<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>

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-workers-strike-teamsters-packages-39b86c286d67219e42309566f3975cba">Amazon delivery drivers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-workers-united-strike-holidays-b0376dbbb388a3cfdfe92297a7a41a35">Starbucks baristas</a>&nbsp;are on strike in a handful of U.S. cities as they seek to exert pressure on the two major companies to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet demands for an inaugural labor contract.

The strikes that started Thursday and Friday followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unions-labor-strike-corporations-activism-3376e71e9d21d5f74d9e9c5df6deda14">other recent standoffs</a>&nbsp;between corporate America and organized labor. Large and established labor unions secured meaningful employer concessions this year following strikes by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-contract-vote-strike-machinists-union-5237a31660b0a06381457e33f9a72369">Boeing factory workers</a>, dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports, video game performers, and hotel and casino workers on the Las Vegas Strip.

But workers at Starbucks, Amazon and some other prominent consumer brands still are fighting for their first contracts. Amazon refuses to acknowledge the organizing efforts of drivers and warehouse workers — many of whom have voted to unionize — even though the powerful&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/international-brotherhood-of-teamsters">Teamsters union</a>&nbsp;says it represents them. Starbucks long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-union-labor-law-violations-schultz-d83a3277080b491e623b7e279f9b33ac">resisted the unionization</a>&nbsp;of its stores, but had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-union-workers-united-ef16b24b20d43a6addadf91c0067bd28">agreed to negotiate</a>&nbsp;a contract by the end of the year.

Strikes — particularly ones that happen during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/holidays">the holidays</a>, a time of high economic activity — can help unions exercise leverage during negotiations or flex their muscles by garnering support from workers and sympathetic consumers.

Both Amazon and Starbucks saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joint-employer-nlrb-mcdonalds-labor-franchisees-amazon-rule-de968c9479de5845e3e0e422404ff6f3">a wave of organizing efforts</a>&nbsp;following the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic focused attention on front-line workers and the impact of economic inequality on the lives of wage-earning Americans.

Employees organized at bookstores, where unions are rare, and were successful with campaigns at some stores run by Apple,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-boulder-national-labor-relations-board-business-1cf43df416acd7314b7eaf266c040389">Trader Joe’s</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-new-york-manhattan-new-york-city-nyc-state-wire-b4d8e2183d61eb9d5335c98ac171ff72">outdoor equipment company REI</a>.

But turning those wins into contracts can be a challenge. At Amazon and Starbucks, which were not unionized before the pandemic, workers have yet to secure an agreement with the e-commerce and coffee giants, which both have their headquarters in Seattle.

John Logan, director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University, said he thinks the Amazon and Starbucks workers are “desperate” to make progress before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President-elect Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;gets to appoint a Republican majority to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/national-labor-relations-board">National Labor Relations Board</a>, which is expected to be less friendly to unions during his administration.

“The unions want to make these disputes public and bring political pressures on the companies,” Logan said in a written statement. “If these disputes drag on until next year, and if they are fought largely through the labor board and the courts, the unions and workers will almost certainly lose. This might be their last, best chance to pressure the companies in public before Trump comes into office.”

However, Trump has also given some signs that he might be friendlier to labor during his second term compared to his first term. Last month, he picked Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead the Department of Labor in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-staff-picks-stefanik-wiles-stephen-miller-tom-homan-243d73610b03a3ee18c4d5f68756af7c">his new administration</a>, elevating a Republican congresswoman who has strong support from unions, including the Teamsters. Teamsters President Sean O’Brien also spoke at the Republican National Convention this past summer.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wa-state-wire-technology-business-27b00770b2189ddbd8ddcb64e5bad96c">The Teamsters</a>&nbsp;say workers at Amazon are striking at seven delivery stations in Southern California, San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta and Skokie, Illinois, because the company ignored a Sunday deadline the union had set for contract negotiations. At midnight on Saturday, the Teamsters say workers will also strike at a prominent warehouse in New York, which voted to join the fledgling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-labor-union-election-35b63f38aa1c7f82bc86c21936e02a78">Amazon Labor Union</a>&nbsp;in 2022 and have since elected to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-union-teamsters-labor-warehouse-0d0d751d6800495ed0296e33b4f5835e">affiliate with the Teamsters</a>.

The prominent labor group says it’s fighting for higher wages, better benefits and safer working conditions for Amazon employees, many of whom experience economic insecurity while working for a company worth $2.3 trillion. It has not said how many Amazon warehouse workers or drivers are joining the striking.

The union has mainly focused on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-teamsters-delivery-union-ups-0b9a9e2fc06dbb18cb23c476e0c19230">organizing delivery drivers</a>, which the company says are not its workers because they are directly employed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-small-business-retail-delivery-248c1a69bc786105783a5fc75045a75b">contractors Amazon recruited</a>&nbsp;to handle package deliveries.

That type of setup gives the Amazon more cover from unionization attempts in an industry — transportation and trucking — that’s dominated by the Teamsters. However, the union has argued before the National Labor Relations Board that the drivers, who wear Amazon’s ubiquitous gray-blue vests and drive similarly colored vans, should be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-nlrb-delivery-drivers-3214680ef8c8b060184964412f378128">classified as company employees</a>.

Meanwhile, the online retailer has accused the union of pushing a “false narrative” about the thousands of workers it claims to represent. Amazon has also touted its pay, saying it provides warehouse and transportation employees a base wage of $22 per hour plus benefits. It also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-delivery-drivers-pay-c9683ed7fb0abab9476bd6f0bc9481e5">recently boosted hourly pay</a>&nbsp;for the subcontracted delivery drivers.

In September, the NLRB, which has taken a more pro-labor stance under President Joe Biden, filed a complaint that found the drivers to be joint employees of Amazon. The agency also accused Amazon of unlawfully failing to bargain with the Teamsters on a contract for drivers at a California delivery hub.

The Teamsters union says it also represents Amazon warehouse workers, including thousands of employees at the major New York City fulfillment center who voted to be represented by the Amazon Labor Union.

Amazon objected to the 2022 warehouse election results, alleging the Amazon Labor Union and the federal labor board had tainted the vote. A regional NLRB director issued a complaint last year that accused Amazon of violating the law by refusing to bargain with the union.

Amazon, in turn, is challenging the constitutionality of the NLRB in federal court along with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. In June, the Supreme Court made it harder for the agency to win court orders in labor disputes, siding with Starbucks in a case brought by the company.

Unlike Amazon, contract negotiation have been underway at Starbucks.

But Starbucks Workers United, the union that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-workers-united-union-lawsuit-israel-palestinian-f212a994fef67f122854a4df7e5d13f5">organized workers</a>&nbsp;at 535 company-owned U.S. stores since 2021, said the company has failed to honor a commitment made in February to reach a labor agreement this year.

The union also wants Starbucks to resolve outstanding legal issues, including hundreds of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-starbucks-union-fired-workers-tennessee-18547e128a14fae93a148383f48cb305">unfair labor practice charges</a>&nbsp;that workers have filed with the National Labor Relations Board. The agency also has opened or settled hundreds of charges against Amazon.

In launching the strikes that started Friday in Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle, Workers United said Starbucks proposed an economic package with no new wage increases for unionized baristas now and a 1.5% increase in future years.

Union leaders said the strikes expanded on Saturday to include stores in Denver, Pittsburgh and Columbus Ohio with plans for baristas to join the picket lines in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, and St. Louis on Sunday.

Without providing a specific number, labor leaders said dozens of Starbucks stores are now affected by the strike.

Starbucks said Workers United prematurely ended a bargaining session this week. The company also says it already offers pay and benefits worth $30 per hour for baristas who work at least 20 hours per week.

Starbucks workers walked off the job on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/strikes-starbucks-corp-labor-chicago-juniper-schweitzer-1a50c2041a9342549e84b55b1b7d00fe">two occasions</a>&nbsp;last year. Workers United has said the latest strikes could spread to hundreds of stores across the country by Christmas Eve.

Patricia Campos-Medina, who recently ran for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat in New Jersey and leads Cornell University’s Worker Institute at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, said she expects there to be more union activity before Trump takes office.

Trump’s reactions will give the public a chance to see what his “commitments are to the working class,” Campos-Medina said.

Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed to this story.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734883615147.png" alt="Starbucks Workers United" />
 <figcaption>Starbucks Workers United</figcaption>
 </figure><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><a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-workers-strike-teamsters-packages-39b86c286d67219e42309566f3975cba">Amazon delivery drivers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-workers-united-strike-holidays-b0376dbbb388a3cfdfe92297a7a41a35">Starbucks baristas</a>&nbsp;are on strike in a handful of U.S. cities as they seek to exert pressure on the two major companies to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet demands for an inaugural labor contract.The strikes that started Thursday and Friday followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unions-labor-strike-corporations-activism-3376e71e9d21d5f74d9e9c5df6deda14">other recent standoffs</a>&nbsp;between corporate America and organized labor. Large and established labor unions secured meaningful employer concessions this year following strikes by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-contract-vote-strike-machinists-union-5237a31660b0a06381457e33f9a72369">Boeing factory workers</a>, dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports, video game performers, and hotel and casino workers on the Las Vegas Strip.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🚨Union baristas are calling on EVERYONE to NOT buy from ANY Starbucks store during the duration of our ULP strikes. 🧵<a href="https://t.co/LOItQyneJb">https://t.co/LOItQyneJb</a> <a href="https://t.co/EhYd3wWZjc">pic.twitter.com/EhYd3wWZjc</a>&mdash; Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBWorkersUnited/status/1870629809153589499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But workers at Starbucks, Amazon and some other prominent consumer brands still are fighting for their first contracts. Amazon refuses to acknowledge the organizing efforts of drivers and warehouse workers — many of whom have voted to unionize — even though the powerful&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/international-brotherhood-of-teamsters">Teamsters union</a>&nbsp;says it represents them. Starbucks long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-union-labor-law-violations-schultz-d83a3277080b491e623b7e279f9b33ac">resisted the unionization</a>&nbsp;of its stores, but had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-union-workers-united-ef16b24b20d43a6addadf91c0067bd28">agreed to negotiate</a>&nbsp;a contract by the end of the year.<h2>Why are the strikes happening now?</h2>Strikes — particularly ones that happen during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/holidays">the holidays</a>, a time of high economic activity — can help unions exercise leverage during negotiations or flex their muscles by garnering support from workers and sympathetic consumers.Both Amazon and Starbucks saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joint-employer-nlrb-mcdonalds-labor-franchisees-amazon-rule-de968c9479de5845e3e0e422404ff6f3">a wave of organizing efforts</a>&nbsp;following the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic focused attention on front-line workers and the impact of economic inequality on the lives of wage-earning Americans.Employees organized at bookstores, where unions are rare, and were successful with campaigns at some stores run by Apple,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-boulder-national-labor-relations-board-business-1cf43df416acd7314b7eaf266c040389">Trader Joe’s</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-new-york-manhattan-new-york-city-nyc-state-wire-b4d8e2183d61eb9d5335c98ac171ff72">outdoor equipment company REI</a>.But turning those wins into contracts can be a challenge. At Amazon and Starbucks, which were not unionized before the pandemic, workers have yet to secure an agreement with the e-commerce and coffee giants, which both have their headquarters in Seattle.John Logan, director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University, said he thinks the Amazon and Starbucks workers are “desperate” to make progress before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President-elect Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;gets to appoint a Republican majority to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/national-labor-relations-board">National Labor Relations Board</a>, which is expected to be less friendly to unions during his administration.“The unions want to make these disputes public and bring political pressures on the companies,” Logan said in a written statement. “If these disputes drag on until next year, and if they are fought largely through the labor board and the courts, the unions and workers will almost certainly lose. This might be their last, best chance to pressure the companies in public before Trump comes into office.”However, Trump has also given some signs that he might be friendlier to labor during his second term compared to his first term. Last month, he picked Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead the Department of Labor in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-staff-picks-stefanik-wiles-stephen-miller-tom-homan-243d73610b03a3ee18c4d5f68756af7c">his new administration</a>, elevating a Republican congresswoman who has strong support from unions, including the Teamsters. Teamsters President Sean O’Brien also spoke at the Republican National Convention this past summer.<h2>Teamster-led strikes at Amazon</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/wa-state-wire-technology-business-27b00770b2189ddbd8ddcb64e5bad96c">The Teamsters</a>&nbsp;say workers at Amazon are striking at seven delivery stations in Southern California, San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta and Skokie, Illinois, because the company ignored a Sunday deadline the union had set for contract negotiations. At midnight on Saturday, the Teamsters say workers will also strike at a prominent warehouse in New York, which voted to join the fledgling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-labor-union-election-35b63f38aa1c7f82bc86c21936e02a78">Amazon Labor Union</a>&nbsp;in 2022 and have since elected to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-union-teamsters-labor-warehouse-0d0d751d6800495ed0296e33b4f5835e">affiliate with the Teamsters</a>.The prominent labor group says it’s fighting for higher wages, better benefits and safer working conditions for Amazon employees, many of whom experience economic insecurity while working for a company worth $2.3 trillion. It has not said how many Amazon warehouse workers or drivers are joining the striking.The union has mainly focused on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-teamsters-delivery-union-ups-0b9a9e2fc06dbb18cb23c476e0c19230">organizing delivery drivers</a>, which the company says are not its workers because they are directly employed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-small-business-retail-delivery-248c1a69bc786105783a5fc75045a75b">contractors Amazon recruited</a>&nbsp;to handle package deliveries.That type of setup gives the Amazon more cover from unionization attempts in an industry — transportation and trucking — that’s dominated by the Teamsters. However, the union has argued before the National Labor Relations Board that the drivers, who wear Amazon’s ubiquitous gray-blue vests and drive similarly colored vans, should be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-nlrb-delivery-drivers-3214680ef8c8b060184964412f378128">classified as company employees</a>.Meanwhile, the online retailer has accused the union of pushing a “false narrative” about the thousands of workers it claims to represent. Amazon has also touted its pay, saying it provides warehouse and transportation employees a base wage of $22 per hour plus benefits. It also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-delivery-drivers-pay-c9683ed7fb0abab9476bd6f0bc9481e5">recently boosted hourly pay</a>&nbsp;for the subcontracted delivery drivers.In September, the NLRB, which has taken a more pro-labor stance under President Joe Biden, filed a complaint that found the drivers to be joint employees of Amazon. The agency also accused Amazon of unlawfully failing to bargain with the Teamsters on a contract for drivers at a California delivery hub.The Teamsters union says it also represents Amazon warehouse workers, including thousands of employees at the major New York City fulfillment center who voted to be represented by the Amazon Labor Union.Amazon objected to the 2022 warehouse election results, alleging the Amazon Labor Union and the federal labor board had tainted the vote. A regional NLRB director issued a complaint last year that accused Amazon of violating the law by refusing to bargain with the union.Amazon, in turn, is challenging the constitutionality of the NLRB in federal court along with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. In June, the Supreme Court made it harder for the agency to win court orders in labor disputes, siding with Starbucks in a case brought by the company.<h2>Contract negotiations at Starbucks</h2>Unlike Amazon, contract negotiation have been underway at Starbucks.But Starbucks Workers United, the union that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-workers-united-union-lawsuit-israel-palestinian-f212a994fef67f122854a4df7e5d13f5">organized workers</a>&nbsp;at 535 company-owned U.S. stores since 2021, said the company has failed to honor a commitment made in February to reach a labor agreement this year.The union also wants Starbucks to resolve outstanding legal issues, including hundreds of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-starbucks-union-fired-workers-tennessee-18547e128a14fae93a148383f48cb305">unfair labor practice charges</a>&nbsp;that workers have filed with the National Labor Relations Board. The agency also has opened or settled hundreds of charges against Amazon.In launching the strikes that started Friday in Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle, Workers United said Starbucks proposed an economic package with no new wage increases for unionized baristas now and a 1.5% increase in future years.Union leaders said the strikes expanded on Saturday to include stores in Denver, Pittsburgh and Columbus Ohio with plans for baristas to join the picket lines in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, and St. Louis on Sunday.Without providing a specific number, labor leaders said dozens of Starbucks stores are now affected by the strike.Starbucks said Workers United prematurely ended a bargaining session this week. The company also says it already offers pay and benefits worth $30 per hour for baristas who work at least 20 hours per week.Starbucks workers walked off the job on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/strikes-starbucks-corp-labor-chicago-juniper-schweitzer-1a50c2041a9342549e84b55b1b7d00fe">two occasions</a>&nbsp;last year. Workers United has said the latest strikes could spread to hundreds of stores across the country by Christmas Eve.Patricia Campos-Medina, who recently ran for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat in New Jersey and leads Cornell University’s Worker Institute at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, said she expects there to be more union activity before Trump takes office.Trump’s reactions will give the public a chance to see what his “commitments are to the working class,” Campos-Medina said.<h2>___</h2>Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed to this story.

Why Starbucks and Amazon workers are on strike now

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;will travel to Italy next month to meet with Pope Francis and top Italian officials for what is expected to be the final international trip of his presidency.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that Biden will also meet with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella during the Jan. 9-12 trip.

Biden accepted Francis’ invitation to visit the Vatican during a phone call Thursday, according to the White House.

“The President thanked the Pope for his continued advocacy to alleviate global suffering, including his work to advance human rights and protect religious freedoms,” the White House said in a statement.

