KANSAS CITY — Law enforcement are investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident that occurred just after 3a.m. Saturday in Kansas City.

An unknown vehicle was eastbound on Independence Avenue at Van Brunt Boulevard, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez. The vehicle struck a pedestrian in the outside lane. The victim was crossing Independence Avenue from the North to the South. 

The vehicle left the scene in an unknown direction. EMS transported the pedestrian to a local hospital and they pronounced deceased a few minutes later, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

KANSAS CITY — Law enforcement are investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident that occurred just after 3a.m. Saturday in Kansas City.An unknown vehicle was eastbound on Independence Avenue at Van Brunt Boulevard, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez. The vehicle struck a pedestrian in the outside lane. The victim was crossing Independence Avenue from the North to the South. The vehicle left the scene in an unknown direction. EMS transported the pedestrian to a local hospital and they pronounced deceased a few minutes later, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

KCPD investigating fatal hit-and-run

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Pop superstar Taylor Swift returned to Arrowhead Stadium to cheer on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday as they face the Houston Texans in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Taylor arrived much earlier than usual — about two hours before kickoff — and was dressed nearly head to toe in Chanel, including a black-and-white tweed jacket, a quarter-zip romper, a pearl strand belt and pendant earrings.

She spent some of the game sitting in a suite alongside Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who is likewise a big Chiefs fan.

Swift began&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-broncos-b08b0e53fdd232dc0a468b5fa43b5b04">her high-profile romance with Kelce</a>&nbsp;last season, when he invited the “Anti-Hero” singer to watch him play in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-kelce-chiefs-891e7df84295f5b35cfa97a5ec427721">a September matchup with the Bears</a>. Since then, the two have spent plenty of time together, often with cameras following them.

She has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-chiefs-childrens-hospital-63677e7d794ea29053c32fe84d44355d">spending more time in Kansas City lately</a>&nbsp;after wrapping up her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-numbers-2-billion-118a7f5ea4609c5d3072a29152e387bb">record-setting Eras Tour</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 8 in Canada.

The Chiefs had a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-nfl-playoffs-6f7dbffff1f69e7b31277850fa6626b3">first-round bye in the playoffs</a>&nbsp;after going 15-2 in the regular season and earning the No. 1 seed. They are trying to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls; Swift was on hand for the most recent one in Las Vegas, racing back from her concert in Tokyo the same weekend to make it in time for kickoff.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737247206128.png" alt="Taylor Swift watches from a suite during the first half of an NFL football AFC divisional playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)" />
 <figcaption>Taylor Swift watches from a suite during the first half of an NFL football AFC divisional playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Pop superstar Taylor Swift returned to Arrowhead Stadium to cheer on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday as they face the Houston Texans in the divisional round of the playoffs.Taylor arrived much earlier than usual — about two hours before kickoff — and was dressed nearly head to toe in Chanel, including a black-and-white tweed jacket, a quarter-zip romper, a pearl strand belt and pendant earrings.She spent some of the game sitting in a suite alongside Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who is likewise a big Chiefs fan.Swift began&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-broncos-b08b0e53fdd232dc0a468b5fa43b5b04">her high-profile romance with Kelce</a>&nbsp;last season, when he invited the “Anti-Hero” singer to watch him play in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-kelce-chiefs-891e7df84295f5b35cfa97a5ec427721">a September matchup with the Bears</a>. Since then, the two have spent plenty of time together, often with cameras following them.She has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-chiefs-childrens-hospital-63677e7d794ea29053c32fe84d44355d">spending more time in Kansas City lately</a>&nbsp;after wrapping up her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-numbers-2-billion-118a7f5ea4609c5d3072a29152e387bb">record-setting Eras Tour</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 8 in Canada.The Chiefs had a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-nfl-playoffs-6f7dbffff1f69e7b31277850fa6626b3">first-round bye in the playoffs</a>&nbsp;after going 15-2 in the regular season and earning the No. 1 seed. They are trying to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls; Swift was on hand for the most recent one in Las Vegas, racing back from her concert in Tokyo the same weekend to make it in time for kickoff.

Taylor Swift returns to Arrowhead to watch Kelce and the Chiefs, joined by Caitlin Clark

SHAWNEE COUNTY&nbsp; – Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop and arrest.

Just before 1 a.m. Dec. 15, a sheriff' s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a blue 1994 Ford Ranger near NW Topeka Boulevard and NW Lyman Road, according to Shawnee County Sheriff's Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the traffic stop, the driver gave false information including his name, date of birth, age, and more. Eventually, it was discovered that the driver had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest through the City of Topeka and a suspended driver’s license.

A K-9 Unit assisted and illegal narcotics were located. John J. Shaw, 41, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant,&nbsp; Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia,&nbsp;Identity theft,&nbsp; Interference with law enforcement, Driving while license suspended, Improper display of license plate and No vehicle liability insurance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736976441700.png" alt="Shawnee photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Shawnee photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY&nbsp; – Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop and arrest.Just before 1 a.m. Dec. 15, a sheriff' s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a blue 1994 Ford Ranger near NW Topeka Boulevard and NW Lyman Road, according to Shawnee County Sheriff's Deputy Abigail Christian.During the traffic stop, the driver gave false information including his name, date of birth, age, and more. Eventually, it was discovered that the driver had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest through the City of Topeka and a suspended driver’s license.A K-9 Unit assisted and illegal narcotics were located. John J. Shaw, 41, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant,&nbsp; Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia,&nbsp;Identity theft,&nbsp; Interference with law enforcement, Driving while license suspended, Improper display of license plate and No vehicle liability insurance.

Wanted Kan. suspect gave fake name and more during traffic stop

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;returned to Washington Saturday evening to celebrate with family, supporters and political allies ahead of his second inauguration, a triumphant return for the Republican four years after he departed the city under the shadow of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">attack by his supporters on the Capitol</a>.

Trump marked his return to power with a celebration at his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, about 30 miles outside Washington.

He addressed the crowd, giving shoutouts to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and declaring his Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff a “great negotiator.” Witkoff this past week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-ceasefire-trump-biden-israel-hamas-0e6c324ba0e3e9413bafe740fdefebc6">helped negotiate a ceasefire</a>&nbsp;deal between Israel and Hamas that's scheduled to take effect on Sunday.

Soon after his remarks, Trump stepped out onto a clubhouse balcony while guests gathered on the patio below him for a fireworks display and performance by tenor Christopher Macchio.

Trump was marking his return to power with a celebration and a fireworks showcase at his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, about 30 miles outside Washington.

Trump returned to Washington as organizers of Monday’s Inauguration Day ceremony were scrambling to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-capitol-rotunda-cold-weather-2e527b4f40309be7fd2b48a8173af390">move inside most of the outdoor events</a>, including the swearing-in of president and vice president that traditionally takes place on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, due to forecasted frigid temperatures.

It will be the first time since President Ronald Reagan took the oath of office in 1985 for his second term that the ceremony will be moved inside the U.S. Capitol.

Trump made his way from West Palm Beach, Florida, with his wife Melania Trump and their son Barron aboard a U.S. military C-32 aircraft on a flight dubbed Special Air Mission 47 — a nod to Trump becoming the 47th president on Monday.

It’s a courtesy that's traditionally been extended by the outgoing administration to the incoming one. Trump did not make a government plane available to President Joe Biden ahead of his inauguration in 2021, and instead the Democrat flew to Washington on a privately chartered aircraft.

As his motorcade neared his golf club for Saturday's celebration, he was greeted by dozens of well-wishers who gathered along the roadside and chanted “Trump” and “USA, USA!”

With a blast of Arctic air expected to leave the nation’s capital&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arctic-siberian-cold-chilly-trump-inauguration-7537abf637d19e681e9c517e1e82cb4b">facing frigid temperatures</a>&nbsp;on Inauguration Day, Trump opted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-capitol-rotunda-cold-weather-2e527b4f40309be7fd2b48a8173af390">move inside most of Monday’s outdoor events</a>, including the swearing-in ceremony.

“I think we made the right decision. We’ll be very comfortable now,” Trump told NBC News in a phone interview Saturday.

