By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matt-sedensky">MATT SEDENSKY</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Montgomery used to check the balance on his retirement account once a week and smile. But lately, not wanting to get upset and question if he could retire in a few years, there was only one solution.

“I’m not looking,” says the 66-year-old professor from Huntington Woods, Michigan.

As the White House simultaneously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-timeline-trade-war-trump-canada-mexico-china-a9d714eea677488ef9397547d838dbd0">injects turmoil into financial markets with its trade war</a>&nbsp;and dismisses fears of a downturn, retired and near-retired Americans are anxiously looking on, worried about outliving their savings or having to put off entries on their bucket lists.

Keeping logged off his account has made Montgomery’s days less worrisome. He and his wife adjusted their portfolio after Election Day, including moving more money into bonds. But he’s not sure what more he can do if the entire world economy can be affected by Washington’s decisions.

“I hope like hell I don’t lose all my retirement savings,” he says. “But where else could you put the money that these people could not disorder? They can’t get into your mattress but that’s about it.”

Many experts warned U.S. stocks were overpriced and due for a correction even before President Donald Trump reclaimed the Oval Office. But a historic blanket of tariffs have injected new uncertainty into the market.

Though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/market-rates-trump-tariffs-cd30ed61467eee2dc778006fa49924ee">stocks rallied this week</a>, the S&amp;P 500 is down 10% from an all-time high reached in February. Losses in the Nasdaq and among small-cap stocks are steeper. Even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasurys-bond-market-yield-tariff-46b4818710f01b8cc93fd002081167b0">bonds</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dollar-trump-tariffs-trade-safe-haven-china-c108fd36a3122f85872ad34ba5f5d977">the U.S. dollar</a>&nbsp;have been volatile. Many economists are warning of a possible recession.

It has 71-year-old Jeanne Oats Estridge feeling so “paranoid” she called her financial planner with an idea.

“How about we put it all in cash?” Oats Estridge asked.

“I just don’t advise it,” she heard back.

Oats Estridge, who lives in Dayton, Ohio, retired from a job in software engineering and now writes books, including her latest, on four octogenarian women kidnapped by sex-trafficking aliens. Her account is down more than $40,000 and she gets angry thinking about how some in Washington have reacted to the market volatility, including Trump’s recent market assessment that it was “a great time to buy.”

“Where am I supposed to come up with the money to buy? My underwear drawer?” Oats Estridge asks.

Earlier this month, the Cboe Volatility Index, considered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cboe.com/us/indices/dashboard/VIX/" target="_blank">a “fear gauge” of investor pessimism</a>, reached its highest level in five years. The index, known as VIX, has since retreated but is still in territory reflecting fearful investors. Another measure of market sentiment, the Cboe S&amp;P 500 Left Tail Volatility Index, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cboe.com/us/indices/dashboard/LTV/" target="_blank">tracks investor worry about so-called “black swan” events</a>&nbsp;such as the 2008 housing crash that spurred the Great Recession, likewise has backed off from highs but remains elevated.

Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114308258545250117" target="_blank">urged people to “be cool”</a>&nbsp;in assessing the impact of tariffs on their investments. Asked about his own savings earlier this month, he chuckled and replied:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwKczP3nhaY" target="_blank">“I haven’t checked my 401(k).”</a>

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meantime, brushed off the possibility that some might need to delay retiring, saying people&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAsB3uCtEys" target="_blank">“don’t look at the day-to-day fluctuations of what’s happening.”</a>

That seeming nonchalance isn’t sitting well with some older investors.

Peter Rost, 72, retired from his software development job last year and planned to start tapping his retirement savings to supplement Social Security. But he doesn’t want to bake in his losses.

“I’m looking to take $2,000 and meanwhile the account drops by $30,000,” he says.

He’s been through serious downturns before, but those were different.

“I had the time to be patient and let it work its way back,” says Rost, who lives in New Hartford, Connecticut, “but now I’m retired and I need money from that account.”

At his age, he says, there’s one goal: “Make sure I don’t run out of money before I die.”

Americans’ retirement savings totaled about $44 trillion at the end of 2024, according to the Investment Company Institute. The composition of those savings has shifted increasingly toward stocks in the last couple decades as the 401(k) has become employers’ typical offering.

Among fund giant Vanguard’s nearly 5 million accounts, for example, the average investor puts three-quarters of their savings in stocks. Even older investors are still heavily steeped in equities: People 55 to 64 have 64% in stocks at Vanguard; those 65 and older have 49% in stocks.

With that exposure, financial advisers are getting an influx of calls amid the recent market uncertainty.

Tj Binkowski, who runs Narrow Road Financial Planning in Clarksville, Tennessee, says some clients find themselves obsessively checking their accounts and feel the emotional strain of worrying about their money. A downturn, he says, hits an older investor much differently.

“When you’re retired, paper losses aren’t just on paper anymore,” says Binkowski. “You’re locking them in every month that you take money out.”

Paul Duesterhaus, a 68-year-old retiree from Quincy, Illinois, is passing up an IRA withdrawal this year to avoid selling at a low. Instead, the retired manager at an air compressor manufacturing company will put off buying a new car as planned and cut back on things like eating out.

Still, he can’t help but feel bigger impacts of a trade war are ahead.

“I think there’s going to be longer lasting effects that are going to affect every American,” he says.

That angst is more common among older adults than younger people. An April poll by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/immigration-remains-one-of-trumps-strongest-issues/" target="_blank">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>&nbsp;found just under half of U.S. adults ages 45 and older said their retirement savings are a “major” source of stress for them right now, compared to about one-third of younger people. Older Americans were also more likely to say they’re stressed about the stock market.

For now, many older investors are taking the advice of many experts, to fine-tune investments if necessary but avoid dramatic moves. But it can be hard advice to swallow.

“The more things go up and down, the more nervous you get,” says Steve Turner, a 74-year-old from Chesterfield, Missouri, who runs a small public relations business. He now finds himself anxious when he goes to log on to his retirement account, wondering, “Gee, do I want to press the button?”

“You worry that things may work themselves out in the long run, but you don’t have as long,” says Turner. “You’re not 30, you’re not 40, you’re not 50, you’re not even 60.”

