WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Thanksgiving Eve is the busiest travel day of the year on U.S. roads. 

"It’s also of the most dangerous - for both man and beast, Kansas City, Kansas police reported on their social media page.

Just after 10a.m. Wednesday, northbound 635 at Interstate 70 was closed for several hours after a semi carrying 95 hogs, crashed and overturned.

The driver was not injured. Four of the hogs died in the crash.

KCKPD officers responded to assist Kansas Highway Patrol with traffic while Kansas City Kansas&nbsp; Animal Services&nbsp;officers and Director, Ashley Scott, coordinated and oversaw the safe transfer of the surviving hogs to a local holding facility.

"It may not be a typical example, but it definitely shows how important it is that KCK Animal Services works together with law enforcement to protect both residents and animals in the community."

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Thanksgiving Eve is the busiest travel day of the year on U.S. roads. "It’s also of the most dangerous - for both man and beast, Kansas City, Kansas police reported on their social media page.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732797378189.png" alt="Photo Kansas City, Kansas police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City, Kansas police</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 10a.m. Wednesday, northbound 635 at Interstate 70 was closed for several hours after a semi carrying 95 hogs, crashed and overturned.The driver was not injured. Four of the hogs died in the crash.KCKPD officers responded to assist Kansas Highway Patrol with traffic while Kansas City Kansas&nbsp; Animal Services&nbsp;officers and Director, Ashley Scott, coordinated and oversaw the safe transfer of the surviving hogs to a local holding facility. "It may not be a typical example, but it definitely shows how important it is that KCK Animal Services works together with law enforcement to protect both residents and animals in the community."

Semi  hauling pigs overturns on Kansas highway

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump declared a win on stopping illegal immigration through Mexico on Wednesday after talking with that country’s leader. But Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested Mexico was already doing its part and had no interest in closing its borders.

The two spoke just days after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-trade-policy-economy-0fb9740a4b42c734c75b64ba09c901d5">threatened to impose</a>&nbsp;sweeping new tariffs on Canada and Mexico as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs.

Trump said Sheinbaum “agreed to stop Migration through Mexico." Sheinbaum indicated separately on social media that she told Trump that Mexico is already “taking care of” migrant caravans, calling it an “excellent conversation.”

“We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and between peoples,” Sheinbaum added.

While the state of the proposed tariffs remained unclear, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social account that this was “effectively closing our Southern Border.” He called it a “very productive conversation.”

The exchange between the two leaders appeared to confirm for Trump the value of threatening to disrupt trade with import taxes. His initial social media post moved financial markets and gave him a response he was quick to describe as a win. Even if the proposed tariffs fail to materialize, Trump can tell supporters that the mere possibility of them is an effective policy tool and continue to rely on tariff threats.

Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the leaders “discussed Mexico’s strategy on migration issues, and I told him the caravans are not reaching the northern (U.S.) border, because Mexico is taking care of them.”

“We also talked about reinforcing cooperation on security issues, within the framework of our sovereignty, and the campaign we are carrying out to prevent fentanyl consumption," she said.

Illegal migration across the Mexico border is down in part because the Biden administration secured some stepped-up cooperation from Mexico — the sort Trump seems to be celebrating.

Arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters">dropped 40%</a>&nbsp;from an all-time high in December. U.S. officials mostly credit Mexican vigilance around rail yards and highway checkpoints.

Driven by mounting pressure from the U.S. to block migrants going north, in the past few years Mexican authorities have turned to rounding them up across the country and sending them to southern Mexico, in a strategy seen by experts as an attempt to wear migrants out until they give up.

Neither side clarified the status of the tariffs. But their implementation could fuel higher prices and slow economic growth, potentially blowing up the trade agreement among the U.S., Canada and Mexico that was finalized in 2020 during Trump's previous time in the White House.

Trump on Monday said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders upon taking office on Jan. 20. He also proposed an additional 10% tariff on China tied to its exporting of materials used in the production of fentanyl.

In announcing his plans, he railed against the flow of fentanyl and migrants crossing into the U.S. illegally, even though southern border apprehensions have been hovering near four-year lows.

On Wednesday, Trump also posted that he plans a large scale ad campaign to explain “how bad Fentanyl is for people to use,” predicting it would educate people on “how really bad the horror of this Drug is.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drug-overdose-deaths-us-cdc-12e961d78cc0458e84a07e0b3f7d1bbc">dangerously powerful opioid</a>&nbsp;was developed to treat intense pain from ailments like cancer but has increasingly been mixed with other drugs in the illicit drug supply.

Through September, the United States has imported $378.9 billion in goods from Mexico, $322.2 billion from China and $309.3 billion from Canada.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726426633999.png" alt="File photo (AP/Alex Brandon)" />
 <figcaption>File photo (AP/Alex Brandon)</figcaption>
 </figure>WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump declared a win on stopping illegal immigration through Mexico on Wednesday after talking with that country’s leader. But Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested Mexico was already doing its part and had no interest in closing its borders.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732760652454.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The two spoke just days after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-trade-policy-economy-0fb9740a4b42c734c75b64ba09c901d5">threatened to impose</a>&nbsp;sweeping new tariffs on Canada and Mexico as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs.Trump said Sheinbaum “agreed to stop Migration through Mexico." Sheinbaum indicated separately on social media that she told Trump that Mexico is already “taking care of” migrant caravans, calling it an “excellent conversation.”“We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and between peoples,” Sheinbaum added.While the state of the proposed tariffs remained unclear, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social account that this was “effectively closing our Southern Border.” He called it a “very productive conversation.”The exchange between the two leaders appeared to confirm for Trump the value of threatening to disrupt trade with import taxes. His initial social media post moved financial markets and gave him a response he was quick to describe as a win. Even if the proposed tariffs fail to materialize, Trump can tell supporters that the mere possibility of them is an effective policy tool and continue to rely on tariff threats.Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the leaders “discussed Mexico’s strategy on migration issues, and I told him the caravans are not reaching the northern (U.S.) border, because Mexico is taking care of them.”“We also talked about reinforcing cooperation on security issues, within the framework of our sovereignty, and the campaign we are carrying out to prevent fentanyl consumption," she said.Illegal migration across the Mexico border is down in part because the Biden administration secured some stepped-up cooperation from Mexico — the sort Trump seems to be celebrating.Arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters">dropped 40%</a>&nbsp;from an all-time high in December. U.S. officials mostly credit Mexican vigilance around rail yards and highway checkpoints.Driven by mounting pressure from the U.S. to block migrants going north, in the past few years Mexican authorities have turned to rounding them up across the country and sending them to southern Mexico, in a strategy seen by experts as an attempt to wear migrants out until they give up.Neither side clarified the status of the tariffs. But their implementation could fuel higher prices and slow economic growth, potentially blowing up the trade agreement among the U.S., Canada and Mexico that was finalized in 2020 during Trump's previous time in the White House.Trump on Monday said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders upon taking office on Jan. 20. He also proposed an additional 10% tariff on China tied to its exporting of materials used in the production of fentanyl.In announcing his plans, he railed against the flow of fentanyl and migrants crossing into the U.S. illegally, even though southern border apprehensions have been hovering near four-year lows.On Wednesday, Trump also posted that he plans a large scale ad campaign to explain “how bad Fentanyl is for people to use,” predicting it would educate people on “how really bad the horror of this Drug is.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drug-overdose-deaths-us-cdc-12e961d78cc0458e84a07e0b3f7d1bbc">dangerously powerful opioid</a>&nbsp;was developed to treat intense pain from ailments like cancer but has increasingly been mixed with other drugs in the illicit drug supply.Through September, the United States has imported $378.9 billion in goods from Mexico, $322.2 billion from China and $309.3 billion from Canada.

