SEDGWICK COUNTY —A woman charged with driving under the influence in a crash that killed a woman is scheduled for an arraignment hearing next month.

Trisha Greer, 43, was scheduled for hearing before Judge Sean Hatfield on Friday. She waived her hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office and will be back in court February 21.

Just after 11p.m. May 14, Greer was driving without headlights at 55th Street South and Hoover, according to Sheriff's Lt Nathan Gibbs. The vehicle struck and killed 18-year-old Bethany Aillen Callista Leggio who was standing with a group of people at the location.

Greet was booked into jail just after 1a.m. the following morning, according to online jail records. She&nbsp;is free on bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717510102482.png" alt="Greer-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Greer-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A woman charged with driving under the influence in a crash that killed a woman is scheduled for an arraignment hearing next month.Trisha Greer, 43, was scheduled for hearing before Judge Sean Hatfield on Friday. She waived her hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office and will be back in court February 21.Just after 11p.m. May 14, Greer was driving without headlights at 55th Street South and Hoover, according to Sheriff's Lt Nathan Gibbs. The vehicle struck and killed 18-year-old Bethany Aillen Callista Leggio who was standing with a group of people at the location.Greet was booked into jail just after 1a.m. the following morning, according to online jail records. She&nbsp;is free on bond.

Woman charged in deadly Kan. crash scheduled for arraignment

DICKINSON COUNTY —Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a rural Saline County home.

Just after 2a.m. Sunday,&nbsp;crews responded to a house fire near Carlton, according to a social media report from Saline County Rural Fire District #1.

&nbsp;Dickinson County EMS checked a resident for smoke inhalation.  Additional assistance from Saline County Fire District #2 was called in to relieve personnel and help with overhaul efforts. Operations ended and the last units were released at approximately 8a.m.&nbsp; Authorities have not released a damage estimate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736788080978.png" alt="-Photos Saline County Fire District 1" />
 <figcaption>-Photos Saline County Fire District 1</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY —Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a rural Saline County home.Just after 2a.m. Sunday,&nbsp;crews responded to a house fire near Carlton, according to a social media report from Saline County Rural Fire District #1.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736788349762.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Dickinson County EMS checked a resident for smoke inhalation. Additional assistance from Saline County Fire District #2 was called in to relieve personnel and help with overhaul efforts. Operations ended and the last units were released at approximately 8a.m.&nbsp; Authorities have not released a damage estimate.

Home destroyed in rural Kansas fire

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/greglarose/">GREG LAROSE</a>&nbsp;

An infectious disease expert says the relatively mild cases of avian influenza detected so far among dairy workers don’t warrant making a vaccine available to them, even as they work to contain and prevent spread of the contagious virus among herds.

Dr. Shira Doron, an epidemiologist and chief infection control officer for Tufts Medicine in Boston, said the minor spread of the H5N1 among humans – and no reported instances of human-to-human transmission – makes any widespread administration of a vaccine premature right now.

“There are also many logistical issues that would be associated with deployment of vaccine to farm workers – language barrier, undocumented status, compliance – so that is not the plan at this time, “ Doron said Friday morning during an Infectious Diseases Society of America teleconference.

H5N1 has circulated globally for decades, she said. Analysis of the strains currently circulating shows them to be poorly suited for transmission between humans and with low pandemic potential, according to Doron.

Human patients have also responded well to antiviral treatments such as Tamiflu, the doctor said.

The current avian flu strains have led to two severe cases in humans. One involved a 65-year-old person from Louisiana who contracted the virus from exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds, state health officials said. It was&nbsp;<a href="https://lailluminator.com/2025/01/06/avian-flu-louisiana/" target="_blank">the nation’s first ever fatal human case</a>&nbsp;of avian flu, though the patient was reported to have underlying conditions that worsened after they contracted H5N1.

The other severe case was a teen in Canada who had to be admitted to a hospital’s intensive care unit. That patient contracted the virus from wild birds, Doron said.

Dr. Julio Figeroua, LSU Health chief of infectious diseases and a professor at Louisiana State University’s medical school in New Orleans, also took part in the IDSA teleconference. There have been no secondary avian flu cases related to the patient in Louisiana who died, he said.

“We have people who do hunting, hunting of geese and ducks, and so advisories have been put out to those for proper handling of those particular animals,” Figeroua said. “A lot of backyard flocks that are here and in urban and suburban areas are potentially also potential sources for transmission.”

In addition to 919 dairy herds in 16 states, the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu has impacted more than 133 million poultry farms in all 50 states as of Wednesday, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Coordination about the various federal and state agencies responding to avian flu outbreaks will be crucial to containing its spread, especially as the incoming Trump administration takes over, Doron and Figueroa said.

Asked to provide an estimate for when the current H5N1 outbreak might be contained or peter out on its own, Doron said it’s difficult to determine at this point.

“I think it really is going to depend on how long immunity lasts, and it’s too early in the outbreak to know that,” she said. “… If the immunity doesn’t last more than a few months, then we could have ongoing spread indefinitely.”

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://lailluminator.com/2025/01/10/avian-flu/" target="_blank">Louisiana Illuminator</a>, a States Newsroom affiliate.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733747978622.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/greglarose/">GREG LAROSE</a>&nbsp;An infectious disease expert says the relatively mild cases of avian influenza detected so far among dairy workers don’t warrant making a vaccine available to them, even as they work to contain and prevent spread of the contagious virus among herds.Dr. Shira Doron, an epidemiologist and chief infection control officer for Tufts Medicine in Boston, said the minor spread of the H5N1 among humans – and no reported instances of human-to-human transmission – makes any widespread administration of a vaccine premature right now.“There are also many logistical issues that would be associated with deployment of vaccine to farm workers – language barrier, undocumented status, compliance – so that is not the plan at this time, “ Doron said Friday morning during an Infectious Diseases Society of America teleconference.H5N1 has circulated globally for decades, she said. Analysis of the strains currently circulating shows them to be poorly suited for transmission between humans and with low pandemic potential, according to Doron.Human patients have also responded well to antiviral treatments such as Tamiflu, the doctor said.The current avian flu strains have led to two severe cases in humans. One involved a 65-year-old person from Louisiana who contracted the virus from exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds, state health officials said. It was&nbsp;<a href="https://lailluminator.com/2025/01/06/avian-flu-louisiana/" target="_blank">the nation’s first ever fatal human case</a>&nbsp;of avian flu, though the patient was reported to have underlying conditions that worsened after they contracted H5N1.The other severe case was a teen in Canada who had to be admitted to a hospital’s intensive care unit. That patient contracted the virus from wild birds, Doron said.Dr. Julio Figeroua, LSU Health chief of infectious diseases and a professor at Louisiana State University’s medical school in New Orleans, also took part in the IDSA teleconference. There have been no secondary avian flu cases related to the patient in Louisiana who died, he said.“We have people who do hunting, hunting of geese and ducks, and so advisories have been put out to those for proper handling of those particular animals,” Figeroua said. “A lot of backyard flocks that are here and in urban and suburban areas are potentially also potential sources for transmission.”In addition to 919 dairy herds in 16 states, the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu has impacted more than 133 million poultry farms in all 50 states as of Wednesday, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Coordination about the various federal and state agencies responding to avian flu outbreaks will be crucial to containing its spread, especially as the incoming Trump administration takes over, Doron and Figueroa said.Asked to provide an estimate for when the current H5N1 outbreak might be contained or peter out on its own, Doron said it’s difficult to determine at this point.“I think it really is going to depend on how long immunity lasts, and it’s too early in the outbreak to know that,” she said. “… If the immunity doesn’t last more than a few months, then we could have ongoing spread indefinitely.”This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://lailluminator.com/2025/01/10/avian-flu/" target="_blank">Louisiana Illuminator</a>, a States Newsroom affiliate.&nbsp;

No need to provide an avian flu vaccine for humans yet, expert says

KANSAS CITY —A Jackson County judge sentenced a Kansas City woman to seven years in prison for her two-year-old child’s fatal fentanyl poisoning, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

In December, 33-year-old Tierra O’Field pled guilty to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2479/Afterhours-Complaint-Packet-OField-Redacted">Involuntary Manslaughter in the 1st Degree</a>&nbsp;last month.

According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2477/Tierra-Ofield-PC-Statement_Redacted" target="_blank">court records</a>, Kansas City police and EMS were dispatched on Oct. 11, 2022, to a Kansas City apartment where they located a two-year-old child who was cold to the touch, with rigor mortis and beyond medical help.&nbsp;

Detectives interviewed the child’s mother, the defendant, who said she fell asleep in a chair in the living room with her child. She was awoken by her sister and mother knocking at the front door. The defendant got up to answer the door, but the child remained on the chair, and she thought he was still asleep. When the defendant went back to check on him, the child was unresponsive and cold to the touch. She called 911.&nbsp;

During the interview with detectives, the defendant said she kept fentanyl in a baggie in her bra and when she checked on her child, she saw the baggie was on the chair and empty. When she moved her child, she saw particles of fentanyl on the chair under where he was sleeping. When detectives interviewed the defendant’s mother, she said the defendant struggles with drug addiction.

