-warheads-military-bomb-plutonium-6b86198def4516cebe496c9f5fbfbb75">most sensitive jobs</a>&nbsp;across the nuclear weapons enterprise, with the highest levels of clearance.

The hundreds let go at NNSA were part of a DOGE purge across the Department of Energy that targeted about 2,000 employees.

“The DOGE people are coming in with absolutely no knowledge of what these departments are responsible for,” said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, referencing Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency team. “They don’t seem to realize that it’s actually the department of nuclear weapons more than it is the Department of Energy.”

By late Friday night, the agency's acting director, Teresa Robbins, issued a memo rescinding the firings for all but 28 of those hundreds of fired staff members.

“This letter serves as formal notification that the termination decision issued to you on Feb. 13, 2025 has been rescinded, effective immediately,” said the memo, which was obtained by the AP.

The accounts from the three officials contradict an official statement from the Department of Energy, which said fewer than 50 National Nuclear Security Administration staffers were let go, calling them “probationary employees” who “held primarily administrative and clerical roles.”

But that wasn't the case. The firings prompted one NNSA senior staffer to post a warning and call to action.

“This is a pivotal moment. We must decide whether we are truly committed to leading on the world stage or if we are content with undermining the very systems that secure our nation’s future,” deputy division director Rob Plonski posted to LinkedIn. “Cutting the federal workforce responsible for these functions may be seen as reckless at best and adversarily opportunistic at worst.”

While some of the Energy Department employees who were fired dealt with energy efficiency and the effects of climate change, issues not seen as priorities by the Trump administration, many others dealt with nuclear issues, even if they didn't directly work on weapons programs. This included managing massive radioactive waste sites and ensuring the material there doesn't further contaminate nearby communities.

That incudes the Savannah River National Laboratory in Jackson, South Carolina; the Hanford Nuclear Site in Washington state, where workers secure 177 high-level waste tanks from the site's previous work producing plutonium for the atomic bomb; and the Oak Ridge Reservation in Tennessee, a Superfund contamination site where much of the early work on the Manhattan Project was done, among others.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, both Democrats, called the firings last week “utterly callous and dangerous.”

The NNSA staff who had been reinstated could not all be reached after they were fired, and some were reconsidering whether to return to work, given the uncertainty created by DOGE.

Many federal employees who had worked on the nation's nuclear programs had spent their entire careers there, and there was a wave of retirements in recent years that cost the agency years of institutional knowledge.

But it's now in the midst of a major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-warheads-military-bomb-plutonium-6b86198def4516cebe496c9f5fbfbb75">$750 billion nuclear weapons modernization effort</a>&nbsp;— including new land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, new stealth bombers and new submarine-launched warheads. In response, the labs have aggressively hired over the past few years: In 2023, 60% of the workforce had been there five years or less.

Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the firings could disrupt the day-to-day workings of the agency and create a sense of instability over the nuclear program both at home and abroad.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739799144954.png" alt="File image- Elon Musk during his Oval Office press conference last week" />
 <figcaption>File image- Elon Musk during his Oval Office press conference last week</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has halted the firings of hundreds of federal employees who were tasked with working on the nation's nuclear weapons programs, in an about-face that has left workers confused and experts cautioning that DOGE's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-musk-trump-lawsuit-states-fbb9695bcffaa96470752d56da20da57">blind cost cutting</a>&nbsp;will put communities at risk.Three U.S. officials who spoke to The Associated Press said up to 350 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration were abruptly laid off late Thursday, with some losing access to email before they'd learned they were fired, only to try to enter their offices on Friday morning to find they were locked out. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.One of the hardest hit offices was the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, which saw about 30% of the cuts. Those employees work on reassembling warheads, one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-warheads-military-bomb-plutonium-6b86198def4516cebe496c9f5fbfbb75">most sensitive jobs</a>&nbsp;across the nuclear weapons enterprise, with the highest levels of clearance.The hundreds let go at NNSA were part of a DOGE purge across the Department of Energy that targeted about 2,000 employees.“The DOGE people are coming in with absolutely no knowledge of what these departments are responsible for,” said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, referencing Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency team. “They don’t seem to realize that it’s actually the department of nuclear weapons more than it is the Department of Energy.”By late Friday night, the agency's acting director, Teresa Robbins, issued a memo rescinding the firings for all but 28 of those hundreds of fired staff members.“This letter serves as formal notification that the termination decision issued to you on Feb. 13, 2025 has been rescinded, effective immediately,” said the memo, which was obtained by the AP.The accounts from the three officials contradict an official statement from the Department of Energy, which said fewer than 50 National Nuclear Security Administration staffers were let go, calling them “probationary employees” who “held primarily administrative and clerical roles.”But that wasn't the case. The firings prompted one NNSA senior staffer to post a warning and call to action.“This is a pivotal moment. We must decide whether we are truly committed to leading on the world stage or if we are content with undermining the very systems that secure our nation’s future,” deputy division director Rob Plonski posted to LinkedIn. “Cutting the federal workforce responsible for these functions may be seen as reckless at best and adversarily opportunistic at worst.”While some of the Energy Department employees who were fired dealt with energy efficiency and the effects of climate change, issues not seen as priorities by the Trump administration, many others dealt with nuclear issues, even if they didn't directly work on weapons programs. This included managing massive radioactive waste sites and ensuring the material there doesn't further contaminate nearby communities.That incudes the Savannah River National Laboratory in Jackson, South Carolina; the Hanford Nuclear Site in Washington state, where workers secure 177 high-level waste tanks from the site's previous work producing plutonium for the atomic bomb; and the Oak Ridge Reservation in Tennessee, a Superfund contamination site where much of the early work on the Manhattan Project was done, among others.U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, both Democrats, called the firings last week “utterly callous and dangerous.”The NNSA staff who had been reinstated could not all be reached after they were fired, and some were reconsidering whether to return to work, given the uncertainty created by DOGE.Many federal employees who had worked on the nation's nuclear programs had spent their entire careers there, and there was a wave of retirements in recent years that cost the agency years of institutional knowledge.But it's now in the midst of a major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-warheads-military-bomb-plutonium-6b86198def4516cebe496c9f5fbfbb75">$750 billion nuclear weapons modernization effort</a>&nbsp;— including new land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, new stealth bombers and new submarine-launched warheads. In response, the labs have aggressively hired over the past few years: In 2023, 60% of the workforce had been there five years or less.Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the firings could disrupt the day-to-day workings of the agency and create a sense of instability over the nuclear program both at home and abroad.

Trump admin. tries to bring back fired nuclear weapons workers in DOGE reversal

The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is investigating&nbsp; ​the use of skimming devices in the Kansas City metro area.&nbsp; Thieves placed illegal skimming devices at the businesses to collect purchase EBT card information used at stores, according to a media release from the agency.

The EBT team recently discovered suspicious out-of-state phone numbers calling to complete balance&nbsp;inquiries for multiple EBT cards. This unusual activity prompted the team to further investigate&nbsp;and identify three businesses in common where the EBT cards were used. 

The team then took quick&nbsp;action and proactively shut down about 1,000 EBT cards that were identified as being used at these&nbsp;businesses. Skimming devices were subsequently discovered at these businesses. DCF immediately made&nbsp;the stores aware of the devices and encouraged the stores to work with law enforcement. 

DCF is&nbsp;working with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate the incidents. “Through quick action, DCF prevented the theft of a total of $369,532 in benefits for about 830&nbsp;cardholders,”said DCF Secretary Laura Howard.

These cardholders will automatically have a replacement card loaded with their benefits mailed to&nbsp;their homes. Their new cards should arrive 5-7 business days after their original card was&nbsp;canceled.

To date, DCF has also identified 162 cardholders whose benefits were stolen through these skimming&nbsp;events with a total of $38,653.90 in benefits stolen.