Trump claims a win on immigration after a call with Mexico's president

SEDGWICK COUNTY– The Wichita Police Department has arrested a suspect involved in a sexual assault and also located a second survivor from a previous incident.

Just after 9:30p.m. November 19, a female victim was walking home in the 500 block of W. Skinner in Wichita when a male suspect approached her in a red Toyota Corolla, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

 The suspect solicited her, offering money for sexual acts. When she did not respond and continued walking, he threatened to harm her. The situation escalated, and he struck her with his vehicle, dragged her inside, and forcibly drove her to an alley in the 1600 block of S. Waco.

The suspect subjected the victim to a violent sexual assault before returning her to her residence. He photographed her ID to obtain her address and issued death threats should she report the crime.

Displaying remarkable resilience and strength, the victim noted the suspect's license plate, called 911 and provided officers with detailed information.

Patrol South officers quickly responded and used Flock camera technology to identify a vehicle that matched the suspect's description. Further investigation, in collaboration with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, connected the vehicle to a relative of the suspect in Haysville.

Through tireless investigative efforts by police, including the Domestic Violence Intervention Response Team (DVIRT), critical evidence was obtained, leading to the arrest of the suspect, Christopher Calisay.

The case was presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office, resulting in the following charges: Aggravated Kidnapping, Two counts of Rape, Sodomy, Two counts of Aggravated Battery and&nbsp; Criminal Threat.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732743473584.png" alt="Calisay photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Calisay photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY– The Wichita Police Department has arrested a suspect involved in a sexual assault and also located a second survivor from a previous incident.Just after 9:30p.m. November 19, a female victim was walking home in the 500 block of W. Skinner in Wichita when a male suspect approached her in a red Toyota Corolla, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. The suspect solicited her, offering money for sexual acts. When she did not respond and continued walking, he threatened to harm her. The situation escalated, and he struck her with his vehicle, dragged her inside, and forcibly drove her to an alley in the 1600 block of S. Waco.The suspect subjected the victim to a violent sexual assault before returning her to her residence. He photographed her ID to obtain her address and issued death threats should she report the crime.Displaying remarkable resilience and strength, the victim noted the suspect's license plate, called 911 and provided officers with detailed information.Patrol South officers quickly responded and used Flock camera technology to identify a vehicle that matched the suspect's description. Further investigation, in collaboration with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, connected the vehicle to a relative of the suspect in Haysville.Through tireless investigative efforts by police, including the Domestic Violence Intervention Response Team (DVIRT), critical evidence was obtained, leading to the arrest of the suspect, Christopher Calisay.The case was presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office, resulting in the following charges: Aggravated Kidnapping, Two counts of Rape, Sodomy, Two counts of Aggravated Battery and&nbsp; Criminal Threat.

Suspect jailed for violent sex assault of Kansas woman 

KANSAS CITY —With the busy travel weekend underway, the Transportation Security Administration reminded travelers there is zero tolerance for assaults against any of their employees.

Earlier this year, a Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) TSA officer was carrying passenger Ma ‘Kiah Cherae Coleman’s property to an inspection table for an additional search when Coleman became unruly.

“After being told that it (her bag) had to be checked, the passenger jumped onto the search table and attempted to pull the bin away from the officers,” said Lead Officer Alexander Deutsch.

After an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve her property, Coleman physically assaulted multiple TSA officers before airport police arrested her. Two TSA officers were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, released and reported back to duty the same day.

In June 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a press release announcing Coleman’s federal indictment in the District of Arizona and explained why Deutsch’s first day as lead officer at PHX was memorable for all the wrong reasons.&nbsp;

“The indictment alleges that, at approximately 6:00 a.m. on April 25, 2023, at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, Coleman interfered with TSA officers who were conducting security screenings at Security Checkpoint D of Terminal 4. The indictment further alleges that during her interference with TSA officers, Coleman inflicted bodily injury on two TSA officers; specifically, she grabbed one officer by the hair, forcing the officer’s head down against a table, and hitting the officer in the head multiple times, and elbowed the other TSA officer in the head. Coleman also is alleged to have bit the hair of a third&nbsp;TSA officer who had come to the aid of the other two officers who were struggling with Coleman during the altercation.”

On April 23, 2024, Coleman pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer, inflicting bodily injury and was sentenced in September to four months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. She is also banned from traveling by commercial aircraft during her time of supervised release.&nbsp;

“Every assault on an officer is an affront to the hard work they do every single day to protect the traveling public,” said PHX Federal Security Director Jerry Agnew. “Assaults are quickly addressed with the help of our airport law enforcement and attorneys to prosecute these cases.”

TSA takes a zero-tolerance approach to assaults against any TSA employee. Since 2021, 472 total assault cases were reported, with 161 occurring in fiscal 2024. Of those this past year, 44 were tried criminally and eight are closed, with the bulk of the cases at the state or local level. TSA works closely with law enforcement and prosecutors to assist in producing evidence and witnesses in criminal cases.

“During the sentencing hearing, the judge expressed appreciation for Lead Officer Deutsch's victim-impact statement and acknowledged TSA’s vital role in safeguarding the nation’s transportation systems,” said Kalah Polk, TSA Attorney-Advisor, Field Operations. “He noted the frequent mistreatment faced by officers from passengers and recognized the critical function the TSA serves in ensuring the safety of travelers. The judge conveyed the substantial responsibility he holds in balancing the necessity of imposing a penalty on Ms. Coleman for the assault on our officer with the consideration of her mental health.”

“For the purposes of TSA issuing a civil penalty, ‘assault’ refers to an instance of an individual making physical contact&nbsp;with a TSA employee in the course of the TSA employee’s screening duties, and that physical contact is offensive or otherwise without legal justification,” explained TSA Senior Counsel, Field Operations Joanna Han.&nbsp;

“Regardless of whether there is a criminal prosecution, TSA will pursue a civil enforcement action for nearly every case – no matter the level of injury,” said Han. “It is really important that the affected officer report the assault so that transportation security inspectors can conduct an administrative investigation in a timely and thorough manner. From there, TSA attorneys in the field will take the assault case through the civil enforcement process and may pursue monetary penalties.” Han stressed that an intent to injure or cause physical pain is not required, nor is an actual physical injury required to pursue a civil enforcement case.

TSA initiated 433 civil enforcement cases since 2021, with 139 of those this past fiscal year.&nbsp;A total of $738,987 in enforcement fines have been collected since 2021 and sent to the U.S. Treasury.