When police processed the scene, they also found a glass pipe on the chair along with an empty plastic bag and a torch lighter. On the floor next to the chair was a red straw and a whitish rock-like substance. Detectives located multiple pieces of tin foil with burnt residue in multiple locations in the apartment along with five syringes with apparent residue.&nbsp;

The Jackson County Medical Examiner found the child’s manner of death was a result of fentanyl intoxication.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736614244462.png" alt="O'field photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>O'field photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Jackson County judge sentenced a Kansas City woman to seven years in prison for her two-year-old child’s fatal fentanyl poisoning, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.In December, 33-year-old Tierra O’Field pled guilty to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2479/Afterhours-Complaint-Packet-OField-Redacted">Involuntary Manslaughter in the 1st Degree</a>&nbsp;last month.According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2477/Tierra-Ofield-PC-Statement_Redacted" target="_blank">court records</a>, Kansas City police and EMS were dispatched on Oct. 11, 2022, to a Kansas City apartment where they located a two-year-old child who was cold to the touch, with rigor mortis and beyond medical help.&nbsp;Detectives interviewed the child’s mother, the defendant, who said she fell asleep in a chair in the living room with her child. She was awoken by her sister and mother knocking at the front door. The defendant got up to answer the door, but the child remained on the chair, and she thought he was still asleep. When the defendant went back to check on him, the child was unresponsive and cold to the touch. She called 911.&nbsp;During the interview with detectives, the defendant said she kept fentanyl in a baggie in her bra and when she checked on her child, she saw the baggie was on the chair and empty. When she moved her child, she saw particles of fentanyl on the chair under where he was sleeping. When detectives interviewed the defendant’s mother, she said the defendant struggles with drug addiction.When police processed the scene, they also found a glass pipe on the chair along with an empty plastic bag and a torch lighter. On the floor next to the chair was a red straw and a whitish rock-like substance. Detectives located multiple pieces of tin foil with burnt residue in multiple locations in the apartment along with five syringes with apparent residue.&nbsp;The Jackson County Medical Examiner found the child’s manner of death was a result of fentanyl intoxication.&nbsp;

KC mother sentenced for toddler son’s fatal fentanyl poisoning 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservative lawmakers across the U.S. are pushing to introduce more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-schools-religion-38ae3d9d481a736d274dd4580b3bf8a0">Christianity to public school classrooms</a>, testing the separation of church and state by inserting Bible references into reading lessons and requiring teachers to post the Ten Commandments.

The efforts come as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office&nbsp;<a href="https://rncplatform.donaldjtrump.com/?_gl=1*1303efn*_gcl_au*MTE1NzQ5NDM1LjE3MzE0MzQxNDk.&amp;_ga=2.102021505.1296244442.1734716952-1564405565.1731434149">pledging to champion</a>&nbsp;the First Amendment right to pray and read the Bible in school, practices that are already allowed as long as they are not government-sponsored.

While the federal government is&nbsp;<a href="https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:20%20section:1232a%20edition:prelim)">explicitly barred</a>&nbsp;from directing states on what to teach, Trump can indirectly influence what is taught in public schools and his election may embolden state-level activists.

Trump and his fellow Republicans support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-republican-platform-education-schools-172e27bbfb3402d22e5c2effb740654f">school choice</a>, hoping to expand the practice of using taxpayer-funded vouchers to help parents send their children to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christian-private-school-choice-ohio-3c49fe1477a678377ede32e5de5f6db3">religious schools</a>.

But there is a parallel push to incorporate more Christianity into the mainstream public schools that serve the overwhelming majority of students, including those of other faiths. And with the help of judicial appointees from Trump's first presidential term, courts have begun to bless the notion of more religion in the public sphere,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-coach-prayer-2981a8073ea82a1a688c367270c941aa">including in schools</a>.

“The effect of even Trump being the president-elect, let alone the president again, is Christian nationalists are emboldened like never before,” said Rachel Laser, the president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Large numbers of Americans believe the founders intended the U.S. to be a Christian nation. A smaller group, part of a movement widely called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-founders-christian-nation-conservative-beliefs-4ea388e8d80c54016a6a4460cbef9b82">Christian nationalism</a>, champions a fusion of American and Christian identity and believes the U.S. has a mandate to build an explicitly Christian society.

Many historians argue the opposite, claiming the framers created the United States as an alternative to European monarchies with official state churches and oppression of religious minorities.

Efforts to introduce more Christianity into classrooms have taken hold in several states.

In Louisiana, Republicans passed a law requiring every public school classroom to post the Ten Commandments, which begin with “I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Families have sued.

In Texas, officials in November approved a curriculum&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-bible-religion-schools-52b74577982b34ce2607b693bd51cae7">intertwining language arts with biblical lessons</a>. And in Oklahoma, the state superintendent of education has called for lessons to incorporate the Bible from grades 5 through 12, a requirement schools&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bible-mandate-oklahoma-schools-bixby-superintendent-19e235a16d9aefd350df9106a5d759b3">have declined to follow</a>.

Utah state lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://custom.statenet.com/public/resources.cgi?id=ID:bill:UT2024000H269&amp;ciq=ncsl5&amp;client_md=b4d4548adfcbc8e85b76125afcc7b842&amp;mode=current_text">designated</a>&nbsp;the Ten Commandments as a historic document, in the same category as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, so teachers could post it in their classrooms. Many other states have seen legislation that would put them in more classrooms. And attorneys general from 17 GOP-led states recently filed a brief supporting Louisiana's Ten Commandments mandate.

Schools are permitted — and even encouraged — to teach about religion and to expose students to religious texts. But some say the new measures are indoctrinating students, not educating them.

Critics have raised concerns also about proliferating lesson plans. Some states have allowed teachers to use videos from Prager U, a nonprofit founded by a conservative talk show host, despite criticism that the videos positively highlight the spread of Christianity and include Christian nationalist talking points.

During his first administration, Trump commissioned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-revoke-trump-patriotic-education-259b9302ab24bac55fa14676a1a9d11e">the 1776 Project</a>, a report that attempted to promote a more patriotic version of American history. It was panned by historians and scholars who said it credited Christianity for many of the positive turns in U.S. history without mentioning the religion's role in perpetuating slavery, for example.

The project was developed into a curriculum by the conservative Hillsdale College in Michigan and is now taught in a network of publicly funded charter schools supported by the college. It also has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-donald-trump-michigan-south-dakota-sioux-falls-54712a652c5a0f1f74deebe280dcfc01">influenced state standards in South Dakota</a>.

Challenges to some state measures are now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-schools-ten-commandments-cf59c57adfa049111c67a6cda1efb796">working their way through the courts</a>, which have grown friendlier to religious interests thanks to Trump's judicial appointments.

In 2022, the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-coach-prayer-2981a8073ea82a1a688c367270c941aa">ruled in favor of a football coach</a>&nbsp;in Washington state who was fired for praying with players at midfield after a game, saying the school district infringed on his rights to religious expression. Dissenting justices noted some players felt pressure to join the coach. But the high court said a public school can't restrict an employee's religious activity just because it could be construed as an endorsement of religion, reversing a five-decade precedent.

The ruling could pave the way for conservatives to introduce more Christianity in public schools, said Derek Black, a law professor at the University of South Carolina.

“Donald Trump’s judicial appointees have emboldened states” to test the separation of church and state, he said.

In the wake of the football coach's case, courts now analyze church-state separation through the lens of history, said Joseph Davis of Becket, a public interest law firm focused on religious freedom that is defending Louisiana over its Ten Commandments mandate.

The Supreme Court has endorsed the idea that “it’s OK to have religious expression in the public spaces," Davis said, "and that we should sort of expect that ... if it’s a big part of our history.”

Critics say some measures to introduce more historical references to Christianity in classrooms have taken things too far, inserting biblical references gratuitously, while erasing the role Christianity played in justifying atrocities perpetuated by Americans, like genocide of Native people.

These are among the criticisms facing the new reading curriculum in Texas. Created by the state, districts aren't required to use it, but they receive financial incentives for adopting it.

“The authors appear to go out of their way to work detailed Bible lessons into the curriculum even when they are both unnecessary and unwarranted,” religious studies scholar David R. Brockman wrote&nbsp;<a href="https://tfn.org/cms/assets/uploads/2024/11/11.24-OER-Analysis-Update.pdf">in a report on the material</a>. “Though religious freedom is vital to American democracy, the curriculum distorts its role in the nation’s founding while underplaying the importance of other fundamental liberties cherished by Americans.”

