FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a hit-and-run accident in Garden City and asking the public for help to identify a person of interest, according to a media release from the Finney County Sheriff.

The accident occurred Wednesday&nbsp;in the area of Buffalo Jones Elementary School, 708 North Taylor in Garden City. If you have any information, please, contact the Finney County Sheriff's Office at 620-272-3700. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 620-275-7807 or texting the word GCTIP with the information to 847411(Tip411).&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763086966859.png" alt="Photos Finney County Sheriff" />
                        <figcaption>Photos Finney County Sheriff</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a hit-and-run accident in Garden City and asking the public for help to identify a person of interest, according to a media release from the Finney County Sheriff.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763086948244.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The accident occurred Wednesday&nbsp;in the area of Buffalo Jones Elementary School, 708 North Taylor in Garden City. If you have any information, please, contact the Finney County Sheriff's Office at 620-272-3700. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 620-275-7807 or texting the word GCTIP with the information to 847411(Tip411).&nbsp;</p>

Sheriff asks for help to ID hit-and-run suspect near SW Kan. school

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a road rage incident.

Just after noon November 9, a 2015 Dodge Ram driven by Caden Deans, 22, Enterprise, was traveling in the construction zone on Interstate 135 at State Street, according to Salina Police Lt. Andrew Zeigler.&nbsp; The driver was angry with&nbsp;the 28-year-old driver of a 2020 Kia Telluride.

Both vehicles exited on Schilling Road and Deans' pickup intentionally struck the Kia. The impact caused the SUV to roll onto its top. The driver of the Kia was not transported for treatment of minor injuries.

Police arrested Deans on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and reckless driving. He met the requirement for bond and was released from the Saline County Jail just before 5p.m. Sunday, according to online booking records.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763066211975.png" alt="Deans photo Saline County" />
                        <figcaption>Deans photo Saline County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a road rage incident.</p><p>Just after noon November 9, a 2015 Dodge Ram driven by Caden Deans, 22, Enterprise, was traveling in the construction zone on Interstate 135 at State Street, according to Salina Police Lt. Andrew Zeigler.&nbsp; The driver was angry with&nbsp;the 28-year-old driver of a 2020 Kia Telluride.</p><p>Both vehicles exited on Schilling Road and Deans' pickup intentionally struck the Kia. The impact caused the SUV to roll onto its top. The driver of the Kia was not transported for treatment of minor injuries.</p><p>Police arrested Deans on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and reckless driving. He met the requirement for bond and was released from the Saline County Jail just before 5p.m. Sunday, according to online booking records.</p>

Road rage: Kansas man accused of using pickup as a weapon

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an alleged violent attack in Brown County.

Just before 3:30p.m. November 10, Brown County dispatched a deputy to a local hospital to take a report from a victim of alleged battery, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; &nbsp; The deputy obtained suspect&nbsp; information from the victim while at the hospital and then alerted other Brown County deputies. 

A short time later, deputies encountered the suspect, Gerry Rilinger, 43 of Sabetha in Fairview, Kansas.&nbsp; When a deputy approached Rilinger for questioning, he became argumentative, defiant and initiated a scuffle which resulted in Rilinger's arrest.&nbsp; He was then&nbsp; transported to the Brown County jail.

He is being held on a $2 million dollar bond on requested charges of&nbsp; 2nd Degree Attempted Murder, Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated kidnapping, Misdemeanor Battery on Law Enforcement Officers, Felony Battery on a Corrections Officer, Felony Obstruction and Transport an Open Container.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763067344001.png" alt="Rilinger photo Brown Co." />
                        <figcaption>Rilinger photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an alleged violent attack in Brown County.</p><p>Just before 3:30p.m. November 10, Brown County dispatched a deputy to a local hospital to take a report from a victim of alleged battery, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; &nbsp; The deputy obtained suspect&nbsp; information from the victim while at the hospital and then alerted other Brown County deputies. </p><p>A short time later, deputies encountered the suspect, Gerry Rilinger, 43 of Sabetha in Fairview, Kansas.&nbsp; When a deputy approached Rilinger for questioning, he became argumentative, defiant and initiated a scuffle which resulted in Rilinger's arrest.&nbsp; He was then&nbsp; transported to the Brown County jail.</p><p>He is being held on a $2 million dollar bond on requested charges of&nbsp; 2nd Degree Attempted Murder, Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated kidnapping, Misdemeanor Battery on Law Enforcement Officers, Felony Battery on a Corrections Officer, Felony Obstruction and Transport an Open Container.&nbsp;</p>

Sheriff: Kansas attempted murder suspect captured

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/fatima-hussein">FATIMA HUSSEIN</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jessica Sweet spent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-republicans-schumer-health-insurance-tax-credits-a57733892f05a8893f5781203238e889">the federal government shutdown</a>&nbsp;cutting back. To make ends meet, the Social Security claims specialist drank only one coffee a day, skipped meals, cut down on groceries and deferred paying some household bills. She racked up spending on her credit card buying gas to get to work.

With the longest shutdown ever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">coming to a close</a>, Sweet and hundreds of thousands of other federal workers who missed paychecks will soon get some relief. But many are left feeling that their livelihoods served as political pawns in the fight between recalcitrant lawmakers in Washington and are asking themselves whether the battle was worth their sacrifices.

“It’s very frustrating to go through something like this,” said Sweet, who is a union steward of AFGE Local 3343 in New York. “It shakes the foundation of trust that we all place in our agencies and in the federal government to do the right thing.”

The shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-health-care-54b2a584657a0b619bc8326708a05604">began on Oct. 1</a>&nbsp;after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">federal subsidies for health insurance</a>&nbsp;under the Affordable Care Act. Its end emerged when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-8-democrats-e83180c0b69642a00a234c244d9ea76e">eight Democratic-aligned senators</a>&nbsp;agreed to a deal to fund the government with no extension of the expiring subsidies.

Federal workers deeply felt the impacts of the shutdown

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">The shutdown</a>&nbsp;created a cascade of troubles for many Americans. Throughout the shutdown, at least 670,000 federal employees were furloughed, while about 730,000 others were working without pay, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

The plight of the federal workers was among several pressure points, along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-faa-government-shutdown-2535828689edac07e693c2e54a2f5f16">flight disruptions</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-shutdown-reopening-food-aid-a11b6c83934d9c718cc413fc1f9435d3">cuts to food aid</a>, that in the end ratcheted up the pressure on lawmakers to come to an agreement to fund the government.

Throughout the six-week shutdown, officials in President Donald Trump’s administration repeatedly used the federal workers as leverage to try to push Democrats to relent on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">their health care demands</a>. The Republican president signaled that workers going unpaid wouldn’t get back pay. He threatened and then followed through on firings in a federal workforce already reeling from layoffs earlier this year. A court then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-layoffs-judge-trump-fdcb16f91c94d7bf73977e8968210b0e">blocked the shutdown firings</a>, adding to the uncertainty.

The deal that is bringing an end to the shutdown will reverse the dismissals that occurred since Oct. 1, while also ensuring back pay for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/furloughed-federal-workers-blames-every-voting-american-for-the-government-shutdown-76fc8ae169014e30a834d51c2aca851a">furloughed federal workers</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-workers-back-bay-shutdown-785eb776d2312d1f68f7e91961d0a93a">left in doubt</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-641e7e2324f261da72395b604d9540e8">The bipartisan deal</a>&nbsp;provides funding to reopen the government, including for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-benefits-trump-administration-demands-undo-states-d433f20df4d461db506e0d327a58d3c1">SNAP food aid</a>&nbsp;and other programs.

Frustration over the shutdown and how it was brought to an end

But the whiplash of the past six weeks, coupled with the concern that the longest shutdown ever may not be the last they face, has shaken many in the workforce.

“Stress and hunger are great tactics for traumatizing people,” Sweet said.

For Sweet, the feelings of frustration are only compounded by a feeling that she was betrayed by the Democratic-aligned senators who broke with the party on the health care subsidies.

She said that she understands that many workers were desperate for a paycheck. But she thought standing firm on the issue of the health care subsidies was worth her sacrifice.

“There are other federal workers who understood what we were holding the line for and are extremely unhappy that line was crossed and that trust was breached,” she said.

Adam Pelletier, a National Labor Relations Board field examiner who was furloughed Oct. 1, said he is glad the compromise includes rehiring laid-off workers, but “the agreement that was reached almost feels like the Charlie Brown cartoon where Lucy holds the football and pulls it out from them.”

Pelletier, a union leader for NLRBU local 3, had financially prepared for the shutdown back in March when it became clear that a funding agreement between Democrats and Republicans likely would not be reached. He says the shutdown has made him feel “like a pawn” because federal workers had no say over their own fate.

The federal workers who spoke to The Associated Press had one common message: that they were reeling but ready to get back to work.

“This has been the worst time in my 20 years to be a federal employee,” said Elizabeth McPeak, a furloughed IRS employee in Pittsburgh who is National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 34 first vice president. She said colleagues had to beg their landlords to hold off on collecting rent payments and relied on food banks during the shutdown.