On Pennsylvania Avenue leading to the White House, crews were breaking down metal bleachers that would have been used for outdoor inauguration viewing stands.

Even before Trump got to town,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peoples-march-reproductive-rights-climate-immigration-democracy-a8c0d6a1351bb03f4b2b6436fa79fe58">groups of protesters</a>&nbsp;began taking to the street in the morning as a light sleet fell.

Melody Hamoud, a Washington resident, wore a pink hat that she had on at a 2017 march to protest Trump's first inauguration.

“I just didn’t want to sit home and fret in front of the TV,” she said. “I wanted to feel like our movement still has energy and be around others who felt the same.”

Timothy Wallis, 58, flew in for the inauguration from Pocatello, Idaho, with friends. The group had tickets to watch the ceremony outside but haven't been able to get tickets to any of the indoor events.

“We found out on the plane,” he said about the change of plans.

Wallis said he was disappointed about the switch and a little bemused since he’s used to cold at home.

“We left snow to come here,” he said. “I brought my gloves!”

Meanwhile, Trump said Saturday he is preparing to roll out a series of executive orders and other actions in the first days of his new administration.

He confirmed he'll&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-us-ban-trump-extension-a3936a93f174d176d3633a67554d771b">“most likely” grant an extension</a>&nbsp;that might allow TikTok to keep operating in the U.S. beyond Sunday, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tiktok-china-security-speech-166f7c794ee587d3385190f893e52777">a law</a>&nbsp;that prohibits mobile app stores and internet hosting services from distributing TikTok to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-creators-influencers-react-78a06f9d2a91541710f999cbe39a3290">U.S. users</a>&nbsp;takes effect.

And Trump in the NBC News interview confirmed that his administration would begin its effort “very early, very quickly” on following through on a campaign promise of mass deportations of migrants living in the U.S. without legal permission.

Federal immigration officers are expected to initially target&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-ice-raids-trump-immigrant-community-b3b276656067b5302bed7dfcaf950f57">more than 300 people in the Chicago area</a>&nbsp;with histories of egregious, violent crimes after Trump takes office Monday, according to an official familiar with the planning who spoke on condition of anonymity because plans have not been made public.

“Well, it’s got to happen, and if it doesn’t happen, we’re not going to have a country any longer,” said Trump, who declined to say where the deportation operations would begin.

Trump, a Republican, left office in 2021 as a political pariah after his refusal to accept his loss to Democrat Joe Biden led a mob to overrun the Capitol. He then broke tradition by skipping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-inauguration-a01d1ffa7862661914cb92b22e359854">Biden's inauguration.</a>

Biden will adhere to one of the most potent symbols of the democratic handover, welcoming Trump to the White House and joining him on the ride to the Capitol before Trump takes the oath of office.

The first time Trump was sworn into office eight years ago, the former reality TV star billionaire came in as an outsider disrupting Washington’s norms, delivering a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-inauguration-speech-b7664360cc648dd2a5d5f2303b7490d9">dark inaugural address</a>&nbsp;as his swearing-in drew large protests and some clashes in the street.

This time, Trump told NBC, the theme of his inauguration speech would be “unity and strength, and also the word ‘fairness.’”

As he takes power, the protests were far less noticeable, eclipsed by the ceremonies and celebrations around Trump’s taking power. As one more marker of Trump's remarkable comeback, the events surrounding his inauguration will be more celebrity-studded than the last time, along with a noticeable turnout by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oligarchy-musk-bezos-zuckerberg-trump-biden-altman-putin-3ade224cccfb287f7fadaeac42b76e3d">cadre of tech-world billionaires</a>.

While Trump held court at his Virginia golf club on Saturday evening, Vice President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;attended a reception for Cabinet members and hosted a dinner in Washington.

On Sunday, the eve of his inauguration, Trump is scheduled to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery before heading to a rally at Capital One Arena in Washington. The rally will be followed by a private dinner.

On Inauguration Day, Trump will start with the traditional prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church before heading to the White House for a customary tea with the outgoing president and first lady.

Trump then heads to the Capitol, where his ceremony has been moved indoors as temperatures are set to plummet and make it the coldest Inauguration Day in 40 years. It’s not quite clear how the ceremony will be adapted to the Capitol Rotunda, which holds only 600 people. More than 250,000 guests were ticketed to view the inauguration from around the Capitol grounds.

The planned traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue has morphed into an indoor event because of the cold, with Trump again planning to speak to his gathered supporters before he heads to the White House for a signing ceremony in the Oval Office. A trio of glitzy balls will follow in the evening, punctuated by musical performances.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;returned to Washington Saturday evening to celebrate with family, supporters and political allies ahead of his second inauguration, a triumphant return for the Republican four years after he departed the city under the shadow of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">attack by his supporters on the Capitol</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President-elect Donald Trump arrives at Dulles Airport in Virginia for inauguration. <a href="https://t.co/ypXRWr2Smw">pic.twitter.com/ypXRWr2Smw</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1880778654277398754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump marked his return to power with a celebration at his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, about 30 miles outside Washington.He addressed the crowd, giving shoutouts to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and declaring his Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff a “great negotiator.” Witkoff this past week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-ceasefire-trump-biden-israel-hamas-0e6c324ba0e3e9413bafe740fdefebc6">helped negotiate a ceasefire</a>&nbsp;deal between Israel and Hamas that's scheduled to take effect on Sunday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MELANIATRUMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MELANIATRUMP</a>, and Barron Trump board Air Force One for his official return to Washington, DC! America, your next Commander-in-Chief is en route 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/NmoIu0svOw">pic.twitter.com/NmoIu0svOw</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@margomartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/margomartin/status/1880731125330645239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Soon after his remarks, Trump stepped out onto a clubhouse balcony while guests gathered on the patio below him for a fireworks display and performance by tenor Christopher Macchio.Trump was marking his return to power with a celebration and a fireworks showcase at his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, about 30 miles outside Washington.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President-Elect Trump and Melania Trump watch fireworks at Trump National Golf Course in Sterling, VA. <a href="https://t.co/3xlFkKnZFX">pic.twitter.com/3xlFkKnZFX</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1880812130250756354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump returned to Washington as organizers of Monday’s Inauguration Day ceremony were scrambling to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-capitol-rotunda-cold-weather-2e527b4f40309be7fd2b48a8173af390">move inside most of the outdoor events</a>, including the swearing-in of president and vice president that traditionally takes place on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, due to forecasted frigid temperatures.It will be the first time since President Ronald Reagan took the oath of office in 1985 for his second term that the ceremony will be moved inside the U.S. Capitol.Trump made his way from West Palm Beach, Florida, with his wife Melania Trump and their son Barron aboard a U.S. military C-32 aircraft on a flight dubbed Special Air Mission 47 — a nod to Trump becoming the 47th president on Monday.It’s a courtesy that's traditionally been extended by the outgoing administration to the incoming one. Trump did not make a government plane available to President Joe Biden ahead of his inauguration in 2021, and instead the Democrat flew to Washington on a privately chartered aircraft.As his motorcade neared his golf club for Saturday's celebration, he was greeted by dozens of well-wishers who gathered along the roadside and chanted “Trump” and “USA, USA!”With a blast of Arctic air expected to leave the nation’s capital&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arctic-siberian-cold-chilly-trump-inauguration-7537abf637d19e681e9c517e1e82cb4b">facing frigid temperatures</a>&nbsp;on Inauguration Day, Trump opted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-capitol-rotunda-cold-weather-2e527b4f40309be7fd2b48a8173af390">move inside most of Monday’s outdoor events</a>, including the swearing-in ceremony.“I think we made the right decision. We’ll be very comfortable now,” Trump told NBC News in a phone interview Saturday.On Pennsylvania Avenue leading to the White House, crews were breaking down metal bleachers that would have been used for outdoor inauguration viewing stands.Even before Trump got to town,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peoples-march-reproductive-rights-climate-immigration-democracy-a8c0d6a1351bb03f4b2b6436fa79fe58">groups of protesters</a>&nbsp;began taking to the street in the morning as a light sleet fell.Melody Hamoud, a Washington resident, wore a pink hat that she had on at a 2017 march to protest Trump's first inauguration.“I just didn’t want to sit home and fret in front of the TV,” she said. “I wanted to feel like our movement still has energy and be around others who felt the same.”Timothy Wallis, 58, flew in for the inauguration from Pocatello, Idaho, with friends. The group had tickets to watch the ceremony outside but haven't been able to get tickets to any of the indoor events.“We found out on the plane,” he said about the change of plans.Wallis said he was disappointed about the switch and a little bemused since he’s used to cold at home.“We left snow to come here,” he said. “I brought my gloves!”Meanwhile, Trump said Saturday he is preparing to roll out a series of executive orders and other actions in the first days of his new administration.He confirmed he'll&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-us-ban-trump-extension-a3936a93f174d176d3633a67554d771b">“most likely” grant an extension</a>&nbsp;that might allow TikTok to keep operating in the U.S. beyond Sunday, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tiktok-china-security-speech-166f7c794ee587d3385190f893e52777">a law</a>&nbsp;that prohibits mobile app stores and internet hosting services from distributing TikTok to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-creators-influencers-react-78a06f9d2a91541710f999cbe39a3290">U.S. users</a>&nbsp;takes effect.And Trump in the NBC News interview confirmed that his administration would begin its effort “very early, very quickly” on following through on a campaign promise of mass deportations of migrants living in the U.S. without legal permission.Federal immigration officers are expected to initially target&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-ice-raids-trump-immigrant-community-b3b276656067b5302bed7dfcaf950f57">more than 300 people in the Chicago area</a>&nbsp;with histories of egregious, violent crimes after Trump takes office Monday, according to an official familiar with the planning who spoke on condition of anonymity because plans have not been made public.“Well, it’s got to happen, and if it doesn’t happen, we’re not going to have a country any longer,” said Trump, who declined to say where the deportation operations would begin.Trump, a Republican, left office in 2021 as a political pariah after his refusal to accept his loss to Democrat Joe Biden led a mob to overrun the Capitol. He then broke tradition by skipping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-inauguration-a01d1ffa7862661914cb92b22e359854">Biden's inauguration.</a>Biden will adhere to one of the most potent symbols of the democratic handover, welcoming Trump to the White House and joining him on the ride to the Capitol before Trump takes the oath of office.The first time Trump was sworn into office eight years ago, the former reality TV star billionaire came in as an outsider disrupting Washington’s norms, delivering a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-inauguration-speech-b7664360cc648dd2a5d5f2303b7490d9">dark inaugural address</a>&nbsp;as his swearing-in drew large protests and some clashes in the street.This time, Trump told NBC, the theme of his inauguration speech would be “unity and strength, and also the word ‘fairness.’”As he takes power, the protests were far less noticeable, eclipsed by the ceremonies and celebrations around Trump’s taking power. As one more marker of Trump's remarkable comeback, the events surrounding his inauguration will be more celebrity-studded than the last time, along with a noticeable turnout by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oligarchy-musk-bezos-zuckerberg-trump-biden-altman-putin-3ade224cccfb287f7fadaeac42b76e3d">cadre of tech-world billionaires</a>.While Trump held court at his Virginia golf club on Saturday evening, Vice President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;attended a reception for Cabinet members and hosted a dinner in Washington.On Sunday, the eve of his inauguration, Trump is scheduled to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery before heading to a rally at Capital One Arena in Washington. The rally will be followed by a private dinner.On Inauguration Day, Trump will start with the traditional prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church before heading to the White House for a customary tea with the outgoing president and first lady.Trump then heads to the Capitol, where his ceremony has been moved indoors as temperatures are set to plummet and make it the coldest Inauguration Day in 40 years. It’s not quite clear how the ceremony will be adapted to the Capitol Rotunda, which holds only 600 people. More than 250,000 guests were ticketed to view the inauguration from around the Capitol grounds.The planned traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue has morphed into an indoor event because of the cold, with Trump again planning to speak to his gathered supporters before he heads to the White House for a signing ceremony in the Oval Office. A trio of glitzy balls will follow in the evening, punctuated by musical performances.___

