<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22MICHELLE%20CHAPMAN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer</a>

Home Depot doesn't expect to raise prices because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-inflation-economy-prices-eaf0b00bbdfa50c694590c70467a6cd4">tariffs</a>, saying it has spent years diversifying the sources for the goods on its shelves.

Billy Bastek, executive vice president of merchandising, said during a conference call on Tuesday that Home Depot's suppliers have shifted sourcing across several countries and that the company doesn't expect any single country outside of the U.S. will represent more than 10% of its purchases 12 months from now.

“We don’t see broad based price increases for our customers at all going forward,” he said.

Other companies, domestic and foreign, have warned customers that price hikes are on the way due to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-trump-trade-6ea513a44876c2f4dc948a25c15b0eb0">trade war kicked off by the U.S.</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walmart-earnings-tariff-consumers-inflation-773f7de5081c40a98c98fbb293fa5f96">Walmart</a>&nbsp;said last week that it has already raised prices and will have to do so again in the near future. Late Monday, Subaru of America said it would raise prices on some of its most popular models by as much as $2,000.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-walmart-inflation-import-taxes-e2012e0d9e242b0be0b9474aa58d41fd">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;lambasted Walmart, saying on social media over the weekend that the retail giant should “eat” the additional costs created by his tariffs.

As Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-time-china-switzerland-660aa519e9059de7d81368ec4eef4b38">jacked up import taxes</a>, he has tried to assure a skeptical public that foreign producers would pay for those taxes and that retailers and automakers would absorb the additional expenses. Most economists are deeply skeptical of those claims and have warned that the trade penalties would worsen inflation.

Tariffs on materials like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-home-improvement-housing-market-home-construction-ae55bcae89a8ad78814c3dbce69e435f">lumber</a>&nbsp;are also a concern for both homebuilders and home buyers. A homebuyer now needs to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-affordability-home-prices-real-estate-f17aa54776a04e4622d0c5afa9f09ff8">earn at least $114,000 a year</a>&nbsp;to afford a $431,250 home -- the national median listing price in April, according to data released this month by Realtor.com

Additional housing material costs would put home ownership out of reach for more potential buyers, though Home Depot is somewhat insulated as it sources the majority of its lumber in the U.S.

Early last year, the company said that about 17% of its wood is sourced from Canada. The company would not say Tuesday if those import levels have changed though after negotiations, Canadian lumber was exempted from additional 25% U.S. tariffs.

During the first quarter, Home Depot’s revenue climbed as customers spent slightly more on smaller home projects.

A number of U.S. companies have lowered or pulled financial guidance for investors as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-inflation-economy-prices-eaf0b00bbdfa50c694590c70467a6cd4">tariffs launched by the the Trump administration</a>&nbsp;scramble world trade but on Tuesday, Home Depot stuck by earlier projections of sales growth at around 2.8%.

Shares of the Atlanta company dipped slightly on Tuesday.

Revenue rose to $39.86 billion from $36.42 billion a year earlier, beating the $39.3 billion that analysts polled by FactSet expected.

Sales at stores open at least a year, a key gauge of a retailer’s health, edged down 0.3%. In the U.S., comparable store sales climbed 0.2%.

Wall Street anticipated a 0.1% decline in same-store sales.

Customer transactions rose 2.1% in the quarter. The amount shoppers spent climbed to $90.71 per average ticket from $90.68 in the prior-year period.

“Our first quarter results were in line with our expectations as we saw continued customer engagement across smaller projects and in our spring events,” Home Depot Chair and CEO Ted Decker said in a statement.

Home improvement retailers like Home Depot have been dealing with homeowners putting off bigger projects because of increased borrowing costs and lingering concerns about inflation.

The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/home-sales-mortgage-economy-7c1570c42c41f9513602b4bee795460e">Sales of previously occupied homes have dropped</a>&nbsp;as elevated mortgage rates and rising prices discouraged home shoppers.

Existing home sales fell 5.9% in March from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million units, the National Association of Realtors said. The March sales decline was the largest monthly drop since November 2022, and marks the slowest sales pace for the month of March going back to 2009.

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.

“One of the central problems for Home Depot is the skittish housing market,” Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in a statement. “While last quarter was robust, home sales declined by 3.1% year-over-year this quarter as consumers were deterred from moving by continued high interest rates and growing economic uncertainty. This lack of recovery makes it difficult to drive home improvement spending.”

For the three months ended May 4, Home Depot Inc. earned $3.43 billion, or $3.45 per share. A year earlier the Atlanta-based company earned $3.6 billion, or $3.63 per share.

Stripping out certain items, earnings were $3.56 per share. Wall Street was calling for earnings of $3.60 per share.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747942247274.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22MICHELLE%20CHAPMAN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer</a>Home Depot doesn't expect to raise prices because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-inflation-economy-prices-eaf0b00bbdfa50c694590c70467a6cd4">tariffs</a>, saying it has spent years diversifying the sources for the goods on its shelves.Billy Bastek, executive vice president of merchandising, said during a conference call on Tuesday that Home Depot's suppliers have shifted sourcing across several countries and that the company doesn't expect any single country outside of the U.S. will represent more than 10% of its purchases 12 months from now.“We don’t see broad based price increases for our customers at all going forward,” he said.Other companies, domestic and foreign, have warned customers that price hikes are on the way due to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-trump-trade-6ea513a44876c2f4dc948a25c15b0eb0">trade war kicked off by the U.S.</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/walmart-earnings-tariff-consumers-inflation-773f7de5081c40a98c98fbb293fa5f96">Walmart</a>&nbsp;said last week that it has already raised prices and will have to do so again in the near future. Late Monday, Subaru of America said it would raise prices on some of its most popular models by as much as $2,000.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-walmart-inflation-import-taxes-e2012e0d9e242b0be0b9474aa58d41fd">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;lambasted Walmart, saying on social media over the weekend that the retail giant should “eat” the additional costs created by his tariffs.As Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-time-china-switzerland-660aa519e9059de7d81368ec4eef4b38">jacked up import taxes</a>, he has tried to assure a skeptical public that foreign producers would pay for those taxes and that retailers and automakers would absorb the additional expenses. Most economists are deeply skeptical of those claims and have warned that the trade penalties would worsen inflation.Tariffs on materials like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-home-improvement-housing-market-home-construction-ae55bcae89a8ad78814c3dbce69e435f">lumber</a>&nbsp;are also a concern for both homebuilders and home buyers. A homebuyer now needs to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-affordability-home-prices-real-estate-f17aa54776a04e4622d0c5afa9f09ff8">earn at least $114,000 a year</a>&nbsp;to afford a $431,250 home -- the national median listing price in April, according to data released this month by Realtor.comAdditional housing material costs would put home ownership out of reach for more potential buyers, though Home Depot is somewhat insulated as it sources the majority of its lumber in the U.S.Early last year, the company said that about 17% of its wood is sourced from Canada. The company would not say Tuesday if those import levels have changed though after negotiations, Canadian lumber was exempted from additional 25% U.S. tariffs.During the first quarter, Home Depot’s revenue climbed as customers spent slightly more on smaller home projects.A number of U.S. companies have lowered or pulled financial guidance for investors as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-inflation-economy-prices-eaf0b00bbdfa50c694590c70467a6cd4">tariffs launched by the the Trump administration</a>&nbsp;scramble world trade but on Tuesday, Home Depot stuck by earlier projections of sales growth at around 2.8%.Shares of the Atlanta company dipped slightly on Tuesday.Revenue rose to $39.86 billion from $36.42 billion a year earlier, beating the $39.3 billion that analysts polled by FactSet expected.Sales at stores open at least a year, a key gauge of a retailer’s health, edged down 0.3%. In the U.S., comparable store sales climbed 0.2%.Wall Street anticipated a 0.1% decline in same-store sales.Customer transactions rose 2.1% in the quarter. The amount shoppers spent climbed to $90.71 per average ticket from $90.68 in the prior-year period.“Our first quarter results were in line with our expectations as we saw continued customer engagement across smaller projects and in our spring events,” Home Depot Chair and CEO Ted Decker said in a statement.Home improvement retailers like Home Depot have been dealing with homeowners putting off bigger projects because of increased borrowing costs and lingering concerns about inflation.The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/home-sales-mortgage-economy-7c1570c42c41f9513602b4bee795460e">Sales of previously occupied homes have dropped</a>&nbsp;as elevated mortgage rates and rising prices discouraged home shoppers.Existing home sales fell 5.9% in March from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million units, the National Association of Realtors said. The March sales decline was the largest monthly drop since November 2022, and marks the slowest sales pace for the month of March going back to 2009.Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.“One of the central problems for Home Depot is the skittish housing market,” Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in a statement. “While last quarter was robust, home sales declined by 3.1% year-over-year this quarter as consumers were deterred from moving by continued high interest rates and growing economic uncertainty. This lack of recovery makes it difficult to drive home improvement spending.”For the three months ended May 4, Home Depot Inc. earned $3.43 billion, or $3.45 per share. A year earlier the Atlanta-based company earned $3.6 billion, or $3.63 per share.Stripping out certain items, earnings were $3.56 per share. Wall Street was calling for earnings of $3.60 per share.