“A month without pay,” McPeak said, “is a long time to go.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759315687610.png" alt="Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/fatima-hussein">FATIMA HUSSEIN</a></p><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Jessica Sweet spent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-republicans-schumer-health-insurance-tax-credits-a57733892f05a8893f5781203238e889">the federal government shutdown</a>&nbsp;cutting back. To make ends meet, the Social Security claims specialist drank only one coffee a day, skipped meals, cut down on groceries and deferred paying some household bills. She racked up spending on her credit card buying gas to get to work.</p><p>With the longest shutdown ever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">coming to a close</a>, Sweet and hundreds of thousands of other federal workers who missed paychecks will soon get some relief. But many are left feeling that their livelihoods served as political pawns in the fight between recalcitrant lawmakers in Washington and are asking themselves whether the battle was worth their sacrifices.</p><p>“It’s very frustrating to go through something like this,” said Sweet, who is a union steward of AFGE Local 3343 in New York. “It shakes the foundation of trust that we all place in our agencies and in the federal government to do the right thing.”</p><p>The shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-health-care-54b2a584657a0b619bc8326708a05604">began on Oct. 1</a>&nbsp;after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">federal subsidies for health insurance</a>&nbsp;under the Affordable Care Act. Its end emerged when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-8-democrats-e83180c0b69642a00a234c244d9ea76e">eight Democratic-aligned senators</a>&nbsp;agreed to a deal to fund the government with no extension of the expiring subsidies.</p><h2>Federal workers deeply felt the impacts of the shutdown</h2><p><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">The shutdown</a>&nbsp;created a cascade of troubles for many Americans. Throughout the shutdown, at least 670,000 federal employees were furloughed, while about 730,000 others were working without pay, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.</p><p>The plight of the federal workers was among several pressure points, along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-faa-government-shutdown-2535828689edac07e693c2e54a2f5f16">flight disruptions</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-shutdown-reopening-food-aid-a11b6c83934d9c718cc413fc1f9435d3">cuts to food aid</a>, that in the end ratcheted up the pressure on lawmakers to come to an agreement to fund the government.</p><p>Throughout the six-week shutdown, officials in President Donald Trump’s administration repeatedly used the federal workers as leverage to try to push Democrats to relent on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">their health care demands</a>. The Republican president signaled that workers going unpaid wouldn’t get back pay. He threatened and then followed through on firings in a federal workforce already reeling from layoffs earlier this year. A court then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-layoffs-judge-trump-fdcb16f91c94d7bf73977e8968210b0e">blocked the shutdown firings</a>, adding to the uncertainty.</p><p>The deal that is bringing an end to the shutdown will reverse the dismissals that occurred since Oct. 1, while also ensuring back pay for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/furloughed-federal-workers-blames-every-voting-american-for-the-government-shutdown-76fc8ae169014e30a834d51c2aca851a">furloughed federal workers</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-workers-back-bay-shutdown-785eb776d2312d1f68f7e91961d0a93a">left in doubt</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-641e7e2324f261da72395b604d9540e8">The bipartisan deal</a>&nbsp;provides funding to reopen the government, including for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-benefits-trump-administration-demands-undo-states-d433f20df4d461db506e0d327a58d3c1">SNAP food aid</a>&nbsp;and other programs.</p><h2>Frustration over the shutdown and how it was brought to an end</h2><p>But the whiplash of the past six weeks, coupled with the concern that the longest shutdown ever may not be the last they face, has shaken many in the workforce.</p><p>“Stress and hunger are great tactics for traumatizing people,” Sweet said.</p><p>For Sweet, the feelings of frustration are only compounded by a feeling that she was betrayed by the Democratic-aligned senators who broke with the party on the health care subsidies.</p><p>She said that she understands that many workers were desperate for a paycheck. But she thought standing firm on the issue of the health care subsidies was worth her sacrifice.</p><p>“There are other federal workers who understood what we were holding the line for and are extremely unhappy that line was crossed and that trust was breached,” she said.</p><h2>Ready to get back to work</h2><p>Adam Pelletier, a National Labor Relations Board field examiner who was furloughed Oct. 1, said he is glad the compromise includes rehiring laid-off workers, but “the agreement that was reached almost feels like the Charlie Brown cartoon where Lucy holds the football and pulls it out from them.”</p><p>Pelletier, a union leader for NLRBU local 3, had financially prepared for the shutdown back in March when it became clear that a funding agreement between Democrats and Republicans likely would not be reached. He says the shutdown has made him feel “like a pawn” because federal workers had no say over their own fate.</p><p>The federal workers who spoke to The Associated Press had one common message: that they were reeling but ready to get back to work.</p><p>“This has been the worst time in my 20 years to be a federal employee,” said Elizabeth McPeak, a furloughed IRS employee in Pittsburgh who is National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 34 first vice president. She said colleagues had to beg their landlords to hold off on collecting rent payments and relied on food banks during the shutdown.</p><p>“A month without pay,” McPeak said, “is a long time to go.”</p>

Federal workers question whether gov't shutdown was worth their sacrifice

SALINE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Wednesday in Saline County.

According to Saline County Sheriff's Captain Jim Hughes, two boys were traveling north in the 2700 block of S. Donmyer Road in a Kubota RTV520 UTV.&nbsp; 

While making a turn to a private drive, the UTV rolled and came to rest on the passenger. &nbsp;After the crash, the injured passenger called his father who responded to the scene and transported him in a private vehicle to Salina Regional Health Center. They were ultimately met by Salina EMS in the 6400 Block of Magnolia Road.&nbsp; Injured juvenile sustained an ankle injury they possibly will require surgery, according to Hughes.&nbsp;

Due to the driver's age, traffic citations were not issued.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763046840619.jpeg" alt="Photo Saline County Sheriff" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Saline County Sheriff</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SALINE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Wednesday in Saline County.</p><p>According to Saline County Sheriff's Captain Jim Hughes, two boys were traveling north in the 2700 block of S. Donmyer Road in a Kubota RTV520 UTV.&nbsp; </p><p>While making a turn to a private drive, the UTV rolled and came to rest on the passenger. &nbsp;After the crash, the injured passenger called his father who responded to the scene and transported him in a private vehicle to Salina Regional Health Center. They were ultimately met by Salina EMS in the 6400 Block of Magnolia Road.&nbsp; Injured juvenile sustained an ankle injury they possibly will require surgery, according to Hughes.&nbsp;</p><p>Due to the driver's age, traffic citations were not issued.</p>

Kansas boy hospitalized after UTV rollover accident

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Blue Origin launched its huge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/blue-origin-new-glenn-rocket-jeff-bezos-2466fb0e114a09d88a46f71a1e647d50">New Glenn rocket</a>&nbsp;Thursday with a pair of NASA spacecraft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mars-nasa-perseverance-rover-rock-life-4e608d530be598c1a7af959d97eb88d8">destined for Mars</a>.

It was only the second flight of the rocket that Jeff Bezos’ company and NASA are counting on to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/blue-origin-bezos-moon-lunar-lander-nasa-5b61a0b44f582e70aa8d361fb0b161c6">get people and supplies to the moon.</a>

The 321-foot (98-meter) New Glenn blasted into the afternoon sky from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, sending NASA’s twin Mars orbiters on a drawn-out journey to the red planet. Liftoff was stalled four days by lousy local weather as well as solar storms strong enough to paint the skies with auroras as far south as Florida.

In a remarkable first, Blue Origin recovered the booster following its separation from the upper stage and the Mars orbiters, an essential step to recycle and slash costs similar to SpaceX. Company employees cheered wildly as the booster landed upright on a barge 375 miles (600 kilometers) offshore. An ecstatic Bezos watched the action from Launch Control.

“Next stop, moon!” company employees chanted following the successful booster landing.

New Glenn’s inaugural test flight in January delivered a prototype satellite to orbit, but failed to land the booster on its floating platform in the Atlantic.

The identical Mars orbiters, named Escapade, will spend a year hanging out near Earth, stationing themselves 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) away. Once Earth and Mars are properly aligned next fall, the duo will get a gravity assist from Earth to head to the red planet, arriving in 2027.

Once around Mars, the spacecraft will map the planet’s upper atmosphere and scattered magnetic fields, studying how these realms interact with the solar wind. The observations should shed light on the processes behind the escaping Martian atmosphere, helping to explain how the planet went from wet and warm to dry and dusty. Scientists will also learn how best to protect astronauts against Mars' harsh radiation environment.

“We really, really want to understand the interaction of the solar wind with Mars better than we do now,” Escapade’s lead scientist, Rob Lillis of the University of California, Berkeley, said ahead of the launch. “Escapade is going to bring an unprecedented stereo viewpoint because we’re going to have two spacecraft at the same time.”

It’s a relatively low-budget mission, coming in under $80 million, that's managed and operated by UC Berkeley. NASA saved money by signing up for one of New Glenn’s early flights. The Mars orbiters should have blasted off last fall, but NASA passed up that ideal launch window — Earth and Mars line up for a quick transit just every two years — because of feared delays with Blue Origin's brand-new rocket.

Named after John Glenn,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/john-glenn-honored-with-launch-of-space-station-supply-ship-c9d6fdad2031486ba09c80024bb5a5a7">the first American to orbit the world</a>, New Glenn is five times bigger than the New Shepard rockets sending wealthy clients to the edge of space from West Texas. Blue Origin plans to launch a prototype Blue Moon lunar lander on a demo mission in the coming months aboard New Glenn.

Created in 2000 by Bezos, Amazon's founder, Blue Origin already holds a NASA contract for the third moon landing by astronauts under the Artemis program. Elon Musk’s SpaceX beat out Blue Origin for the first and second crew landings, using Starships, nearly 100 feet (30 meters) taller than Bezos' New Glenn.

But last month NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy reopened the contract for the first crewed moon landing, citing concern over the pace of Starship’s progress in flight tests from Texas. Blue Origin as well as SpaceX have presented accelerated landing plans.

NASA is on track to send astronauts around the moon early next year using its own Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket. The next Artemis crew would attempt to land; the space agency is pressing to get astronauts back on the lunar surface by decade’s end in order to beat China.

Twelve astronauts walked on the moon more than a half-century ago during NASA's Apollo program.