Matt Sedensky can be reached at&nbsp;msedensky@ap.org&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/sedensky." target="_blank">https://x.com/sedensky.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962507580.png" alt="File photo Specialist Patrick King, left, works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (AP Photo/Richard Drew)" />
 <figcaption>File photo Specialist Patrick King, left, works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (AP Photo/Richard Drew)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matt-sedensky">MATT SEDENSKY</a>NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Montgomery used to check the balance on his retirement account once a week and smile. But lately, not wanting to get upset and question if he could retire in a few years, there was only one solution.“I’m not looking,” says the 66-year-old professor from Huntington Woods, Michigan.As the White House simultaneously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-timeline-trade-war-trump-canada-mexico-china-a9d714eea677488ef9397547d838dbd0">injects turmoil into financial markets with its trade war</a>&nbsp;and dismisses fears of a downturn, retired and near-retired Americans are anxiously looking on, worried about outliving their savings or having to put off entries on their bucket lists.Keeping logged off his account has made Montgomery’s days less worrisome. He and his wife adjusted their portfolio after Election Day, including moving more money into bonds. But he’s not sure what more he can do if the entire world economy can be affected by Washington’s decisions.“I hope like hell I don’t lose all my retirement savings,” he says. “But where else could you put the money that these people could not disorder? They can’t get into your mattress but that’s about it.”Many experts warned U.S. stocks were overpriced and due for a correction even before President Donald Trump reclaimed the Oval Office. But a historic blanket of tariffs have injected new uncertainty into the market.Though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/market-rates-trump-tariffs-cd30ed61467eee2dc778006fa49924ee">stocks rallied this week</a>, the S&amp;P 500 is down 10% from an all-time high reached in February. Losses in the Nasdaq and among small-cap stocks are steeper. Even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasurys-bond-market-yield-tariff-46b4818710f01b8cc93fd002081167b0">bonds</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dollar-trump-tariffs-trade-safe-haven-china-c108fd36a3122f85872ad34ba5f5d977">the U.S. dollar</a>&nbsp;have been volatile. Many economists are warning of a possible recession.It has 71-year-old Jeanne Oats Estridge feeling so “paranoid” she called her financial planner with an idea.“How about we put it all in cash?” Oats Estridge asked.“I just don’t advise it,” she heard back.Oats Estridge, who lives in Dayton, Ohio, retired from a job in software engineering and now writes books, including her latest, on four octogenarian women kidnapped by sex-trafficking aliens. Her account is down more than $40,000 and she gets angry thinking about how some in Washington have reacted to the market volatility, including Trump’s recent market assessment that it was “a great time to buy.”“Where am I supposed to come up with the money to buy? My underwear drawer?” Oats Estridge asks.Earlier this month, the Cboe Volatility Index, considered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cboe.com/us/indices/dashboard/VIX/" target="_blank">a “fear gauge” of investor pessimism</a>, reached its highest level in five years. The index, known as VIX, has since retreated but is still in territory reflecting fearful investors. Another measure of market sentiment, the Cboe S&amp;P 500 Left Tail Volatility Index, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cboe.com/us/indices/dashboard/LTV/" target="_blank">tracks investor worry about so-called “black swan” events</a>&nbsp;such as the 2008 housing crash that spurred the Great Recession, likewise has backed off from highs but remains elevated.Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114308258545250117" target="_blank">urged people to “be cool”</a>&nbsp;in assessing the impact of tariffs on their investments. Asked about his own savings earlier this month, he chuckled and replied:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwKczP3nhaY" target="_blank">“I haven’t checked my 401(k).”</a>Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meantime, brushed off the possibility that some might need to delay retiring, saying people&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAsB3uCtEys" target="_blank">“don’t look at the day-to-day fluctuations of what’s happening.”</a>That seeming nonchalance isn’t sitting well with some older investors.Peter Rost, 72, retired from his software development job last year and planned to start tapping his retirement savings to supplement Social Security. But he doesn’t want to bake in his losses.“I’m looking to take $2,000 and meanwhile the account drops by $30,000,” he says.He’s been through serious downturns before, but those were different.“I had the time to be patient and let it work its way back,” says Rost, who lives in New Hartford, Connecticut, “but now I’m retired and I need money from that account.”At his age, he says, there’s one goal: “Make sure I don’t run out of money before I die.”Americans’ retirement savings totaled about $44 trillion at the end of 2024, according to the Investment Company Institute. The composition of those savings has shifted increasingly toward stocks in the last couple decades as the 401(k) has become employers’ typical offering.Among fund giant Vanguard’s nearly 5 million accounts, for example, the average investor puts three-quarters of their savings in stocks. Even older investors are still heavily steeped in equities: People 55 to 64 have 64% in stocks at Vanguard; those 65 and older have 49% in stocks.With that exposure, financial advisers are getting an influx of calls amid the recent market uncertainty.Tj Binkowski, who runs Narrow Road Financial Planning in Clarksville, Tennessee, says some clients find themselves obsessively checking their accounts and feel the emotional strain of worrying about their money. A downturn, he says, hits an older investor much differently.“When you’re retired, paper losses aren’t just on paper anymore,” says Binkowski. “You’re locking them in every month that you take money out.”Paul Duesterhaus, a 68-year-old retiree from Quincy, Illinois, is passing up an IRA withdrawal this year to avoid selling at a low. Instead, the retired manager at an air compressor manufacturing company will put off buying a new car as planned and cut back on things like eating out.Still, he can’t help but feel bigger impacts of a trade war are ahead.“I think there’s going to be longer lasting effects that are going to affect every American,” he says.That angst is more common among older adults than younger people. An April poll by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/immigration-remains-one-of-trumps-strongest-issues/" target="_blank">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>&nbsp;found just under half of U.S. adults ages 45 and older said their retirement savings are a “major” source of stress for them right now, compared to about one-third of younger people. Older Americans were also more likely to say they’re stressed about the stock market.For now, many older investors are taking the advice of many experts, to fine-tune investments if necessary but avoid dramatic moves. But it can be hard advice to swallow.“The more things go up and down, the more nervous you get,” says Steve Turner, a 74-year-old from Chesterfield, Missouri, who runs a small public relations business. He now finds himself anxious when he goes to log on to his retirement account, wondering, “Gee, do I want to press the button?”“You worry that things may work themselves out in the long run, but you don’t have as long,” says Turner. “You’re not 30, you’re not 40, you’re not 50, you’re not even 60.”___Matt Sedensky can be reached at&nbsp;msedensky@ap.org&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/sedensky." target="_blank">https://x.com/sedensky.</a>

Market turmoil has many afraid to check retirement savings

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic, 29-year-old Graham Hoffman, critically injured in a stabbing while transporting a patient to the hospital on Sunday died, according to&nbsp;Fire Chief Ross Grundyson.

The suspect accused in the stabbing identified as 38-year-old Shanetta Bossell of Kansas City has been charged&nbsp;with murder in the first degree and armed criminal action, according to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office.

Just after 12:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a check the welfare call at 152 Highway and North Oak Trafficway involving a woman, later identified as Bossell, walking on the highway.

Callers were concerned for her safety and called police, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. Responding officers located Bossell on the side of the highway there. Ultimately, they requested EMS to respond for further treatment. 

EMS began to transport Bossell to the hospital for further treatment. While en-route to the hospital in the ambulance, at approximately 1:25a.m., she produced an edged weapon and stabbed the KCFD Firefighter/Paramedic Graham Hoffman causing significant injuries. 

The ambulance driver then stopped the ambulance at 152 highway and Platte Purchase and signaled to a KCPD police officer that had been following the ambulance for help. That KCPD officer took Bossell into custody at that location. Additional EMS crews responded and transported&nbsp; Hoffman to the hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries.

Just after 2p.m. Sunday, police were notified that Hoffman had died.&nbsp;

"Hoffman was a member of the Kansas City Fire Department for three years. He was a vibrant individual who loved life and loved serving his community. He was an excellent paramedic who treated his patients with the highest level of skill and compassion," said&nbsp;Fire Chief Ross Grundyson in a media release.

"The Kansas City Fire Department grieves with Graham’s family, friends, and loved ones. This is a senseless act that has taken a great young man from his family, friends, and coworkers, and deprived our city of a dedicated firefighter, and a leader on and off the job who only wanted toserve and protect those in his community."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745790431024.png" alt="Graham Hoffman photo KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Graham Hoffman photo KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic, 29-year-old Graham Hoffman, critically injured in a stabbing while transporting a patient to the hospital on Sunday died, according to&nbsp;Fire Chief Ross Grundyson.The suspect accused in the stabbing identified as 38-year-old Shanetta Bossell of Kansas City has been charged&nbsp;with murder in the first degree and armed criminal action, according to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745803226594.png" alt="Bossell photo Clay Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Bossell photo Clay Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 12:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a check the welfare call at 152 Highway and North Oak Trafficway involving a woman, later identified as Bossell, walking on the highway.Callers were concerned for her safety and called police, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. Responding officers located Bossell on the side of the highway there. Ultimately, they requested EMS to respond for further treatment. EMS began to transport Bossell to the hospital for further treatment. While en-route to the hospital in the ambulance, at approximately 1:25a.m., she produced an edged weapon and stabbed the KCFD Firefighter/Paramedic Graham Hoffman causing significant injuries. The ambulance driver then stopped the ambulance at 152 highway and Platte Purchase and signaled to a KCPD police officer that had been following the ambulance for help. That KCPD officer took Bossell into custody at that location. Additional EMS crews responded and transported&nbsp; Hoffman to the hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries.Just after 2p.m. Sunday, police were notified that Hoffman had died.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mayor Lucas Responds to First-Degree Murder Charges Filed in Death of KCFD Firefighter <a href="https://t.co/YcTPqHNWaT">pic.twitter.com/YcTPqHNWaT</a>&mdash; Mayor Quinton Lucas (@MayorLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorLucasKC/status/1916661676897657070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"Hoffman was a member of the Kansas City Fire Department for three years. He was a vibrant individual who loved life and loved serving his community. He was an excellent paramedic who treated his patients with the highest level of skill and compassion," said&nbsp;Fire Chief Ross Grundyson in a media release."The Kansas City Fire Department grieves with Graham’s family, friends, and loved ones. This is a senseless act that has taken a great young man from his family, friends, and coworkers, and deprived our city of a dedicated firefighter, and a leader on and off the job who only wanted toserve and protect those in his community."

New details in fatal stabbing of Kansas City paramedic

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Catholic cardinals on Monday set May 7 as the start date for the conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor, delaying the secret voting for two days to help them get to know one another better and find consensus on a candidate before they are sequestered in the Sistine Chapel.

The cardinals set the date after arriving for the first day of informal meetings following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-vatican-funeral-d6a8a471978c21c71c3f1dc07f663e78">Pope Francis’ funeral Saturday</a>. In a chaotic scene, journalists shouted out questions to the cardinals about the mood inside, whether there was unity, and when the conclave would begin. A reporter for a satirical Italian television program repeatedly asked whether an Italian cardinal who has been convicted by the Vatican criminal court on finance-related charges would be allowed to vote.

“There is the hope of unity,” said Argentine Cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi, the 66-year-old archbishop of Cordoba who was made a cardinal by Francis in 2023.

