RENO COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office confirms that they are currently conducting an investigation involving Nickerson USD 309 students and/or staff members at the request of the Reno County Sheriff's Office, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County Sheriff.

This matter remains an active investigation and no arrests have been made at this time. Once the investigation is complete, all findings will be presented to the appropriate charging authority for formal review and consideration of any potential charges.

To preserve the integrity of the investigation and protect the rights of those involved, no further details will be released at this time.

RENO COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office confirms that they are currently conducting an investigation involving Nickerson USD 309 students and/or staff members at the request of the Reno County Sheriff's Office, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County Sheriff.This matter remains an active investigation and no arrests have been made at this time. Once the investigation is complete, all findings will be presented to the appropriate charging authority for formal review and consideration of any potential charges.To preserve the integrity of the investigation and protect the rights of those involved, no further details will be released at this time.

Sheriff's investigation involves Nickerson USD 309 staff, students

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Episcopal Church's migration service is refusing a directive from the federal government to help resettle white South Africans granted refugee status, citing the church's longstanding “commitment to racial justice and reconciliation.”

Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe announced the step Monday, shortly before 59 South Africans arrived at Dulles International Airport outside Washington on a private charter plane and were greeted by a government delegation.

Episcopal Migration Ministries instead will halt its decades-long partnership with the government, Rowe said.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-prescription-drugs-prices-most-favored-nation-4c620a32ccd193b793ba1558f3fe93e0">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;opened a fast-tracked refugee status to white South Africans, accusing their government of discrimination, even as his administration abruptly shut down the overall U.S. refugee program. The South Africans jumped ahead of thousands of would-be refugees overseas who had been undergoing years of vetting and processing.

Episcopal Migration Ministries has long resettled refugees under federal grants. Rowe said that about two weeks ago, the government contacted it and said it expected the ministry to resettle some of the South Africans under terms of its grant.

“In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step,” Rowe said. “Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.”

Another faith-based group, Church World Service, said it is open to helping resettle the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-us-refugees-trump-98a72fdb1f71edc960136b92cbd62db4">Afrikaners</a>.

South Africa's government has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-south-africa-refugees-afrikaners-white-9d6f87ae9b09ac21ba6ae2a2197b11d3">vehemently denied</a>&nbsp;allegations of discriminatory treatment of its white minority residents.

“It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years,” Rowe said. “I am saddened and ashamed that many of the refugees who are being denied entrance to the United States are brave people who worked alongside our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and now face danger at home because of their service to our country.”

He also said many refugees, including Christians, are victims of religious persecution and are now denied entry.

He said the church would find other ways to serve immigrants, such as those already in this country and those stranded overseas.

The move marks the end of a ministry-government partnership that, for nearly four decades, has served nearly 110,000 refugees from countries, including Ukraine, Myanmar and Congo, Rowe said.

It's not the first high-profile friction between the Episcopal Church and the Trump administration.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inaugural-prayer-service-episcopal-bishop-mariann-budde-60d409d1ba9b69ad1065065b9218c558">Bishop Mariann Budde</a>&nbsp;of Washington drew Trump's anger in January at an inaugural prayer service in which she urged “mercy” on those fearing his actions, including migrants and LGBTQ+ children.

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa includes churches in South Africa and neighboring countries. It was a potent force in the campaign against apartheid in the 1980s and 1990s, an effort for which the late&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-religion-cape-town-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-dbff09f744f1c5c63e43b65617e8ed4a">Archbishop Desmond Tutu</a>&nbsp;received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

Another faith-based refugee agency, Church World Service, says it is open to serving the South African arrivals.

“We are concerned that the U.S. Government has chosen to fast-track the admission of Afrikaners, while actively fighting court orders to provide life-saving resettlement to other refugee populations who are in desperate need of resettlement," Rick Santos, CWS president and CEO, said in a statement.

He added that the action proves the government knows how to screen and process refugees quickly.

“Despite the Administration’s actions, CWS remains committed to serving all eligible refugee populations seeking safety in the United States, including Afrikaners who are eligible for services," he said. “Our faith compels us to serve each person in our care with dignity and compassion.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-refugees-white-afrikaners-us-trump-52024f6d86fca76cfe7460a9f9bc6110">Episcopal ministry</a>&nbsp;and CWS are among 10 national groups, most of them faith-based, that have partnered with the government for refugee resettlement.

Associated Press writer Tiffany Stanley contributed reporting.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Episcopal Church's migration service is refusing a directive from the federal government to help resettle white South Africans granted refugee status, citing the church's longstanding “commitment to racial justice and reconciliation.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today <a href="https://twitter.com/DeputySecState?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeputySecState</a> welcomed the first group of Afrikaner refugees fleeing persecution from their native South Africa. We stand with these refugees, many of them farmers and former business owners, as they build a better future for themselves and their children here in the… <a href="https://t.co/W16RJSU3tB">pic.twitter.com/W16RJSU3tB</a>&mdash; Department of State (@StateDept) <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1922049777103204381?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe announced the step Monday, shortly before 59 South Africans arrived at Dulles International Airport outside Washington on a private charter plane and were greeted by a government delegation.Episcopal Migration Ministries instead will halt its decades-long partnership with the government, Rowe said.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-prescription-drugs-prices-most-favored-nation-4c620a32ccd193b793ba1558f3fe93e0">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;opened a fast-tracked refugee status to white South Africans, accusing their government of discrimination, even as his administration abruptly shut down the overall U.S. refugee program. The South Africans jumped ahead of thousands of would-be refugees overseas who had been undergoing years of vetting and processing.Episcopal Migration Ministries has long resettled refugees under federal grants. Rowe said that about two weeks ago, the government contacted it and said it expected the ministry to resettle some of the South Africans under terms of its grant.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">U.S. officials greet white South Africans to whom the Trump administration has granted refugee status for being deemed victims of racial discrimination in their home country. <a href="https://t.co/JwaVyziofT">pic.twitter.com/JwaVyziofT</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1922007640294519257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step,” Rowe said. “Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.”Another faith-based group, Church World Service, said it is open to helping resettle the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-us-refugees-trump-98a72fdb1f71edc960136b92cbd62db4">Afrikaners</a>.South Africa's government has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-south-africa-refugees-afrikaners-white-9d6f87ae9b09ac21ba6ae2a2197b11d3">vehemently denied</a>&nbsp;allegations of discriminatory treatment of its white minority residents.“It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years,” Rowe said. “I am saddened and ashamed that many of the refugees who are being denied entrance to the United States are brave people who worked alongside our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and now face danger at home because of their service to our country.”He also said many refugees, including Christians, are victims of religious persecution and are now denied entry.He said the church would find other ways to serve immigrants, such as those already in this country and those stranded overseas.The move marks the end of a ministry-government partnership that, for nearly four decades, has served nearly 110,000 refugees from countries, including Ukraine, Myanmar and Congo, Rowe said.It's not the first high-profile friction between the Episcopal Church and the Trump administration.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inaugural-prayer-service-episcopal-bishop-mariann-budde-60d409d1ba9b69ad1065065b9218c558">Bishop Mariann Budde</a>&nbsp;of Washington drew Trump's anger in January at an inaugural prayer service in which she urged “mercy” on those fearing his actions, including migrants and LGBTQ+ children.The Anglican Church of Southern Africa includes churches in South Africa and neighboring countries. It was a potent force in the campaign against apartheid in the 1980s and 1990s, an effort for which the late&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-religion-cape-town-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-dbff09f744f1c5c63e43b65617e8ed4a">Archbishop Desmond Tutu</a>&nbsp;received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.Another faith-based refugee agency, Church World Service, says it is open to serving the South African arrivals.“We are concerned that the U.S. Government has chosen to fast-track the admission of Afrikaners, while actively fighting court orders to provide life-saving resettlement to other refugee populations who are in desperate need of resettlement," Rick Santos, CWS president and CEO, said in a statement.He added that the action proves the government knows how to screen and process refugees quickly.“Despite the Administration’s actions, CWS remains committed to serving all eligible refugee populations seeking safety in the United States, including Afrikaners who are eligible for services," he said. “Our faith compels us to serve each person in our care with dignity and compassion.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-refugees-white-afrikaners-us-trump-52024f6d86fca76cfe7460a9f9bc6110">Episcopal ministry</a>&nbsp;and CWS are among 10 national groups, most of them faith-based, that have partnered with the government for refugee resettlement.___Associated Press writer Tiffany Stanley contributed reporting.

Episcopal Church won't help resettle white South Africans granted refugee status in US

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A Kansas City Chiefs superfan known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-superfan-accused-bank-robberies-kansas-city-f7b764389a54a9e0812ac50eceafa033">“ChiefsAholic”</a>&nbsp;was sentenced Monday in an Oklahoma courtroom to serve 32 years in state prison for robbing a Tulsa-area bank, a sentence that will be carried out after he finishes serving time in federal prison.