Home Depot says it doesn't expect to boost prices because of tariffs

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

Just after 4p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to Westport and Broadway on a reported accident. The call was updated to a shooting,&nbsp; according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

First responders located a shooting victim in a vehicle near 43rd and Broadway unresponsive and suffering from gunshot trauma. EMS responded and transported the victim to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Preliminary information indicates an argument took place inside of a business. The argument continued as both the adult male victim and an adult male suspect walked outside of the business. The argument then escalated to gunfire. 

The victim left the area in a vehicle before coming to a stop near 43rd and Broadway. Initial responding officers located a man at Westport and Broadway that had been involved in an accident when the victim was driving out of the area and subsequently struck his vehicle.

&nbsp;This incident is being investigated as a homicide. Just before 9p.m. Friday police reported they had taken a suspect into custody.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748052749455.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.Just after 4p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to Westport and Broadway on a reported accident. The call was updated to a shooting,&nbsp; according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748052715240.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located a shooting victim in a vehicle near 43rd and Broadway unresponsive and suffering from gunshot trauma. EMS responded and transported the victim to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Preliminary information indicates an argument took place inside of a business. The argument continued as both the adult male victim and an adult male suspect walked outside of the business. The argument then escalated to gunfire. The victim left the area in a vehicle before coming to a stop near 43rd and Broadway. Initial responding officers located a man at Westport and Broadway that had been involved in an accident when the victim was driving out of the area and subsequently struck his vehicle.&nbsp;This incident is being investigated as a homicide. Just before 9p.m. Friday police reported they had taken a suspect into custody.&nbsp;

KCPD: Homicide victim involved in crash driving from shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans early Thursday took a major step forward on President Donald Trump’s agenda, approving a legislative package that combines tax breaks, spending cuts, border security funding and other priorities.

House committees labored for months on the bill, which underwent late changes to win over holdouts in the Republican conference. It exceeds 1,000 pages and is titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a nod to Trump himself.

Republicans made one last round of revisions before the bill reached the House floor, boosting the state and local tax deduction to win over centrists and speeding up the work requirements in Medicaid to win over those who didn’t believe the bill did enough to curb spending.

Here’s a look at what’s in the legislative package, which is expected to undergo more changes when it goes to the Senate.

Republicans look to make permanent the individual income and estate tax cuts passed in Trump’s first term, in 2017, plus enact promises he made on the 2024 campaign trail to not tax tips, overtime and interest on some auto loans.

To partially offset the lost revenue, Republicans propose repealing or phasing out more quickly the clean energy tax credits passed during Joe Biden’s presidency, helping to bring down the overall cost of the tax portion to about $3.8 trillion.

The bill includes a temporary boost in the standard deduction — a $1,000 increase for individuals, bringing it to $16,000 for individual filers, and a $2,000 boost for joint filers, bringing it to $32,000. The deduction reduces the amount of income that is actually subject to income tax.

There is also a temporary $500 increase in the child tax credit, bringing it to $2,500 for 2025 through 2028. It then returns to $2,000 and will increase to account for inflation.

The estate tax exemption rises to $15 million and is adjusted for inflation going forward.

One of the thorniest issues in negotiations had been how much to raise the state and local tax deduction, now capped at $10,000. That’s been a priority of New York lawmakers. The bill increases the “SALT” cap to $40,000 for incomes up to $500,000, with the cap phasing downward for those with higher incomes. Also, the cap and income threshold will increase 1% annually over 10 years.

Several of the provisions Trump promised in the campaign would be temporary, lasting roughly through his term in office. The tax breaks for tips, overtime and car loan interest expire at the end of 2028. That’s also the case for a $4,000 increase in the standard deduction for seniors.

Among the various business tax provisions, small businesses, including partnerships and S corporations, will be able to subtract 23% of their qualified business income from their taxes. The deduction has been 20%

Businesses will temporarily be allowed to fully expense domestic research and development costs in the year they occur and the cost of machinery, equipment and other qualifying assets. This encourages businesses to invest in ways that enhances their productivity.

Parents and older Americans face work requirements for food assistance

House Republicans would reduce spending on food aid, what is known as the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, by about $267 billion over 10 years.

States would shoulder 5% of benefit costs, beginning in fiscal 2028, and 75% of the administrative costs. Currently, states pay none of the benefit and half of the administration costs.

Republicans also are expanding the work requirements to receive food aid. Under current law, able-bodied adults without dependents must fulfill work requirements until they are 54, and that would change under the bill to age 64.

Also, some parents are currently exempt from work requirements until their children are 18; that would change so only those caring for a dependent child under the age of 7 are exempt.

A focal point of&nbsp;<a href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/Subtitle_D_Health_ae3638d840.pdf" target="_blank">the package</a>&nbsp;is nearly $700 billion in reduced spending in the Medicaid program, according to CBO.

To be eligible for Medicaid, there would be new “community engagement requirements” of at least 80 hours per month of work, education or service for able-bodied adults without dependents. The new requirements would begin on Dec. 31, 2026. People would also have to verify their eligibility for the program twice a year, rather than just once.

Republicans are looking to generate savings with new work requirements. But Democrats warn that millions of Americans will lose coverage.

A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over the decade.

No taxes on gun silencers, no money for Planned Parenthood and more

Republicans are also using the package to reward allies and disadvantage political foes.

The package would eliminate a $200 tax on gun silencers that has existed since Congress passed the National Firearms Act in 1934. The elimination of the tax is supported by the NRA.

The group Giffords, which works to reduce gun violence, said silencers make it more difficult to recognize the sound of gunfire and locate the source of gunshots, impairing the ability of law enforcement to respond to active shooters.

Republicans are also looking to prohibit Medicaid funds from going to Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion care. Democrats say defunding the organization would make it harder for millions of patients to get cancer screenings, pap tests and birth control.

The bill originally called for “MAGA” accounts, shorthand for Trump’s signature line, “Make America Great Again.” But in a last-minute revision, the bill changed the name to “Trump” accounts.

For parents or guardians who open new “Trump” accounts for their children, the federal government will contribute $1,000 for babies born between Jan. 1, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2028.

Families could add $5,000 a year, with the account holders unable to take distributions before age 18. Then, they could access up to 50% of the money to pay for higher education, training and first-time home purchases. At age 30, account holders have access to the full balance of the account for any purpose.

Funding for Trump’s mass deportation operation

The legislation would provide $46.5 billion to revive construction of Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and more money for the deportation agenda.

There’s $4 billion to hire an additional 3,000 new Border Patrol agents as well as 5,000 new customs officers, and $2.1 billion for signing and retention bonuses. There’s also funds for 10,000 more Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and investigators.

It includes major changes to immigration policy, imposing a $1,000 fee on migrants seeking asylum — something the nation has never done, putting it on par with few others, including Australia and Iran.

Overall, the plan is to remove 1 million immigrants annually and house 100,000 people in detention centers.

More money for the Pentagon and Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’

There’s also nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://armedservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bill_text.pdf" target="_blank">with $150 billion</a>&nbsp;in new money for the Defense Department and national security.

It would provide $25 billion for Trump’s “Golden Dome for America,” a long-envisioned missile defense shield, $21 billion to restock the nation’s ammunition arsenal, $34 billion to expand the naval fleet with more shipbuilding and some $5 billion for border security.

It also includes $9 billion for servicemember quality of life-related issues, including housing, health care and special pay.

Tax on university endowments and overhaul of student loans

A wholesale revamping of the student loan program is key to the legislation, providing&nbsp;<a href="https://edworkforce.house.gov/uploadedfiles/ans_el_recon_01_xml.pdf" target="_blank">$330 billion in budget cuts and savings</a>.

The proposal would replace all existing student loan repayment plans with just two: a standard option with monthly payments spread out over 10 to 25 years and a “repayment assistance” plan that is generally less generous than those it would replace.

Among other changes, the bill would repeal Biden-era regulations that made it easier for borrowers to get loans canceled if their colleges defrauded them or closed suddenly.

There would be a tax increase, up to 21%, on some university endowments.

To generate revenue,&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/meetings/II/II00/20250506/118151/BILLS-119-CommitteePrint-W000821-Amdt-012.pdf" target="_blank">one section</a>&nbsp;would allow increased leasing of public lands for drilling, mining and logging while clearing the path for more development by speeding up government approvals.