🎥Trump arrives in Washington for inaugural to mark his return to power

NEW YORK (AP) — Millions of TikTok users in the United States are no longer able to watch videos on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-timeline-ban-biden-india-d3219a32de913f8083612e71ecf1f428">the social media platform</a>&nbsp;as a federal ban on the immensely popular app takes effect.

The company's app was removed Saturday evening from prominent app stores, including the ones operated by Apple and Google, while its website told users that the short-form video platform was no longer available. The blackout began just hours before the law took effect.

Users opening the TikTok app on Saturday encountered a pop-up message preventing them from scrolling videos that read, “Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now."

“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.,” the message said. “Unfortunately that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” the notice continued, in a reference to President-elect Donald Trump's pledge to “save” the platform. The company told its users to stay tuned.

The only option the message gives to U.S. users is to close the app or click another option leading them to the platform's website. There, users are shown the same message and given the option to download their data, an action TikTok previously said may take days to process.

Before the announcement went out, TikTok said in another message to users that its service would be “temporarily unavailable” and the company was working to restore its U.S. service “as soon as possible." But how long the platform will remain dark is unclear.

Apple said in a statement on its website that TikTok and ByteDance apps were no longer available in the U.S., while visitors to the country could have limited access. “Apple is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates,” the company said.

“If you already have these apps installed on your device, they will remain on your device. But they can’t be redownloaded if deleted or restored if you move to a new device. In-app purchases and new subscriptions are no longer possible,” the statement said, adding that the change could impact performance, security and compatability with future versions of iOS and iPadOS.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew posted a video thanking Trump for his commitment to work with the company to keep the app available in the U.S. and a “strong stand for the first amendment and against arbitrary censorship.”

“We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform. One who has used talk to express his own thoughts and perspectives, connecting with the world and generating more than 60 billion views of his content in the process,” Chew said.

In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump said he was thinking about giving TikTok a 90-day extension that would allow them to continue operating. If such an extension happens, Trump — who once favored a TikTok ban — said it would “probably” be announced Monday, the day that he is sworn in as president. TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump’s</a>&nbsp;inauguration with a prime seating location.

In Washington, lawmakers and administration officials have long raised concerns about the app, which they see as a national security threat due to its Chinese ownership. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a technology company based in Beijing that operates the well-known video editing app CapCut and Lemon8, both of which were also unavailable for service Saturday evening.

The federal law required ByteDance to cut ties with TikTok by Sunday or face a nationwide ban. The statute was passed by Congress in April after it was included as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-congress-bill-1c48466df82f3684bd6eb21e61ebcb8d">high-priority $95 billion package</a>&nbsp;that provided foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel. President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-tiktok-campaign-account-young-voters-ban-d351ccb17c59890473af1685a0a756f3">quickly signed it</a>, and then TikTok and ByteDance quickly sued on First Amendment grounds.

While defending the law in court, the Biden administration argued it was concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of U.S. user data that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion.

Officials have also warned the algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect. But to date, the U.S. has not publicly provided evidence of TikTok handing user data to Chinese authorities or tinkering with its algorithm to benefit Chinese interests.

The Supreme Court unanimously decided on Friday the risk to national security posed by TikTok's ties to China overcomes concerns about limiting speech by the app or its 170 million users in the United States.

After TikTok's service started going dark, some in China slammed the U.S. and accused it of suppressing the popular app. In a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, Hu Xijin, a former editor-in-chief for the Chinese Communist Party-run newspaper Global Times, said “TikTok’s announcement to halt services in America marks the darkest moment in the development of internet."

“A country that claims to have the most freedom of speech has carried out the most brutal suppression of an internet application,” said Hu, who is now a political commentator. TikTok does not operate in China, where ByteDance instead offers Douyin, the Chinese sibling of TikTok that follows Beijing’s strict censorship rules.

After the court ruling, both White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the Biden administration would leave the law’s implementation to President-elect Donald Trump given that his inauguration falls the day after the ban takes effect.

But TikTok said on Friday evening it “will be forced to go dark” if the administration didn’t provide a “definitive statement” to the companies, such as Apple, Google and Oracle, that deliver its service in the U.S.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called TikTok’s demand a “stunt” and said there was no reason for TikTok or other companies “to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office.” But despite those statements from the administration, confusion lingered about what would happen until TikTok began blocking its service.