Jean-Pierre said Biden and Francis will “discuss efforts to advance peace around the world.” She said Biden intends to use his final meeting with Meloni to “discuss important challenges facing the world” and to thank her for Italy’s leadership as the country’s winds up its yearlong, rotating presidency at the Group of Seven.

Overseas visits this late in a U.S. presidency aren’t typical. The last president to travel overseas in the final month of his presidency was fellow one-termer George H.W. Bush, who traveled in early January 1993 to Moscow to sign a nuclear treaty and to Paris for talks with French President François Mitterrand about the Bosnian war, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/travels/president/bush-george-h-w" target="_blank">State Department historical records.</a>

Biden, a practicing Roman Catholic, last met privately with Francis earlier this year while in Italy for the G7 leaders meeting.

He also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pope-francis-business-poverty-rome-b4675e7b3115c5f3ddd3a735f9ee1e25">met with Francis</a>&nbsp;at the Vatican in 2021, when they had a wide-ranging conversation about climate change, poverty and the coronavirus pandemic. Their warm conversation also touched on the loss of the president’s adult son Beau, who died of cancer in 2015, and included jokes about aging well.

Biden’s support for abortion rights and same-sex marriage has put him at odds with many U.S. bishops, some of whom have suggested he should be denied Communion.

But following the Vatican meeting in 2021, Biden said Francis called him&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pope-francis-business-poverty-rome-b4675e7b3115c5f3ddd3a735f9ee1e25">a “good Catholic”</a>&nbsp;who should keep receiving Communion.

Biden is set to arrive soon after the Vatican begins the Holy Year, which officially opens on Christmas Eve.

Holy Years are generally celebrated every 25 to 50 years, and over the centuries have been used to encourage the faithful to make pilgrimages to Rome to pray at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul and obtain an indulgence — the ancient church tradition related to the forgiveness of sins that roughly amounts to a “get out of Purgatory free” card.

Pilgrims who pass through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica can obtain the indulgence, and the Vatican is expecting some 32 million people will flock to Rome over 2025 to participate in the pilgrimage.

Winfield reported from Rome. AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718390089588.png" alt="President Biden greeted Pope Francis at the G7 conference in June-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Biden greeted Pope Francis at the G7 conference in June-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;will travel to Italy next month to meet with Pope Francis and top Italian officials for what is expected to be the final international trip of his presidency.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that Biden will also meet with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella during the Jan. 9-12 trip.Biden accepted Francis’ invitation to visit the Vatican during a phone call Thursday, according to the White House.“The President thanked the Pope for his continued advocacy to alleviate global suffering, including his work to advance human rights and protect religious freedoms,” the White House said in a statement.Jean-Pierre said Biden and Francis will “discuss efforts to advance peace around the world.” She said Biden intends to use his final meeting with Meloni to “discuss important challenges facing the world” and to thank her for Italy’s leadership as the country’s winds up its yearlong, rotating presidency at the Group of Seven.Overseas visits this late in a U.S. presidency aren’t typical. The last president to travel overseas in the final month of his presidency was fellow one-termer George H.W. Bush, who traveled in early January 1993 to Moscow to sign a nuclear treaty and to Paris for talks with French President François Mitterrand about the Bosnian war, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/travels/president/bush-george-h-w" target="_blank">State Department historical records.</a>Biden, a practicing Roman Catholic, last met privately with Francis earlier this year while in Italy for the G7 leaders meeting.He also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pope-francis-business-poverty-rome-b4675e7b3115c5f3ddd3a735f9ee1e25">met with Francis</a>&nbsp;at the Vatican in 2021, when they had a wide-ranging conversation about climate change, poverty and the coronavirus pandemic. Their warm conversation also touched on the loss of the president’s adult son Beau, who died of cancer in 2015, and included jokes about aging well.Biden’s support for abortion rights and same-sex marriage has put him at odds with many U.S. bishops, some of whom have suggested he should be denied Communion.But following the Vatican meeting in 2021, Biden said Francis called him&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pope-francis-business-poverty-rome-b4675e7b3115c5f3ddd3a735f9ee1e25">a “good Catholic”</a>&nbsp;who should keep receiving Communion.Biden is set to arrive soon after the Vatican begins the Holy Year, which officially opens on Christmas Eve.Holy Years are generally celebrated every 25 to 50 years, and over the centuries have been used to encourage the faithful to make pilgrimages to Rome to pray at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul and obtain an indulgence — the ancient church tradition related to the forgiveness of sins that roughly amounts to a “get out of Purgatory free” card.Pilgrims who pass through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica can obtain the indulgence, and the Vatican is expecting some 32 million people will flock to Rome over 2025 to participate in the pilgrimage.<h2>___</h2>Winfield reported from Rome. AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

Biden to make one final international trip of his presidency

Several laws, such as the 72-hour waiting period, were temporarily blocked. But Planned Parenthood says enough restrictions remain in place to prevent abortion services from resuming

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/"></a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

A Missouri judge on Friday temporarily struck down several laws that Planned Parenthood clinics have said made access to abortion all but impossible across the state.&nbsp;

Among the laws Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang blocked include a 72-hour waiting period for an abortion and a mandate that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

But abortions will not yet restart in the state because licensure requirements remain in place.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and the ACLU of Missouri in a joint statement Friday evening said the state’s several clinics remain unlicensed.

“As a result of today’s mixed decision,” they wrote. “Missourians continue to be deprived of time-sensitive, essential, and constitutionally protected health care, despite voting in favor of a constitutional right to abortion.”

After more than two years of a near-total abortion ban, Missourians voted to legalize the procedure in November.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/06/missouri-abortion-access-planned-parenthood-lawsuit-amendment-3/">Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri immediately sued</a>&nbsp;the state in the hopes of invalidating dozens of abortion regulations they believed were now unconstitutional.&nbsp;

On Friday afternoon,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/2416-CV31931.COMP%20HEALTH.Prelim%20Injuction%20ORDER_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=16&amp;di=26642271" target="_blank">Zhang granted some of Planned Parenthood’s requests and denied others</a>. This means that for the time being at least, some of the state’s strictest “targeted regulation of abortion providers,” or TRAP, laws are not enforceable.&nbsp;

Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri did not immediately say how soon they may begin offering abortion as a result of the judge’s order.

State officials, including Attorney General Andrew Bailey, agreed Amendment 3 makes null and void the state’s current ban on abortion, which only allows exceptions for medical emergencies.&nbsp;

But&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/05/abortion-lawsuit-planned-parenthood-amendment-3-missouri-jackson-county/">during a Dec. 4 hearing</a>, Bailey’s office panned Planned Parenthood’s arguments that current TRAP laws cause irreparable harm and are unnecessary.&nbsp;

The state asked that the case be dismissed, arguing that because abortion is still accessible by mail or by leaving the state, Planned Parenthood didn’t have the standing to ask for an emergency injunction.

In her Friday order, Zhang wrote that, “as plaintiffs argue, they and their patients are suffering serious harm, whereas defendants only stand to lose the ability temporarily to enforce some laws that are likely to be held unconstitutional and which further no valid compelling state interest.”

She went on to temporarily strike down the following TRAP laws as unconstitutional:&nbsp;

Zhang kept in place the following TRAP laws:

After the court hearing but before Friday’s decision, a spokeswoman with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said the department continued to view the state’s TRAP laws as constitutional but declined to comment on specific aspects of the lawsuit as the litigation is ongoing.

“Our regulations remain in place,” Sami Jo Freeman, spokeswoman for the department, said on Dec. 11. “We believe those regulations are not overly burdensome and establish necessary safety standards for these procedures. We cannot comment on pending litigation at this time.”

Brian Westbrook, executive director of Coalition Life, said in a statement Friday that his organization will be closely monitoring the licensing process of any abortion clinics in Missouri.

“We are gratified that the court has rightly decided to retain licensing requirements for abortion facilities and doctors who perform abortions,” Westbrook said. “Even while we mourn the loss of protections that are vital to the safety of women and the protection of preborn children.”

<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">On Nov. 5, Missourians narrowly approved Amendment 3</a>, which&nbsp;states, in part, that “the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed, or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justifiable by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”&nbsp;

The constitutional amendment officially took effect Dec. 6.

Had all the challenged TRAP laws been struck down, Planned Parenthood clinics said they were prepared to immediately begin offering abortions at some of their locations.

“It is unacceptable that tomorrow, just like for the past two weeks, Missourians will have a constitutional right that cannot be realized in their home state,” Emily Wales, president and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a statement. “We’re relieved the court recognized and enjoined many oppressive laws on the books that serve no purpose except to put abortion out of reach. Unfortunately, a key tool weaponized by anti-abortion politicians — the licensure process — remains in effect, and we are unable to restore care.”

The plaintiffs in a statement said they are evaluating their legal options. A spokesperson for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Zhang’s order is temporary until a trial litigating the challenged laws takes place. The next case management conference is scheduled for late February in Kansas City.