“I absolutely believe every one of these cases should be quickly and appropriately addressed,” said Agnew.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732540619820.png" alt="Photos TSA" />
 <figcaption>Photos TSA</figcaption>
 </figure>By Karen Robicheaux, TSAKANSAS CITY —With the busy travel weekend underway, the Transportation Security Administration reminded travelers there is zero tolerance for assaults against any of their employees.Earlier this year, a Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) TSA officer was carrying passenger Ma ‘Kiah Cherae Coleman’s property to an inspection table for an additional search when Coleman became unruly.“After being told that it (her bag) had to be checked, the passenger jumped onto the search table and attempted to pull the bin away from the officers,” said Lead Officer Alexander Deutsch.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732540581509.png" alt="Photo TSA" />
 <figcaption>Photo TSA</figcaption>
 </figure>After an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve her property, Coleman physically assaulted multiple TSA officers before airport police arrested her. Two TSA officers were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, released and reported back to duty the same day.In June 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a press release announcing Coleman’s federal indictment in the District of Arizona and explained why Deutsch’s first day as lead officer at PHX was memorable for all the wrong reasons.&nbsp;“The indictment alleges that, at approximately 6:00 a.m. on April 25, 2023, at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, Coleman interfered with TSA officers who were conducting security screenings at Security Checkpoint D of Terminal 4. The indictment further alleges that during her interference with TSA officers, Coleman inflicted bodily injury on two TSA officers; specifically, she grabbed one officer by the hair, forcing the officer’s head down against a table, and hitting the officer in the head multiple times, and elbowed the other TSA officer in the head. Coleman also is alleged to have bit the hair of a third&nbsp;TSA officer who had come to the aid of the other two officers who were struggling with Coleman during the altercation.”On April 23, 2024, Coleman pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer, inflicting bodily injury and was sentenced in September to four months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. She is also banned from traveling by commercial aircraft during her time of supervised release.&nbsp;“Every assault on an officer is an affront to the hard work they do every single day to protect the traveling public,” said PHX Federal Security Director Jerry Agnew. “Assaults are quickly addressed with the help of our airport law enforcement and attorneys to prosecute these cases.”TSA takes a zero-tolerance approach to assaults against any TSA employee. Since 2021, 472 total assault cases were reported, with 161 occurring in fiscal 2024. Of those this past year, 44 were tried criminally and eight are closed, with the bulk of the cases at the state or local level. TSA works closely with law enforcement and prosecutors to assist in producing evidence and witnesses in criminal cases.“During the sentencing hearing, the judge expressed appreciation for Lead Officer Deutsch's victim-impact statement and acknowledged TSA’s vital role in safeguarding the nation’s transportation systems,” said Kalah Polk, TSA Attorney-Advisor, Field Operations. “He noted the frequent mistreatment faced by officers from passengers and recognized the critical function the TSA serves in ensuring the safety of travelers. The judge conveyed the substantial responsibility he holds in balancing the necessity of imposing a penalty on Ms. Coleman for the assault on our officer with the consideration of her mental health.”“For the purposes of TSA issuing a civil penalty, ‘assault’ refers to an instance of an individual making physical contact&nbsp;with a TSA employee in the course of the TSA employee’s screening duties, and that physical contact is offensive or otherwise without legal justification,” explained TSA Senior Counsel, Field Operations Joanna Han.&nbsp;“Regardless of whether there is a criminal prosecution, TSA will pursue a civil enforcement action for nearly every case – no matter the level of injury,” said Han. “It is really important that the affected officer report the assault so that transportation security inspectors can conduct an administrative investigation in a timely and thorough manner. From there, TSA attorneys in the field will take the assault case through the civil enforcement process and may pursue monetary penalties.” Han stressed that an intent to injure or cause physical pain is not required, nor is an actual physical injury required to pursue a civil enforcement case.TSA initiated 433 civil enforcement cases since 2021, with 139 of those this past fiscal year.&nbsp;A total of $738,987 in enforcement fines have been collected since 2021 and sent to the U.S. Treasury.“I absolutely believe every one of these cases should be quickly and appropriately addressed,” said Agnew.

Travel alert: Zero-tolerance for assaults against any TSA employees

KANSAS CITY —A window washer has much for which to be thankful this Thanksgiving.

Just after 8:30a.m. Wednesday, the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a reported window washer stuck approximately 8 floors above the ground at 903 E. 104th Street, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Crews found the window washer hanging from his safety line some 8 floors above the ground. KCFD was able to send a Rescue Firefighter over the roof and secure a second line to the individual.

Crews then used that line to lower the individual to the ground. The aerial ladder was unable to reach the height needed to rescue the individual. No injuries were reported at this incident, according to Hopkins.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732722810055.png" alt="Photos Kansas City Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos Kansas City Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A window washer has much for which to be thankful this Thanksgiving.Just after 8:30a.m. Wednesday, the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a reported window washer stuck approximately 8 floors above the ground at 903 E. 104th Street, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.Crews found the window washer hanging from his safety line some 8 floors above the ground. KCFD was able to send a Rescue Firefighter over the roof and secure a second line to the individual.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732723227231.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Crews then used that line to lower the individual to the ground. The aerial ladder was unable to reach the height needed to rescue the individual. No injuries were reported at this incident, according to Hopkins.

Window washer rescued from Kansas City high-rise

DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai is recalling more than 226,000 SUVs and small cars in the U.S. because the rearview camera image may not show up on the screens.

The recall&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCAK-24V879-2090.pdf">covers certain Santa Fe and Elantra</a>&nbsp;vehicles from the 2021 and 2022 model years.

Hyundai says in documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators that solder joints on a printed circuit board can develop cracks that can worsen over time and cause the cameras to fail. That can reduce visibility and increase the risk of injury to pedestrians.

DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai is recalling more than 226,000 SUVs and small cars in the U.S. because the rearview camera image may not show up on the screens.The recall&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCAK-24V879-2090.pdf">covers certain Santa Fe and Elantra</a>&nbsp;vehicles from the 2021 and 2022 model years.Hyundai says in documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators that solder joints on a printed circuit board can develop cracks that can worsen over time and cause the cameras to fail. That can reduce visibility and increase the risk of injury to pedestrians.

Hyundai recalling over 226,000 cars, SUVs to fix rearview cameras 

Licenses for bets from within the state could be issued by summer, six months before deadline set in Amendment 2, director of gaming commission says

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

The&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/06/missouri-voters-narrowly-approve-sports-betting-amendment/">thin margin on Amendment 2</a>&nbsp;to legalize sports wagering, threatened when almost 10,000 unreported votes in Christian County were&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/18/margin-on-missouri-sports-betting-amendment-narrows-as-counties-tally-official-results/">heavily against it</a>, appears safe in a review of official returns posted on county election websites.

And while the Missouri Constitution makes new amendments effective 30 days after the election, passage won’t immediately pull down the geofences that block Missouri gamblers from using accounts linked to licenses in other states.

“We get these calls every single day, ‘can I start making bets?’” said Mike Leara, executive director of the Missouri Gaming Commission.

Gamblers will have to continue crossing state lines until the commission can issue licenses next year, Leara said.

“It takes some sort of rules and guidelines, because, first of all, the taxation that’s involved,” Leara said. “We have to have a process for that, and then our (Code of State Regulations) process is a minimum of six months.”