Under the law, mobile app stores are barred from offering TikTok and internet hosting services are prohibited from delivering the service to American users. Violators could incur fines of up to $5,000 for each user who continues to access TikTok, meaning penalties the companies could face if they continue offering TikTok could total to a large sum.

As its written, experts said the law does not require TikTok to take down its platform, so its unclear if the company voluntarily shut it down or was unable to continue the service alive after losing access support from its tech providers. The company did not respond to questions sent this week about its plans.

The statue allows the sitting president to extend the deadline by 90 days if a sale is in progress. But no clear buyers have emerged, and ByteDance has previously said it won’t sell TikTok.

On Saturday, artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI submitted a proposal to ByteDance to create a new entity that merges Perplexity with TikTok U.S. business, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Perplexity is not asking to purchase the ByteDance algorithm that feeds TikTok user’s videos based on their interests and has made the platform such a phenomenon.

Other investors have also been eyeing TikTok. “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary recently said a consortium of investors that he and billionaire Frank McCourt put together offered ByteDance $20 billion in cash. Trump’s Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also said last year that he was putting together an investor group to buy TikTok.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737257873247.png" alt="Image from TikTok App" />
 <figcaption>Image from TikTok App</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Millions of TikTok users in the United States are no longer able to watch videos on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-timeline-ban-biden-india-d3219a32de913f8083612e71ecf1f428">the social media platform</a>&nbsp;as a federal ban on the immensely popular app takes effect.The company's app was removed Saturday evening from prominent app stores, including the ones operated by Apple and Google, while its website told users that the short-form video platform was no longer available. The blackout began just hours before the law took effect.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737260037223.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Users opening the TikTok app on Saturday encountered a pop-up message preventing them from scrolling videos that read, “Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now."“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.,” the message said. “Unfortunately that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” the notice continued, in a reference to President-elect Donald Trump's pledge to “save” the platform. The company told its users to stay tuned.The only option the message gives to U.S. users is to close the app or click another option leading them to the platform's website. There, users are shown the same message and given the option to download their data, an action TikTok previously said may take days to process.Before the announcement went out, TikTok said in another message to users that its service would be “temporarily unavailable” and the company was working to restore its U.S. service “as soon as possible." But how long the platform will remain dark is unclear.Apple said in a statement on its website that TikTok and ByteDance apps were no longer available in the U.S., while visitors to the country could have limited access. “Apple is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates,” the company said.“If you already have these apps installed on your device, they will remain on your device. But they can’t be redownloaded if deleted or restored if you move to a new device. In-app purchases and new subscriptions are no longer possible,” the statement said, adding that the change could impact performance, security and compatability with future versions of iOS and iPadOS.TikTok CEO Shou Chew posted a video thanking Trump for his commitment to work with the company to keep the app available in the U.S. and a “strong stand for the first amendment and against arbitrary censorship.”“We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform. One who has used talk to express his own thoughts and perspectives, connecting with the world and generating more than 60 billion views of his content in the process,” Chew said.In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump said he was thinking about giving TikTok a 90-day extension that would allow them to continue operating. If such an extension happens, Trump — who once favored a TikTok ban — said it would “probably” be announced Monday, the day that he is sworn in as president. TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump’s</a>&nbsp;inauguration with a prime seating location.In Washington, lawmakers and administration officials have long raised concerns about the app, which they see as a national security threat due to its Chinese ownership. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a technology company based in Beijing that operates the well-known video editing app CapCut and Lemon8, both of which were also unavailable for service Saturday evening.The federal law required ByteDance to cut ties with TikTok by Sunday or face a nationwide ban. The statute was passed by Congress in April after it was included as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-congress-bill-1c48466df82f3684bd6eb21e61ebcb8d">high-priority $95 billion package</a>&nbsp;that provided foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel. President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-tiktok-campaign-account-young-voters-ban-d351ccb17c59890473af1685a0a756f3">quickly signed it</a>, and then TikTok and ByteDance quickly sued on First Amendment grounds.While defending the law in court, the Biden administration argued it was concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of U.S. user data that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion.Officials have also warned the algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect. But to date, the U.S. has not publicly provided evidence of TikTok handing user data to Chinese authorities or tinkering with its algorithm to benefit Chinese interests.The Supreme Court unanimously decided on Friday the risk to national security posed by TikTok's ties to China overcomes concerns about limiting speech by the app or its 170 million users in the United States.After TikTok's service started going dark, some in China slammed the U.S. and accused it of suppressing the popular app. In a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, Hu Xijin, a former editor-in-chief for the Chinese Communist Party-run newspaper Global Times, said “TikTok’s announcement to halt services in America marks the darkest moment in the development of internet."“A country that claims to have the most freedom of speech has carried out the most brutal suppression of an internet application,” said Hu, who is now a political commentator. TikTok does not operate in China, where ByteDance instead offers Douyin, the Chinese sibling of TikTok that follows Beijing’s strict censorship rules.After the court ruling, both White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the Biden administration would leave the law’s implementation to President-elect Donald Trump given that his inauguration falls the day after the ban takes effect.But TikTok said on Friday evening it “will be forced to go dark” if the administration didn’t provide a “definitive statement” to the companies, such as Apple, Google and Oracle, that deliver its service in the U.S.White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called TikTok’s demand a “stunt” and said there was no reason for TikTok or other companies “to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office.” But despite those statements from the administration, confusion lingered about what would happen until TikTok began blocking its service.Under the law, mobile app stores are barred from offering TikTok and internet hosting services are prohibited from delivering the service to American users. Violators could incur fines of up to $5,000 for each user who continues to access TikTok, meaning penalties the companies could face if they continue offering TikTok could total to a large sum.As its written, experts said the law does not require TikTok to take down its platform, so its unclear if the company voluntarily shut it down or was unable to continue the service alive after losing access support from its tech providers. The company did not respond to questions sent this week about its plans.The statue allows the sitting president to extend the deadline by 90 days if a sale is in progress. But no clear buyers have emerged, and ByteDance has previously said it won’t sell TikTok.On Saturday, artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI submitted a proposal to ByteDance to create a new entity that merges Perplexity with TikTok U.S. business, according to a person familiar with the matter.Perplexity is not asking to purchase the ByteDance algorithm that feeds TikTok user’s videos based on their interests and has made the platform such a phenomenon.Other investors have also been eyeing TikTok. “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary recently said a consortium of investors that he and billionaire Frank McCourt put together offered ByteDance $20 billion in cash. Trump’s Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also said last year that he was putting together an investor group to buy TikTok.___

TikTok goes dark as US ban takes effect

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Missouri man who crashed a rental truck into barriers protecting the White House was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison for an attack that prosecutors said was inspired by his fascination with Nazi ideology, court records show.

Sai Varshith Kandula, then 19, nearly struck two people standing next to a park bench when he steered a U-Haul box truck onto a sidewalk and toward metal bollards that prevent vehicles from entering Lafayette Square, which is located north of the White House. He retrieved a Nazi flag from a backpack after the May 22, 2023, crash, which didn't injure anybody.

Kandula wanted to “attack and destroy” the U.S. government,&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.257624/gov.uscourts.dcd.257624.41.0.pdf">prosecutors said</a>.

“He wanted to eliminate the democratic process in America and replace the government with a Nazi style dictatorship," they wrote.

U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich also sentenced Kandula to three years of supervised release after his prison term and ordered him to pay nearly $57,000 in restitution, according to court records.

Defense attorney Scott Rosenblum said Kandula was&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.257624/gov.uscourts.dcd.257624.44.0.pdf">suffering from schizophrenia</a>&nbsp;and was overwhelmed by delusional thoughts, including his belief that “a reptilian race had installed a puppet regime to operate the U.S.”

“He’s amenable to treatment, understands its necessity, and recognizes an illness produced the acts that led to his current circumstances,” Rosenblum wrote.

Prosecutors recommended an eight-year prison sentence for Kandula, who pleaded guilty in May to a property damage charge. He has remained in custody since his arrest.

Kandula planned the attack for weeks before he took a flight from St. Louis to Washington, D.C. only hours before the crash, prosecutors said. He rented the truck in Herndon, Virginia approximately three hours before he crashed it into the barriers.