Texas Values, a conservative think tank that backed the new reading curriculum, said in a statement that the court's pivot toward permitting more Christianity in schools, and allowing more taxpayer money to flow to religious institutions, is corrective.

The football coach case has rightfully returned protections for religion and free speech in public school, said Jonathan Saenz, the Texas Values president.

“Voters and lawmakers (are) getting tired of the attacks on God and our heritage of being ‘One Nation Under God,'” he said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservative lawmakers across the U.S. are pushing to introduce more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-schools-religion-38ae3d9d481a736d274dd4580b3bf8a0">Christianity to public school classrooms</a>, testing the separation of church and state by inserting Bible references into reading lessons and requiring teachers to post the Ten Commandments.The efforts come as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office&nbsp;<a href="https://rncplatform.donaldjtrump.com/?_gl=1*1303efn*_gcl_au*MTE1NzQ5NDM1LjE3MzE0MzQxNDk.&amp;_ga=2.102021505.1296244442.1734716952-1564405565.1731434149">pledging to champion</a>&nbsp;the First Amendment right to pray and read the Bible in school, practices that are already allowed as long as they are not government-sponsored.While the federal government is&nbsp;<a href="https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:20%20section:1232a%20edition:prelim)">explicitly barred</a>&nbsp;from directing states on what to teach, Trump can indirectly influence what is taught in public schools and his election may embolden state-level activists.Trump and his fellow Republicans support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-republican-platform-education-schools-172e27bbfb3402d22e5c2effb740654f">school choice</a>, hoping to expand the practice of using taxpayer-funded vouchers to help parents send their children to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christian-private-school-choice-ohio-3c49fe1477a678377ede32e5de5f6db3">religious schools</a>.But there is a parallel push to incorporate more Christianity into the mainstream public schools that serve the overwhelming majority of students, including those of other faiths. And with the help of judicial appointees from Trump's first presidential term, courts have begun to bless the notion of more religion in the public sphere,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-coach-prayer-2981a8073ea82a1a688c367270c941aa">including in schools</a>.“The effect of even Trump being the president-elect, let alone the president again, is Christian nationalists are emboldened like never before,” said Rachel Laser, the president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.Large numbers of Americans believe the founders intended the U.S. to be a Christian nation. A smaller group, part of a movement widely called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-founders-christian-nation-conservative-beliefs-4ea388e8d80c54016a6a4460cbef9b82">Christian nationalism</a>, champions a fusion of American and Christian identity and believes the U.S. has a mandate to build an explicitly Christian society.Many historians argue the opposite, claiming the framers created the United States as an alternative to European monarchies with official state churches and oppression of religious minorities.Efforts to introduce more Christianity into classrooms have taken hold in several states.In Louisiana, Republicans passed a law requiring every public school classroom to post the Ten Commandments, which begin with “I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Families have sued.In Texas, officials in November approved a curriculum&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-bible-religion-schools-52b74577982b34ce2607b693bd51cae7">intertwining language arts with biblical lessons</a>. And in Oklahoma, the state superintendent of education has called for lessons to incorporate the Bible from grades 5 through 12, a requirement schools&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bible-mandate-oklahoma-schools-bixby-superintendent-19e235a16d9aefd350df9106a5d759b3">have declined to follow</a>.Utah state lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://custom.statenet.com/public/resources.cgi?id=ID:bill:UT2024000H269&amp;ciq=ncsl5&amp;client_md=b4d4548adfcbc8e85b76125afcc7b842&amp;mode=current_text">designated</a>&nbsp;the Ten Commandments as a historic document, in the same category as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, so teachers could post it in their classrooms. Many other states have seen legislation that would put them in more classrooms. And attorneys general from 17 GOP-led states recently filed a brief supporting Louisiana's Ten Commandments mandate.Schools are permitted — and even encouraged — to teach about religion and to expose students to religious texts. But some say the new measures are indoctrinating students, not educating them.Critics have raised concerns also about proliferating lesson plans. Some states have allowed teachers to use videos from Prager U, a nonprofit founded by a conservative talk show host, despite criticism that the videos positively highlight the spread of Christianity and include Christian nationalist talking points.During his first administration, Trump commissioned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-revoke-trump-patriotic-education-259b9302ab24bac55fa14676a1a9d11e">the 1776 Project</a>, a report that attempted to promote a more patriotic version of American history. It was panned by historians and scholars who said it credited Christianity for many of the positive turns in U.S. history without mentioning the religion's role in perpetuating slavery, for example.The project was developed into a curriculum by the conservative Hillsdale College in Michigan and is now taught in a network of publicly funded charter schools supported by the college. It also has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-donald-trump-michigan-south-dakota-sioux-falls-54712a652c5a0f1f74deebe280dcfc01">influenced state standards in South Dakota</a>.Challenges to some state measures are now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-schools-ten-commandments-cf59c57adfa049111c67a6cda1efb796">working their way through the courts</a>, which have grown friendlier to religious interests thanks to Trump's judicial appointments.In 2022, the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-coach-prayer-2981a8073ea82a1a688c367270c941aa">ruled in favor of a football coach</a>&nbsp;in Washington state who was fired for praying with players at midfield after a game, saying the school district infringed on his rights to religious expression. Dissenting justices noted some players felt pressure to join the coach. But the high court said a public school can't restrict an employee's religious activity just because it could be construed as an endorsement of religion, reversing a five-decade precedent.The ruling could pave the way for conservatives to introduce more Christianity in public schools, said Derek Black, a law professor at the University of South Carolina.“Donald Trump’s judicial appointees have emboldened states” to test the separation of church and state, he said.In the wake of the football coach's case, courts now analyze church-state separation through the lens of history, said Joseph Davis of Becket, a public interest law firm focused on religious freedom that is defending Louisiana over its Ten Commandments mandate.The Supreme Court has endorsed the idea that “it’s OK to have religious expression in the public spaces," Davis said, "and that we should sort of expect that ... if it’s a big part of our history.”Critics say some measures to introduce more historical references to Christianity in classrooms have taken things too far, inserting biblical references gratuitously, while erasing the role Christianity played in justifying atrocities perpetuated by Americans, like genocide of Native people.These are among the criticisms facing the new reading curriculum in Texas. Created by the state, districts aren't required to use it, but they receive financial incentives for adopting it.“The authors appear to go out of their way to work detailed Bible lessons into the curriculum even when they are both unnecessary and unwarranted,” religious studies scholar David R. Brockman wrote&nbsp;<a href="https://tfn.org/cms/assets/uploads/2024/11/11.24-OER-Analysis-Update.pdf">in a report on the material</a>. “Though religious freedom is vital to American democracy, the curriculum distorts its role in the nation’s founding while underplaying the importance of other fundamental liberties cherished by Americans.”Texas Values, a conservative think tank that backed the new reading curriculum, said in a statement that the court's pivot toward permitting more Christianity in schools, and allowing more taxpayer money to flow to religious institutions, is corrective.The football coach case has rightfully returned protections for religion and free speech in public school, said Jonathan Saenz, the Texas Values president.“Voters and lawmakers (are) getting tired of the attacks on God and our heritage of being ‘One Nation Under God,'” he said.___

Some US lawmakers want more Christianity in the classroom. Trump could embolden their plans

MCPHERSON COUNTY — The Kansas Highway Patrol continues to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit.

As the roads clear up after the recent snowstorms, some drivers are already falling back into those risky habits. 

On Sunday in McPherson County, Trooper Jason Fraser stopped a vehicle traveling 100 mph in a 75 mph zone on I-135 just north of the Moundridge exit, according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol. The fine was $150.00.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736772297311.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON COUNTY — The Kansas Highway Patrol continues to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit.As the roads clear up after the recent snowstorms, some drivers are already falling back into those risky habits. On Sunday in McPherson County, Trooper Jason Fraser stopped a vehicle traveling 100 mph in a 75 mph zone on I-135 just north of the Moundridge exit, according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol. The fine was $150.00.

Another Kan. driver caught traveling 100mph on Interstate

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities investigating a residential robbery have made three arrests and continue searching for additional suspects.

Earlyi Sunday, two victims reported that suspects entered their home in the 1000 block of Ellis Street in Wichita armed with shotguns and handguns, forcing them into a bedroom at gunpoint, according to Wichita Police Department spokesperson Andrew Ford.

The victims were then restrained with zip ties while the suspects stole several electronic devices and three handguns. The victims, who were familiar with the suspects, began searching for their stolen property after the incident. One victim discovered that his phone and vehicle keys were missing and tracked their location to the 13600 block of West Nantucket in Wichita, a residence believed to be associated with one of the suspects.