Many cardinals cited the desire to continue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Francis’</a>&nbsp;pastoral focus on people who are marginalized and against war. But conservatives in the ranks may be more focused on forging unity and refocusing the church back to core doctrines emphasized by St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, rather than continuing Francis' social justice focus and outreach to women and gays.

British Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the 79-year-old archbishop of Westminster, was adamant that the church must strive for unity, and he downplayed divisions.

“The role of the pope is to essentially hold us together and that’s the grace we’ve been given from God,” said Nichols.

Venezuelan Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo expressed confidence that once the conclave begins, a decision would be quick, "between two and three days.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-conclave-glossary-3f34cfc8bda3570b9ecf0602d20990fb">College of Cardinals</a>&nbsp;that will elect a new pope includes members from far-flung corners of the globe whom Francis named over his 12-year papacy to bring in new points of views of the Catholic Church hierarchy. Many have spent little or no time in Rome getting to know their colleagues, injecting some uncertainty into a process that requires two-thirds of the voting-age cardinals to coalesce behind a single candidate.

Nichols acknowledged that the 135 cardinal electors — 108 of whom were appointed by Francis — don’t know each other very well. The last 20 were appointed in early December.

“We’ve got all week,” Nichols said as he arrived Monday.

Only cardinals under 80 are eligible to vote, and it is not clear how many of the 135 will participate. A Spanish cardinal has already said he won’t come to Rome for health reasons.

A big uncertainty is whether Cardinal Angelo Becciu, once one of the most powerful cardinals in the Vatican, will be allowed in the Sistine Chapel. Francis in 2020&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-business-religion-7f015a23f0f51f99fb4d89ed506b1c1b">forced Becciu to resign</a>&nbsp;as head of the Vatican’s saint-making office and renounce his rights as a cardinal because of allegations of embezzlement and financial fraud. Becciu denied any wrongdoing but was put on trial in the Vatican criminal court and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-trial-cardinal-pope-690128606e1e22534551b7f74b3d4814">convicted of finance-related charges</a>&nbsp;in December, 2023.

He is appealing the conviction and has participated in the pre-conclave meetings, but there is a lingering question about whether he is entitled to vote. The Vatican’s official statistics list him as a “non-elector.” When he was ousted in 2020, Becciu told a hastily arranged press conference that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5df8883173c4a9473d83fb7c48c2f4ef">wouldn't be voting</a>&nbsp;in any future conclave, but recently, he has insisted he is entitled to vote and canon lawyers have been poring over the Vatican document regulating the conclave to determine if he’s right.

While Francis stacked the ranks with his cardinals, it is not necessarily the case that all of them will want to see the church continue in his image.

On Monday morning, any glimpse of a red cap appearing along St. Peter’s Square’s stately colonnade set journalists running with cameras and voice recorders aloft to capture the mood inside, however fleeting.

Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, considered a contender to be the next pope, navigated the scrum of converging journalists with humor, but didn’t give anything away. He joked that he was “holding his breath” as the microphones and cameras surrounded him all the way to the Vatican gate.

Nigerian Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, the emeritus archbishop of Abuja, was asked if the African cardinals were coalescing around a particular candidate.

African bishops had made a remarkably united stand last year against Francis’ outreach to LGBTQ+ people, refusing to implement his declaration allowing priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples. Given such a stand, there is some speculation that the 18 African cardinal electors could help block a progressive candidate from emerging.

“We have not come here for a political rally. We have come to get a pope out,” said Onaiyekan, who at 81 is too old to vote but can have a role in influencing how younger electors might.

Indian Cardinal Anthony Poola, the 61-year-old archbishop of Hyderabad, said he had experienced a sense of unity among his fellow cardinals but allowed that “anything could happen.” As a relatively young cardinal, Poola is one of four Indian electors who will participate in the conclave, three of whom, including Poola, were named by Francis.

“Anyone who is coming up must be the successor of St. Peter, and we all hope that he will be a good pope,” he said.

Rossi, the Argentine cardinal, said he hoped that Francis' message of “mercy, closeness, charity, tenderness and faith," would accompany them in finding a successor.

But he acknowledged the job was daunting. Asked how he felt about participating in his first conclave, he responded with a laugh: “Afraid.″

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745839812152.png" alt="Image courtesy AP video" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy AP video</figcaption>
 </figure>VATICAN CITY (AP) — Catholic cardinals on Monday set May 7 as the start date for the conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor, delaying the secret voting for two days to help them get to know one another better and find consensus on a candidate before they are sequestered in the Sistine Chapel.The cardinals set the date after arriving for the first day of informal meetings following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-vatican-funeral-d6a8a471978c21c71c3f1dc07f663e78">Pope Francis’ funeral Saturday</a>. In a chaotic scene, journalists shouted out questions to the cardinals about the mood inside, whether there was unity, and when the conclave would begin. A reporter for a satirical Italian television program repeatedly asked whether an Italian cardinal who has been convicted by the Vatican criminal court on finance-related charges would be allowed to vote.“There is the hope of unity,” said Argentine Cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi, the 66-year-old archbishop of Cordoba who was made a cardinal by Francis in 2023.Many cardinals cited the desire to continue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Francis’</a>&nbsp;pastoral focus on people who are marginalized and against war. But conservatives in the ranks may be more focused on forging unity and refocusing the church back to core doctrines emphasized by St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, rather than continuing Francis' social justice focus and outreach to women and gays.British Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the 79-year-old archbishop of Westminster, was adamant that the church must strive for unity, and he downplayed divisions.“The role of the pope is to essentially hold us together and that’s the grace we’ve been given from God,” said Nichols.Venezuelan Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo expressed confidence that once the conclave begins, a decision would be quick, "between two and three days.”<h2>Cardinal electors</h2>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-conclave-glossary-3f34cfc8bda3570b9ecf0602d20990fb">College of Cardinals</a>&nbsp;that will elect a new pope includes members from far-flung corners of the globe whom Francis named over his 12-year papacy to bring in new points of views of the Catholic Church hierarchy. Many have spent little or no time in Rome getting to know their colleagues, injecting some uncertainty into a process that requires two-thirds of the voting-age cardinals to coalesce behind a single candidate.Nichols acknowledged that the 135 cardinal electors — 108 of whom were appointed by Francis — don’t know each other very well. The last 20 were appointed in early December.“We’ve got all week,” Nichols said as he arrived Monday.Only cardinals under 80 are eligible to vote, and it is not clear how many of the 135 will participate. A Spanish cardinal has already said he won’t come to Rome for health reasons.A big uncertainty is whether Cardinal Angelo Becciu, once one of the most powerful cardinals in the Vatican, will be allowed in the Sistine Chapel. Francis in 2020&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-business-religion-7f015a23f0f51f99fb4d89ed506b1c1b">forced Becciu to resign</a>&nbsp;as head of the Vatican’s saint-making office and renounce his rights as a cardinal because of allegations of embezzlement and financial fraud. Becciu denied any wrongdoing but was put on trial in the Vatican criminal court and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-trial-cardinal-pope-690128606e1e22534551b7f74b3d4814">convicted of finance-related charges</a>&nbsp;in December, 2023.He is appealing the conviction and has participated in the pre-conclave meetings, but there is a lingering question about whether he is entitled to vote. The Vatican’s official statistics list him as a “non-elector.” When he was ousted in 2020, Becciu told a hastily arranged press conference that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5df8883173c4a9473d83fb7c48c2f4ef">wouldn't be voting</a>&nbsp;in any future conclave, but recently, he has insisted he is entitled to vote and canon lawyers have been poring over the Vatican document regulating the conclave to determine if he’s right.<h2>Papal candidates</h2>While Francis stacked the ranks with his cardinals, it is not necessarily the case that all of them will want to see the church continue in his image.On Monday morning, any glimpse of a red cap appearing along St. Peter’s Square’s stately colonnade set journalists running with cameras and voice recorders aloft to capture the mood inside, however fleeting.Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, considered a contender to be the next pope, navigated the scrum of converging journalists with humor, but didn’t give anything away. He joked that he was “holding his breath” as the microphones and cameras surrounded him all the way to the Vatican gate.<h2>African voices</h2>Nigerian Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, the emeritus archbishop of Abuja, was asked if the African cardinals were coalescing around a particular candidate.African bishops had made a remarkably united stand last year against Francis’ outreach to LGBTQ+ people, refusing to implement his declaration allowing priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples. Given such a stand, there is some speculation that the 18 African cardinal electors could help block a progressive candidate from emerging.“We have not come here for a political rally. We have come to get a pope out,” said Onaiyekan, who at 81 is too old to vote but can have a role in influencing how younger electors might.<h2>Asian and Latin American voices</h2>Indian Cardinal Anthony Poola, the 61-year-old archbishop of Hyderabad, said he had experienced a sense of unity among his fellow cardinals but allowed that “anything could happen.” As a relatively young cardinal, Poola is one of four Indian electors who will participate in the conclave, three of whom, including Poola, were named by Francis.“Anyone who is coming up must be the successor of St. Peter, and we all hope that he will be a good pope,” he said.Rossi, the Argentine cardinal, said he hoped that Francis' message of “mercy, closeness, charity, tenderness and faith," would accompany them in finding a successor.But he acknowledged the job was daunting. Asked how he felt about participating in his first conclave, he responded with a laugh: “Afraid.″___

Vatican sets date for Conclave to elect a new pope

WICHITA, KS&nbsp;— On April 25, 2025, at 8:07 pm, Wichita Police were in the area of South Topeka and East Indianapolis in Wichita when they heard gunshots nearby, according to Wichita Police Officer Brad Wright.