After Kandula backed up and slammed into the bollards a second time, the truck began smoking from its engine compartment and leaking fluids.

Authorities didn’t find any weapons, ammunition or explosives in his possession. But prosecutors said the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-secret-service-assassination-attempt-campaign-7dca5e30730287f46cceaa35437f0d47">attempted assassination</a>&nbsp;of President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;at a July 13 rally in Pennsylvania shows that "individuals who carry such destructive intent are capable of inflicting serious damage to the American political system.”

Police body camera video captured the aftermath of the crash. After his arrest, Kandula told investigators that he purchased the swastika flag because “Nazis have a great history."

“He specifically praised Adolf Hitler. And it wasn’t just words — when his truck was disabled in the attack, the first thing he did was unfurl the flag of Nazi Germany,” prosecutors wrote.

After Kandula's arrest, two psychologists diagnosed him with schizophrenia, according to Rosenblum.

“Both also believe his illness led directly to his offense,” the lawyer wrote.

Rosenblum said Kandula's conviction will likely result in his deportation to India.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737068721383.png" alt="Kandula photo Mo. Rockwood R-VI School District" />
 <figcaption>Kandula photo Mo. Rockwood R-VI School District</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A Missouri man who crashed a rental truck into barriers protecting the White House was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison for an attack that prosecutors said was inspired by his fascination with Nazi ideology, court records show.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684847745876.png" alt="Scene of the crashed&nbsp; U-Haul truck into a security barrier at a park across from the White House-photo courtesy WJLA TV" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the crashed&nbsp; U-Haul truck into a security barrier at a park across from the White House-photo courtesy WJLA TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Sai Varshith Kandula, then 19, nearly struck two people standing next to a park bench when he steered a U-Haul box truck onto a sidewalk and toward metal bollards that prevent vehicles from entering Lafayette Square, which is located north of the White House. He retrieved a Nazi flag from a backpack after the May 22, 2023, crash, which didn't injure anybody.Kandula wanted to “attack and destroy” the U.S. government,&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.257624/gov.uscourts.dcd.257624.41.0.pdf">prosecutors said</a>.“He wanted to eliminate the democratic process in America and replace the government with a Nazi style dictatorship," they wrote.U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich also sentenced Kandula to three years of supervised release after his prison term and ordered him to pay nearly $57,000 in restitution, according to court records.Defense attorney Scott Rosenblum said Kandula was&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.257624/gov.uscourts.dcd.257624.44.0.pdf">suffering from schizophrenia</a>&nbsp;and was overwhelmed by delusional thoughts, including his belief that “a reptilian race had installed a puppet regime to operate the U.S.”“He’s amenable to treatment, understands its necessity, and recognizes an illness produced the acts that led to his current circumstances,” Rosenblum wrote.Prosecutors recommended an eight-year prison sentence for Kandula, who pleaded guilty in May to a property damage charge. He has remained in custody since his arrest.Kandula planned the attack for weeks before he took a flight from St. Louis to Washington, D.C. only hours before the crash, prosecutors said. He rented the truck in Herndon, Virginia approximately three hours before he crashed it into the barriers.After Kandula backed up and slammed into the bollards a second time, the truck began smoking from its engine compartment and leaking fluids.Authorities didn’t find any weapons, ammunition or explosives in his possession. But prosecutors said the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-secret-service-assassination-attempt-campaign-7dca5e30730287f46cceaa35437f0d47">attempted assassination</a>&nbsp;of President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;at a July 13 rally in Pennsylvania shows that "individuals who carry such destructive intent are capable of inflicting serious damage to the American political system.”Police body camera video captured the aftermath of the crash. After his arrest, Kandula told investigators that he purchased the swastika flag because “Nazis have a great history."“He specifically praised Adolf Hitler. And it wasn’t just words — when his truck was disabled in the attack, the first thing he did was unfurl the flag of Nazi Germany,” prosecutors wrote.After Kandula's arrest, two psychologists diagnosed him with schizophrenia, according to Rosenblum.“Both also believe his illness led directly to his offense,” the lawyer wrote.Rosenblum said Kandula's conviction will likely result in his deportation to India.

Man going to prison for truck crash attack near White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed open to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-pornography-age-verification-texas-33a39a2b9dadbd2fb6c6235d4c3bd16c">a Texas law</a>&nbsp;aimed at blocking kids from seeing online pornography, though the justices could still send it back to a lower court for more consideration of how the age verification measure affects adults'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/freedom-of-speech">free-speech rights</a>.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2024/23-1122">Click here to listen </a>to the oral argument

Texas is among more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/internet-pornography-age-verification-states-2ad9939bb95ccc15126419b38067be94">a dozen states</a>&nbsp;with such laws aimed at blocking young children and teenagers from viewing pornography. The states argue the laws are necessary as online porn, including hardcore obscene material, has become almost instantaneous to access on smartphones online.

Chief Justice John Roberts, a member of the court's conservative majority, raised similar concerns. “Technological access to pornography has exploded, right?” he said.

The Free Speech Coalition, an adult-entertainment industry trade group, says the Texas law wrongly affects adults by requiring them to submit personal identifying information online, making it vulnerable to hacking or tracking. The adult-content website Pornhub has stopped operating in several states, citing the technical and privacy hurdles in complying with the laws.

The Free Speech Coalition agrees that children shouldn't be seeing pornography, but it argues the new law is so broadly written it could also apply to sexual education content or simulated sex scenes in movies.

The law also leaves a loophole by focusing on porn sites rather than the search engines often used to find porn, the group says in court documents. Content filtering is a better alternative to online age checks, it says.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett appeared skeptical, pointing to the growing number of ways kids can get online.

“Content filtering for all those different devices, I can say from personal experience, is difficult to keep up with,” said Barrett, who has seven children.

This isn't the first time&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;has confronted the issue. In 1996, the court struck down parts of a law banning explicit material viewable by kids online. In 2004, a divided Supreme Court ruled against a different federal law aimed at stopping kids from being exposed to pornography but said less restrictive measures like content filtering are constitutional.

Texas argues that technology has improved significantly in the last 20 years, allowing online platforms to quickly and easily check users' ages with a quick picture, making it more like ID checks at traditional stores that were upheld by the Supreme Court in the 1960s.

The states won in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, where a divided panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pornography-age-verification-texas-unconstitutional-48af1b99434cdfddd12351f555aeab11">overturned a lower court</a>&nbsp;and allowed the age verification requirement to go into effect. The Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-pornography-age-verification-texas-9c31eca983bdb30d3696cd4c5891a392">previously refused</a>&nbsp;an emergency appeal asking to put the age verification on hold while the legal fight continues.

Still, some of the nine justices worried that the lower court hadn't applied a strict enough legal standard in determining whether the Texas law and others like that could run afoul of the First Amendment.

“How far can a state go in terms of burdening adults showing how old they are?” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked.

Justice Elena Kagan raised the concerns of a possible “spillover dangers" on other laws touching on free speech, whichever way the court rules.

Some of the justices appeared interested in the Democratic Biden administration's position that they should send the case back to the 5th Circuit for more consideration. The court could even say that such laws, when carefully written, could pass a higher standard since everyone agrees keeping porn away from kids is a worthy goal, said Principal Deputy Solicitor General Brian Fletcher.

Other states with similar laws include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-porn-age-verification-lawsuit-2fdc2563836315c6d4e8eb4d57ab9913">Tennessee</a>, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia.