Wichita Police responded to the Nantucket address, established a perimeter, and attempted to mcommunicate with the occupants. Officers engaged with individuals inside the residence through a Ring doorbell camera, during which an occupant inadvertently activated the speaker. This revealed a conversation indicating the occupants were aware of law enforcement’s presence.

Despite repeated attempts to negotiate, the individuals refused to exit, prompting the activation of the SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiations Team.

While waiting for the search warrant, one suspect exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident. During the subsequent search of the home, two additional suspects were found hiding in the attic and were also taken into custody.

Two suspects remain at large, and investigators are actively working to identify and locate them.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to Sedgwick County jail records 33-year-old Andrew Denning is being held on a requested charge of Aggravated robbery, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, ID theft, theft of property or services, probation violation and numerous drug allegations.&nbsp; Trinity Cook, 19; and George Bos, 62, are being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736723276240.png" alt="Photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities investigating a residential robbery have made three arrests and continue searching for additional suspects.Earlyi Sunday, two victims reported that suspects entered their home in the 1000 block of Ellis Street in Wichita armed with shotguns and handguns, forcing them into a bedroom at gunpoint, according to Wichita Police Department spokesperson Andrew Ford.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736767403069.png" alt="George Bos-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>George Bos-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>The victims were then restrained with zip ties while the suspects stole several electronic devices and three handguns. The victims, who were familiar with the suspects, began searching for their stolen property after the incident. One victim discovered that his phone and vehicle keys were missing and tracked their location to the 13600 block of West Nantucket in Wichita, a residence believed to be associated with one of the suspects.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736767350735.png" alt="Trinity Cook-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Trinity Cook-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita Police responded to the Nantucket address, established a perimeter, and attempted to mcommunicate with the occupants. Officers engaged with individuals inside the residence through a Ring doorbell camera, during which an occupant inadvertently activated the speaker. This revealed a conversation indicating the occupants were aware of law enforcement’s presence.Despite repeated attempts to negotiate, the individuals refused to exit, prompting the activation of the SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiations Team.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736767770109.png" alt="Andrew Denning" />
 <figcaption>Andrew Denning</figcaption>
 </figure>While waiting for the search warrant, one suspect exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident. During the subsequent search of the home, two additional suspects were found hiding in the attic and were also taken into custody.Two suspects remain at large, and investigators are actively working to identify and locate them.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Sedgwick County jail records 33-year-old Andrew Denning is being held on a requested charge of Aggravated robbery, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, ID theft, theft of property or services, probation violation and numerous drug allegations.&nbsp; Trinity Cook, 19; and George Bos, 62, are being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery.

Robbery suspects with shotguns forced their way into Kan. home

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting on Interstate 29 north of&nbsp; Kansas City have identified the victim as 50-year-old Dennis Sharkey of Liberty, according to the Platte County Sheriff.

Just after 7p.m. Friday, police were called to the area of southbound Interstate 29 near NW 72nd Street in Kansas City in regard to a vehicle that was observed to have run off the roadway, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

First responders located a vehicle south of NW 72nd Street, off the highway on the southbound side and down an embankment up against a barrier fence on the outer road, NW Prairie View Road.

Officers approached the vehicle and located Sharkey who appeared to have been shot, unresponsive inside the vehicle. Officers rendered aid until EMS arrived and took over. 

EMS transported Sharakey to the hospital for treatment. A short time later the victim was declared deceased at the hospital, according to Becchina. 

Preliminary investigation indicates the shooting likely occurred while Sharkey was traveling southbound at or just north of NW 72nd Street. Detectives and crime scene investigators temporarily closed north of that location to conduct their investigation and searched closely for any potential evidence.&nbsp; The Platte County Sheriff's office is now the lead agency in the investigation.

Detectives ask if anyone was in this area of Interstate 29 around that time and saw anything of note, no matter how small for them to contact Homicide Unit directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736605549132.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting on Interstate 29 north of&nbsp; Kansas City have identified the victim as 50-year-old Dennis Sharkey of Liberty, according to the Platte County Sheriff.Just after 7p.m. Friday, police were called to the area of southbound Interstate 29 near NW 72nd Street in Kansas City in regard to a vehicle that was observed to have run off the roadway, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.First responders located a vehicle south of NW 72nd Street, off the highway on the southbound side and down an embankment up against a barrier fence on the outer road, NW Prairie View Road.Officers approached the vehicle and located Sharkey who appeared to have been shot, unresponsive inside the vehicle. Officers rendered aid until EMS arrived and took over. EMS transported Sharakey to the hospital for treatment. A short time later the victim was declared deceased at the hospital, according to Becchina. Preliminary investigation indicates the shooting likely occurred while Sharkey was traveling southbound at or just north of NW 72nd Street. Detectives and crime scene investigators temporarily closed north of that location to conduct their investigation and searched closely for any potential evidence.&nbsp; The Platte County Sheriff's office is now the lead agency in the investigation.Detectives ask if anyone was in this area of Interstate 29 around that time and saw anything of note, no matter how small for them to contact Homicide Unit directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

Sheriff looking for witnesses to deadly Interstate shooting, crash

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22CHRISTOPHER%20WEBER%20and%20HOLLY%20RAMER%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By CHRISTOPHER WEBER and HOLLY RAMER &nbsp;Associated Press</a>

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a weekend spent blocking the explosive growth of fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the Los Angeles area, firefighters got a slight break with calmer weather but cast a wary eye on a forecast for yet more wind.

Should that happen, already burned homes and valleys could flare anew, sending embers to unburned territory miles downwind. New fires could add to the complication.

The death toll surged late Sunday with an update from the Los Angeles County medical examiner. At least 16 people were missing, a number authorities said was also likely to rise.

The relative calm Sunday allowed some people to return to previously evacuated areas, however.

The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph) and gusts in the mountains reaching 70 mph (113 kph). The most dangerous day will be Tuesday, warned fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns at a community meeting Sunday night.

“It will kind of ebb and flow over the next couple days,” Burns said. “Tomorrow night, it will really ramp up.”

Spotting — new fires caused by blowing embers — could happen as much as 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) or more downwind of areas that have already burned, Burns said.

Despite their recent losses, stress, and uncertainty, the crowd in a Pasadena City College gym was mostly respectful, in contrast with harsh criticism elsewhere for Los Angeles and California leaders. Applause followed each of the experts, police, firefighters and community leaders who spoke.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said 70 additional water trucks arrived to help firefighters fend off flames spread by renewed gusts. “We are prepared for the upcoming wind event,” Marrone said.

Fire retardant dropped by aircraft will act as a barrier along hillsides, officials said.

Fierce Santa Ana winds have been largely blamed for turning the wildfires sparked last week into infernos that leveled entire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-pacific-palisades-wildfires-los-angeles-4b67b7f29d0d6eb7321a52ef60c17d60">neighborhoods</a>&nbsp;around the city where there has been no significant rainfall in more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fire-devastation-climate-change-santa-ana-winds-a46e2bb6785b1e325f6076fb22c8fcc5">eight months.</a>

Twelve people were missing within the Eaton Fire zone and four were missing from the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. Investigators were reconciling whether some of the missing might be among the dead but so far no children were among those reported missing, he said.

Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 24 over the weekend. Eight deaths were attributed to the Palisades Fire and 16 to the Eaton Fire, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

The toll could rise still more as cadaver dogs conducted systematic searches in leveled neighborhoods. Authorities established a center where people could report the missing.

Officials also were building an online database to allow evacuated residents to see if their homes were damaged or destroyed. In the meantime, LA city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley urged people to stay away from scorched neighborhoods.

“There are still active fires that are burning within the Palisades area, making it extremely, extremely dangerous for the public," Crowley said at a Sunday morning briefing. “There’s no power, there’s no water, there’s broken gas lines, and we have unstable structures.”

Officials warned the ash can contain lead, arsenic, asbestos and other harmful materials.

About 150,000 people in Los Angeles County remained under evacuation orders, with more than 700 residents taking refuge in nine shelters, Luna said. Officials said most of the orders in the Palisades area were unlikely to be lifted before the red flag warnings expire Wednesday evening.

“Please rest assured that first thing Thursday we will begin talking about repopulation,” Marrone said.

In all, four fires had consumed more than 62 square miles (160 square kilometers), an area larger than San Francisco. The Palisades Fire was 11% contained and containment on the Eaton Fire reached 27%. Those two blazes alone accounted for 59 square miles (nearly 153 square kilometers).

Crews from California and nine other states are part of the ongoing response that includes nearly 1,400 fire engines, 84 aircraft and more than 14,000 personnel, including newly arrived firefighters from Mexico.

