WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a church burglary have made an arrest.

On Wednesday,&nbsp; police reported a&nbsp;person of interest in Monday’s recovery of approximately $36,000 of stolen property from a Kansas City Kansas church is in custody and charged with the crime, according to Kansas City Kansas Police.

The Wyandotte County District Attorney has charged 22-year-old Enrique Martinez Vasquez of Kansas City, Kan., with felony burglary, theft and criminal damage to property. 

He remains in the Wyandotte County Jail on a $35,000 bond.

&nbsp;Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729128351973.png" alt="Vasquez photo Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>Vasquez photo Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a church burglary have made an arrest.On Wednesday,&nbsp; police reported a&nbsp;person of interest in Monday’s recovery of approximately $36,000 of stolen property from a Kansas City Kansas church is in custody and charged with the crime, according to Kansas City Kansas Police.The Wyandotte County District Attorney has charged 22-year-old Enrique Martinez Vasquez of Kansas City, Kan., with felony burglary, theft and criminal damage to property. He remains in the Wyandotte County Jail on a $35,000 bond.&nbsp;Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous.

Suspect in $36,000 burglary at Kansas church captured

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks drifted around their record heights Thursday following the latest signals that the U.S. economy continues to hum.

The S&amp;P 500 finished virtually unchanged after flirting with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-china-3eea0bd848ea1fe6dd788930c17027eb">its all-time</a>&nbsp;high for much of the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 161 points, or 0.4%, to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-asml-f1a0aae2960ef964d05afd956b360745">its own record</a>&nbsp;set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite was close to flat.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-ai-earnings-stock-464d35670b6e91a698751ec7ee157532">Nvidia</a>&nbsp;and other companies in the chip industry were some of the market’s strongest after global heavyweight Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported bigger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. TSMC credited strong demand related to smartphones and artificial intelligence, and its stock that trades in the United States jumped 9.8%.

It was a sharp turnaround from earlier in the week when a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-china-earnings-9603ee04b6690dc4e80c22f02f298159">warning from a major Dutch supplier</a>&nbsp;to the chip industry, ASML, sent stocks sinking across the industry. Nvidia’s gain of 0.9% was Thursday's strongest single force pushing upward on the S&amp;P 500.

But a 1.4% slide for Google’s parent company, Alphabet, and a 10.6% tumble for Elevance Health helped keep stock indexes in check.

In the bond market, Treasury yields rose following the latest encouraging reports on the U.S. economy.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retailers-spending-consumers-inflation-stores-shoppers-economy-3e4df15431444adb36a67c628c6553b7">U.S. retailers made more in sales</a>&nbsp;in September than in August, and underlying growth trends within the data were better than economists expected. The strength was “all the more impressive in the face of stretched household finances, particularly among lower-income shoppers, and pre-election jitters,” according to Gary Schlossberg, market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

A separate report, meanwhile, said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-28ea3e5133d84119f35a88db82fb605e">fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment</a>&nbsp;benefits last week, a signal that layoffs nationwide are relatively low and aren’t damaging the job market.

Such data bolster the hope that has sent U.S. stocks to records: The economy could make&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-31e05db08464c58ce8a3f2db0270f2d3">a perfect escape</a>&nbsp;from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">worst inflation in generations</a>, one that ends without a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-jerome-powell-839eaf55d57958b96fe18f9bc0884397">recession</a>&nbsp;that many investors had seen as nearly inevitable. And with the Federal Reserve now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">cutting interest rates</a>&nbsp;to keep the economy humming, the expectation among optimists is that stocks can rise even further.

Critics, meanwhile, warn stock prices look too expensive given how much faster they’ve climbed than profits for companies.

Lower interest rates can ease the brakes off the economy, boost prices for investments and make borrowing bills less costly for households and businesses. And rates are heading lower around the world, with only a couple exceptions.

The European Central Bank on Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/european-central-bank-interest-rates-inflation-4b2545966c179c893a8ff34421a2530f">cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;by a quarter of a percentage point. That helped send stock indexes higher by 1.2% in France and 0.8% in Germany. They halted a run of losses that started the day in Asian stock markets, where Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.7% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1%.

On Wall Street, insurer Travelers was the biggest reason for the Dow's setting another record. It jumped 9% after reporting stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Higher income made from its investments and elsewhere helped cover greater losses due to Hurricane Helene and severe wind and hail storms in multiple states.

Blackstone also pushed upward on indexes after the investor in real estate, hedge funds and other alternative investments reported stronger profit than expected. It climbed 6.3% after CEO Stephen Schwarzman said it’s seeing broad-based acceleration across its businesses.

They helped offset Elevance Health's tumble after it reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elevance-medicaid-2024-forecast-cut-78e197b7af397aa64a2a0ef213ea8411">weaker profit for the latest quarter than expected</a>. The insurer also cut its forecast for profit for the full year, saying it was dealing with a “timing mismatch” between Medicaid rates and higher claims from customers.

CSX fell 6.7% after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/csx-railroad-third-quarter-earnings-profit-4d0d06487157bb2c39749c4a1f6ba36e">falling short of analysts’ profit expectations</a>&nbsp;for the latest quarter. The railroad also expects only modest volume growth the rest of the year as the Southeast rebuilds after two major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hurricanes">hurricanes.</a>

All told, the S&amp;P 500 slipped 1.00, or less than 0.1%, to 5,841.47. The Dow gained 161.35 points, or 0.4%, to 43,239.05, and the Nasdaq composite added 6.53, or less than 0.1%, to 18,373.61.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.09% from 4.02% late Wednesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which moves more closely with expectations for action by the Fed, rose to 3.98% from 3.94%.

All the strong recent reports on the U.S. economy have forced traders to abandon bets that the Fed could cut its main interest rate by another half a percentage point in November. Instead, they’re largely betting the Fed will move forward with a traditional-sized cut of a quarter of a percentage point, according to data from CME Group.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks drifted around their record heights Thursday following the latest signals that the U.S. economy continues to hum.The S&amp;P 500 finished virtually unchanged after flirting with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-china-3eea0bd848ea1fe6dd788930c17027eb">its all-time</a>&nbsp;high for much of the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 161 points, or 0.4%, to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-asml-f1a0aae2960ef964d05afd956b360745">its own record</a>&nbsp;set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite was close to flat.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-ai-earnings-stock-464d35670b6e91a698751ec7ee157532">Nvidia</a>&nbsp;and other companies in the chip industry were some of the market’s strongest after global heavyweight Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported bigger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. TSMC credited strong demand related to smartphones and artificial intelligence, and its stock that trades in the United States jumped 9.8%.It was a sharp turnaround from earlier in the week when a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-china-earnings-9603ee04b6690dc4e80c22f02f298159">warning from a major Dutch supplier</a>&nbsp;to the chip industry, ASML, sent stocks sinking across the industry. Nvidia’s gain of 0.9% was Thursday's strongest single force pushing upward on the S&amp;P 500.But a 1.4% slide for Google’s parent company, Alphabet, and a 10.6% tumble for Elevance Health helped keep stock indexes in check.In the bond market, Treasury yields rose following the latest encouraging reports on the U.S. economy.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retailers-spending-consumers-inflation-stores-shoppers-economy-3e4df15431444adb36a67c628c6553b7">U.S. retailers made more in sales</a>&nbsp;in September than in August, and underlying growth trends within the data were better than economists expected. The strength was “all the more impressive in the face of stretched household finances, particularly among lower-income shoppers, and pre-election jitters,” according to Gary Schlossberg, market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute.A separate report, meanwhile, said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-28ea3e5133d84119f35a88db82fb605e">fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment</a>&nbsp;benefits last week, a signal that layoffs nationwide are relatively low and aren’t damaging the job market.Such data bolster the hope that has sent U.S. stocks to records: The economy could make&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-31e05db08464c58ce8a3f2db0270f2d3">a perfect escape</a>&nbsp;from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">worst inflation in generations</a>, one that ends without a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-jerome-powell-839eaf55d57958b96fe18f9bc0884397">recession</a>&nbsp;that many investors had seen as nearly inevitable. And with the Federal Reserve now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">cutting interest rates</a>&nbsp;to keep the economy humming, the expectation among optimists is that stocks can rise even further.Critics, meanwhile, warn stock prices look too expensive given how much faster they’ve climbed than profits for companies.Lower interest rates can ease the brakes off the economy, boost prices for investments and make borrowing bills less costly for households and businesses. And rates are heading lower around the world, with only a couple exceptions.The European Central Bank on Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/european-central-bank-interest-rates-inflation-4b2545966c179c893a8ff34421a2530f">cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;by a quarter of a percentage point. That helped send stock indexes higher by 1.2% in France and 0.8% in Germany. They halted a run of losses that started the day in Asian stock markets, where Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.7% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1%.On Wall Street, insurer Travelers was the biggest reason for the Dow's setting another record. It jumped 9% after reporting stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Higher income made from its investments and elsewhere helped cover greater losses due to Hurricane Helene and severe wind and hail storms in multiple states.Blackstone also pushed upward on indexes after the investor in real estate, hedge funds and other alternative investments reported stronger profit than expected. It climbed 6.3% after CEO Stephen Schwarzman said it’s seeing broad-based acceleration across its businesses.They helped offset Elevance Health's tumble after it reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elevance-medicaid-2024-forecast-cut-78e197b7af397aa64a2a0ef213ea8411">weaker profit for the latest quarter than expected</a>. The insurer also cut its forecast for profit for the full year, saying it was dealing with a “timing mismatch” between Medicaid rates and higher claims from customers.CSX fell 6.7% after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/csx-railroad-third-quarter-earnings-profit-4d0d06487157bb2c39749c4a1f6ba36e">falling short of analysts’ profit expectations</a>&nbsp;for the latest quarter. The railroad also expects only modest volume growth the rest of the year as the Southeast rebuilds after two major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hurricanes">hurricanes.</a>All told, the S&amp;P 500 slipped 1.00, or less than 0.1%, to 5,841.47. The Dow gained 161.35 points, or 0.4%, to 43,239.05, and the Nasdaq composite added 6.53, or less than 0.1%, to 18,373.61.In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.09% from 4.02% late Wednesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which moves more closely with expectations for action by the Fed, rose to 3.98% from 3.94%.All the strong recent reports on the U.S. economy have forced traders to abandon bets that the Fed could cut its main interest rate by another half a percentage point in November. Instead, they’re largely betting the Fed will move forward with a traditional-sized cut of a quarter of a percentage point, according to data from CME Group.