Officers immediately responded to the area in the 800 block of South Broadway. Upon arrival, officers discovered that 21-year-old Martevion Davis from Wichita had suffered gunshot wounds to his torso and arms. Davis was driven to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 10:46 p.m., according to Wright.

Through investigations, Officers were quickly able to identify a 35-year-old male of Wichita as the suspect. There were multiple individuals at the scene who were later interviewed by Wichita Police Department Homicide Investigators. At this point in the investigation, it is believed that Davis and the suspect were known to each other.

At 12:30 p.m. Saturday the 35-year-old male suspect identified as James Owens, according to county arrest records, turned himself into police custody and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of First Degree Murder. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745701616774.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KS&nbsp;— On April 25, 2025, at 8:07 pm, Wichita Police were in the area of South Topeka and East Indianapolis in Wichita when they heard gunshots nearby, according to Wichita Police Officer Brad Wright.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745750207897.png" alt="Owens photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Owens photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers immediately responded to the area in the 800 block of South Broadway. Upon arrival, officers discovered that 21-year-old Martevion Davis from Wichita had suffered gunshot wounds to his torso and arms. Davis was driven to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 10:46 p.m., according to Wright.Through investigations, Officers were quickly able to identify a 35-year-old male of Wichita as the suspect. There were multiple individuals at the scene who were later interviewed by Wichita Police Department Homicide Investigators. At this point in the investigation, it is believed that Davis and the suspect were known to each other.At 12:30 p.m. Saturday the 35-year-old male suspect identified as James Owens, according to county arrest records, turned himself into police custody and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of First Degree Murder.

Suspect in deadly Kan. motel shooting turns himself in to police

KANSAS CITY —Police investigating a double homicide in Kansas City have identified the victims as 16-year-old&nbsp;Maximiliano Ruiz and 19-year-old&nbsp;Matthew Suri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just before 1p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at 12th and Belmont in Kansas City, Missouri , according to Becchina.

First responders were directed to a vehicle in the road there. Inside that vehicle officers located Ruiz and Suri unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who declared the victims deceased.

The investigation indicates that the victims were inside the vehicle at the location when they had an interaction with one or more suspects and shots were fired. Both victims were inside the vehicle when they were struck by the gunfire. Initial responding officers took one subject of interest into custody for further investigation. Detectives are working to determine that subject of interest’s exact involvement at this time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745702653802.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Police investigating a double homicide in Kansas City have identified the victims as 16-year-old&nbsp;Maximiliano Ruiz and 19-year-old&nbsp;Matthew Suri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.Just before 1p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at 12th and Belmont in Kansas City, Missouri , according to Becchina.First responders were directed to a vehicle in the road there. Inside that vehicle officers located Ruiz and Suri unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who declared the victims deceased.The investigation indicates that the victims were inside the vehicle at the location when they had an interaction with one or more suspects and shots were fired. Both victims were inside the vehicle when they were struck by the gunfire. Initial responding officers took one subject of interest into custody for further investigation. Detectives are working to determine that subject of interest’s exact involvement at this time.

KCPD: 16-year-old among victims in double-homicide 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;on Monday alleged a U.S. airstrike hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people and wounding 47 others. The U.S. military had no immediate comment.

The strike in Yemen's Saada governorate, a stronghold for the Houthis, is the latest incident in the country's decadelong war&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-saudi-arabia-yemen-migrants-hrw-c6958c2593573c0c8fc64794a60f777c">to kill African migrants from Ethiopia and other nations</a>&nbsp;who risk crossing the nation for a chance to work in neighboring Saudi Arabia.

It also likely will renew questions from activists about the American campaign, known as “Operation Rough Rider,” which has been targeting the rebels as the Trump administration negotiates with their main benefactor, Iran, over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-talks-oman-f2e4ecf49c62c11a0240153d7f900d0d">Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program</a>.

The U.S. military's Central Command, in a statement early Monday before news of the alleged strike broke, sought to defend its policy of offering no specific details of its extensive airstrike campaign. The strikes have drawn controversy in America over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-chat-houthis-attack-8dbf9dd6c711796438a5c1c84831c40b">use of the unclassified Signal messaging app</a>&nbsp;to post sensitive details about the attacks.

“To preserve operational security, we have intentionally limited disclosing details of our ongoing or future operations,” Central Command said. “We are very deliberate in our operational approach, but will not reveal specifics about what we’ve done or what we will do.”

It did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press about the alleged strike in Saada.

Graphic footage shows aftermath of explosion

Graphic footage aired by the Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news channel showed what appeared to be dead bodies and others wounded at the site. The Houthi-run Interior Ministry said some 115 migrants had been detained at the site.

The rebels' Civil Defense organization said at least 68 people had been killed and 47 others wounded in the attack.

Footage from the site analyzed by the AP suggested some kind of explosion took place there, with its cement walls seemingly peppered by debris fragments and the wounds suffered by those there.

A woman's voice, soft in the footage, can be heard repeating the start of a prayer in Arabic: “In the name of God.” An occasional gunshot rang out as medics sought to help those wounded.

African migrants caught in middle of Yemen's war

Ethiopians and other African migrants for years have landed in Yemen, braving the war-torn nation to try and reach Saudi Arabia for work. The Houthi rebels allegedly make tens of thousands of dollars a week smuggling migrants over the border.

Migrants from Ethiopia have found themselves detained, abused and even killed in Saudi Arabia and Yemen during the war. An Oct. 3, 2022, letter to the kingdom from the U.N. said its investigators “received concerning allegations of cross-border artillery shelling and small arms fire allegedly by Saudi security forces, causing the deaths of up to 430 and injuring 650 migrants.”

Saudi Arabia has denied killing migrants.

Monday's alleged strike recalled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-middle-east-sanaa-dubai-cfad87600e2c93ab9af22dc80ba27875">a similar strike by a Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis back in 2022</a>&nbsp;on the same compound, which caused a collapse killing 66 detainees and wounding 113 others, a United Nations report later said. The Houthis shot dead 16 detainees who fled after the strike and wounded another 50, the U.N. said. The Saudi-led coalition sought to justify the strike by saying the Houthis built and launched drones there, but the U.N. said it was known to be a detention facility.

“The coalition should have avoided any attack on that facility,” the U.N. report added.

That 2022 attack was one of the deadliest single attacks in the yearslong war between the coalition and the Houthi rebels and came after the Houthis struck inside the UAE twice with missiles and drones,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-dubai-united-arab-emirates-abu-dhabi-yemen-8bdefdf900ce46a6fd6c7bc685bf838a">killing three in a strike near Abu Dhabi's international airport</a>.

US military says over 800 strikes conducted in campaign so far

Meanwhile, U.S. airstrikes overnight targeting Yemen's capital killed at least eight people, the Houthis said. The American military acknowledged carrying out over 800 individual strikes in their monthlong campaign.

The overnight statement from Central Command also said “Operation Rough Rider” had “killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders,” including those associated with its missile and drone program. It did not identify any of those officials.

“Iran undoubtedly continues to provide support to the Houthis,” the statement said. “The Houthis can only continue to attack our forces with the backing of the Iranian regime.”

"We will continue to ratchet up the pressure until the objective is met, which remains the restoration of freedom of navigation and American deterrence in the region," it added.

The U.S. is targeting the Houthis because of the group’s attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The Houthis are also the last militant group in Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” that is capable of regularly attacking Israel.

The U.S. is conducting strikes on Yemen from its two aircraft carriers in the region — the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea.

On April 18,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-us-airstrikes-563f61bbd96e1f2de68373fdf76c8811">an American strike on the Ras Isa fuel port</a>&nbsp;killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others in the deadliest-known attack of the American campaign. Central Command on Monday offered an explanation for why it hit the port.