Fighting to save public and private areas

After a fierce battle Saturday, firefighters managed to fight back flames in Mandeville Canyon, home to Arnold Schwarzenegger and other celebrities near Pacific Palisades not far from the coast, where swooping helicopters dumped water as the blaze charged downhill.

The fire ran through chaparral-covered hillsides and also briefly threatened to jump over Interstate 405 and into densely populated areas in the Hollywood Hills and San Fernando Valley.

Looting continued to be a concern, with authorities reporting more arrests as the devastation grew. Those arrested included two people who posed as firefighters going into houses, Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Michael Lorenz said.

With California National Guard troops on hand to guard properties, Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on X: “California will NOT allow for looting.”

The fires that began Tuesday just north of downtown LA had burned more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-wildfire-structure-damage-3f319dfaa36e583c06c8d49bd835084e">12,000 structures</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-fires-possible-causes-6112488f835e45f53c67d4d03d7a1e4f">No cause</a>&nbsp;for the largest fires was determined.

Early estimates suggest they could be the nation's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-natural-disasters-losses-insurance-recovery-d2f24e44d75503118643151eaee947fb">costliest ever</a>, as much as $150 billion according to an AccuWeather estimate.

Along with crews from other states and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/california-wildfires-gavin-newsom-mexico-los-angeles-area-wildfires-d0e244ec61e04838ba6d8bcde8522e31">Mexico</a>, hundreds of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-covid-health-california-climate-and-environment-701ee89ceb4b7ba3e1a412b83c2a2f3f">inmates</a>&nbsp;from California’s prison system were also helping fight the fires. Nearly 950 prison firefighters were removing timber and brush ahead of the fires to slow their spread, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prison-to-plate-inmate-labor-investigation-injuries-deaths-0ff52ff1735d7e9f858248177a2a60c3">practice is controversial</a>&nbsp;as the inmates are paid little for dangerous and difficult work: $10.24 each day, with more for 24-hour shifts, according to the corrections department.

Newsom issued an executive order Sunday aimed at fast-tracking rebuilding by suspending some environmental regulations and ensuring that property tax assessments were not increased.

“We’ve got to let people know that we have their back,” he said. “We want you to come back, rebuild, and rebuild with higher quality building standards, more modern standards."

More than 24,000 people had registered for federal assistance made available by a major disaster declaration by President Joe Biden, according to the White House.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Sunday that she had spoken with President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration and expected that he would visit the city.

Bass&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mayor-karen-bass-la-fires-leadership-99e52cf69cc656ee7e0328c6b609be74">faces a critical test of her leadership</a>&nbsp;during the city's greatest crisis in decades, but allegations of leadership failures, political blame and investigations have begun.

Newsom on Friday ordered state officials to determine why a 117 million-gallon (440 million-liter) reservoir was out of service and some hydrants had run dry.

Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press journalists Julie Walker in New York, Sophia Tareen in Chicago and Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736723986016.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22CHRISTOPHER%20WEBER%20and%20HOLLY%20RAMER%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By CHRISTOPHER WEBER and HOLLY RAMER &nbsp;Associated Press</a>LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a weekend spent blocking the explosive growth of fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the Los Angeles area, firefighters got a slight break with calmer weather but cast a wary eye on a forecast for yet more wind.Should that happen, already burned homes and valleys could flare anew, sending embers to unburned territory miles downwind. New fires could add to the complication.The death toll surged late Sunday with an update from the Los Angeles County medical examiner. At least 16 people were missing, a number authorities said was also likely to rise.The relative calm Sunday allowed some people to return to previously evacuated areas, however.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">HAPPENING NOW: Your Cal Guard helicopters are in the fight! These air assets are dropping water on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PalisadesFire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PalisadesFire</a> joining CAL FIRE’s massive efforts to contain these devastating blazes. <a href="https://twitter.com/USNorthernCmd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNorthernCmd</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CAgovernor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CAgovernor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CAL_FIRE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CAL_FIRE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Cal_OES?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cal_OES</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/USNationalGuard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNationalGuard</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/forestservice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@forestservice</a> <a href="https://t.co/7uxoh3x3gR">pic.twitter.com/7uxoh3x3gR</a>&mdash; The California National Guard (@TheCalGuard) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheCalGuard/status/1878582169976881502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph) and gusts in the mountains reaching 70 mph (113 kph). The most dangerous day will be Tuesday, warned fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns at a community meeting Sunday night.“It will kind of ebb and flow over the next couple days,” Burns said. “Tomorrow night, it will really ramp up.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SantaAnaWind?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SantaAnaWind</a> combined with dry air and very dry vegetation will maintain high WILDFIRE RISK through Wednesday. Continue to practice fire safety by avoiding work that creates sparks, report any smoke, and stay informed. Gather items you will need, should you be evacuated. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CAwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/V7yPdDdHrb">pic.twitter.com/V7yPdDdHrb</a>&mdash; NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSLosAngeles/status/1878255936319733840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Spotting — new fires caused by blowing embers — could happen as much as 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) or more downwind of areas that have already burned, Burns said.Despite their recent losses, stress, and uncertainty, the crowd in a Pasadena City College gym was mostly respectful, in contrast with harsh criticism elsewhere for Los Angeles and California leaders. Applause followed each of the experts, police, firefighters and community leaders who spoke.Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said 70 additional water trucks arrived to help firefighters fend off flames spread by renewed gusts. “We are prepared for the upcoming wind event,” Marrone said.Fire retardant dropped by aircraft will act as a barrier along hillsides, officials said.Fierce Santa Ana winds have been largely blamed for turning the wildfires sparked last week into infernos that leveled entire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-pacific-palisades-wildfires-los-angeles-4b67b7f29d0d6eb7321a52ef60c17d60">neighborhoods</a>&nbsp;around the city where there has been no significant rainfall in more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fire-devastation-climate-change-santa-ana-winds-a46e2bb6785b1e325f6076fb22c8fcc5">eight months.</a>Twelve people were missing within the Eaton Fire zone and four were missing from the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. Investigators were reconciling whether some of the missing might be among the dead but so far no children were among those reported missing, he said.Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 24 over the weekend. Eight deaths were attributed to the Palisades Fire and 16 to the Eaton Fire, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.The toll could rise still more as cadaver dogs conducted systematic searches in leveled neighborhoods. Authorities established a center where people could report the missing.Officials also were building an online database to allow evacuated residents to see if their homes were damaged or destroyed. In the meantime, LA city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley urged people to stay away from scorched neighborhoods.“There are still active fires that are burning within the Palisades area, making it extremely, extremely dangerous for the public," Crowley said at a Sunday morning briefing. “There’s no power, there’s no water, there’s broken gas lines, and we have unstable structures.”Officials warned the ash can contain lead, arsenic, asbestos and other harmful materials.About 150,000 people in Los Angeles County remained under evacuation orders, with more than 700 residents taking refuge in nine shelters, Luna said. Officials said most of the orders in the Palisades area were unlikely to be lifted before the red flag warnings expire Wednesday evening.“Please rest assured that first thing Thursday we will begin talking about repopulation,” Marrone said.In all, four fires had consumed more than 62 square miles (160 square kilometers), an area larger than San Francisco. The Palisades Fire was 11% contained and containment on the Eaton Fire reached 27%. Those two blazes alone accounted for 59 square miles (nearly 153 square kilometers).Crews from California and nine other states are part of the ongoing response that includes nearly 1,400 fire engines, 84 aircraft and more than 14,000 personnel, including newly arrived firefighters from Mexico.<h2>Fighting to save public and private areas</h2>After a fierce battle Saturday, firefighters managed to fight back flames in Mandeville Canyon, home to Arnold Schwarzenegger and other celebrities near Pacific Palisades not far from the coast, where swooping helicopters dumped water as the blaze charged downhill.The fire ran through chaparral-covered hillsides and also briefly threatened to jump over Interstate 405 and into densely populated areas in the Hollywood Hills and San Fernando Valley.<h2>Arrests for looting</h2>Looting continued to be a concern, with authorities reporting more arrests as the devastation grew. Those arrested included two people who posed as firefighters going into houses, Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Michael Lorenz said.With California National Guard troops on hand to guard properties, Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on X: “California will NOT allow for looting.”<h2>Historical cost</h2>The fires that began Tuesday just north of downtown LA had burned more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-wildfire-structure-damage-3f319dfaa36e583c06c8d49bd835084e">12,000 structures</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-fires-possible-causes-6112488f835e45f53c67d4d03d7a1e4f">No cause</a>&nbsp;for the largest fires was determined.Early estimates suggest they could be the nation's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-natural-disasters-losses-insurance-recovery-d2f24e44d75503118643151eaee947fb">costliest ever</a>, as much as $150 billion according to an AccuWeather estimate.<h2>Inmate firefighters on the front lines</h2>Along with crews from other states and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/california-wildfires-gavin-newsom-mexico-los-angeles-area-wildfires-d0e244ec61e04838ba6d8bcde8522e31">Mexico</a>, hundreds of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-covid-health-california-climate-and-environment-701ee89ceb4b7ba3e1a412b83c2a2f3f">inmates</a>&nbsp;from California’s prison system were also helping fight the fires. Nearly 950 prison firefighters were removing timber and brush ahead of the fires to slow their spread, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prison-to-plate-inmate-labor-investigation-injuries-deaths-0ff52ff1735d7e9f858248177a2a60c3">practice is controversial</a>&nbsp;as the inmates are paid little for dangerous and difficult work: $10.24 each day, with more for 24-hour shifts, according to the corrections department.<h2>Rebuilding will be a challenge</h2>Newsom issued an executive order Sunday aimed at fast-tracking rebuilding by suspending some environmental regulations and ensuring that property tax assessments were not increased.“We’ve got to let people know that we have their back,” he said. “We want you to come back, rebuild, and rebuild with higher quality building standards, more modern standards."More than 24,000 people had registered for federal assistance made available by a major disaster declaration by President Joe Biden, according to the White House.Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Sunday that she had spoken with President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration and expected that he would visit the city.<h2>Leadership accused of skimping</h2>Bass&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mayor-karen-bass-la-fires-leadership-99e52cf69cc656ee7e0328c6b609be74">faces a critical test of her leadership</a>&nbsp;during the city's greatest crisis in decades, but allegations of leadership failures, political blame and investigations have begun.Newsom on Friday ordered state officials to determine why a 117 million-gallon (440 million-liter) reservoir was out of service and some hydrants had run dry.___Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press journalists Julie Walker in New York, Sophia Tareen in Chicago and Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, contributed.