A federal provision that provided federal funds to replace SNAP and TANF benefits stolen through card skimming, card cloning and other similar methods expired on Dec. 20, 2024. It was not extended with the 2025 American Relief Act. At this time stolen benefits cannot be replaced and there is not state funding available to replace stolen benefits.DCF encourages victims to call United Way 211 by dialing 211 on their phone or visit&nbsp;<a href="https://unitedwaygkc.org/211-2/" target="_blank">211KC.org​</a>if they need help accessing food.

“It’s disheartening that there are people preying on some of the most vulnerable Kansans – children and the elderly – and are stealing the money they depend on to put food on their tables,”Howard said.Protecting cards/benefitsThe illegal use of skimming devices is a growing problem across the country. 

All Kansas EBT cardholders are encouraged to use the ebtEDGE app from DCF’s EBT contractor, Fidelity Information Services (FIS), or access the ebtEDGE Cardholder Portal at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ebtedge.com/gov/portal/PortalHome.do" target="_blank">ebtedge.com&nbsp;</a>to monitor their account and help safeguard their benefits by using the following features:

Third-party EBT apps do not provide the same protection features as ebtEDGE. The ebtEDGE app can be accessed in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.Cardholders are also encouraged to beware of phishing attempts and they should not share their card info or the PIN over the phone or via text message. DCF and FIS will never call or text cardholders and explicitly ask for their card number or PIN.“We encourage all cardholders to utilize the tools available through ebtEDGE to help protect their money from falling into the hands of thieves,”Howard said.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/skimming" target="_blank">Federal Bureau of Investigation’s skimming</a>page provides more information about skimming scams and EBT card skimming.Requesting a new cardIf a Kansas EBT cardholder suspects their card has been compromised, they should immediately report the suspected fraud and request a new card by calling ebtEDGE Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666 or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ebtedge.com/gov/portal/PortalHome.do" target="_blank">ebtedge.com​</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597867755742.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is investigating&nbsp; ​the use of skimming devices in the Kansas City metro area.&nbsp; Thieves placed illegal skimming devices at the businesses to collect purchase EBT card information used at stores, according to a media release from the agency.The EBT team recently discovered suspicious out-of-state phone numbers calling to complete balance&nbsp;inquiries for multiple EBT cards. This unusual activity prompted the team to further investigate&nbsp;and identify three businesses in common where the EBT cards were used. The team then took quick&nbsp;action and proactively shut down about 1,000 EBT cards that were identified as being used at these&nbsp;businesses. Skimming devices were subsequently discovered at these businesses. DCF immediately made&nbsp;the stores aware of the devices and encouraged the stores to work with law enforcement. DCF is&nbsp;working with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate the incidents. “Through quick action, DCF prevented the theft of a total of $369,532 in benefits for about 830&nbsp;cardholders,”said DCF Secretary Laura Howard.These cardholders will automatically have a replacement card loaded with their benefits mailed to&nbsp;their homes. Their new cards should arrive 5-7 business days after their original card was&nbsp;canceled.To date, DCF has also identified 162 cardholders whose benefits were stolen through these skimming&nbsp;events with a total of $38,653.90 in benefits stolen.A federal provision that provided federal funds to replace SNAP and TANF benefits stolen through card skimming, card cloning and other similar methods expired on Dec. 20, 2024. It was not extended with the 2025 American Relief Act. At this time stolen benefits cannot be replaced and there is not state funding available to replace stolen benefits.DCF encourages victims to call United Way 211 by dialing 211 on their phone or visit&nbsp;<a href="https://unitedwaygkc.org/211-2/" target="_blank">211KC.org​</a>if they need help accessing food.“It’s disheartening that there are people preying on some of the most vulnerable Kansans – children and the elderly – and are stealing the money they depend on to put food on their tables,”Howard said.Protecting cards/benefitsThe illegal use of skimming devices is a growing problem across the country. All Kansas EBT cardholders are encouraged to use the ebtEDGE app from DCF’s EBT contractor, Fidelity Information Services (FIS), or access the ebtEDGE Cardholder Portal at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ebtedge.com/gov/portal/PortalHome.do" target="_blank">ebtedge.com&nbsp;</a>to monitor their account and help safeguard their benefits by using the following features:<ol>
 <li>Freeze the EBT card when not using it. Cardholders must unfreeze the card when they are ready to make a purchase.</li><li>Block out-of-state and online transactions. Cardholders will have to unblock these transactions when they want to make an out-of-state or online purchase.</li><li>Regularly change the four-digit PIN and use number combinations that are not easy for others to figure out. For example, don’t use birthdays or anniversaries.</li>
 </ol>Third-party EBT apps do not provide the same protection features as ebtEDGE. The ebtEDGE app can be accessed in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.Cardholders are also encouraged to beware of phishing attempts and they should not share their card info or the PIN over the phone or via text message. DCF and FIS will never call or text cardholders and explicitly ask for their card number or PIN.“We encourage all cardholders to utilize the tools available through ebtEDGE to help protect their money from falling into the hands of thieves,”Howard said.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/skimming" target="_blank">Federal Bureau of Investigation’s skimming</a>page provides more information about skimming scams and EBT card skimming.Requesting a new cardIf a Kansas EBT cardholder suspects their card has been compromised, they should immediately report the suspected fraud and request a new card by calling ebtEDGE Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666 or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ebtedge.com/gov/portal/PortalHome.do" target="_blank">ebtedge.com​</a>.