When the counting stopped on Nov. 5, Amendment 2 was ahead by 4,365 votes out of 2.9 million cast, a difference of 0.15%. The Christian County official returns reduced that margin to 371 votes.

Official returns from other counties, checked online by The Independent, expanded the margin to 2,877 votes. The tallies include returns from 23 of the 25 counties with the largest number of votes.

Winning for Missouri Education, the campaign committee behind the initiative, has a tally of returns from all 116 election jurisdictions showing a final margin of 2,971 votes.

“Our coalition is so thankful that Missouri voters supported Amendment 2, so that we keep the revenues from sports betting in Missouri, which helps our local communities, our professional sports teams, and will provide millions in new education funding for Missouri classrooms each year,” said Jack Cardetti, spokesperson for Winning for Missouri Education.

Official results must be certified by the State Board of Canvassers&nbsp;<a href="https://enr.sos.mo.gov/" target="_blank">no later than Dec. 10</a>. The date has not been set and the two judges who will join Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for the job have not been selected, spokesman JoDonn Chaney said Tuesday.

The margin, regardless of the final count, will be within the margin allowing for a recount. None has been requested so far, Chaney said.

Winning for Missouri Education raised a record amount for a ballot measure, $43 million, and survived a $15 million opposition campaign financed by Caesars Entertainment, owners of three casinos in Missouri.

The opposition campaign abruptly pulled its television ads&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/opponents-of-missouri-sports-betting-amendment-pull-tv-ads-in-campaigns-homestretch/">three weeks before the election</a>. Leara said the company may have misunderstood the language of the amendment, believing it was weighted in favor of online gambling platforms that aren’t owned by casino companies.

The parent companies of two of those “untethered” platforms, DraftKings and FanDuel, provided $41 million of the funds raised by Winning for Missouri Education. The remainder came from the state’s six major professional sports teams.

The amendment authorizes both in-person and online gambling.

The gaming commission will issue licenses for in-person sports wagering at the 13 existing casinos and a location in a district near a major professional sports arena.&nbsp;

The major sports teams would also be allowed to license a branded online platform. There will be two online-only licenses.

The opposition from Caesars was over how many online licenses existing casino companies could obtain.

On Tuesday, Leara said each casino operating company could apply for an online license, and each casino location could apply for an online license as well.

For Caesars, that would be four — one for Caesars Entertainment, and one each for the Horseshoe Casino in St. Louis, Isle of Capri in Boonville and Harrah’s in Kansas City.

“There was some ambiguity in the understanding of, would there be a license for each one of the casinos?” Leara said.

The commission asked for input from Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office and its legal counsel and decided the amendment authorizes an online platform, known as a “skin,” for every casino, Leara said.

“When they figured out from our guidance that we intend to issue a skin for each casino, each sports team and the two untethered, they didn’t tell me they were backing down, but it looks like that’s what happened,” he said.

The first goal in the timeline for licensing is to issue emergency rules for applications in January, Leara said. The first temporary licenses could be issued by late June, he said.

“We’re looking at a streamlined process for that to initially authorize sports betting at that time,” Leara said.&nbsp;

The commission licensing process requires ownership investigations and other steps, so companies with existing licenses will be first to receive temporary licenses, Leara said. DraftKings and FanDuel are already licensed to provide fantasy sports games and the casinos are already licensed to offer gambling.

“Those are definitely optimistic timelines,” Leara said. “But so far, we’re on track, so when we issue that first temporary license, then they will be able to start accepting those bets from within Missouri.”

<h2>Licenses for bets from within the state could be issued by summer, six months before deadline set in Amendment 2, director of gaming commission says</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/06/missouri-voters-narrowly-approve-sports-betting-amendment/">thin margin on Amendment 2</a>&nbsp;to legalize sports wagering, threatened when almost 10,000 unreported votes in Christian County were&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/18/margin-on-missouri-sports-betting-amendment-narrows-as-counties-tally-official-results/">heavily against it</a>, appears safe in a review of official returns posted on county election websites.And while the Missouri Constitution makes new amendments effective 30 days after the election, passage won’t immediately pull down the geofences that block Missouri gamblers from using accounts linked to licenses in other states.“We get these calls every single day, ‘can I start making bets?’” said Mike Leara, executive director of the Missouri Gaming Commission.Gamblers will have to continue crossing state lines until the commission can issue licenses next year, Leara said.“It takes some sort of rules and guidelines, because, first of all, the taxation that’s involved,” Leara said. “We have to have a process for that, and then our (Code of State Regulations) process is a minimum of six months.”When the counting stopped on Nov. 5, Amendment 2 was ahead by 4,365 votes out of 2.9 million cast, a difference of 0.15%. The Christian County official returns reduced that margin to 371 votes.Official returns from other counties, checked online by The Independent, expanded the margin to 2,877 votes. The tallies include returns from 23 of the 25 counties with the largest number of votes.Winning for Missouri Education, the campaign committee behind the initiative, has a tally of returns from all 116 election jurisdictions showing a final margin of 2,971 votes.“Our coalition is so thankful that Missouri voters supported Amendment 2, so that we keep the revenues from sports betting in Missouri, which helps our local communities, our professional sports teams, and will provide millions in new education funding for Missouri classrooms each year,” said Jack Cardetti, spokesperson for Winning for Missouri Education.Official results must be certified by the State Board of Canvassers&nbsp;<a href="https://enr.sos.mo.gov/" target="_blank">no later than Dec. 10</a>. The date has not been set and the two judges who will join Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for the job have not been selected, spokesman JoDonn Chaney said Tuesday.The margin, regardless of the final count, will be within the margin allowing for a recount. None has been requested so far, Chaney said.Winning for Missouri Education raised a record amount for a ballot measure, $43 million, and survived a $15 million opposition campaign financed by Caesars Entertainment, owners of three casinos in Missouri.The opposition campaign abruptly pulled its television ads&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/opponents-of-missouri-sports-betting-amendment-pull-tv-ads-in-campaigns-homestretch/">three weeks before the election</a>. Leara said the company may have misunderstood the language of the amendment, believing it was weighted in favor of online gambling platforms that aren’t owned by casino companies.The parent companies of two of those “untethered” platforms, DraftKings and FanDuel, provided $41 million of the funds raised by Winning for Missouri Education. The remainder came from the state’s six major professional sports teams.The amendment authorizes both in-person and online gambling.The gaming commission will issue licenses for in-person sports wagering at the 13 existing casinos and a location in a district near a major professional sports arena.&nbsp;The major sports teams would also be allowed to license a branded online platform. There will be two online-only licenses.The opposition from Caesars was over how many online licenses existing casino companies could obtain.On Tuesday, Leara said each casino operating company could apply for an online license, and each casino location could apply for an online license as well.For Caesars, that would be four — one for Caesars Entertainment, and one each for the Horseshoe Casino in St. Louis, Isle of Capri in Boonville and Harrah’s in Kansas City.“There was some ambiguity in the understanding of, would there be a license for each one of the casinos?” Leara said.The commission asked for input from Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office and its legal counsel and decided the amendment authorizes an online platform, known as a “skin,” for every casino, Leara said.“When they figured out from our guidance that we intend to issue a skin for each casino, each sports team and the two untethered, they didn’t tell me they were backing down, but it looks like that’s what happened,” he said.The first goal in the timeline for licensing is to issue emergency rules for applications in January, Leara said. The first temporary licenses could be issued by late June, he said.“We’re looking at a streamlined process for that to initially authorize sports betting at that time,” Leara said.&nbsp;The commission licensing process requires ownership investigations and other steps, so companies with existing licenses will be first to receive temporary licenses, Leara said. DraftKings and FanDuel are already licensed to provide fantasy sports games and the casinos are already licensed to offer gambling.“Those are definitely optimistic timelines,” Leara said. “But so far, we’re on track, so when we issue that first temporary license, then they will be able to start accepting those bets from within Missouri.”