Los Angeles fire death toll surges; firefighters brace for more fierce winds

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart says customers should throw out a chicken broth product that was sold at stores in mostly Southern states late last year.

The retailer has recalled 48-ounce cartons of Great Value Family Size Chicken Broth that had been sold at 242 stores in nine states.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported the recall in December affecting just over 2,000 cases of broth with a shelf life lasting until March 2026. The FDA said the containers had packaging problems that could lead to the broth spoiling. There have been no reports of illnesses.

Walmart says anyone who purchased the product at stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee or Texas should not consume the broth and can ask for a full refund. The company said it's working with the supplier to investigate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736722376955.png" alt="Image Walmart" />
 <figcaption>Image Walmart</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart says customers should throw out a chicken broth product that was sold at stores in mostly Southern states late last year.The retailer has recalled 48-ounce cartons of Great Value Family Size Chicken Broth that had been sold at 242 stores in nine states.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported the recall in December affecting just over 2,000 cases of broth with a shelf life lasting until March 2026. The FDA said the containers had packaging problems that could lead to the broth spoiling. There have been no reports of illnesses.Walmart says anyone who purchased the product at stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee or Texas should not consume the broth and can ask for a full refund. The company said it's working with the supplier to investigate.

Walmart recalls Great Value chicken broth in 9 states

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a rural Kansas burglary have made two arrests.

&nbsp;Between January 3rd and January 5th, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office responded to several burglary and theft reports near Osage City and one near Overbrook, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. These incidents prompted an immediate response by deputies and investigators who began working diligently to gather information and follow leads.

Through their efforts, deputies and investigators developed key information regarding potential suspects involved in these crimes. A search warrant was executed, and most of the stolen property was recovered.

Deputies took two suspects into custody as a result of the ongoing investigation: Colton R. Hill, 23, of Osage City is being held on requested charges of Felony burglary, Attempted burglary, Felony theft, Misdemeanor theft, Driving while license suspended and Illegal registration.

Brian R. Stevenson, 52, of Pomona was jailed on requested charges of&nbsp;Felony burglary, Attempted burglary, Felony theft and Misdemeanor theft.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736542042881.png" alt="Stevenson-photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>Stevenson-photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a rural Kansas burglary have made two arrests.&nbsp;Between January 3rd and January 5th, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office responded to several burglary and theft reports near Osage City and one near Overbrook, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. These incidents prompted an immediate response by deputies and investigators who began working diligently to gather information and follow leads.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736541994662.png" alt="Hill photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>Hill photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>Through their efforts, deputies and investigators developed key information regarding potential suspects involved in these crimes. A search warrant was executed, and most of the stolen property was recovered.Deputies took two suspects into custody as a result of the ongoing investigation: Colton R. Hill, 23, of Osage City is being held on requested charges of Felony burglary, Attempted burglary, Felony theft, Misdemeanor theft, Driving while license suspended and Illegal registration.Brian R. Stevenson, 52, of Pomona was jailed on requested charges of&nbsp;Felony burglary, Attempted burglary, Felony theft and Misdemeanor theft.

Suspects accused in series of rural Kansas burglaries

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged arson fire at a home in Kansas City.

Just before 6p.m. Saturday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire in the 2500 block of Mersington Avenue, according to Battalion Chief MIchael Hopkins.

Crews reported smoke and fire showing from a two-story vacant house.&nbsp; Searches of the structure came back all clear. No injuries were reported. After investigation the cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary in nature due to multiple start locations.&nbsp;

Police have not reported any suspects or arrests as the investigation continues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736712509892.png" alt="Photo KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged arson fire at a home in Kansas City. Just before 6p.m. Saturday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire in the 2500 block of Mersington Avenue, according to Battalion Chief MIchael Hopkins.Crews reported smoke and fire showing from a two-story vacant house.&nbsp; Searches of the structure came back all clear. No injuries were reported. After investigation the cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary in nature due to multiple start locations.&nbsp;Police have not reported any suspects or arrests as the investigation continues.

Fire intentionally set at home in Kansas City 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon with a history of crime including his involvement in a 2019 fatal crash in a stolen SUV that killed two people was sentenced for murder on Friday

 Judge David Dahl 44-year-old Christopher English to over 70 years in prison: 618 months (51-and-a-half years) for first-degree murder, 216 months (18 years) for criminal discharge of a firearm and eight months on a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a weapon. according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In December, a jury found English guilty of first-degree murder, criminal discharge of a firearm, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

In December of 2020, police responded to a shooting call at a residence in the 1800 block of South Main in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.

Upon arrival, they located 49-year-old Michael Horn with a gunshot wound to his head. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he died.&nbsp; In July of 2022, police arrested English in connection with Horn's murder.

In 2019, English was on parole and a passenger in a stolen BMW sport utility vehicle driven by Mia Collins who led officers on a chase. After about one mile, the car collided with a car and another SUV at an intersection.

The crash killed 70-year-old Maria Wood and 12-year-old Rosemary McElroy and critically injured 36-year-old Jenny Wood, a popular Wichita musician known for performing with children.&nbsp; Collins was sentenced to life in prison.

English has previous convictions for drugs and weapons, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; &nbsp;He will be sentenced on Jan. 10, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659213439450.png" alt="English-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>English-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon with a history of crime including his involvement in a 2019 fatal crash in a stolen SUV that killed two people was sentenced for murder on Friday Judge David Dahl 44-year-old Christopher English to over 70 years in prison: 618 months (51-and-a-half years) for first-degree murder, 216 months (18 years) for criminal discharge of a firearm and eight months on a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a weapon. according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In December, a jury found English guilty of first-degree murder, criminal discharge of a firearm, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.In December of 2020, police responded to a shooting call at a residence in the 1800 block of South Main in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.Upon arrival, they located 49-year-old Michael Horn with a gunshot wound to his head. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he died.&nbsp; In July of 2022, police arrested English in connection with Horn's murder.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733836413213.png" alt="Collins photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Collins photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>In 2019, English was on parole and a passenger in a stolen BMW sport utility vehicle driven by Mia Collins who led officers on a chase. After about one mile, the car collided with a car and another SUV at an intersection.The crash killed 70-year-old Maria Wood and 12-year-old Rosemary McElroy and critically injured 36-year-old Jenny Wood, a popular Wichita musician known for performing with children.&nbsp; Collins was sentenced to life in prison.English has previous convictions for drugs and weapons, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; &nbsp;He will be sentenced on Jan. 10, according to the district attorney's office.

Kansas felon returning to prison for murder

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

TikTok has cemented itself as a quintessential entertainment app, offering everything from funny skits and makeup tutorials to social commentary and news.

The platform, though, could vanish from U.S. app stores by Jan. 19 if the Supreme Court does not step in to block a federal law that forces TikTok to cut ties with its China-based parent company or face a nation-wide ban.

President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, recently asked the court to put a pause on the law so he can work out a “political resolution” to the issue during his second term. If the Justices — who will hear oral arguments Friday over the law — grant his request, a potential ban on TikTok will be delayed even further.