“U.S. strikes destroyed the ability of Ras Isa Port to accept fuel, which will begin to impact Houthi ability to not only conduct operations, but also to generate millions of dollars in revenue for their terror activities,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Houthis have increasingly sought to control the flow of information from the territory they hold to the outside world. It issued a notice Sunday that all those holding Starlink satellite internet receivers should “quickly hand over” the devices to authorities.

“A field campaign will be implemented in coordination with the security authorities to arrest anyone who sells, trades, uses, operates, installs or possesses these prohibited terminals,” the Houthis warned.

Starlink terminals have been crucial for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-ukraine-starlink-russia-air-force-fde93d9a69d7dbd1326022ecfdbc53c2">Ukraine in fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion</a>&nbsp;and receivers also have been smuggled into Iran amid unrest there.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745834468939.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;on Monday alleged a U.S. airstrike hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people and wounding 47 others. The U.S. military had no immediate comment.The strike in Yemen's Saada governorate, a stronghold for the Houthis, is the latest incident in the country's decadelong war&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-saudi-arabia-yemen-migrants-hrw-c6958c2593573c0c8fc64794a60f777c">to kill African migrants from Ethiopia and other nations</a>&nbsp;who risk crossing the nation for a chance to work in neighboring Saudi Arabia.It also likely will renew questions from activists about the American campaign, known as “Operation Rough Rider,” which has been targeting the rebels as the Trump administration negotiates with their main benefactor, Iran, over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-talks-oman-f2e4ecf49c62c11a0240153d7f900d0d">Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program</a>.The U.S. military's Central Command, in a statement early Monday before news of the alleged strike broke, sought to defend its policy of offering no specific details of its extensive airstrike campaign. The strikes have drawn controversy in America over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-chat-houthis-attack-8dbf9dd6c711796438a5c1c84831c40b">use of the unclassified Signal messaging app</a>&nbsp;to post sensitive details about the attacks.“To preserve operational security, we have intentionally limited disclosing details of our ongoing or future operations,” Central Command said. “We are very deliberate in our operational approach, but will not reveal specifics about what we’ve done or what we will do.”It did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press about the alleged strike in Saada.<h2>Graphic footage shows aftermath of explosion</h2>Graphic footage aired by the Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news channel showed what appeared to be dead bodies and others wounded at the site. The Houthi-run Interior Ministry said some 115 migrants had been detained at the site.The rebels' Civil Defense organization said at least 68 people had been killed and 47 others wounded in the attack.Footage from the site analyzed by the AP suggested some kind of explosion took place there, with its cement walls seemingly peppered by debris fragments and the wounds suffered by those there.A woman's voice, soft in the footage, can be heard repeating the start of a prayer in Arabic: “In the name of God.” An occasional gunshot rang out as medics sought to help those wounded.<h2>African migrants caught in middle of Yemen's war</h2>Ethiopians and other African migrants for years have landed in Yemen, braving the war-torn nation to try and reach Saudi Arabia for work. The Houthi rebels allegedly make tens of thousands of dollars a week smuggling migrants over the border.Migrants from Ethiopia have found themselves detained, abused and even killed in Saudi Arabia and Yemen during the war. An Oct. 3, 2022, letter to the kingdom from the U.N. said its investigators “received concerning allegations of cross-border artillery shelling and small arms fire allegedly by Saudi security forces, causing the deaths of up to 430 and injuring 650 migrants.”Saudi Arabia has denied killing migrants.Monday's alleged strike recalled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-middle-east-sanaa-dubai-cfad87600e2c93ab9af22dc80ba27875">a similar strike by a Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis back in 2022</a>&nbsp;on the same compound, which caused a collapse killing 66 detainees and wounding 113 others, a United Nations report later said. The Houthis shot dead 16 detainees who fled after the strike and wounded another 50, the U.N. said. The Saudi-led coalition sought to justify the strike by saying the Houthis built and launched drones there, but the U.N. said it was known to be a detention facility.“The coalition should have avoided any attack on that facility,” the U.N. report added.That 2022 attack was one of the deadliest single attacks in the yearslong war between the coalition and the Houthi rebels and came after the Houthis struck inside the UAE twice with missiles and drones,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-dubai-united-arab-emirates-abu-dhabi-yemen-8bdefdf900ce46a6fd6c7bc685bf838a">killing three in a strike near Abu Dhabi's international airport</a>.<h2>US military says over 800 strikes conducted in campaign so far</h2>Meanwhile, U.S. airstrikes overnight targeting Yemen's capital killed at least eight people, the Houthis said. The American military acknowledged carrying out over 800 individual strikes in their monthlong campaign.The overnight statement from Central Command also said “Operation Rough Rider” had “killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders,” including those associated with its missile and drone program. It did not identify any of those officials.“Iran undoubtedly continues to provide support to the Houthis,” the statement said. “The Houthis can only continue to attack our forces with the backing of the Iranian regime.”"We will continue to ratchet up the pressure until the objective is met, which remains the restoration of freedom of navigation and American deterrence in the region," it added.The U.S. is targeting the Houthis because of the group’s attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The Houthis are also the last militant group in Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” that is capable of regularly attacking Israel.<h2>US discusses deadly port strike</h2>The U.S. is conducting strikes on Yemen from its two aircraft carriers in the region — the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea.On April 18,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-us-airstrikes-563f61bbd96e1f2de68373fdf76c8811">an American strike on the Ras Isa fuel port</a>&nbsp;killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others in the deadliest-known attack of the American campaign. Central Command on Monday offered an explanation for why it hit the port.“U.S. strikes destroyed the ability of Ras Isa Port to accept fuel, which will begin to impact Houthi ability to not only conduct operations, but also to generate millions of dollars in revenue for their terror activities,” it said.Meanwhile, the Houthis have increasingly sought to control the flow of information from the territory they hold to the outside world. It issued a notice Sunday that all those holding Starlink satellite internet receivers should “quickly hand over” the devices to authorities.“A field campaign will be implemented in coordination with the security authorities to arrest anyone who sells, trades, uses, operates, installs or possesses these prohibited terminals,” the Houthis warned.Starlink terminals have been crucial for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-ukraine-starlink-russia-air-force-fde93d9a69d7dbd1326022ecfdbc53c2">Ukraine in fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion</a>&nbsp;and receivers also have been smuggled into Iran amid unrest there.

Houthi rebels say alleged US airstrike hit Yemen prison, dozens killed

SUN Bucks program provides eligible families with $120 per school-aged child for summer groceries

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — An estimated 138,776 Kansas school-age children could have received free summer meals last year — their families just didn’t submit the application.

Of the estimated 148,000 children eligible for SUN Bucks pending application, according to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, there were applications submitted for 9,961 children. The program, also known as the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, gives families a $120 summer grocery card per eligible school-age child.

While most eligible children did not receive the SUN Bucks, 117,263 children automatically received them, according to DCF. The number of families who automatically received benefits were not counted into the 148,000 potential applications. Children in a household that had already submitted paperwork to receive free or reduced-price school lunches or applied for monthly food assistance programs, for example, were auto-enrolled. Families auto-enrolled for this summer received a letter in January.

The majority of states that offer SUN Bucks auto-enroll children in Medicaid. Kansas does not.

Haley Kottler, campaign director for food access at Kansas Appleseed, says DCF can’t auto-enroll children on Medicaid because of capacity issues with its internal system.

After&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usda-grocery-ebt-21-million-children-summer-2024-what-to-know/" target="_blank">federal funding was approved</a>, families had from<a href="https://www.propel.app/summer-ebt/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Aug. 12, 2024</a>, to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksde.gov/Home/Quick-Links/News-Room/Weekly-News/Student-Health-and-Nutrition/PID/6197/mcat/6219/acat/2/ArtDateMonth/9-2024" target="_blank">Oct. 15, 2024</a>, to apply. This year, families have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx" target="_blank">from Jan. 27 to Aug. 29</a>&nbsp;to apply — enlarging the window from two to seven months.

Kottler identified the small timespan as a reason for the low number of applications. The original application deadline was Sept. 11, 2024, and Kottler fought to change it. But she said that even with the extended window, applications didn’t increase.

“It made it really challenging, because a lot of families just didn’t know they were able to utilize this benefit,” Kottler said.

Erin LaRow, a spokeswoman for DCF, said her department spread the word via social media campaigns, messaging within the DCF phone system and self-service portal, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/SUNBucks.aspx" target="_blank">dedicated webpage</a>&nbsp;and a statewide news release.

The department also shared a fact sheet, both in English and Spanish, with the Kansas State Department of Education.

David Rubel, a New York City-based education consultant, looked at 12 states’ potential number of applications vs applications submitted. He found the percentage of applications submitted in every state was less than 20%.

North Carolina had the highest results, with 19.3% of applications submitted, followed by Missouri, with 18.3%. He said the comparatively robust numbers are because of communication about the SUN Bucks program from school districts.