The Texas law carries fines of up to $10,000 per violation that could be raised to up to $250,000 per violation by a minor.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed open to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-pornography-age-verification-texas-33a39a2b9dadbd2fb6c6235d4c3bd16c">a Texas law</a>&nbsp;aimed at blocking kids from seeing online pornography, though the justices could still send it back to a lower court for more consideration of how the age verification measure affects adults'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/freedom-of-speech">free-speech rights</a>.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2024/23-1122">Click here to listen </a>to the oral argumentTexas is among more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/internet-pornography-age-verification-states-2ad9939bb95ccc15126419b38067be94">a dozen states</a>&nbsp;with such laws aimed at blocking young children and teenagers from viewing pornography. The states argue the laws are necessary as online porn, including hardcore obscene material, has become almost instantaneous to access on smartphones online.Chief Justice John Roberts, a member of the court's conservative majority, raised similar concerns. “Technological access to pornography has exploded, right?” he said.The Free Speech Coalition, an adult-entertainment industry trade group, says the Texas law wrongly affects adults by requiring them to submit personal identifying information online, making it vulnerable to hacking or tracking. The adult-content website Pornhub has stopped operating in several states, citing the technical and privacy hurdles in complying with the laws.The Free Speech Coalition agrees that children shouldn't be seeing pornography, but it argues the new law is so broadly written it could also apply to sexual education content or simulated sex scenes in movies.The law also leaves a loophole by focusing on porn sites rather than the search engines often used to find porn, the group says in court documents. Content filtering is a better alternative to online age checks, it says.Justice Amy Coney Barrett appeared skeptical, pointing to the growing number of ways kids can get online.“Content filtering for all those different devices, I can say from personal experience, is difficult to keep up with,” said Barrett, who has seven children.This isn't the first time&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;has confronted the issue. In 1996, the court struck down parts of a law banning explicit material viewable by kids online. In 2004, a divided Supreme Court ruled against a different federal law aimed at stopping kids from being exposed to pornography but said less restrictive measures like content filtering are constitutional.Texas argues that technology has improved significantly in the last 20 years, allowing online platforms to quickly and easily check users' ages with a quick picture, making it more like ID checks at traditional stores that were upheld by the Supreme Court in the 1960s.The states won in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, where a divided panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pornography-age-verification-texas-unconstitutional-48af1b99434cdfddd12351f555aeab11">overturned a lower court</a>&nbsp;and allowed the age verification requirement to go into effect. The Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-pornography-age-verification-texas-9c31eca983bdb30d3696cd4c5891a392">previously refused</a>&nbsp;an emergency appeal asking to put the age verification on hold while the legal fight continues.Still, some of the nine justices worried that the lower court hadn't applied a strict enough legal standard in determining whether the Texas law and others like that could run afoul of the First Amendment.“How far can a state go in terms of burdening adults showing how old they are?” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked.Justice Elena Kagan raised the concerns of a possible “spillover dangers" on other laws touching on free speech, whichever way the court rules.Some of the justices appeared interested in the Democratic Biden administration's position that they should send the case back to the 5th Circuit for more consideration. The court could even say that such laws, when carefully written, could pass a higher standard since everyone agrees keeping porn away from kids is a worthy goal, said Principal Deputy Solicitor General Brian Fletcher.Other states with similar laws include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-porn-age-verification-lawsuit-2fdc2563836315c6d4e8eb4d57ab9913">Tennessee</a>, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia.The Texas law carries fines of up to $10,000 per violation that could be raised to up to $250,000 per violation by a minor.

🎧Supreme Court seems open to age checks for online porn

TOPEKA, Kan. –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday night in Topeka, Kansas.

The Topeka Police Department (TPD) requested the KBI conduct an investigation on Friday, Jan. 17, at around 9:10 p.m. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to the scene.

At around 9 p.m., a Topeka police officer initiated contact with a man riding a bicycle in an alley near 21st&nbsp;St. and SW Buchanan St. The man was later identified as Joseph L. Pham-Gardner, 37, of Topeka.

Preliminary information indicates that when the officer returned to his patrol vehicle to check the man’s information, Pham-Gardner climbed on his bike and fled. The officer gave commands for him to stop and chased him on foot. The TPD officer caught up to Pham-Gardner and a struggle ensued. He fell off his bike. The man threatened to shoot the officer.

During the confrontation, the officer fired multiple times striking Pham-Gardner. After shots were fired, officers and deputies from multiple agencies responded to assist. A K-9 officer from the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office was deployed so officers could safely secure the handgun near Pham-Gardner and render aid to him. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.

EMS transported Pham-Gardner to an area hospital. He was later transported to a Kansas City hospital for surgery. At this time his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating after an officer-involved shooting Friday in Topeka.

Just before 9 p.m., police stopped an individual on a bicycle in the area of SW 21st Street and Buchanan Street in Topeka, according to a media release from Topeka Police.

The suspect initiated a foot pursuit and shortly after the suspect reportedly displayed a firearm. The officer then discharged their weapon striking the suspect. 

Investigators found a firearm at the scene. The suspect, an adult male, was transported to a hospital in critical condition. No police officers or other citizens were injured in this incident.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) will investigate the incident. Per policy, the involved Topeka police officer has been placed on administrative leave.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737202280820.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday night in Topeka, Kansas.The Topeka Police Department (TPD) requested the KBI conduct an investigation on Friday, Jan. 17, at around 9:10 p.m. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737253681009.png" alt="Pham-Gardner has previous convictions for theft, aggravated battery, aggravated endangering a child, interference with law enforcement and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Correction" />
 <figcaption>Pham-Gardner has previous convictions for theft, aggravated battery, aggravated endangering a child, interference with law enforcement and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Correction</figcaption>
 </figure>At around 9 p.m., a Topeka police officer initiated contact with a man riding a bicycle in an alley near 21st&nbsp;St. and SW Buchanan St. The man was later identified as Joseph L. Pham-Gardner, 37, of Topeka.Preliminary information indicates that when the officer returned to his patrol vehicle to check the man’s information, Pham-Gardner climbed on his bike and fled. The officer gave commands for him to stop and chased him on foot. The TPD officer caught up to Pham-Gardner and a struggle ensued. He fell off his bike. The man threatened to shoot the officer.During the confrontation, the officer fired multiple times striking Pham-Gardner. After shots were fired, officers and deputies from multiple agencies responded to assist. A K-9 officer from the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office was deployed so officers could safely secure the handgun near Pham-Gardner and render aid to him. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.EMS transported Pham-Gardner to an area hospital. He was later transported to a Kansas City hospital for surgery. At this time his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.----------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating after an officer-involved shooting Friday in Topeka.Just before 9 p.m., police stopped an individual on a bicycle in the area of SW 21st Street and Buchanan Street in Topeka, according to a media release from Topeka Police.The suspect initiated a foot pursuit and shortly after the suspect reportedly displayed a firearm. The officer then discharged their weapon striking the suspect. Investigators found a firearm at the scene. The suspect, an adult male, was transported to a hospital in critical condition. No police officers or other citizens were injured in this incident.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) will investigate the incident. Per policy, the involved Topeka police officer has been placed on administrative leave.

Police ID suspect wounded in Kansas officer-involved shooting

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City man who is a registered sex offender has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

Bryan Keith Rice, 50, was charged in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Rice is required to register as a sex offender due to his prior felony conviction for possessing child pornography.

The federal indictment charges Rice with three counts of transporting child pornography across state lines, one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation, the Platte County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the Jackson County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736702284485.png" alt="Rice photo Sex Offender Regisgtry" />
 <figcaption>Rice photo Sex Offender Regisgtry</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City man who is a registered sex offender has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.Bryan Keith Rice, 50, was charged in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Rice is required to register as a sex offender due to his prior felony conviction for possessing child pornography.The federal indictment charges Rice with three counts of transporting child pornography across state lines, one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation, the Platte County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the Jackson County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

Kansas City sex offender accused of transporting child porn

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20O%27CONNOR%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN O'CONNOR The Associated Press</a>

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Deere &amp; Co. unfairly forces farmers to visit authorized dealers to repair their equipment, resulting in higher prices than if they could fix it themselves or get help from independent shops, the Federal Trade Commission claims in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday with the attorneys general of Illinois and Minnesota.

The Moline, Illinois-based manufacturer produces repair software that is available only to its dealers, making it impossible for owners to seek less-costly remedies, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Rockford, Illinois.

The action comes as the FTC has stepped up enforcement actions in the final days of President Joe Biden's administration. Deere &amp; Co. said in a statement that the lawsuit was based on a “flagrant misrepresentation of the facts and fatally flawed legal theories."

The complaint claims that the “unfair steering practice” has boosted Deere's multibillion-dollar profits on agricultural equipment and parts while burdening practitioners "who rely on affordable and timely repairs,” FTC Chairperson Lina M. Khan said in a prepared statement.