Passage of Missouri sports wagering seems assured despite narrow margin

NEW YORK (AP) — Several of President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;‘s Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks,” Trump’s transition said Wednesday.

“Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

She said the attacks “ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting.’ In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action.”

Swatting entails generating an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses.

The FBI said in a statement that it is “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners. We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.”

Among those targeted was New York Rep. Elise Stefanik,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-united-nations-elise-stefanik-ambassador-2b482fb39a8d6f03d389d27cc8820056">Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations</a>.

Her office said that, Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County.

“New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism,” her office said in a statement. “We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7.”

In Florida, meanwhile, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/OkaloosaSheriff/" target="_blank">said in an advisory posted on Facebook</a>&nbsp;that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area around 9 a.m. this morning.”

While a family member resides at the address, they said “former Congressman Gaetz is NOT a resident. “The mailbox however was cleared and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results.”

Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-sexual-assault-allegations-15b223953a668e63d8b947fdaeaa51d4">he withdrew from consideration</a>&nbsp;amid allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him.

The threats follow a political campaign marked by unusual violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The U.S. Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump’s West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing.

___ Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker contributed to this report from Washington.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731349681761.png" alt="File photo Rep. Elise Stefanik and&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . She is Trump pick as the&nbsp;next ambassador to the United Nations." />
 <figcaption>File photo Rep. Elise Stefanik and&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . She is Trump pick as the&nbsp;next ambassador to the United Nations.</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Several of President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;‘s Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks,” Trump’s transition said Wednesday.“Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.She said the attacks “ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting.’ In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action.”Swatting entails generating an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses.The FBI said in a statement that it is “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners. We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.”Among those targeted was New York Rep. Elise Stefanik,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-united-nations-elise-stefanik-ambassador-2b482fb39a8d6f03d389d27cc8820056">Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations</a>.Her office said that, Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County.“New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism,” her office said in a statement. “We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7.”<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOkaloosaSheriff%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0hA3dAHLdqbA9WxDy261ooFuW6Xt82jhx6vm1XCvttENEaTPq3yg8vMyjWdpSTe6il&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="298" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>In Florida, meanwhile, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/OkaloosaSheriff/" target="_blank">said in an advisory posted on Facebook</a>&nbsp;that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area around 9 a.m. this morning.”While a family member resides at the address, they said “former Congressman Gaetz is NOT a resident. “The mailbox however was cleared and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results.”Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-sexual-assault-allegations-15b223953a668e63d8b947fdaeaa51d4">he withdrew from consideration</a>&nbsp;amid allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him.The threats follow a political campaign marked by unusual violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The U.S. Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump’s West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing.___ Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker contributed to this report from Washington.<figure>
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Trump appointees targeted by bomb threats, swatting attacks

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in connection with a shooting on Halloween that left a 13-year-old boy dead made his first court appearance in the case Tuesday.

Jermal Campbell, 19, was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of criminal discharge of firearm, three counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On Monday, Campbell finally turned himself in, according to the Wichita Police Department.

Just after 10:30p.m. October 31, police responded to a report of gunfire at the QuikTrip located at Central and Oliver in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

Officers discovered evidence of a shooting and the convenience store. Simultaneously, a walk-in report was received from a local hospital indicating that a private vehicle had transported victims of this incident for treatment.

The victims included a 15-year-old boy from Wichita, who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, and a 13-year-old boy who sustained a fatal gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival at the hospital.

Initial investigations reveal that a disturbance occurred in the QuikTrip parking lot, leading to the suspect firing at a crowd, which tragically resulted in injuries to the two victims.

On November 6, police arrested a 19-year-old&nbsp;Carrice Profit, Campbell's cousin in connection with the killing, according to Wichita Police spokesman Andrew Ford.&nbsp;

Profit was charged with 1st degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. She remains jailed on a $350,000 bond. Campbell remains in jail on a $1,000,000.00 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732583489717.png" alt="Campbell photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Campbell photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in connection with a shooting on Halloween that left a 13-year-old boy dead made his first court appearance in the case Tuesday.Jermal Campbell, 19, was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of criminal discharge of firearm, three counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On Monday, Campbell finally turned himself in, according to the Wichita Police Department.Just after 10:30p.m. October 31, police responded to a report of gunfire at the QuikTrip located at Central and Oliver in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730455429350.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers discovered evidence of a shooting and the convenience store. Simultaneously, a walk-in report was received from a local hospital indicating that a private vehicle had transported victims of this incident for treatment.The victims included a 15-year-old boy from Wichita, who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, and a 13-year-old boy who sustained a fatal gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival at the hospital.Initial investigations reveal that a disturbance occurred in the QuikTrip parking lot, leading to the suspect firing at a crowd, which tragically resulted in injuries to the two victims.On November 6, police arrested a 19-year-old&nbsp;Carrice Profit, Campbell's cousin in connection with the killing, according to Wichita Police spokesman Andrew Ford.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730979564649.png" alt="Profit photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Profit photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Profit was charged with 1st degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. She remains jailed on a $350,000 bond. Campbell remains in jail on a $1,000,000.00 bond.

Kan. suspect in Halloween killing of 13-year-old appears in court

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released and are returning to the United States, the White House said Wednesday, announcing a diplomatic agreement with Beijing in the final months of the Biden administration.

The three are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-detained-americans-congress-294b10f51d76c89af8c49f76b967ae00">Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung</a>, all of whom had been designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained by China.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e5db75c146b843a987328a38f459a295">Swidan</a>&nbsp;had been facing a death sentence on drug charges while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-hostages-wrongfully-detained-joe-biden-0fb40f42130f59dadb783e8a9823d3e1">Li</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-charged-spying-china-prison-2de86767bbc828ec4362af23fb271afd">Leung</a>&nbsp;were imprisoned on espionage charges.

“Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years,” the White House said in a statement.

The release comes just two months after China freed David Lin,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-american-detainee-released-pastor-ad3a2104bac2490f0d7eb773faaeafda">a Christian pastor from California</a>&nbsp;who had spent nearly 20 years behind bars after being convicted of contract fraud.

U.S.-China relations have been roiled for years over major disagreements between the world’s two largest economies on trade, human rights, the production of fentanyl precursors, security issues that include espionage and hacking, China’s aggressiveness toward Taiwan and its smaller neighbors in the South China Sea, and Beijing’s support for Russia’s military-industrial sector.