Royalty rates paid by companies to extract oil, gas and coal would be cut, reversing Biden’s attempts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-billings-environment-4f5213bcc57da138e4d9ae859841b74d">curb fossil fuels</a>&nbsp;to help address climate change.

Associated Press writers Collin Binkley and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747962394542.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans early Thursday took a major step forward on President Donald Trump’s agenda, approving a legislative package that combines tax breaks, spending cuts, border security funding and other priorities.House committees labored for months on the bill, which underwent late changes to win over holdouts in the Republican conference. It exceeds 1,000 pages and is titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a nod to Trump himself.Republicans made one last round of revisions before the bill reached the House floor, boosting the state and local tax deduction to win over centrists and speeding up the work requirements in Medicaid to win over those who didn’t believe the bill did enough to curb spending.Here’s a look at what’s in the legislative package, which is expected to undergo more changes when it goes to the Senate.<h2>Tax cuts for individuals and businesses</h2>Republicans look to make permanent the individual income and estate tax cuts passed in Trump’s first term, in 2017, plus enact promises he made on the 2024 campaign trail to not tax tips, overtime and interest on some auto loans.To partially offset the lost revenue, Republicans propose repealing or phasing out more quickly the clean energy tax credits passed during Joe Biden’s presidency, helping to bring down the overall cost of the tax portion to about $3.8 trillion.The bill includes a temporary boost in the standard deduction — a $1,000 increase for individuals, bringing it to $16,000 for individual filers, and a $2,000 boost for joint filers, bringing it to $32,000. The deduction reduces the amount of income that is actually subject to income tax.There is also a temporary $500 increase in the child tax credit, bringing it to $2,500 for 2025 through 2028. It then returns to $2,000 and will increase to account for inflation.The estate tax exemption rises to $15 million and is adjusted for inflation going forward.One of the thorniest issues in negotiations had been how much to raise the state and local tax deduction, now capped at $10,000. That’s been a priority of New York lawmakers. The bill increases the “SALT” cap to $40,000 for incomes up to $500,000, with the cap phasing downward for those with higher incomes. Also, the cap and income threshold will increase 1% annually over 10 years.Several of the provisions Trump promised in the campaign would be temporary, lasting roughly through his term in office. The tax breaks for tips, overtime and car loan interest expire at the end of 2028. That’s also the case for a $4,000 increase in the standard deduction for seniors.Among the various business tax provisions, small businesses, including partnerships and S corporations, will be able to subtract 23% of their qualified business income from their taxes. The deduction has been 20%Businesses will temporarily be allowed to fully expense domestic research and development costs in the year they occur and the cost of machinery, equipment and other qualifying assets. This encourages businesses to invest in ways that enhances their productivity.<h2>Parents and older Americans face work requirements for food assistance</h2>House Republicans would reduce spending on food aid, what is known as the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, by about $267 billion over 10 years.States would shoulder 5% of benefit costs, beginning in fiscal 2028, and 75% of the administrative costs. Currently, states pay none of the benefit and half of the administration costs.Republicans also are expanding the work requirements to receive food aid. Under current law, able-bodied adults without dependents must fulfill work requirements until they are 54, and that would change under the bill to age 64.Also, some parents are currently exempt from work requirements until their children are 18; that would change so only those caring for a dependent child under the age of 7 are exempt.<h2>And new work requirements for Medicaid</h2>A focal point of&nbsp;<a href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/Subtitle_D_Health_ae3638d840.pdf" target="_blank">the package</a>&nbsp;is nearly $700 billion in reduced spending in the Medicaid program, according to CBO.To be eligible for Medicaid, there would be new “community engagement requirements” of at least 80 hours per month of work, education or service for able-bodied adults without dependents. The new requirements would begin on Dec. 31, 2026. People would also have to verify their eligibility for the program twice a year, rather than just once.Republicans are looking to generate savings with new work requirements. But Democrats warn that millions of Americans will lose coverage.A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over the decade.<h2>No taxes on gun silencers, no money for Planned Parenthood and more</h2>Republicans are also using the package to reward allies and disadvantage political foes.The package would eliminate a $200 tax on gun silencers that has existed since Congress passed the National Firearms Act in 1934. The elimination of the tax is supported by the NRA.The group Giffords, which works to reduce gun violence, said silencers make it more difficult to recognize the sound of gunfire and locate the source of gunshots, impairing the ability of law enforcement to respond to active shooters.Republicans are also looking to prohibit Medicaid funds from going to Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion care. Democrats say defunding the organization would make it harder for millions of patients to get cancer screenings, pap tests and birth control.<h2>‘Trump’ kids $1,000 savings accounts</h2>The bill originally called for “MAGA” accounts, shorthand for Trump’s signature line, “Make America Great Again.” But in a last-minute revision, the bill changed the name to “Trump” accounts.For parents or guardians who open new “Trump” accounts for their children, the federal government will contribute $1,000 for babies born between Jan. 1, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2028.Families could add $5,000 a year, with the account holders unable to take distributions before age 18. Then, they could access up to 50% of the money to pay for higher education, training and first-time home purchases. At age 30, account holders have access to the full balance of the account for any purpose.<h2>Funding for Trump’s mass deportation operation</h2>The legislation would provide $46.5 billion to revive construction of Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and more money for the deportation agenda.There’s $4 billion to hire an additional 3,000 new Border Patrol agents as well as 5,000 new customs officers, and $2.1 billion for signing and retention bonuses. There’s also funds for 10,000 more Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and investigators.It includes major changes to immigration policy, imposing a $1,000 fee on migrants seeking asylum — something the nation has never done, putting it on par with few others, including Australia and Iran.Overall, the plan is to remove 1 million immigrants annually and house 100,000 people in detention centers.<h2>More money for the Pentagon and Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’</h2>There’s also nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://armedservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bill_text.pdf" target="_blank">with $150 billion</a>&nbsp;in new money for the Defense Department and national security.It would provide $25 billion for Trump’s “Golden Dome for America,” a long-envisioned missile defense shield, $21 billion to restock the nation’s ammunition arsenal, $34 billion to expand the naval fleet with more shipbuilding and some $5 billion for border security.It also includes $9 billion for servicemember quality of life-related issues, including housing, health care and special pay.<h2>Tax on university endowments and overhaul of student loans</h2>A wholesale revamping of the student loan program is key to the legislation, providing&nbsp;<a href="https://edworkforce.house.gov/uploadedfiles/ans_el_recon_01_xml.pdf" target="_blank">$330 billion in budget cuts and savings</a>.The proposal would replace all existing student loan repayment plans with just two: a standard option with monthly payments spread out over 10 to 25 years and a “repayment assistance” plan that is generally less generous than those it would replace.Among other changes, the bill would repeal Biden-era regulations that made it easier for borrowers to get loans canceled if their colleges defrauded them or closed suddenly.There would be a tax increase, up to 21%, on some university endowments.<h2>More drilling, mining on public lands</h2>To generate revenue,&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/meetings/II/II00/20250506/118151/BILLS-119-CommitteePrint-W000821-Amdt-012.pdf" target="_blank">one section</a>&nbsp;would allow increased leasing of public lands for drilling, mining and logging while clearing the path for more development by speeding up government approvals.Royalty rates paid by companies to extract oil, gas and coal would be cut, reversing Biden’s attempts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-billings-environment-4f5213bcc57da138e4d9ae859841b74d">curb fossil fuels</a>&nbsp;to help address climate change.___Associated Press writers Collin Binkley and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana, contributed to this report.

Trump’s big tax bill has passed the House. Here’s what’s inside it

SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 1p.m. Friday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Buick LaCrosse driven by Eugene Judson Theodore&nbsp;Stumblingbear, 44,&nbsp; Attica, was eastbound in the westbound lanes of Kansas 42 one quarter mile east of S 279th Street W.

The car struck a westbound 2024 Western Star semi driven by Donald David&nbsp;Piotrowski, 54,Valley Center, head-on.

Stumblingbear was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp; Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center. EMS transported&nbsp;Piotrowski to&nbsp;Ascension Via Christi St Francis. The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748055276795.png" alt="First responders at the scene photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 1p.m. Friday in Sedgwick County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Buick LaCrosse driven by Eugene Judson Theodore&nbsp;Stumblingbear, 44,&nbsp; Attica, was eastbound in the westbound lanes of Kansas 42 one quarter mile east of S 279th Street W.The car struck a westbound 2024 Western Star semi driven by Donald David&nbsp;Piotrowski, 54,Valley Center, head-on.Stumblingbear was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp; Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center. EMS transported&nbsp;Piotrowski to&nbsp;Ascension Via Christi St Francis. The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage details.