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

<p>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Blue Origin launched its huge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/blue-origin-new-glenn-rocket-jeff-bezos-2466fb0e114a09d88a46f71a1e647d50">New Glenn rocket</a>&nbsp;Thursday with a pair of NASA spacecraft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mars-nasa-perseverance-rover-rock-life-4e608d530be598c1a7af959d97eb88d8">destined for Mars</a>.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LIVE NOW: Tune in to watch the NG-2 webcast! <a href="https://t.co/PZaV8KOyK8">https://t.co/PZaV8KOyK8</a></p>&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1989055013638074794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>It was only the second flight of the rocket that Jeff Bezos’ company and NASA are counting on to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/blue-origin-bezos-moon-lunar-lander-nasa-5b61a0b44f582e70aa8d361fb0b161c6">get people and supplies to the moon.</a></p><p>The 321-foot (98-meter) New Glenn blasted into the afternoon sky from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, sending NASA’s twin Mars orbiters on a drawn-out journey to the red planet. Liftoff was stalled four days by lousy local weather as well as solar storms strong enough to paint the skies with auroras as far south as Florida.</p><p>In a remarkable first, Blue Origin recovered the booster following its separation from the upper stage and the Mars orbiters, an essential step to recycle and slash costs similar to SpaceX. Company employees cheered wildly as the booster landed upright on a barge 375 miles (600 kilometers) offshore. An ecstatic Bezos watched the action from Launch Control.</p><p>“Next stop, moon!” company employees chanted following the successful booster landing.</p><p>New Glenn’s inaugural test flight in January delivered a prototype satellite to orbit, but failed to land the booster on its floating platform in the Atlantic.</p><p>The identical Mars orbiters, named Escapade, will spend a year hanging out near Earth, stationing themselves 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) away. Once Earth and Mars are properly aligned next fall, the duo will get a gravity assist from Earth to head to the red planet, arriving in 2027.</p><p>Once around Mars, the spacecraft will map the planet’s upper atmosphere and scattered magnetic fields, studying how these realms interact with the solar wind. The observations should shed light on the processes behind the escaping Martian atmosphere, helping to explain how the planet went from wet and warm to dry and dusty. Scientists will also learn how best to protect astronauts against Mars' harsh radiation environment.</p><p>“We really, really want to understand the interaction of the solar wind with Mars better than we do now,” Escapade’s lead scientist, Rob Lillis of the University of California, Berkeley, said ahead of the launch. “Escapade is going to bring an unprecedented stereo viewpoint because we’re going to have two spacecraft at the same time.”</p><p>It’s a relatively low-budget mission, coming in under $80 million, that's managed and operated by UC Berkeley. NASA saved money by signing up for one of New Glenn’s early flights. The Mars orbiters should have blasted off last fall, but NASA passed up that ideal launch window — Earth and Mars line up for a quick transit just every two years — because of feared delays with Blue Origin's brand-new rocket.</p><p>Named after John Glenn,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/john-glenn-honored-with-launch-of-space-station-supply-ship-c9d6fdad2031486ba09c80024bb5a5a7">the first American to orbit the world</a>, New Glenn is five times bigger than the New Shepard rockets sending wealthy clients to the edge of space from West Texas. Blue Origin plans to launch a prototype Blue Moon lunar lander on a demo mission in the coming months aboard New Glenn.</p><p>Created in 2000 by Bezos, Amazon's founder, Blue Origin already holds a NASA contract for the third moon landing by astronauts under the Artemis program. Elon Musk’s SpaceX beat out Blue Origin for the first and second crew landings, using Starships, nearly 100 feet (30 meters) taller than Bezos' New Glenn.</p><p>But last month NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy reopened the contract for the first crewed moon landing, citing concern over the pace of Starship’s progress in flight tests from Texas. Blue Origin as well as SpaceX have presented accelerated landing plans.</p><p>NASA is on track to send astronauts around the moon early next year using its own Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket. The next Artemis crew would attempt to land; the space agency is pressing to get astronauts back on the lunar surface by decade’s end in order to beat China.</p><p>Twelve astronauts walked on the moon more than a half-century ago during NASA's Apollo program.</p><p>___</p><p>The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.</p><p>-----------</p>

🎥Blue Origin launches huge rocket carrying twin NASA spacecraft to Mars

Wichita Police reported just before 3p.m. Thursday,&nbsp;Curtis Vine returned home and is safe.

SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;– The Wichita Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Wichita man.

The whereabouts of 68-year-old Curtis Vines are unknown, and public assistance is requested to help locate him.

Vines was last seen Wednesday, Nov. 12, at around 9:45 a.m., in the 6000 block of East Ironhorse. He does not have access to a vehicle and is believed to be on foot.

Vines is a white male who is 6 feet tall and weighs around 175 pounds. He has blue eyes and brown hair, and was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt and blue jeans.

Vines has dementia, and family members are concerned about his safety.&nbsp;

If you see Curtis Vines, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Wichita Police Department at (316)-268-4111.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763005731670.png" alt="Curtis Vines- photo submitted" />
                        <figcaption>Curtis Vines- photo submitted</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Wichita Police reported just before 3p.m. Thursday,&nbsp;Curtis Vine returned home and is safe.</p><p>------------</p><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;– The Wichita Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Wichita man.</p><p>The whereabouts of 68-year-old Curtis Vines are unknown, and public assistance is requested to help locate him.</p><p>Vines was last seen Wednesday, Nov. 12, at around 9:45 a.m., in the 6000 block of East Ironhorse. He does not have access to a vehicle and is believed to be on foot.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763031334558.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Vines is a white male who is 6 feet tall and weighs around 175 pounds. He has blue eyes and brown hair, and was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt and blue jeans.</p><p>Vines has dementia, and family members are concerned about his safety.&nbsp;</p><p>If you see Curtis Vines, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Wichita Police Department at (316)-268-4111.</p>

Police: Silver Alert canceled, missing Kan. man is safe

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rio-yamat">RIO YAMAT</a>

America’s aviation system is straining under the weight of the longest government shutdown on record:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-faa-government-shutdown-2535828689edac07e693c2e54a2f5f16">thousands of flight cancellations</a>, long delays at major airports and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-what-to-expect-986ef2236e545fa32253b4e4bc7621e9">frustrated travelers</a>&nbsp;nationwide.

In an unprecedented move, the Federal Aviation Administration last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-faa-e39c423facec2b0dcc2544af48de0fa1">ordered airlines to scale back</a>&nbsp;domestic flight schedules, saying the cuts are meant to ease pressure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-government-shutdown-travel-aviation-flight-delays-211022120bf96ab95dc6861ca5a7e32d">on an overstretched system</a>&nbsp;and help manage air traffic control staffing.

Unpaid for more than a month, some air traffic controllers begun calling out of work, citing stress and the need to take on second jobs — leaving more control towers and facilities short-staffed.

The numbers show the shutdown’s toll on air travel:

Major U.S. airports where all commercial airlines have been required to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cuts-government-shutdown-airlines-c21ffa6c3d55e3d2fe7f53702112727b">cancel flights since Nov. 7</a>&nbsp;under the FAA’s orders. The list spans more than two dozen states and includes large hubs such as New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Airports on the FAA’s list of 40 where the agency also prohibited business jets and many private flights from landing.

The initial reduction in flight schedules ordered by the FAA.

The current flight reduction rate that the FAA says it is keeping in place instead of requiring airlines to make a 10% cut by Friday, as originally planned. The head of the agency and the U.S. transportation secretary on Wednesday cited improved controller staffing following news of a pending deal to end the shutdown.

Daily passengers who use the 40 airports where flights have been reduced, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Passengers who have been affected by staffing-related delays or cancellations since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;began on Oct. 1, according to Airlines for America. The industry trade group represents Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue.

Flights canceled between Nov. 7, the first day of the FAA-required cuts, and Wednesday evening, according to the flight tracking site FlightAware.

The average number of air traffic control facilities where the FAA warned of potential&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-delays-cancellations-government-shutdown-5034216cb5bb41bd40e27bb7861b2dd3">staffing issues</a>&nbsp;during the six weekends since the shutdown began. That is almost four times the number on weekends this year before the shutdown, according to an Associated Press analysis of operations plans sent through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center system.

How much President Donald Trump suggested air traffic controllers should receive as a bonus if they didn’t miss any days of work during the shutdown. Trump also threatened docking pay for those who haven’t stayed on the job.

Associated Press journalist Christopher L. Keller contributed from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762603446371.png" alt="Post photo" />
                        <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rio-yamat">RIO YAMAT</a></p><p>America’s aviation system is straining under the weight of the longest government shutdown on record:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-faa-government-shutdown-2535828689edac07e693c2e54a2f5f16">thousands of flight cancellations</a>, long delays at major airports and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-what-to-expect-986ef2236e545fa32253b4e4bc7621e9">frustrated travelers</a>&nbsp;nationwide.</p><p>In an unprecedented move, the Federal Aviation Administration last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-faa-e39c423facec2b0dcc2544af48de0fa1">ordered airlines to scale back</a>&nbsp;domestic flight schedules, saying the cuts are meant to ease pressure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-government-shutdown-travel-aviation-flight-delays-211022120bf96ab95dc6861ca5a7e32d">on an overstretched system</a>&nbsp;and help manage air traffic control staffing.</p><p>Unpaid for more than a month, some air traffic controllers begun calling out of work, citing stress and the need to take on second jobs — leaving more control towers and facilities short-staffed.</p><p>The numbers show the shutdown’s toll on air travel:</p><h2>40</h2><p>Major U.S. airports where all commercial airlines have been required to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cuts-government-shutdown-airlines-c21ffa6c3d55e3d2fe7f53702112727b">cancel flights since Nov. 7</a>&nbsp;under the FAA’s orders. The list spans more than two dozen states and includes large hubs such as New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Chicago.</p><h2>12</h2><p>Airports on the FAA’s list of 40 where the agency also prohibited business jets and many private flights from landing.</p><h2>4%</h2><p>The initial reduction in flight schedules ordered by the FAA.</p><h2>6%</h2><p>The current flight reduction rate that the FAA says it is keeping in place instead of requiring airlines to make a 10% cut by Friday, as originally planned. The head of the agency and the U.S. transportation secretary on Wednesday cited improved controller staffing following news of a pending deal to end the shutdown.</p><h2>1.9 million</h2><p>Daily passengers who use the 40 airports where flights have been reduced, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.</p><h2>5.2 million</h2><p>Passengers who have been affected by staffing-related delays or cancellations since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;began on Oct. 1, according to Airlines for America. The industry trade group represents Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue.</p><h2>10,100</h2><p>Flights canceled between Nov. 7, the first day of the FAA-required cuts, and Wednesday evening, according to the flight tracking site FlightAware.</p><h2>30</h2><p>The average number of air traffic control facilities where the FAA warned of potential&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-delays-cancellations-government-shutdown-5034216cb5bb41bd40e27bb7861b2dd3">staffing issues</a>&nbsp;during the six weekends since the shutdown began. That is almost four times the number on weekends this year before the shutdown, according to an Associated Press analysis of operations plans sent through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center system.</p><h2>$10,000</h2><p>How much President Donald Trump suggested air traffic controllers should receive as a bonus if they didn’t miss any days of work during the shutdown. Trump also threatened docking pay for those who haven’t stayed on the job.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press journalist Christopher L. Keller contributed from Albuquerque, New Mexico.</p>

By the Numbers: Government shutdown's toll on air travel in the US

HARVEY COUNTY —On Wednesday, Harvey County Chief Judge Wilder sentenced 54-year-old Shyla McFrederic of Sedgwick, Kansa for Distribution of Methamphetamine, a severity level 1 drug felony, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.