Xaviar Babudar, 30, appeared in a Tulsa courtroom and apologized to the court and to the victims of the December 2022 robbery of the Tulsa Teachers Credit Union in Bixby, Oklahoma, said Babudar’s attorney, Jay-Michael Swab.

“He expressed sincere remorse and took full responsibility for his actions,” Swab said.

Babudar already was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefsaholic-bank-robbery-42c31469e1c8188d77c80832d75c12f9">serving more than 17 years</a>&nbsp;in federal prison for a string of 11 bank robberies across seven states where he stole nearly $850,000 to finance his social media stardom. Swab said the robberies also were the result of a gambling addiction.

Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler had sought life in prison for Babudar.

“He is a serial robber who traumatized these victims and numerous other victims across this country,” Kunzweiler said in a statement.

Tulsa County District Judge Michelle Keely ordered Babudar’s 32-year sentence to run concurrently to his federal sentence, which means after he is released from federal prison he will be transferred to state custody to serve his remaining 14 years.

Babudar developed a following on his @ChiefsAholic account on the social platform X after attending games dressed as a wolf in Chiefs gear. His avid support of the Chiefs became well known on social media.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747133429096.png" alt="Babudar -photo Tulsa County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Babudar -photo Tulsa County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A Kansas City Chiefs superfan known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-superfan-accused-bank-robberies-kansas-city-f7b764389a54a9e0812ac50eceafa033">“ChiefsAholic”</a>&nbsp;was sentenced Monday in an Oklahoma courtroom to serve 32 years in state prison for robbing a Tulsa-area bank, a sentence that will be carried out after he finishes serving time in federal prison.Xaviar Babudar, 30, appeared in a Tulsa courtroom and apologized to the court and to the victims of the December 2022 robbery of the Tulsa Teachers Credit Union in Bixby, Oklahoma, said Babudar’s attorney, Jay-Michael Swab.“He expressed sincere remorse and took full responsibility for his actions,” Swab said.Babudar already was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefsaholic-bank-robbery-42c31469e1c8188d77c80832d75c12f9">serving more than 17 years</a>&nbsp;in federal prison for a string of 11 bank robberies across seven states where he stole nearly $850,000 to finance his social media stardom. Swab said the robberies also were the result of a gambling addiction.Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler had sought life in prison for Babudar.“He is a serial robber who traumatized these victims and numerous other victims across this country,” Kunzweiler said in a statement.Tulsa County District Judge Michelle Keely ordered Babudar’s 32-year sentence to run concurrently to his federal sentence, which means after he is released from federal prison he will be transferred to state custody to serve his remaining 14 years.Babudar developed a following on his @ChiefsAholic account on the social platform X after attending games dressed as a wolf in Chiefs gear. His avid support of the Chiefs became well known on social media.

Chiefs superfan ‘ChiefsAholic’ apologized to bank robbery victims

LEXINGTON, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's attorney general sued a natural gas company Monday over the explosion of a home in a small town that killed a 5-year-old boy, accusing the utility of violating a state safety law.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey's lawsuit came less than a week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/home-explosion-gas-lexington-missouri-d6bb9012e15e31cf45b3c9009c2e9bc0">federal investigators said</a>&nbsp;in a preliminary report that a Liberty Utilities employee failed to mark a section of a gas line before another company drilled into it while installing a fiber optic cable.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/home-explosion-gas-lexington-missouri-8b5aa834fa33a47e69ef91efdbb09c9e">The April 9 explosion</a>&nbsp;destroyed a home in Lexington, a town of about 4,500 people about 55 miles (89 kilometers) east of Kansas City.

The blast killed Alistair Lamb and injured his 10-year-old sister, Cami, and their father, Jacob Cunningham. Bailey's lawsuit, filed in Lafayette County Circuit Court, alleges that a Liberty employee “falsely” told the company installing the fiber optic cable that all gas lines had been marked. The lawsuit called the explosion a “preventable tragedy.”

Bailey said Liberty violated a state law designed to ensure that digging for underground water, sewer and telecommunications lines is safe. Bailey is seeking a $10,000 fine for each day the section of gas line wasn't marked and wants a special monitor appointed to ensure that the company complies with the law.

The company said in a statement that as a party to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board's ongoing investigation, it cannot comment much about the explosion or the lawsuit. Liberty said it will continue to help families affected by the explosion and “support broader recovery efforts.”

“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers, employees, and communities,” the statement said. “We remain fully committed to working with authorities and regulatory agencies to support the ongoing investigation into the cause of the incident.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744302842121.jpeg" alt="View of the destruction after the home explosion -phot courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>View of the destruction after the home explosion -phot courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>LEXINGTON, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's attorney general sued a natural gas company Monday over the explosion of a home in a small town that killed a 5-year-old boy, accusing the utility of violating a state safety law.Attorney General Andrew Bailey's lawsuit came less than a week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/home-explosion-gas-lexington-missouri-d6bb9012e15e31cf45b3c9009c2e9bc0">federal investigators said</a>&nbsp;in a preliminary report that a Liberty Utilities employee failed to mark a section of a gas line before another company drilled into it while installing a fiber optic cable.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/home-explosion-gas-lexington-missouri-8b5aa834fa33a47e69ef91efdbb09c9e">The April 9 explosion</a>&nbsp;destroyed a home in Lexington, a town of about 4,500 people about 55 miles (89 kilometers) east of Kansas City.The blast killed Alistair Lamb and injured his 10-year-old sister, Cami, and their father, Jacob Cunningham. Bailey's lawsuit, filed in Lafayette County Circuit Court, alleges that a Liberty employee “falsely” told the company installing the fiber optic cable that all gas lines had been marked. The lawsuit called the explosion a “preventable tragedy.”Bailey said Liberty violated a state law designed to ensure that digging for underground water, sewer and telecommunications lines is safe. Bailey is seeking a $10,000 fine for each day the section of gas line wasn't marked and wants a special monitor appointed to ensure that the company complies with the law.The company said in a statement that as a party to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board's ongoing investigation, it cannot comment much about the explosion or the lawsuit. Liberty said it will continue to help families affected by the explosion and “support broader recovery efforts.”“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers, employees, and communities,” the statement said. “We remain fully committed to working with authorities and regulatory agencies to support the ongoing investigation into the cause of the incident.”

Missouri's AG sued utility over deadly KC suburb home explosion 

In a transformative move within the Kansas real estate landscape, J.P. Weigand &amp; Sons, a long-standing leader in the Wichita market, has announced plans to sell its residential real estate division to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, according to a media release.

The strategic divestment marks a significant evolution in Weigand’s business strategy as the company shifts its focus solely to commercial and auction services.

The transaction brings together two highly respected names in real estate, with the aim of strengthening their respective positions and enhancing opportunities for growth. Under the agreement, Weigand’s residential operations will be absorbed into the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty brand, providing agents and clients access to expanded resources and a broader network.

“This decision to evolve and focus our resources on the commercial market services did not come lightly,” said Kevin Dreiling, President of J.P. Weigand &amp; Sons. “After careful consideration, we felt that we could best serve our employees and associates with a refocused attention on the commercial markets moving forward. Weigand’s attention will continue to be on providing highly professional brokerage solutions to our clients.”

Dreiling emphasized the company’s renewed commitment to its commercial divisions, citing areas of planned growth including leasing, tenant representation, site selection, investment sales, auctions, consulting, and development services. “Our objective is to be the market leader in those sectors with continued guidance from the J.P. Weigand principles of integrity and excellence,” he added.

The decision also reflects Weigand’s desire to create long-term value for both its clients and associates. The transition is expected to offer Weigand’s residential agents new avenues for professional development and greater access to technological and operational support from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty.

“For generations, J.P. Weigand &amp; Sons has been integral to the Wichita community,” said Nes Weigand, Chairman of the Board. “Our unwavering commitment to the Central Kansas real estate market continues with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty. The alignment of our values and business philosophies makes this partnership a natural fit, and I am confident in the opportunities it will create for our agents and staff.”

J.P. Weigand &amp; Sons will continue to operate independently in the commercial sector, reinforcing its legacy as a cornerstone in Kansas real estate since its founding. The company remains committed to delivering exceptional service and expertise to clients across the region.