The release of Americans deemed wrongfully detained in China has been a top agenda item in each conversation between the U.S. and China, and Wednesday’s development suggests a willingness by Beijing to engage with the outgoing Democratic administration before Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January.

Trump took significant actions against China on trade and diplomacy during his first term. He has pledged to continue those policies in his second term, leading to unease among many who fear that an all-out trade war will greatly affect the international economy and could spur potential Chinese military action against Taiwan.

Still, the two countries have maintained a dialogue that has included a partial restoration of military-to-military contacts. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met earlier this month to discuss potential improvements.

A U.S. official said the Biden administration had raised the cases of the detained Americans with China in multiple meetings over the past several years, including earlier this month when Biden spoke to Xi on the sidelines of the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peru-apec-biden-xi-lima-china-fc2ac014b2f7314bfa1a53351b0bc3a7">Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit</a>&nbsp;in Peru.

Politico was first to report the men’s release, which it said was part of a prisoner swap with the U.S. The White House did not immediately confirm that any Chinese citizens had been returned home.

Li, a Chinese immigrant who started an export business in the U.S., was detained in September 2016 after flying into Shanghai. He was placed under surveillance, interrogated without a lawyer and accused of providing state secrets to the FBI. A U.N. working group called his 10-year prison sentence arbitrary and his family said the charges were politically motivated.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-charged-spying-china-prison-2de86767bbc828ec4362af23fb271afd">Leung was sentenced last year</a>&nbsp;to life in prison on spying charges. He was detained in 2021, by the local bureau of China’s counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Swidan had been jailed for 12 years on a drug charge and, along with Li and Leung, had considered by the State Department to be wrongfully detained.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732718107986.png" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released and are returning to the United States, the White House said Wednesday, announcing a diplomatic agreement with Beijing in the final months of the Biden administration.The three are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-detained-americans-congress-294b10f51d76c89af8c49f76b967ae00">Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung</a>, all of whom had been designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained by China.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e5db75c146b843a987328a38f459a295">Swidan</a>&nbsp;had been facing a death sentence on drug charges while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-hostages-wrongfully-detained-joe-biden-0fb40f42130f59dadb783e8a9823d3e1">Li</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-charged-spying-china-prison-2de86767bbc828ec4362af23fb271afd">Leung</a>&nbsp;were imprisoned on espionage charges.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732718331980.png" alt="Kai Li courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Kai Li courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>“Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years,” the White House said in a statement.The release comes just two months after China freed David Lin,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-american-detainee-released-pastor-ad3a2104bac2490f0d7eb773faaeafda">a Christian pastor from California</a>&nbsp;who had spent nearly 20 years behind bars after being convicted of contract fraud.U.S.-China relations have been roiled for years over major disagreements between the world’s two largest economies on trade, human rights, the production of fentanyl precursors, security issues that include espionage and hacking, China’s aggressiveness toward Taiwan and its smaller neighbors in the South China Sea, and Beijing’s support for Russia’s military-industrial sector.The release of Americans deemed wrongfully detained in China has been a top agenda item in each conversation between the U.S. and China, and Wednesday’s development suggests a willingness by Beijing to engage with the outgoing Democratic administration before Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January.Trump took significant actions against China on trade and diplomacy during his first term. He has pledged to continue those policies in his second term, leading to unease among many who fear that an all-out trade war will greatly affect the international economy and could spur potential Chinese military action against Taiwan.Still, the two countries have maintained a dialogue that has included a partial restoration of military-to-military contacts. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met earlier this month to discuss potential improvements.A U.S. official said the Biden administration had raised the cases of the detained Americans with China in multiple meetings over the past several years, including earlier this month when Biden spoke to Xi on the sidelines of the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peru-apec-biden-xi-lima-china-fc2ac014b2f7314bfa1a53351b0bc3a7">Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit</a>&nbsp;in Peru.Politico was first to report the men’s release, which it said was part of a prisoner swap with the U.S. The White House did not immediately confirm that any Chinese citizens had been returned home.Li, a Chinese immigrant who started an export business in the U.S., was detained in September 2016 after flying into Shanghai. He was placed under surveillance, interrogated without a lawyer and accused of providing state secrets to the FBI. A U.N. working group called his 10-year prison sentence arbitrary and his family said the charges were politically motivated.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-charged-spying-china-prison-2de86767bbc828ec4362af23fb271afd">Leung was sentenced last year</a>&nbsp;to life in prison on spying charges. He was detained in 2021, by the local bureau of China’s counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of COVID-19.Swidan had been jailed for 12 years on a drug charge and, along with Li and Leung, had considered by the State Department to be wrongfully detained.

White House: 3 Americans held for years in China have been released

TOPEKA —"Imagine driving down the road and seeing red or blue lights approaching from behind or coming toward you. Naturally, you might slow down and pull to the right, thinking it’s an emergency vehicle," Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner wrote on his social media page. "This split-second reaction could create confusion and even lead to a dangerous traffic crash."

"That’s exactly why KHP Trooper Mai stopped a semi earlier Tuesday that was lit up with festive holiday lights, including red and blue lighting displayed to the front. While the display was interesting and joyful, these colors are reserved for emergency vehicles and can’t be used on public roadways."

The driver was cited for unauthorized additional lighting to ensure safety on our highways. "While we appreciate the holiday cheer, let’s keep the roads safe for everyone.Save the lights for your home or tree."

Trooper Gardner later deleted the social media report. "My goal was to highlight the work our troopers are doing to keep the roads safe, but I realize now that the post may have caused some confusion, and I want to clear that up," he wrote.

"Kansas law is clear: only white (headlights) and amber (turn signals) lights are allowed to shine to the front of vehicles. Adding any other lights, even festive ones, is a violation.  It’s simply the law, and it exists to prevent confusion on the road. Distracted driving and other challenges already make driving tricky enough, and these expectations are meant to keep things as straightforward and safe as possible."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732705959156.png" alt="Photo Kansas Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —"Imagine driving down the road and seeing red or blue lights approaching from behind or coming toward you. Naturally, you might slow down and pull to the right, thinking it’s an emergency vehicle," Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner wrote on his social media page. "This split-second reaction could create confusion and even lead to a dangerous traffic crash.""That’s exactly why KHP Trooper Mai stopped a semi earlier Tuesday that was lit up with festive holiday lights, including red and blue lighting displayed to the front. While the display was interesting and joyful, these colors are reserved for emergency vehicles and can’t be used on public roadways."The driver was cited for unauthorized additional lighting to ensure safety on our highways. "While we appreciate the holiday cheer, let’s keep the roads safe for everyone.Save the lights for your home or tree."Trooper Gardner later deleted the social media report. "My goal was to highlight the work our troopers are doing to keep the roads safe, but I realize now that the post may have caused some confusion, and I want to clear that up," he wrote."Kansas law is clear: only white (headlights) and amber (turn signals) lights are allowed to shine to the front of vehicles. Adding any other lights, even festive ones, is a violation. It’s simply the law, and it exists to prevent confusion on the road. Distracted driving and other challenges already make driving tricky enough, and these expectations are meant to keep things as straightforward and safe as possible."