TikTok has more than 170 million U.S. users. According to the Pew Research Center, that includes most teens and a third of adults. If you are an avid user, or a creator who relies on the platform for income, here’s what you need to know to prepare:

Under the law, web hosting companies will also be barred from hosting TikTok. Users will continue to have access to TikTok if it’s already downloaded on their phones, but the app will disappear from Apple and Google’s app stores — so new users won’t be able to download it.

This would also mean that TikTok wouldn’t be able to send updates, security patches and bug fixes to users, all of which will degrade the quality of the app and likely lead to security issues. Eventually, the app will become unworkable.

Are there any workarounds to access TikTok?

Yes, but some tech savviness is required and it’s not clear what will and won’t work.

The most common workaround that’s brought up is a VPN, or virtual private network, that allows users to mask their location. A VPN encrypts your traffic data and then routes it through private tunnels to secure servers around the world, which prevents anyone else from being able to read it.

Lauren Hendry Parsons, the director of communications and advocacy at ExpressVPN, maintains that people could access their TikTok accounts by using a VPN and making some other changes to their phone’s settings that would allow them to jump to a nearby country’s app store.

If large droves of users do that, it’s possible that tech companies, such as Apple or Google, could recognize it as a legal liability and find other ways to clamp down on the app. But they also might avoid going that route since they’re trying to forge friendlier ties with Trump, who now wants to “save TikTok” and could potentially direct his Justice Department to abandon enforcement of the law all together.

U.S. TikTok users with Android devices might also be able to continue to update the platform through third-party app stores, a method called sideloading. But bypassing the security protocols that well-known app stores have in place might also leave users more vulnerable to malware, said Justin Hurwitz, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania with expertise in telecommunications and technology.

Would I still have access to my favorite videos?

TikTok allows you to save the videos or photos you’ve posted, or content from your favorite influencers. Any posts you choose to save will be downloaded and kept on your phone.

Many TikTok creators allow users to download their posts, but it’s possible you might not be able to save everything you want since some put limits on their content. Users also can’t download content off of private accounts or those registered to anyone under the age of 16.

If you're interested, the platform allows you to request a copy of your TikTok data, which includes things like your comment and video watching history. The company says it may take a few days to prepare that type of file.

Established social media platforms, such as Meta’s Instagram, Snapchat and Google’s YouTube are expected to benefit from having one of their biggest competitors taken off of the U.S. market.

The rise of the short-form video platform led many others to offer TikTok-like feeds on their own platforms, such as Instagram’s Reels and YouTube’s Shorts. And if TikTok goes away, it’s likely that creators on the app would more easily switch to Reels and Shorts since they already have large audiences and a user base that overlaps with TikTok, said Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at market research company Emarketer.

But some experts say the youngest users are unlikely to migrate to a service made popular by their millennial parents. And while Meta’s algorithm is addictive, it’s still not TikTok. As for YouTube, it’s still mostly known for its longer-format videos.

For TikTokers who want to get away from the overcrowded spots, there are lesser-known apps like Triller, which is popular for music videos, and Zigazoo, which was designed with kids in mind. There's also Twitch, the live-streaming platform owned by Amazon.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HALELUYA%20HADERO%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By HALELUYA HADERO AP Business Writer</a>TikTok has cemented itself as a quintessential entertainment app, offering everything from funny skits and makeup tutorials to social commentary and news.The platform, though, could vanish from U.S. app stores by Jan. 19 if the Supreme Court does not step in to block a federal law that forces TikTok to cut ties with its China-based parent company or face a nation-wide ban.President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, recently asked the court to put a pause on the law so he can work out a “political resolution” to the issue during his second term. If the Justices — who will hear oral arguments Friday over the law — grant his request, a potential ban on TikTok will be delayed even further.TikTok has more than 170 million U.S. users. According to the Pew Research Center, that includes most teens and a third of adults. If you are an avid user, or a creator who relies on the platform for income, here’s what you need to know to prepare:<h2>What happens on Jan. 19?</h2>Under the law, web hosting companies will also be barred from hosting TikTok. Users will continue to have access to TikTok if it’s already downloaded on their phones, but the app will disappear from Apple and Google’s app stores — so new users won’t be able to download it.This would also mean that TikTok wouldn’t be able to send updates, security patches and bug fixes to users, all of which will degrade the quality of the app and likely lead to security issues. Eventually, the app will become unworkable.<h2>Are there any workarounds to access TikTok?</h2>Yes, but some tech savviness is required and it’s not clear what will and won’t work.The most common workaround that’s brought up is a VPN, or virtual private network, that allows users to mask their location. A VPN encrypts your traffic data and then routes it through private tunnels to secure servers around the world, which prevents anyone else from being able to read it.Lauren Hendry Parsons, the director of communications and advocacy at ExpressVPN, maintains that people could access their TikTok accounts by using a VPN and making some other changes to their phone’s settings that would allow them to jump to a nearby country’s app store.If large droves of users do that, it’s possible that tech companies, such as Apple or Google, could recognize it as a legal liability and find other ways to clamp down on the app. But they also might avoid going that route since they’re trying to forge friendlier ties with Trump, who now wants to “save TikTok” and could potentially direct his Justice Department to abandon enforcement of the law all together.U.S. TikTok users with Android devices might also be able to continue to update the platform through third-party app stores, a method called sideloading. But bypassing the security protocols that well-known app stores have in place might also leave users more vulnerable to malware, said Justin Hurwitz, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania with expertise in telecommunications and technology.<h2>Would I still have access to my favorite videos?</h2>TikTok allows you to save the videos or photos you’ve posted, or content from your favorite influencers. Any posts you choose to save will be downloaded and kept on your phone.Many TikTok creators allow users to download their posts, but it’s possible you might not be able to save everything you want since some put limits on their content. Users also can’t download content off of private accounts or those registered to anyone under the age of 16.If you're interested, the platform allows you to request a copy of your TikTok data, which includes things like your comment and video watching history. The company says it may take a few days to prepare that type of file.<h2>What apps are people going to next?</h2>Established social media platforms, such as Meta’s Instagram, Snapchat and Google’s YouTube are expected to benefit from having one of their biggest competitors taken off of the U.S. market.The rise of the short-form video platform led many others to offer TikTok-like feeds on their own platforms, such as Instagram’s Reels and YouTube’s Shorts. And if TikTok goes away, it’s likely that creators on the app would more easily switch to Reels and Shorts since they already have large audiences and a user base that overlaps with TikTok, said Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at market research company Emarketer.But some experts say the youngest users are unlikely to migrate to a service made popular by their millennial parents. And while Meta’s algorithm is addictive, it’s still not TikTok. As for YouTube, it’s still mostly known for its longer-format videos.For TikTokers who want to get away from the overcrowded spots, there are lesser-known apps like Triller, which is popular for music videos, and Zigazoo, which was designed with kids in mind. There's also Twitch, the live-streaming platform owned by Amazon._______

TikTok could be banned this month. Here's what users can do to prepare

Washington, D.C.&nbsp;- U.S. Senator&nbsp;Roger&nbsp;Marshall, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, recently announced the creation of the Congressional Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus, according to a statement from the Senator's office.

This new caucus will focus on nutrition, access to affordable, high-quality-nutrient-dense foods, improving primary care, and addressing the root causes of chronic diseases.&nbsp;

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee for Department of Health &amp; Human Services (HHS) Secretary, has endorsed the creation of this new caucus that will work to build a stronger and healthier America. Senator&nbsp;Marshall, a physician who practiced medicine for over 25 years,&nbsp;met with Mr. Kennedy&nbsp;earlier this week to discuss his nomination to lead HHS. Senator&nbsp;Marshall&nbsp;endorsed Mr. Kennedy’s candidacy following the meeting.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The MAHA caucus is committed to improving health outcomes by prioritizing nutrition, providing access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods, and focusing on primary care availability to tackle the root causes of chronic diseases,”&nbsp;Senator&nbsp;Marshall&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“With our 'Food is Medicine' approach, support from RFK Jr., and a shared goal to Make America Healthy Again, we aim to foster transparency, innovation, and a transformative agenda that builds a healthier, stronger nation."

Additional members of the MAHA Caucus include Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Ron Johnson (R-WI).

"I met with RFK Jr., President Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Like I told him, I’ve heard from young people across the country who are inspired by his message to Make America Healthy Again. During our meeting, Bobby and I had a great discussion about ways to make our food and health care system better. As a founding member of the Senate Make America Healthy Again Caucus, I look forward to working with my friend Senator&nbsp;Roger&nbsp;Marshall&nbsp;and our colleagues to make sure our food is safe, bring transparency to vaccines and health care, and Make America Healthy Again,”&nbsp;Senator Tuberville said.