Wall Street drifts around its records following latest encouraging economic data

ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia grand jury indicted both a father and son on murder charges Thursday in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder.

Georgia media outlets reported that the Barrow County grand jury meeting in Winder indicted 14-year-old Colt Gray on Thursday on a total of 55 counts including four counts of malice murder, four counts of felony murder, plus aggravated assault and cruelty to children. His father, Colin Gray, faces 29 counts including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct.

Deputy court clerk Missy Headrick confirmed that Colin and Colt Gray had been indicted in separate indictments. She said the clerk’s office had not yet processed the indictments and that the documents likely wouldn’t be available to the public until Friday.

Both are scheduled to appear for arraignment on Nov. 21, when each would formally enter a plea. Colin Gray is being held in the Barrow County jail. Colt Gray is charged as an adult but is being held in a juvenile detention center in Gainesville. Neither has sought to be released on bail and their lawyers have previously declined comment.

Investigators testified Wednesday during a preliminary hearing for Colin Gray that Colt Gray carried a semiautomatic assault-style rifle on the school bus that morning, with the barrel sticking out of his book bag, wrapped up in a poster board. They say the boy left his second-period class and emerged from a bathroom with the rifle before shooting people in a classroom and hallways.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-high-school-shooting-victims-d5b510b7f855d235256d984ccd381571">The shooting killed</a>&nbsp;teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. Another teacher and eight more students were wounded, seven of them hit by gunfire.

Investigators have said the teenager carefully plotted the shooting at the 1,900-student high school northeast of Atlanta. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent testified that the boy left a notebook in his classroom with step-by-step handwritten instructions to prepare for the shooting. It included a diagram of his second-period classroom and his estimate that he could kill as many as 26 people and wound as many as 13 others, writing that he’d be “surprised if I make it this far.”

There had long been signs that Colt Gray was troubled.

Colt and Colin Gray were interviewed about an online threat linked to Colt Gray in May of 2023. Colt Gray denied making the threat at the time. He enrolled as a freshman at Apalachee after the academic year began and then skipped multiple days of school. Investigators said he had a “severe anxiety attack” on Aug. 14. A counselor said he reported having suicidal thoughts and rocked and shook uncontrollably while in her office.

Colt’s mother Marcee Gray, who lived separately, told investigators that she had argued with Colin Gray asking him to secure his guns and restrict Colt’s access in August. Instead, he bought the boy ammunition, a gun sight and other shooting accessories, records show.

After Colt Gray asked his mother to put him in a “mental asylum,” the family arranged to take him on Aug. 31 to a mental health treatment center in Athens that offers inpatient treatment, but the plan fell apart when his parents argued about Colt’s access to guns the day before and his father said he didn’t have the gas money, an investigator said.

Colin Gray’s indictment is the latest example of prosecutors holding parents responsible for their children’s actions in school shootings. Michigan parents Jennifer and James Crumbley, the first to be convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting, were sentenced to at least 10 years in prison for not securing a firearm at home and acting indifferently to signs of their son’s deteriorating mental health before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oxford-high-school-shooting">he killed four students in 2021</a>.

“In this case, your honor, he had primary custody of Colt. He had knowledge of Colt’s obsessions with school shooters. He had knowledge of Colt’s deteriorating mental state. And he provided the firearms and the ammunition that Colt used in this,” District Attorney Brad Smith told the judge Wednesday at the preliminary hearing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725622947526.png" alt="Colin Gray photo Barrow County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Colin Gray photo Barrow County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia grand jury indicted both a father and son on murder charges Thursday in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder.Georgia media outlets reported that the Barrow County grand jury meeting in Winder indicted 14-year-old Colt Gray on Thursday on a total of 55 counts including four counts of malice murder, four counts of felony murder, plus aggravated assault and cruelty to children. His father, Colin Gray, faces 29 counts including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct.Deputy court clerk Missy Headrick confirmed that Colin and Colt Gray had been indicted in separate indictments. She said the clerk’s office had not yet processed the indictments and that the documents likely wouldn’t be available to the public until Friday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725585758159.png" alt="-Colt Gray photo Barrow County Sheriff's office" />
 <figcaption>-Colt Gray photo Barrow County Sheriff's office</figcaption>
 </figure>Both are scheduled to appear for arraignment on Nov. 21, when each would formally enter a plea. Colin Gray is being held in the Barrow County jail. Colt Gray is charged as an adult but is being held in a juvenile detention center in Gainesville. Neither has sought to be released on bail and their lawyers have previously declined comment.Investigators testified Wednesday during a preliminary hearing for Colin Gray that Colt Gray carried a semiautomatic assault-style rifle on the school bus that morning, with the barrel sticking out of his book bag, wrapped up in a poster board. They say the boy left his second-period class and emerged from a bathroom with the rifle before shooting people in a classroom and hallways.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-high-school-shooting-victims-d5b510b7f855d235256d984ccd381571">The shooting killed</a>&nbsp;teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. Another teacher and eight more students were wounded, seven of them hit by gunfire.Investigators have said the teenager carefully plotted the shooting at the 1,900-student high school northeast of Atlanta. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent testified that the boy left a notebook in his classroom with step-by-step handwritten instructions to prepare for the shooting. It included a diagram of his second-period classroom and his estimate that he could kill as many as 26 people and wound as many as 13 others, writing that he’d be “surprised if I make it this far.”There had long been signs that Colt Gray was troubled.Colt and Colin Gray were interviewed about an online threat linked to Colt Gray in May of 2023. Colt Gray denied making the threat at the time. He enrolled as a freshman at Apalachee after the academic year began and then skipped multiple days of school. Investigators said he had a “severe anxiety attack” on Aug. 14. A counselor said he reported having suicidal thoughts and rocked and shook uncontrollably while in her office.Colt’s mother Marcee Gray, who lived separately, told investigators that she had argued with Colin Gray asking him to secure his guns and restrict Colt’s access in August. Instead, he bought the boy ammunition, a gun sight and other shooting accessories, records show.After Colt Gray asked his mother to put him in a “mental asylum,” the family arranged to take him on Aug. 31 to a mental health treatment center in Athens that offers inpatient treatment, but the plan fell apart when his parents argued about Colt’s access to guns the day before and his father said he didn’t have the gas money, an investigator said.Colin Gray’s indictment is the latest example of prosecutors holding parents responsible for their children’s actions in school shootings. Michigan parents Jennifer and James Crumbley, the first to be convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting, were sentenced to at least 10 years in prison for not securing a firearm at home and acting indifferently to signs of their son’s deteriorating mental health before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oxford-high-school-shooting">he killed four students in 2021</a>.“In this case, your honor, he had primary custody of Colt. He had knowledge of Colt’s obsessions with school shooters. He had knowledge of Colt’s deteriorating mental state. And he provided the firearms and the ammunition that Colt used in this,” District Attorney Brad Smith told the judge Wednesday at the preliminary hearing.

Father and son are both indicted in mass school shooting in Georgia

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military continues working to determine the source of mysterious drones that have been allowed to fly over U.S. bases.

Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran responded to a Wall Street Journal account of the mystery. "As drone technology continues to evolve, the tactics used against the United States grow more alarming each day, " Moran wrote on social media. 

"The recent reports of unidentified aircrafts hovering for 17 days over a U.S. military base without intervention is not just concerning, but an affront to our national security."

"This violation of our airspace highlights the threat of below-the-threshold activity that hostile actors can pose to our nation."