KHP updates info on semi driver cited for too many holiday lights 

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run incident on Saturday afternoon in Wyandotte County have identified the victim as 41-year-old Kashima Brown, according to KCK&nbsp; Police.

Brown was walking northbound in the southbound lane crossing the 65th Street Bridge above Interstate 70. A southbound vehicle struck her and fled.

EMS transported Brown to an area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run incident on Saturday afternoon in Wyandotte County have identified the victim as 41-year-old Kashima Brown, according to KCK&nbsp; Police.Brown was walking northbound in the southbound lane crossing the 65th Street Bridge above Interstate 70. A southbound vehicle struck her and fled.EMS transported Brown to an area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

Police ID Kansas woman who died after hit-and-run

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday reached a required agreement with President Joe Biden’s White House to allow his transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20.

The congressionally mandated agreement allows transition aides to work with federal agencies and access non-public information and gives a green light to government workers to talk to the transition team.

But Trump has declined to sign a separate agreement with the General Services Administration that would have given his team access to secure government offices and email accounts, in part because it would require that the president-elect limit contributions to $5,000 and reveal who is donating to his transition effort.

The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on.

The agreement is a critical step in ensuring an orderly transfer of power at noon on Inauguration Day, and lays the groundwork for the White House and government agencies to begin to share details on ongoing programs, operations and threats. It limits the risk that the Trump team could find itself taking control of the massive federal government without briefings and documents from the outgoing administration.

As part of the agreement with the White House, Trump’s team will have to publicly disclose its ethics plan for the transition operation and make a commitment to uphold it, the White House said. Transition aides must sign statements that they have no financial positions that could pose a conflict of interest before they receive access to non-public federal information.

Biden himself raised the agreement with Trump when they met in the Oval Office on Nov. 13, according to the White House, and Trump indicated that his team was working to get it signed.

Trump chief of staff-designate Susie Wiles met with Biden's chief of staff Jeff Zients at the White House on Nov. 19 and other senior officials in part to discuss remaining holdups, while lawyers for the two sides have spoken more than a half-dozen times in recent days to finalize the agreement.

“Like President Biden said to the American people from the Rose Garden and directly to President-elect Trump, he is committed to an orderly transition,” said White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma. “President-elect Trump and his team will be in seat on January 20 at 12 pm – and they will immediately be responsible for a range of domestic and global challenges, foreseen and unforeseen. A smooth transition is critical to the safety and security of the American people who are counting on their leaders to be responsible and prepared.”

Without the signed agreement, Biden administration officials were restricted in what they could share with the incoming team. Trump national security adviser-designate Rep. Mike Waltz met recently with Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan, but the outgoing team was limited in what it could discuss.

“We are doing everything that we can to effect a professional and an orderly transition,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday. “And we continue to urge the incoming team to take the steps that are necessary to be able to facilitate that on their end as well.”

“This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power,” said Wiles in a statement.

The Trump transition team says it would disclose its donors to the public and would not take foreign donations.

A separate agreement with the Department of Justice to coordinate background checks for vetting and security clearances is still being actively worked on and could be signed quickly now that the White House agreement is signed. The agency has teams of investigators standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers once that document is signed.

That would clear the way for transition aides and future administration appointees and nominees to begin accessing classified information before Trump takes office. Some Trump aides may hold active clearances from his first term in office or other government roles, but others will need new clearances to access classified data.

Trump's team on Friday formally told the GSA that they would not utilize the government office space blocks from the White House reserved for their use, or government email accounts, phones and computers during the transition.

The White House said it does not agree with Trump’s decision to forgo support from the GSA, but is working on alternate ways to get Trump appointees the information they need without jeopardizing national security. Federal agencies are receiving guidance on Tuesday on how to share sensitive information with the Trump team without jeopardizing national security or non-public information.

For instance, agencies may require in-person meetings and document reviews since the Trump team has declined to shift to using secure phones and computers. For unclassified information, agencies may ask Trump transition staff to attest that they are taking basic safeguards, like using two-factor authentication on their accounts.

“The signing of this agreement is good news, and a positive step toward an effective transfer of power," said Max Stier, the president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. "This agreement unlocks direct access to information from federal agencies, which is vital for the incoming administration to be ready to govern on Day One and critical to the transition’s success.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731516296418.png" alt="President-elect Trump and President Biden during their White House meeting Nov. 13- image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President-elect Trump and President Biden during their White House meeting Nov. 13- image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday reached a required agreement with President Joe Biden’s White House to allow his transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20.The congressionally mandated agreement allows transition aides to work with federal agencies and access non-public information and gives a green light to government workers to talk to the transition team.But Trump has declined to sign a separate agreement with the General Services Administration that would have given his team access to secure government offices and email accounts, in part because it would require that the president-elect limit contributions to $5,000 and reveal who is donating to his transition effort.The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on.The agreement is a critical step in ensuring an orderly transfer of power at noon on Inauguration Day, and lays the groundwork for the White House and government agencies to begin to share details on ongoing programs, operations and threats. It limits the risk that the Trump team could find itself taking control of the massive federal government without briefings and documents from the outgoing administration.As part of the agreement with the White House, Trump’s team will have to publicly disclose its ethics plan for the transition operation and make a commitment to uphold it, the White House said. Transition aides must sign statements that they have no financial positions that could pose a conflict of interest before they receive access to non-public federal information.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731519489185.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden himself raised the agreement with Trump when they met in the Oval Office on Nov. 13, according to the White House, and Trump indicated that his team was working to get it signed.Trump chief of staff-designate Susie Wiles met with Biden's chief of staff Jeff Zients at the White House on Nov. 19 and other senior officials in part to discuss remaining holdups, while lawyers for the two sides have spoken more than a half-dozen times in recent days to finalize the agreement.“Like President Biden said to the American people from the Rose Garden and directly to President-elect Trump, he is committed to an orderly transition,” said White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma. “President-elect Trump and his team will be in seat on January 20 at 12 pm – and they will immediately be responsible for a range of domestic and global challenges, foreseen and unforeseen. A smooth transition is critical to the safety and security of the American people who are counting on their leaders to be responsible and prepared.”Without the signed agreement, Biden administration officials were restricted in what they could share with the incoming team. Trump national security adviser-designate Rep. Mike Waltz met recently with Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan, but the outgoing team was limited in what it could discuss.“We are doing everything that we can to effect a professional and an orderly transition,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday. “And we continue to urge the incoming team to take the steps that are necessary to be able to facilitate that on their end as well.”“This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power,” said Wiles in a statement.The Trump transition team says it would disclose its donors to the public and would not take foreign donations.A separate agreement with the Department of Justice to coordinate background checks for vetting and security clearances is still being actively worked on and could be signed quickly now that the White House agreement is signed. The agency has teams of investigators standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers once that document is signed.That would clear the way for transition aides and future administration appointees and nominees to begin accessing classified information before Trump takes office. Some Trump aides may hold active clearances from his first term in office or other government roles, but others will need new clearances to access classified data.Trump's team on Friday formally told the GSA that they would not utilize the government office space blocks from the White House reserved for their use, or government email accounts, phones and computers during the transition.The White House said it does not agree with Trump’s decision to forgo support from the GSA, but is working on alternate ways to get Trump appointees the information they need without jeopardizing national security. Federal agencies are receiving guidance on Tuesday on how to share sensitive information with the Trump team without jeopardizing national security or non-public information.For instance, agencies may require in-person meetings and document reviews since the Trump team has declined to shift to using secure phones and computers. For unclassified information, agencies may ask Trump transition staff to attest that they are taking basic safeguards, like using two-factor authentication on their accounts.“The signing of this agreement is good news, and a positive step toward an effective transfer of power," said Max Stier, the president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. "This agreement unlocks direct access to information from federal agencies, which is vital for the incoming administration to be ready to govern on Day One and critical to the transition’s success.”