The transition is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, ushering in a new chapter for both companies in the ever-evolving real estate industry

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747146243468.jpeg" alt="J.P Weigand office, 1716 East 30th Avenue in Hutchinson - Hutch Post photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>J.P Weigand office, 1716 East 30th Avenue in Hutchinson - Hutch Post photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>In a transformative move within the Kansas real estate landscape, J.P. Weigand &amp; Sons, a long-standing leader in the Wichita market, has announced plans to sell its residential real estate division to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, according to a media release.The strategic divestment marks a significant evolution in Weigand’s business strategy as the company shifts its focus solely to commercial and auction services.The transaction brings together two highly respected names in real estate, with the aim of strengthening their respective positions and enhancing opportunities for growth. Under the agreement, Weigand’s residential operations will be absorbed into the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty brand, providing agents and clients access to expanded resources and a broader network.“This decision to evolve and focus our resources on the commercial market services did not come lightly,” said Kevin Dreiling, President of J.P. Weigand &amp; Sons. “After careful consideration, we felt that we could best serve our employees and associates with a refocused attention on the commercial markets moving forward. Weigand’s attention will continue to be on providing highly professional brokerage solutions to our clients.”Dreiling emphasized the company’s renewed commitment to its commercial divisions, citing areas of planned growth including leasing, tenant representation, site selection, investment sales, auctions, consulting, and development services. “Our objective is to be the market leader in those sectors with continued guidance from the J.P. Weigand principles of integrity and excellence,” he added.The decision also reflects Weigand’s desire to create long-term value for both its clients and associates. The transition is expected to offer Weigand’s residential agents new avenues for professional development and greater access to technological and operational support from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty.“For generations, J.P. Weigand &amp; Sons has been integral to the Wichita community,” said Nes Weigand, Chairman of the Board. “Our unwavering commitment to the Central Kansas real estate market continues with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty. The alignment of our values and business philosophies makes this partnership a natural fit, and I am confident in the opportunities it will create for our agents and staff.”J.P. Weigand &amp; Sons will continue to operate independently in the commercial sector, reinforcing its legacy as a cornerstone in Kansas real estate since its founding. The company remains committed to delivering exceptional service and expertise to clients across the region.The transition is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, ushering in a new chapter for both companies in the ever-evolving real estate industry

J.P. Weigand & Sons sells residential real estate division

BARTON COUNTY —A suspect is under investigation for violent sex crimes.

Just before 10p.m. May 10, police&nbsp;were notified of a possible kidnapping of a juvenile, according to a media release from Great Bend Police.&nbsp; Officers and Barton County Sheriff’s Office Deputies began to search for the suspect vehicle. During the search it was reported that the victim was located. 

After officers completed an investigation, police located 21-year-old Alejandro Castaneda-Cruz and arrested on requested charges of Kidnapping and Rape. He is being held ona $1,000,000.00 bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747141756547.png" alt="CASTANEDA-CRUZ photo Barton County" />
 <figcaption>CASTANEDA-CRUZ photo Barton County</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —A suspect is under investigation for violent sex crimes.Just before 10p.m. May 10, police&nbsp;were notified of a possible kidnapping of a juvenile, according to a media release from Great Bend Police.&nbsp; Officers and Barton County Sheriff’s Office Deputies began to search for the suspect vehicle. During the search it was reported that the victim was located. After officers completed an investigation, police located 21-year-old Alejandro Castaneda-Cruz and arrested on requested charges of Kidnapping and Rape. He is being held ona $1,000,000.00 bond.&nbsp;

Kan. suspect accused of kidnapping, rape of juvenile

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</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 — Former Gov. Jeff Colyer’s campaign for governor accelerated with appointment of a treasurer in advance of filing for the Republican Party’s nomination in 2026.

Colyer, 64, served as Kansas chairman of last year’s campaign by President Donald Trump. He is a former Johnson County member of the Kansas House and Senate who was lieutenant governor on the ticket with GOP Gov. Sam Brownback. Upon Brownback’s resignation to serve in the first Trump administration, Colyer was sworn in as governor in 2018.

Colyer sought a full term as governor but narrowly lost the 2018 primary to Republican Kris Kobach, who was defeated in the general election by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. In terms of the 2026 race, Colyer has yet to formally register as a candidate with the secretary of state.

Colyer did announce selection of state Rep. Kyle Hoffman, a Coldwater Republican, as treasurer for his gubernational campaign.

“Kyle is a leading voice for rural Kansas and a great advocate for fiscal responsibility and conservative values,” Colyer said. “He’s going to be a huge asset as we carry our winning message to every county in Kansas.”

Kelly, who followed her defeat of Kobach with a victory over former GOP Attorney General Derek Schmidt in 2022, cannot seek reelection. Colyer was poised to seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2022, but withdrew following a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Democratic Governors Association spokesman Sam Newton said in a statement Colyer was the “failed right-hand man” to Brownback.

“Besides reminding Kansans of the broken budgets and underfunded public schools of the Brownback era, Colyer’s announcement confirms that the GOP primary field is going to be crowded, chaotic and focused on extreme partisan policies,” Newton said.

Newton said Kansas would be better off with a governor like Kelly who took a middle-of-the-road approach to leadership, balanced the state budget, promoted business investment and ended the state’s sales tax on groceries.

Hoffman, treasurer of Colyer’s campaign, said Colyer was “more than a politician, he is a humanitarian – selflessly serving those in need around the world. He’ll make a great governor.”

Colyer, a surgeon in the Kansas City area who served international medical missions, was the state’s 47th governor from January 2018 to January 2019.

He was lieutenant governor under Brownback from 2011-2018. He was in the Senate from 2009-2011 and the Kansas House from 2007-2009. In 2002, he unsuccessful sought the GOP nomination for U.S. House.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623028329898.png" alt="Jeff Colyer -courtery photo" />
 <figcaption>Jeff Colyer -courtery photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</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 — Former Gov. Jeff Colyer’s campaign for governor accelerated with appointment of a treasurer in advance of filing for the Republican Party’s nomination in 2026.Colyer, 64, served as Kansas chairman of last year’s campaign by President Donald Trump. He is a former Johnson County member of the Kansas House and Senate who was lieutenant governor on the ticket with GOP Gov. Sam Brownback. Upon Brownback’s resignation to serve in the first Trump administration, Colyer was sworn in as governor in 2018.Colyer sought a full term as governor but narrowly lost the 2018 primary to Republican Kris Kobach, who was defeated in the general election by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. In terms of the 2026 race, Colyer has yet to formally register as a candidate with the secretary of state.Colyer did announce selection of state Rep. Kyle Hoffman, a Coldwater Republican, as treasurer for his gubernational campaign.“Kyle is a leading voice for rural Kansas and a great advocate for fiscal responsibility and conservative values,” Colyer said. “He’s going to be a huge asset as we carry our winning message to every county in Kansas.”Kelly, who followed her defeat of Kobach with a victory over former GOP Attorney General Derek Schmidt in 2022, cannot seek reelection. Colyer was poised to seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2022, but withdrew following a diagnosis of prostate cancer.Democratic Governors Association spokesman Sam Newton said in a statement Colyer was the “failed right-hand man” to Brownback.“Besides reminding Kansans of the broken budgets and underfunded public schools of the Brownback era, Colyer’s announcement confirms that the GOP primary field is going to be crowded, chaotic and focused on extreme partisan policies,” Newton said.Newton said Kansas would be better off with a governor like Kelly who took a middle-of-the-road approach to leadership, balanced the state budget, promoted business investment and ended the state’s sales tax on groceries.Hoffman, treasurer of Colyer’s campaign, said Colyer was “more than a politician, he is a humanitarian – selflessly serving those in need around the world. He’ll make a great governor.”Colyer, a surgeon in the Kansas City area who served international medical missions, was the state’s 47th governor from January 2018 to January 2019.He was lieutenant governor under Brownback from 2011-2018. He was in the Senate from 2009-2011 and the Kansas House from 2007-2009. In 2002, he unsuccessful sought the GOP nomination for U.S. House.

Former Gov. Jeff Colyer maneuvers closer to 2026 GOP campaign for Kansas governor

RENO COUNTY —Firefighters responded to a large outside fire early Tuesday morning at the Hutchinson landfill, where burning debris in a designated disposal pit prompted an hours-long operation involving both fire crews and landfill personnel, according to a media release.

Just after 2:30a.m., crews were dispatched to the landfill area for a report of a possible fire in what is known as the “Pit,” an area used for dumping waste. The initial fire covered an estimated area of 200 feet by 300 feet.

Firefighters coordinated efforts with landfill staff, using multiple bulldozers and front-end loaders to scrape away burning materials. The debris was separated to allow it to be smothered and fully extinguished. Crews remained on scene throughout the morning to continue removing hot spots and ensure the fire was completely out.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Hutchinson Fire Department also issued a reminder to residents about the dangers of improperly disposing of lithium-ion batteries, which are increasingly common in household electronics.