"Military leaders currently lack the authority to engage until there is an imminent threat posed to our men and women in uniform. I am working on legislation to provide the Department of Defense with the necessary authorities to engage drones or unidentified aircrafts that breech our military airspace before it is too late to respond."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military continues working to determine the source of mysterious drones that have been allowed to fly over U.S. bases.Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran responded to a Wall Street Journal account of the mystery. "As drone technology continues to evolve, the tactics used against the United States grow more alarming each day, " Moran wrote on social media. "The recent reports of unidentified aircrafts hovering for 17 days over a U.S. military base without intervention is not just concerning, but an affront to our national security.""This violation of our airspace highlights the threat of below-the-threshold activity that hostile actors can pose to our nation.""Military leaders currently lack the authority to engage until there is an imminent threat posed to our men and women in uniform. I am working on legislation to provide the Department of Defense with the necessary authorities to engage drones or unidentified aircrafts that breech our military airspace before it is too late to respond."

Kan. U.S. Senator wants action on mysterious drone swarm at military base 

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli forces in Gaza killed Hamas’ top leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-sinwar-leader-2963dbc6e8ef040a00e588488cba33e7">Yahya Sinwar</a>, a chief architect of last year’s attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel’s most wanted man.

Israeli leaders celebrated his killing as a settling of scores, just over a year after Hamas-led militants surged out of Gaza into southern Israel in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-one-year-anniversary-cf123f95609051e8e8eaf6aebe661b6a">an attack that stunned the country</a>. They also presented it as a moment for Hamas to surrender and release some 100 hostages it still holds captive.

Still, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Our war has not yet ended.” Besides seeking the release of hostages, Netanyahu has said Israel must keep long-term control over Gaza to ensure Hamas does not rearm — opening&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the possibility of continued fighting</a>.

For Hamas, Sinwar's death is a crippling blow, but it has continually proven resilient during the war. There was no immediate confirmation from Hamas of Sinwar's death.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addressed Hamas fighters, saying it “is time to go out, release the hostages, raise your hands, surrender.”

President Joe Biden called Sinwar's death a “good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world,” comparing it to the feeling in the U.S. after the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. He said he would talk with Netanyahu "to discuss the pathway for bringing the hostages home to their families, and for ending this war once and for all.”

Sinwar has been Hamas’ top leader inside the Gaza Strip for years, closely connected to its military wing while dramatically building up its capabilities. He was elevated to Hamas' highest spot in July after his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an apparent Israeli strike in the Iranian capital Tehran.

In the past months, Israel has eliminated a string of senior figures from Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah with airstrikes. Israel has claimed to have killed the head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike, but the group has said he survived.

But in Sinwar's case, troops found him by chance.

An Israeli military official said that Sinwar "engaged in combat” with Israeli troops operating in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, and was spotted running into a building. The army struck the building with tank fire.

The army had suspected a number of top Hamas officials including Sinwar were in the vicinity, but Sinwar was not the target of that day's specific operations, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity under military briefing rules.

Visiting the site of the killing, Israel's army chief Herzi Halevi said that while the military had conducted “many special operations in this war where we had excellent information .... Here, we didn’t have that and the response was very, very strong.”

Photos circulating online showed the body of a man resembling Sinwar with a gaping head wound, dressed in a military-style vest, half buried in the rubble of a destroyed building. The security official confirmed the photos were taken by Israeli security officials at the scene. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.

The military said three militants were killed in the operation. Police said one of them was confirmed as Sinwar by dental records and fingerprints, and DNA tests were ongoing. Sinwar was imprisoned by Israel from the late 1980s until 2011, and during that time he underwent treatment for brain cancer – leaving Israeli authorities with extensive medical records.

Netanyahu said Israel had “settled its account” with the man behind the Oct. 7 attack. But he added, “Today evil has suffered a heavy blow, but the task before us is not yet complete.”

He said it was an “important moment in the war” to bring home the hostages and that anyone in Hamas who surrendered weapons and assisted with hostage's return would be allowed to leave Gaza safely.

Israel launched its campaign in Gaza to eliminate Hamas after the militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 others. Some 100 captives are still inside Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Israel’s offensive has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says women and children make up a little more than half of the fatalities.

On Thursday, an Israeli strike hit a school sheltering displaced Palestinians, killing at least 28 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Fares Abu Hamza, head of the Gaza Health Ministry’s emergency unit in the north, said the dead included a woman and four children, correcting an earlier report of five children. He said dozens of people were wounded.

The Israeli military said it targeted a command center run by Hamas and Islamic Jihad inside the school. It provided a list of around a dozen names of people it identified as militants who were present when the strike was called in. It was not immediately possible to verify the names.

Israel has repeatedly struck tent camps and schools sheltering displaced people in Gaza. The Israeli military says it carries out precise strikes on militants and tries to avoid harming civilians, but its strikes often kill women and children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713493747235.png" alt="IDF Spokesperson, RAdm. Daniel Hagari couresy photo" />
 <figcaption>IDF Spokesperson, RAdm. Daniel Hagari couresy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli forces in Gaza killed Hamas’ top leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-sinwar-leader-2963dbc6e8ef040a00e588488cba33e7">Yahya Sinwar</a>, a chief architect of last year’s attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel’s most wanted man.Israeli leaders celebrated his killing as a settling of scores, just over a year after Hamas-led militants surged out of Gaza into southern Israel in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-one-year-anniversary-cf123f95609051e8e8eaf6aebe661b6a">an attack that stunned the country</a>. They also presented it as a moment for Hamas to surrender and release some 100 hostages it still holds captive.Still, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Our war has not yet ended.” Besides seeking the release of hostages, Netanyahu has said Israel must keep long-term control over Gaza to ensure Hamas does not rearm — opening&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the possibility of continued fighting</a>.For Hamas, Sinwar's death is a crippling blow, but it has continually proven resilient during the war. There was no immediate confirmation from Hamas of Sinwar's death.Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addressed Hamas fighters, saying it “is time to go out, release the hostages, raise your hands, surrender.”President Joe Biden called Sinwar's death a “good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world,” comparing it to the feeling in the U.S. after the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. He said he would talk with Netanyahu "to discuss the pathway for bringing the hostages home to their families, and for ending this war once and for all.”Sinwar has been Hamas’ top leader inside the Gaza Strip for years, closely connected to its military wing while dramatically building up its capabilities. He was elevated to Hamas' highest spot in July after his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an apparent Israeli strike in the Iranian capital Tehran.In the past months, Israel has eliminated a string of senior figures from Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah with airstrikes. Israel has claimed to have killed the head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike, but the group has said he survived.But in Sinwar's case, troops found him by chance.An Israeli military official said that Sinwar "engaged in combat” with Israeli troops operating in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, and was spotted running into a building. The army struck the building with tank fire.The army had suspected a number of top Hamas officials including Sinwar were in the vicinity, but Sinwar was not the target of that day's specific operations, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity under military briefing rules.Visiting the site of the killing, Israel's army chief Herzi Halevi said that while the military had conducted “many special operations in this war where we had excellent information .... Here, we didn’t have that and the response was very, very strong.”Photos circulating online showed the body of a man resembling Sinwar with a gaping head wound, dressed in a military-style vest, half buried in the rubble of a destroyed building. The security official confirmed the photos were taken by Israeli security officials at the scene. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.The military said three militants were killed in the operation. Police said one of them was confirmed as Sinwar by dental records and fingerprints, and DNA tests were ongoing. Sinwar was imprisoned by Israel from the late 1980s until 2011, and during that time he underwent treatment for brain cancer – leaving Israeli authorities with extensive medical records.Netanyahu said Israel had “settled its account” with the man behind the Oct. 7 attack. But he added, “Today evil has suffered a heavy blow, but the task before us is not yet complete.”He said it was an “important moment in the war” to bring home the hostages and that anyone in Hamas who surrendered weapons and assisted with hostage's return would be allowed to leave Gaza safely.Israel launched its campaign in Gaza to eliminate Hamas after the militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 others. Some 100 captives are still inside Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead.Israel’s offensive has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says women and children make up a little more than half of the fatalities.On Thursday, an Israeli strike hit a school sheltering displaced Palestinians, killing at least 28 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.Fares Abu Hamza, head of the Gaza Health Ministry’s emergency unit in the north, said the dead included a woman and four children, correcting an earlier report of five children. He said dozens of people were wounded.The Israeli military said it targeted a command center run by Hamas and Islamic Jihad inside the school. It provided a list of around a dozen names of people it identified as militants who were present when the strike was called in. It was not immediately possible to verify the names.Israel has repeatedly struck tent camps and schools sheltering displaced people in Gaza. The Israeli military says it carries out precise strikes on militants and tries to avoid harming civilians, but its strikes often kill women and children.___

Israel confirms: Troops killed the mastermind of Oct. 7 terror attack

MCPHERSON— Tucky Allen with KansasWorkforceONE confirmed to Hutch Post Thursday morning that there have been layoffs at Pfizer in McPherson and that it was a reduction of 80 workers between Wednesday and Thursday.&nbsp;

Allen said he would be meeting with those who were laid off&nbsp; and provided dislocated worker services and will be hosting a Q &amp; A next week for the affected employees.