Hundreds of Kansas EBT cards impacted by skimming fraud

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.

Just after 11:30a.m. Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched a report of a vehicle accident in the area of 56th and Woodland in Kansas City, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

The call was upgraded to a shooting. As officers arrived they located an adult male victim inside of a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. 

Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS. Emergency medical personnel pronounced the man deceased on scene.This is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739759311054.png" alt="PHoto courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>PHoto courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.Just after 11:30a.m. Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched a report of a vehicle accident in the area of 56th and Woodland in Kansas City, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.The call was upgraded to a shooting. As officers arrived they located an adult male victim inside of a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS. Emergency medical personnel pronounced the man deceased on scene.This is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp;

Homicide: Man found with gunshot wound in Kansas City

DAMASCUS —On Saturday, U.S. Forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria targeting and killing a senior finance and logistics official in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

"The airstrike is part of CENTCOM's ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond.'

On Feb. 12, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), enabled by U.S. Central Command&nbsp; forces, conducted an airstrike in the vicinity of Rawa, Iraq, killing five ISIS operatives, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

An initial post-strike clearance confirmed the dead ISIS operatives, various medium and small caliber weapons, grenades, suicide explosive belts, and ammunition.

The ISF-led operation is part of the ongoing Defeat-ISIS campaign to disrupt and degrade ISIS' capabilities, dismantle their attack networks, and ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. Coalition Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CTF-OIR) enabled ISF during the operation by providing technical support and intelligence. CJTF-OIR advises, assists, and enables partner forces to secure the lasting defeat of ISIS and to enable the establishment of enduring security cooperation frameworks. 

"ISF continue to be a credible and capable fighting element leading the D-ISIS mission in Iraq and are a valuable partner in efforts to diminish ISIS’s presence and its radical ideologies.'

"ISIS remains a threat to the region and beyond, and CENTCOM, along with partners and allies, will continue to aggressively pursue these terrorists."

"We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists in order to defend our homeland, and U.S., allied, and partner personnel in the region,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739746302792.png" alt="U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons patrol the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.-Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons patrol the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.-Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DAMASCUS —On Saturday, U.S. Forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria targeting and killing a senior finance and logistics official in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command."The airstrike is part of CENTCOM's ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond.'On Feb. 12, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), enabled by U.S. Central Command&nbsp; forces, conducted an airstrike in the vicinity of Rawa, Iraq, killing five ISIS operatives, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.An initial post-strike clearance confirmed the dead ISIS operatives, various medium and small caliber weapons, grenades, suicide explosive belts, and ammunition.The ISF-led operation is part of the ongoing Defeat-ISIS campaign to disrupt and degrade ISIS' capabilities, dismantle their attack networks, and ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. Coalition Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CTF-OIR) enabled ISF during the operation by providing technical support and intelligence. CJTF-OIR advises, assists, and enables partner forces to secure the lasting defeat of ISIS and to enable the establishment of enduring security cooperation frameworks. "ISF continue to be a credible and capable fighting element leading the D-ISIS mission in Iraq and are a valuable partner in efforts to diminish ISIS’s presence and its radical ideologies.'"ISIS remains a threat to the region and beyond, and CENTCOM, along with partners and allies, will continue to aggressively pursue these terrorists.""We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists in order to defend our homeland, and U.S., allied, and partner personnel in the region,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command.