The case originated from McFrederick’s arrest in Sedgwick, Kansas, on April 19, 2024, when she was found in possession of 111 grams of methamphetamine, 22 grams of psilocybin, 94 grams of marijuana, and four fentanyl tablets.

Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines, McFrederick faced a presumptive prison term of 138 to 154 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections. Harvey County Attorney Heather Figger requested that the Court impose a 146-month prison sentence, emphasizing that the State had already exercised leniency by dismissing seven felony and five misdemeanor charges across three separate criminal cases as part of the plea agreement.

County Attorney Figger also urged the Court to consider the devastating impact that the distribution of these substances has on the Harvey County community. Counsel for McFrederick requested a downward departure to probation.

In ruling on the matter, Chief Judge Wilder noted that the case involved “the highest level drug felony that exists and that is only for the methamphetamine you possessed and not the other drugs.”

During sentencing, the Court cited a substance use evaluation completed by McFrederick in September 2025, which indicated that she still was not accepting responsibility for her crimes. The Court also noted that McFrederick’s no contest plea was not an acceptance of responsibility.

After consideration, Chief Judge Wilder granted a durational departure, sentencing McFrederick to 60 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. The Court based this reduced sentence on McFrederick’s decision to waive her preliminary hearing and enter a plea—thereby saving the State the expense of further proceedings—and some limited acceptance of responsibility demonstrated by the actions she had taken to improve herself.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762979753270.png" alt="McFrederick from a December 2024 arrest in Sedgwick County" />
                        <figcaption>McFrederick from a December 2024 arrest in Sedgwick County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>HARVEY COUNTY —On Wednesday, Harvey County Chief Judge Wilder sentenced 54-year-old Shyla McFrederic of Sedgwick, Kansa for Distribution of Methamphetamine, a severity level 1 drug felony, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.</p><p>The case originated from McFrederick’s arrest in Sedgwick, Kansas, on April 19, 2024, when she was found in possession of 111 grams of methamphetamine, 22 grams of psilocybin, 94 grams of marijuana, and four fentanyl tablets.</p><p>Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines, McFrederick faced a presumptive prison term of 138 to 154 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections. Harvey County Attorney Heather Figger requested that the Court impose a 146-month prison sentence, emphasizing that the State had already exercised leniency by dismissing seven felony and five misdemeanor charges across three separate criminal cases as part of the plea agreement.</p><p>County Attorney Figger also urged the Court to consider the devastating impact that the distribution of these substances has on the Harvey County community. Counsel for McFrederick requested a downward departure to probation.</p><p>In ruling on the matter, Chief Judge Wilder noted that the case involved “the highest level drug felony that exists and that is only for the methamphetamine you possessed and not the other drugs.”</p><p>During sentencing, the Court cited a substance use evaluation completed by McFrederick in September 2025, which indicated that she still was not accepting responsibility for her crimes. The Court also noted that McFrederick’s no contest plea was not an acceptance of responsibility.</p><p>After consideration, Chief Judge Wilder granted a durational departure, sentencing McFrederick to 60 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. The Court based this reduced sentence on McFrederick’s decision to waive her preliminary hearing and enter a plea—thereby saving the State the expense of further proceedings—and some limited acceptance of responsibility demonstrated by the actions she had taken to improve herself.</p>

Kansas drug dealer gets plea deal after caught with meth, fentanyl pills

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a><br><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039"><i>Kansas Reflector</i></a>

LAWRENCE — Government, university and community leaders commemorated the opening Wednesday of a state-of-the-art convention center at the University of Kansas, which is equipped with amenities meant to draw thousands of annual visitors and generate revenue to pay off the university’s large-scale development project.

More than 100 people milled about the center’s grand entrance hall and conference rooms to hear Gov. Laura Kelly, university chancellor Douglas Girod and three others praise the teamwork and vision behind the University of Kansas Conference Center. They predicted a future of economic and community prosperity before cutting a ceremonious red ribbon held by the university’s mascots, Big Jay and Baby Jay.

The center is part of the project to revamp the school’s football stadium and northern campus entrance to create the Gateway District. The project could cost up to $808 million, and it relies heavily on state and local incentives, along with funding from the Republican-led Kansas Legislature and private donors to subsidize development.

The conference center is expected to be among the first steps in producing a return on those public and private investments.

“Not only will this facility benefit the greater Lawrence community, but it will also attract out-of-state visitors, spurring significant economic activity,” said Kelly, a Democrat. “Today marks a major step towards completion of the first phase of the university’s Gateway District project.”

The 55,000-square-foot center is the first of its kind in Douglas County. Kelly said the conference center has “required an intense collaborative effort.”

It is adjoined to the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, and the center’s visitors can access a patio that puts them at eye-level with players and coaches. Conference center users can also access stadium amenities, including the digital scoreboard, meeting rooms and various offices, said Girod.

The university envisions galas, weddings, conventions, trade shows and other large social events as potential uses for the center, said Girod. Event bookings already stretch into 2027, he said.

“As a result of this design, it really positions us to host all kinds of events, bringing out-of-town visitors into our community,” Girod said, “and that’s really what it’s all about at the end of the day, to generate additional economic activity to the city, county, state and beyond.”

Girod said he hopes the new center will attract events from around the world. An estimated 400,000 people visit Lawrence annually. KU’s Rock Chalk Park soccer complex on the western edge of the city is currently under consideration for hosting a team base camp for the 2026 World Cup.

The conference center isn’t a typical one, in large part because of its location, Girod said.

“Right in the heart of Lawrence, right at the foot of the hill, right at the base of campus, right at the gateway of our campus, and, of course, as part of our stadium,” he said.

The Legislature allocated $35 million to the project in 2022 from American Rescue Plan Act funds. It received $50 million in grant funding in 2023 from the Kansas Department of Commerce, which required a three-to-one match of private funds. The city of Lawrence approved in August a $95 million package of incentives, including the city’s first Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR, bonds, which allow the city to finance the project with nearly $86 million in bonds. Once built, the development’s revenues and sales taxes will pay off the bonds.

Now that phase 1 is complete, the roughly $300 million phase 2 is expected to begin once KU’s football season ends, said Girod.

The second phase is expected to begin with renovations to the east side of the football stadium and construction of a parking garage and a 150-room hotel. A roughly 440-bed student housing complex, outdoor event plaza and retail, restaurant and office space are expected to follow, extending use of the area beyond football season.

Nearly 1 million people are predicted to visit the Gateway District annually once the project is complete in 2030, according to a feasibility study submitted to the city of Lawrence. Developers expect the district to produce a net economic output of $84.9 million and more than 1,600 full-time jobs.

“Today marks a shift in what is possible in Lawrence,” said Kim Anspach, the executive director of Explore Lawrence, the city’s tourism arm.

Capacity often restricted the city’s ability to host and grow events, she said. The center helps create a “steady rhythm of activity,” which helps support the year-round stability of the local economy.

The center is not a one-time boost, Anspach said; it’s a foundation.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763042529180.png" alt="The University of Kansas Conference Center, which is adjoined to the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, opens in Lawrence, Kansas on Nov. 12, 2025. It is part of the Gateway District project’s renovations of the northern entrance to campus, which are expected to finish in 2030. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
                        <figcaption>The University of Kansas Conference Center, which is adjoined to the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, opens in Lawrence, Kansas on Nov. 12, 2025. It is part of the Gateway District project’s renovations of the northern entrance to campus, which are expected to finish in 2030. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a><br><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039"><i>Kansas Reflector</i></a></p><p>LAWRENCE — Government, university and community leaders commemorated the opening Wednesday of a state-of-the-art convention center at the University of Kansas, which is equipped with amenities meant to draw thousands of annual visitors and generate revenue to pay off the university’s large-scale development project.</p><p>More than 100 people milled about the center’s grand entrance hall and conference rooms to hear Gov. Laura Kelly, university chancellor Douglas Girod and three others praise the teamwork and vision behind the University of Kansas Conference Center. They predicted a future of economic and community prosperity before cutting a ceremonious red ribbon held by the university’s mascots, Big Jay and Baby Jay.</p><p>The center is part of the project to revamp the school’s football stadium and northern campus entrance to create the Gateway District. The project could cost up to $808 million, and it relies heavily on state and local incentives, along with funding from the Republican-led Kansas Legislature and private donors to subsidize development.</p><p>The conference center is expected to be among the first steps in producing a return on those public and private investments.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763042491946.png" alt="People gather in the University of Kansas Conference Center, which opened in Lawrence, Kansas on Nov. 12, 2025. It will host galas, parties, graduations, conventions and trade shows, said KU Chancellor Doug Girod. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
                        <figcaption>People gather in the University of Kansas Conference Center, which opened in Lawrence, Kansas on Nov. 12, 2025. It will host galas, parties, graduations, conventions and trade shows, said KU Chancellor Doug Girod. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>“Not only will this facility benefit the greater Lawrence community, but it will also attract out-of-state visitors, spurring significant economic activity,” said Kelly, a Democrat. “Today marks a major step towards completion of the first phase of the university’s Gateway District project.”</p><p>The 55,000-square-foot center is the first of its kind in Douglas County. Kelly said the conference center has “required an intense collaborative effort.”</p><p>It is adjoined to the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, and the center’s visitors can access a patio that puts them at eye-level with players and coaches. Conference center users can also access stadium amenities, including the digital scoreboard, meeting rooms and various offices, said Girod.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763042452129.png" alt="Field-level access in the University of Kansas’ David Booth Memorial Stadium is attached to the university’s 55,000-square-foot. conference center, which opened in Lawrence, Kansas, on Nov. 12, 2025. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
                        <figcaption>Field-level access in the University of Kansas’ David Booth Memorial Stadium is attached to the university’s 55,000-square-foot. conference center, which opened in Lawrence, Kansas, on Nov. 12, 2025. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The university envisions galas, weddings, conventions, trade shows and other large social events as potential uses for the center, said Girod. Event bookings already stretch into 2027, he said.</p><p>“As a result of this design, it really positions us to host all kinds of events, bringing out-of-town visitors into our community,” Girod said, “and that’s really what it’s all about at the end of the day, to generate additional economic activity to the city, county, state and beyond.”</p><p>Girod said he hopes the new center will attract events from around the world. An estimated 400,000 people visit Lawrence annually. KU’s Rock Chalk Park soccer complex on the western edge of the city is currently under consideration for hosting a team base camp for the 2026 World Cup.</p><p>The conference center isn’t a typical one, in large part because of its location, Girod said.</p><p>“Right in the heart of Lawrence, right at the foot of the hill, right at the base of campus, right at the gateway of our campus, and, of course, as part of our stadium,” he said.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763042361413.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly at the University of Kansas Conference Center opening in Lawrence, Kansas, on Nov. 12, 2025. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
                        <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly at the University of Kansas Conference Center opening in Lawrence, Kansas, on Nov. 12, 2025. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The Legislature allocated $35 million to the project in 2022 from American Rescue Plan Act funds. It received $50 million in grant funding in 2023 from the Kansas Department of Commerce, which required a three-to-one match of private funds. The city of Lawrence approved in August a $95 million package of incentives, including the city’s first Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR, bonds, which allow the city to finance the project with nearly $86 million in bonds. Once built, the development’s revenues and sales taxes will pay off the bonds.</p><p>Now that phase 1 is complete, the roughly $300 million phase 2 is expected to begin once KU’s football season ends, said Girod.</p><p>The second phase is expected to begin with renovations to the east side of the football stadium and construction of a parking garage and a 150-room hotel. A roughly 440-bed student housing complex, outdoor event plaza and retail, restaurant and office space are expected to follow, extending use of the area beyond football season.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763042326830.png" alt="A banner hangs on the untouched portion of the University of Kansas football stadium in Lawrence, Kansas, on Nov. 12, 2025. It depicts a rendering of upcoming plans to complete stadium renovations and construct a hotel and parking garage, creating what will be known as the Gateway District. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
                        <figcaption>A banner hangs on the untouched portion of the University of Kansas football stadium in Lawrence, Kansas, on Nov. 12, 2025. It depicts a rendering of upcoming plans to complete stadium renovations and construct a hotel and parking garage, creating what will be known as the Gateway District. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Nearly 1 million people are predicted to visit the Gateway District annually once the project is complete in 2030, according to a feasibility study submitted to the city of Lawrence. Developers expect the district to produce a net economic output of $84.9 million and more than 1,600 full-time jobs.</p><p>“Today marks a shift in what is possible in Lawrence,” said Kim Anspach, the executive director of Explore Lawrence, the city’s tourism arm.</p><p>Capacity often restricted the city’s ability to host and grow events, she said. The center helps create a “steady rhythm of activity,” which helps support the year-round stability of the local economy.</p><p>The center is not a one-time boost, Anspach said; it’s a foundation.</p>