<a href="https://www.whatsnext4mo.org/home/#CTA" target="_blank">“What’s Next,”&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;an Amendment 3 accountability group made up organizers and activists who previously called for a constitutional amendment with no restrictions on abortion, said the ruling was far from a win.

“‘Ending the ban’ is window dressing as long as restrictions such as facility license requirements designed to keep clinics closed are in effect and access to care is not a reality for abortion seekers and providers,” they wrote. “This is what we warned about and our fears are unfolding exactly how we predicted.”

<h2>Several laws, such as the 72-hour waiting period, were temporarily blocked. But Planned Parenthood says enough restrictions remain in place to prevent abortion services from resuming</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/"></a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A Missouri judge on Friday temporarily struck down several laws that Planned Parenthood clinics have said made access to abortion all but impossible across the state.&nbsp;Among the laws Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang blocked include a 72-hour waiting period for an abortion and a mandate that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.But abortions will not yet restart in the state because licensure requirements remain in place.Planned Parenthood Great Plains, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and the ACLU of Missouri in a joint statement Friday evening said the state’s several clinics remain unlicensed.“As a result of today’s mixed decision,” they wrote. “Missourians continue to be deprived of time-sensitive, essential, and constitutionally protected health care, despite voting in favor of a constitutional right to abortion.”After more than two years of a near-total abortion ban, Missourians voted to legalize the procedure in November.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/06/missouri-abortion-access-planned-parenthood-lawsuit-amendment-3/">Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri immediately sued</a>&nbsp;the state in the hopes of invalidating dozens of abortion regulations they believed were now unconstitutional.&nbsp;On Friday afternoon,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/2416-CV31931.COMP%20HEALTH.Prelim%20Injuction%20ORDER_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=16&amp;di=26642271" target="_blank">Zhang granted some of Planned Parenthood’s requests and denied others</a>. This means that for the time being at least, some of the state’s strictest “targeted regulation of abortion providers,” or TRAP, laws are not enforceable.&nbsp;Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri did not immediately say how soon they may begin offering abortion as a result of the judge’s order.State officials, including Attorney General Andrew Bailey, agreed Amendment 3 makes null and void the state’s current ban on abortion, which only allows exceptions for medical emergencies.&nbsp;But&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/05/abortion-lawsuit-planned-parenthood-amendment-3-missouri-jackson-county/">during a Dec. 4 hearing</a>, Bailey’s office panned Planned Parenthood’s arguments that current TRAP laws cause irreparable harm and are unnecessary.&nbsp;The state asked that the case be dismissed, arguing that because abortion is still accessible by mail or by leaving the state, Planned Parenthood didn’t have the standing to ask for an emergency injunction.In her Friday order, Zhang wrote that, “as plaintiffs argue, they and their patients are suffering serious harm, whereas defendants only stand to lose the ability temporarily to enforce some laws that are likely to be held unconstitutional and which further no valid compelling state interest.”She went on to temporarily strike down the following TRAP laws as unconstitutional:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>A requirement that physicians providing abortions have admitting privileges at hospitals with obstetric or gynecological care within 30 miles or a 15-minute drive.&nbsp;</li><li>A mandatory 72-hour waiting period between an initial abortion consultation and the abortion procedure.</li><li>The state’s informed consent requirement, which includes access to the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/womenshealth/pregnancyassistance/pdf/Mo.InformedConsentBooklet-Revisedpgs.12-15August2019jkOGCReviewed.pdf" target="_blank">informed consent booklet</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>In cases of medication abortions, a requirement that the medication be administered in the presence of the doctor who prescribed it. Planned Parenthood refers to this as a “telemedicine ban,” which prevents doctors from prescribing a medication in-person but allowing the patient to take the medication at home or in the presence of another medical professional.</li><li>A requirement that before administering medication abortion, providers must have a complication plan in place, which includes access to an on-call OB-GYN who is available at any time, in the case of a complication. Zhang wrote that this law was not helpful to those traveling from rural Missouri to an urban Planned Parenthood clinic, for example.&nbsp;</li><li>A law requiring all fetal tissue removed from the uterus during an abortion be sent to a pathologist.</li>
 </ul>Zhang kept in place the following TRAP laws:<ul>
 <li>A requirement that patients must first see a doctor for an in-person appointment to confirm gestational age before prescribing the pills used in medication abortions.</li><li>A law stating that abortions can only be performed by physicians, and not physicians assistants or other advanced practice clinicians.&nbsp;</li><li>A law allowing the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to place separate regulations and standards that apply to ambulatory surgical centers on abortion clinics, including size requirements for hallways, room and doors.&nbsp;This law also requires clinics to keep a written plan for managing medical emergencies, including a transfer plan for patients to a nearby hospital. Zhang said she was denying the injunction related to these licensure requirements because the statutes “pertain to the actual licensure of the facilities rather than the rights of individuals seeking reproductive care.”</li>
 </ul>After the court hearing but before Friday’s decision, a spokeswoman with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said the department continued to view the state’s TRAP laws as constitutional but declined to comment on specific aspects of the lawsuit as the litigation is ongoing.“Our regulations remain in place,” Sami Jo Freeman, spokeswoman for the department, said on Dec. 11. “We believe those regulations are not overly burdensome and establish necessary safety standards for these procedures. We cannot comment on pending litigation at this time.”Brian Westbrook, executive director of Coalition Life, said in a statement Friday that his organization will be closely monitoring the licensing process of any abortion clinics in Missouri.“We are gratified that the court has rightly decided to retain licensing requirements for abortion facilities and doctors who perform abortions,” Westbrook said. “Even while we mourn the loss of protections that are vital to the safety of women and the protection of preborn children.”<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">On Nov. 5, Missourians narrowly approved Amendment 3</a>, which&nbsp;states, in part, that “the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed, or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justifiable by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”&nbsp;The constitutional amendment officially took effect Dec. 6.Had all the challenged TRAP laws been struck down, Planned Parenthood clinics said they were prepared to immediately begin offering abortions at some of their locations.“It is unacceptable that tomorrow, just like for the past two weeks, Missourians will have a constitutional right that cannot be realized in their home state,” Emily Wales, president and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a statement. “We’re relieved the court recognized and enjoined many oppressive laws on the books that serve no purpose except to put abortion out of reach. Unfortunately, a key tool weaponized by anti-abortion politicians — the licensure process — remains in effect, and we are unable to restore care.”The plaintiffs in a statement said they are evaluating their legal options. A spokesperson for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Zhang’s order is temporary until a trial litigating the challenged laws takes place. The next case management conference is scheduled for late February in Kansas City.<a href="https://www.whatsnext4mo.org/home/#CTA" target="_blank">“What’s Next,”&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;an Amendment 3 accountability group made up organizers and activists who previously called for a constitutional amendment with no restrictions on abortion, said the ruling was far from a win.“‘Ending the ban’ is window dressing as long as restrictions such as facility license requirements designed to keep clinics closed are in effect and access to care is not a reality for abortion seekers and providers,” they wrote. “This is what we warned about and our fears are unfolding exactly how we predicted.”

Missouri judge strikes down abortion ban, but clinics say access remains blocked

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed legislation early Saturday to boost Social Security payments for millions of people, pushing a longtime priority for former public employees through Congress in one of its last acts for the year.

The bipartisan bill, which next heads to President Joe Biden, will eliminate longtime reductions to Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million people who receive pensions from work in federal, state and local government, or public service jobs like teachers, firefighters and police officers. Advocates say the Social Security Fairness Act rights a decades-old disparity, though it will also put further strain on Social Security Trust Funds.

The legislation has been decades in the making but the push to pass it came together in the final weeks — and was completed in the final minutes — that lawmakers were in Washington before Congress resets next year. All Senate Democrats, as well as 27 Republicans, voted for the bill, giving it a final tally of 76-20. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.

“Millions of retired teachers and firefighters and letter carriers and state and local workers have waited decades for this moment. No longer will public retirees see their hard-earned Social Security benefits robbed from them,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The bill repeals two provisions — the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset — that limit Social Security benefits for certain recipients if they receive retirement payments from other sources such as the public retirement program for a state or local government.

“Social Security is a bedrock of our middle class. It’s retirement security that Americans pay into and earn over a lifetime," said Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat who has pushed for the proposal for years and will leave Congress after losing reelection.

He added that the current restrictions make “no sense. These workers serve the public. They protect our communities. They teach our kids. They pay into Social Security just like everyone else."

People who currently have reductions in their Social Security benefits under the exceptions would soon see a boost in their monthly payments. But those increased payments would also add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2024-09/hr82.pdf">Congressional Budget Office</a>.

