WASHINGTON (AP) — Comcast will spin off many of its cable television networks that were once at the heart of the entertainment giant, with people increasingly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-race-and-ethnicity-coronavirus-pandemic-f71bd0baf4799bb48b7352b8391c4e2d">swapping out their cable TV subscriptions for streaming platforms</a>.

Those one-time stars for Comcast's NBCUniversal cable television networks include USA, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel, as well as CNBC and MSNBC. Movie ticketing platform Fandango and the Rotten Tomatoes movie rating site would also become part of the new company.

Comcast telegraphed the potential shift last month as it released quarterly earnings.

<a href="https://apnews.com/53ba3e5f5af3274629fc180e9dab42ed">Peacock</a>&nbsp;will remain with Comcast, as will Bravo, which provides significant content for the Peacock streaming service.

Mark Lazarus, current chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, will serve as the new entity’s chief executive officer. Anand Kini, the current chief financial officer of NBCUniversal, will take on the same title with the new company as well as the chief operating officer role.

"As a standalone company with these outstanding assets, we will be better positioned to serve our audiences and drive shareholder returns in this incredibly dynamic media environment across news, sports and entertainment," Lazarus said Wednesday.

Comcast said in the 12-month period ending September 30, the assets that will comprise the new company generated about $7 billion of the company’s approximate $123 billion in revenue.

Comcast expects the new company to have the financial flexibility to be “a potential partner and acquirer of other complementary media businesses.”

The spin-off is targeted for completion in about a year, the entertainment giant said, pending financing and approval from its board and government regulators.

Shares of Comcast, based in Philadelphia, rose 1% to $42.75.

Like other cable companies, Comcast in recent years has shifted its business emphasis away from traditional cable toward streaming and other sources of revenue, such as its movie studio, theme parks and home wireless and internet services.

In its most recent quarter, Comcast reported that paid subscribers to its streaming Peacock channel jumped by 3 million, or 29%, to 36 million subscribers. Peacock’s revenue soared 82% to $1.5 billion in the period.

Peacock was launched in 2020, and after a confusing, glitchy start, has taken off recently, boosted in part by the platform’s success and popularity during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Peacock streamed all 329 medal events and over 5,000 hours of coverage during the Games, with viewers streaming more than 23 billion minutes of Olympic coverage, led by Peacock. That's a 40% increase over all previous Summer and Winter Olympics combined, Comcast said.

Comcast reported revenue of more than $32 billion and profit of $1.12 per share in its most recent quarter, boosted by the summer box-office success of "Despicable Me 4," which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Comcast will spin off many of its cable television networks that were once at the heart of the entertainment giant, with people increasingly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-race-and-ethnicity-coronavirus-pandemic-f71bd0baf4799bb48b7352b8391c4e2d">swapping out their cable TV subscriptions for streaming platforms</a>.Those one-time stars for Comcast's NBCUniversal cable television networks include USA, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel, as well as CNBC and MSNBC. Movie ticketing platform Fandango and the Rotten Tomatoes movie rating site would also become part of the new company.Comcast telegraphed the potential shift last month as it released quarterly earnings.<a href="https://apnews.com/53ba3e5f5af3274629fc180e9dab42ed">Peacock</a>&nbsp;will remain with Comcast, as will Bravo, which provides significant content for the Peacock streaming service.Mark Lazarus, current chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, will serve as the new entity’s chief executive officer. Anand Kini, the current chief financial officer of NBCUniversal, will take on the same title with the new company as well as the chief operating officer role."As a standalone company with these outstanding assets, we will be better positioned to serve our audiences and drive shareholder returns in this incredibly dynamic media environment across news, sports and entertainment," Lazarus said Wednesday.Comcast said in the 12-month period ending September 30, the assets that will comprise the new company generated about $7 billion of the company’s approximate $123 billion in revenue.Comcast expects the new company to have the financial flexibility to be “a potential partner and acquirer of other complementary media businesses.”The spin-off is targeted for completion in about a year, the entertainment giant said, pending financing and approval from its board and government regulators.Shares of Comcast, based in Philadelphia, rose 1% to $42.75.Like other cable companies, Comcast in recent years has shifted its business emphasis away from traditional cable toward streaming and other sources of revenue, such as its movie studio, theme parks and home wireless and internet services.In its most recent quarter, Comcast reported that paid subscribers to its streaming Peacock channel jumped by 3 million, or 29%, to 36 million subscribers. Peacock’s revenue soared 82% to $1.5 billion in the period.Peacock was launched in 2020, and after a confusing, glitchy start, has taken off recently, boosted in part by the platform’s success and popularity during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.Peacock streamed all 329 medal events and over 5,000 hours of coverage during the Games, with viewers streaming more than 23 billion minutes of Olympic coverage, led by Peacock. That's a 40% increase over all previous Summer and Winter Olympics combined, Comcast said.Comcast reported revenue of more than $32 billion and profit of $1.12 per share in its most recent quarter, boosted by the summer box-office success of "Despicable Me 4," which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.

Comcast will spinoff NBCUniversal cable channels

KANSAS CITY —One person died in a hit-and-run accident just before 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Kansas City.

A silver Chevrolet Cruz was southbound on 71 Highway at a high rate of speed, according to KCPD&nbsp;&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

The Chevrolet rear-ended a Chrysler 200 that was stopped for the red traffic control signal at 59th and 71 Highway. 

The unrestrained driver of the Chrysler was pronounced deceased at the scene. The unrestrained front seat passenger of the Chevrolet was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries and was reported in critical condition, according to DiMartino. 

The driver and rear seat passenger of the Chevrolet ran from the crash the scene. 

This is fatality #83 compared to #89 at this time last year in KCMO, according to DiMartino. Police have not released the names of those involved or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732114105245.png" alt="First responders near the crash scene" />
 <figcaption>First responders near the crash scene</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —One person died in a hit-and-run accident just before 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Kansas City.A silver Chevrolet Cruz was southbound on 71 Highway at a high rate of speed, according to KCPD&nbsp;&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.The Chevrolet rear-ended a Chrysler 200 that was stopped for the red traffic control signal at 59th and 71 Highway. The unrestrained driver of the Chrysler was pronounced deceased at the scene. The unrestrained front seat passenger of the Chevrolet was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries and was reported in critical condition, according to DiMartino. The driver and rear seat passenger of the Chevrolet ran from the crash the scene. This is fatality #83 compared to #89 at this time last year in KCMO, according to DiMartino. Police have not released the names of those involved or additional details.

KCPD: Driver, passenger ran from fatal rear-end crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — As President-elect Donald Trump digs in on his pick of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-administration-senior-staff-0c65537ce9cd79194f1bcf60aad88f92">former Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general</a>, Republican senators are divided over how much information they will demand to move his confirmation — and how much to push back on Trump as he demands that they quickly rubber stamp his Cabinet once he takes office in January.

Gaetz, who has been calling senators and is expected to start meeting with some of them as soon as this week, is an unconventional pick for the nation’s top law enforcement official. His nomination creates a confirmation climb in the Senate, where many Republicans are deeply uncomfortable with his selection.

The Florida Republican spent his congressional career agitating against the Justice Department and has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-attorney-general-matt-gaetz-justice-department-dca401813d9b84638d250f273a2d3942">a House Ethics investigation</a>&nbsp;into whether he engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct — allegations Gaetz denies. He is also deeply unpopular within his own party after leading the push to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year.

Publicly, Republican senators say they will give Gaetz the same due process that they give any other nominee. Most are loath to criticize him directly. But they are split on whether to demand access to the ethics report, which the House ethics committee could choose to release after Gaetz resigned from the House last week.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has positioned himself as Trump’s top ally in Congress, said last week that he will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matt-gaetz-ethics-attorney-general-nomination-5960df4fe88bdc39bb9a413f92c38bf8">“strongly request”</a>&nbsp;that the Ethics committee not release the results of its investigation.

Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, who will become Senate majority leader in January, deferred to Johnson, saying Monday that the ethics report is “a House issue.” But several in his conference argued that the Senate should see the report, whether it is released publicly or not.

“There’s nothing about that that would smell right, to say, ‘Hey, there’s a report but none of us want to see it,’” said Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla.

Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served in the House with Gaetz, said the ethics report is important for the Senate’s “advice and consent” role laid out in the Constitution. “I think the report from the House plays a pivotal role in that,” he said.

Others said the information would come out one way or another, even if it isn't released. “I’m going to honor Speaker Johnson’s position," said North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis. "I think it’s a reasonable position.”

The simmering clash between the Senate, House and Trump could be just the first of many to come. Trump has made clear he expects next year’s unified Republican Congress to give him broad leeway on his nominees, and has already been making some calls to senators.

Cabinet nominees have traditionally provided a flood of paperwork to Senate committees ahead of their confirmation hearings, participating in background checks by the FBI and filling out lengthy questionnaires that probe every aspect of their lives and careers. But Trump’s transition has already signaled that it might not request the background checks and has so far declined to sign agreements with the White House and the Department of Justice to allow that process to begin.