Khan said farmers should be "free to repair their own equipment or use repair shops of their choice — lowering costs, preventing ruinous delays, and promoting fair competition.”

Farmers for decades were able to fix their tractors and combines themselves or take them to nearby repair shops. With increased computerization in the past few decades, Deere, the dominant industry player, made its high-tech repair tool available only to authorized dealers, who invariably eschew generic parts for higher-priced Deere parts, according to the FTC.

The company refuses to share information with independent software developers that's necessary to build their own tools, a common practice in the automotive and trucking industries, the FTC said.

Attorneys General Kwame Raoul of Illinois and Keith Ellison of Minnesota, both Democrats, joined in the lawsuit.

“Deere has made it virtually impossible for farmers themselves or independent repair shops to fully repair Deere equipment, which forces farmers to rely on authorized Deere dealers, which can be more expensive, slower, and for some a long distance away from farms,” Ellison said in a statement.

Deere &amp; Co. asserted the FTC ignored the company's “long-standing commitment to customer self-repair” and announced an addition this week to its “suite of digital solutions” available for customers to do their own repairs.

Deere Vice President Denver Caldwell said in a statement that the company was actively involved in settlement negotiations with the FTC and said it was still answering commission questions when the lawsuit hit.

Those discussions “revealed that the agency still lacked basic information about the industry and John Deere’s business practices and confirmed that the agency was instead relying on inaccurate information and assumptions,” Caldwell said.

Public pressure for self-repair has grown. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colorado-right-to-repair-farming-equipment-1da00ea957fd1057bf522cb4725e62d4">2023 “right to repair” law in Colorado</a>&nbsp;forces manufacturers to provide manuals, software, tools and parts to farmers who want to get their tractors running again themselves.

A similar law that year in Minnesota exempts farm equipment. The Minnesota Farmers Union has been pressing lawmakers to remove that exception, union president Gary Wertish said.

The lawsuit, which the FTC approved on a 3-2 vote, fits a flurry of activity — issuing consumer refunds, taking enforcement actions against companies the agency accuses of deceptive practices and finalizing rules it deems necessary to make the marketplace fairer — leading up to Monday's inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump has named Andrew Ferguson, one of the FTC’s five commissioners, to be the next chairperson. Ferguson joined Commissioner Melissa Holyoak in voting against the Deere lawsuit, saying it carries "the stench of partisan motivation” and was “taken in haste to beat President Trump into office.”

Associated Press reporter Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20O%27CONNOR%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN O'CONNOR The Associated Press</a>SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Deere &amp; Co. unfairly forces farmers to visit authorized dealers to repair their equipment, resulting in higher prices than if they could fix it themselves or get help from independent shops, the Federal Trade Commission claims in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday with the attorneys general of Illinois and Minnesota.The Moline, Illinois-based manufacturer produces repair software that is available only to its dealers, making it impossible for owners to seek less-costly remedies, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Rockford, Illinois.The action comes as the FTC has stepped up enforcement actions in the final days of President Joe Biden's administration. Deere &amp; Co. said in a statement that the lawsuit was based on a “flagrant misrepresentation of the facts and fatally flawed legal theories."The complaint claims that the “unfair steering practice” has boosted Deere's multibillion-dollar profits on agricultural equipment and parts while burdening practitioners "who rely on affordable and timely repairs,” FTC Chairperson Lina M. Khan said in a prepared statement.Khan said farmers should be "free to repair their own equipment or use repair shops of their choice — lowering costs, preventing ruinous delays, and promoting fair competition.”Farmers for decades were able to fix their tractors and combines themselves or take them to nearby repair shops. With increased computerization in the past few decades, Deere, the dominant industry player, made its high-tech repair tool available only to authorized dealers, who invariably eschew generic parts for higher-priced Deere parts, according to the FTC.The company refuses to share information with independent software developers that's necessary to build their own tools, a common practice in the automotive and trucking industries, the FTC said.Attorneys General Kwame Raoul of Illinois and Keith Ellison of Minnesota, both Democrats, joined in the lawsuit.“Deere has made it virtually impossible for farmers themselves or independent repair shops to fully repair Deere equipment, which forces farmers to rely on authorized Deere dealers, which can be more expensive, slower, and for some a long distance away from farms,” Ellison said in a statement.Deere &amp; Co. asserted the FTC ignored the company's “long-standing commitment to customer self-repair” and announced an addition this week to its “suite of digital solutions” available for customers to do their own repairs.Deere Vice President Denver Caldwell said in a statement that the company was actively involved in settlement negotiations with the FTC and said it was still answering commission questions when the lawsuit hit.Those discussions “revealed that the agency still lacked basic information about the industry and John Deere’s business practices and confirmed that the agency was instead relying on inaccurate information and assumptions,” Caldwell said.Public pressure for self-repair has grown. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colorado-right-to-repair-farming-equipment-1da00ea957fd1057bf522cb4725e62d4">2023 “right to repair” law in Colorado</a>&nbsp;forces manufacturers to provide manuals, software, tools and parts to farmers who want to get their tractors running again themselves.A similar law that year in Minnesota exempts farm equipment. The Minnesota Farmers Union has been pressing lawmakers to remove that exception, union president Gary Wertish said.The lawsuit, which the FTC approved on a 3-2 vote, fits a flurry of activity — issuing consumer refunds, taking enforcement actions against companies the agency accuses of deceptive practices and finalizing rules it deems necessary to make the marketplace fairer — leading up to Monday's inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.Trump has named Andrew Ferguson, one of the FTC’s five commissioners, to be the next chairperson. Ferguson joined Commissioner Melissa Holyoak in voting against the Deere lawsuit, saying it carries "the stench of partisan motivation” and was “taken in haste to beat President Trump into office.”___Associated Press reporter Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed.

FTC sued Deere & Co. for monopolizing farm-equipment repair market

SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;—Law enforcement continue to investigate after a standoff at a home in Sedgwick County.

Just before 4:30p.m Thursday, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic violence incident involving a handgun in the 8400 block of South Minnesota Circle near Haysville, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department spokesman Branden Stitt.

It was reported to deputies that a 79-year-old male suspect threatened his 47-year-old son with a handgun. Witnesses said the suspect pointed the gun at his son during an argument over money and threatened to kill him. After being locked out of the home, the suspect reportedly threatened to shoot through the door to regain entry. He was eventually allowed back inside prior to deputies arriving; no shots were fired.

Deputies secured the area and safely evacuated other family members from the home. The suspect remained inside, allegedly still armed. Despite several attempts to call the suspect out of the house, he refused to surrender. To avoid further escalation and ensure the safety of others, deputies withdrew from the scene after confirming all other individuals were safe and the suspect was the only person that remained inside the home.

On Friday, Jan. 17, detectives contacted the suspect by phone to negotiate his surrender, but he refused. That evening, a search warrant was obtained. Given the seriousness of the situation, the Wichita/Sedgwick County SWAT team and crisis negotiators were called in. Negotiations began at about 10:30 p.m. with several phone attempts to contact the suspect, but he continued to refuse to surrender. Chemical munitions were used to encourage compliance, but the efforts did not lead to a peaceful resolution.

Shortly after 6 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, after nearly 7 1/2 hours of negotiation, SWAT members entered the home and found the suspect dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

There is no ongoing threat to the public and the investigation into this incident is still ongoing.&nbsp; Names of those involved have not been released.

SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;—Law enforcement continue to investigate after a standoff at a home in Sedgwick County.Just before 4:30p.m Thursday, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic violence incident involving a handgun in the 8400 block of South Minnesota Circle near Haysville, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department spokesman Branden Stitt.It was reported to deputies that a 79-year-old male suspect threatened his 47-year-old son with a handgun. Witnesses said the suspect pointed the gun at his son during an argument over money and threatened to kill him. After being locked out of the home, the suspect reportedly threatened to shoot through the door to regain entry. He was eventually allowed back inside prior to deputies arriving; no shots were fired.Deputies secured the area and safely evacuated other family members from the home. The suspect remained inside, allegedly still armed. Despite several attempts to call the suspect out of the house, he refused to surrender. To avoid further escalation and ensure the safety of others, deputies withdrew from the scene after confirming all other individuals were safe and the suspect was the only person that remained inside the home.On Friday, Jan. 17, detectives contacted the suspect by phone to negotiate his surrender, but he refused. That evening, a search warrant was obtained. Given the seriousness of the situation, the Wichita/Sedgwick County SWAT team and crisis negotiators were called in. Negotiations began at about 10:30 p.m. with several phone attempts to contact the suspect, but he continued to refuse to surrender. Chemical munitions were used to encourage compliance, but the efforts did not lead to a peaceful resolution.Shortly after 6 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, after nearly 7 1/2 hours of negotiation, SWAT members entered the home and found the suspect dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.There is no ongoing threat to the public and the investigation into this incident is still ongoing.&nbsp; Names of those involved have not been released.