<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/policy/trust-funds-summary.html">Social Security Trust Funds</a>&nbsp;were already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035, and the change will hasten the program’s insolvency date by about half a year. A typical dual-income couple retiring in 2033 would see an additional $25,000 lifetime reduction in their benefits, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Many of the bill's opponents acknowledged that the current reductions are not fair to public service retirees, but said they could not support the bill when the entire program faces challenges.

“We caved to the pressure of the moment instead of doing this on a sustainable basis,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who opposed the bill.

The policy changes will also heap more work on the Social Security Administration when the agency is already at its lowest staffing level in 50 years. The agency currently has a staff of about 56,400 — the lowest level since 1972, according to an agency spokesperson — even as it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/securitystat">serves more people than ever</a>. The stopgap government funding bill that also passed early Saturday did not include increased funding for the agency, which is currently in a hiring freeze.

Still, Republican supporters of the bill said there was a rare opportunity to address what they described as an unfair section of federal law that hurts public service retirees.

“They have earned these benefits. This is an unfair, inequitable penalty,” said Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican.

GOP supporters of the bill also said they would return to work on larger fixes to Social Security. President-elect Donald Trump, however, has said he will not touch the benefits, even as his administration looks to make deep budget cuts elsewhere.

Senate Republicans are nonetheless working on ideas that would put the program on better financial footing, but also inevitably require a scale-back in benefits. One fiscal hawk, Sen. Rand Paul, pushed Friday for a proposal to gradually raise the Social Security retirement age to 70, although a vote to add that provision to the bill only received three votes in favor of it.

“There's so much riding on us getting this right and having the courage to fix Social Security over the next few years,” Tillis said. “We will rue the day that we failed to do it.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed legislation early Saturday to boost Social Security payments for millions of people, pushing a longtime priority for former public employees through Congress in one of its last acts for the year.The bipartisan bill, which next heads to President Joe Biden, will eliminate longtime reductions to Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million people who receive pensions from work in federal, state and local government, or public service jobs like teachers, firefighters and police officers. Advocates say the Social Security Fairness Act rights a decades-old disparity, though it will also put further strain on Social Security Trust Funds.The legislation has been decades in the making but the push to pass it came together in the final weeks — and was completed in the final minutes — that lawmakers were in Washington before Congress resets next year. All Senate Democrats, as well as 27 Republicans, voted for the bill, giving it a final tally of 76-20. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.“Millions of retired teachers and firefighters and letter carriers and state and local workers have waited decades for this moment. No longer will public retirees see their hard-earned Social Security benefits robbed from them,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.The bill repeals two provisions — the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset — that limit Social Security benefits for certain recipients if they receive retirement payments from other sources such as the public retirement program for a state or local government.“Social Security is a bedrock of our middle class. It’s retirement security that Americans pay into and earn over a lifetime," said Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat who has pushed for the proposal for years and will leave Congress after losing reelection.He added that the current restrictions make “no sense. These workers serve the public. They protect our communities. They teach our kids. They pay into Social Security just like everyone else."People who currently have reductions in their Social Security benefits under the exceptions would soon see a boost in their monthly payments. But those increased payments would also add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2024-09/hr82.pdf">Congressional Budget Office</a>.<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/policy/trust-funds-summary.html">Social Security Trust Funds</a>&nbsp;were already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035, and the change will hasten the program’s insolvency date by about half a year. A typical dual-income couple retiring in 2033 would see an additional $25,000 lifetime reduction in their benefits, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.Many of the bill's opponents acknowledged that the current reductions are not fair to public service retirees, but said they could not support the bill when the entire program faces challenges.“We caved to the pressure of the moment instead of doing this on a sustainable basis,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who opposed the bill.The policy changes will also heap more work on the Social Security Administration when the agency is already at its lowest staffing level in 50 years. The agency currently has a staff of about 56,400 — the lowest level since 1972, according to an agency spokesperson — even as it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/securitystat">serves more people than ever</a>. The stopgap government funding bill that also passed early Saturday did not include increased funding for the agency, which is currently in a hiring freeze.Still, Republican supporters of the bill said there was a rare opportunity to address what they described as an unfair section of federal law that hurts public service retirees.“They have earned these benefits. This is an unfair, inequitable penalty,” said Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican.GOP supporters of the bill also said they would return to work on larger fixes to Social Security. President-elect Donald Trump, however, has said he will not touch the benefits, even as his administration looks to make deep budget cuts elsewhere.Senate Republicans are nonetheless working on ideas that would put the program on better financial footing, but also inevitably require a scale-back in benefits. One fiscal hawk, Sen. Rand Paul, pushed Friday for a proposal to gradually raise the Social Security retirement age to 70, although a vote to add that provision to the bill only received three votes in favor of it.“There's so much riding on us getting this right and having the courage to fix Social Security over the next few years,” Tillis said. “We will rue the day that we failed to do it.”

Moran, Marshall vote yes: Senate approves bill to expand Social Security to millions 

KANSAS CITY —Two people died in an accident just before 3p.m. Saturday in Kansas&nbsp; &nbsp;City.

A preliminary investigation of the accident revealed that a Honda two door passenger vehicle was westbound on 23rd Street at Stark Avenue in Kansas City at a high rate of speed, according to KCPD Officer Jake Becchins.

The Honda traveled off the roadway into the embankment and rolled. Both occupants were not wearing their seatbelts and were ejected from the vehicle. One occupant was pronounced dead on scene and the other one was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

These are fatalities 91 and 92 for 2024, according to Becchina.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —Two people died in an accident just before 3p.m. Saturday in Kansas&nbsp; &nbsp;City.A preliminary investigation of the accident revealed that a Honda two door passenger vehicle was westbound on 23rd Street at Stark Avenue in Kansas City at a high rate of speed, according to KCPD Officer Jake Becchins.The Honda traveled off the roadway into the embankment and rolled. Both occupants were not wearing their seatbelts and were ejected from the vehicle. One occupant was pronounced dead on scene and the other one was pronounced dead at a local hospital.These are fatalities 91 and 92 for 2024, according to Becchina.&nbsp;

KCPD: 2 dead after ejected in rollover crash

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the U.S military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>.

Both pilots were recovered alive after ejecting from their stricken aircraft, with one suffering minor injuries. But the shootdown underlines just how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become, with ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis despite U.S. and European military coalitions patrolling the area.

The U.S. military had conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the time of the friendly fire incident, though the U.S. military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what the pilots' mission was and did not respond to questions from The Associated Press.

The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, Central Command said. On Dec. 15, Central Command acknowledged the Truman had entered the Mideast, but hadn't specified that the carrier and its battle group was in the Red Sea.

“The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” Central Command said in a statement.

From the military's description, the aircraft shot down was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.

It wasn't immediately clear how the Gettysburg could mistake an F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, particularly as ships in a battle group remain linked by both radar and radio communication.

However, Central Command said that warships and aircraft earlier shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels. Incoming hostile fire from the Houthis has given sailors just seconds to make decisions in the past.

Since the Truman's arrival, the U.S. has stepped up its airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their missile fire into the Red Sea and the surrounding area. However, the presence of an American warship group may spark renewed attacks from the rebels, like what the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower saw earlier this year. That deployment marked what the Navy described as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-navy-yemen-houthis-israel-war-7a9997f9d84ac669fae69ecf819913fb">its most intense combat since World War II</a>.

On Saturday night and early Sunday, U.S. warplanes conducted airstrikes that shook Sanaa, the capital of Yemen which the Houthis have held since 2014. Central Command described the strikes as targeting a “missile storage facility” and a “command-and-control facility,” without elaborating.

Houthi-controlled media reported strikes in both Sanaa and around the port city of Hodeida, without offering any casualty or damage information. In Sanaa, strikes appeared particularly targeted at a mountainside known to be home to military installations. However, there were no images or information released regarding the strikes — which has happened previously when airstrikes hit vital facilities for the rebels.

Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, released a prerecorded statement hours later in which he claimed the rebels launched eight drones and 17 cruise missiles in their attack. He also claimed without offering any evidence that the Houthis shot down the F/A-18, likely following a pattern of him making exaggerated claims. During the Eisenhower's deployment, he repeatedly falsely claimed the carrier had been struck by Houthi fire.

The Houthis have targeted about 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip started in October 2023 after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage.

Israel’s grinding offensive in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, local health officials say. The tally doesn’t distinguish between combatants and civilians.

The Houthis have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-red-sea-ship-yemen-houthis-65b611ff878a411900037e7c9a8ee17b">seized one vessel</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">sunk two in a campaign</a>&nbsp;that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by separate U.S.- and European-led coalitions in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have also included Western military vessels.