The documentation, including the criminal background checks and financial vetting, could be key for senators in both parties who have questions about Gaetz and some of Trump's other more controversial nominees, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gabbard-director-national-intelligence-466dfdfe2f949ea20bc2f4ef13e21438">Tulsi Gabbard</a>&nbsp;for director of national intelligence,&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/w">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;for secretary of Defense and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-jr-rfk-things-to-know-explained-who-is-hhs-5288a4a7277d1a0b4a7ede8f57a971ce">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;for secretary of Health and Human Services.

In the absence of the traditional process, whether to proceed without an FBI background check would be up to individual committee chairs, who will be under tremendous pressure from Trump and his allies to move his nominees quickly. On Tuesday, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the incoming No. 2 Republican under Thune, said the Senate will begin hearings once Republicans take the majority on Jan. 3 and start holding confirmation votes once Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20.

Republican senators say they will demand that documentation, but it’s unclear how that might work if Trump’s transition doesn’t consent to it.

“I think that if they want a speedy consideration of this nomination we’ve got to have as much transparency as we can have,” said Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who will serve as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman next year. “Because you’ve heard my colleagues, especially on the Republican side, say that they have some questions.”

Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, the incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he wants a traditional process involving the full FBI background check for Hegseth and the committee’s other nominees. “We should do it by the numbers,” Wicker said.

Democrats are wary, though, that the process could get muddled, or curtailed, as Trump puts the full force of his pressure on Senate Republicans.

“If there’s a cursory background check, like we call 20 people — that’s not going to be appropriate,” said Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the current chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee who will be the panel’s top Democrat next year.

Meanwhile. Gaetz has already paid a visit to at least one group of potential allies, the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, where he outlined for the group “some of the things that that need to be done at the Department of Justice to end the weaponization,” said Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., the chairman of the Freedom Caucus.

Among the ideas Gaetz discussed was “eliminating a lot of the senior staff," Harris said.

As for the allegations of sexual misconduct against Gaetz, Harris dismissed them saying, “last time I looked, in America, you’re innocent until proven guilty.” He said he did not believe the House Ethics files on Gaetz should be released.

“We think that the president deserves to get his selections approved for the cabinet, and Mr. Gaetz knows what to do to end the weaponization of the department," Harris said.

Speaker Johnson also made clear his position Tuesday, telling reporters that the Senate should do its job and “sure, take a look, do a deep dive” and then move them along for confirmation so “the president has the team in place to do what the American people have elected him to do.”

“I think President Trump is looking for persons who will shake up the status quo,” Johnson said. “And we got a mandate in this election cycle to do that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731531518225.png" alt="Former Rep. Matt Gaetz image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Former Rep. Matt Gaetz image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — As President-elect Donald Trump digs in on his pick of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-administration-senior-staff-0c65537ce9cd79194f1bcf60aad88f92">former Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general</a>, Republican senators are divided over how much information they will demand to move his confirmation — and how much to push back on Trump as he demands that they quickly rubber stamp his Cabinet once he takes office in January.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump has promised that I will be the new Attorney General one way or another. Follow this page for updates.&mdash; Matt Gaetz Attorney General 🇺🇸 Press Commentary (@realgaetzpress) <a href="https://twitter.com/realgaetzpress/status/1858690348479852977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Gaetz, who has been calling senators and is expected to start meeting with some of them as soon as this week, is an unconventional pick for the nation’s top law enforcement official. His nomination creates a confirmation climb in the Senate, where many Republicans are deeply uncomfortable with his selection.The Florida Republican spent his congressional career agitating against the Justice Department and has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-attorney-general-matt-gaetz-justice-department-dca401813d9b84638d250f273a2d3942">a House Ethics investigation</a>&nbsp;into whether he engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct — allegations Gaetz denies. He is also deeply unpopular within his own party after leading the push to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year.Publicly, Republican senators say they will give Gaetz the same due process that they give any other nominee. Most are loath to criticize him directly. But they are split on whether to demand access to the ethics report, which the House ethics committee could choose to release after Gaetz resigned from the House last week.House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has positioned himself as Trump’s top ally in Congress, said last week that he will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matt-gaetz-ethics-attorney-general-nomination-5960df4fe88bdc39bb9a413f92c38bf8">“strongly request”</a>&nbsp;that the Ethics committee not release the results of its investigation.Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, who will become Senate majority leader in January, deferred to Johnson, saying Monday that the ethics report is “a House issue.” But several in his conference argued that the Senate should see the report, whether it is released publicly or not.“There’s nothing about that that would smell right, to say, ‘Hey, there’s a report but none of us want to see it,’” said Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla.Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served in the House with Gaetz, said the ethics report is important for the Senate’s “advice and consent” role laid out in the Constitution. “I think the report from the House plays a pivotal role in that,” he said.Others said the information would come out one way or another, even if it isn't released. “I’m going to honor Speaker Johnson’s position," said North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis. "I think it’s a reasonable position.”The simmering clash between the Senate, House and Trump could be just the first of many to come. Trump has made clear he expects next year’s unified Republican Congress to give him broad leeway on his nominees, and has already been making some calls to senators.Cabinet nominees have traditionally provided a flood of paperwork to Senate committees ahead of their confirmation hearings, participating in background checks by the FBI and filling out lengthy questionnaires that probe every aspect of their lives and careers. But Trump’s transition has already signaled that it might not request the background checks and has so far declined to sign agreements with the White House and the Department of Justice to allow that process to begin.The documentation, including the criminal background checks and financial vetting, could be key for senators in both parties who have questions about Gaetz and some of Trump's other more controversial nominees, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gabbard-director-national-intelligence-466dfdfe2f949ea20bc2f4ef13e21438">Tulsi Gabbard</a>&nbsp;for director of national intelligence,&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/w">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;for secretary of Defense and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-jr-rfk-things-to-know-explained-who-is-hhs-5288a4a7277d1a0b4a7ede8f57a971ce">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;for secretary of Health and Human Services.In the absence of the traditional process, whether to proceed without an FBI background check would be up to individual committee chairs, who will be under tremendous pressure from Trump and his allies to move his nominees quickly. On Tuesday, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the incoming No. 2 Republican under Thune, said the Senate will begin hearings once Republicans take the majority on Jan. 3 and start holding confirmation votes once Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20.Republican senators say they will demand that documentation, but it’s unclear how that might work if Trump’s transition doesn’t consent to it.“I think that if they want a speedy consideration of this nomination we’ve got to have as much transparency as we can have,” said Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who will serve as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman next year. “Because you’ve heard my colleagues, especially on the Republican side, say that they have some questions.”Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, the incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he wants a traditional process involving the full FBI background check for Hegseth and the committee’s other nominees. “We should do it by the numbers,” Wicker said.Democrats are wary, though, that the process could get muddled, or curtailed, as Trump puts the full force of his pressure on Senate Republicans.“If there’s a cursory background check, like we call 20 people — that’s not going to be appropriate,” said Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the current chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee who will be the panel’s top Democrat next year.Meanwhile. Gaetz has already paid a visit to at least one group of potential allies, the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, where he outlined for the group “some of the things that that need to be done at the Department of Justice to end the weaponization,” said Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., the chairman of the Freedom Caucus.Among the ideas Gaetz discussed was “eliminating a lot of the senior staff," Harris said.As for the allegations of sexual misconduct against Gaetz, Harris dismissed them saying, “last time I looked, in America, you’re innocent until proven guilty.” He said he did not believe the House Ethics files on Gaetz should be released.“We think that the president deserves to get his selections approved for the cabinet, and Mr. Gaetz knows what to do to end the weaponization of the department," Harris said.Speaker Johnson also made clear his position Tuesday, telling reporters that the Senate should do its job and “sure, take a look, do a deep dive” and then move them along for confirmation so “the president has the team in place to do what the American people have elected him to do.”“I think President Trump is looking for persons who will shake up the status quo,” Johnson said. “And we got a mandate in this election cycle to do that.”

GOP senators divided on release of ethics report on Trump's AG pick

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The U.S. and some other Western embassies in Kyiv said that they would stay closed Wednesday for security reasons, with the American delegation saying it had received a warning of a potentially significant Russian air attack on the Ukrainian capital.

The precautionary step came after Russian officials promised a response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-long-range-weapons-russia-52d424158182de2044ecc8bfcf011f9c">President Joe Biden’s decision</a>&nbsp;to let Ukraine strike targets on Russian soil with U.S.-made missiles — a move that angered the Kremlin.

The U.S. Embassy said its closure and attack warning were issued in the context of ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and anticipated a quick return to regular operations.

The Italian and Greek embassies also shut to the public for the day, but the U.K. government said that its embassy remained open.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">The war</a>, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-f7f56e494df1dbbcdec1853001796c45">reached its 1,000-day milestone</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday, has taken on a growing international dimension with the arrival of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-north-korea-troops-c8cf9599591e50caf1c48a98b6841fe4">North Korean troops to help Russia</a>&nbsp;on the battlefield — a development which U.S. officials said prompted Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-biden-what-are-atacms-missiles-8d8621321af8c673bd42a5693c2ad1f4">policy shift</a>.

Russian President Vladimir Putin subsequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-nuclear-doctrine-putin-91f20e0c9b0f9e5eaa3ed97c35789898">lowered the threshold</a>&nbsp;for using his nuclear arsenal, with the new doctrine announced Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-nuclear-doctrine-putin-ukraine-war-b5ee115aa2099fa247f630e16da861d8">permitting a potential nuclear response</a>&nbsp;by Moscow even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power.