This action does not affect production. These were professional/salaried positions.&nbsp;The McPherson, Kansas site specializes in manufacturing sterile injectable medicines used daily in hospitals around the world, according to the company web site.

This job action follows layoffs for the drugmaker in Ireland this fall, amid larger cost cutting measures.

MCPHERSON— Tucky Allen with KansasWorkforceONE confirmed to Hutch Post Thursday morning that there have been layoffs at Pfizer in McPherson and that it was a reduction of 80 workers between Wednesday and Thursday.&nbsp;Allen said he would be meeting with those who were laid off&nbsp; and provided dislocated worker services and will be hosting a Q &amp; A next week for the affected employees.This action does not affect production. These were professional/salaried positions.&nbsp;The McPherson, Kansas site specializes in manufacturing sterile injectable medicines used daily in hospitals around the world, according to the company web site.This job action follows layoffs for the drugmaker in Ireland this fall, amid larger cost cutting measures.

Layoffs at manufacturing plant in McPherson

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mitzi Gaynor, the effervescent dancer and actor who starred as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film of "South Pacific" and appeared in other musicals with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, has died. She was 93.

Gaynor, among the last survivors of the so-called golden age of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/movies">Hollywood musical,</a>&nbsp;died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday morning, her long-time managers Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda confirmed in a statement to The Associated Press.

“As we celebrate her legacy, we offer our thanks to her friends and fans and the countless audiences she entertained throughout her long life,” Reyes and Rosamonda said in a joint statement. “Your love, support and appreciation meant so very much to her and was a sustaining gift in her life.”

Her entertainment career spanned eight decades across film, television and the stage, and appeared in several notable films including “We’re Not Married!” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” but she is best remembered for her turn in “South Pacific.”

The screen version of “South Pacific” received three Academy Award nominations and won for best sound, while Gaynor was a best actress nominee for a Golden Globe.

The role of the love-sick nurse Nellie, created on Broadway by Mary Martin, had been eagerly sought by Hollywood stars. Sinatra helped Gaynor land it.

She was starring with him in “The Joker Is Wild,” when she had a one-day opportunity to audition for lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. It was the same day she was scheduled for her biggest scene with Sinatra. When she explained her plight, he told her, “Don’t worry, I’ll change the schedule.”

Hammerstein was impressed with Gaynor, who had already won the approval of director Josh Logan and composer Richard Rodgers. She was cast opposite Rossano Brazzi, about whom she sang “I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy.”

“South Pacific” was not the turning point in her career that Gaynor had hoped it would be, and she shifted her focus from film to television, making early appearances on Donald O’Connor’s variety series “Here Comes Donald,” and on CBS’ “The Jack Benny Hour.” In October of 1959, she was the only women to guest star alongside Sinatra, Crosby, Dean Martin and Jimmy Durante on ABC’s “The Frank Sinatra Timex Show” special.

Later in her career, Gaynor reinvented herself as a performing entertainer. Working with her husband and manager Jack Bean, she starred in her own musical revue that was a big draw in theaters throughout the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia.

She became the highest paid female entertainer in Las Vegas and was the first woman to be awarded the Las Vegas governor’s trophy for “Star Entertainer of the Year" in 1970.

When touring with a full orchestra, a corps of dancers and backstage personnel became too unwieldy and expensive, Gaynor slimmed down the production, eventually making it a one-woman show. They continued touring every year until 2002 when Bean’s illness required a hiatus.

“I love touring; I’ve been doing it much of my life,” Gaynor said in a 2003 interview. “We go back to the same places; it’s like visiting friends. After the show, people come backstage to the dressing room, and we renew friendships. We send out almost 3,000 Christmas cards every year.”

Born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber (Mitzi is diminutive for Marlene) in Chicago on Sept. 4, 1931, she was a part of a musically inclined family and started singing and dancing at a young age.

In a 2003 AP interview, Gaynor said she has a clear memory of her stage debut. She had been taking ballet and tap lessons and at age 7 she was scheduled for a tap routine at the dance school recital. She had neglected to use the bathroom, and when she faced the audience, a puddle formed on the stage.

“I ran kicking and screaming off the stage,” she recalls. “But I got huge applause. So I dried off and put some lipstick on. After the next girl did a hula with batons and slipped on the wet floor, I went out and said, ‘I’m OK now. Can I do it?’ And I got cheers!”

Gaynor and Bean married in 1954 and in 1960 bought a spacious house in Beverly Hills that became their home until his death in 2006. They rarely appeared at Hollywood events, preferring to entertain a few close friends. The couple had no children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729183398328.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mitzi Gaynor, the effervescent dancer and actor who starred as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film of "South Pacific" and appeared in other musicals with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, has died. She was 93.Gaynor, among the last survivors of the so-called golden age of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/movies">Hollywood musical,</a>&nbsp;died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday morning, her long-time managers Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda confirmed in a statement to The Associated Press.“As we celebrate her legacy, we offer our thanks to her friends and fans and the countless audiences she entertained throughout her long life,” Reyes and Rosamonda said in a joint statement. “Your love, support and appreciation meant so very much to her and was a sustaining gift in her life.”Her entertainment career spanned eight decades across film, television and the stage, and appeared in several notable films including “We’re Not Married!” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” but she is best remembered for her turn in “South Pacific.”The screen version of “South Pacific” received three Academy Award nominations and won for best sound, while Gaynor was a best actress nominee for a Golden Globe.The role of the love-sick nurse Nellie, created on Broadway by Mary Martin, had been eagerly sought by Hollywood stars. Sinatra helped Gaynor land it.She was starring with him in “The Joker Is Wild,” when she had a one-day opportunity to audition for lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. It was the same day she was scheduled for her biggest scene with Sinatra. When she explained her plight, he told her, “Don’t worry, I’ll change the schedule.”Hammerstein was impressed with Gaynor, who had already won the approval of director Josh Logan and composer Richard Rodgers. She was cast opposite Rossano Brazzi, about whom she sang “I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy.”“South Pacific” was not the turning point in her career that Gaynor had hoped it would be, and she shifted her focus from film to television, making early appearances on Donald O’Connor’s variety series “Here Comes Donald,” and on CBS’ “The Jack Benny Hour.” In October of 1959, she was the only women to guest star alongside Sinatra, Crosby, Dean Martin and Jimmy Durante on ABC’s “The Frank Sinatra Timex Show” special.Later in her career, Gaynor reinvented herself as a performing entertainer. Working with her husband and manager Jack Bean, she starred in her own musical revue that was a big draw in theaters throughout the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia.She became the highest paid female entertainer in Las Vegas and was the first woman to be awarded the Las Vegas governor’s trophy for “Star Entertainer of the Year" in 1970.When touring with a full orchestra, a corps of dancers and backstage personnel became too unwieldy and expensive, Gaynor slimmed down the production, eventually making it a one-woman show. They continued touring every year until 2002 when Bean’s illness required a hiatus.“I love touring; I’ve been doing it much of my life,” Gaynor said in a 2003 interview. “We go back to the same places; it’s like visiting friends. After the show, people come backstage to the dressing room, and we renew friendships. We send out almost 3,000 Christmas cards every year.”Born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber (Mitzi is diminutive for Marlene) in Chicago on Sept. 4, 1931, she was a part of a musically inclined family and started singing and dancing at a young age.In a 2003 AP interview, Gaynor said she has a clear memory of her stage debut. She had been taking ballet and tap lessons and at age 7 she was scheduled for a tap routine at the dance school recital. She had neglected to use the bathroom, and when she faced the audience, a puddle formed on the stage.“I ran kicking and screaming off the stage,” she recalls. “But I got huge applause. So I dried off and put some lipstick on. After the next girl did a hula with batons and slipped on the wet floor, I went out and said, ‘I’m OK now. Can I do it?’ And I got cheers!”Gaynor and Bean married in 1954 and in 1960 bought a spacious house in Beverly Hills that became their home until his death in 2006. They rarely appeared at Hollywood events, preferring to entertain a few close friends. The couple had no children.

Mitzi Gaynor, legendary actress and star of 'South Pacific,' dies at 93

WASHINGTON —On Wednesday, the Department of Defense&nbsp; announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs.

 This announcement is the Biden Administration's&nbsp;sixty-seventh tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.&nbsp; This Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package, which has an estimated value of $425 million, will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs, including: air defense capabilities; air-to-ground weapons; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons.