“It’s all about the school districts getting the word out to their families. And why I emphasize the school districts is because they’re the only ones who have the current contact information for the families,” Rubel said.

Amber Wheeler, the superintendent of Humboldt School District — which has 33% of students approved for free and reduced-price lunches — said it has posted a DCF infographic on their social media accounts.

Robin Button, the food and service director for Fort Scott School District — with 56.7% of students approved for free and reduced-price lunches — said it plans on posting the infographic and mentioning the program at its town hall.

In the wake of President Donald Trump’s promise to deport more people — and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/irs-share-taxpayer-info-ice-immigrants-rcna200250" target="_blank">use of federal documents to identify them</a>&nbsp;— immigrant families are wary of submitting more documentation. While the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx" target="_blank">Kansas DCF website</a>&nbsp;states that receiving SUN Bucks would not affect a family’s immigration status, fear remains.

“There’s a chilling effect when it comes to programs like this,” Kottler said. “It’s absolutely causing them fear and to not apply.”

Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk have been pushing spending cuts — a crusade that has trickled down to state-level officials.

At the Kansas State Board of Education’s April meeting, a motion failed to allow KSDE Child and Wellness services to enter an agreement with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters to run public service announcements about summer meal programs. This means that stations associated with KAB won’t air promotional materials about the KSDE’s Sun Meals program, which is separate from the SUN Bucks program.

In the 2025-2026 Kansas legislative session, Republicans attempted to insert a provision in the budget that would ban the use of SUN Bucks on candy or soda. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the provision — and while the Senate overturned her veto, the House did not — ultimately upholding her veto.

LaRow with DCF said the department has received 1,294 SUN Bucks applications as of April 11.

Corrections: An earlier version of this story miscalculated the number of children who didn’t receive the SUN Bucks benefit, misstated a decision by the Kansas State Board of Education at its April meeting, and didn’t specify that KSDE’s Sun Meals program is separate from the SUN Bucks program.

Application is open now through Aug. 29, 2025.

Families who did not receive a letter from the Kansas Department for Children and Families in January&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx" target="_blank">can check their eligibility</a>.

Families should&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcfapp.kees.ks.gov/apspssp/sspNonMed.portal" target="_blank">apply through the DCF Self-service portal</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738161277873.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>SUN Bucks program provides eligible families with $120 per school-aged child for summer groceries</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — An estimated 138,776 Kansas school-age children could have received free summer meals last year — their families just didn’t submit the application.Of the estimated 148,000 children eligible for SUN Bucks pending application, according to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, there were applications submitted for 9,961 children. The program, also known as the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, gives families a $120 summer grocery card per eligible school-age child.While most eligible children did not receive the SUN Bucks, 117,263 children automatically received them, according to DCF. The number of families who automatically received benefits were not counted into the 148,000 potential applications. Children in a household that had already submitted paperwork to receive free or reduced-price school lunches or applied for monthly food assistance programs, for example, were auto-enrolled. Families auto-enrolled for this summer received a letter in January.The majority of states that offer SUN Bucks auto-enroll children in Medicaid. Kansas does not.Haley Kottler, campaign director for food access at Kansas Appleseed, says DCF can’t auto-enroll children on Medicaid because of capacity issues with its internal system.<h2>Why were applications so low?&nbsp;</h2>After&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usda-grocery-ebt-21-million-children-summer-2024-what-to-know/" target="_blank">federal funding was approved</a>, families had from<a href="https://www.propel.app/summer-ebt/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Aug. 12, 2024</a>, to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksde.gov/Home/Quick-Links/News-Room/Weekly-News/Student-Health-and-Nutrition/PID/6197/mcat/6219/acat/2/ArtDateMonth/9-2024" target="_blank">Oct. 15, 2024</a>, to apply. This year, families have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx" target="_blank">from Jan. 27 to Aug. 29</a>&nbsp;to apply — enlarging the window from two to seven months.Kottler identified the small timespan as a reason for the low number of applications. The original application deadline was Sept. 11, 2024, and Kottler fought to change it. But she said that even with the extended window, applications didn’t increase.“It made it really challenging, because a lot of families just didn’t know they were able to utilize this benefit,” Kottler said.Erin LaRow, a spokeswoman for DCF, said her department spread the word via social media campaigns, messaging within the DCF phone system and self-service portal, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/SUNBucks.aspx" target="_blank">dedicated webpage</a>&nbsp;and a statewide news release.The department also shared a fact sheet, both in English and Spanish, with the Kansas State Department of Education.David Rubel, a New York City-based education consultant, looked at 12 states’ potential number of applications vs applications submitted. He found the percentage of applications submitted in every state was less than 20%.North Carolina had the highest results, with 19.3% of applications submitted, followed by Missouri, with 18.3%. He said the comparatively robust numbers are because of communication about the SUN Bucks program from school districts.“It’s all about the school districts getting the word out to their families. And why I emphasize the school districts is because they’re the only ones who have the current contact information for the families,” Rubel said.Amber Wheeler, the superintendent of Humboldt School District — which has 33% of students approved for free and reduced-price lunches — said it has posted a DCF infographic on their social media accounts.Robin Button, the food and service director for Fort Scott School District — with 56.7% of students approved for free and reduced-price lunches — said it plans on posting the infographic and mentioning the program at its town hall.<h2>‘Chilling effect’ of recent politics</h2>In the wake of President Donald Trump’s promise to deport more people — and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/irs-share-taxpayer-info-ice-immigrants-rcna200250" target="_blank">use of federal documents to identify them</a>&nbsp;— immigrant families are wary of submitting more documentation. While the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx" target="_blank">Kansas DCF website</a>&nbsp;states that receiving SUN Bucks would not affect a family’s immigration status, fear remains.“There’s a chilling effect when it comes to programs like this,” Kottler said. “It’s absolutely causing them fear and to not apply.”Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk have been pushing spending cuts — a crusade that has trickled down to state-level officials.At the Kansas State Board of Education’s April meeting, a motion failed to allow KSDE Child and Wellness services to enter an agreement with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters to run public service announcements about summer meal programs. This means that stations associated with KAB won’t air promotional materials about the KSDE’s Sun Meals program, which is separate from the SUN Bucks program.In the 2025-2026 Kansas legislative session, Republicans attempted to insert a provision in the budget that would ban the use of SUN Bucks on candy or soda. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the provision — and while the Senate overturned her veto, the House did not — ultimately upholding her veto.LaRow with DCF said the department has received 1,294 SUN Bucks applications as of April 11.Corrections: An earlier version of this story miscalculated the number of children who didn’t receive the SUN Bucks benefit, misstated a decision by the Kansas State Board of Education at its April meeting, and didn’t specify that KSDE’s Sun Meals program is separate from the SUN Bucks program.How to apply for SUN BucksApplication is open now through Aug. 29, 2025.Families who did not receive a letter from the Kansas Department for Children and Families in January&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx" target="_blank">can check their eligibility</a>.Families should&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcfapp.kees.ks.gov/apspssp/sspNonMed.portal" target="_blank">apply through the DCF Self-service portal</a>.

Correction: More than 138,000 Kansas children miss out on free summer meals despite eligibility

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic, 29-year-old Graham Hoffman, critically injured in a stabbing while transporting a patient to the hospital on Sunday has died, according to&nbsp;Fire Chief Ross Grundyson.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, the Kansas City fire department was dispatched to North Oak and 152 on a routine medical call, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

While transporting the patient to the hospital, the patient stabbed firefighter paramedic Graham Hoffman in the chest. The firefighter's partner immediately called a crew emergency and additional KCFD personnel along with KCPD were dispatched to the scene.

Hoffman was transported to North Kansas City Hospital in critical condition.&nbsp;“KCFD crews worked tirelessly to save Firefighter Hoffman's life en route to North Kansas City Hospital. Lifesaving efforts continued in the emergency room before Graham was moved into surgery. Despite the heroic efforts of KCFD paramedics, the hospital medical team, Firefighter Hoffman, succumbed to his injuries in the intensive care unit," according to Grundyson

"Firefighter Graham Hoffman was 29 years old and was a member of the Department for three years. Graham was a vibrant individual who loved life and loved serving his community. He was an excellent paramedic who treated his patients with the highest level of skill and compassion."