KU convention center opens, capping phase 1 of $800M stadium expansion, redevelopment

FINNEY COUNTY —On Wednesday, during morning drop-off at Garfield Early Childhood Center, 121 West Walnut, a pedestrian accident occurred, resulting in a student being transported to the hospital with minor injuries. 

First responders arrived at the scene following reports of the incident. The investigation determined that a pickup truck driven by 56-year-old Jose Perez Castrellon, 56, was traveling southbound on 8th Street. As he turned left onto Walnut Street, Perez Castrellon failed to yield and struck the student, who was crossing in the crosswalk with their parent. 

Finney County EMS transported the student to St. Catherine Hospital for treatment and they are "on the mend," according to police.

Perez Castrellon was found to be driving with a suspended license. He was taken to the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Driving While Suspended (2nd) and cited for Failure to Yield to Pedestrians. He has as many as 4 previous DUI convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763046310877.png" alt="Perez Castrellon photo Finney Co." />
                        <figcaption>Perez Castrellon photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>FINNEY COUNTY —On Wednesday, during morning drop-off at Garfield Early Childhood Center, 121 West Walnut, a pedestrian accident occurred, resulting in a student being transported to the hospital with minor injuries. </p><p>First responders arrived at the scene following reports of the incident. The investigation determined that a pickup truck driven by 56-year-old Jose Perez Castrellon, 56, was traveling southbound on 8th Street. As he turned left onto Walnut Street, Perez Castrellon failed to yield and struck the student, who was crossing in the crosswalk with their parent. </p><p>Finney County EMS transported the student to St. Catherine Hospital for treatment and they are "on the mend," according to police.</p><p>Perez Castrellon was found to be driving with a suspended license. He was taken to the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Driving While Suspended (2nd) and cited for Failure to Yield to Pedestrians. He has as many as 4 previous DUI convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</p>

Pickup driver who struck SW Kan. student in crosswalk has history of DUI

WASHINGTON (AP) —What's in the bill to end the government shutdown?

The legislation is the result of a deal reached by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-8-democrats-e83180c0b69642a00a234c244d9ea76e">eight senators who broke ranks</a>&nbsp;with the Democrats after reaching the conclusion that Republicans would not bend on using a government funding to bill to extend the health care tax credits.

The compromise funds three annual spending bills and extends the rest of government funding through Jan. 30. Republicans promised to hold a vote by mid-December to extend the health care subsidies, but there is no guarantee of success.

The bill includes a reversal of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-federal-worker-firings-0439e8d0979d9a32e021c5c851fea1cf">the firing of federal workers</a>&nbsp;by the Trump administration since the shutdown began. It also protects federal workers against further layoffs through January and guarantees they are paid once the shutdown is over. The bill for the Agriculture Department means people who rely on key food assistance programs will see those benefits funded without threat of interruption through the rest of the budget year.

The package includes $203.5 million to boost security for lawmakers and an additional $28 million for the security of Supreme Court justices.

Democrats also decried language in the bill that would give senators the opportunity to sue when a federal agency or employee searches their electronic records without notifying them, allowing for up to $500,000 in potential damages for each violation.

The language seems aimed at helping Republican senators pursue damages if their phone records were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-january-6-senate-grassley-26dcd37c3b9e84c0173e63799baf3fa4">analyzed by the FBI</a>&nbsp;as part of an investigation into Trump's efforts to overturn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">his 2020 election loss</a>. The provisions drew criticism from Republicans as well. Johnson said he was “very angry about it.”

“That was dropped in at the last minute, and I did not appreciate that, nor did most of the House members,” Johnson said, promising a vote on the matter as early as next week.

The biggest point of contention, though, was the fate of the expiring enhanced tax credit that makes health insurance more affordable through Affordable Care Act marketplaces.

“It's a subsidy on top of a subsidy. Our friends added it during COVID,” Cole said. “COVID is over. They set a date certain that the subsidies would run out. They chose the date."

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the enhanced tax credit was designed to give more people access to health care and no Republican voted for it.

“All they have done is try to eliminate access to health care in our country. The country is catching on to them,” Pelosi said.

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) —What's in the bill to end the government shutdown?</p><p>The legislation is the result of a deal reached by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-8-democrats-e83180c0b69642a00a234c244d9ea76e">eight senators who broke ranks</a>&nbsp;with the Democrats after reaching the conclusion that Republicans would not bend on using a government funding to bill to extend the health care tax credits.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> REOPENS the government!!! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/LZNLS0Lsj0">pic.twitter.com/LZNLS0Lsj0</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1988811459112087961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>The compromise funds three annual spending bills and extends the rest of government funding through Jan. 30. Republicans promised to hold a vote by mid-December to extend the health care subsidies, but there is no guarantee of success.</p><p>The bill includes a reversal of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-federal-worker-firings-0439e8d0979d9a32e021c5c851fea1cf">the firing of federal workers</a>&nbsp;by the Trump administration since the shutdown began. It also protects federal workers against further layoffs through January and guarantees they are paid once the shutdown is over. The bill for the Agriculture Department means people who rely on key food assistance programs will see those benefits funded without threat of interruption through the rest of the budget year.</p><p>The package includes $203.5 million to boost security for lawmakers and an additional $28 million for the security of Supreme Court justices.</p><p>Democrats also decried language in the bill that would give senators the opportunity to sue when a federal agency or employee searches their electronic records without notifying them, allowing for up to $500,000 in potential damages for each violation.</p><p>The language seems aimed at helping Republican senators pursue damages if their phone records were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-january-6-senate-grassley-26dcd37c3b9e84c0173e63799baf3fa4">analyzed by the FBI</a>&nbsp;as part of an investigation into Trump's efforts to overturn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">his 2020 election loss</a>. The provisions drew criticism from Republicans as well. Johnson said he was “very angry about it.”</p><p>“That was dropped in at the last minute, and I did not appreciate that, nor did most of the House members,” Johnson said, promising a vote on the matter as early as next week.</p><p>The biggest point of contention, though, was the fate of the expiring enhanced tax credit that makes health insurance more affordable through Affordable Care Act marketplaces.</p><p>“It's a subsidy on top of a subsidy. Our friends added it during COVID,” Cole said. “COVID is over. They set a date certain that the subsidies would run out. They chose the date."</p><p>Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the enhanced tax credit was designed to give more people access to health care and no Republican voted for it.</p><p>“All they have done is try to eliminate access to health care in our country. The country is catching on to them,” Pelosi said.</p>

Details on what's in the bill that ended the government shutdown

MITCHELL COUNTY —Two people were injured in a home explosion on Wednesday in Mitchell County.

Just before 6:30pm, the Mitchell County Communication Center received calls of a house explosion had occurred at the corner of Elkhorn Street and Wisconsin Street in Simpson, Kansas, according to a media release from the Mitchell County Sheriff.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene and located two adult victims with severe injuries. Both victims were transported to the Mitchell County Health Hospital Systems ER initially. The victims were then flown to higher level of care hospitals. 

The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted and responded to the scene.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763033183062.png" alt="Photo Mitchell Co. Sheriff" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Mitchell Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>MITCHELL COUNTY —Two people were injured in a home explosion on Wednesday in Mitchell County.</p><p>Just before 6:30pm, the Mitchell County Communication Center received calls of a house explosion had occurred at the corner of Elkhorn Street and Wisconsin Street in Simpson, Kansas, according to a media release from the Mitchell County Sheriff.</p><p>Emergency personnel responded to the scene and located two adult victims with severe injuries. Both victims were transported to the Mitchell County Health Hospital Systems ER initially. The victims were then flown to higher level of care hospitals. </p><p>The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted and responded to the scene.&nbsp;</p>

Sheriff: 2 critically injured in Kansas home explosion

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating and searching for a suspect in a fatal shooting that occurred October 23 at Dr. Glen Dey Park, located at 2801 N. Grove in Wichita.&nbsp; Crime Stoppers is now offering a $10,000 reward in the case.  Police indicated they have only received very few tips on the investigation since the crime occurred.