“With the increase in lithium-ion batteries in our households, they need to be disposed of properly,” the department said in a statement. “Please locate your closest lithium-ion battery recycling drop-off location and dispose of them there instead of in your household waste containers.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747131580636.jpeg" alt="Landfill Fire - photo Hutchinson Fire Department " />
 <figcaption>Landfill Fire - photo Hutchinson Fire Department </figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Firefighters responded to a large outside fire early Tuesday morning at the Hutchinson landfill, where burning debris in a designated disposal pit prompted an hours-long operation involving both fire crews and landfill personnel, according to a media release.Just after 2:30a.m., crews were dispatched to the landfill area for a report of a possible fire in what is known as the “Pit,” an area used for dumping waste. The initial fire covered an estimated area of 200 feet by 300 feet.Firefighters coordinated efforts with landfill staff, using multiple bulldozers and front-end loaders to scrape away burning materials. The debris was separated to allow it to be smothered and fully extinguished. Crews remained on scene throughout the morning to continue removing hot spots and ensure the fire was completely out.No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.The Hutchinson Fire Department also issued a reminder to residents about the dangers of improperly disposing of lithium-ion batteries, which are increasingly common in household electronics.“With the increase in lithium-ion batteries in our households, they need to be disposed of properly,” the department said in a statement. “Please locate your closest lithium-ion battery recycling drop-off location and dispose of them there instead of in your household waste containers.”

Officials issue reminder after Kansas landfill fire 

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a fourth homicide in Kansas City in four days.

Just after 12:30p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1600 block of Topping in Kansas City, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

First responding officers were led to an alleyway next to a residence, where they located an adult female shooting victim later identified as 29-year-old Carissa Perryman unresponsive.

Officers rendered aid and called for EMS. EMS transported Perryman to the hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries. She was pronounced&nbsp;deceased at the hospital a short time later.

Responding officers detained one subject of interest, an adult female, for further investigation. Detectives were talking to people who were at the scene when officers arrived and are looking for witnesses. 

Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim and the subject of interest had an interaction next to the house that escalated and shots were fired that struck the victim.&nbsp; Police have released no additional detials.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747082674164.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a fourth homicide in Kansas City in four days.Just after 12:30p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1600 block of Topping in Kansas City, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747082657430.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>First responding officers were led to an alleyway next to a residence, where they located an adult female shooting victim later identified as 29-year-old Carissa Perryman unresponsive.Officers rendered aid and called for EMS. EMS transported Perryman to the hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries. She was pronounced&nbsp;deceased at the hospital a short time later.Responding officers detained one subject of interest, an adult female, for further investigation. Detectives were talking to people who were at the scene when officers arrived and are looking for witnesses. Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim and the subject of interest had an interaction next to the house that escalated and shots were fired that struck the victim.&nbsp; Police have released no additional detials.

KCPD: Woman shot, killed in alleyway near home

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-middle-east-saudi-arabia-83c27ca7357e41efedaa2318da59d0ab">The fist bump</a>&nbsp;seems so long ago.

Three years after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;cursory greeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;luxuriated in an extravagant royal welcome as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-saudi-arabia-mbs-qatar-uae-b782fe922d09afced2e1074b65016e80">he arrived in Saudi Arabia</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday.

Concerns about human rights and fossil fuels in the oil-rich autocracy were nowhere on the agenda. Instead the day was all about cutting deals and celebrating a personal relationship that has endured through scandal and political turmoil.

“I really believe we like each other a lot,” Trump said as they sat on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-saudi-arabia-mbs-qatar-uae-photos-cc507c76b19d30a59f69d15f86008511">golden chairs under elaborate chandeliers</a>&nbsp;in the royal palace. During a speech later in the day, the president described Prince Mohammed as an “incredible man” and “my friend.”

The feeling was clearly mutual. The crown prince addressed his guest as “my dear President Trump,” and the Saudis played his campaign anthems — “God Bless the U.S.A.” and “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ymca-dance-rallies-05da758dfeb2dd9c2ed22ebb88610b24">YMCA</a>&nbsp;” — during his appearance at an investment forum.

For the U.S. Republican president, the visit was a return to the international stage after his comeback victory in last year’s election. Although he recently attended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pope-francis-funeral-vatican-rome-italy-9895e156b90aea1dde7f7ea19bf7b3e1">the funeral of Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;in Rome, Saudi Arabia was originally intended to be his initial overseas destination, just like in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c602a848be074032a024e2a1e6f8926d">his first term</a>. It served as a gilded debut for a foreign policy focused on securing cash infusions for American businesses.

Trump pumped his fist as he stepped out of Air Force One, then descended the stairs to shake hands with Prince Mohammed, who greeted his guest on the tarmac in a rare display of respect.

The guest list for an elaborate luncheon was stuffed with corporate executives, including Ruth Porat of Google, Stephen Schwarzman of the Blackstone Group, Jane Fraser of Citicorp, Alex Karp of Palantir and Jensen Huang of NVIDIA. Also attending was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-trump-doge-tesla-d1206a96983b30b9cef7b18eaa8c48a7">Elon Musk</a>, the world’s richest person and a top adviser to Trump.

As Air Force One approached Riyadh, Saudi pilots in six American-made F-15 fighter jets escorted the plane. After a traditional coffee ceremony inside the royal terminal at the airport, Trump’s limousine was flanked by riders on white Arabian horses carrying American and Saudi flags. A honor guard was lined up with golden swords.

(Missing from the visit was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0U1MG6hm2o" target="_blank">the orb</a>, a glowing sphere a little bigger than a bowling ball that Trump memorably posed for photos with during his trip to Riyadh in his first term.)

Trump has downplayed traditional American alliances in Europe, and often expressed exasperation with the country’s trading and defense partners. But there was no such hesitation in Riyadh, and he said the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia “has been a bedrock of security and prosperity,”

Biden received little of the same pomp when he visited three years ago. He had previously criticized Saudi Arabia as a “pariah” but decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-israel-saudi-arabia-jamal-khashoggi-edba0435dedc08db952c406536d67713">travel to the kingdom</a>&nbsp;anyway in an implicit acknowledgement that it was too influential of a global player to ignore.

The crown prince greeted the Democratic president at the palace, which is where the two leaders exchanged their fist bump. Their only other joint public appearance was all business, as they sat across from each other at a large conference table, flanked by top advisers.

Later that year, OPEC+ announced it would reduce oil production in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-2022-midterm-elections-biden-inflation-business-fa45f3023af51b1b7201f0c06d86f72d">a blow to Biden,</a>&nbsp;whose political fortunes were being battered by inflation. The Democratic president acknowledged that it was “a disappointment, and it says that there are problems” in the U.S.-Saudi relationship.

But there was no such friction during Trump’s visit, a shift that was clearly appreciated by Trump’s hosts.

“We don’t want people to lecture us, as it has happened in the past – what’s wrong and what’s right,” said Mohammad A. Abunayyan, the founder and chairman of ACWA Power.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (AP)—President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia, the first leg of his three-nation visit to the Middle East this week meant to tackle multiple crises and conflicts across the region. He was welcomed by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, after Air Force One landed in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Trump and the crown prince are to hold talks on U.S. efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, end the war in Gaza, hold down oil prices and more. The prince is also expected to fete Trump with a formal dinner. American and Saudi flags lined the streets of the Saudi capital, along with a noticeable security presence of all American-made police cars.

Saudi crown prince’s airport greeting for Trump underscores the close relationship the de facto ruler of the kingdom wants to have with the American leader.

Typically, a provincial governor or another official will greet a foreign leader on arrival. King Salman once greeted President Barack Obama at the airport on a trip to the kingdom, but then lower-ranking officials did as the kingdom grew angry over his stance on the 2011 Arab Spring and the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

President Joe Biden also was greeted by a provincial governor on his 2022 trip to the kingdom, before having an awkward fist-bump with Prince Mohammed, who he derided as a “pariah” during his election campaign after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Trump gets a horse escort to the Saudi palace

Trump’s armored limo, known as The Beast, was flanked by Saudi horsemen carrying American and Saudi flags as it pulled into Al Yamamah Palace.

Before going in, the Saudi crown prince walked Trump over to observe an honor guard.

The two leaders then received officials from their delegations ahead of a lunch.

The pomp began before Trump even landed. Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provided an honorary escort for Air Force One as it approached the kingdom’s capital.

Trump and Prince Mohammed also took part in a lunch at the Royal Court, gathering with guests and aides in an ornate room with blue accents and massive crystal chandeliers.

As he greeted business titans with Trump by his side, Prince Mohammed was animated and smiling.

It was a stark contrast to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-israel-saudi-arabia-jamal-khashoggi-edba0435dedc08db952c406536d67713">his awkward fist bump</a>&nbsp;with then-President Joe Biden, who looked to avoid being seen on camera shaking hands with the prince during a 2022 visit to the kingdom.

Biden had decided to pay a visit to Saudi Arabia as he looked to alleviate soaring prices at the pump for motorists at home and around the globe.

At the time, Prince Mohammed's reputation had been badly damaged by a U.S. intelligence determination that found he had ordered the 2018 killing of journalist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jamal-khashoggi">Jamal Khashoggi</a>.

But that dark moment appeared to be distant memory for the prince as he rubbed elbows with high-profile business executives — including Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk — in front of the cameras and with Trump by his side.

Later,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-us-russia-talks-analysis-mohammed-bin-salman-9a42a3f1e09599f423a693262caa179c">the crown prince</a>&nbsp;will fete Trump with a formal dinner. Trump is also slated to take part Tuesday in a U.S.-Saudi investment conference.

Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia comes as oil trades around $64 a barrel

Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia comes as the president can already point to one thing for American voters — oil prices are down.

It’s not Trump’s doing, though he’s repeatedly criticized Saudi Arabia and the OPEC+ oil cartel over higher oil prices in the past. Those prices translate directly back into gasoline prices in the United States, which can become a major pain point for the U.S. public. The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. is $3.13, according to AAA, down from $3.61 a year ago.

Right now, benchmark Brent crude trades around $64 a barrel. That’s higher than when the around $50 a barrel it traded on his first trip to the kingdom as president in 2017. However, it’s nowhere near the spikes seen after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Then, the average gallon of gas in the U.S. was $5.01 at its height.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747131535832.png" alt="Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-middle-east-saudi-arabia-83c27ca7357e41efedaa2318da59d0ab">The fist bump</a>&nbsp;seems so long ago.Three years after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;cursory greeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;luxuriated in an extravagant royal welcome as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-saudi-arabia-mbs-qatar-uae-b782fe922d09afced2e1074b65016e80">he arrived in Saudi Arabia</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday.Concerns about human rights and fossil fuels in the oil-rich autocracy were nowhere on the agenda. Instead the day was all about cutting deals and celebrating a personal relationship that has endured through scandal and political turmoil.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Beast pulls up to the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/NSxhzaFk5o">pic.twitter.com/NSxhzaFk5o</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922220554259403074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> is greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 🇺🇸🇸🇦 <a href="https://t.co/81qUv6hi7D">pic.twitter.com/81qUv6hi7D</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922190356692557858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I really believe we like each other a lot,” Trump said as they sat on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-saudi-arabia-mbs-qatar-uae-photos-cc507c76b19d30a59f69d15f86008511">golden chairs under elaborate chandeliers</a>&nbsp;in the royal palace. During a speech later in the day, the president described Prince Mohammed as an “incredible man” and “my friend.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>&#39;s first event is a quick welcome inside the Royal Terminal at King Khalid International Airport, where he is joined by <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/howardlutnick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@howardlutnick</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/SecretaryWright?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecretaryWright</a>. <a href="https://t.co/3tkQbhNGFp">pic.twitter.com/3tkQbhNGFp</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922192018417004730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The feeling was clearly mutual. The crown prince addressed his guest as “my dear President Trump,” and the Saudis played his campaign anthems — “God Bless the U.S.A.” and “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ymca-dance-rallies-05da758dfeb2dd9c2ed22ebb88610b24">YMCA</a>&nbsp;” — during his appearance at an investment forum.For the U.S. Republican president, the visit was a return to the international stage after his comeback victory in last year’s election. Although he recently attended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pope-francis-funeral-vatican-rome-italy-9895e156b90aea1dde7f7ea19bf7b3e1">the funeral of Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;in Rome, Saudi Arabia was originally intended to be his initial overseas destination, just like in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c602a848be074032a024e2a1e6f8926d">his first term</a>. It served as a gilded debut for a foreign policy focused on securing cash infusions for American businesses.Trump pumped his fist as he stepped out of Air Force One, then descended the stairs to shake hands with Prince Mohammed, who greeted his guest on the tarmac in a rare display of respect.Trump pumped his fist as he stepped out of Air Force One, then descended the stairs to shake hands with Prince Mohammed, who greeted his guest on the tarmac in a rare display of respect.The guest list for an elaborate luncheon was stuffed with corporate executives, including Ruth Porat of Google, Stephen Schwarzman of the Blackstone Group, Jane Fraser of Citicorp, Alex Karp of Palantir and Jensen Huang of NVIDIA. Also attending was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-trump-doge-tesla-d1206a96983b30b9cef7b18eaa8c48a7">Elon Musk</a>, the world’s richest person and a top adviser to Trump.As Air Force One approached Riyadh, Saudi pilots in six American-made F-15 fighter jets escorted the plane. After a traditional coffee ceremony inside the royal terminal at the airport, Trump’s limousine was flanked by riders on white Arabian horses carrying American and Saudi flags. A honor guard was lined up with golden swords.(Missing from the visit was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0U1MG6hm2o" target="_blank">the orb</a>, a glowing sphere a little bigger than a bowling ball that Trump memorably posed for photos with during his trip to Riyadh in his first term.)Trump has downplayed traditional American alliances in Europe, and often expressed exasperation with the country’s trading and defense partners. But there was no such hesitation in Riyadh, and he said the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia “has been a bedrock of security and prosperity,”Biden received little of the same pomp when he visited three years ago. He had previously criticized Saudi Arabia as a “pariah” but decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-israel-saudi-arabia-jamal-khashoggi-edba0435dedc08db952c406536d67713">travel to the kingdom</a>&nbsp;anyway in an implicit acknowledgement that it was too influential of a global player to ignore.The crown prince greeted the Democratic president at the palace, which is where the two leaders exchanged their fist bump. Their only other joint public appearance was all business, as they sat across from each other at a large conference table, flanked by top advisers.Later that year, OPEC+ announced it would reduce oil production in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-2022-midterm-elections-biden-inflation-business-fa45f3023af51b1b7201f0c06d86f72d">a blow to Biden,</a>&nbsp;whose political fortunes were being battered by inflation. The Democratic president acknowledged that it was “a disappointment, and it says that there are problems” in the U.S.-Saudi relationship.But there was no such friction during Trump’s visit, a shift that was clearly appreciated by Trump’s hosts.“We don’t want people to lecture us, as it has happened in the past – what’s wrong and what’s right,” said Mohammad A. Abunayyan, the founder and chairman of ACWA Power.-------Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (AP)—President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia, the first leg of his three-nation visit to the Middle East this week meant to tackle multiple crises and conflicts across the region. He was welcomed by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, after Air Force One landed in Riyadh on Tuesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greets President Trump upon landing in Saudi Arabia… <a href="https://t.co/hSh2EuUBjc">https://t.co/hSh2EuUBjc</a> <a href="https://t.co/qYykjYArMX">pic.twitter.com/qYykjYArMX</a>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1922197447650013676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump and the crown prince are to hold talks on U.S. efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, end the war in Gaza, hold down oil prices and more. The prince is also expected to fete Trump with a formal dinner. American and Saudi flags lined the streets of the Saudi capital, along with a noticeable security presence of all American-made police cars.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> arrives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 🇺🇸🇸🇦 <a href="https://t.co/ryoyj6Khja">pic.twitter.com/ryoyj6Khja</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1922194797533491354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Saudi crown prince’s airport greeting for Trump underscores the close relationship the de facto ruler of the kingdom wants to have with the American leader.Typically, a provincial governor or another official will greet a foreign leader on arrival. King Salman once greeted President Barack Obama at the airport on a trip to the kingdom, but then lower-ranking officials did as the kingdom grew angry over his stance on the 2011 Arab Spring and the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.President Joe Biden also was greeted by a provincial governor on his 2022 trip to the kingdom, before having an awkward fist-bump with Prince Mohammed, who he derided as a “pariah” during his election campaign after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.<h2>Trump gets a horse escort to the Saudi palace</h2><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The Beast pulls up to the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/NSxhzaFk5o">pic.twitter.com/NSxhzaFk5o</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922220554259403074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump’s armored limo, known as The Beast, was flanked by Saudi horsemen carrying American and Saudi flags as it pulled into Al Yamamah Palace.Before going in, the Saudi crown prince walked Trump over to observe an honor guard.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> greets Saudi officials at the Royal Court in Riyadh <a href="https://t.co/YPwnqEHHrU">pic.twitter.com/YPwnqEHHrU</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922226035585687689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The two leaders then received officials from their delegations ahead of a lunch.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> salutes as The Star-Spangled Banner is played outside the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh <a href="https://t.co/FoiFVrHnZH">pic.twitter.com/FoiFVrHnZH</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922221133815824432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>&#39;s first event is a quick welcome inside the Royal Terminal at King Khalid International Airport, where he is joined by <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/howardlutnick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@howardlutnick</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/SecretaryWright?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecretaryWright</a>. <a href="https://t.co/3tkQbhNGFp">pic.twitter.com/3tkQbhNGFp</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922192018417004730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> greets <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inside the Saudi Royal Court 🇺🇸 🇸🇦 <a href="https://t.co/793zuBcocJ">pic.twitter.com/793zuBcocJ</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922227021683261791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Fighter jet escort</h2>The pomp began before Trump even landed. Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provided an honorary escort for Air Force One as it approached the kingdom’s capital.Trump and Prince Mohammed also took part in a lunch at the Royal Court, gathering with guests and aides in an ornate room with blue accents and massive crystal chandeliers.As he greeted business titans with Trump by his side, Prince Mohammed was animated and smiling.It was a stark contrast to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-israel-saudi-arabia-jamal-khashoggi-edba0435dedc08db952c406536d67713">his awkward fist bump</a>&nbsp;with then-President Joe Biden, who looked to avoid being seen on camera shaking hands with the prince during a 2022 visit to the kingdom.Biden had decided to pay a visit to Saudi Arabia as he looked to alleviate soaring prices at the pump for motorists at home and around the globe.At the time, Prince Mohammed's reputation had been badly damaged by a U.S. intelligence determination that found he had ordered the 2018 killing of journalist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jamal-khashoggi">Jamal Khashoggi</a>.But that dark moment appeared to be distant memory for the prince as he rubbed elbows with high-profile business executives — including Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk — in front of the cameras and with Trump by his side.Later,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-us-russia-talks-analysis-mohammed-bin-salman-9a42a3f1e09599f423a693262caa179c">the crown prince</a>&nbsp;will fete Trump with a formal dinner. Trump is also slated to take part Tuesday in a U.S.-Saudi investment conference.<h2>Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia comes as oil trades around $64 a barrel</h2>Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia comes as the president can already point to one thing for American voters — oil prices are down.It’s not Trump’s doing, though he’s repeatedly criticized Saudi Arabia and the OPEC+ oil cartel over higher oil prices in the past. Those prices translate directly back into gasoline prices in the United States, which can become a major pain point for the U.S. public. The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. is $3.13, according to AAA, down from $3.61 a year ago.Right now, benchmark Brent crude trades around $64 a barrel. That’s higher than when the around $50 a barrel it traded on his first trip to the kingdom as president in 2017. However, it’s nowhere near the spikes seen after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Then, the average gallon of gas in the U.S. was $5.01 at its height.