Police took the suspect/patient into custody.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745790431024.png" alt="Graham Hoffman photo Kansas City Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Graham Hoffman photo Kansas City Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic, 29-year-old Graham Hoffman, critically injured in a stabbing while transporting a patient to the hospital on Sunday has died, according to&nbsp;Fire Chief Ross Grundyson.Just after 1a.m. Sunday, the Kansas City fire department was dispatched to North Oak and 152 on a routine medical call, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We will remember forever the service and sacrifice of Graham Hoffman of the Kansas City Fire Department. Our condolences to his family, all at KCFD, and all in our community. <a href="https://t.co/dfDEBoyD6f">pic.twitter.com/dfDEBoyD6f</a>&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1916592243776901391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>While transporting the patient to the hospital, the patient stabbed firefighter paramedic Graham Hoffman in the chest. The firefighter's partner immediately called a crew emergency and additional KCFD personnel along with KCPD were dispatched to the scene.Hoffman was transported to North Kansas City Hospital in critical condition.&nbsp;“KCFD crews worked tirelessly to save Firefighter Hoffman's life en route to North Kansas City Hospital. Lifesaving efforts continued in the emergency room before Graham was moved into surgery. Despite the heroic efforts of KCFD paramedics, the hospital medical team, Firefighter Hoffman, succumbed to his injuries in the intensive care unit," according to Grundyson"Firefighter Graham Hoffman was 29 years old and was a member of the Department for three years. Graham was a vibrant individual who loved life and loved serving his community. He was an excellent paramedic who treated his patients with the highest level of skill and compassion.""The Kansas City Fire Department grieves with Graham’s family, friends, and loved ones. This is a senseless act that has taken a great young man from his family, friends, and coworkers, and deprived our city of a dedicated firefighter, and a leader on and off the job who only wanted toserve and protect those in his community."Police took the suspect/patient into custody.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

KC firefighter paramedic stabbed by patient has died

BENTON COUNTY, Mo. —Two people died in an accident that occurred just before 9p.m.&nbsp; Friday in Benton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Dodge Avenger driven by a 44-year-old Clinton, Missouri woman was southbound on MO 7 over the Mile Long Bridge.&nbsp; The car crossed into the path of a northbound Chevy Tahoe driven by a 26-year-old Clinton, Missouri man. The&nbsp; car struck the SUV head-on.&nbsp;

After impact the Tahoe struck the bridge. The SUV and the boat it was towing fell into the water. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745799954594.png" alt="Photo courtesy KYTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KYTV</figcaption>
 </figure>BENTON COUNTY, Mo. —Two people died in an accident that occurred just before 9p.m.&nbsp; Friday in Benton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Dodge Avenger driven by a 44-year-old Clinton, Missouri woman was southbound on MO 7 over the Mile Long Bridge.&nbsp; The car crossed into the path of a northbound Chevy Tahoe driven by a 26-year-old Clinton, Missouri man. The&nbsp; car struck the SUV head-on.&nbsp;After impact the Tahoe struck the bridge. The SUV and the boat it was towing fell into the water. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 dead after head-on crash and SUV falls into Mo. Lake

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman who admitted to her role in a deadly hit-and run accident was sentenced on Friday.

Judge Chrystal Krier sentenced 20-year-old Peyton Allart of Wichita to&nbsp; 36 months probation with an underlying sentence of 31 months, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Last month, Allart entered a guilty plea to leaving the scene of an accident that killed&nbsp;28-year-old Jaz Brooks.

Just after 3a.m. June 23,&nbsp; 2024, police responded to a vehicle collision at the intersection of Central and McLean in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

First responders discovered a dark-colored Saturn involved in the incident. The passenger, identified as Brooks, was found trapped inside the vehicle and pronounced deceased. The driver of the Saturn received an evaluation by EMS for non-lifethreatening injuries at the scene.

Preliminary investigations revealed that a black Ford F-150 had collided with the Saturn on its passenger side and fled prior to law enforcement's arrival. Officers successfully located the suspect identified as Allart, who was 19 at the time of the crash, and the vehicle several hours later.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719242864860.png" alt="Allart photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Allart photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman who admitted to her role in a deadly hit-and run accident was sentenced on Friday.Judge Chrystal Krier sentenced 20-year-old Peyton Allart of Wichita to&nbsp; 36 months probation with an underlying sentence of 31 months, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Last month, Allart entered a guilty plea to leaving the scene of an accident that killed&nbsp;28-year-old Jaz Brooks.Just after 3a.m. June 23,&nbsp; 2024, police responded to a vehicle collision at the intersection of Central and McLean in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.First responders discovered a dark-colored Saturn involved in the incident. The passenger, identified as Brooks, was found trapped inside the vehicle and pronounced deceased. The driver of the Saturn received an evaluation by EMS for non-lifethreatening injuries at the scene.Preliminary investigations revealed that a black Ford F-150 had collided with the Saturn on its passenger side and fled prior to law enforcement's arrival. Officers successfully located the suspect identified as Allart, who was 19 at the time of the crash, and the vehicle several hours later.&nbsp;

Sentenced after plea deal in fatal Kansas hit-and-run

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonel-aleccia">JONEL ALECCIA</a>

The Agriculture Department will not require poultry companies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicken-turkey-food-poisoning-salmonella-usda-58e2813065011613d0922a03ce1e4d89">to limit salmonella bacteria</a>&nbsp;in their products, halting a Biden Administration effort to prevent food poisoning from contaminated meat.

The department on Thursday said it was withdrawing a rule proposed in August after three years of development. Officials with the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service cited feedback from more than 7,000 public comments and said they would “evaluate whether it should update” current salmonella regulations.

The rule would have required poultry companies to keep levels of salmonella bacteria under a certain threshold and test for the presence of six strains most associated with illness, including three found in turkey and three in chicken. If the levels exceeded the standard or any of those strains were found, the poultry couldn’t be sold and would be subject to recall, the proposal had said.

The plan aimed to reduce an estimated 125,000 salmonella infections from chicken and 43,000 from turkey each year, according to USDA. Overall, salmonella causes 1.35 million infections a year, most through food, and about 420 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The withdrawal drew praise from the National Chicken Council, an industry trade group, which said the proposed rule was legally unsound, misinterpreted science, would have increased costs and create more food waste, all “with no meaningful impact on public health.”

“We remain committed to further reducing salmonella and fully support food safety regulations and policies that are based on sound science,” said Ashley Peterson, the group’s senior vice president of science and regulatory affairs.

But the move drew swift criticism from food safety advocates, including Sandra Eskin, a former USDA official who helped draft the plan.

The withdrawal “sends the clear message that the Make America Healthy Again initiative does not care about the thousands of people who get sick from preventable foodborne salmonella infections linked to poultry,” Eskin said in a statement.

The proposed rule had been regarded as a food safety victory similar to a 1994 decision to ban certain strains of dangerous E. coli bacteria from ground beef after deadly outbreaks, said Sarah Sorscher, of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

“Make no mistake: Shipping more salmonella to restaurants and grocery stores is certain to make Americans sicker,” Sorscher said.

Earlier this month, the USDA said it would delay by six months the enforcement of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/salmonella-chicken-breaded-food-poisoning-38c318363a674a372427a852857ce41b">a final rule</a>&nbsp;regulating salmonella levels in certain breaded and stuffed raw chicken products. Enforcement, which was set for May 1, now begins Nov. 3.

That covers foods such as frozen chicken cordon bleu and chicken Kiev dishes that appear to be fully cooked but are only heat-treated to set the batter or coating. Such products&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/enteritidis-06-21/index.html" target="_blank">have been linked</a>&nbsp;to at least 14 salmonella outbreaks and at least 200 illnesses since 1998, according to the CDC.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745587893243.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonel-aleccia">JONEL ALECCIA</a>The Agriculture Department will not require poultry companies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicken-turkey-food-poisoning-salmonella-usda-58e2813065011613d0922a03ce1e4d89">to limit salmonella bacteria</a>&nbsp;in their products, halting a Biden Administration effort to prevent food poisoning from contaminated meat.The department on Thursday said it was withdrawing a rule proposed in August after three years of development. Officials with the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service cited feedback from more than 7,000 public comments and said they would “evaluate whether it should update” current salmonella regulations.The rule would have required poultry companies to keep levels of salmonella bacteria under a certain threshold and test for the presence of six strains most associated with illness, including three found in turkey and three in chicken. If the levels exceeded the standard or any of those strains were found, the poultry couldn’t be sold and would be subject to recall, the proposal had said.The plan aimed to reduce an estimated 125,000 salmonella infections from chicken and 43,000 from turkey each year, according to USDA. Overall, salmonella causes 1.35 million infections a year, most through food, and about 420 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The withdrawal drew praise from the National Chicken Council, an industry trade group, which said the proposed rule was legally unsound, misinterpreted science, would have increased costs and create more food waste, all “with no meaningful impact on public health.”“We remain committed to further reducing salmonella and fully support food safety regulations and policies that are based on sound science,” said Ashley Peterson, the group’s senior vice president of science and regulatory affairs.But the move drew swift criticism from food safety advocates, including Sandra Eskin, a former USDA official who helped draft the plan.The withdrawal “sends the clear message that the Make America Healthy Again initiative does not care about the thousands of people who get sick from preventable foodborne salmonella infections linked to poultry,” Eskin said in a statement.The proposed rule had been regarded as a food safety victory similar to a 1994 decision to ban certain strains of dangerous E. coli bacteria from ground beef after deadly outbreaks, said Sarah Sorscher, of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.“Make no mistake: Shipping more salmonella to restaurants and grocery stores is certain to make Americans sicker,” Sorscher said.Earlier this month, the USDA said it would delay by six months the enforcement of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/salmonella-chicken-breaded-food-poisoning-38c318363a674a372427a852857ce41b">a final rule</a>&nbsp;regulating salmonella levels in certain breaded and stuffed raw chicken products. Enforcement, which was set for May 1, now begins Nov. 3.That covers foods such as frozen chicken cordon bleu and chicken Kiev dishes that appear to be fully cooked but are only heat-treated to set the batter or coating. Such products&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/enteritidis-06-21/index.html" target="_blank">have been linked</a>&nbsp;to at least 14 salmonella outbreaks and at least 200 illnesses since 1998, according to the CDC.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