The capabilities in this announcement include:

The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated capability coalitions to meet Ukraine's urgently needed battlefield requirements and defend against Russian aggression.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717851301558.png" alt="File photo White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —On Wednesday, the Department of Defense&nbsp; announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This announcement is the Biden Administration's&nbsp;sixty-seventh tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.&nbsp; This Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package, which has an estimated value of $425 million, will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs, including: air defense capabilities; air-to-ground weapons; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons.The capabilities in this announcement include:<ul>
 <li>Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS):</li><li>RIM-7 missiles and support for air defense;</li><li>Stinger anti-aircraft missiles;</li><li>Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);</li><li>Air-to-ground munitions;</li><li>155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition;</li><li>Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles;</li><li>Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;</li><li>High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs);</li><li>Small arms and ammunition;</li><li>Grenades, thermals, and training equipment;</li><li>Demolitions equipment and munitions; and</li><li>Spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated capability coalitions to meet Ukraine's urgently needed battlefield requirements and defend against Russian aggression.

U.S. spending another $425 million on Ukraine military aid

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The owner of the Kansas City Chiefs said Wednesday that he has no issue with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-harrison-butker-e00f6ee45955c99ef1e809ec447239e0">kicker Harrison Butker</a>&nbsp;forming a political action committee designed to encourage Christians to vote for what the PAC describes as “traditional values.”

Butker announced his UPRIGHT PAC last weekend, during the Chiefs' bye, in a series of postings on social media.

“One of the things I talk to the players every year about at training camp is using their platform to make a difference,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said. “We have players on both sides of the political spectrum, both sides of whatever controversial issue you want to bring up. I’m not at all concerned when our players use their platform to make a difference."

Butker is front-and-center on the website of the UPRIGHT PAC along with Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, who earned the kicker's endorsement ahead of the general election against Democrat Lucas Kunce.

"We’re seeing our values under attack every day. In our schools, in the media, and even from our own government. But we have a chance to fight back and reclaim the traditional values that have made this country great," the PAC says on its website. "We are working to mobilize Christians across this country to make sure we protect these values at the ballot box.

Butker first made what he called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/catholic-college-conservative-commencement-harrison-butker-a40b881fe41ac489853fb67e58ed20d1">a “very intentional" foray</a>&nbsp;into politics in May, when he delivered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harrison-butker-chiefs-homemaker-nfl-5466d7b3560f640c825107df9694b07b">a polarizing commencement address</a>&nbsp;at Benedictine College, a private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas. The three-time Super Bowl champion said, among other things, that most of the women receiving degrees were probably more excited about getting married and having children, and that some Catholic leaders were “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America.”

Butker also assailed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pride-parade-protest-lgbtq-nyc-6afa739efa2f66d750175b3db77516fc">Pride month</a>, an important time for the LGBTQ+ community, and President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.

The NFL distanced itself from Butker's comments, issuing a statement afterward that said: "His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”

“I’ve just decided, ‘You know what? There’s things that I believe wholeheartedly that I think will make this world a better place,’ and I’m going to preach that,” Butker said, when asked about the address during training camp. "If people don’t agree, they don’t agree, but I’m going to continue to say what I believe to be true and love everyone along the way.”

The Hunt family has supported a group urging Missouri voters to reject a ballot measure that would overturn a near-total ban on abortion in the state through Unity Hunt, the company that oversees the assets of the Lamar Hunt family. The Chiefs have declined to comment on the $300,000 donation other than confirming to The Kansas City Star that the money was wired by Clark Hunt's half-brother, Lamar Hunt Jr., through his account with Unity Hunt.

Meanwhile, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said last month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patrick-mahomes-wife-donald-trump-chiefs-nfl-b2ba221de1c83138c2fac126223e46bb">he would not endorse Donald Trump or Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;in the November election, even as the former president repeatedly referred to his wife, Brittany, as a supporter of his campaign.

“I don’t want my place and my platform to be used to endorse a candidate,” Mahomes said. “My place is to inform people to get registered to vote. It’s to inform people to do their own research and then make the best decision for them and their family.”

Those comments came less than a day after Taylor Swift,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ravens-chiefs-taylor-swift-nfl-9f78a6dad40ff62993c2462e9c653964">who is dating the Chiefs' Travis Kelce</a>&nbsp;and has become friends with the Mahomes family, endorsed Harris for the presidency. That led Trump to tell Fox News: “I actually like Mrs. Mahomes much better, if you want to know the truth. She’s a big Trump fan. I like Brittany. I think Brittany is great.”

Patrick Mahomes was asked Wednesday about Trump’s references to his wife and said “at the end of the day, it’s about me and my family and how we treat other people.”

“I think you see Brittany does a lot in the community. I do a lot in the community to help bring people up, and give people an opportunity to use their voice,” he said. “In political times, people are going to use stuff here and there, but I can’t let that affect how I go about my business every single day of my life, and trying to live it to the best of my ability.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722892306920.jpeg" alt="File photo Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker waves to the fans as he walks to the field during training camp in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)" />
 <figcaption>File photo Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker waves to the fans as he walks to the field during training camp in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The owner of the Kansas City Chiefs said Wednesday that he has no issue with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-harrison-butker-e00f6ee45955c99ef1e809ec447239e0">kicker Harrison Butker</a>&nbsp;forming a political action committee designed to encourage Christians to vote for what the PAC describes as “traditional values.”Butker announced his UPRIGHT PAC last weekend, during the Chiefs' bye, in a series of postings on social media.“One of the things I talk to the players every year about at training camp is using their platform to make a difference,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said. “We have players on both sides of the political spectrum, both sides of whatever controversial issue you want to bring up. I’m not at all concerned when our players use their platform to make a difference."Butker is front-and-center on the website of the UPRIGHT PAC along with Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, who earned the kicker's endorsement ahead of the general election against Democrat Lucas Kunce."We’re seeing our values under attack every day. In our schools, in the media, and even from our own government. But we have a chance to fight back and reclaim the traditional values that have made this country great," the PAC says on its website. "We are working to mobilize Christians across this country to make sure we protect these values at the ballot box.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-JS7RIKSaCc?si=n5vTS7FShykUyMek&amp;start=10" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Butker first made what he called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/catholic-college-conservative-commencement-harrison-butker-a40b881fe41ac489853fb67e58ed20d1">a “very intentional" foray</a>&nbsp;into politics in May, when he delivered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harrison-butker-chiefs-homemaker-nfl-5466d7b3560f640c825107df9694b07b">a polarizing commencement address</a>&nbsp;at Benedictine College, a private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas. The three-time Super Bowl champion said, among other things, that most of the women receiving degrees were probably more excited about getting married and having children, and that some Catholic leaders were “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America.”Butker also assailed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pride-parade-protest-lgbtq-nyc-6afa739efa2f66d750175b3db77516fc">Pride month</a>, an important time for the LGBTQ+ community, and President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.The NFL distanced itself from Butker's comments, issuing a statement afterward that said: "His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”“I’ve just decided, ‘You know what? There’s things that I believe wholeheartedly that I think will make this world a better place,’ and I’m going to preach that,” Butker said, when asked about the address during training camp. "If people don’t agree, they don’t agree, but I’m going to continue to say what I believe to be true and love everyone along the way.”The Hunt family has supported a group urging Missouri voters to reject a ballot measure that would overturn a near-total ban on abortion in the state through Unity Hunt, the company that oversees the assets of the Lamar Hunt family. The Chiefs have declined to comment on the $300,000 donation other than confirming to The Kansas City Star that the money was wired by Clark Hunt's half-brother, Lamar Hunt Jr., through his account with Unity Hunt.Meanwhile, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said last month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patrick-mahomes-wife-donald-trump-chiefs-nfl-b2ba221de1c83138c2fac126223e46bb">he would not endorse Donald Trump or Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;in the November election, even as the former president repeatedly referred to his wife, Brittany, as a supporter of his campaign.“I don’t want my place and my platform to be used to endorse a candidate,” Mahomes said. “My place is to inform people to get registered to vote. It’s to inform people to do their own research and then make the best decision for them and their family.”Those comments came less than a day after Taylor Swift,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ravens-chiefs-taylor-swift-nfl-9f78a6dad40ff62993c2462e9c653964">who is dating the Chiefs' Travis Kelce</a>&nbsp;and has become friends with the Mahomes family, endorsed Harris for the presidency. That led Trump to tell Fox News: “I actually like Mrs. Mahomes much better, if you want to know the truth. She’s a big Trump fan. I like Brittany. I think Brittany is great.”Patrick Mahomes was asked Wednesday about Trump’s references to his wife and said “at the end of the day, it’s about me and my family and how we treat other people.”“I think you see Brittany does a lot in the community. I do a lot in the community to help bring people up, and give people an opportunity to use their voice,” he said. “In political times, people are going to use stuff here and there, but I can’t let that affect how I go about my business every single day of my life, and trying to live it to the best of my ability.”___

Chiefs owner backs kicker Harrison Butker forming PAC supporting ‘traditional values’

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22ZEKE%20MILLER%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By ZEKE MILLER &nbsp;AP White House Correspondent</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in a combative interview with Fox News on Wednesday, sparring with anchor Bret Baier on immigration and shifting policy positions while asserting that if elected, she would not represent a continuation of Joe Biden's presidency.