Kansas man dies after wrong-way, head-on crash

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple sex allegations.

Just after 1 p.m. Thursday, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Detectives arrested 22-year-old Quo-Jon Paul Tye, of Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Tye was arrested on a five count Jackson County District Court warrant. The warrant was issued in reference to a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office investigation. The alleged crimes were reported to the Sheriff’s Office in November of 2024. 

The warrant consists of three counts of rape and two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a minor. Tye was booked into and remains in the Jackson County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748010128802.png" alt="Tye-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Tye-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple sex allegations.Just after 1 p.m. Thursday, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Detectives arrested 22-year-old Quo-Jon Paul Tye, of Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Tye was arrested on a five count Jackson County District Court warrant. The warrant was issued in reference to a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office investigation. The alleged crimes were reported to the Sheriff’s Office in November of 2024. The warrant consists of three counts of rape and two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a minor. Tye was booked into and remains in the Jackson County Jail.

Sheriff: Kansas man accused of child sex crimes

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man was sentenced to seven years in prison for an ice cream shop burglary that occurred last year, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="mailto:Media%20Contact:%20%20%20Jazzlyn%20Johnson%20%20Director%20of%20Communications%20%20%20Jackson%20County%20Prosecutor%E2%80%99s%20Office%20%20%20415%20E%2012th%20Street%20%20Kansas%20City,%20MO%20-%2064106%20%20(816)%20929-1289%20%20%20jazzlyn.johnson@jacksongov.org%20%20%20https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com">John Heckman</a>, 78,&nbsp;received a seven-year prison sentence after pleading guilty yesterday to 2nd Degree Burglary and a concurrent four-year sentence for 1st Degree Property Damage.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2623/Heckman-John-PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched on October 13, 2024, to Betty Rae’s Ice Cream on a burglary. Officers observed a broken glass door, and the reporting party said a black safe with nearly $2,000 in cash was taken.&nbsp;

Surveillance footage of the incident showed an older male, later identified as Heckman, throw a rock into the window and enter the business. He walked to the back of the store where the safe is located and carries it out of the business.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The reporting party said the glass door was $1,700 to fix and the safe was $2,000 to replace.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police, joined by Kansas City, Kan. officers, located the Heckman in a Kansas City, Kan., residence. Detectives said he told them he spent the money on dope and the casinos.

Heckman's criminal record includes multiple prior convictions for burglary and stealing across the Kansas City metro.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729717963316.png" alt="Heckman from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Heckman from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man was sentenced to seven years in prison for an ice cream shop burglary that occurred last year, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="mailto:Media%20Contact:%20%20%20Jazzlyn%20Johnson%20%20Director%20of%20Communications%20%20%20Jackson%20County%20Prosecutor%E2%80%99s%20Office%20%20%20415%20E%2012th%20Street%20%20Kansas%20City,%20MO%20-%2064106%20%20(816)%20929-1289%20%20%20jazzlyn.johnson@jacksongov.org%20%20%20https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com">John Heckman</a>, 78,&nbsp;received a seven-year prison sentence after pleading guilty yesterday to 2nd Degree Burglary and a concurrent four-year sentence for 1st Degree Property Damage.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2623/Heckman-John-PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched on October 13, 2024, to Betty Rae’s Ice Cream on a burglary. Officers observed a broken glass door, and the reporting party said a black safe with nearly $2,000 in cash was taken.&nbsp;Surveillance footage of the incident showed an older male, later identified as Heckman, throw a rock into the window and enter the business. He walked to the back of the store where the safe is located and carries it out of the business.&nbsp;&nbsp;The reporting party said the glass door was $1,700 to fix and the safe was $2,000 to replace.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police, joined by Kansas City, Kan. officers, located the Heckman in a Kansas City, Kan., residence. Detectives said he told them he spent the money on dope and the casinos.Heckman's criminal record includes multiple prior convictions for burglary and stealing across the Kansas City metro.

Suspect arrested in Kan. for ice cream shop burglary is going to prison

PAWNEE COUNTY– Rhonda Hudson-McNutt, 47, appeared in the Pawnee County District Court in custody Thursday afternoon for sentencing on two separate felony cases, according to Pawnee&nbsp; County Attorney Doug McNett.

In July of 2024, Hudson-McNutt was arrested on probable cause without incident following an investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department. 

She was charged with Blackmail, Breach of Privacy, to wit: disseminating nude images, Identity Theft,&nbsp; Interference with Law Enforcement, to wit: falsely reporting a felony crime,&nbsp; Interference with Law Enforcement, to wit: falsely reporting information in a felony investigation, and Criminal False Communication. She was also charged in a separate criminal complaint with misdemeanor Trespass.

Hudson-McNutt subsequently posted bond and was released. However, on August 9, 2024, the defendant was arrested for violating the no contact conditions of her bond. Incident to that arrest, she was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine.

On November 19, 2024, the she entered no contest pleas in the first case to&nbsp; Breach of Privacy, to wit: disseminating nude images, Identity Theft, and&nbsp; Interference with Law Enforcement, to wit: falsely reporting a felony crime. She also entered a no contest plea to Possession of Methamphetamine. In exchange for the pleas, the State dismiss remain charges. Following the plea hearing, the defendant was release on bond but was re-arrested the following day for violating the no contact condition.

In support of the plea, Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett advised the Court that in July of 2024 Hudson-McNutt threatened an individual that she would contact law enforcement to falsely claim he sexually assaulted her if that individual didn’t disclose the whereabouts of her estranged husband. The investigation revealed that she also distributed without permission nude images of the individual that she’d gained access to. During this same timeframe Hudson-McNutt also accessed her estranged husband’s email account and sent an email to the Kansas Department of Children and Families claiming to confess to child sex crimes.

Following an extended sentencing hearing which included testimony from the victims, District Judge Bruce Gatterman denied her request for probation citing her behavior on bond and sentenced Hudson-McNutt to an aggregated sentence of 47 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722530095728.png" alt="Hudson-McNutt photo P awnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Hudson-McNutt photo P awnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY– Rhonda Hudson-McNutt, 47, appeared in the Pawnee County District Court in custody Thursday afternoon for sentencing on two separate felony cases, according to Pawnee&nbsp; County Attorney Doug McNett.In July of 2024, Hudson-McNutt was arrested on probable cause without incident following an investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department. She was charged with Blackmail, Breach of Privacy, to wit: disseminating nude images, Identity Theft,&nbsp; Interference with Law Enforcement, to wit: falsely reporting a felony crime,&nbsp; Interference with Law Enforcement, to wit: falsely reporting information in a felony investigation, and Criminal False Communication. She was also charged in a separate criminal complaint with misdemeanor Trespass.Hudson-McNutt subsequently posted bond and was released. However, on August 9, 2024, the defendant was arrested for violating the no contact conditions of her bond. Incident to that arrest, she was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine.On November 19, 2024, the she entered no contest pleas in the first case to&nbsp; Breach of Privacy, to wit: disseminating nude images, Identity Theft, and&nbsp; Interference with Law Enforcement, to wit: falsely reporting a felony crime. She also entered a no contest plea to Possession of Methamphetamine. In exchange for the pleas, the State dismiss remain charges. Following the plea hearing, the defendant was release on bond but was re-arrested the following day for violating the no contact condition.In support of the plea, Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett advised the Court that in July of 2024 Hudson-McNutt threatened an individual that she would contact law enforcement to falsely claim he sexually assaulted her if that individual didn’t disclose the whereabouts of her estranged husband. The investigation revealed that she also distributed without permission nude images of the individual that she’d gained access to. During this same timeframe Hudson-McNutt also accessed her estranged husband’s email account and sent an email to the Kansas Department of Children and Families claiming to confess to child sex crimes.Following an extended sentencing hearing which included testimony from the victims, District Judge Bruce Gatterman denied her request for probation citing her behavior on bond and sentenced Hudson-McNutt to an aggregated sentence of 47 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kansas woman gets plea deal for blackmail, ID theft

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has reached a deal with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boeing-co">Boeing</a>&nbsp;that will allow the airplane giant to avoid criminal prosecution for allegedly misleading U.S. regulators about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-plea-737-max-crashes-b34daa014406657e720bec4a990dccf6">737 Max jetliner</a>&nbsp;before two of the planes crashed and killed 346 people, according to court papers filed Friday.

Under the “agreement in principle,” which still needs to be finalized, Boeing would pay or invest more than $1.1 billion, including an additional $445 million for the crash victims’ families, the Justice Department said.

In return, the department has agreed to dismiss the fraud charge against Boeing, allowing the manufacturer to avoid a possible criminal conviction that could have jeopardized the company's status as a federal contractor, according to experts.