That could potentially include Ukrainian attacks backed by the U.S..

Western leaders dismissed the Russian move as an attempt to deter Ukraine’s allies from providing further support to Kyiv, but the escalating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-japan-china-3a2ce8be3c3743199782c3453053afaf">tension weighed on stock markets</a>&nbsp;after Ukraine used American-made ATACMS longer-range missiles&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-1000-days-attack-06002c8c50bfb2fc622f446a8580bc0e">for the first time</a>&nbsp;to strike a target inside Russia.

Western and Ukrainian officials say Russia been stockpiling powerful long-range missiles, possibly in an upcoming effort to crush the Ukrainian power grid as winter settles in.

Military analysts say the U.S. decision on the range over which American-made missiles can be used isn't expected to be a game-changer in the war, but it could help weaken the Russian war effort, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank.

“Ukrainian long-range strikes against military objects within Russia’s rear are crucial for degrading Russian military capabilities throughout the theater," it said.

Meanwhile, North Korea&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-ukraine-artillery-f16f8a95fc6b4314c52d4a9271c3632d">recently supplied additional artillery systems</a>&nbsp;to Russia, according to South Korea. It said that North Korean soldiers were assigned to Russia’s marine and airborne forces units and some of them have already begun fighting alongside the Russians on the front lines.

Ukraine struck a factory in Russia’s Belgorod region that makes cargo drones for the armed forces in an overnight attack, according to Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the counterdisinformation branch of Ukraine’s Security Council.

He also claimed Ukraine hit an arsenal in Russia’s Novgorod region, near the town of Kotovo, located about 680 kilometers (420 miles) behind the Ukrainian border. The arsenal stored artillery ammunition and various types of missiles, he said.

It wasn't possible to independently verify the claims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732108366016.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The U.S. and some other Western embassies in Kyiv said that they would stay closed Wednesday for security reasons, with the American delegation saying it had received a warning of a potentially significant Russian air attack on the Ukrainian capital.The precautionary step came after Russian officials promised a response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-long-range-weapons-russia-52d424158182de2044ecc8bfcf011f9c">President Joe Biden’s decision</a>&nbsp;to let Ukraine strike targets on Russian soil with U.S.-made missiles — a move that angered the Kremlin.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732108473088.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The U.S. Embassy said its closure and attack warning were issued in the context of ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and anticipated a quick return to regular operations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732108452778.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Italian and Greek embassies also shut to the public for the day, but the U.K. government said that its embassy remained open.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">The war</a>, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-f7f56e494df1dbbcdec1853001796c45">reached its 1,000-day milestone</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday, has taken on a growing international dimension with the arrival of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-north-korea-troops-c8cf9599591e50caf1c48a98b6841fe4">North Korean troops to help Russia</a>&nbsp;on the battlefield — a development which U.S. officials said prompted Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-biden-what-are-atacms-missiles-8d8621321af8c673bd42a5693c2ad1f4">policy shift</a>.Russian President Vladimir Putin subsequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-nuclear-doctrine-putin-91f20e0c9b0f9e5eaa3ed97c35789898">lowered the threshold</a>&nbsp;for using his nuclear arsenal, with the new doctrine announced Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-nuclear-doctrine-putin-ukraine-war-b5ee115aa2099fa247f630e16da861d8">permitting a potential nuclear response</a>&nbsp;by Moscow even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power.That could potentially include Ukrainian attacks backed by the U.S..Western leaders dismissed the Russian move as an attempt to deter Ukraine’s allies from providing further support to Kyiv, but the escalating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-japan-china-3a2ce8be3c3743199782c3453053afaf">tension weighed on stock markets</a>&nbsp;after Ukraine used American-made ATACMS longer-range missiles&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-1000-days-attack-06002c8c50bfb2fc622f446a8580bc0e">for the first time</a>&nbsp;to strike a target inside Russia.Western and Ukrainian officials say Russia been stockpiling powerful long-range missiles, possibly in an upcoming effort to crush the Ukrainian power grid as winter settles in.Military analysts say the U.S. decision on the range over which American-made missiles can be used isn't expected to be a game-changer in the war, but it could help weaken the Russian war effort, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank.“Ukrainian long-range strikes against military objects within Russia’s rear are crucial for degrading Russian military capabilities throughout the theater," it said.Meanwhile, North Korea&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-ukraine-artillery-f16f8a95fc6b4314c52d4a9271c3632d">recently supplied additional artillery systems</a>&nbsp;to Russia, according to South Korea. It said that North Korean soldiers were assigned to Russia’s marine and airborne forces units and some of them have already begun fighting alongside the Russians on the front lines.Ukraine struck a factory in Russia’s Belgorod region that makes cargo drones for the armed forces in an overnight attack, according to Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the counterdisinformation branch of Ukraine’s Security Council.He also claimed Ukraine hit an arsenal in Russia’s Novgorod region, near the town of Kotovo, located about 680 kilometers (420 miles) behind the Ukrainian border. The arsenal stored artillery ammunition and various types of missiles, he said.It wasn't possible to independently verify the claims.___

Potential significant air attack: U.S. closes Kyiv Embassy

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The wife of a newly elected Sedgwick County Commissioner is accused of electioneering.

On Tuesday afternoon, the State v. Meghan Blubaugh was e-filed in Sedgwick County District Court, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The Complaint alleges one count of Electioneering in violation of K.S.A. 25-2430(a)(1)(A)(d), a class A misdemeanor, alleged to have occurred on October 29, 2024 and includes "wearing, displaying, or distributing materials that clearly identify a candidate and influence voters at a polling place."

Meghan Blubaugh is scheduled to make a first appearance in court on December 17, according to the district attorney's office.

Republican Jeff Blubaugh won the race for District 2 seat on the commission against incumbent Sedgwick County Commissioner Sarah Lopez.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732103072923.png" alt="Jeff Blubaugh photo from his campaign website" />
 <figcaption>Jeff Blubaugh photo from his campaign website</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The wife of a newly elected Sedgwick County Commissioner is accused of electioneering.On Tuesday afternoon, the State v. Meghan Blubaugh was e-filed in Sedgwick County District Court, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;The Complaint alleges one count of Electioneering in violation of K.S.A. 25-2430(a)(1)(A)(d), a class A misdemeanor, alleged to have occurred on October 29, 2024 and includes "wearing, displaying, or distributing materials that clearly identify a candidate and influence voters at a polling place."Meghan Blubaugh is scheduled to make a first appearance in court on December 17, according to the district attorney's office.Republican Jeff Blubaugh won the race for District 2 seat on the commission against incumbent Sedgwick County Commissioner Sarah Lopez.

Wife of county commissioner-elect accused of electioneering

JACKSON COUNTY— A child waiting for a school bus was injured in an accident on Tuesday in the Jackson County community of Grain Valley, approximately 20 minutes east of Kansas City.

The accident occurred early Tuesday on Woodbury Road, west of Buckner Tarsney when a vehicle left the roadway and struck the juvenile pedestrian, according to a social media report from Grain Valley Police.

EMS transported the child&nbsp; to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment. The driver remained on scene and was cooperating with the investigation.

Police are working closely with the Grain Valley School District to "investigate the accident, ensure the family is receiving support, and taking care of the students who may have found themselves navigating their emotions."&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

JACKSON COUNTY— A child waiting for a school bus was injured in an accident on Tuesday in the Jackson County community of Grain Valley, approximately 20 minutes east of Kansas City.The accident occurred early Tuesday on Woodbury Road, west of Buckner Tarsney when a vehicle left the roadway and struck the juvenile pedestrian, according to a social media report from Grain Valley Police.EMS transported the child&nbsp; to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment. The driver remained on scene and was cooperating with the investigation.Police are working closely with the Grain Valley School District to "investigate the accident, ensure the family is receiving support, and taking care of the students who may have found themselves navigating their emotions."&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

Police: Vehicle struck child waiting at Kansas City area school bus stop

WICHITA COUNTY —For the second time this week, a semi hauling a section of wind turbine tower lost its load and the incident shut down the roadway.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas 96 near Leoti in Wichita County was reduced to one lane due to an oversized load rollover.&nbsp; KDOT had crews on-site flagging traffic through the scene.

On Monday, Kansas 156 highway east of Jetmore between U.S. 283 and U.S. 183 (4 miles east of the Rozel area)was closed after a trailer lost an oversized load wind turbine tower section, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

As a result Hodgeman County Schools were closed Tuesday, according to a social media report from USD 227.&nbsp;

Officials were forced to use a crane to remove it from under the transmission line, according to the Hodgeman County Sheriff.&nbsp; Kansas 156 reopened just after 4p.m. Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732071879378.png" alt="Photo KDOT" />
 <figcaption>Photo KDOT</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA COUNTY —For the second time this week, a semi hauling a section of wind turbine tower lost its load and the incident shut down the roadway.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732072179297.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas 96 near Leoti in Wichita County was reduced to one lane due to an oversized load rollover.&nbsp; KDOT had crews on-site flagging traffic through the scene.On Monday, Kansas 156 highway east of Jetmore between U.S. 283 and U.S. 183 (4 miles east of the Rozel area)was closed after a trailer lost an oversized load wind turbine tower section, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732072370055.png" alt="Photo Hodgeman Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Hodgeman Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>As a result Hodgeman County Schools were closed Tuesday, according to a social media report from USD 227.&nbsp;Officials were forced to use a crane to remove it from under the transmission line, according to the Hodgeman County Sheriff.&nbsp; Kansas 156 reopened just after 4p.m. Tuesday.