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

The Houthis also have increasingly targeted Israel itself with drones and missiles, resulting in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-airstrikes-sanaa-israel-hamas-war-8f73755ccc47a34261cc041658403b4d">retaliatory Israeli airstrikes</a>.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would act “forcefully” against the Houthis, as it has against other allies of Iran, “only in this case, we are not acting alone.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the U.S military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>.Both pilots were recovered alive after ejecting from their stricken aircraft, with one suffering minor injuries. But the shootdown underlines just how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become, with ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis despite U.S. and European military coalitions patrolling the area.The U.S. military had conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the time of the friendly fire incident, though the U.S. military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what the pilots' mission was and did not respond to questions from The Associated Press.The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, Central Command said. On Dec. 15, Central Command acknowledged the Truman had entered the Mideast, but hadn't specified that the carrier and its battle group was in the Red Sea.“The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” Central Command said in a statement.From the military's description, the aircraft shot down was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.It wasn't immediately clear how the Gettysburg could mistake an F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, particularly as ships in a battle group remain linked by both radar and radio communication.However, Central Command said that warships and aircraft earlier shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels. Incoming hostile fire from the Houthis has given sailors just seconds to make decisions in the past.Since the Truman's arrival, the U.S. has stepped up its airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their missile fire into the Red Sea and the surrounding area. However, the presence of an American warship group may spark renewed attacks from the rebels, like what the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower saw earlier this year. That deployment marked what the Navy described as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-navy-yemen-houthis-israel-war-7a9997f9d84ac669fae69ecf819913fb">its most intense combat since World War II</a>.On Saturday night and early Sunday, U.S. warplanes conducted airstrikes that shook Sanaa, the capital of Yemen which the Houthis have held since 2014. Central Command described the strikes as targeting a “missile storage facility” and a “command-and-control facility,” without elaborating.Houthi-controlled media reported strikes in both Sanaa and around the port city of Hodeida, without offering any casualty or damage information. In Sanaa, strikes appeared particularly targeted at a mountainside known to be home to military installations. However, there were no images or information released regarding the strikes — which has happened previously when airstrikes hit vital facilities for the rebels.Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, released a prerecorded statement hours later in which he claimed the rebels launched eight drones and 17 cruise missiles in their attack. He also claimed without offering any evidence that the Houthis shot down the F/A-18, likely following a pattern of him making exaggerated claims. During the Eisenhower's deployment, he repeatedly falsely claimed the carrier had been struck by Houthi fire.The Houthis have targeted about 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip started in October 2023 after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage.Israel’s grinding offensive in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, local health officials say. The tally doesn’t distinguish between combatants and civilians.The Houthis have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-red-sea-ship-yemen-houthis-65b611ff878a411900037e7c9a8ee17b">seized one vessel</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">sunk two in a campaign</a>&nbsp;that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by separate U.S.- and European-led coalitions in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have also included Western military vessels.The rebels maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the United Kingdom to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.The Houthis also have increasingly targeted Israel itself with drones and missiles, resulting in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-airstrikes-sanaa-israel-hamas-war-8f73755ccc47a34261cc041658403b4d">retaliatory Israeli airstrikes</a>.On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would act “forcefully” against the Houthis, as it has against other allies of Iran, “only in this case, we are not acting alone.”

Friendly fire: 2 US Navy pilots recovered after shot down over Red Sea 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting into a Kansas home have captured a suspect.&nbsp;

On Friday, police reported the arrest of 18-year-old Sergio Rodolfo Vargas, according to jail booking records, for the crime.

Just after 11p.m. Nov. 6, police&nbsp; responded to a reported shooting in the 2300 block of Mascot in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.

First responders found two victims a 49-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman identified as Deanna Garcia.

The male victim reported hearing several gunshots outside their residence as they prepared for bed. The male victim sustained a gunshot wound to his lower left leg and was transported to a local hospital by Sedgwick County EMS with non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

Garcia sustained critical injuries from a gunshot wound to her upper body. She was transported to the hospital, where she was pronounced deceased&nbsp;at 11:54 p.m.&nbsp;by medical staff, according to Ford.&nbsp;

Vargas was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of felony murder, discharge into an occupied dwelling, and aggravated battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731033524040.png" alt="A view of the crime scene-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>A view of the crime scene-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting into a Kansas home have captured a suspect.&nbsp;On Friday, police reported the arrest of 18-year-old Sergio Rodolfo Vargas, according to jail booking records, for the crime.Just after 11p.m. Nov. 6, police&nbsp; responded to a reported shooting in the 2300 block of Mascot in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.First responders found two victims a 49-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman identified as Deanna Garcia.The male victim reported hearing several gunshots outside their residence as they prepared for bed. The male victim sustained a gunshot wound to his lower left leg and was transported to a local hospital by Sedgwick County EMS with non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;Garcia sustained critical injuries from a gunshot wound to her upper body. She was transported to the hospital, where she was pronounced deceased&nbsp;at 11:54 p.m.&nbsp;by medical staff, according to Ford.&nbsp;Vargas was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of felony murder, discharge into an occupied dwelling, and aggravated battery.

Homicide arrest: Kan. couple preparing for bed shot in their home

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Kansas City, Mo., men were indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a conspiracy to illegally traffic firearms and for illegally possessing firearms, according to the United State's Attorney.

Ernest L. Hall, 61, and Rodney O. Ellison, 57, were charged in a 12-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City.

The indictment replaces federal criminal complaints that charged Hall and Ellison separately on Nov. 27, 2024. Both Hall and Ellison remain in federal custody without bond.

The indictment alleges that Hall and Ellison participated in a conspiracy to traffic firearms from June 15 to Nov. 26, 2024. The indictment also charges Hall and Ellison together with one count of engaging in firearm sales without a license, and charges Hall and Ellison separately with five counts each of trafficking firearms. Hall and Ellison each also are charged with being a felon in possession of firearms.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, a confidential informant working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives purchased firearms from both Ellison and Hall on several occasions at their residences. Between June 18, 2024, and Nov. 25, 2024, the confidential informant allegedly purchased six firearms from Ellison and five firearms from Hall.

On Nov. 26, 2024, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at the residences of both Hall and Ellison. Ellison was arrested at his residence but Hall left his residence carrying a large bag and drove away as officers were approaching. When law enforcement began to follow him, Hall turned off his headlights and drove into oncoming traffic to elude them. Investigators then executed the search warrant for Hall’s residence and seized one firearm. Officers seized seven firearms from Ellison’s residence, including two firearms with obliterated or missing serial numbers.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Hall has three prior felony convictions for armed criminal action, two prior felony convictions for robbery, and prior felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, voluntary manslaughter, unlawful use of a weapon, assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. Ellison has prior felony convictions for murder, armed criminal action, and tampering with service utility.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Kansas City, Mo., men were indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a conspiracy to illegally traffic firearms and for illegally possessing firearms, according to the United State's Attorney.Ernest L. Hall, 61, and Rodney O. Ellison, 57, were charged in a 12-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City.The indictment replaces federal criminal complaints that charged Hall and Ellison separately on Nov. 27, 2024. Both Hall and Ellison remain in federal custody without bond.The indictment alleges that Hall and Ellison participated in a conspiracy to traffic firearms from June 15 to Nov. 26, 2024. The indictment also charges Hall and Ellison together with one count of engaging in firearm sales without a license, and charges Hall and Ellison separately with five counts each of trafficking firearms. Hall and Ellison each also are charged with being a felon in possession of firearms.According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, a confidential informant working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives purchased firearms from both Ellison and Hall on several occasions at their residences. Between June 18, 2024, and Nov. 25, 2024, the confidential informant allegedly purchased six firearms from Ellison and five firearms from Hall.On Nov. 26, 2024, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at the residences of both Hall and Ellison. Ellison was arrested at his residence but Hall left his residence carrying a large bag and drove away as officers were approaching. When law enforcement began to follow him, Hall turned off his headlights and drove into oncoming traffic to elude them. Investigators then executed the search warrant for Hall’s residence and seized one firearm. Officers seized seven firearms from Ellison’s residence, including two firearms with obliterated or missing serial numbers.Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Hall has three prior felony convictions for armed criminal action, two prior felony convictions for robbery, and prior felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, voluntary manslaughter, unlawful use of a weapon, assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. Ellison has prior felony convictions for murder, armed criminal action, and tampering with service utility.The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

2 KC men sold illegally trafficked firearms to ATF informant

ATCHISON COUNTY— Law enforcement are investigating a suspect who was jailed in Johnson County on drug and financial crime allegations.

On Thursday, police arrested 39-year-old Charles E. Carpenter III of Atchison on a Johnson County Kansas warrant for failure to comply with lawful order of the court, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734705243116.png" alt="Carpenter photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Carpenter photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY— Law enforcement are investigating a suspect who was jailed in Johnson County on drug and financial crime allegations.On Thursday, police arrested 39-year-old Charles E. Carpenter III of Atchison on a Johnson County Kansas warrant for failure to comply with lawful order of the court, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Carpenter remains jailed in Atchison.