“Ultimately, in applying the facts, the law, and Department policy, we are confident that this resolution is the most just outcome with practical benefits,” a Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement.

“Nothing will diminish the victims’ losses, but this resolution holds Boeing financially accountable, provides finality and compensation for the families and makes an impact for the safety of future air travelers.”

Some relatives of the passengers who died in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transportation-b5ea783d264186697388c599176cb9bd">the crashes</a>, which took place off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019, have been pushing for a public trial, the prosecution of former company officials, and more severe financial punishment for Boeing. The Justice Department noted that the victims' families had mixed views on the proposed deal.

“This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history," said Paul Cassell, an attorney for many of the families in the long-running case. “My families will object and hope to convince the court to reject it.”

Javier de Luis, whose sister, Graziella, died in the Ethiopia crash, said the Justice Department is walking away “from any pretense to seek justice for the victims of the 737Max crashes.”

“The message sent by this action to companies around the country is, don’t worry about making your products safe for your customers,” he said in a statement. “Even if you kill them, just pay a small fine and move on.”

Boeing was accused of misleading the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/faa-safety-culture-change-boeing-c2a0af4bfbe26a53d5bb1b11868a1d89">Federal Aviation Administration</a>&nbsp;about aspects of the Max before the agency certified the plane for flight. Boeing did not tell airlines and pilots about a new software system, called MCAS, that could turn the plane’s nose down without input from pilots if a sensor detected that the plane might go into an aerodynamic stall.

The Max planes crashed after a faulty reading from the sensor pushed the nose down and pilots were unable to regain control. After the second crash, Max jets were grounded worldwide until the company redesigned MCAS to make it less powerful and to use signals from two sensors, not just one.

The Justice Department charged Boeing in 2021 with deceiving FAA regulators about the software, which did not exist in older 737s, and about how much training pilots would need to fly the plane safely. The department agreed not to prosecute Boeing at the time, however, if the company paid a $2.5 billion settlement, including the $243.6 million fine, and took steps to comply with anti-fraud laws for three years.

Federal prosecutors, however, last year said Boeing violated the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-justice-department-737-max-82145b25ed988cd8cae0bce3de79ce9d">terms of the 2021 agreement</a>&nbsp;by failing to make promised changes to detect and prevent violations of federal anti-fraud laws. Boeing agreed last July&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-plea-justice-department-max-crashes-511dfda0a2c65ee470eb0531d6cddf89">to plead guilty</a>&nbsp;to the felony fraud charge instead of enduring a potentially lengthy public trial.

But in December,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.txnd.uscourts.gov/judge/district-judge-reed-oconnor">U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor</a>&nbsp;in Fort Worth rejected the plea deal. The judge said the diversity, inclusion and equity, or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walmart-dei-inclusion-diversity-f2fc1ab086186ec6600c38950d8d2c74">DEI</a>, policies in the government and at Boeing could result in race being a factor in picking a monitor to oversee Boeing’s compliance with the agreement.

The plea deal had called for an independent monitor to be named to oversee Boeing’s safety and quality procedures for three years. Under the agreement announced Friday, Boeing must retain an “independent compliance consultant” who will make recommendations for “further improvement” and report back to the government, according to court papers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1580497975886.jpeg" alt="File photo production of Boeing's 737 Max. Elaine Thompson/AP/NPR" />
 <figcaption>File photo production of Boeing's 737 Max. Elaine Thompson/AP/NPR</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has reached a deal with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boeing-co">Boeing</a>&nbsp;that will allow the airplane giant to avoid criminal prosecution for allegedly misleading U.S. regulators about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-plea-737-max-crashes-b34daa014406657e720bec4a990dccf6">737 Max jetliner</a>&nbsp;before two of the planes crashed and killed 346 people, according to court papers filed Friday.Under the “agreement in principle,” which still needs to be finalized, Boeing would pay or invest more than $1.1 billion, including an additional $445 million for the crash victims’ families, the Justice Department said.In return, the department has agreed to dismiss the fraud charge against Boeing, allowing the manufacturer to avoid a possible criminal conviction that could have jeopardized the company's status as a federal contractor, according to experts.“Ultimately, in applying the facts, the law, and Department policy, we are confident that this resolution is the most just outcome with practical benefits,” a Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement.“Nothing will diminish the victims’ losses, but this resolution holds Boeing financially accountable, provides finality and compensation for the families and makes an impact for the safety of future air travelers.”Boeing on Friday declined to comment.Some relatives of the passengers who died in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transportation-b5ea783d264186697388c599176cb9bd">the crashes</a>, which took place off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019, have been pushing for a public trial, the prosecution of former company officials, and more severe financial punishment for Boeing. The Justice Department noted that the victims' families had mixed views on the proposed deal.“This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history," said Paul Cassell, an attorney for many of the families in the long-running case. “My families will object and hope to convince the court to reject it.”Javier de Luis, whose sister, Graziella, died in the Ethiopia crash, said the Justice Department is walking away “from any pretense to seek justice for the victims of the 737Max crashes.”“The message sent by this action to companies around the country is, don’t worry about making your products safe for your customers,” he said in a statement. “Even if you kill them, just pay a small fine and move on.”Boeing was accused of misleading the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/faa-safety-culture-change-boeing-c2a0af4bfbe26a53d5bb1b11868a1d89">Federal Aviation Administration</a>&nbsp;about aspects of the Max before the agency certified the plane for flight. Boeing did not tell airlines and pilots about a new software system, called MCAS, that could turn the plane’s nose down without input from pilots if a sensor detected that the plane might go into an aerodynamic stall.The Max planes crashed after a faulty reading from the sensor pushed the nose down and pilots were unable to regain control. After the second crash, Max jets were grounded worldwide until the company redesigned MCAS to make it less powerful and to use signals from two sensors, not just one.The Justice Department charged Boeing in 2021 with deceiving FAA regulators about the software, which did not exist in older 737s, and about how much training pilots would need to fly the plane safely. The department agreed not to prosecute Boeing at the time, however, if the company paid a $2.5 billion settlement, including the $243.6 million fine, and took steps to comply with anti-fraud laws for three years.Federal prosecutors, however, last year said Boeing violated the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-justice-department-737-max-82145b25ed988cd8cae0bce3de79ce9d">terms of the 2021 agreement</a>&nbsp;by failing to make promised changes to detect and prevent violations of federal anti-fraud laws. Boeing agreed last July&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-plea-justice-department-max-crashes-511dfda0a2c65ee470eb0531d6cddf89">to plead guilty</a>&nbsp;to the felony fraud charge instead of enduring a potentially lengthy public trial.But in December,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.txnd.uscourts.gov/judge/district-judge-reed-oconnor">U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor</a>&nbsp;in Fort Worth rejected the plea deal. The judge said the diversity, inclusion and equity, or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walmart-dei-inclusion-diversity-f2fc1ab086186ec6600c38950d8d2c74">DEI</a>, policies in the government and at Boeing could result in race being a factor in picking a monitor to oversee Boeing’s compliance with the agreement.The plea deal had called for an independent monitor to be named to oversee Boeing’s safety and quality procedures for three years. Under the agreement announced Friday, Boeing must retain an “independent compliance consultant” who will make recommendations for “further improvement” and report back to the government, according to court papers.

Boeing to avoid criminal prosecution over 737 Max crashes

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/billy-joel">Billy Joel</a>&nbsp;has canceled all his upcoming concerts across North America and England after being diagnosed with fluid buildup in his brain that has affected his “hearing, vision and balance.”

Joel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKAHmiERETO/?img_index=1">revealed on Instagram</a>&nbsp;that he has Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, “a brain disorder that can affect brain-related abilities, including thinking and concentrating, memory, movement and more,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15849-normal-pressure-hydrocephalus-nph">Cleveland Clinic says.</a>

“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance,” according to a statement from Joel’s team. “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.”

In an accompanying statement, Joel said, “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.”

In March, “The Piano Man” and “Uptown Girl” singer announced that he underwent surgery and had to undergo physical therapy. A statement at the time said doctors expected him to make a full recovery. It is unclear if his medical issues at the time were related to Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.

The condition can cause problems with walking, bladder control and thinking, with symptoms worsening if left untreated. It’s relatively rare and can be hard to diagnose. It can be treated successfully with surgery to install a tube to drain excess fluid. Patients may need physical therapy in addition to surgery.