2nd semi hauling wind turbine tower lost load in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will send Ukraine at least $275 million in new weapons, U.S. officials said Tuesday, as the Biden administration rushes to do as much as it can to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-biden-what-are-atacms-missiles-8d8621321af8c673bd42a5693c2ad1f4">help Kyiv fight back against Russia</a>&nbsp;before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President-elect Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;takes office.

The latest tranche of weapons comes as worries grow about an escalation in the conflict, with both sides pushing to gain any advantage that they can exploit if Trump demands a quick end to the war — as he has vowed to do.

In rapid succession this week, President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-long-range-weapons-russia-52d424158182de2044ecc8bfcf011f9c">authority to fire longer-range missiles</a>&nbsp;deeper into Russia and then Russian President Vladimir Putin formally lowered the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-nuclear-doctrine-putin-91f20e0c9b0f9e5eaa3ed97c35789898">threshold for using nuclear weapons</a>.

U.S. officials contend that Russia’s change in nuclear doctrine was expected, but Moscow is warning that Ukraine’s new use of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-1000-days-attack-06002c8c50bfb2fc622f446a8580bc0e">Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS</a>, inside Russia on Tuesday could trigger a strong response.

One American official said the U.S. is seeing no indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine. The U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the aid package has not yet been made public.

Asked Tuesday if a Ukrainian attack with longer-range U.S. missiles could potentially trigger use of nuclear weapons, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov answered affirmatively.

A U.S. official said Ukraine fired about eight ATACM missiles into Russia on Tuesday, and just two were intercepted. The official said the U.S. is still assessing the damage but that the missiles struck an ammunition supply location in Karachev, in the Bryansk region.

The weapons in the new package of aid for Ukraine include an infusion of air defense, including High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, Javelin anti-armor munitions and other equipment and spare parts, U.S. officials say.

The weapons will be provided through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-funding-russia-war-congress-delay-8367ea60d9ed2740a6f097aa58ff2f10">presidential drawdown authority</a>, which allows the Pentagon quickly to pull supplies from its shelves to speed them to Ukraine’s front line.

Trump’s upcoming move to the White House has triggered a scramble by the Biden administration to ensure all the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-ukraine-aid-tiktok-senate-8fe738b17e5c4b2636bc0de11b2620b7">congressionally approved funding for Ukraine</a>&nbsp;gets delivered and that Kyiv is in a strong position going into the winter.

The Biden administration would have to rush $7.1 billion in weapons from the Pentagon’s stockpiles to spend all of those funds before Trump is sworn in. That includes $4.3 billion from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-funding-russia-war-congress-delay-8367ea60d9ed2740a6f097aa58ff2f10">foreign aid bill passed by Congress</a>&nbsp;earlier this year and $2.8 billion still on the books in savings due to the Pentagon recalculating the value of systems sent.

Asked if the department can get that done before Jan. 20, when Trump takes office, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said officials are working to get Ukraine what it needs. She would not confirm the latest drawdown totals.

“We are committed to using that full authority that Congress has allotted to us,” Singh said. “The only way we can do that also is to make sure that our shelves are fully backfilled and stocked. So as our shelves continue to get stocked with equipment and capabilities that are needed, we draw down from those and send those to Ukraine.”

In addition to the weapons in the Pentagon drawdown, the State Department said Tuesday that it had authorized the sale to Ukraine of $100 million in unspecified defense equipment and services, including vehicle refurbishment, technical assistance, training and “other related elements of logistics and program support.” In contrast to the drawdown, the government of Ukraine will pay for these.

As part of the wider effort to boost Ukraine, the administration also is on track to disperse its portion of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-frozen-assets-g7-loan-billion-37e9c0ec55e0c3ad0bf8d906e2852e69">$50 billion loan to Ukraine</a>, backed by frozen Russian assets, before Biden leaves the White House, according to two senior administration officials.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly, said the U.S. and Ukraine are now in “advanced stages” in discussing terms of the loan and are looking to complete the process for the $20 billion portion of the mammoth loan that the U.S. is backing.

The goal is to get it done before the end of the year, one official said. The remaining $30 billion will come from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan, among others.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-ukraine-russia-trump-harris-white-house-ff4edf4a804eedae5958d3a674c5c2d1">Trump has criticized U.S. support for Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and derided Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “salesman” while also praising Putin and touting his good relationship with him. The president-elect has claimed — without explaining how — that he will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ukraine-putin-zelenskyy-0f4d539aa73a943474d779716e5fe42a">end the war in in Ukraine</a>&nbsp;before his inauguration on Jan. 20, saying he will “get it resolved very quickly.”

Last week, when he addressed supporters from a golden ballroom at a his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump returned to that pledge but again offered little information before changing the subject.

“We’re going to work very hard on Russia and Ukraine. It’s got to stop. Russia and Ukraine’s gotta stop,” he said.

He has suggested that Ukraine give up at least some of its Russian-occupied territory to settle the war, saying at a rally in late September that “if they made a bad deal, it would’ve been much better. They would’ve given up a little bit and everybody would be living and every building would be built and every tower would be aging for another 2,000 years.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726238871572.png" alt="File photo White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>BY LOLITA C. BALDOR AND MATTHEW LEEWASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will send Ukraine at least $275 million in new weapons, U.S. officials said Tuesday, as the Biden administration rushes to do as much as it can to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-biden-what-are-atacms-missiles-8d8621321af8c673bd42a5693c2ad1f4">help Kyiv fight back against Russia</a>&nbsp;before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President-elect Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;takes office.The latest tranche of weapons comes as worries grow about an escalation in the conflict, with both sides pushing to gain any advantage that they can exploit if Trump demands a quick end to the war — as he has vowed to do.In rapid succession this week, President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-long-range-weapons-russia-52d424158182de2044ecc8bfcf011f9c">authority to fire longer-range missiles</a>&nbsp;deeper into Russia and then Russian President Vladimir Putin formally lowered the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-nuclear-doctrine-putin-91f20e0c9b0f9e5eaa3ed97c35789898">threshold for using nuclear weapons</a>.U.S. officials contend that Russia’s change in nuclear doctrine was expected, but Moscow is warning that Ukraine’s new use of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-1000-days-attack-06002c8c50bfb2fc622f446a8580bc0e">Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS</a>, inside Russia on Tuesday could trigger a strong response.One American official said the U.S. is seeing no indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine. The U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the aid package has not yet been made public.Asked Tuesday if a Ukrainian attack with longer-range U.S. missiles could potentially trigger use of nuclear weapons, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov answered affirmatively.A U.S. official said Ukraine fired about eight ATACM missiles into Russia on Tuesday, and just two were intercepted. The official said the U.S. is still assessing the damage but that the missiles struck an ammunition supply location in Karachev, in the Bryansk region.The weapons in the new package of aid for Ukraine include an infusion of air defense, including High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, Javelin anti-armor munitions and other equipment and spare parts, U.S. officials say.The weapons will be provided through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-funding-russia-war-congress-delay-8367ea60d9ed2740a6f097aa58ff2f10">presidential drawdown authority</a>, which allows the Pentagon quickly to pull supplies from its shelves to speed them to Ukraine’s front line.Trump’s upcoming move to the White House has triggered a scramble by the Biden administration to ensure all the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-ukraine-aid-tiktok-senate-8fe738b17e5c4b2636bc0de11b2620b7">congressionally approved funding for Ukraine</a>&nbsp;gets delivered and that Kyiv is in a strong position going into the winter.The Biden administration would have to rush $7.1 billion in weapons from the Pentagon’s stockpiles to spend all of those funds before Trump is sworn in. That includes $4.3 billion from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-funding-russia-war-congress-delay-8367ea60d9ed2740a6f097aa58ff2f10">foreign aid bill passed by Congress</a>&nbsp;earlier this year and $2.8 billion still on the books in savings due to the Pentagon recalculating the value of systems sent.Asked if the department can get that done before Jan. 20, when Trump takes office, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said officials are working to get Ukraine what it needs. She would not confirm the latest drawdown totals.“We are committed to using that full authority that Congress has allotted to us,” Singh said. “The only way we can do that also is to make sure that our shelves are fully backfilled and stocked. So as our shelves continue to get stocked with equipment and capabilities that are needed, we draw down from those and send those to Ukraine.”In addition to the weapons in the Pentagon drawdown, the State Department said Tuesday that it had authorized the sale to Ukraine of $100 million in unspecified defense equipment and services, including vehicle refurbishment, technical assistance, training and “other related elements of logistics and program support.” In contrast to the drawdown, the government of Ukraine will pay for these.As part of the wider effort to boost Ukraine, the administration also is on track to disperse its portion of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-frozen-assets-g7-loan-billion-37e9c0ec55e0c3ad0bf8d906e2852e69">$50 billion loan to Ukraine</a>, backed by frozen Russian assets, before Biden leaves the White House, according to two senior administration officials.The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly, said the U.S. and Ukraine are now in “advanced stages” in discussing terms of the loan and are looking to complete the process for the $20 billion portion of the mammoth loan that the U.S. is backing.The goal is to get it done before the end of the year, one official said. The remaining $30 billion will come from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan, among others.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-ukraine-russia-trump-harris-white-house-ff4edf4a804eedae5958d3a674c5c2d1">Trump has criticized U.S. support for Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and derided Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “salesman” while also praising Putin and touting his good relationship with him. The president-elect has claimed — without explaining how — that he will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ukraine-putin-zelenskyy-0f4d539aa73a943474d779716e5fe42a">end the war in in Ukraine</a>&nbsp;before his inauguration on Jan. 20, saying he will “get it resolved very quickly.”Last week, when he addressed supporters from a golden ballroom at a his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump returned to that pledge but again offered little information before changing the subject.“We’re going to work very hard on Russia and Ukraine. It’s got to stop. Russia and Ukraine’s gotta stop,” he said.He has suggested that Ukraine give up at least some of its Russian-occupied territory to settle the war, saying at a rally in late September that “if they made a bad deal, it would’ve been much better. They would’ve given up a little bit and everybody would be living and every building would be built and every tower would be aging for another 2,000 years.”<h2>____</h2>