At approximately 7:03 p.m. an off-duty WPD detective working secondary employment at&nbsp; the park heard multiple gunshots from another area of the park. The detective immediately ran toward the scene and found 32-year-old Travon Stewart suffering from gunshot wounds.

The detective called for backup and emergency medical services, then began life-saving measures until EMS arrived. Stewart was transported to a local hospital in extremely critical condition and later died from his injuries.

Preliminary findings indicate that around 200 to 300 people were in attendance at the football games. Stewart was at the park selling concessions as a fundraiser for a football team not affiliated with the Wichita Junior Football League.

Homicide investigators responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses who remained in the area. Detectives believe this was a targeted shooting and not connected to the youth football games.

Anyone who attended the games or may have information is urged to contact the Wichita Police Department Investigations Section at 316-268-4407.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761331970728.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
                        <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating and searching for a suspect in a fatal shooting that occurred October 23 at Dr. Glen Dey Park, located at 2801 N. Grove in Wichita.&nbsp; Crime Stoppers is now offering a $10,000 reward in the case.  Police indicated they have only received very few tips on the investigation since the crime occurred.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CRIME STOPPERS APPROVES $10,000 REWARD <br><br>***PRESS RELEASE***<br><br>WICHITA, Kan. – Crime Stoppers of Wichita/Sedgwick County has approved an increased reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect responsible for the homicide of Trayvon Stewart. <a href="https://t.co/sgNgtHlJHj">pic.twitter.com/sgNgtHlJHj</a></p>&mdash; Crime Stoppers ICT (@crimestoppers) <a href="https://twitter.com/crimestoppers/status/1988667731865211043?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>At approximately 7:03 p.m. an off-duty WPD detective working secondary employment at&nbsp; the park heard multiple gunshots from another area of the park. The detective immediately ran toward the scene and found 32-year-old Travon Stewart suffering from gunshot wounds.</p><p>The detective called for backup and emergency medical services, then began life-saving measures until EMS arrived. Stewart was transported to a local hospital in extremely critical condition and later died from his injuries.</p><p>Preliminary findings indicate that around 200 to 300 people were in attendance at the football games. Stewart was at the park selling concessions as a fundraiser for a football team not affiliated with the Wichita Junior Football League.</p><p>Homicide investigators responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses who remained in the area. Detectives believe this was a targeted shooting and not connected to the youth football games.</p><p>Anyone who attended the games or may have information is urged to contact the Wichita Police Department Investigations Section at 316-268-4407.&nbsp;</p>

Reward increased for arrest in killing at Kan. youth football game 

More than 1,000 unionized Starbucks workers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-red-cup-day-strike-workers-bdaff6272bedcec43a536a4a024137f6">plan to strike</a>&nbsp;at 65 U.S. stores Thursday to protest a lack of progress in labor negotiations with the company.

The strike was intended to disrupt Starbucks'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-strike-red-cup-day-7c07617260ea1c4760410e29b4509b6b">Red Cup Day</a>, which is typically one of the company's busiest days of the year. Since 2018, Starbucks has given out free, reusable cups on that day to customers who buy a holiday drink.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-workers-united-union-lawsuit-israel-palestinian-f212a994fef67f122854a4df7e5d13f5">Starbucks Workers United</a>, the union organizing Starbucks baristas, said stores in 45 cities would be impacted, including New York, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, San Diego, St. Louis, Dallas, Columbus, Ohio, and Starbucks' home city of Seattle. There is no date set for the strike to end, and more stores are prepared to join if Starbucks doesn't reach a contract agreement with the union, organizers said.

Starbucks emphasized that the vast majority of its U.S. stores would be open and operating as usual Thursday. The coffee giant has 10,000 company-owned stores in the U.S., as well as 7,000 licensed locations in places like grocery stores and airports.

Around 550 company-owned U.S. Starbucks stores are currently unionized. More have voted to unionize, but Starbucks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-close-stores-layoffs-3aa70c7d3828520855998a490ebe865b">closed 59 unionized stores</a>&nbsp;in September as part of a larger reorganization campaign.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-dress-code-baristas-strike-3a39bbf41247d2090afa9b487ccf3d97">Striking workers</a>&nbsp;say they're protesting because Starbucks has yet to reach a contract agreement with the union. Starbucks workers first voted to unionize at a store in Buffalo in 2021. In December 2023, Starbucks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-workers-united-union-coffee-05d3d30c2c7e100a07f5d74fefb2d556">vowed to finalize</a>&nbsp;an agreement by the end of 2024. But in August of last year, the company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-ceo-narasimhan-chipotle-0173c2b9189c808968613b1285c1c366">ousted Laxman Narasimhan</a>, the CEO who made that promise. The union said progress has stalled under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-ceo-brian-niccol-f2b918d9862a329d7f0ba3373ebbc444">Brian Niccol</a>, the company’s current chairman and CEO.

Workers say they're seeking better hours and improved staffing in stores, where they say long customer wait times are routine. They say too many workers aren't getting the required 20 hours per week they need before Starbucks' benefits kick in. They also want higher pay, pointing out that executives like Niccol are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-niccol-chipotle-coffee-7cf3e56164ad0b9cba05002e7805b1fc">making millions</a>.

The union also wants the company to resolve hundreds of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-starbucks-union-fired-workers-tennessee-18547e128a14fae93a148383f48cb305">unfair labor practice</a>&nbsp;charges filed by workers, who say the company has fired baristas in retaliation for unionizing and has failed to bargain over changes in policy that workers must enforce, like its decision earlier this year to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-customers-purchase-restroom-code-conduct-3876b0592418f30fc19a4e56848ed28b">limit restroom use</a>&nbsp;to paying customers.

Starbucks stands by its wages and benefits

Starbucks says it offers the best wage and benefit package in retail, worth an average of $30 per hour. Among the company's benefits are up to 18 weeks of paid family leave and 100% tuition coverage for a four-year college degree. In a letter to employees last week, Starbucks’ Chief Partner Officer Sara Kelly said the union walked away from the bargaining table in the spring.

Kelly said Starbucks remained ready to talk and “believes we can move quickly to a reasonable deal.” Kelly also said surveys showed that most employees like working for the company, and its barista turnover rates are half the industry average.

Unionized workers have gone on strike at Starbucks before. In 2022 and 2023, workers walked off the job on Red Cup Day. Last year, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-strike-baristas-workers-united-7b2f6e5d7b039bc1909d646d84cd426d">five-day strike</a>&nbsp;ahead of Christmas closed 59 U.S. stores. Each time, Starbucks said the disruption to its operations was minimal. Starbucks United said the new strike is open-ended and could spread to many more unionized locations.

The number of non-union Starbucks locations dwarfs the number of unionized ones. But Todd Vachon, a union expert at the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, said any strike could be highly visible and educate the public on baristas' concerns.

Unlike manufacturers, Vachon said, retail industries depend on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-ceo-niccol-coffee-b547ab2141e194b30675ad8d1caff90d">the connection</a>&nbsp;between their employees and their customers. That makes shaming a potentially powerful weapon in the union’s arsenal, he said.

Starbucks' same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, rose 1% in the July-September period. It was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-earnings-sales-north-america-71dc61f607d013a418c53535daa21a3f">the first time</a>&nbsp;in nearly two years that the company had posted an increase. In his first year at the company, Niccol set new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-dress-code-lawsuits-union-9d1eff89242d00f65d459d8a393f409a">hospitality standards</a>, redesigned stores to be cozier and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-ceo-niccol-coffee-b547ab2141e194b30675ad8d1caff90d">more welcoming</a>, and adjusted staffing levels to better handle peak hours.