USDA withdraws a plan to limit salmonella levels in raw poultry

NEW YORK (AP) — When Random House Publisher Andrew Ward met recently with staff editors to discuss potential book projects, conversation inevitably turned to current events and the Trump administration.

“It seemed obvious that we needed to look back to the country’s core documents,” Ward said. “And that we wanted to get them out quickly.”

On Wednesday, Random House announced that it would publish a hardcover book in July combining the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript" target="_blank">Declaration of Independence</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution" target="_blank">U.S. Constitution,</a>&nbsp;followed in November by a hardcover edition of&nbsp;<a href="https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/full-text" target="_blank">the Federalist Papers.</a>&nbsp;Both books include introductions by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jon-meacham-garry-wills-sidney-blumenthal-rick-atkinson-3ba9340ab66b4bf47ce1c87181933e93">Jon Meacham</a>, who has written biographies of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson among others.

The Random House volumes, released through its Modern Library imprint, will join a prolific market that has surged in recent months. According to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print retail market, editions of the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers and the U.S. Constitution are selling at their fastest pace since Circana began compiling numbers in 2004.

Around 162,000 combined copies have sold through mid-April, compared to 58,000 during the same time period the year before and around 33,000 in 2023. Sales were around 92,000 in the early months of Trump’s first term, in 2017, more than double the pace of 2016.

Brenna Connor, a book industry analyst for Circana, said the jump “is likely in response to the recent change of administration” and cited increased interest in other books about democracy and government, among them&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5efc9984e90841c7991656de8a235874">Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny”</a>&nbsp;and the Michael Lewis-edited “Who Is Government?” a collection of essays about civil servants by Dave Eggers, Geraldine Brooks, Sarah Vowell and others.

“This pursual of political understanding is playing out in a few different areas,” Connor added.

Meacham, during a recent phone interview with The Associated Press, said that the founders had sought to make sense of a revolutionary era — whether breaking with England or debating how to form a federal government with enough power to rule effectively, without giving it the kind of monarchical authority that enraged the colonies.

Reading the Declaration and other texts, he believes, can give today’s public a similar sense of mission and guiding principles.

“It is a tumultuous moment ... to put it kindly,” Meacham said. “One way to address the chaos of the present time, what Saint Paul would call the ‘tribulations’ of the present time, is to re-engage with the essential texts that are about creating a system that is still worth defending.”

The Modern Library books will have many competitors. The 18th century documents all are in the public domain, can be read for free online and anyone can publish them. According to Circana, popular editions have been released by Skyhorse, Penguin, Barnes &amp; Noble and others.

“We generally see increased sales of editions of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution every election cycle, but particularly this year,” said Shannon DeVito, Barnes &amp; Noble’s senior director of book strategy. “This could be because next year marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence,” she said, “or the fast and furious current political conversations and policy changes.”

By&nbsp;Hillel ItalieNEW YORK (AP) — When Random House Publisher Andrew Ward met recently with staff editors to discuss potential book projects, conversation inevitably turned to current events and the Trump administration.“It seemed obvious that we needed to look back to the country’s core documents,” Ward said. “And that we wanted to get them out quickly.”On Wednesday, Random House announced that it would publish a hardcover book in July combining the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript" target="_blank">Declaration of Independence</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution" target="_blank">U.S. Constitution,</a>&nbsp;followed in November by a hardcover edition of&nbsp;<a href="https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/full-text" target="_blank">the Federalist Papers.</a>&nbsp;Both books include introductions by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jon-meacham-garry-wills-sidney-blumenthal-rick-atkinson-3ba9340ab66b4bf47ce1c87181933e93">Jon Meacham</a>, who has written biographies of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson among others.The Random House volumes, released through its Modern Library imprint, will join a prolific market that has surged in recent months. According to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print retail market, editions of the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers and the U.S. Constitution are selling at their fastest pace since Circana began compiling numbers in 2004.Around 162,000 combined copies have sold through mid-April, compared to 58,000 during the same time period the year before and around 33,000 in 2023. Sales were around 92,000 in the early months of Trump’s first term, in 2017, more than double the pace of 2016.Brenna Connor, a book industry analyst for Circana, said the jump “is likely in response to the recent change of administration” and cited increased interest in other books about democracy and government, among them&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5efc9984e90841c7991656de8a235874">Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny”</a>&nbsp;and the Michael Lewis-edited “Who Is Government?” a collection of essays about civil servants by Dave Eggers, Geraldine Brooks, Sarah Vowell and others.“This pursual of political understanding is playing out in a few different areas,” Connor added.Meacham, during a recent phone interview with The Associated Press, said that the founders had sought to make sense of a revolutionary era — whether breaking with England or debating how to form a federal government with enough power to rule effectively, without giving it the kind of monarchical authority that enraged the colonies.Reading the Declaration and other texts, he believes, can give today’s public a similar sense of mission and guiding principles.“It is a tumultuous moment ... to put it kindly,” Meacham said. “One way to address the chaos of the present time, what Saint Paul would call the ‘tribulations’ of the present time, is to re-engage with the essential texts that are about creating a system that is still worth defending.”The Modern Library books will have many competitors. The 18th century documents all are in the public domain, can be read for free online and anyone can publish them. According to Circana, popular editions have been released by Skyhorse, Penguin, Barnes &amp; Noble and others.“We generally see increased sales of editions of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution every election cycle, but particularly this year,” said Shannon DeVito, Barnes &amp; Noble’s senior director of book strategy. “This could be because next year marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence,” she said, “or the fast and furious current political conversations and policy changes.”<figure>
 <img src="https://choices.trustarc.com/get?name=admarker-full-tl.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Publishers see surging interest in the US Constitution and print new editions

WICHITA —The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Sedgwick County District Attorney warns residents of to exercise extreme caution regarding unsolicited mailers offering home warranty services, according to DA Marc Bennett.

The Division was recently informed about a postcard mailed to a senior citizen in Sedgwick County. The bold, large font title stating “County Deed Records” is deceptive, given that the mailer has no association with the County or the homeowner’s deed. It appears designed to scare consumers into acting out of fear, concerned there may be an issue involving their property ownership. 

The real subject matter of the mailing is a homeowner’s warranty, some of which may cost thousands of dollars per year and can be difficult to cancel. 

In addition, the statement “REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION” and references to “a lapse in coverage” and “uninterrupted protection” are also deceptive because they imply the homeowner had warranty coverage in the past when that is not true.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745354892440.png" alt="Image Sedgwick Co. District Attorney" />
 <figcaption>Image Sedgwick Co. District Attorney</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Sedgwick County District Attorney warns residents of to exercise extreme caution regarding unsolicited mailers offering home warranty services, according to DA Marc Bennett.The Division was recently informed about a postcard mailed to a senior citizen in Sedgwick County. The bold, large font title stating “County Deed Records” is deceptive, given that the mailer has no association with the County or the homeowner’s deed. It appears designed to scare consumers into acting out of fear, concerned there may be an issue involving their property ownership. The real subject matter of the mailing is a homeowner’s warranty, some of which may cost thousands of dollars per year and can be difficult to cancel. In addition, the statement “REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION” and references to “a lapse in coverage” and “uninterrupted protection” are also deceptive because they imply the homeowner had warranty coverage in the past when that is not true.In addition to the deception, the Consumer Protection Division also warns consumers to question the legitimacy of any mailer, such as this one, that does not clearly identify who the sender is.Please look out for your friends and neighbors too, especially those who may be experiencing cognitive decline. These types of mailers intentionally prey on their anxieties, vulnerabilities and ability to recall events.