Harris’ interview marked her first foray onto the network, which is popular with conservative viewers, as she looked to broaden her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-trump-presidential-campaign-8975f37859dc16de3a7e8a99c5d07760">outreach to GOP-leaning voters</a>&nbsp;with less than three weeks until Election Day. Her nearly 30-minute sit-down with Baier repeatedly grew heated, with the two talking over each other.

When Baier kept talking as Harris tried to respond to his challenges on immigration, Harris said: "May I please finish? ... You have to let me finish, please.”

Harris tried repeatedly to pivot the conversation to attacking Donald Trump. But she also had plenty to say about herself.

A week after saying she couldn’t&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-stern-view-colbert-60-minutes-daddy-5a2af60ba0b1099e19cca151955c9855">think of any move</a>&nbsp;made by Biden that she would have done differently, Harris asserted, “My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency.”

Harris did not offer specifics, but said, “Like every new president that comes into office, I will bring my life experiences, and my professional experiences and fresh and new ideas.”

Asked to clarify her assertion that she wants to “turn the page,” though Democrats currently hold the White House, Harris said she is running on “turning the page from the last decade in which we have been burdened with the kind of rhetoric coming from Donald Trump.”

On immigration, Harris expressed regret over the deaths of women who were killed by people who were detained and then released after crossing into the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration, but she criticized Trump for his role in blocking a bipartisan immigration bill earlier this year that would have boosted border funding.

“I am so sorry for her loss, sincerely,” Harris said after Baier played footage of the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray blaming Biden and Harris for her daughter's death.

Harris indicated she no longer supports decriminalizing crossing the border illegally, as she did in 2019.

“That was five years ago and I am very clear that I will follow the law,” she said. She gave the same answer about proposals to allow those in the U.S. illegally to get driver's licenses and subsidized healthcare.

Of Trump, she said, “People are exhausted with someone who professes to be a leader and who spends full time demeaning and engaging in personal grievances." She added, "He’s not stable."

She also sought to focus Fox viewers on Trump's talk of "the enemy within” and threats to punish political rivals.

Baier challenged Harris over her attestations to Biden's mental stamina after his disastrous debate with Trump in June that forced his exit from the 2024 presidential race and her elevation to the top of the ticket. She again defended Biden, but added, “Joe Biden is not on the ballot and Donald Trump is.”

Trump's campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Harris was “angry, defensive, and once again abdicated any responsibility for the problems Americans are facing.” She added that if "Kamala can’t handle the pressure of an interview with Fox News, she certainly can’t handle the pressure of being president of the United States.”

Pushing back against Baier's line of questioning, Harris at one point said, “I would like if we could have a conversation that is grounded in a full assessment of the facts.”

Harris campaign spokesperson Brian Fallon said her team felt she “achieved what we set out to achieve" with the “Special Report” host. “She was able to reach an audience that has probably been not exposed to the arguments she’s been making on the trail and she also got to show her toughness in standing tall against a hostile interviewer,” he said.

Referring to former Trump challenger Nikki Haley, Fallon said, “I think there’s a good number of independents and Haley-style Republicans who are very open to voting for Vice President Harris and that’s why we are open to doing events with Republicans and on Fox News."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729167956626.png" alt="Image courtesy Fox news via Kamala Harris campaign&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Fox news via Kamala Harris campaign&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22ZEKE%20MILLER%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By ZEKE MILLER &nbsp;AP White House Correspondent</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in a combative interview with Fox News on Wednesday, sparring with anchor Bret Baier on immigration and shifting policy positions while asserting that if elected, she would not represent a continuation of Joe Biden's presidency.Harris’ interview marked her first foray onto the network, which is popular with conservative viewers, as she looked to broaden her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-trump-presidential-campaign-8975f37859dc16de3a7e8a99c5d07760">outreach to GOP-leaning voters</a>&nbsp;with less than three weeks until Election Day. Her nearly 30-minute sit-down with Baier repeatedly grew heated, with the two talking over each other.When Baier kept talking as Harris tried to respond to his challenges on immigration, Harris said: "May I please finish? ... You have to let me finish, please.”Harris tried repeatedly to pivot the conversation to attacking Donald Trump. But she also had plenty to say about herself.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I invite everyone to go to <a href="https://t.co/c9mtidgQmA">https://t.co/c9mtidgQmA</a> to read up on my comprehensive plans for the American people. <a href="https://t.co/puHgczVf5n">pic.twitter.com/puHgczVf5n</a>&mdash; Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1846709798957465985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A week after saying she couldn’t&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-stern-view-colbert-60-minutes-daddy-5a2af60ba0b1099e19cca151955c9855">think of any move</a>&nbsp;made by Biden that she would have done differently, Harris asserted, “My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency.”Harris did not offer specifics, but said, “Like every new president that comes into office, I will bring my life experiences, and my professional experiences and fresh and new ideas.”Asked to clarify her assertion that she wants to “turn the page,” though Democrats currently hold the White House, Harris said she is running on “turning the page from the last decade in which we have been burdened with the kind of rhetoric coming from Donald Trump.”On immigration, Harris expressed regret over the deaths of women who were killed by people who were detained and then released after crossing into the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration, but she criticized Trump for his role in blocking a bipartisan immigration bill earlier this year that would have boosted border funding.“I am so sorry for her loss, sincerely,” Harris said after Baier played footage of the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray blaming Biden and Harris for her daughter's death.Harris indicated she no longer supports decriminalizing crossing the border illegally, as she did in 2019.“That was five years ago and I am very clear that I will follow the law,” she said. She gave the same answer about proposals to allow those in the U.S. illegally to get driver's licenses and subsidized healthcare.Of Trump, she said, “People are exhausted with someone who professes to be a leader and who spends full time demeaning and engaging in personal grievances." She added, "He’s not stable."She also sought to focus Fox viewers on Trump's talk of "the enemy within” and threats to punish political rivals.Baier challenged Harris over her attestations to Biden's mental stamina after his disastrous debate with Trump in June that forced his exit from the 2024 presidential race and her elevation to the top of the ticket. She again defended Biden, but added, “Joe Biden is not on the ballot and Donald Trump is.”Trump's campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Harris was “angry, defensive, and once again abdicated any responsibility for the problems Americans are facing.” She added that if "Kamala can’t handle the pressure of an interview with Fox News, she certainly can’t handle the pressure of being president of the United States.”Pushing back against Baier's line of questioning, Harris at one point said, “I would like if we could have a conversation that is grounded in a full assessment of the facts.”Harris campaign spokesperson Brian Fallon said her team felt she “achieved what we set out to achieve" with the “Special Report” host. “She was able to reach an audience that has probably been not exposed to the arguments she’s been making on the trail and she also got to show her toughness in standing tall against a hostile interviewer,” he said.Referring to former Trump challenger Nikki Haley, Fallon said, “I think there’s a good number of independents and Haley-style Republicans who are very open to voting for Vice President Harris and that’s why we are open to doing events with Republicans and on Fox News."

Harris' interview with Fox News marked by testy exchanges over immigration, more

KANSAS CITY —&nbsp;A Kansas City motorcycle traffic officer is recovering from injuries in an accident on Wednesday. Quick thinking bystanders helped get him immediate medical attention.

The crash occurred just after 9:30a.m. at the intersection of 72nd&nbsp;and Troost. Investigators determined the motorcycle officer was northbound when a southbound SUV turned left (east) in front of the officer causing a collision.

Responding officers and EMS administered aid and transported the officer to the hospital with what was reported to be Critical, life threatening injuries. The officer was later upgraded to critical, but stable condition.

The other involved driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.

KCPD was initially alerted to this crash thanks to some quick thinking by some nearby bystanders who rushed to the officer’s aid after hearing the crash. One person pushed the emergency button on the officer’s police radio while another person provided medical aid and CPR. Because of those citizen’s quick thinking first responders were alerted to the emergency, and able to locate the officer quickly, thanks to GPS on the police radio.

Chief Graves expressed her deep appreciation for the many bystanders that rushed to the officers aid, EMS personnel with KCFD, and the Medical Staff at the hospital, along with the numerous KCPD officers who responded to the scene and who are conducting the investigation. Chief also asks the community to keep the injured officer, his family, and all of KCPD in their prayers.

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City motorcycle traffic officer was injured in an accident just after 9:30a.m. Wednesday, according to KCPD Officer Jake Becchina.

The crash occurred&nbsp;at Gregory and Troost.&nbsp; EMS transported the officer&nbsp; to the hospital with what is reported to be critical injuries, according to Becchina.