Starbucks also is trying to prioritize in-store orders over mobile ones. Last week, the company's holiday drink rollout in the U.S. was so successful that it almost immediately sold out of its glass Bearista cup. Starbucks said demand for the cup exceeded its expectations, but it wouldn't say if the Bearista will return before the holidays are over.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762459345358.png" alt="Starbucks Union" />
                        <figcaption>Starbucks Union</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By DEE-ANN DURBIN <br>AP Business Writer</p><p>More than 1,000 unionized Starbucks workers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-red-cup-day-strike-workers-bdaff6272bedcec43a536a4a024137f6">plan to strike</a>&nbsp;at 65 U.S. stores Thursday to protest a lack of progress in labor negotiations with the company.</p><p>The strike was intended to disrupt Starbucks'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-strike-red-cup-day-7c07617260ea1c4760410e29b4509b6b">Red Cup Day</a>, which is typically one of the company's busiest days of the year. Since 2018, Starbucks has given out free, reusable cups on that day to customers who buy a holiday drink.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/gdbL0MxtjX">https://t.co/gdbL0MxtjX</a></p>&mdash; Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBWorkersUnited/status/1988727090007670974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-workers-united-union-lawsuit-israel-palestinian-f212a994fef67f122854a4df7e5d13f5">Starbucks Workers United</a>, the union organizing Starbucks baristas, said stores in 45 cities would be impacted, including New York, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, San Diego, St. Louis, Dallas, Columbus, Ohio, and Starbucks' home city of Seattle. There is no date set for the strike to end, and more stores are prepared to join if Starbucks doesn't reach a contract agreement with the union, organizers said.</p><p>Starbucks emphasized that the vast majority of its U.S. stores would be open and operating as usual Thursday. The coffee giant has 10,000 company-owned stores in the U.S., as well as 7,000 licensed locations in places like grocery stores and airports.</p><p>Around 550 company-owned U.S. Starbucks stores are currently unionized. More have voted to unionize, but Starbucks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-close-stores-layoffs-3aa70c7d3828520855998a490ebe865b">closed 59 unionized stores</a>&nbsp;in September as part of a larger reorganization campaign.</p><p>Here's what's behind the strike.</p><h2>A stalled contract agreement</h2><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-dress-code-baristas-strike-3a39bbf41247d2090afa9b487ccf3d97">Striking workers</a>&nbsp;say they're protesting because Starbucks has yet to reach a contract agreement with the union. Starbucks workers first voted to unionize at a store in Buffalo in 2021. In December 2023, Starbucks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-workers-united-union-coffee-05d3d30c2c7e100a07f5d74fefb2d556">vowed to finalize</a>&nbsp;an agreement by the end of 2024. But in August of last year, the company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-ceo-narasimhan-chipotle-0173c2b9189c808968613b1285c1c366">ousted Laxman Narasimhan</a>, the CEO who made that promise. The union said progress has stalled under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-ceo-brian-niccol-f2b918d9862a329d7f0ba3373ebbc444">Brian Niccol</a>, the company’s current chairman and CEO.</p><h2>Workers want higher pay, better hours</h2><p>Workers say they're seeking better hours and improved staffing in stores, where they say long customer wait times are routine. They say too many workers aren't getting the required 20 hours per week they need before Starbucks' benefits kick in. They also want higher pay, pointing out that executives like Niccol are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-niccol-chipotle-coffee-7cf3e56164ad0b9cba05002e7805b1fc">making millions</a>.</p><p>The union also wants the company to resolve hundreds of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-starbucks-union-fired-workers-tennessee-18547e128a14fae93a148383f48cb305">unfair labor practice</a>&nbsp;charges filed by workers, who say the company has fired baristas in retaliation for unionizing and has failed to bargain over changes in policy that workers must enforce, like its decision earlier this year to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-customers-purchase-restroom-code-conduct-3876b0592418f30fc19a4e56848ed28b">limit restroom use</a>&nbsp;to paying customers.</p><h2>Starbucks stands by its wages and benefits</h2><p>Starbucks says it offers the best wage and benefit package in retail, worth an average of $30 per hour. Among the company's benefits are up to 18 weeks of paid family leave and 100% tuition coverage for a four-year college degree. In a letter to employees last week, Starbucks’ Chief Partner Officer Sara Kelly said the union walked away from the bargaining table in the spring.</p><p>Kelly said Starbucks remained ready to talk and “believes we can move quickly to a reasonable deal.” Kelly also said surveys showed that most employees like working for the company, and its barista turnover rates are half the industry average.</p><h2>Limited locations with high visibility</h2><p>Unionized workers have gone on strike at Starbucks before. In 2022 and 2023, workers walked off the job on Red Cup Day. Last year, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-strike-baristas-workers-united-7b2f6e5d7b039bc1909d646d84cd426d">five-day strike</a>&nbsp;ahead of Christmas closed 59 U.S. stores. Each time, Starbucks said the disruption to its operations was minimal. Starbucks United said the new strike is open-ended and could spread to many more unionized locations.</p><p>The number of non-union Starbucks locations dwarfs the number of unionized ones. But Todd Vachon, a union expert at the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, said any strike could be highly visible and educate the public on baristas' concerns.</p><p>Unlike manufacturers, Vachon said, retail industries depend on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-ceo-niccol-coffee-b547ab2141e194b30675ad8d1caff90d">the connection</a>&nbsp;between their employees and their customers. That makes shaming a potentially powerful weapon in the union’s arsenal, he said.</p><h2>Improving sales</h2><p>Starbucks' same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, rose 1% in the July-September period. It was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-earnings-sales-north-america-71dc61f607d013a418c53535daa21a3f">the first time</a>&nbsp;in nearly two years that the company had posted an increase. In his first year at the company, Niccol set new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-dress-code-lawsuits-union-9d1eff89242d00f65d459d8a393f409a">hospitality standards</a>, redesigned stores to be cozier and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-ceo-niccol-coffee-b547ab2141e194b30675ad8d1caff90d">more welcoming</a>, and adjusted staffing levels to better handle peak hours.</p><p>Starbucks also is trying to prioritize in-store orders over mobile ones. Last week, the company's holiday drink rollout in the U.S. was so successful that it almost immediately sold out of its glass Bearista cup. Starbucks said demand for the cup exceeded its expectations, but it wouldn't say if the Bearista will return before the holidays are over.</p>

Starbucks workers kick off US strike on company's busy Red Cup Day

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-republicans-schumer-health-insurance-tax-credits-a57733892f05a8893f5781203238e889">a record 43-day shutdown</a>&nbsp;that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated long lines at some food banks.

Trump’s signature draws to a close the second government shutdown he’s overseen in the White House, one that magnified the partisan divisions in Washington as his administration took unprecedented unilateral actions -- including canceling projects and trying to fire federal workers -- to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands.

The signing ceremony came just hours after the House passed the measure on a mostly party-line vote of 222-209. The Senate had already passed the measure Monday.

Democrats wanted to extend an enhanced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">tax credit</a>&nbsp;expiring at the end of the year that lowers the cost of health coverage obtained through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. They refused to go along with a short-term spending bill that did not include that priority. But Republicans said that was a separate policy fight to be held at another time.

“We told you 43 days ago from bitter experience that government shutdowns don’t work,” said Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. "They never achieve the objective that you announce. And guess what? You haven’t achieved that objective yet, and you’re not going to.”

The frustration and pressures generated by the shutdown was reflected when lawmakers debated the spending measure on the House floor.

Republicans said Democrats sought to use the pain generated by the shutdown to prevail in a policy dispute.

“They knew it would cause pain and they did it anyway,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said.

Democrats said Republicans raced to pass tax breaks earlier this year that they say mostly will benefit the wealthy. But the bill before the House Wednesday “leaves families twisting in the wind with zero guarantee there will ever, ever be a vote to extend tax credits to help everyday people pay for their health care,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would not give up on the subsidy extension even if the vote did not go their way.

“This fight is not over,” Jeffries said. “We’re just getting started.”

The House had not been in legislative session since Sept. 19, when it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-trump-funding-bill-republicans-shutdown-1fea0f79c85ec69b91d9789fbda00834">passed a short-term measure</a>&nbsp;to keep the government open when the new budget year began in October. Johnson sent lawmakers home after that vote and put the onus on the Senate to act, saying House Republicans had done their job.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763004356820.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-republicans-schumer-health-insurance-tax-credits-a57733892f05a8893f5781203238e889">a record 43-day shutdown</a>&nbsp;that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated long lines at some food banks.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: President Trump signs the bill to officially END the Democrat government shutdown<br><br>&quot;It&#39;s an honor now to sign this incredible bill, and get our country working again.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Y7e7ZmHbUE">pic.twitter.com/Y7e7ZmHbUE</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1988811355911262272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;With my signature, the federal government will now resume normal operations and my administration, and our partners in Congress, will continue our work to lower the cost of living, restore public safety... and make America affordable again for all Americans.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ybJjiM2lIL">pic.twitter.com/ybJjiM2lIL</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1988810732834812391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;For the past 43 days, Democrats in Congress shut down the government of the United States in an attempt to extort American taxpayers for hundreds of billions of dollars for illegal aliens... Today, we’re sending a clear message that we will NEVER give in to extortion.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/kMKncQPsiL">pic.twitter.com/kMKncQPsiL</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1988809270163566995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;The Democrats shutdown has inflicted massive harm. They caused 20,000 flights to be cancelled or delayed... they deprived more than 1M government workers from their paychecks and cut off food stamp benefits of millions and millions of Americans in need.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/KCdnltt95L">pic.twitter.com/KCdnltt95L</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1988810060576031185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Trump’s signature draws to a close the second government shutdown he’s overseen in the White House, one that magnified the partisan divisions in Washington as his administration took unprecedented unilateral actions -- including canceling projects and trying to fire federal workers -- to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands.</p><p>The signing ceremony came just hours after the House passed the measure on a mostly party-line vote of 222-209. The Senate had already passed the measure Monday.</p><p>Democrats wanted to extend an enhanced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">tax credit</a>&nbsp;expiring at the end of the year that lowers the cost of health coverage obtained through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. They refused to go along with a short-term spending bill that did not include that priority. But Republicans said that was a separate policy fight to be held at another time.</p><p>“We told you 43 days ago from bitter experience that government shutdowns don’t work,” said Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. "They never achieve the objective that you announce. And guess what? You haven’t achieved that objective yet, and you’re not going to.”</p><p>The frustration and pressures generated by the shutdown was reflected when lawmakers debated the spending measure on the House floor.</p><p>Republicans said Democrats sought to use the pain generated by the shutdown to prevail in a policy dispute.</p><p>“They knew it would cause pain and they did it anyway,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said.</p><p>Democrats said Republicans raced to pass tax breaks earlier this year that they say mostly will benefit the wealthy. But the bill before the House Wednesday “leaves families twisting in the wind with zero guarantee there will ever, ever be a vote to extend tax credits to help everyday people pay for their health care,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.</p><p>Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would not give up on the subsidy extension even if the vote did not go their way.</p><p>“This fight is not over,” Jeffries said. “We’re just getting started.”</p><p>The House had not been in legislative session since Sept. 19, when it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-trump-funding-bill-republicans-shutdown-1fea0f79c85ec69b91d9789fbda00834">passed a short-term measure</a>&nbsp;to keep the government open when the new budget year began in October. Johnson sent lawmakers home after that vote and put the onus on the Senate to act, saying House Republicans had done their job.</p>

🎥President Trump signs bill to end the 43 day government shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed a bill Wednesday to end the nation's longest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse that saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families.

House lawmakers made their long-awaited return to the nation's capital this week after nearly eight weeks away, with Republicans using their slight majority to get the bill over the finish line by a vote of 222-209. Kansas GOP lawmakers Ron Estes, Tracey Mann and Derek Schmidt voted for the measure.

Six Democrats voted with the majority including Jared Golden of Maine, Marie Gluesenkanp Perez of Washington, Adam Gray of California, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Tom Suozzi of New York and Don Davis of North Carolina. Kansas Democrat Representative Sharice Davids voted against the bill.

The Senate has already passed the measure. Trump has called the bill a “very big victory."

Democrats wanted to extend an enhanced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">tax credit</a>&nbsp;expiring at the end of the year that lowers the cost of health coverage obtained through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. They refused to go along with a short-term spending bill that did not include that priority. But Republicans said that was a separate policy fight to be held at another time. They eventually prevailed, but only after the shutdown took an increasing toll on the country.

The shutdown magnified the stark partisan divisions within Congress, and that split screen was reflected when lawmakers debated the measure on the House floor.

“Stop imposing the suffering,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said. “Let's open the government. Let's get back to the work of the American people.”