“As the incoming Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, I want to give my full endorsement of the official Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus. From the day we are born, we start aging—and my goal is that every American has the resources and information to live long, happy lives. If you have your health, you have everything and I am looking forward to working with my fellow MAHA members and RFK Jr. to Make America Healthy Again,”&nbsp;Senator Scott said.

“America is sicker than ever, and President Trump has made it a priority to address America’s chronic disease epidemic,”&nbsp;Senator Lummis said.&nbsp;“I am partnering with Dr.&nbsp;Roger&nbsp;Marshall&nbsp;to make America healthy again and hold the federal agencies who have failed the American people accountable.”

Making America Healthy Again is an effort that has broad support across the political spectrum.&nbsp; It is a completely nonpartisan issue. It should start by restoring integrity to scientific research and our federal agencies. I am happy to join the MAHA caucus and use our Senate platforms to inform the public and accomplish those goals,”&nbsp;Senator Johnson said.

Washington, D.C.&nbsp;- U.S. Senator&nbsp;Roger&nbsp;Marshall, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, recently announced the creation of the Congressional Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus, according to a statement from the Senator's office.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">America is sick, and it’s time we hold federal agencies accountable. I’m partnering with <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerMarshallMD</a> to make America healthy again and address the chronic disease epidemic that has plagued our country.&mdash; Senator Cynthia Lummis (@SenLummis) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenLummis/status/1871201597063389479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>This new caucus will focus on nutrition, access to affordable, high-quality-nutrient-dense foods, improving primary care, and addressing the root causes of chronic diseases.&nbsp;Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee for Department of Health &amp; Human Services (HHS) Secretary, has endorsed the creation of this new caucus that will work to build a stronger and healthier America. Senator&nbsp;Marshall, a physician who practiced medicine for over 25 years,&nbsp;met with Mr. Kennedy&nbsp;earlier this week to discuss his nomination to lead HHS. Senator&nbsp;Marshall&nbsp;endorsed Mr. Kennedy’s candidacy following the meeting.&nbsp;&nbsp;"The MAHA caucus is committed to improving health outcomes by prioritizing nutrition, providing access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods, and focusing on primary care availability to tackle the root causes of chronic diseases,”&nbsp;Senator&nbsp;Marshall&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“With our 'Food is Medicine' approach, support from RFK Jr., and a shared goal to Make America Healthy Again, we aim to foster transparency, innovation, and a transformative agenda that builds a healthier, stronger nation."Additional members of the MAHA Caucus include Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Ron Johnson (R-WI)."I met with RFK Jr., President Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Like I told him, I’ve heard from young people across the country who are inspired by his message to Make America Healthy Again. During our meeting, Bobby and I had a great discussion about ways to make our food and health care system better. As a founding member of the Senate Make America Healthy Again Caucus, I look forward to working with my friend Senator&nbsp;Roger&nbsp;Marshall&nbsp;and our colleagues to make sure our food is safe, bring transparency to vaccines and health care, and Make America Healthy Again,”&nbsp;Senator Tuberville said.“As the incoming Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, I want to give my full endorsement of the official Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus. From the day we are born, we start aging—and my goal is that every American has the resources and information to live long, happy lives. If you have your health, you have everything and I am looking forward to working with my fellow MAHA members and RFK Jr. to Make America Healthy Again,”&nbsp;Senator Scott said.“America is sicker than ever, and President Trump has made it a priority to address America’s chronic disease epidemic,”&nbsp;Senator Lummis said.&nbsp;“I am partnering with Dr.&nbsp;Roger&nbsp;Marshall&nbsp;to make America healthy again and hold the federal agencies who have failed the American people accountable.”Making America Healthy Again is an effort that has broad support across the political spectrum.&nbsp; It is a completely nonpartisan issue. It should start by restoring integrity to scientific research and our federal agencies. I am happy to join the MAHA caucus and use our Senate platforms to inform the public and accomplish those goals,”&nbsp;Senator Johnson said.

Kan. U.S. Senator to lead Congressional Make America Healthy Again Caucus

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/carolyn-thompson">CAROLYN THOMPSON</a> Associated Press

Schools around the country are reviewing what to do if immigration agents come knocking as President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;prepares to take office after campaigning on a pledge to deport&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mass-deportations-immigration-844f3050ba99552b900ed9f3a1dec22d">millions of people</a>.

In several large cities, school systems are speaking up for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-students-education-plyler-d16e72263e68fd7fa12991ae5057897d">rights of immigrant students</a>&nbsp;to attend school, regardless of whether they are in the country legally, and saying they would not assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. In California, officials this week offered guidance to schools on state law limiting local participation in immigration enforcement.

“I know there is a lot of fear and anxiety around the incoming administration’s anticipated changes to immigration policy,” California Attorney General Bonta said, “and I want to make sure students, their parents, and their teachers and school administrators are prepared.”

The 54-page California guide outlines state and federal protections for students and procedures for responding to law enforcement requests ranging from documents to interviews with students.

Many communities debated how much and whether schools should cooperate with immigration authorities during Trump’s first administration, when school systems including Chicago’s took&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-cfcba9a16bde49af9f2fb7f4f064f504">stands against immigration enforcement</a>.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agents have long abided guidance that deters arresting parents or students at schools and other sensitive locations that provide access to things like medical care and food and shelter. But Trump’s re-election and campaign rhetoric on immigration policy have sparked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-mass-deportations-kobach-kansas-1918efac421cf5772a932917757a4642">discussions over whether those policies will stand.</a>

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/carolyn-thompson">CAROLYN THOMPSON</a> Associated PressSchools around the country are reviewing what to do if immigration agents come knocking as President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;prepares to take office after campaigning on a pledge to deport&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mass-deportations-immigration-844f3050ba99552b900ed9f3a1dec22d">millions of people</a>.In several large cities, school systems are speaking up for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-students-education-plyler-d16e72263e68fd7fa12991ae5057897d">rights of immigrant students</a>&nbsp;to attend school, regardless of whether they are in the country legally, and saying they would not assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. In California, officials this week offered guidance to schools on state law limiting local participation in immigration enforcement.“I know there is a lot of fear and anxiety around the incoming administration’s anticipated changes to immigration policy,” California Attorney General Bonta said, “and I want to make sure students, their parents, and their teachers and school administrators are prepared.”The 54-page California guide outlines state and federal protections for students and procedures for responding to law enforcement requests ranging from documents to interviews with students.Many communities debated how much and whether schools should cooperate with immigration authorities during Trump’s first administration, when school systems including Chicago’s took&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-cfcba9a16bde49af9f2fb7f4f064f504">stands against immigration enforcement</a>.U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agents have long abided guidance that deters arresting parents or students at schools and other sensitive locations that provide access to things like medical care and food and shelter. But Trump’s re-election and campaign rhetoric on immigration policy have sparked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-mass-deportations-kobach-kansas-1918efac421cf5772a932917757a4642">discussions over whether those policies will stand.</a>“Although the protected area policy remains in effect ... it may be modified, superseded, or withdrawn at any time with little notice,” the California guidance said. “Because of this, and because exceptions to the policy exist, local educational agencies should have plans in place in the event that a law-enforcement officer requests information or access to a school site or a student for immigration-enforcement purposes.”A Trump transition spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.An estimated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/state/US" target="_blank">733,000 school-aged children</a>&nbsp;are in the U.S. illegally, according to the Migration Policy Institute.Educators are acting at least in part to address the concerns of immigrant families and assure them their children are welcome and safe at school.“We understand that fear and uncertainty, especially concerning the potential deportation of family members, can significantly impact our students’ well-being, their attendance, and their ability to learn,” Des Moines, Iowa Public Schools, where one of four students are English language learners, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dmschools.org/news_release/board-gives-statement-on-families-immigration-concerns/" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;last month. The district affirmed a 2017 resolution limiting interactions with ICE officials to the superintendent.A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cpsboe.org/content/actions/2024_11s/24-1114-RS2.pdf" target="_blank">resolution</a>&nbsp;passed by Chicago Public Schools’ Board of Education in November said schools would not assist ICE in enforcing immigration law. Agents would not be allowed into schools without a criminal warrant, it said. And New York City principals last month were reminded by the district of policies including one against collecting information a student’s immigration status.Vermont principal Chris Young said his district, whose students include children of migrant workers and farm workers, has a longstanding policy of requiring outside law enforcement to produce a warrant if they want access to students.“Clearly, students who are worried about their parents being deported or being deported themselves, I think, are high on our list of kids to worry about,” said Young, principal at North County Union High School and president-elect of the Vermont Principals Association.“We would like them to think that school is obviously a safe place and we are doing everything we can to bolster our policies around who can and can’t be in the buildings,” he said, “and we want to make sure that we’re just keeping the needs of the kids at the forefront.”<h2>___</h2>The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/" target="_blank">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.