Joel, 76,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/billy-joel-madison-square-garden-residency-ending-53c05c88fedc151ec4efb850ec7d4031">wrapped up his decadelong residency at Madison Square Garden</a>&nbsp;in July 2024 and continued to tour. His planned summer stops included shows at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field in New York, and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Tickets for all the shows will be refunded.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748028612987.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/billy-joel">Billy Joel</a>&nbsp;has canceled all his upcoming concerts across North America and England after being diagnosed with fluid buildup in his brain that has affected his “hearing, vision and balance.”Joel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKAHmiERETO/?img_index=1">revealed on Instagram</a>&nbsp;that he has Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, “a brain disorder that can affect brain-related abilities, including thinking and concentrating, memory, movement and more,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15849-normal-pressure-hydrocephalus-nph">Cleveland Clinic says.</a>“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance,” according to a statement from Joel’s team. “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.”In an accompanying statement, Joel said, “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.”In March, “The Piano Man” and “Uptown Girl” singer announced that he underwent surgery and had to undergo physical therapy. A statement at the time said doctors expected him to make a full recovery. It is unclear if his medical issues at the time were related to Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.The condition can cause problems with walking, bladder control and thinking, with symptoms worsening if left untreated. It’s relatively rare and can be hard to diagnose. It can be treated successfully with surgery to install a tube to drain excess fluid. Patients may need physical therapy in addition to surgery.Joel, 76,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/billy-joel-madison-square-garden-residency-ending-53c05c88fedc151ec4efb850ec7d4031">wrapped up his decadelong residency at Madison Square Garden</a>&nbsp;in July 2024 and continued to tour. His planned summer stops included shows at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field in New York, and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Tickets for all the shows will be refunded.

Billy Joel cancels touring after diagnosed with a brain disorder

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA —&nbsp;A federal judge cleared the way Thursday for CoreCivic to reopen its Leavenworth prison as an immigration detention center, saying he lacks jurisdiction to hear the case.

The city has not yet decided whether it will appeal the decision to the Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Denver.&nbsp;

“We need to confer with our attorneys,” said Scott Peterson, Leavenworth city manager. “We will probably discuss it with the city commission sometime next week.”

Peterson said he didn’t know whether further court action could occur before June 1, when CoreCivic officials had indicated they may begin receiving detainees.

“We may have further negotiations with CoreCivic themselves about this,” Peterson said.&nbsp;

U.S. District Judge Toby Crouse dismissed the case, saying the city failed to establish subject-matter jurisdiction. During a Tuesday hearing, Crouse repeatedly questioned whether he had any basis to act, saying the city had not adequately outlined that issue.

Crouse, appointed to the bench in 2020 by President Donald Trump, highlighted two pending motions before him, including Leavenworth’s request for an injunction that would have stopped CoreCivic from reopening until it could be determined whether the company had to go through the city’s development process. CoreCivic had asked for a dismissal of the case.

Joseph Hatley, attorney for Leavenworth,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/20/federal-judge-questions-leavenworths-attempt-to-block-corecivic-immigration-detention-center/">said in court Tuesday</a>&nbsp;that CoreCivic had agreed not to take detainees until June 1 while the case was decided.

After the hearing, Hatley said in an interview there were concerns that if detainees were housed in the prison before the legal disputes were resolved, the federal government could refuse to move the detainees regardless of the outcome of the case.

“The City asserts that Core Civic should be enjoined from operating its detention facility without the proper permit,” Crouse wrote in his ruling Thursday. “But it has not pled facts to establish that subject-matter jurisdiction exists in federal court to consider that claim. Accordingly, this action is dismissed, and the parties’ motions are denied as moot.”

CoreCivic spokesman Ryan Gustin said the company was pleased with the decision.&nbsp;

“We remain focused on ensuring the Midwest Regional Reception Center is prepared to meet the needs of our federal partner,” he said.

Gustin did not answer questions about whether CoreCivic intended to begin housing ICE detainees in June.&nbsp;

Activists who have spoken out against reopening the facility are hopeful the city will appeal.&nbsp;

“We hope the city will explore all of its options as the concerns of the lawsuit since its filing in February — CoreCivic’s disregard for the city’s governance and its rush to fill the facility without accountability — have only grown more urgent,” Esmie Tseng, spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, said in an email.

Tseng also said the judge’s decision held hope with regard to whether CoreCivic would have to follow Leavenworth development codes requiring the company to apply for a special use permit.&nbsp;

“It’s also worth noting that in the dismissal, the court agreed that when CoreCivic ceased operation for 12 months, it lost its non-conforming status and that its initial application for the special use permit appeared to be a recognition of this fact,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

CoreCivic was grandfathered into the city’s development codes when it was open and operating as the Leavenworth Detention Facility from 1992 to 2021. The codes were passed in 2012.&nbsp;

City officials, as laid out in the lawsuit, have told CoreCivic it must apply for a special use permit.

CoreCivic’s reopening of the Leavenworth facility, which closed in 2021 at the end of its federal contract and under numerous accusations of inhuman treatment at the facility, is part of the company’s plan to reopen nine idle facilities.

In its May earnings report, CoreCivic announced total revenue of $488.6 million, with net income of $25.1 million.

“2025 is off to a strong start for CoreCivic. First quarter occupancy in CoreCivic facilities reached 77% of available capacity, an increase from 75.2% in the first quarter of last year,” said CEO Damon T. Hininger in a press release. “Based on cost management and increased bed utilization, particularly from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), we exceeded our internal expectations for the first quarter. Additionally, we have begun to re-activate three previously idle facilities under multiple agreements with ICE.”

In Security and Exchange Commission filings, CoreCivic said it had nine idle facilities, including the Leavenworth facility, renamed the Midwest Regional Reception Center.

“CoreCivic anticipates additional contracting activity as 2025 progresses,” Hininger said. “In addition to the facilities we are currently activating, we are making preparatory investments in many of our other idle facilities so that they will be available quickly, as our partners’ needs require and as their budgets allow.”

CoreCivic SEC filings and a press release said they signed a letter of agreement with ICE at the beginning of March to reopen the Leavenworth facility, which would house 1,033 detainees. As a result, ICE paid CoreCivic $5 million with a maximum of $22.6 million set over a six-month period to cover start-up expenses while the two hash out a long-term contract.&nbsp;

In its quarterly report, filed May 8 with the SEC, CoreCivic noted that Leavenworth filed a lawsuit.