US spending another $275 million on new weapons for Ukraine

GEARY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Tuesday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Subaru Outback driven by April M.&nbsp;Kulczyk, 45, Junction City, was northbound on U.S. 77 in west-central Junction City.

The SUV crossed the center line and struck a 2009 Infiniti G37 driven by Kaleb M&nbsp;Jones-Bransford, 21, Ponca City, Oklahoma.

After impact, the SUV continued northbound, again crossing the center line and colliding head-on with a 2019 Ford Fusion driven by&nbsp; Bradley S. Linton, 56, Enterprise.

&nbsp;After the second collision, the Ford came to rest in the west ditch while the Subaru came to rest in the northbound lane of traffic. The Infiniti traveled into the west ditch and struck a guardrail.

Linton was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Johnson's Funeral Home. EMS transported Kulczyk to&nbsp;Stormont-Vail Healthcare in Topeka. Jones-Bransford was not injured. All three drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

GEARY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Tuesday in Geary County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Subaru Outback driven by April M.&nbsp;Kulczyk, 45, Junction City, was northbound on U.S. 77 in west-central Junction City.The SUV crossed the center line and struck a 2009 Infiniti G37 driven by Kaleb M&nbsp;Jones-Bransford, 21, Ponca City, Oklahoma.After impact, the SUV continued northbound, again crossing the center line and colliding head-on with a 2019 Ford Fusion driven by&nbsp; Bradley S. Linton, 56, Enterprise.&nbsp;After the second collision, the Ford came to rest in the west ditch while the Subaru came to rest in the northbound lane of traffic. The Infiniti traveled into the west ditch and struck a guardrail.Linton was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Johnson's Funeral Home. EMS transported Kulczyk to&nbsp;Stormont-Vail Healthcare in Topeka. Jones-Bransford was not injured. All three drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dead, woman injured in 3-vehicle crash

KANSAS CITY —A Jackson County judge last week sentenced a Kansas City man to 23 years in prison for his actions in a March 2013 fatal shooting of Abdullahi Yussuf in a vehicle driven by the defendant, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Ibrahim Abdikarim Sharif Ahmed, 39, was sentenced to 18 years after he pleaded guilty to Murder in the 2nd Degree and 5 years after he pleaded guilty to Armed Criminal Action. The judge on Friday set the sentences to run consecutively for a total of 23 years in prison. The defendant entered an Alford plea due to his intoxication at the time of the crime.

According to court records, Kansas City Police Department officers were dispatched late on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, to the area of Independence and Garfield avenues in Kansas City, where witnesses told police that a Dodge Challenger or Charger had driven down Independence Avenue when the driver shoved someone out of the vehicle in motion. 

The victim was Abdullahi Yussuf who was pronounced deceased at an area hospital. KCPD analysts matched the Dodge vehicle's license plate to the defendant. Officers took defendant into custody. A witness told police she was in the vehicle during the shooting. She heard shots from inside the car and observed the victim with blood on his face. While driving the defendant told the witness to get the victim out of the vehicle. The witness later notified police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679153467691.png" alt="Ahmed photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ahmed photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Jackson County judge last week sentenced a Kansas City man to 23 years in prison for his actions in a March 2013 fatal shooting of Abdullahi Yussuf in a vehicle driven by the defendant, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Ibrahim Abdikarim Sharif Ahmed, 39, was sentenced to 18 years after he pleaded guilty to Murder in the 2nd Degree and 5 years after he pleaded guilty to Armed Criminal Action. The judge on Friday set the sentences to run consecutively for a total of 23 years in prison. The defendant entered an Alford plea due to his intoxication at the time of the crime.According to court records, Kansas City Police Department officers were dispatched late on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, to the area of Independence and Garfield avenues in Kansas City, where witnesses told police that a Dodge Challenger or Charger had driven down Independence Avenue when the driver shoved someone out of the vehicle in motion. The victim was Abdullahi Yussuf who was pronounced deceased at an area hospital. KCPD analysts matched the Dodge vehicle's license plate to the defendant. Officers took defendant into custody. A witness told police she was in the vehicle during the shooting. She heard shots from inside the car and observed the victim with blood on his face. While driving the defendant told the witness to get the victim out of the vehicle. The witness later notified police.

Witness: Kansas City man shot, pushed victim out of moving car

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations

Just after 11:00p.m. on Monday an officer on patrol in Atchison observed 34-year-old Cinnamon Cash walking in the area of 10th and Main Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

&nbsp; She was taken into custody on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court. She was subsequently found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. She was taken to the County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732022198302.png" alt="Cash photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Cash photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegationsJust after 11:00p.m. on Monday an officer on patrol in Atchison observed 34-year-old Cinnamon Cash walking in the area of 10th and Main Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; She was taken into custody on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court. She was subsequently found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. She was taken to the County Jail.

Kan. woman who skipped court caught with methamphetamine

Lawsuit alleges Kanakuk Ministries and ACE American Insurance Company lied to conceal former director’s abuse

BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

OZARK — Attorneys argued about culpability in Christian County Circuit Court Monday morning in a lawsuit involving a Branson-area Christian summer camp accused of conspiring with its insurer to trick a family into signing a non-disclosure agreement by concealing prior knowledge of sexual misconduct.

Logan Yandell, a survivor of sexual abuse by Kanakuk Ministries’ former camp director,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/22/former-camper-suing-missouri-based-kanakuk-kamps-claiming-fraudulent-abuse-settlement/">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in 2022 alleging misstatements by the camp’s CEO led his parents to sign a settlement and non-disclosure agreement for $250,000 that they otherwise would have continued to fight.

Yandell’s attorney, Reed Martens, told Judge Raymond Gross on Monday that his client’s parents signed a release in December of 2010 under pressure from Kanakuk CEO Joe White, who was their family friend.

During a call in September of 2009, Martens said, the Yandell family asked White if he knew of other abuse allegations involving former Kanakuk camp director Peter Newman. He allegedly said “nothing has been on (the camp’s) radar with (Newman),” but an<a href="https://factsaboutkanakuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Yandell-Petition.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;affidavit</a>&nbsp;by Newman’s former supervisor disclosed that the camp had been aware of misconduct as early as 1999.

The lawsuit also names ACE American Insurance Company as a defendant, arguing it influenced the camp’s decision to conceal information.

Gross asked if there was “correspondence of any kind” between the camp and ACE prior to White’s phone call with the Yandells.

David Mayer, who is also representing Yandell, said the insurance company was aware of abuse allegations “in March or April” prior to the call.

White testified that he did not speak to ACE before the alleged misstatement, said Manuel Mungia, an attorney for ACE, and the company wasn’t even notified of the statement.

“There is no evidence that ACE was aware of a fraudulent statement,” he said.

Yandell’s attorneys provided evidence of the company attempting to influence White months later when the camp drafted a letter to send to 8,000 families outlining what it knew about Newman.

ACE, in response, “strongly recommended not to send the letter” and sent a reservation of rights letter, which could exempt the company from covering related legal matters, Martens said.

So the email remained unreleased. This lawsuit has unearthed the draft and ACE’s response to the camp, Martens said, and it “gives rise to the concealment and conspiracy.”

Another matter Gross will have to consider is whether media reports of Newman’s arrest could nullify the case under the statute of limitations for fraud.

In Missouri, claims must be brought within five years of discovering the fraud, and victims have 10 years for discovery.

Bryan Wade, an attorney for Kanakuk, said there were court cases and news articles published over five years ago that the Yandell family had access to. Access to the information, he argued, is the same as knowledge, according to other cases.

Yandell’s parents didn’t have the responsibility to seek out the other court cases or media reports, Marten said, because of their close personal relationship with White. He said because their friend had “superior knowledge of the facts,” they were exempt from ordinary standards of diligence.

Another survivor of Newman’s abuse, in a deposition, told attorneys that he, White and Yandell discussed Newman’s misconduct years ago, Wade said. Importantly, Yandell is the case’s plaintiff — not his parents.