U.S. forces kill senior operative of Al-Qaeda affiliate 

KANSAS CITY– A man who purchased more than 50 firearms has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally trafficking firearms and methamphetamine, according to the United State's Attorney.

David Allen Gaunt, 57, Strafford, Mo., was charged in a 16-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Gaunt on Jan. 16, 2025.

The federal indictment alleges that Gaunt participated in a conspiracy to traffic firearms from June 21, 2023, to Jan. 23, 2025. Those firearms, according to the indictment, included a Kalashnikov pistol, a Century Arms pistol, a Tokarev shotgun, a Canik pistol and an HS Produkt pistol. In addition to the conspiracy, Gaunt is charged with one count of trafficking those firearms to a recipient who was legally prohibited from possessing them.

The federal indictment also charges Gaunt with being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of 15 different firearms. Gaunt is charged with four counts of making a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer in order to purchase firearms, four counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, four counts of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of distributing methamphetamine.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Gaunt has personally purchased more than 50 firearms. On every purchase, the affidavit says, Gaunt marked “No” on the federal form that asked, “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?” Eighteen of these firearms have been recovered by law enforcement, from Gaunt and others. Additionally, 11 of the firearms Gaunt purchased have been either sold to or pawned at pawn shops.

Springfield police officers seized three of those firearms during the execution of two search warrants in separate drug-trafficking investigations in June 2023, and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department seized one of those firearms during enforcement activities in July 2023. All of the firearms were seized from individuals who were legally prohibited from possessing firearms, the affidavit says, and were traced to Gaunt as the original purchaser.

On Aug. 16, 2023, Springfield police officers stopped Gaunt near S. Glenstone Avenue and E. St. Louis Street. When officers searched his vehicle, they found six firearms. On Nov. 6, 2024, Springfield officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Gaunt. Officers seized a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol from Gaunt’s waistband. A clear plastic bag of methamphetamine was found in the center console of the vehicle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739053132958.png" alt="Gaunt photo Greene County" />
 <figcaption>Gaunt photo Greene County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A man who purchased more than 50 firearms has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally trafficking firearms and methamphetamine, according to the United State's Attorney.David Allen Gaunt, 57, Strafford, Mo., was charged in a 16-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Gaunt on Jan. 16, 2025.The federal indictment alleges that Gaunt participated in a conspiracy to traffic firearms from June 21, 2023, to Jan. 23, 2025. Those firearms, according to the indictment, included a Kalashnikov pistol, a Century Arms pistol, a Tokarev shotgun, a Canik pistol and an HS Produkt pistol. In addition to the conspiracy, Gaunt is charged with one count of trafficking those firearms to a recipient who was legally prohibited from possessing them.The federal indictment also charges Gaunt with being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of 15 different firearms. Gaunt is charged with four counts of making a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer in order to purchase firearms, four counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, four counts of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of distributing methamphetamine.According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Gaunt has personally purchased more than 50 firearms. On every purchase, the affidavit says, Gaunt marked “No” on the federal form that asked, “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?” Eighteen of these firearms have been recovered by law enforcement, from Gaunt and others. Additionally, 11 of the firearms Gaunt purchased have been either sold to or pawned at pawn shops.Springfield police officers seized three of those firearms during the execution of two search warrants in separate drug-trafficking investigations in June 2023, and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department seized one of those firearms during enforcement activities in July 2023. All of the firearms were seized from individuals who were legally prohibited from possessing firearms, the affidavit says, and were traced to Gaunt as the original purchaser.On Aug. 16, 2023, Springfield police officers stopped Gaunt near S. Glenstone Avenue and E. St. Louis Street. When officers searched his vehicle, they found six firearms. On Nov. 6, 2024, Springfield officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Gaunt. Officers seized a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol from Gaunt’s waistband. A clear plastic bag of methamphetamine was found in the center console of the vehicle.