“CoreCivic plans to vigorously defend this matter on the basis that the (special use permit) is not applicable under existing statute,” the filing said. “CoreCivic has agreed with the City of Leavenworth to not accept detainees prior to June 1, 2025 while this matter is deliberated. The Company can provide no assurance that it will obtain a favorable ruling in this matter or that ICE and the Company will ultimately enter into a long-term contract for the utilization of the Company’s Midwest Regional Reception Center.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748014998232.png" alt=" Members of Kansas Interfaith action protest the reopening of the Leavenworth CoreCivic prison outside a Tuesday hearing at the U.S. District Court in Topeka. The case was dismissed on Thursday. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Members of Kansas Interfaith action protest the reopening of the Leavenworth CoreCivic prison outside a Tuesday hearing at the U.S. District Court in Topeka. The case was dismissed on Thursday. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA —&nbsp;A federal judge cleared the way Thursday for CoreCivic to reopen its Leavenworth prison as an immigration detention center, saying he lacks jurisdiction to hear the case.The city has not yet decided whether it will appeal the decision to the Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Denver.&nbsp;“We need to confer with our attorneys,” said Scott Peterson, Leavenworth city manager. “We will probably discuss it with the city commission sometime next week.”Peterson said he didn’t know whether further court action could occur before June 1, when CoreCivic officials had indicated they may begin receiving detainees.“We may have further negotiations with CoreCivic themselves about this,” Peterson said.&nbsp;U.S. District Judge Toby Crouse dismissed the case, saying the city failed to establish subject-matter jurisdiction. During a Tuesday hearing, Crouse repeatedly questioned whether he had any basis to act, saying the city had not adequately outlined that issue.Crouse, appointed to the bench in 2020 by President Donald Trump, highlighted two pending motions before him, including Leavenworth’s request for an injunction that would have stopped CoreCivic from reopening until it could be determined whether the company had to go through the city’s development process. CoreCivic had asked for a dismissal of the case.Joseph Hatley, attorney for Leavenworth,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/20/federal-judge-questions-leavenworths-attempt-to-block-corecivic-immigration-detention-center/">said in court Tuesday</a>&nbsp;that CoreCivic had agreed not to take detainees until June 1 while the case was decided.After the hearing, Hatley said in an interview there were concerns that if detainees were housed in the prison before the legal disputes were resolved, the federal government could refuse to move the detainees regardless of the outcome of the case.“The City asserts that Core Civic should be enjoined from operating its detention facility without the proper permit,” Crouse wrote in his ruling Thursday. “But it has not pled facts to establish that subject-matter jurisdiction exists in federal court to consider that claim. Accordingly, this action is dismissed, and the parties’ motions are denied as moot.”CoreCivic spokesman Ryan Gustin said the company was pleased with the decision.&nbsp;“We remain focused on ensuring the Midwest Regional Reception Center is prepared to meet the needs of our federal partner,” he said.Gustin did not answer questions about whether CoreCivic intended to begin housing ICE detainees in June.&nbsp;<h2>Move forward</h2>Activists who have spoken out against reopening the facility are hopeful the city will appeal.&nbsp;“We hope the city will explore all of its options as the concerns of the lawsuit since its filing in February — CoreCivic’s disregard for the city’s governance and its rush to fill the facility without accountability — have only grown more urgent,” Esmie Tseng, spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, said in an email.Tseng also said the judge’s decision held hope with regard to whether CoreCivic would have to follow Leavenworth development codes requiring the company to apply for a special use permit.&nbsp;“It’s also worth noting that in the dismissal, the court agreed that when CoreCivic ceased operation for 12 months, it lost its non-conforming status and that its initial application for the special use permit appeared to be a recognition of this fact,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;CoreCivic was grandfathered into the city’s development codes when it was open and operating as the Leavenworth Detention Facility from 1992 to 2021. The codes were passed in 2012.&nbsp;City officials, as laid out in the lawsuit, have told CoreCivic it must apply for a special use permit.<h2>‘Great start’</h2>CoreCivic’s reopening of the Leavenworth facility, which closed in 2021 at the end of its federal contract and under numerous accusations of inhuman treatment at the facility, is part of the company’s plan to reopen nine idle facilities.In its May earnings report, CoreCivic announced total revenue of $488.6 million, with net income of $25.1 million.“2025 is off to a strong start for CoreCivic. First quarter occupancy in CoreCivic facilities reached 77% of available capacity, an increase from 75.2% in the first quarter of last year,” said CEO Damon T. Hininger in a press release. “Based on cost management and increased bed utilization, particularly from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), we exceeded our internal expectations for the first quarter. Additionally, we have begun to re-activate three previously idle facilities under multiple agreements with ICE.”In Security and Exchange Commission filings, CoreCivic said it had nine idle facilities, including the Leavenworth facility, renamed the Midwest Regional Reception Center.“CoreCivic anticipates additional contracting activity as 2025 progresses,” Hininger said. “In addition to the facilities we are currently activating, we are making preparatory investments in many of our other idle facilities so that they will be available quickly, as our partners’ needs require and as their budgets allow.”<h2>Leavenworth contract</h2>CoreCivic SEC filings and a press release said they signed a letter of agreement with ICE at the beginning of March to reopen the Leavenworth facility, which would house 1,033 detainees. As a result, ICE paid CoreCivic $5 million with a maximum of $22.6 million set over a six-month period to cover start-up expenses while the two hash out a long-term contract.&nbsp;In its quarterly report, filed May 8 with the SEC, CoreCivic noted that Leavenworth filed a lawsuit.“CoreCivic plans to vigorously defend this matter on the basis that the (special use permit) is not applicable under existing statute,” the filing said. “CoreCivic has agreed with the City of Leavenworth to not accept detainees prior to June 1, 2025 while this matter is deliberated. The Company can provide no assurance that it will obtain a favorable ruling in this matter or that ICE and the Company will ultimately enter into a long-term contract for the utilization of the Company’s Midwest Regional Reception Center.”

Judge sides with CoreCivic in dispute over reopening Kansas prison for detained immigrants

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump rewarded top investors in one of his cryptocurrency projects with a swanky dinner on Thursday night, an event that showed the ascendance of an emerging financial industry — and also the president’s willingness to mix public office with personal profit.

Some 220 of the biggest investors in the $TRUMP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-meme-coin-token-75bf67ef9e6e54bf455f2f9f03470be3">meme coin</a>&nbsp;were invited to Trump’s luxury golf club in Northern Virginia, where they dined on filet mignon and halibut. According to participants’ posts on social media, Trump spoke for about half an hour before dancing to the song “YMCA.”

Despite the White House insisting that Trump would be attending the event “in his personal time,” he stood behind a lectern with the presidential seal as he touted an industry that’s generating profits for his family business.

After feeling unfairly targeted under President Joe Biden, the crypto industry has quickly become a powerful political force, donating huge sums to help Trump and friendly lawmakers. The U.S. Senate is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-stablecoins-cryptocurrency-coin-trump-5b551cf99c288c4f6059ed1689d6fcb4">advancing</a>&nbsp;key pro-crypto legislation while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-trump-meme-coins-price-high-2bdb8db9bfea9acc5d0f88a99759c855">bitcoin prices soar</a>.

However, even some pro-Trump crypto enthusiasts worry that the president’s personal involvement may be undermining their efforts to establish credibility and stability for the industry.

“It’s distasteful and an unnecessary distraction,” said Nic Carter, a Trump supporter and partner at the crypto investment firm Castle Island Ventures, who said the president is “hugging us to death” with his private crypto businesses. “We would much rather that he passes common sense legislation and leave it at that.”

As the president uses crypto as a platform to make money for his brand in unprecedented ways, it’s also creating an opportunity for potentially shadowy buyers to use the anonymity of the internet to buy access to the president. The lack of transparency was evident on a poster board at the dinner, where participants signed a ranking of top investors. Some used their real names; others used pseudonyms.

No media was allowed into the dinner, and the president was at his golf club for only about an hour. Protesters gathered outside the club holding signs that said “stop crypto corruption” and “no corrupt fools.”

Trump said the event was “good, very good” as he returned to the White House.

Concerns about Trump’s crypto ventures predate Inauguration Day

Three days before Trump took office on Jan. 20, he announced the creation of the $TRUMP meme coin at the fancy Crypto Ball held down the street from the White House. He described it as a way for his supporters to “have fun.”

Meme coins are the crypto sector’s black sheep. They are often created as a joke, with no real utility and prone to extremely wild price swings that tend to enrich a small group of insiders at the expense of less sophisticated investors.

The president’s meme coin is different, however, and has a clear utility: access to Trump. In addition to Thursday’s dinner, the top 25 were invited to a private reception with the president, with the top four getting $100,000 crypto-themed and Trump-branded watches.

Trump’s meme coin saw an initial spike in value, followed by a steep drop. Its creators, which include an entity controlled by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-deal-conflicts-saudi-arabia-emoluments-7379bee2e307d39bd43b534a05ae3207">Trump Organization</a>, have made hundreds of millions of dollars by collecting fees on trades.

First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/melania-trump">Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;has her own meme coin, and Trump’s sons, Eric and Don Jr. — who are running the Trump Organization while their father is president — announced they are partnering with an existing firm to create a crypto mining company.

The Trump family also holds about a 60% stake in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-digital-assets-a08456edc5947451f3f23b184ed9fb29">World Liberty Financial</a>, a crypto project that provides yet another avenue where investors are buying in and enriching the president’s relatives. World Liberty has launched its own stablecoin, USD1. The project got a boost recently when World Liberty announced an investment fund in the United Arab Emirates would be using $2 billion worth of USD1 to purchase a stake in Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Stablecoins have values pegged to fixed assets like the U.S. dollar. Issuers profit by collecting the interest on the Treasury bonds and other assets used to back the stablecoins.

Crypto is now one of the most significant sources of the Trump family’s wealth.

“He’s becoming a salesman-in-chief,” said James Thurber, an American University professor emeritus who has long studied and taught about corruption around the world. “It allows for huge conflicts of interest.”

“I’m a big crypto fan,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One during last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-trip-uae-qatar-russia-ukraine-963b695c94b908a2f9c76271ea9d131b">trip to the Middle East</a>. “I’ve been that from the beginning, right from the campaign.”

That wasn’t always true. During his first term, Trump posted in July 2019 that cryptocurrencies were “not money” and had value that was “highly volatile and based on thin air.”

“Unregulated Crypto Assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade,” he added then. Even after leaving office in 2021, Trump told Fox Business Network that bitcoin, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency, “seems like a scam.”

Trump began to shift during a crypto event at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in May 2024, receiving assurances that industry backers would spend lavishly to get him reelected. Another major milestone came last June, when Trump attended a high-dollar fundraiser at the San Francisco home of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/david-sacks">David Sacks</a>.

Those close to Trump, including his sons and billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>, helped further push his embrace of the industry. Sacks is now the Trump administration’s crypto czar, and many Cabinet members — including Commerce Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/howard-lutnick-trump-tariffs-commerce-department-9788590bbee10d09d3cb91822b0c9687">Howard Lutnick</a>&nbsp;and Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;— have long been enthusiastic crypto boosters.