But Yandell’s parents told attorneys their discovery of the allegations of abuse was in 2021, when a<a href="https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/frenchpress/they-arent-who-you-think-they-are/" target="_blank">&nbsp;national news article</a>&nbsp;labeled Kanakuk’s situation the “worst Christian sex abuse scandal.”

If Gross accepts that 2021 is the year of discovery, the case is still within the statute of limitations.

He told attorneys his goal is to submit his judgment “by the end of the year,” though he had a large workload.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732026482190.png" alt=" Attorneys representing Kanakuk Ministries and a survivor of abuse by the Christian summer camp's former director argued for summary judgment in a fraud case at Christian County Justice Center Monday morning (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Attorneys representing Kanakuk Ministries and a survivor of abuse by the Christian summer camp's former director argued for summary judgment in a fraud case at Christian County Justice Center Monday morning (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Lawsuit alleges Kanakuk Ministries and ACE American Insurance Company lied to conceal former director’s abuse</h2>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>OZARK — Attorneys argued about culpability in Christian County Circuit Court Monday morning in a lawsuit involving a Branson-area Christian summer camp accused of conspiring with its insurer to trick a family into signing a non-disclosure agreement by concealing prior knowledge of sexual misconduct.Logan Yandell, a survivor of sexual abuse by Kanakuk Ministries’ former camp director,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/22/former-camper-suing-missouri-based-kanakuk-kamps-claiming-fraudulent-abuse-settlement/">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in 2022 alleging misstatements by the camp’s CEO led his parents to sign a settlement and non-disclosure agreement for $250,000 that they otherwise would have continued to fight.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732026447363.png" alt="Logan Yandell in 2003, the year he began attending Kanakuk summer camp (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption>Logan Yandell in 2003, the year he began attending Kanakuk summer camp (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>Yandell’s attorney, Reed Martens, told Judge Raymond Gross on Monday that his client’s parents signed a release in December of 2010 under pressure from Kanakuk CEO Joe White, who was their family friend.During a call in September of 2009, Martens said, the Yandell family asked White if he knew of other abuse allegations involving former Kanakuk camp director Peter Newman. He allegedly said “nothing has been on (the camp’s) radar with (Newman),” but an<a href="https://factsaboutkanakuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Yandell-Petition.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;affidavit</a>&nbsp;by Newman’s former supervisor disclosed that the camp had been aware of misconduct as early as 1999.The lawsuit also names ACE American Insurance Company as a defendant, arguing it influenced the camp’s decision to conceal information.Gross asked if there was “correspondence of any kind” between the camp and ACE prior to White’s phone call with the Yandells.David Mayer, who is also representing Yandell, said the insurance company was aware of abuse allegations “in March or April” prior to the call.White testified that he did not speak to ACE before the alleged misstatement, said Manuel Mungia, an attorney for ACE, and the company wasn’t even notified of the statement.“There is no evidence that ACE was aware of a fraudulent statement,” he said.Yandell’s attorneys provided evidence of the company attempting to influence White months later when the camp drafted a letter to send to 8,000 families outlining what it knew about Newman.ACE, in response, “strongly recommended not to send the letter” and sent a reservation of rights letter, which could exempt the company from covering related legal matters, Martens said.So the email remained unreleased. This lawsuit has unearthed the draft and ACE’s response to the camp, Martens said, and it “gives rise to the concealment and conspiracy.”Another matter Gross will have to consider is whether media reports of Newman’s arrest could nullify the case under the statute of limitations for fraud.In Missouri, claims must be brought within five years of discovering the fraud, and victims have 10 years for discovery.Bryan Wade, an attorney for Kanakuk, said there were court cases and news articles published over five years ago that the Yandell family had access to. Access to the information, he argued, is the same as knowledge, according to other cases.Yandell’s parents didn’t have the responsibility to seek out the other court cases or media reports, Marten said, because of their close personal relationship with White. He said because their friend had “superior knowledge of the facts,” they were exempt from ordinary standards of diligence.Another survivor of Newman’s abuse, in a deposition, told attorneys that he, White and Yandell discussed Newman’s misconduct years ago, Wade said. Importantly, Yandell is the case’s plaintiff — not his parents.But Yandell’s parents told attorneys their discovery of the allegations of abuse was in 2021, when a<a href="https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/frenchpress/they-arent-who-you-think-they-are/" target="_blank">&nbsp;national news article</a>&nbsp;labeled Kanakuk’s situation the “worst Christian sex abuse scandal.”If Gross accepts that 2021 is the year of discovery, the case is still within the statute of limitations.He told attorneys his goal is to submit his judgment “by the end of the year,” though he had a large workload.The case is set for trial in July 2025.

Judge weighs whether Missouri-based Kanakuk defrauded abuse survivor’s family

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has promised to provide more hospital beds for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3df19ed1b2db0247cff89f62c2020e1b">mentally ill criminal defendants</a>&nbsp;to settle a federal lawsuit filed over defendants waiting months for evaluations of whether they were fit for a trial.

The agreement between state officials and representatives of five defendants requires the state to “use its best efforts”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kdads.ks.gov/state-hospitals/south-central-regional-psychiatric-hospital">to open a new psychiatric hospital</a>&nbsp;by January 2027 in Wichita, the state's largest city. Officials also must seek funding from the Kansas Legislature to reopen a previously closed 30-bed unit at its psychiatric hospital in Larned in western Kansas, about 130 miles (209 kilometers) northwest of Wichita.

The agreement was announced this week by the two groups pursuing the lawsuit, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the National Police Accountability Project, based in the Seattle area. The groups sued in 2022 on behalf of attorneys for four defendants and the mother of a fifth. The accused were identified only by their initials.

The state operates two psychiatric hospitals, but only the one in Larned has a unit for evaluating whether mentally ill criminal defendants can understand their cases and participate in their own defense. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Larned State Hospital has had fewer than 80 beds for defendants awaiting evaluation.

The state Department for Aging and Disability Services, which runs the Larned facility, acknowledged before the lawsuit was filed that defendants were waiting an average of about 11 months to be evaluated. The lawsuit said defendants remained in county jails that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mental-health-kansas-lawrence-d3ede575eff20302e7fc0b5ad4006c72">weren't providing adequate treatment</a>, making the inmates' conditions worse and violating their rights. The lawsuit also said the state was violating the federal Americans with Disabilities Act by discriminating against people with mental health problems.

“This settlement is more than a legal agreement; it’s a lifeline for those who have been lost in the system, a promise that their dignity and humanity will no longer be ignored,” said Lauren Bonds, the police accountability group's executive director.

One of the five defendants covered by the lawsuit had been held in a county jail for 13 months facing criminal threat charges when the lawsuit was filed. That's longer than the maximum prison sentence for a conviction on that charge.

“Remaining in the jail environment is devastating and deeply harmful even for those whose mental health is not in question, and condemning Kansans to languish across the state in their county jails was contradictory to our values of justice," said Monica Bennett, the ACLU of Kansas' legal director.

State officials argued that they already had been addressing the long waits. The state began having Larned State Hospital officials operate a mobile evaluation unit in 2019; and in 2022, the Legislature passed a law to allow other qualified hospitals and organizations to examine criminal defendants.

The state and Wichita's home county hope to start construction early next year on a secure, $101.5 million psychiatric hospital with 104 beds, half of them set aside for the state. Federal COVID-19 relief dollars provided part of the funding.

KDADS spokesperson Cara Sloan-Ramos said the department and Gov. Laura Kelly are committed to reducing wait times.

Republican state Rep. Stephen Owens, chair of the House committee handling criminal justice issues, was pleased that the state could settle the lawsuit.

“We’ve certainly been aware of this issue and have been working on solutions," Owens said Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575316797715.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has promised to provide more hospital beds for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3df19ed1b2db0247cff89f62c2020e1b">mentally ill criminal defendants</a>&nbsp;to settle a federal lawsuit filed over defendants waiting months for evaluations of whether they were fit for a trial.The agreement between state officials and representatives of five defendants requires the state to “use its best efforts”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kdads.ks.gov/state-hospitals/south-central-regional-psychiatric-hospital">to open a new psychiatric hospital</a>&nbsp;by January 2027 in Wichita, the state's largest city. Officials also must seek funding from the Kansas Legislature to reopen a previously closed 30-bed unit at its psychiatric hospital in Larned in western Kansas, about 130 miles (209 kilometers) northwest of Wichita.The agreement was announced this week by the two groups pursuing the lawsuit, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the National Police Accountability Project, based in the Seattle area. The groups sued in 2022 on behalf of attorneys for four defendants and the mother of a fifth. The accused were identified only by their initials.The state operates two psychiatric hospitals, but only the one in Larned has a unit for evaluating whether mentally ill criminal defendants can understand their cases and participate in their own defense. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Larned State Hospital has had fewer than 80 beds for defendants awaiting evaluation.The state Department for Aging and Disability Services, which runs the Larned facility, acknowledged before the lawsuit was filed that defendants were waiting an average of about 11 months to be evaluated. The lawsuit said defendants remained in county jails that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mental-health-kansas-lawrence-d3ede575eff20302e7fc0b5ad4006c72">weren't providing adequate treatment</a>, making the inmates' conditions worse and violating their rights. The lawsuit also said the state was violating the federal Americans with Disabilities Act by discriminating against people with mental health problems.“This settlement is more than a legal agreement; it’s a lifeline for those who have been lost in the system, a promise that their dignity and humanity will no longer be ignored,” said Lauren Bonds, the police accountability group's executive director.One of the five defendants covered by the lawsuit had been held in a county jail for 13 months facing criminal threat charges when the lawsuit was filed. That's longer than the maximum prison sentence for a conviction on that charge.“Remaining in the jail environment is devastating and deeply harmful even for those whose mental health is not in question, and condemning Kansans to languish across the state in their county jails was contradictory to our values of justice," said Monica Bennett, the ACLU of Kansas' legal director.State officials argued that they already had been addressing the long waits. The state began having Larned State Hospital officials operate a mobile evaluation unit in 2019; and in 2022, the Legislature passed a law to allow other qualified hospitals and organizations to examine criminal defendants.The state and Wichita's home county hope to start construction early next year on a secure, $101.5 million psychiatric hospital with 104 beds, half of them set aside for the state. Federal COVID-19 relief dollars provided part of the funding.KDADS spokesperson Cara Sloan-Ramos said the department and Gov. Laura Kelly are committed to reducing wait times.Republican state Rep. Stephen Owens, chair of the House committee handling criminal justice issues, was pleased that the state could settle the lawsuit.“We’ve certainly been aware of this issue and have been working on solutions," Owens said Tuesday.