🎥Golden swords, Arabian horses: Saudi crown prince gives Trump lavish royal welcome

WASHINGTON (AP) –A federal judge on Monday refused to block the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/internal-revenue-service">Internal Revenue Service</a>&nbsp;from sharing immigrants’ tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the purpose of identifying and deporting people illegally in the U.S.

In a win for the Trump administration, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich denied a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by nonprofit groups. They argued that undocumented immigrants who pay taxes are entitled to the same privacy protections as U.S. citizens and immigrants who are legally in the country.

Friedrich, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, had previously refused to grant a temporary order in the case.

The decision comes less than a month after former acting IRS commissioner Melanie Krause resigned over the deal allowing ICE to submit names and addresses of immigrants inside the U.S. illegally to the IRS for cross-verification against tax records.

The IRS has been in upheaval over Trump administration decisions to share taxpayer data. A previous acting commissioner announced his retirement earlier amid a furor over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-starmer-reshape-government-musk-ai-f0d5a76f8540299a5338ccd2fe54c956">Elon Musk’s</a>&nbsp;Department of Government Efficiency gaining access to IRS taxpayer data.

The Treasury Department says the agreement with ICE will help carry out President Donald Trump’s agenda to secure U.S. borders and is part of his larger nationwide immigration crackdown, which has resulted in deportations, workplace raids and the use of an 18th century&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alien-enemies-trump-immigration-deportations-21a62ede23b8c493b60d00a9c125722f">wartime law</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-el-salvador-immigration-dd4f61999f85c4dd8bcaba7d4fc7c9af">deport Venezuelan migrants</a>.

The acting ICE director has said working with Treasury and other departments is “strictly for the major criminal cases.”

Advocates, however, say the IRS-DHS information-sharing agreement violates privacy laws and diminishes the privacy of all Americans.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739901900435.png" alt="Photo Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Photo Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) –A federal judge on Monday refused to block the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/internal-revenue-service">Internal Revenue Service</a>&nbsp;from sharing immigrants’ tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the purpose of identifying and deporting people illegally in the U.S.In a win for the Trump administration, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich denied a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by nonprofit groups. They argued that undocumented immigrants who pay taxes are entitled to the same privacy protections as U.S. citizens and immigrants who are legally in the country.Friedrich, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, had previously refused to grant a temporary order in the case.The decision comes less than a month after former acting IRS commissioner Melanie Krause resigned over the deal allowing ICE to submit names and addresses of immigrants inside the U.S. illegally to the IRS for cross-verification against tax records.The IRS has been in upheaval over Trump administration decisions to share taxpayer data. A previous acting commissioner announced his retirement earlier amid a furor over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-starmer-reshape-government-musk-ai-f0d5a76f8540299a5338ccd2fe54c956">Elon Musk’s</a>&nbsp;Department of Government Efficiency gaining access to IRS taxpayer data.The Treasury Department says the agreement with ICE will help carry out President Donald Trump’s agenda to secure U.S. borders and is part of his larger nationwide immigration crackdown, which has resulted in deportations, workplace raids and the use of an 18th century&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alien-enemies-trump-immigration-deportations-21a62ede23b8c493b60d00a9c125722f">wartime law</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-el-salvador-immigration-dd4f61999f85c4dd8bcaba7d4fc7c9af">deport Venezuelan migrants</a>.The acting ICE director has said working with Treasury and other departments is “strictly for the major criminal cases.”Advocates, however, say the IRS-DHS information-sharing agreement violates privacy laws and diminishes the privacy of all Americans.

Judge won’t block plan to use IRS data to track down undocumented migrants

LYON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Monday in Lyon County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Mazda CX3 driven by Josue Javier Chapa, 26, Rio Grande, Texas, was northbound at in the left lane of Interstate 35 in Lyon County due to a right lane closure.

The SUV rear-ended a 2004 Honda CL1800 driven by Richard Schroeder, 60, St. Joseph, Missouri.&nbsp; The impact caused Schroeder to fall off the motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Charter Funeral Home. Chapa was not injured.&nbsp; Schroeder was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

LYON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Monday in Lyon County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Mazda CX3 driven by Josue Javier Chapa, 26, Rio Grande, Texas, was northbound at in the left lane of Interstate 35 in Lyon County due to a right lane closure.The SUV rear-ended a 2004 Honda CL1800 driven by Richard Schroeder, 60, St. Joseph, Missouri.&nbsp; The impact caused Schroeder to fall off the motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Charter Funeral Home. Chapa was not injured.&nbsp; Schroeder was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Man killed after SUV rear-ends motorcycle on Kansas Turnpike

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Six people have been charged by criminal complaint in connection with an alleged multi-national drug smuggling operation that used a commercial charter bus to transport liquid methamphetamine from Mexico to Emporia, Kansas, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, these defendants are charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine:&nbsp; Troy Wagaman, 42;&nbsp; Elizabeth Benitez, 33 and Jesus Cruz Rodriguez all three of Emporia.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Omar Villa Carranza, 45, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Emporia and Tiburcio Ayala Rangel, 42, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Emporia and&nbsp;Moises Cervantes Sanchez, 67, of McAllen, Texas.

Between March and April 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) noted a charter bus making multiple crossings into the United States from Mexico carrying few or no passengers.

License plate reader information showed the bus travelling to Emporia on all trips before returning to Mexico. During one crossing, Customs and Border officers conducted a secondary inspection and found several aftermarket anomalies, including bolts around the fuel tank that had been tampered with.

Investigators learned the bus’s destination to be a rural property in the Emporia area. When the bus again arrived at the U.S. border on May 4, 2025, a canine alerted to the presence of controlled substances. Customs and Border Control took a sample of a substance found in the gas tank that tested as liquid methamphetamine. The driver was allowed to proceed, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents followed the bus, which eventually arrived at the rural property. 

The Emporia Police Department arrested Wagaman, Villa Carranza, Cruz Rodriguez, Cervantes Sanchez, and Ayala Rangel while the men were either at the property or shortly after leaving. Benitez, who lived with Villa Carranza, was also arrested at a different location.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747073176391.png" alt="Wagaman-Osage Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Wagaman-Osage Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Six people have been charged by criminal complaint in connection with an alleged multi-national drug smuggling operation that used a commercial charter bus to transport liquid methamphetamine from Mexico to Emporia, Kansas, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, these defendants are charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine:&nbsp; Troy Wagaman, 42;&nbsp; Elizabeth Benitez, 33 and Jesus Cruz Rodriguez all three of Emporia.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747073154025.png" alt="Benitez photo Osage County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Benitez photo Osage County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Omar Villa Carranza, 45, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Emporia and Tiburcio Ayala Rangel, 42, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Emporia and&nbsp;Moises Cervantes Sanchez, 67, of McAllen, Texas.Between March and April 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) noted a charter bus making multiple crossings into the United States from Mexico carrying few or no passengers.License plate reader information showed the bus travelling to Emporia on all trips before returning to Mexico. During one crossing, Customs and Border officers conducted a secondary inspection and found several aftermarket anomalies, including bolts around the fuel tank that had been tampered with.Investigators learned the bus’s destination to be a rural property in the Emporia area. When the bus again arrived at the U.S. border on May 4, 2025, a canine alerted to the presence of controlled substances. Customs and Border Control took a sample of a substance found in the gas tank that tested as liquid methamphetamine. The driver was allowed to proceed, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents followed the bus, which eventually arrived at the rural property. The Emporia Police Department arrested Wagaman, Villa Carranza, Cruz Rodriguez, Cervantes Sanchez, and Ayala Rangel while the men were either at the property or shortly after leaving. Benitez, who lived with Villa Carranza, was also arrested at a different location.