KCPD traffic investigations and the KCPD accident investigation sections were at the scene investigating the crash.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Few details are available. Check the Post for more information as it is released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729105015166.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —&nbsp;A Kansas City motorcycle traffic officer is recovering from injuries in an accident on Wednesday. Quick thinking bystanders helped get him immediate medical attention.The crash occurred just after 9:30a.m. at the intersection of 72nd&nbsp;and Troost. Investigators determined the motorcycle officer was northbound when a southbound SUV turned left (east) in front of the officer causing a collision.Responding officers and EMS administered aid and transported the officer to the hospital with what was reported to be Critical, life threatening injuries. The officer was later upgraded to critical, but stable condition.The other involved driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.KCPD was initially alerted to this crash thanks to some quick thinking by some nearby bystanders who rushed to the officer’s aid after hearing the crash. One person pushed the emergency button on the officer’s police radio while another person provided medical aid and CPR. Because of those citizen’s quick thinking first responders were alerted to the emergency, and able to locate the officer quickly, thanks to GPS on the police radio.Chief Graves expressed her deep appreciation for the many bystanders that rushed to the officers aid, EMS personnel with KCFD, and the Medical Staff at the hospital, along with the numerous KCPD officers who responded to the scene and who are conducting the investigation. Chief also asks the community to keep the injured officer, his family, and all of KCPD in their prayers.--------KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City motorcycle traffic officer was injured in an accident just after 9:30a.m. Wednesday, according to KCPD Officer Jake Becchina.The crash occurred&nbsp;at Gregory and Troost.&nbsp; EMS transported the officer&nbsp; to the hospital with what is reported to be critical injuries, according to Becchina.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A motorcycle officer of the Kansas City Police Department sustained serious injuries this morning in a crash. We are praying for the officer, their family, and all of the women and men of KCPD.&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1846577294451597518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>KCPD traffic investigations and the KCPD accident investigation sections were at the scene investigating the crash.&nbsp;&nbsp;Few details are available. Check the Post for more information as it is released.

Bystanders helped KC motorcycle officer critically injured in crash

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

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brucepac-listeria-meat-recall-f4d8db2752137f5bdaa5fbfcc12dd3d6">nationwide recall</a>&nbsp;of meat and poultry products potentially contaminated with listeria has expanded to nearly 12 million pounds and now includes ready-to-eat meals sent to U.S. schools, restaurants and major retailers, federal officials said.

<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-10/Recall-028-2024-Labels.pdf">Click here to see</a> the updated list of products&nbsp;

The updated recall includes prepared salads, burritos and other foods sold at stores including Costco, Trader Joe's, Target, Walmart and Kroger. The meat used in those products was processed at a Durant, Oklahoma, manufacturing plant operated by BrucePac. The Woodburn, Oregon-based company sells precooked meat and poultry to industrial, foodservice and retail companies across the country.

Routine testing found potentially dangerous listeria bacteria in samples of BrucePac chicken, officials with the U.S. Agriculture Department said. No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the recall, USDA officials said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not launched an outbreak investigation, a spokesperson said.

The recall, issued on Oct. 9, includes foods produced between May 31 and Oct. 8. The USDA has posted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls">a 342-page list</a>&nbsp;of hundreds of potentially affected foods, including chicken wraps sold at Trader Joe's, chicken burritos sold at Costco and many types of salads sold at stores such as Target and Walmart. The foods were also sent to school districts and restaurants across the country.

The recalled foods can be identified by establishment numbers “51205 or P-51205” inside or under the USDA mark of inspection. Consumers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-10/Recall-028-2024-Labels.pdf">can search on the USDA recall site</a>&nbsp;to find potentially affected products. Such foods should be thrown away or returned to stores for refunds, officials said.

Eating foods contaminated with listeria can cause potentially serious illness. About 1,600 people are infected with listeria bacteria each year in the U.S. and about 260 die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Listeria infections typically cause fever, muscle aches and tiredness and may cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Symptoms can occur quickly or to up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. The infections are especially dangerous for older people, those with weakened immune systems or who are pregnant.

The same type of bacteria is responsible for an outbreak tied to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boars-head-listeria-investigation-usda-bdcecaa25363c87d08ba01cf71aefb0b">Boar's Head deli meat</a>&nbsp;that has killed at least 10 people since May.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729101873394.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA &nbsp;AP Health Writer</a>A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brucepac-listeria-meat-recall-f4d8db2752137f5bdaa5fbfcc12dd3d6">nationwide recall</a>&nbsp;of meat and poultry products potentially contaminated with listeria has expanded to nearly 12 million pounds and now includes ready-to-eat meals sent to U.S. schools, restaurants and major retailers, federal officials said.<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-10/Recall-028-2024-Labels.pdf">Click here to see</a> the updated list of products&nbsp;The updated recall includes prepared salads, burritos and other foods sold at stores including Costco, Trader Joe's, Target, Walmart and Kroger. The meat used in those products was processed at a Durant, Oklahoma, manufacturing plant operated by BrucePac. The Woodburn, Oregon-based company sells precooked meat and poultry to industrial, foodservice and retail companies across the country.Routine testing found potentially dangerous listeria bacteria in samples of BrucePac chicken, officials with the U.S. Agriculture Department said. No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the recall, USDA officials said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not launched an outbreak investigation, a spokesperson said.The recall, issued on Oct. 9, includes foods produced between May 31 and Oct. 8. The USDA has posted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls">a 342-page list</a>&nbsp;of hundreds of potentially affected foods, including chicken wraps sold at Trader Joe's, chicken burritos sold at Costco and many types of salads sold at stores such as Target and Walmart. The foods were also sent to school districts and restaurants across the country.The recalled foods can be identified by establishment numbers “51205 or P-51205” inside or under the USDA mark of inspection. Consumers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-10/Recall-028-2024-Labels.pdf">can search on the USDA recall site</a>&nbsp;to find potentially affected products. Such foods should be thrown away or returned to stores for refunds, officials said.Eating foods contaminated with listeria can cause potentially serious illness. About 1,600 people are infected with listeria bacteria each year in the U.S. and about 260 die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Listeria infections typically cause fever, muscle aches and tiredness and may cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Symptoms can occur quickly or to up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. The infections are especially dangerous for older people, those with weakened immune systems or who are pregnant.The same type of bacteria is responsible for an outbreak tied to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boars-head-listeria-investigation-usda-bdcecaa25363c87d08ba01cf71aefb0b">Boar's Head deli meat</a>&nbsp;that has killed at least 10 people since May.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

See the updated list of meat, chicken products recalled due to Listeria

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military unleashed B-2 stealth bombers to target underground bunkers used by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;early Thursday, a major escalation in the American response to the rebels' attacks on Mideast shipping lanes that appeared to be a warning to Iran as well.

While it wasn't immediately clear how much damage the strikes caused, the attack appeared to be the first use of the B-2 in combat in years and the first time the flying wing targeted sites in Yemen.

In announcing the strikes against the Houthis, who have been attacking ships for months in the Red Sea corridor over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a point to offer a warning likely heard in Tehran as well.

“This was a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened or fortified,” Austin said.

Iran, the Houthis’ main benefactor, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-news-10-01-2024-eb175dff6e46906caea8b9e43dfbd3da">targeted Israel with ballistic missile attacks</a>&nbsp;twice over the past year. The B-2 would be used in any&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-us-penetrator-bomb-c623a3e172298a244e47d5bf404fc55b">American attack on hardened Iranian nuclear facilities</a>&nbsp;like Natanz or Fordo given it is the only aircraft in service that can drop the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104614/massive-ordnance-penetrator/">GBU-57, known as the “Massive Ordnance Penetrator.”</a>

Iran offered no immediate comment on the strike Thursday. Its foreign minister has been visiting Arab nations ahead of an expected Israeli retaliatory strike over Tehran's Oct. 1 missile assault.

The Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news channel reported airstrikes around Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which the group has held since 2014. They also reported strikes around the Houthi stronghold of Saada. They offered no immediate information on damage or casualties.

Austin said the B-2 bombers targeted “five hardened underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.” Both he and the U.S. military's Central Command offered no immediate assessment on the damage done. However, Central Command said it believed no civilians had been killed.

The Red Sea has become a battlefield for shippers since the Houthis began their campaign targeting ships traveling through the waterway, which once saw $1 trillion of cargo pass through it yearly.

Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October 2023. They have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-red-sea-ship-yemen-houthis-65b611ff878a411900037e7c9a8ee17b">seized one vessel</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">sunk two in the campaign</a>&nbsp;that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels.

The rebels maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the United Kingdom to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.

The Houthis also continue to launch missiles targeting Israel and have shot down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-us-drone-bf72b98965b1b440f635e322971f5894">U.S. military MQ-9 Reaper drones</a>. The rebels have threatened new attacks in response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-news-09-30-2024-83ea5f243688f309754ec74850de4238">Israel's ground invasion of Lebanon</a>&nbsp;and its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-airstrikes-28-september-2024-c4751957433ff944c4eb06027885a973">killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah</a>.

Hamas' initial Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war killed some 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage. Israeli miltary action in the time since has killed over 42,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, hundreds more in the West Bank and over 2,300 people in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the combat edges ever closer to a full-on regional war.

The locations named by the Houthis on Thursday correspond to known underground bases operated by the rebels, who have been locked into a stalemated war with a Saudi-led coalition since 2015 that’s decimated the Arab world’s poorest nation.