“I don’t have faith in the dollar,” Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sean-duffy">Sean Duffy</a>&nbsp;said in a 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6319141888112" target="_blank">interview</a>. “I’m bullish on bitcoin.”

Trump + crypto: A political marriage of convenience

Many top crypto backers were naturally wary of traditional politics, but gravitated toward Trump last year. They bristled at how Biden’s Securities and Exchange Commission aggressively brought civil suits against several major crypto companies.

Since Trump took office, many such cases have been dropped or paused, including one alleging that Justin Sun, a China-born crypto entrepreneur, and his company engaged in market manipulation and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023-59" target="_blank">paid celebrities</a>&nbsp;for undisclosed promotions.

Sun, who once paid $6.2 million for a piece of art involving a banana taped to a wall, and then ate the banana, helped the Trumps start World Liberty Financial with an early $75 million investment.

Sun has&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/justinsuntron/status/1924676460461310008" target="_blank">disclosed</a>&nbsp;on social media that he is the biggest holder of $TRUMP meme coins and is attending Thursday’s dinner.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748014971200.png" alt="File image from White House video&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>File image from White House video&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump rewarded top investors in one of his cryptocurrency projects with a swanky dinner on Thursday night, an event that showed the ascendance of an emerging financial industry — and also the president’s willingness to mix public office with personal profit.Some 220 of the biggest investors in the $TRUMP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-meme-coin-token-75bf67ef9e6e54bf455f2f9f03470be3">meme coin</a>&nbsp;were invited to Trump’s luxury golf club in Northern Virginia, where they dined on filet mignon and halibut. According to participants’ posts on social media, Trump spoke for about half an hour before dancing to the song “YMCA.”Despite the White House insisting that Trump would be attending the event “in his personal time,” he stood behind a lectern with the presidential seal as he touted an industry that’s generating profits for his family business.After feeling unfairly targeted under President Joe Biden, the crypto industry has quickly become a powerful political force, donating huge sums to help Trump and friendly lawmakers. The U.S. Senate is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-stablecoins-cryptocurrency-coin-trump-5b551cf99c288c4f6059ed1689d6fcb4">advancing</a>&nbsp;key pro-crypto legislation while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-trump-meme-coins-price-high-2bdb8db9bfea9acc5d0f88a99759c855">bitcoin prices soar</a>.However, even some pro-Trump crypto enthusiasts worry that the president’s personal involvement may be undermining their efforts to establish credibility and stability for the industry.“It’s distasteful and an unnecessary distraction,” said Nic Carter, a Trump supporter and partner at the crypto investment firm Castle Island Ventures, who said the president is “hugging us to death” with his private crypto businesses. “We would much rather that he passes common sense legislation and leave it at that.”As the president uses crypto as a platform to make money for his brand in unprecedented ways, it’s also creating an opportunity for potentially shadowy buyers to use the anonymity of the internet to buy access to the president. The lack of transparency was evident on a poster board at the dinner, where participants signed a ranking of top investors. Some used their real names; others used pseudonyms.No media was allowed into the dinner, and the president was at his golf club for only about an hour. Protesters gathered outside the club holding signs that said “stop crypto corruption” and “no corrupt fools.”Trump said the event was “good, very good” as he returned to the White House.<h2>Concerns about Trump’s crypto ventures predate Inauguration Day</h2>Three days before Trump took office on Jan. 20, he announced the creation of the $TRUMP meme coin at the fancy Crypto Ball held down the street from the White House. He described it as a way for his supporters to “have fun.”Meme coins are the crypto sector’s black sheep. They are often created as a joke, with no real utility and prone to extremely wild price swings that tend to enrich a small group of insiders at the expense of less sophisticated investors.The president’s meme coin is different, however, and has a clear utility: access to Trump. In addition to Thursday’s dinner, the top 25 were invited to a private reception with the president, with the top four getting $100,000 crypto-themed and Trump-branded watches.Trump’s meme coin saw an initial spike in value, followed by a steep drop. Its creators, which include an entity controlled by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-deal-conflicts-saudi-arabia-emoluments-7379bee2e307d39bd43b534a05ae3207">Trump Organization</a>, have made hundreds of millions of dollars by collecting fees on trades.First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/melania-trump">Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;has her own meme coin, and Trump’s sons, Eric and Don Jr. — who are running the Trump Organization while their father is president — announced they are partnering with an existing firm to create a crypto mining company.The Trump family also holds about a 60% stake in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-digital-assets-a08456edc5947451f3f23b184ed9fb29">World Liberty Financial</a>, a crypto project that provides yet another avenue where investors are buying in and enriching the president’s relatives. World Liberty has launched its own stablecoin, USD1. The project got a boost recently when World Liberty announced an investment fund in the United Arab Emirates would be using $2 billion worth of USD1 to purchase a stake in Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.Stablecoins have values pegged to fixed assets like the U.S. dollar. Issuers profit by collecting the interest on the Treasury bonds and other assets used to back the stablecoins.Crypto is now one of the most significant sources of the Trump family’s wealth.“He’s becoming a salesman-in-chief,” said James Thurber, an American University professor emeritus who has long studied and taught about corruption around the world. “It allows for huge conflicts of interest.”<h2>How Trump changed his mind on crypto</h2>“I’m a big crypto fan,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One during last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-trip-uae-qatar-russia-ukraine-963b695c94b908a2f9c76271ea9d131b">trip to the Middle East</a>. “I’ve been that from the beginning, right from the campaign.”That wasn’t always true. During his first term, Trump posted in July 2019 that cryptocurrencies were “not money” and had value that was “highly volatile and based on thin air.”“Unregulated Crypto Assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade,” he added then. Even after leaving office in 2021, Trump told Fox Business Network that bitcoin, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency, “seems like a scam.”Trump began to shift during a crypto event at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in May 2024, receiving assurances that industry backers would spend lavishly to get him reelected. Another major milestone came last June, when Trump attended a high-dollar fundraiser at the San Francisco home of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/david-sacks">David Sacks</a>.Those close to Trump, including his sons and billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>, helped further push his embrace of the industry. Sacks is now the Trump administration’s crypto czar, and many Cabinet members — including Commerce Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/howard-lutnick-trump-tariffs-commerce-department-9788590bbee10d09d3cb91822b0c9687">Howard Lutnick</a>&nbsp;and Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;— have long been enthusiastic crypto boosters.“I don’t have faith in the dollar,” Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sean-duffy">Sean Duffy</a>&nbsp;said in a 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6319141888112" target="_blank">interview</a>. “I’m bullish on bitcoin.”<h2>Trump + crypto: A political marriage of convenience</h2>Many top crypto backers were naturally wary of traditional politics, but gravitated toward Trump last year. They bristled at how Biden’s Securities and Exchange Commission aggressively brought civil suits against several major crypto companies.Since Trump took office, many such cases have been dropped or paused, including one alleging that Justin Sun, a China-born crypto entrepreneur, and his company engaged in market manipulation and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023-59" target="_blank">paid celebrities</a>&nbsp;for undisclosed promotions.Sun, who once paid $6.2 million for a piece of art involving a banana taped to a wall, and then ate the banana, helped the Trumps start World Liberty Financial with an early $75 million investment.Sun has&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/justinsuntron/status/1924676460461310008" target="_blank">disclosed</a>&nbsp;on social media that he is the biggest holder of $TRUMP meme coins and is attending Thursday’s dinner.“I’m excited to connect with everyone, talk crypto, and discuss the future of our industry,” Sun said in advance.He posted a video of Trump entering the private reception.“Did you get to see the helicopter?” Trump said.“Yeah! Super cool,” Sun responded.<h2>Are Trump family profits hurting other crypto investors?</h2>Trump has signed executive orders promoting the industry, including calls to create a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-reserve-trump-crypto-sacks-5c91a1ab3dab9a8c86d4bc42b8db3f8f">government bitcoin reserve</a>. In March, Trump convened the first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-summit-bitcoin-sacks-c87505c8cf0aaef3398bf0bb1139b420">cryptocurrency summit</a>&nbsp;at the White House.But some of the industry’s biggest names, often brash and outspoken, have kept mostly mum on Trump’s meme coins and other projects.“It’s not my place to really comment on President Trump’s activity,” Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said at a recent public event.Meanwhile, a top legislative priority for crypto-backers, a bill clarifying how digital assets are to be regulated, has advanced in the Senate. But some Democrats have tried to stall other pro-crypto legislation over the president’s personal dealings — and see the dinner as a particularly egregious case.Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said the gathering was “in effect, putting a ‘for sale’ sign on the White House.”“It’s auctioning off access,” Blumenthal said on a Thursday press call.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president is attending “in his personal time.” The White House has also said it has nothing to do with Trump’s meme coin.___