Democrats said Republicans raced to pass tax breaks earlier this year that they say mostly will benefit the wealthy, but the bill before the House Wednesday “leaves families twisting in the wind with zero guarantee there will ever, ever be a vote to extend tax credits to help everyday people pay for their health care,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would not give up even if the vote did not go their way.

The House had not been in legislative session since Sept. 19, when it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-trump-funding-bill-republicans-shutdown-1fea0f79c85ec69b91d9789fbda00834">passed a short-term measure</a>&nbsp;to keep the government open when the new budget year began in October. House Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers home after that vote and put the onus on the Senate to act, saying House Republicans had done their job.

Johnson said the Democratic opposition to the spending bill was pointless, adding “it was wrong, it was cruel.”

“They knew it would cause pain and they did it anyway,” Johnson said.

The legislation included buy-in from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-8-democrats-e83180c0b69642a00a234c244d9ea76e">eight senators who broke ranks</a>&nbsp;with the Democrats after reaching the conclusion that Republicans would not bend on using a government funding to bill to extend the health care tax credits. Meanwhile, the shutdown's toll was growing by the day.

“We had reached a point where I think a number of us believed that the shutdown had been very effective in raising the concern about health care,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. The promise for a future vote “gives us an opportunity to continue to address that going forward."

The legislation includes a reversal of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-federal-worker-firings-0439e8d0979d9a32e021c5c851fea1cf">the firing of federal workers</a>&nbsp;by the Trump administration since the shutdown began. It also protects federal workers against further layoffs through January and guarantees they are paid once the shutdown is over. The bill for the Agriculture Department means people who rely on key food assistance programs will see those benefits funded without threat of interruption through the rest of the budget year.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762997095564.png" alt="A view of the House floor as the the result of the vote was announced Wednesday just before 7:30p.m. CST." />
                        <figcaption>A view of the House floor as the the result of the vote was announced Wednesday just before 7:30p.m. CST.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed a bill Wednesday to end the nation's longest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse that saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: U.S. House votes to end government shutdown, 222-209. <br><br>Goes now to the president. <a href="https://t.co/LPySa48qUZ">pic.twitter.com/LPySa48qUZ</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1988780269688541282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RIP DEMOCRAT SHUTDOWN. <br><br>Oct 1, 2025 – Nov 12, 2025 <a href="https://t.co/rTb6PiYmqI">pic.twitter.com/rTb6PiYmqI</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1988786654622961817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>House lawmakers made their long-awaited return to the nation's capital this week after nearly eight weeks away, with Republicans using their slight majority to get the bill over the finish line by a vote of 222-209. Kansas GOP lawmakers Ron Estes, Tracey Mann and Derek Schmidt voted for the measure.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For 43 painful days, Senate Democrats held our government hostage and demanded we give in to their radical political agenda, causing the longest government shutdown in American history. Tonight, I voted with my House Republican colleagues on the final passage of the funding bill.…</p>&mdash; Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1988780931776139462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I proudly voted to reopen the government. I&#39;m hopeful that Congress can put Americans first and get back to passing the agenda that <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseGOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HouseGOP</a> was elected to deliver on. <a href="https://t.co/xApxe26T7e">pic.twitter.com/xApxe26T7e</a></p>&mdash; Tracey Mann (@RepMann) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMann/status/1988786303715144016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rep. Derek Schmidt statement on House vote to reopen the federal government:<a href="https://t.co/CyIA35Gs8s">https://t.co/CyIA35Gs8s</a></p>&mdash; Congressman Derek Schmidt (@RepDerekSchmidt) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDerekSchmidt/status/1988782024510042310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Six Democrats voted with the majority including Jared Golden of Maine, Marie Gluesenkanp Perez of Washington, Adam Gray of California, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Tom Suozzi of New York and Don Davis of North Carolina. Kansas Democrat Representative Sharice Davids voted against the bill.</p><p>The Senate has already passed the measure. Trump has called the bill a “very big victory."</p><p>Democrats wanted to extend an enhanced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">tax credit</a>&nbsp;expiring at the end of the year that lowers the cost of health coverage obtained through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. They refused to go along with a short-term spending bill that did not include that priority. But Republicans said that was a separate policy fight to be held at another time. They eventually prevailed, but only after the shutdown took an increasing toll on the country.</p><p>“We told you 43 days ago from bitter experience that government shutdowns don’t work,” said Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. "They never achieve the objective that you announce. And guess what? You haven’t achieved that objective yet, and you’re not going to.”</p><p>The shutdown magnified the stark partisan divisions within Congress, and that split screen was reflected when lawmakers debated the measure on the House floor.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a> complete remarks before vote to reopen the government: &quot;We need to get this government open as soon as possible and I&#39;m going to yield back the remainder of my time so we can do that. The American people demand it and deserve it. My friends, let&#39;s get this done.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/AlDPONKjZS">pic.twitter.com/AlDPONKjZS</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1988778035575721984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Republicans said Democrats sought to use the pain generated by the shutdown to prevail in a policy dispute.</p><p>“Stop imposing the suffering,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said. “Let's open the government. Let's get back to the work of the American people.”</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepJeffries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJeffries</a> complete remarks before final vote to reopen government: &quot;The spirit of John Lewis lives amongst House Democrats and we will continue to get into good trouble to make their life better. That&#39;s our commitment to every single American all across this country...&quot; <a href="https://t.co/w3BCB7nSXy">pic.twitter.com/w3BCB7nSXy</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1988777933737992551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Democrats said Republicans raced to pass tax breaks earlier this year that they say mostly will benefit the wealthy, but the bill before the House Wednesday “leaves families twisting in the wind with zero guarantee there will ever, ever be a vote to extend tax credits to help everyday people pay for their health care,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.</p><p>Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would not give up even if the vote did not go their way.</p><p>“This fight is not over,” Jeffries said. “We’re just getting started.”</p><p>The House had not been in legislative session since Sept. 19, when it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-trump-funding-bill-republicans-shutdown-1fea0f79c85ec69b91d9789fbda00834">passed a short-term measure</a>&nbsp;to keep the government open when the new budget year began in October. House Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers home after that vote and put the onus on the Senate to act, saying House Republicans had done their job.</p><p>Johnson said the Democratic opposition to the spending bill was pointless, adding “it was wrong, it was cruel.”</p><p>“They knew it would cause pain and they did it anyway,” Johnson said.</p><h2>The compromise to end the shut</h2><h2>down</h2><p>The legislation included buy-in from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-8-democrats-e83180c0b69642a00a234c244d9ea76e">eight senators who broke ranks</a>&nbsp;with the Democrats after reaching the conclusion that Republicans would not bend on using a government funding to bill to extend the health care tax credits. Meanwhile, the shutdown's toll was growing by the day.</p><p>The compromise funds three annual spending bills and extends the rest of government funding through Jan. 30. Republicans promised to hold a vote by mid-December to extend the health care subsidies, but there is no guarantee of success.</p><p>“We had reached a point where I think a number of us believed that the shutdown had been very effective in raising the concern about health care,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. The promise for a future vote “gives us an opportunity to continue to address that going forward."</p><p>The legislation includes a reversal of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-federal-worker-firings-0439e8d0979d9a32e021c5c851fea1cf">the firing of federal workers</a>&nbsp;by the Trump administration since the shutdown began. It also protects federal workers against further layoffs through January and guarantees they are paid once the shutdown is over. The bill for the Agriculture Department means people who rely on key food assistance programs will see those benefits funded without threat of interruption through the rest of the budget year.</p><p>The package includes $203.5 million to boost security for lawmakers and an additional $28 million for the security of Supreme Court justices.</p><p>Democrats are also seizing on language that would give senators the opportunity to sue when a federal agency or employee searches their electronic records without notifying them, allowing for up to $500,000 in potential damages for each violation. Democrats called for removal of the provision.</p><p>The language seems aimed at helping Republican senators pursue damages if their phone records were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-january-6-senate-grassley-26dcd37c3b9e84c0173e63799baf3fa4">analyzed by the FBI</a>&nbsp;as part of an investigation into Trump's efforts to overturn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">his 2020 election loss</a>&nbsp;to Democrat Joe Biden. The provisions drew criticism from Republicans as well. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., said he's already introduced repeal legislation that he hoped would be voted on quickly.</p><p>The biggest point of contention, though, was the fate of the expiring enhanced tax credit that makes health insurance more affordable through Affordable Care Act marketplaces.</p><p>“It's a subsidy on top of a subsidy. Our friends added it during COVID,” Cole said. “COVID is over. They set a date certain that the subsidies would run out. They chose the date."</p><p>Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the enhanced tax credit was designed to give more people access to health care, but no Republicans voted for it.</p><p>“All they have done is try to eliminate access to health care in our country. The country is catching on to them,” Pelosi said.</p><p>Most Democrats call the passage of the spending bill this week a mistake. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who received blowback from his party in March when he voted to keep the government open, said the bill "fails to do anything of substance to fix America's healthcare crisis.”</p><p>Without the enhanced tax credit, premiums on average will more than double for millions of Americans. More than 2 million people would lose health insurance coverage altogether next year, the Congressional Budget Office projected.</p><p>Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucuses with the Democrats, said giving up the fight was a “horrific mistake.” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., agreed, saying that voters who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2025-results-takeaways-charts-e440e2b57f751acb5e173ab35aab1bc6">overwhelmingly supported Democrats in last week’s elections</a>&nbsp;were urging them to “hold firm.”</p><h2>Health care debate ahead</h2><p>It’s unclear whether the parties will find any common ground on health care before the December vote in the Senate. Johnson has said he will not commit to bringing it up in his chamber.</p><p>Some Republicans have said they are open to extending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-health-care-tax-credits-obamacare-shutdown-f1ee636ddba7f65baa5234c55cb0c96e">the COVID-19 pandemic-era tax credits</a>&nbsp;as premiums will soar for millions of people, but they also want new limits on who can receive the subsidies. Some argue that the tax dollars for the plans should be routed through individuals rather than go directly to insurance companies.</p><p>Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Monday that she was supportive of extending the tax credits with changes, such as new income caps. Some Democrats have signaled they could be open to that idea.</p><p>House Democrats expressed great skepticism that the Senate effort would lead to a breakthrough.</p><p>Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Republicans have wanted to repeal the health overall for the past 15 years. “That’s where they’re trying to go,” she said.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.</p>