Kansas man jailed for failure to comply with court order

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. flu season is underway, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2024-week-50.html">cases surging</a>&nbsp;across much of the country, health officials said Friday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted sharp increases in several measures, including lab tests and emergency room visits.

“It's been increasing at a pretty steady pace now for the past several weeks. So yeah, we are certainly in flu season now,” said the CDC's Alicia Budd.

Thirteen states reported high or very high levels of flu-like illness last week, about double from the week before. One is Tennessee, where a sickness spike is hitting the Nashville area, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.

“Flu has been increasing, but just this last week has exploded,” Schaffner said. He noted that in a local clinic that serves as an indicator of illness trends, as many as a quarter of the patients have flu symptoms.

“Just this week is really that turning point where people are out because of the flu," said Dr. Catherine O’Neal, an infectious diseases doctor at the largest private hospital in the state, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. "You hear parents saying, ‘I can’t come to work because of the flu’ and ‘Where can I get a flu test?’”

Of course, there are a number of bugs that cause fever, cough, sore throat and other flu-like symptoms. One is COVID-19. Another is RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, which is a common cause of cold-like symptoms but can be dangerous for infants and the elderly.

The most recent CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/resp-net/dashboard/?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fsurveillance%2Fresp-net%2Fdashboard.html">data</a>&nbsp;show COVID-19 hospitalizations have been declining since summer. COVID-19 activity is moderate nationally, but high in the Midwest, according to CDC wastewater data.

RSV hospitalizations started rising before flu did and now show signs of possibly leveling off, but they remain a little more common than admissions for flu. Overall, RSV activity is low nationally, but high in the South, the wastewater data show.

The CDC called the start of flu season based on several indicators, include lab results for patients in hospitals and doctor's offices, and the percentage of emergency department visits that had a discharge diagnosis of flu.

No flu strain seems to be dominant, and it's too early in the season to know how good a match the flu vaccine will be, Budd said.

Last winter's flu season was considered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flu-season-cdc-cad4c3e74d4e562c3040af11e0dcce48">“moderate”</a>&nbsp;overall, but it was long — 21 weeks — and the CDC estimated there were 28,000 flu-related deaths. It was unusually dangerous for children, with 205 pediatric deaths reported. That was the highest number ever reported for a conventional flu season.

The long season was likely a factor, Budd said. Another factor was a lack of flu vaccinations. Among the children who died who were old enough for flu vaccinations — and for whom their vaccination status was known — 80% were not fully vaccinated,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/whats-new/2023-2024-pediatric-deaths-200.html">according to</a>&nbsp;the CDC.

Vaccination rates for children are even lower this year. As of Dec. 7, about 41% of adults had received a flu vaccination, similar to the rate at the same point last year. The percentage is the same for kids, but for them that’s a drop from a year ago, when 44% were vaccinated against the flu, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/fluvaxview/dashboard/index.html">CDC data</a>.

Vaccination rates are lower still against COVID-19, with about 21% of adults and 11% of children up to date.

Flu experts suggest everyone get vaccinated, especially as people prepare to attend holiday gatherings where respiratory viruses can spread widely.

“All those gatherings that are so heartwarming and fun and joyous are also an opportunity for this virus to spread person to person,” Schaffner said. “It's not too late to get vaccinated.”

Even so, Louisiana’s health department said in a statement Friday that it was actually backing away from recommending flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. An official wrote that the department’s latest position is that people should talk to their doctors about whether the shots make sense for them.

A department spokeswoman, Emma Herrock, did not respond to follow-up questions about the policy. The state’s surgeon general, Dr. Ralph Abraham, previously expressed concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccines save lives and policies that dissuade people from getting protected are irresponsibly dangerous, public health experts and advocates say.

“People are going to die because of this policy,” said Jennifer Herricks, founder of a group called Louisiana Families for Vaccines.

Associated Press data journalist Nicky Forster contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734798876264.png" alt="CDC image" />
 <figcaption>CDC image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. flu season is underway, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2024-week-50.html">cases surging</a>&nbsp;across much of the country, health officials said Friday.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted sharp increases in several measures, including lab tests and emergency room visits.“It's been increasing at a pretty steady pace now for the past several weeks. So yeah, we are certainly in flu season now,” said the CDC's Alicia Budd.Thirteen states reported high or very high levels of flu-like illness last week, about double from the week before. One is Tennessee, where a sickness spike is hitting the Nashville area, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.“Flu has been increasing, but just this last week has exploded,” Schaffner said. He noted that in a local clinic that serves as an indicator of illness trends, as many as a quarter of the patients have flu symptoms.Louisiana is another early hot spot.“Just this week is really that turning point where people are out because of the flu," said Dr. Catherine O’Neal, an infectious diseases doctor at the largest private hospital in the state, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. "You hear parents saying, ‘I can’t come to work because of the flu’ and ‘Where can I get a flu test?’”Of course, there are a number of bugs that cause fever, cough, sore throat and other flu-like symptoms. One is COVID-19. Another is RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, which is a common cause of cold-like symptoms but can be dangerous for infants and the elderly.The most recent CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/resp-net/dashboard/?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fsurveillance%2Fresp-net%2Fdashboard.html">data</a>&nbsp;show COVID-19 hospitalizations have been declining since summer. COVID-19 activity is moderate nationally, but high in the Midwest, according to CDC wastewater data.RSV hospitalizations started rising before flu did and now show signs of possibly leveling off, but they remain a little more common than admissions for flu. Overall, RSV activity is low nationally, but high in the South, the wastewater data show.The CDC called the start of flu season based on several indicators, include lab results for patients in hospitals and doctor's offices, and the percentage of emergency department visits that had a discharge diagnosis of flu.No flu strain seems to be dominant, and it's too early in the season to know how good a match the flu vaccine will be, Budd said.Last winter's flu season was considered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flu-season-cdc-cad4c3e74d4e562c3040af11e0dcce48">“moderate”</a>&nbsp;overall, but it was long — 21 weeks — and the CDC estimated there were 28,000 flu-related deaths. It was unusually dangerous for children, with 205 pediatric deaths reported. That was the highest number ever reported for a conventional flu season.The long season was likely a factor, Budd said. Another factor was a lack of flu vaccinations. Among the children who died who were old enough for flu vaccinations — and for whom their vaccination status was known — 80% were not fully vaccinated,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/whats-new/2023-2024-pediatric-deaths-200.html">according to</a>&nbsp;the CDC.Vaccination rates for children are even lower this year. As of Dec. 7, about 41% of adults had received a flu vaccination, similar to the rate at the same point last year. The percentage is the same for kids, but for them that’s a drop from a year ago, when 44% were vaccinated against the flu, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/fluvaxview/dashboard/index.html">CDC data</a>.Vaccination rates are lower still against COVID-19, with about 21% of adults and 11% of children up to date.Flu experts suggest everyone get vaccinated, especially as people prepare to attend holiday gatherings where respiratory viruses can spread widely.“All those gatherings that are so heartwarming and fun and joyous are also an opportunity for this virus to spread person to person,” Schaffner said. “It's not too late to get vaccinated.”Even so, Louisiana’s health department said in a statement Friday that it was actually backing away from recommending flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. An official wrote that the department’s latest position is that people should talk to their doctors about whether the shots make sense for them.A department spokeswoman, Emma Herrock, did not respond to follow-up questions about the policy. The state’s surgeon general, Dr. Ralph Abraham, previously expressed concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine.Vaccines save lives and policies that dissuade people from getting protected are irresponsibly dangerous, public health experts and advocates say.“People are going to die because of this policy,” said Jennifer Herricks, founder of a group called Louisiana Families for Vaccines.___Associated Press data journalist Nicky Forster contributed.

US flu season is underway, as cases surge in some areas and vaccinations lag

DENVER (AP) — A baby Jesus figurine snatched from a nativity scene in Colorado has been returned in time for Christmas, with an apology.

The statuette of Jesus lying in a manger, stolen from a public display in downtown Fort Collins early Sunday, was dropped off anonymously at a fire station Thursday, police said. It was accompanied by a handwritten note saying: “I’m really sorry. I made a dumb mistake in the moment. It won’t happen again.”

It was returned two days after police in the college town about 65 miles (105 kilometers) north of Denver, posted surveillance video of the suspected Grinch on social media. The person appeared to be a teen or young adult.

There's no other information about who stole the figurine, police said Friday. The fire station has a motion-sensing door camera but it was not activated when the statue was returned, police said.