Kansas agrees to increase hospital beds for mentally ill defendants

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are seeking information about a sexual assault and theft that occurred Tuesday morning.

The incident occurred&nbsp; just after 2:30a.m. in a home near W. 97th Street and Reeder in Overland Park, according to Overland Park Police Officer John Lacy.

The victim did not know the suspect but was able to provide a description. The suspect is stocky build, clean-shaven, late twenties to early thirties man. He was last seen wearing a black jacket with a black beanie-style cap. 

EMS transported the victim to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. If you have any information to assist with this investigation, please contact the Overland Park Police Department at 913-890-1413.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732041800750.png" alt="Photo Overland Park Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Overland Park Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are seeking information about a sexual assault and theft that occurred Tuesday morning.The incident occurred&nbsp; just after 2:30a.m. in a home near W. 97th Street and Reeder in Overland Park, according to Overland Park Police Officer John Lacy.The victim did not know the suspect but was able to provide a description. The suspect is stocky build, clean-shaven, late twenties to early thirties man. He was last seen wearing a black jacket with a black beanie-style cap. EMS transported the victim to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. If you have any information to assist with this investigation, please contact the Overland Park Police Department at 913-890-1413.&nbsp;

Police investigating sex assault, theft at Kansas home

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday tapped Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former television talk show host and heart surgeon, to head the agency that oversees health insurance programs for millions of older, poor and disabled Americans and selected Wall Street executive Howard Lutnick to lead the Commerce Department.

“Dr. Oz will be a leader in incentivizing Disease Prevention, so we get the best results in the World for every dollar we spend on Healthcare in our Great Country,” Trump said in a statement. “He will also cut waste and fraud within our Country’s most expensive Government Agency, which is a third of our Nation’s Healthcare spend, and a quarter of our entire National Budget.”

Oz, who ran a failed 2022 bid to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate, has been an outspoken support of Trump and in recent days expressed support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for the nation’s top health agency, the Department of Health and Human Services.

As the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Oz would report to Kennedy. If confirmed by the Senate, Oz would be responsible for the programs — Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act — that more than half the country relies on for health insurance. Medicaid provides nearly-free health care coverage to millions of the poorest children and adults in the U.S. while Medicare gives older Americans and the disabled access to health insurance. The Affordable Care Act is the Obama-era program that offers health insurance plans to millions of Americans who do not qualify for government-assisted health insurance, but do not get insurance through their employer.

“Americans need better research on healthy lifestyle choices from unbiased scientists, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/robertfkennedyjr/">@robertfkennedyjr</a>&nbsp;can help as HHS secretary,” Oz shared in a post on Instagram last week, along with a photo of him and Kennedy together.

Oz has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dr-mehmet-oz-political-career-2022-midterm-f6ecd9ac9f0e95cda41193adc13c8437">accused</a>&nbsp;of hawking dubious medical treatments and products on his defunct TV show. And during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hydroxychloroquine-covid-treatment-campaign-8f136d7e9dc52fd2d8da8854680d6004">pressured</a>&nbsp;government officials to make hydroxychloroquine widely available, despite unresolved questions about its safety and effectiveness.

Lutnick, meanwhile, will have a key role carrying out Trump's plan to raise and enforce tariffs as commerce secretary, Trump said on Tuesday. Lutnick is a cryptocurrency enthusiast and head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald.

Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. In the post, Trump said Lutnick “will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative."

Lutnick is a co-chair of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-transition-security-e9b282a5861c67573d19ad3667580448">Trump’s transition team</a>, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration.

The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial.

An advocate for imposing wide-ranging tariffs, Lutnick told CNBC in September that “tariffs are an amazing tool for the president to use — we need to protect the American worker." Trump on the campaign trail&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-taxes-imports-inflation-consumers-prices-c2eef295a078a76ce2bb7fedb0c5e58c">proposed a 60% tariff on goods from China</a>&nbsp;— and a tariff of up to 20% on everything else the United States imports.

Mainstream economists are generally skeptical of tariffs, considering them a mostly inefficient way for governments to raise money and promote prosperity.

Lutnick had been considered for treasury secretary, a role that has been at the center of high-profile jockeying within the Trump world. At the same time, the treasury position is closely watched in financial circles, where a disruptive nominee could have immediate negative consequences on the stock market, which Trump watches closely.

The news also comes after billionaire Elon Musk and others in Trump’s orbit called on Trump to dump previous front-runner for treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, in favor of Lutnick. Musk said in his post that “Bessent is a business-as-usual choice, whereas @howardlutnick will actually enact change.”

Lutnick joined Cantor Fitzgerald in 1983 and rose through the ranks to be appointed president and CEO in 1991.

Lutnick also chairs financial technology company BGC Group, Inc. and the commercial real estate services firm Newmark Group, Inc.

Lutnick has donated to both Democrats and Republicans in the past, and once appeared on Trump’s NBC reality show, “The Apprentice.” He has become a part of the president-elect’s inner circle, and has shared the stage with Trump at events in the closing days of his campaign, including a rally at Madison Square Garden.

He came under criticism in the campaign’s final days for an interview with CNN in which he repeated Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s debunked criticisms of vaccines.

— Associated Press writer Matthew Perrone in Washington contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732052071521.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday tapped Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former television talk show host and heart surgeon, to head the agency that oversees health insurance programs for millions of older, poor and disabled Americans and selected Wall Street executive Howard Lutnick to lead the Commerce Department.“Dr. Oz will be a leader in incentivizing Disease Prevention, so we get the best results in the World for every dollar we spend on Healthcare in our Great Country,” Trump said in a statement. “He will also cut waste and fraud within our Country’s most expensive Government Agency, which is a third of our Nation’s Healthcare spend, and a quarter of our entire National Budget.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732051989242.png" alt="Trump" />
 <figcaption>Trump</figcaption>
 </figure>Oz, who ran a failed 2022 bid to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate, has been an outspoken support of Trump and in recent days expressed support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for the nation’s top health agency, the Department of Health and Human Services.As the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Oz would report to Kennedy. If confirmed by the Senate, Oz would be responsible for the programs — Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act — that more than half the country relies on for health insurance. Medicaid provides nearly-free health care coverage to millions of the poorest children and adults in the U.S. while Medicare gives older Americans and the disabled access to health insurance. The Affordable Care Act is the Obama-era program that offers health insurance plans to millions of Americans who do not qualify for government-assisted health insurance, but do not get insurance through their employer.“Americans need better research on healthy lifestyle choices from unbiased scientists, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/robertfkennedyjr/">@robertfkennedyjr</a>&nbsp;can help as HHS secretary,” Oz shared in a post on Instagram last week, along with a photo of him and Kennedy together.Oz has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dr-mehmet-oz-political-career-2022-midterm-f6ecd9ac9f0e95cda41193adc13c8437">accused</a>&nbsp;of hawking dubious medical treatments and products on his defunct TV show. And during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hydroxychloroquine-covid-treatment-campaign-8f136d7e9dc52fd2d8da8854680d6004">pressured</a>&nbsp;government officials to make hydroxychloroquine widely available, despite unresolved questions about its safety and effectiveness.Lutnick, meanwhile, will have a key role carrying out Trump's plan to raise and enforce tariffs as commerce secretary, Trump said on Tuesday. Lutnick is a cryptocurrency enthusiast and head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald.Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. In the post, Trump said Lutnick “will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative."Lutnick is a co-chair of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-transition-security-e9b282a5861c67573d19ad3667580448">Trump’s transition team</a>, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration.The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial.An advocate for imposing wide-ranging tariffs, Lutnick told CNBC in September that “tariffs are an amazing tool for the president to use — we need to protect the American worker." Trump on the campaign trail&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-taxes-imports-inflation-consumers-prices-c2eef295a078a76ce2bb7fedb0c5e58c">proposed a 60% tariff on goods from China</a>&nbsp;— and a tariff of up to 20% on everything else the United States imports.Mainstream economists are generally skeptical of tariffs, considering them a mostly inefficient way for governments to raise money and promote prosperity.Lutnick had been considered for treasury secretary, a role that has been at the center of high-profile jockeying within the Trump world. At the same time, the treasury position is closely watched in financial circles, where a disruptive nominee could have immediate negative consequences on the stock market, which Trump watches closely.The news also comes after billionaire Elon Musk and others in Trump’s orbit called on Trump to dump previous front-runner for treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, in favor of Lutnick. Musk said in his post that “Bessent is a business-as-usual choice, whereas @howardlutnick will actually enact change.”Lutnick joined Cantor Fitzgerald in 1983 and rose through the ranks to be appointed president and CEO in 1991.Lutnick also chairs financial technology company BGC Group, Inc. and the commercial real estate services firm Newmark Group, Inc.Lutnick has donated to both Democrats and Republicans in the past, and once appeared on Trump’s NBC reality show, “The Apprentice.” He has become a part of the president-elect’s inner circle, and has shared the stage with Trump at events in the closing days of his campaign, including a rally at Madison Square Garden.He came under criticism in the campaign’s final days for an interview with CNN in which he repeated Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s debunked criticisms of vaccines.— Associated Press writer Matthew Perrone in Washington contributed.