KC grand jury indicts man who purchased more than 50 firearms

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Fire Department battled a two-alarm fire at a
vacant building on Saturday afternoon.&nbsp; 

Shortly after 4 pm the fire department was called to a fire
in the area of Ninth and Main.&nbsp; When first
crews arrived, the found heavy smoke in the area but no visible fire.

Firefighters from Squad One located a large two-story building
with flames and heavy smoke visible.&nbsp;
During a recent familiarization training crews from Station One had been
made aware that the building was being left open and under demolition. 

Earlier in the afternoon fire crews had walked through the
building to keep up with the demolition process and monitor it for homeless
activity. During the walk through crews encountered 14 different homeless
individuals staying in the building for shelter. 

Due to the known potential life hazards and heavy fire
involvement, an aggressive search was prioritized, and three attack lines were
put into service. With crews battling freezing temperatures, challenging
building construction, and the manpower needed to confine and control the fire,
a second alarm was started. 

Search crews reported an “all clear” on primary and
secondary searches. The cause of the fire is not known as of Sunday
afternoon.&nbsp; 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739748527967.jpeg" alt="Wellington Place Fire - Wichita Fire Department " />
 <figcaption>Wellington Place Fire - Wichita Fire Department </figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Fire Department battled a two-alarm fire at a
vacant building on Saturday afternoon.&nbsp; Shortly after 4 pm the fire department was called to a fire
in the area of Ninth and Main.&nbsp; When first
crews arrived, the found heavy smoke in the area but no visible fire.Firefighters from Squad One located a large two-story building
with flames and heavy smoke visible.&nbsp;
During a recent familiarization training crews from Station One had been
made aware that the building was being left open and under demolition. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739748075635.jpeg" alt="Wellington Place Fire - Wichita Fire Department " />
 <figcaption>Wellington Place Fire - Wichita Fire Department </figcaption>
 </figure>Earlier in the afternoon fire crews had walked through the
building to keep up with the demolition process and monitor it for homeless
activity. During the walk through crews encountered 14 different homeless
individuals staying in the building for shelter. Due to the known potential life hazards and heavy fire
involvement, an aggressive search was prioritized, and three attack lines were
put into service. With crews battling freezing temperatures, challenging
building construction, and the manpower needed to confine and control the fire,
a second alarm was started. Search crews reported an “all clear” on primary and
secondary searches. The cause of the fire is not known as of Sunday
afternoon.&nbsp;

14 homeless individuals found just before Kansas building fire

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two men on drug allegations.

Just after 7:30a.m. February 10, a Sheriff’s Deputy located a stolen vehicle west of Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse The vehicle had been reported stolen on February 4, 2025, in Lansing, Kansas.

Deputies arrested two men and booked them into the Jackson County Jail. Justin Joe Riis, 31, of Topeka, is being held on requested charges that include distribution of methamphetamine, possession of opiates, interference with law enforcement altering/conceal/destroy evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; 

Curtis Dean Sult, 63, of Lansing, is jailed on requested charges for possession of stolen property, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of opiates, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia. The PBPN Police assisted with the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739279742586.png" alt="Riis photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Riis photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two men on drug allegations.Just after 7:30a.m. February 10, a Sheriff’s Deputy located a stolen vehicle west of Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse The vehicle had been reported stolen on February 4, 2025, in Lansing, Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739279709622.png" alt="Sult photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Sult photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies arrested two men and booked them into the Jackson County Jail. Justin Joe Riis, 31, of Topeka, is being held on requested charges that include distribution of methamphetamine, possession of opiates, interference with law enforcement altering/conceal/destroy evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; Curtis Dean Sult, 63, of Lansing, is jailed on requested charges for possession of stolen property, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of opiates, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia. The PBPN Police assisted with the incident.