Suspects used bus to transport liquid meth from Mexico to Kansas

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a weekend arrest.

Just before 5p.m. Sunday, police&nbsp;responded to a disturbance call at a residence in the 1000 block South 7th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Officers made contact with 34-year-old Michael Bethea who was wanted on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.

Bethea resisted the arrest and there was a struggle with officers. During that arrest an officer was bitten by a dog in the residence. The officer was treated and released from Amberwell Hospital for the treatment of several dog bites. 

Police took Bethea was taken on requested charges of failure to appear in court, for inference with law enforcement and assault and battery on a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747070779427.png" alt="Bethea photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Bethea photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a weekend arrest.Just before 5p.m. Sunday, police&nbsp;responded to a disturbance call at a residence in the 1000 block South 7th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Officers made contact with 34-year-old Michael Bethea who was wanted on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.Bethea resisted the arrest and there was a struggle with officers. During that arrest an officer was bitten by a dog in the residence. The officer was treated and released from Amberwell Hospital for the treatment of several dog bites. Police took Bethea was taken on requested charges of failure to appear in court, for inference with law enforcement and assault and battery on a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;

Suspect's dog attacked Kansas police officer during arrest

By ZEKE MILLER and WILL WEISSERT &nbsp;Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is ready to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/qatar">Qatar</a>&nbsp;during his trip to the Middle East this coming week, and U.S. officials say it could be converted into a potential presidential aircraft.

(video of President Trump touring the plane in February)

The Qatari government said a final decision hadn't been made. Still, Trump defended the idea — what would amount to a president accepting an astonishingly valuable gift from a foreign government — as a fiscally smart move for the country.

“So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane,” Trump posted on his social media site on Sunday night. “Anybody can do that!”

ABC News&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-administration-poised-accept-palace-sky-gift-trump/story?id=121680511">reported</a>&nbsp;that Trump will use the aircraft as his presidential plane until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library.

The gift was expected to be announced when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/civilian-nuclear-program-saudi-arabia-trump-iran-be8697a1890d0158cef57babb47e7583">Trump visits</a>&nbsp;Qatar, according to ABC's report, as part of a trip that also includes stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the first extended foreign travel of his second term.

Before Trump's post trumpeting the idea, Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché, said in a statement that the “possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense."

“But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, administration officials,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-business-finances-conflicts-ethics-aa019f8f9bdfa4266e2d41b36ad01b4c">anticipating ethics concerns</a>, have prepared an analysis arguing that accepting the plane would be legal, according to ABC. The Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF11086">Emoluments Clause</a>&nbsp;bars anyone holding government office from&nbsp;<a href="https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/articles/article-i/clauses/759">accepting any present, emolument, office or title</a>&nbsp;from any “King, Prince, or foreign State,” without congressional consent.

One expert on government ethics, Kathleen Clark of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, accused Trump of being “committed to exploiting the federal government’s power, not on behalf of policy goals, but for amassing personal wealth.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer poked fun at Trump's “America first” political slogan.

“Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar," the New York Democrat said in a statement. "It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”

Even some conservatives expressed dismay online, noting that an aircraft being offered by a foreign government could present security risks if used by a U.S. president.

Air Force One is a modified Boeing 747. Two exist, and the president flies on both, which are more than 30 years old. Boeing Inc. has the contract to produce updated versions, but delivery has been delayed while the company has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-earnings-results-profit-revenue-628c704b8642693f0ba5060eeede22d3">lost billions of dollars on the project</a>.

Trump intends to convert the Qatari aircraft into a plane he can fly on as president, with the Air Force planning to add secure communications and other classified elements to it. But it will still have more limited capabilities than the existing planes that were built to serve as Air Force One, as well as two other aircraft currently under construction, according to a former U.S. official.

The official was briefed about the plane and spoke Sunday on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not yet been made public.

The existing planes used as Air Force One are heavily modified with survivability capabilities for the president for a range of contingencies, including radiation shielding and antimissile technology. They also include a variety of communications systems to allow the president to remain in contact with the military and issue orders from anywhere in the world.

The official told The Associated Press that it would be possible to quickly add some countermeasures and communications systems to the Qatari plane, but that it would be less capable than the existing Air Force One aircraft or long-delayed replacements.

Neither the Qatari plane nor the upcoming VC-25B aircraft will have the air-to-air refueling capabilities of the current VC-25A aircraft, which is the one the president currently flies on, the official said.

Jordan Libowitz, communications director for the advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, called such a gift “unprecedented."

“The totality of gifts given to a president over their term doesn’t get close to this level,” Libowitz said, adding, “You have to ask, if he makes foreign policy — especially in regards to the Middle East — how much is he being influenced by his gifts and his business deals.”

ABC said the new plane is similar to a 13-year-old Boeing aircraft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boeing-air-force-one-presidential-plane-61aec3dbc8ee10d840e160911c9f7cc2">Trump toured in February</a>, while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport and he was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club.

Trump faced lawsuits for violating the Emoluments Clause during his first term, but those were ended by the Supreme Court in 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-ends-trump-lawsuits-df42ef0eec5fa57edf3e294234051d88">which found the cases moot because the Republican had left office</a>.

Trump's family business, the Trump Organization, which is now largely run by his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, has vast and growing interests in the Middle East. That includes a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-deal-conflicts-saudi-arabia-emoluments-7379bee2e307d39bd43b534a05ae3207">new deal to build</a>&nbsp;a luxury golf resort in Qatar, partnering with Qatari Diar, a real estate company backed by that country’s sovereign wealth fund.

Qatar, which is ruled by the Al Thani family, is home to the state-owned airline Qatar Airways. The country also has worked to have a close relationship to Trump after he apparently backed a boycott of Doha by four Arab nations in his first term. Trump later in his term applauded Qatar.

Administration officials have brushed off concerns about the president’s policy interests blurring with family's business profits. They note that Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children and that a voluntary ethics agreement released by the Trump Organization in January bars the company from striking deals directly with foreign governments.