Trump finally signs presidential transition agreement with Biden White House

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating the death of a 53-year-old man found with fatal injuries Sunday afternoon in Wichita.

Just after 1p.m. police&nbsp;were dispatched to the 3800 block of S. Hydraulic&nbsp; after receiving a report of a deceased individual, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

First responders located Marvin C. Walldren, 53, of Wichita, slumped over with visible injuries. EMS personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.

On Monday, the Sedgwick County Coroner conducted an autopsy and ruled Mr. Walldren's death as a homicide. Investigators are working to determine the circumstances that led to the incident.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating the death of a 53-year-old man found with fatal injuries Sunday afternoon in Wichita.Just after 1p.m. police&nbsp;were dispatched to the 3800 block of S. Hydraulic&nbsp; after receiving a report of a deceased individual, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.First responders located Marvin C. Walldren, 53, of Wichita, slumped over with visible injuries. EMS personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.On Monday, the Sedgwick County Coroner conducted an autopsy and ruled Mr. Walldren's death as a homicide. Investigators are working to determine the circumstances that led to the incident.

Coroner: Kansas man's death was not an accident

DAMASCUS—On Tuesday, U.S. forces conducted a strike against an Iranian-aligned militia weapons storage facility in Syria, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command. The strike was in response to an Iranian-aligned attack against U.S. forces in Syria on Monday.

Centom conducted the strike against the Iranian backed groups weapons facility to degrade their agility to plan and launch future attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces.

A battle damage assessment is underway and as of late Tuesday did not assess there were any civilian casualties, according to the Central Command statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"As previously stated, we will not tolerate any attacks on our personnel and coalition partners. We are committed to taking all necessary actions to ensure their protection," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732659978836.png" alt="File. photo U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles arrived in the&nbsp; arrive in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility earlier this month-&nbsp; image U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>File. photo U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles arrived in the&nbsp; arrive in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility earlier this month-&nbsp; image U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DAMASCUS—On Tuesday, U.S. forces conducted a strike against an Iranian-aligned militia weapons storage facility in Syria, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command. The strike was in response to an Iranian-aligned attack against U.S. forces in Syria on Monday.Centom conducted the strike against the Iranian backed groups weapons facility to degrade their agility to plan and launch future attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces.A battle damage assessment is underway and as of late Tuesday did not assess there were any civilian casualties, according to the Central Command statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;"As previously stated, we will not tolerate any attacks on our personnel and coalition partners. We are committed to taking all necessary actions to ensure their protection," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander.

U.S. forces respond to attack on U.S. personnel in Syria

KANSAS CITY —Police investigating a fatal crash that occurred&nbsp; November 21 in Kansas City have identified the man in the wheel chair who died a 50-year-old Danny L. Maynard.

At 10:30p.m. Nov. 21, a&nbsp; Chevy Cruze was southbound on U.S. 49 Highway just before the Red Bridge exit merging towards the right shoulder to yield to a Fire Truck, running with emergency lights and siren, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

The driver of the Chevy did not see Maynard in a wheelchair who was crossing the highway from the east to the west.

The right front of the Chevy struck the wheelchair. EMS transported Maynard&nbsp; to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The driver of the Chevy Cruze was not injured in the collision. This was fatality #84 in Kansas City, Missouri for 2024, according to DiMartino.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —Police investigating a fatal crash that occurred&nbsp; November 21 in Kansas City have identified the man in the wheel chair who died a 50-year-old Danny L. Maynard.At 10:30p.m. Nov. 21, a&nbsp; Chevy Cruze was southbound on U.S. 49 Highway just before the Red Bridge exit merging towards the right shoulder to yield to a Fire Truck, running with emergency lights and siren, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.The driver of the Chevy did not see Maynard in a wheelchair who was crossing the highway from the east to the west.The right front of the Chevy struck the wheelchair. EMS transported Maynard&nbsp; to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The driver of the Chevy Cruze was not injured in the collision. This was fatality #84 in Kansas City, Missouri for 2024, according to DiMartino.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KCPD releases name of man who died in car, wheelchair crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations following two separate incidents.

Just before 5:30p.m. November 18, a sheriff's deputy observed a black 2005 Cadillac STS near SW 6th Avenue and SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

The vehicle was reported stolen out of Kansas City, Kan., after the owner met two individuals on a social media platform’s marketplace. They met at a gas station and the two prospective buyers asked to test drive the vehicle and never returned.

The deputy conducted a traffic stop and two individuals were placed into custody. Danielle L. M. Lee, 25, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections (SNDOC) on the requested charges&nbsp;Possession of stolen property; value $1,500 to $25,000 and&nbsp;Driving while license suspended.

Antonio S. Jones, 19, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges that include Possession of stolen property; value $1,500 to $25,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732384030697.png" alt="Jones-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Jones-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations following two separate incidents.Just before 5:30p.m. November 18, a sheriff's deputy observed a black 2005 Cadillac STS near SW 6th Avenue and SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732383908550.png" alt="Lee-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Lee-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The vehicle was reported stolen out of Kansas City, Kan., after the owner met two individuals on a social media platform’s marketplace. They met at a gas station and the two prospective buyers asked to test drive the vehicle and never returned.The deputy conducted a traffic stop and two individuals were placed into custody. Danielle L. M. Lee, 25, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections (SNDOC) on the requested charges&nbsp;Possession of stolen property; value $1,500 to $25,000 and&nbsp;Driving while license suspended.Antonio S. Jones, 19, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges that include Possession of stolen property; value $1,500 to $25,000.

Suspects stole car after social media marketplace test drive 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in connection with sex crimes involving a runaway teen made his first court appearance last week.

Samuel Loredo, 21, is charged with 3 counts of Criminal Sodomy, 2 counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child, 1 count of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, 1 count of Aggravated Interference With Parental Custody, and 2 counts of Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just after noon November 18, law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.

Throughout the afternoon through the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Throughout those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested the 21-year-old Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.

Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732189301713.png" alt="Loredo photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Loredo photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in connection with sex crimes involving a runaway teen made his first court appearance last week.Samuel Loredo, 21, is charged with 3 counts of Criminal Sodomy, 2 counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child, 1 count of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, 1 count of Aggravated Interference With Parental Custody, and 2 counts of Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just after noon November 18, law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.Throughout the afternoon through the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Throughout those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.As a result of the investigation, police arrested the 21-year-old Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp;investigators are continuing their work on this case and have been in contact with investigators from Kentucky. Loredo'snext appearance is December 2, according to the district attorney's office.