The Houthis have refurbished tunnels that once held Scud missiles when Yemen was ruled by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-225cdd5aa2a14b9ebdadcd59d67c5d4c">strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh</a>, according to an analysis in April by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Those sites include the al-Hafa and Jebel Attan military bases, the former Presidential House and the Yemen state television compound in Sanaa, analyst Fabian Hinz wrote.

The Houthis have built what appears to be their own large-scale tunnel network near Saada as well, Hinz added.

“The fact that the Houthis began constructing major new installations after the agreement of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-saudi-arabia-ceasefire-negotiations-3854d4aea23e03882e0a53ecbd0e71b7">cease-fire with the Saudi-led coalition</a>&nbsp;suggests that the group is focused on entrenching themselves and bolstering their military capabilities,” he wrote. Iran similarly relies on a network of underground missile bases.

The nuclear-capable B-2, which first saw action in 1999 in the Kosovo War, is rarely used by the U.S. military in combat as each aircraft is worth some $1 billion. It has dropped bombs in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya as well. The aircraft are based at Whiteman Air Base in Missouri and typically conduct long-range strikes from there, though some B-2s were in Australia in September.

The U.S. last used the B-2 in combat in 2017 against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fad983e2715f479cb67a35cc667204be">Islamic State group targets in Libya</a>, killing more than 80 fighters in a mission defense officials at the time said disrupted possible militant attacks in Europe.

The B-2's use in Yemen comes just two days after U.N. Special Envoy Hans Grundberg warned Yemen's frozen war could heat back up given the Mideast wars and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-un-detentions-israel-hamas-war-966dce0c3d7cd96679b3c3562ee57068">the Houthis' taking captive U.N. and aid workers</a>&nbsp;in an internationally criticized crackdown.

“This cycle of retaliation is pulling Yemen deeper into the regional conflict, jeopardizing its hopes for peace and stability,” Grundberg said Tuesday. “Moreover, it distracts from the urgent need to address Yemen’s own internal crisis.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military unleashed B-2 stealth bombers to target underground bunkers used by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;early Thursday, a major escalation in the American response to the rebels' attacks on Mideast shipping lanes that appeared to be a warning to Iran as well.While it wasn't immediately clear how much damage the strikes caused, the attack appeared to be the first use of the B-2 in combat in years and the first time the flying wing targeted sites in Yemen.In announcing the strikes against the Houthis, who have been attacking ships for months in the Red Sea corridor over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a point to offer a warning likely heard in Tehran as well.“This was a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened or fortified,” Austin said.Iran, the Houthis’ main benefactor, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-news-10-01-2024-eb175dff6e46906caea8b9e43dfbd3da">targeted Israel with ballistic missile attacks</a>&nbsp;twice over the past year. The B-2 would be used in any&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-us-penetrator-bomb-c623a3e172298a244e47d5bf404fc55b">American attack on hardened Iranian nuclear facilities</a>&nbsp;like Natanz or Fordo given it is the only aircraft in service that can drop the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104614/massive-ordnance-penetrator/">GBU-57, known as the “Massive Ordnance Penetrator.”</a>Iran offered no immediate comment on the strike Thursday. Its foreign minister has been visiting Arab nations ahead of an expected Israeli retaliatory strike over Tehran's Oct. 1 missile assault.The Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news channel reported airstrikes around Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which the group has held since 2014. They also reported strikes around the Houthi stronghold of Saada. They offered no immediate information on damage or casualties.Austin said the B-2 bombers targeted “five hardened underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.” Both he and the U.S. military's Central Command offered no immediate assessment on the damage done. However, Central Command said it believed no civilians had been killed.The Red Sea has become a battlefield for shippers since the Houthis began their campaign targeting ships traveling through the waterway, which once saw $1 trillion of cargo pass through it yearly.Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October 2023. They have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-red-sea-ship-yemen-houthis-65b611ff878a411900037e7c9a8ee17b">seized one vessel</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">sunk two in the campaign</a>&nbsp;that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels.The rebels maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the United Kingdom to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.The Houthis also continue to launch missiles targeting Israel and have shot down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-us-drone-bf72b98965b1b440f635e322971f5894">U.S. military MQ-9 Reaper drones</a>. The rebels have threatened new attacks in response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-news-09-30-2024-83ea5f243688f309754ec74850de4238">Israel's ground invasion of Lebanon</a>&nbsp;and its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-airstrikes-28-september-2024-c4751957433ff944c4eb06027885a973">killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah</a>.Hamas' initial Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war killed some 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage. Israeli miltary action in the time since has killed over 42,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, hundreds more in the West Bank and over 2,300 people in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the combat edges ever closer to a full-on regional war.The locations named by the Houthis on Thursday correspond to known underground bases operated by the rebels, who have been locked into a stalemated war with a Saudi-led coalition since 2015 that’s decimated the Arab world’s poorest nation.The Houthis have refurbished tunnels that once held Scud missiles when Yemen was ruled by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-225cdd5aa2a14b9ebdadcd59d67c5d4c">strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh</a>, according to an analysis in April by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Those sites include the al-Hafa and Jebel Attan military bases, the former Presidential House and the Yemen state television compound in Sanaa, analyst Fabian Hinz wrote.The Houthis have built what appears to be their own large-scale tunnel network near Saada as well, Hinz added.“The fact that the Houthis began constructing major new installations after the agreement of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-saudi-arabia-ceasefire-negotiations-3854d4aea23e03882e0a53ecbd0e71b7">cease-fire with the Saudi-led coalition</a>&nbsp;suggests that the group is focused on entrenching themselves and bolstering their military capabilities,” he wrote. Iran similarly relies on a network of underground missile bases.The nuclear-capable B-2, which first saw action in 1999 in the Kosovo War, is rarely used by the U.S. military in combat as each aircraft is worth some $1 billion. It has dropped bombs in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya as well. The aircraft are based at Whiteman Air Base in Missouri and typically conduct long-range strikes from there, though some B-2s were in Australia in September.The U.S. last used the B-2 in combat in 2017 against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fad983e2715f479cb67a35cc667204be">Islamic State group targets in Libya</a>, killing more than 80 fighters in a mission defense officials at the time said disrupted possible militant attacks in Europe.The B-2's use in Yemen comes just two days after U.N. Special Envoy Hans Grundberg warned Yemen's frozen war could heat back up given the Mideast wars and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-un-detentions-israel-hamas-war-966dce0c3d7cd96679b3c3562ee57068">the Houthis' taking captive U.N. and aid workers</a>&nbsp;in an internationally criticized crackdown.“This cycle of retaliation is pulling Yemen deeper into the regional conflict, jeopardizing its hopes for peace and stability,” Grundberg said Tuesday. “Moreover, it distracts from the urgent need to address Yemen’s own internal crisis.”

US bombers target underground bunkers of Yemen's Houthi rebels

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in a deadly gunfight on Father's Day and cut his ankle monitor following his arrest is back in custody.

The U.S. Marshals Service apprehended&nbsp;33-year-old Eric Gonzalez-Gutierrez&nbsp; in Mexico and he is currently undergoing extradition proceedings to return to Wichita, according to Wichita Police Officer Kris Gupilan.

On June 16, police originally arrested Gonzalez-Gutierrez on requested charges including first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Aron Lara.

Just after 8:30p.m. on Father's Day, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford.

While working to gather further information, the 911 dispatcher could hear gunfire in the background, prompting an immediate upgraded dispatch of officers to the scene.

First responders discovered Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital where he died.

Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital.

The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the Gonzales-Gutierrez earlier in the evening.&nbsp; Gonzales-Gutierrez allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

It is believed that two men accompanying Lara returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim.&nbsp; &nbsp;On June 21,&nbsp;Gonzalez-Gutierrez cut his ankle monitor and left for Mexico.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718711572362.png" alt="GONZALES-GUTIERREZ-photo Sedgwick County." />
 <figcaption>GONZALES-GUTIERREZ-photo Sedgwick County.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in a deadly gunfight on Father's Day and cut his ankle monitor following his arrest is back in custody.The U.S. Marshals Service apprehended&nbsp;33-year-old Eric Gonzalez-Gutierrez&nbsp; in Mexico and he is currently undergoing extradition proceedings to return to Wichita, according to Wichita Police Officer Kris Gupilan.On June 16, police originally arrested Gonzalez-Gutierrez on requested charges including first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Aron Lara.Just after 8:30p.m. on Father's Day, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford.While working to gather further information, the 911 dispatcher could hear gunfire in the background, prompting an immediate upgraded dispatch of officers to the scene.First responders discovered Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital where he died.Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital.The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the Gonzales-Gutierrez earlier in the evening.&nbsp; Gonzales-Gutierrez allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.It is believed that two men accompanying Lara returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim.&nbsp; &nbsp;On June 21,&nbsp;Gonzalez-Gutierrez cut his ankle monitor and left for Mexico.