But that same agreement allows deals with private companies abroad. That is a departure from Trump’s first term, when the organization released an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/events-united-states-presidential-election-7abb62e89cdc443bb5cc795631079488">ethics pact</a>&nbsp;prohibiting both foreign government and foreign company deals.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when asked Friday if the president might meet with people who have ties to his family’s business, said it was “ridiculous” to suggest Trump "is doing anything for his own benefit.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746987808468.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By ZEKE MILLER and WILL WEISSERT &nbsp;Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is ready to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/qatar">Qatar</a>&nbsp;during his trip to the Middle East this coming week, and U.S. officials say it could be converted into a potential presidential aircraft.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We&#39;re very disappointed that it&#39;s taking Boeing so long to build a new Air Force One. We have an Air Force One that is 40 years old... if we can get a 747 as a contribution to our Defense Department to use during a couple of years while they&#39;re building the other ones,… <a href="https://t.co/YVnquDUcyI">pic.twitter.com/YVnquDUcyI</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1921940653920895354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">ABC: &quot;What do you say to people who view that luxury jet as a personal gift to you?&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;You&#39;re ABC Fake News right?... You should be embarrassed asking that question. They&#39;re giving us a free jet. I could say no... I want to pay you $1B... Or I could say thank you.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Q22i73Asle">pic.twitter.com/Q22i73Asle</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1921943864518070776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/bNvoefce1c">pic.twitter.com/bNvoefce1c</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1921728995827093567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>(video of President Trump touring the plane in February)<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">NEWS: Pres. Trump accepts this luxury 747 from Qatar for use as Air Force One - he toured in Feb 2025 <a href="https://t.co/usQ8hlUcG2">pic.twitter.com/usQ8hlUcG2</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1921616343910011324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Qatari government said a final decision hadn't been made. Still, Trump defended the idea — what would amount to a president accepting an astonishingly valuable gift from a foreign government — as a fiscally smart move for the country.“So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane,” Trump posted on his social media site on Sunday night. “Anybody can do that!”ABC News&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-administration-poised-accept-palace-sky-gift-trump/story?id=121680511">reported</a>&nbsp;that Trump will use the aircraft as his presidential plane until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library.The gift was expected to be announced when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/civilian-nuclear-program-saudi-arabia-trump-iran-be8697a1890d0158cef57babb47e7583">Trump visits</a>&nbsp;Qatar, according to ABC's report, as part of a trip that also includes stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the first extended foreign travel of his second term.Before Trump's post trumpeting the idea, Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché, said in a statement that the “possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense."“But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made,” the statement added.Meanwhile, administration officials,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-business-finances-conflicts-ethics-aa019f8f9bdfa4266e2d41b36ad01b4c">anticipating ethics concerns</a>, have prepared an analysis arguing that accepting the plane would be legal, according to ABC. The Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF11086">Emoluments Clause</a>&nbsp;bars anyone holding government office from&nbsp;<a href="https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/articles/article-i/clauses/759">accepting any present, emolument, office or title</a>&nbsp;from any “King, Prince, or foreign State,” without congressional consent.One expert on government ethics, Kathleen Clark of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, accused Trump of being “committed to exploiting the federal government’s power, not on behalf of policy goals, but for amassing personal wealth.”Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer poked fun at Trump's “America first” political slogan.“Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar," the New York Democrat said in a statement. "It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”Even some conservatives expressed dismay online, noting that an aircraft being offered by a foreign government could present security risks if used by a U.S. president.Air Force One is a modified Boeing 747. Two exist, and the president flies on both, which are more than 30 years old. Boeing Inc. has the contract to produce updated versions, but delivery has been delayed while the company has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-earnings-results-profit-revenue-628c704b8642693f0ba5060eeede22d3">lost billions of dollars on the project</a>.Trump intends to convert the Qatari aircraft into a plane he can fly on as president, with the Air Force planning to add secure communications and other classified elements to it. But it will still have more limited capabilities than the existing planes that were built to serve as Air Force One, as well as two other aircraft currently under construction, according to a former U.S. official.The official was briefed about the plane and spoke Sunday on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not yet been made public.The existing planes used as Air Force One are heavily modified with survivability capabilities for the president for a range of contingencies, including radiation shielding and antimissile technology. They also include a variety of communications systems to allow the president to remain in contact with the military and issue orders from anywhere in the world.The official told The Associated Press that it would be possible to quickly add some countermeasures and communications systems to the Qatari plane, but that it would be less capable than the existing Air Force One aircraft or long-delayed replacements.Neither the Qatari plane nor the upcoming VC-25B aircraft will have the air-to-air refueling capabilities of the current VC-25A aircraft, which is the one the president currently flies on, the official said.Jordan Libowitz, communications director for the advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, called such a gift “unprecedented."“The totality of gifts given to a president over their term doesn’t get close to this level,” Libowitz said, adding, “You have to ask, if he makes foreign policy — especially in regards to the Middle East — how much is he being influenced by his gifts and his business deals.”ABC said the new plane is similar to a 13-year-old Boeing aircraft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boeing-air-force-one-presidential-plane-61aec3dbc8ee10d840e160911c9f7cc2">Trump toured in February</a>, while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport and he was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club.Trump faced lawsuits for violating the Emoluments Clause during his first term, but those were ended by the Supreme Court in 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-ends-trump-lawsuits-df42ef0eec5fa57edf3e294234051d88">which found the cases moot because the Republican had left office</a>.Trump's family business, the Trump Organization, which is now largely run by his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, has vast and growing interests in the Middle East. That includes a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-deal-conflicts-saudi-arabia-emoluments-7379bee2e307d39bd43b534a05ae3207">new deal to build</a>&nbsp;a luxury golf resort in Qatar, partnering with Qatari Diar, a real estate company backed by that country’s sovereign wealth fund.Qatar, which is ruled by the Al Thani family, is home to the state-owned airline Qatar Airways. The country also has worked to have a close relationship to Trump after he apparently backed a boycott of Doha by four Arab nations in his first term. Trump later in his term applauded Qatar.Administration officials have brushed off concerns about the president’s policy interests blurring with family's business profits. They note that Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children and that a voluntary ethics agreement released by the Trump Organization in January bars the company from striking deals directly with foreign governments.But that same agreement allows deals with private companies abroad. That is a departure from Trump’s first term, when the organization released an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/events-united-states-presidential-election-7abb62e89cdc443bb5cc795631079488">ethics pact</a>&nbsp;prohibiting both foreign government and foreign company deals.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when asked Friday if the president might meet with people who have ties to his family’s business, said it was “ridiculous” to suggest Trump "is doing anything for his own benefit.”___

🎥 Trump explains why he should accept Qatar's gift of new Air Force One

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

As a Biden administration ban on so-called “junk fees” took effect Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-live-nation-ticketmaster-swift-cca2b9881881fb016d0862b945ccddee">Ticketmaster</a>&nbsp;said it would start displaying the full price of a ticket as soon as consumers begin shopping.

Ticketmaster, long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-concert-ticket-sale-reforms-taylor-swift-a5ddb8282a2c72f6dedafc8139c75921">a subject of complaints</a>&nbsp;about hidden fees and other issues, was among those targeted by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ftc-junk-fees-rule-hotels-tickets-085606d99f137040e9a86e5b1ac04068">new rule</a>, which was announced in December by the Federal Trade Commission. The rule requires ticket sellers, hotels, vacation rental platforms and others to disclose processing fees, cleaning fees and other charges up front.

Ticketmaster said it agreed with the FTC’s action.

“Ticketmaster has long advocated for all-in pricing to become the nationwide standard so fans can easily compare prices across all ticketing sites,” Ticketmaster Chief Operating Officer Michael Wichser said in a statement.

Ticketmaster said it will also tell customers where they are in line when they log in to buy tickets to an event. It will also give real-time updates to customers whose wait times exceed 30 minutes, letting them know ticket price ranges, availability and whether new event dates have been added.

Ticketmaster, which is owned by Beverly Hills, California-based concert promoter Live Nation, is the world’s largest ticket seller, processing 500 million tickets each year in more than 30 countries. Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster.

Ticketmaster said Monday's changes would bring North America in line with the rest of the world, where full ticket prices typically are displayed as soon as customers start shopping.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668687399028.jpeg" alt="AP Photo" />
 <figcaption>AP Photo</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DEE-ANN%20DURBIN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DEE-ANN DURBIN &nbsp;AP Business Writer</a>As a Biden administration ban on so-called “junk fees” took effect Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-live-nation-ticketmaster-swift-cca2b9881881fb016d0862b945ccddee">Ticketmaster</a>&nbsp;said it would start displaying the full price of a ticket as soon as consumers begin shopping.Ticketmaster, long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-concert-ticket-sale-reforms-taylor-swift-a5ddb8282a2c72f6dedafc8139c75921">a subject of complaints</a>&nbsp;about hidden fees and other issues, was among those targeted by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ftc-junk-fees-rule-hotels-tickets-085606d99f137040e9a86e5b1ac04068">new rule</a>, which was announced in December by the Federal Trade Commission. The rule requires ticket sellers, hotels, vacation rental platforms and others to disclose processing fees, cleaning fees and other charges up front.Ticketmaster said it agreed with the FTC’s action.“Ticketmaster has long advocated for all-in pricing to become the nationwide standard so fans can easily compare prices across all ticketing sites,” Ticketmaster Chief Operating Officer Michael Wichser said in a statement.Ticketmaster said it will also tell customers where they are in line when they log in to buy tickets to an event. It will also give real-time updates to customers whose wait times exceed 30 minutes, letting them know ticket price ranges, availability and whether new event dates have been added.Ticketmaster, which is owned by Beverly Hills, California-based concert promoter Live Nation, is the world’s largest ticket seller, processing 500 million tickets each year in more than 30 countries. Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster.Ticketmaster said Monday's changes would bring North America in line with the rest of the world, where full ticket prices typically are displayed as soon as customers start shopping.SeatGeek, a platform for buying and selling original and resale tickets, said it also updated its features Monday to make “all-in pricing the default” setting.“Fans deserve pricing that’s clear from the start,” said SeatGeek CEO Jack Groetzinger said. "We’re proud to roll this out across our platform and encouraged to see the industry move in this direction.”Ticketmaster has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ticketmaster-entertainment-inc-amy-klobuchar-minnesota-business-fd6bd24fbe88a259aa83496a898a05f9">in the hot seat</a>&nbsp;since 2022, when its site crashed during a presale event for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-taylor-swift-af5d58d2a8c6def368ded1bd2ddd8a6f">Taylor Swift’s</a>&nbsp;upcoming stadium tour. The company said its site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers in order to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">Thousands of people lost tickets</a>&nbsp;after waiting for hours in an online queue.Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-live-nation-ticketmaster-antitrust-lawsuit-df9b552d127e1494db13e3cd625787a8">sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation</a>, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly that drives up U.S. ticket prices and asking a court to break them up. That case is ongoing.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is also eyeing the industry. In March, he signed an executive order that he said would help&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ticket-scalpers-executive-action-live-events-f70082930c9efbeba454f5c2a13084fb">curb ticket scalping</a>&nbsp;and bring “commonsense” changes to the way live events are priced.Under the order, the FTC must ensure “price transparency at all stages of the ticket-purchase process” and take enforcement to prevent unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive conduct.“Anyone who’s bought a concert ticket in the last decade, maybe 20 years — no matter what your politics are — knows that it’s a conundrum,” said Kid Rock, who joined Trump in the Oval Office as Trump signed the order.