Trump chooses TV doctor to lead Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine fired several American-supplied longer-range missiles into Russia, officials said Tuesday, marking the first time Kyiv used the weapons that way in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-1000-days-ade5a60cf2345d694871f85df162d08a">1,000 days of war</a>.

The use of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-biden-what-are-atacms-missiles-8d8621321af8c673bd42a5693c2ad1f4">Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS</a>, came as Russian President Vladimir Putin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-nuclear-doctrine-putin-91f20e0c9b0f9e5eaa3ed97c35789898">formally lowered the threshold</a>&nbsp;for using nuclear weapons, opening the door to a potential nuclear response by Moscow to even a conventional attack by any nation supported by a nuclear power. That could include Ukrainian attacks backed by the U.S.

A Telegram channel affiliated with the Ukrainian military posted a video Tuesday that it says shows U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles being fired from an undisclosed location in Ukraine. The Associated Press could not independently verify the date and location the video was filmed.

According to a U.S. official, Ukraine fired about eight of the missiles, and just two were intercepted by the Russians. The official said that the U.S. was still assessing battle damage, but that the missiles struck an ammunition supply location in Karachev, a city of about 18,000 people in Russia's Bryansk region. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence assessments.

The developments marked a worrying escalation in the conflict that has repeatedly ratcheted up international tensions. U.S. officials recently expressed dismay at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-north-korea-war-735ab717dcf92a718adcb68bfbddc653">Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops</a>&nbsp;to help it fight Ukraine, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-missile-attack-sumy-5cd4f9fe2cee1ae8aed67d63c22b0703">Moscow seethed</a>&nbsp;when Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-long-range-weapons-russia-52d424158182de2044ecc8bfcf011f9c">eased restrictions</a>&nbsp;on the ATACMS in recent days.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732047530088.png" alt="On Tuesday, Zelenskyy addressed the participants of an extraordinary session of the European Parliament marking the 1,000th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.-courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>On Tuesday, Zelenskyy addressed the participants of an extraordinary session of the European Parliament marking the 1,000th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.-courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine fired several American-supplied longer-range missiles into Russia, officials said Tuesday, marking the first time Kyiv used the weapons that way in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-1000-days-ade5a60cf2345d694871f85df162d08a">1,000 days of war</a>.The use of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-biden-what-are-atacms-missiles-8d8621321af8c673bd42a5693c2ad1f4">Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS</a>, came as Russian President Vladimir Putin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-nuclear-doctrine-putin-91f20e0c9b0f9e5eaa3ed97c35789898">formally lowered the threshold</a>&nbsp;for using nuclear weapons, opening the door to a potential nuclear response by Moscow to even a conventional attack by any nation supported by a nuclear power. That could include Ukrainian attacks backed by the U.S.A Telegram channel affiliated with the Ukrainian military posted a video Tuesday that it says shows U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles being fired from an undisclosed location in Ukraine. The Associated Press could not independently verify the date and location the video was filmed.According to a U.S. official, Ukraine fired about eight of the missiles, and just two were intercepted by the Russians. The official said that the U.S. was still assessing battle damage, but that the missiles struck an ammunition supply location in Karachev, a city of about 18,000 people in Russia's Bryansk region. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence assessments.The developments marked a worrying escalation in the conflict that has repeatedly ratcheted up international tensions. U.S. officials recently expressed dismay at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-north-korea-war-735ab717dcf92a718adcb68bfbddc653">Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops</a>&nbsp;to help it fight Ukraine, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-missile-attack-sumy-5cd4f9fe2cee1ae8aed67d63c22b0703">Moscow seethed</a>&nbsp;when Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-long-range-weapons-russia-52d424158182de2044ecc8bfcf011f9c">eased restrictions</a>&nbsp;on the ATACMS in recent days.The 1,000-day mark has magnified scrutiny of how the war is unfolding and how it might end, amid signs that a turning point may be coming with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump entering the White House in about two months’ time. Trump has pledged to swiftly end the war and has criticized the amount the U.S. has spent on supporting Ukraine.Neither Russia nor Ukraine can sustain the war for a long time, analysts say, though Russia would be able to keep going for longer due to its vaster resources.Ukraine’s forces are under severe Russian pressure on the battlefield at places on the about 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-f7f56e494df1dbbcdec1853001796c45">its army is stretched thin</a>. Ukrainian civilians, meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-missile-strike-85dea3d9af59589d372333a23de9130a">have repeatedly been attacked</a>&nbsp;by Russian drones and missiles.Ukraine claimed Tuesday that it hit a military weapons depot in Russia's Bryansk region overnight, though it didn't specify what weapons it used. The Ukrainian General Staff said multiple explosions and detonations were heard in the targeted area around Karachev.Asked at a news conference if Ukraine had struck the Bryansk region ammunition depot with ATACMS, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declined to provide any details. However, he said, “Ukraine has long-range capabilities, including domestically produced long-range drones … and now we have ATACMS as well."In a statement carried by Russian news agencies, the Russian Defense Ministry said the military shot down five&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/atacms-ukraine-longrange-missiles-5fd95f32449d14da22b82d57d6ccab22">ATACMS</a>&nbsp;missiles and damaged one more. The fragments fell on the territory of an unspecified military facility and sparked a fire, but didn’t cause any damage or casualties, it said.Neither side's claims could be independently verified.Karachev is roughly 115 kilometers (70 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. Ukraine in the course of the war has been able to reach much deeper into the vast country — but with drones rather than missiles. For instance, Russian officials have reported intercepting Ukrainian drones over Moscow, which is about 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the border and most recently Izhevsk, a city about 1,450 kilometers (900 miles) from the frontier.Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian officials reported a third Russian strike in as many days on a residential area in Ukraine killed at least 12 people, including a child.The strike by a Shahed drone in the northern Sumy region late Monday hit a dormitory of an educational facility in the town of Hlukhiv and wounded 11 others, including two children, authorities said, adding that more people could be trapped under the rubble.On Sunday, a Russian ballistic missile with cluster munitions struck a residential area of Sumy in northern Ukraine, killing 11 people and wounding 84 others. On Monday, a Russian missile barrage sparked apartment fires in the southern port of Odesa, killing at least 10 people and wounding 43.Zelenskyy said that the series of aerial strikes proved that Putin wasn't interested in ending the war.“Each new attack by Russia only confirms Putin’s true intentions. He wants the war to continue. Talks about peace are not interesting to him. We must force Russia to a just peace by force,” Zelenskyy said.Zelenskyy told European Union lawmakers in a speech via video link that Russia has deployed about 11,000 North Korean troops along Ukraine’s borders and that the number could swell to 100,000.He appeared in person at the Ukrainian parliament, where he presented what he called a “resilience plan” to dig in against the relentless Russian onslaught. He said he expects pivotal moments to occur in the war next year.The plan outlines new approaches to army management, including the creation of a military ombudsman position and a new system of handling military contracts.There are no plans to lower the mobilization age from the current 25, even though Ukraine is short-handed on the front line, especially in infantry.Ukraine urgently needs to tackle its manpower difficulties on the front, but it can use the longer-range missiles in the meantime to slow the tempo of Russia’s recent advances, said Jack Watling, an analyst at the Royal United Services Institute, a London think tank.“Ukraine’s partners can do little to change the character of the fighting on the line of contact, but by targeting capabilities that are currently giving Russia a battlefield advantage, time can be bought,” Watling wrote Tuesday.Next year, Zelenskyy said, Ukraine plans to produce at least 30,000 long-range drones and aims to manufacture 3,000 long-range missiles, reducing its dependence on Western military support.A fuller version of the plan will be presented next month, he said.NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Western countries are debating further help for Ukraine — “more aid, more money we have to make available to them, particularly now that the North Koreans have come on board,” he said in Brussels.Meanwhile, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola led a special plenary session on Ukraine marking “one thousand days of terror, suffering and unimaginable loss. One thousand days of courage, resilience and unbreakable spirits.”“Your people are an inspiration to all who value freedom around the world,” she told Zelenskyy.