The business that takes care of the Nativity scene does not want to pursue charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734799356290.png" alt="Photo Fort Collins Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Fort Collins Police</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — A baby Jesus figurine snatched from a nativity scene in Colorado has been returned in time for Christmas, with an apology.The statuette of Jesus lying in a manger, stolen from a public display in downtown Fort Collins early Sunday, was dropped off anonymously at a fire station Thursday, police said. It was accompanied by a handwritten note saying: “I’m really sorry. I made a dumb mistake in the moment. It won’t happen again.”It was returned two days after police in the college town about 65 miles (105 kilometers) north of Denver, posted surveillance video of the suspected Grinch on social media. The person appeared to be a teen or young adult.There's no other information about who stole the figurine, police said Friday. The fire station has a motion-sensing door camera but it was not activated when the statue was returned, police said.The business that takes care of the Nativity scene does not want to pursue charges.

Baby Jesus figurine stolen from nativity scene returned with apology

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A judge ruled Friday that Missouri’s near-total abortion ban is unenforceable under a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-amendment-ballot-election-f114445b087e77d0cc786d3eeb2eb615">new constitutional amendment</a>, ensuring abortion will be legal in the state.

Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Jerri Zhang issued an order blocking the state’s strict abortion law after a new abortion-rights constitutional amendment recently took effect.

Missouri is one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measures-harris-trump-florida-missouri-49c9073cbb6056b66a8a7d0d099795d1">five states</a>&nbsp;where voters approved ballot measures in the 2024 general election to add the right to an abortion to their state constitutions. The Missouri amendment does not specifically override any laws. Instead, advocates must ask courts to knock down bans they believe are now unconstitutional.

Zhang’s order is temporary, but it signals that she’s likely to find the ban unconstitutional after the lawsuit that abortion-rights supporters filed plays out.

Spokespeople for Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Friday.

Bailey, an abortion opponent, issued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-fed343e84ce8e07c0f5d7bb32fda57e9">an opinion</a>&nbsp;agreeing that most abortions would be legal when the amendment took effect.

But Bailey’s office is still fighting for a ban on most abortions after viability, along with a number of regulations that Planned Parenthood argues made it nearly impossible to offer abortions in the state even before abortion was almost completely banned in 2022.

Missouri’s constitutional amendment allows lawmakers to restrict abortion after viability, with exceptions to “protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.”

The term “viability” is used by health care providers to describe whether a pregnancy is expected to continue developing normally or whether a fetus might survive outside the uterus. Though there’s no defined time frame, doctors say it is sometime after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-technology-science-health-birmingham-7fc806f3c06aeae94c5d6ed1b06a6461">21st week</a>&nbsp;of pregnancy.

Other abortion laws that Bailey wants to keep include a 72-hour waiting period before an abortion can be performed; bans on abortions based on race, sex or a possible Down syndrome diagnosis; and a requirement that medical facilities that provide abortions be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725887984419.png" alt="Photo Anna Spoerre" />
 <figcaption>Photo Anna Spoerre</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A judge ruled Friday that Missouri’s near-total abortion ban is unenforceable under a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-amendment-ballot-election-f114445b087e77d0cc786d3eeb2eb615">new constitutional amendment</a>, ensuring abortion will be legal in the state.Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Jerri Zhang issued an order blocking the state’s strict abortion law after a new abortion-rights constitutional amendment recently took effect.Missouri is one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measures-harris-trump-florida-missouri-49c9073cbb6056b66a8a7d0d099795d1">five states</a>&nbsp;where voters approved ballot measures in the 2024 general election to add the right to an abortion to their state constitutions. The Missouri amendment does not specifically override any laws. Instead, advocates must ask courts to knock down bans they believe are now unconstitutional.Zhang’s order is temporary, but it signals that she’s likely to find the ban unconstitutional after the lawsuit that abortion-rights supporters filed plays out.Spokespeople for Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Friday.Bailey, an abortion opponent, issued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-fed343e84ce8e07c0f5d7bb32fda57e9">an opinion</a>&nbsp;agreeing that most abortions would be legal when the amendment took effect.But Bailey’s office is still fighting for a ban on most abortions after viability, along with a number of regulations that Planned Parenthood argues made it nearly impossible to offer abortions in the state even before abortion was almost completely banned in 2022.Missouri’s constitutional amendment allows lawmakers to restrict abortion after viability, with exceptions to “protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.”The term “viability” is used by health care providers to describe whether a pregnancy is expected to continue developing normally or whether a fetus might survive outside the uterus. Though there’s no defined time frame, doctors say it is sometime after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-technology-science-health-birmingham-7fc806f3c06aeae94c5d6ed1b06a6461">21st week</a>&nbsp;of pregnancy.Other abortion laws that Bailey wants to keep include a 72-hour waiting period before an abortion can be performed; bans on abortions based on race, sex or a possible Down syndrome diagnosis; and a requirement that medical facilities that provide abortions be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.

Missouri judge says the state’s abortion ban isn’t enforceable

FRANKLIN COUNTY —Law enforcement are working to identify the body of a man found on Thursday in Franklin County.

On December 19, officers and detectives with the Ottawa Police Department were investigating a missing person case, according to a media release from the department.

 During the investigation the area around the Main Street bridge crossing over the Marais Des Cygnes River was searched.  During this search, investigators located the body of deceased man under the bridge. 

Police reported they had not identified the man but he is believed to be the subject of the original searcn.

 Pending identification and notification of next-of-kin, specifics about the identification will not be released.&nbsp; There is no indication of a crime.

FRANKLIN COUNTY —Law enforcement are working to identify the body of a man found on Thursday in Franklin County.On December 19, officers and detectives with the Ottawa Police Department were investigating a missing person case, according to a media release from the department. During the investigation the area around the Main Street bridge crossing over the Marais Des Cygnes River was searched. During this search, investigators located the body of deceased man under the bridge. Police reported they had not identified the man but he is believed to be the subject of the original searcn. Pending identification and notification of next-of-kin, specifics about the identification will not be released.&nbsp; There is no indication of a crime.

Police found body during search for missing person

DAYTON, Ohio – A former Kansas doctor was arrested by federal agents this week and charged with making false statements related to a 1989 rape, according to the United State's Attorney.

 Officials ask anyone with information regarding this or any other similar rape to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

It is alleged that Frederick Louis Tanzer, 66, knowingly made a false statement to FBI agents. His current home on Kenwood Road in&nbsp;Sycamore Township, Ohio and vehicles were searched and Tanzer appeared in federal court in Dayton following his arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734724913138.png" alt="Tanzer photo Shelby County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Tanzer photo Shelby County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>DAYTON, Ohio – A former Kansas doctor was arrested by federal agents this week and charged with making false statements related to a 1989 rape, according to the United State's Attorney. Officials ask anyone with information regarding this or any other similar rape to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.It is alleged that Frederick Louis Tanzer, 66, knowingly made a false statement to FBI agents. His current home on Kenwood Road in&nbsp;Sycamore Township, Ohio and vehicles were searched and Tanzer appeared in federal court in Dayton following his arrest.According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Tanzer was recently identified as the prime suspect in the cold-case rape. In recent months, agents collected DNA evidence from a Starbucks cup that Tanzer discarded at a local BMV. The DNA extracted from Tanzer’s coffee cup was confirmed by a forensic laboratory as a match to the DNA the rapist had left at the 1989 crime scene.It is alleged that Tanzer made several materially false statements to federal investigators when approached today, including denying having seen or interacted with the victim on the date she was raped.Tanzer is a medical doctor who has lived and practiced medicine in Kansas, Colorado and Ohio.The affidavit details that on Aug. 1, 1989, the victim was violently raped in her condominium on Creighton Place in Cincinnati after arriving home from work.Federal law enforcement officials ask the public to consider these circumstances of the rape and to contact the FBI with any similar information:<ul>
 <li>When the victim arrived home, she noticed an odor that smelled to her like brewed tea or burnt marijuana.</li><li>The rapist was dressed from head to toe in black Lycra, including black gloves and a face mask. He had a black gym bag with him.</li><li>The assailant held a knife to the victim’s throat.</li><li>The rapist used white surgical tape from the gym bag to wrap around the victim’s eyes and head. He used stockings and panty hose from the victim’s dresser to bind her hands and feet to the headboard and footboard of her bed.</li><li>The rapist cut or tore the victim’s clothing and used Vaseline.</li><li>The rapist assaulted the victim vaginally, orally and anally. In between bouts of sexual conduct, the assailant used a cloth to wipe the victim’s mouth and genital areas.</li><li>The rapist said nothing during the entire encounter. He occasionally took breaks from sexually assaulting the victim while the victim remained tied to her bed.</li><li>The rapist listened to and erased answering machine messages. He looked through papers in the victim’s living room and rummaged through her purse. He unplugged and/or disconnected telephones.</li><li>On the handset of the telephone in the bedroom, the rapist taped a piece of newspaper that had been cut from the paper on the couch in the victim’s living room and wrote, “No police or I’ll be back Mis [sic] [name of victim’s employer]”</li><li>The victim described the rapist as white, with dark brown hair, approximately six feet tall with a thin or athletic build.</li><li>The assault took place over the course of more than five and a half hours.</li>
 </ul>