Sheriff: Man found dead after standoff at rural Kansas home

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;announced Friday that the Equal Rights Amendment should be considered a ratified addition to the U.S. Constitution, making a symbolic statement that's unlikely to alter a decades-long push for gender equality.

"It is long past time to recognize the will of the American people," Biden said. “In keeping with my oath and duty to Constitution and country, I affirm what I believe and what three-fourths of the states have ratified: the 28th Amendment is the law of the land, guaranteeing all Americans equal rights and protections under the law regardless of their sex.”

The Democrat's statement, coming days before he is replaced by Republican Donald Trump, will probably not have any impact. Presidents do not have any role in the amendment process. The leader of the National Archives had previously said that the amendment&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-equal-rights-amendment-women-sex-discrimination-a6ee48bd6e8199839f5a44adb483d59d">cannot be certified</a>&nbsp;because it wasn’t ratified before a deadline set by Congress.

On Friday, the National Archives reiterated the position by saying “the underlying legal and procedural issues have not changed.”

A senior Biden administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the White House's plans, said Biden was not directing the archivist to certify the amendment, sidestepping what could have become a legal battle over the separation of powers.

Asked why he waited until the end of his term before speaking out about it, Biden said he “needed all the facts."

Activists gathered outside the National Archives to celebrate Biden's statement and call on the archivist to take action.

“Do your job," said Zakiya Thomas, head of the ERA Coalition. "The president has done his.”

Claudia Nachega, a leader in the Young Feminist Party, said certifying the Equal Rights Amendment would signal “the beginning of a new American era that gives us a fighting chance of surviving a second Trump presidency.”

The Equal Rights Amendment, which would prohibit discrimination based on gender, was sent to the states for ratification in 1972. Congress set a deadline of 1979 for three-quarters of state legislatures to ratify the amendment, then extended it to 1982.

But it wasn't until 2020, when Virginia lawmakers passed the amendment, that 38 states had ratified it. The archivist said Congress or the courts must change the deadline to consider the amendment as certified

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;announced Friday that the Equal Rights Amendment should be considered a ratified addition to the U.S. Constitution, making a symbolic statement that's unlikely to alter a decades-long push for gender equality.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden: &quot;Today, I affirm the Equal Rights Amendment has cleared all the necessary hurdles to be added to the U.S. Constitution, now! The Equal Rights Amendment is the law of the land, now! It&#39;s the 28th Amendment to the Constitution, now!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/7MiztbKVRv">pic.twitter.com/7MiztbKVRv</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1880341312987361495?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today I&#39;m affirming what I have long believed and what three-fourths of the states have ratified: The 28th Amendment is the law of the land, guaranteeing all Americans equal rights and protections under the law regardless of their sex. <a href="https://t.co/oZtS6Q89zG">pic.twitter.com/oZtS6Q89zG</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1880271367569895830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"It is long past time to recognize the will of the American people," Biden said. “In keeping with my oath and duty to Constitution and country, I affirm what I believe and what three-fourths of the states have ratified: the 28th Amendment is the law of the land, guaranteeing all Americans equal rights and protections under the law regardless of their sex.”The Democrat's statement, coming days before he is replaced by Republican Donald Trump, will probably not have any impact. Presidents do not have any role in the amendment process. The leader of the National Archives had previously said that the amendment&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-equal-rights-amendment-women-sex-discrimination-a6ee48bd6e8199839f5a44adb483d59d">cannot be certified</a>&nbsp;because it wasn’t ratified before a deadline set by Congress.On Friday, the National Archives reiterated the position by saying “the underlying legal and procedural issues have not changed.”A senior Biden administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the White House's plans, said Biden was not directing the archivist to certify the amendment, sidestepping what could have become a legal battle over the separation of powers.Asked why he waited until the end of his term before speaking out about it, Biden said he “needed all the facts."Activists gathered outside the National Archives to celebrate Biden's statement and call on the archivist to take action.“Do your job," said Zakiya Thomas, head of the ERA Coalition. "The president has done his.”Claudia Nachega, a leader in the Young Feminist Party, said certifying the Equal Rights Amendment would signal “the beginning of a new American era that gives us a fighting chance of surviving a second Trump presidency.”The Equal Rights Amendment, which would prohibit discrimination based on gender, was sent to the states for ratification in 1972. Congress set a deadline of 1979 for three-quarters of state legislatures to ratify the amendment, then extended it to 1982.But it wasn't until 2020, when Virginia lawmakers passed the amendment, that 38 states had ratified it. The archivist said Congress or the courts must change the deadline to consider the amendment as certified

Biden declares Equal Rights Amendment is law. What happens next is unclear

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court on Friday ruled against an Obama-era policy to shield immigrants who came to the country illegally as young children, only three days before Donald Trump takes office with pledges of mass deportations.

The unanimous decision by a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans — two judges appointed by Republican presidents, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, and one by Democrat Barack Obama — is the latest blow for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, whose beneficiaries have lived in legal limbo for more than a decade.

It signals no immediate change for its more than 500,000 beneficiaries, who can renew temporary permits to live and work in the United States. But the federal government cannot take new applications, leaving an aging and thinning pool of recipients.

The decision may tee up the policy for a third visit to the Supreme Court. Trump sought to end DACA during his first term, but he also occasionally expressed wishes that beneficiaries be allowed to stay.

Obama introduced DACA in 2012, citing inaction by Congress on legislation aimed at giving those brought to the U.S. as children a path to legal status. Legal battles followed, including two trips to the Supreme Court.

This latest case involves a new version of the rule issued by President Joe Biden in 2022. It represented little substantive change from the 2012 memo that created DACA, but it was subject to public comment as part of a formal rule-making process intended to improve its chances of surviving legal muster.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Houston said the executive branch had overstepped its authority and barred he government from approving new applications. He left it intact for current beneficiaries while appeals played out in court.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who led the challenge on behalf of Republican-led states, called Friday's ruling “a major victory.”

“I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump to ensure that the rule of law is restored, and the illegal immigration crisis is finally stopped,” Paxton said.

The U.S. Homeland Security Department didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment late Friday.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court on Friday ruled against an Obama-era policy to shield immigrants who came to the country illegally as young children, only three days before Donald Trump takes office with pledges of mass deportations.The unanimous decision by a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans — two judges appointed by Republican presidents, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, and one by Democrat Barack Obama — is the latest blow for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, whose beneficiaries have lived in legal limbo for more than a decade.It signals no immediate change for its more than 500,000 beneficiaries, who can renew temporary permits to live and work in the United States. But the federal government cannot take new applications, leaving an aging and thinning pool of recipients.The decision may tee up the policy for a third visit to the Supreme Court. Trump sought to end DACA during his first term, but he also occasionally expressed wishes that beneficiaries be allowed to stay.Obama introduced DACA in 2012, citing inaction by Congress on legislation aimed at giving those brought to the U.S. as children a path to legal status. Legal battles followed, including two trips to the Supreme Court.This latest case involves a new version of the rule issued by President Joe Biden in 2022. It represented little substantive change from the 2012 memo that created DACA, but it was subject to public comment as part of a formal rule-making process intended to improve its chances of surviving legal muster.U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Houston said the executive branch had overstepped its authority and barred he government from approving new applications. He left it intact for current beneficiaries while appeals played out in court.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who led the challenge on behalf of Republican-led states, called Friday's ruling “a major victory.”“I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump to ensure that the rule of law is restored, and the illegal immigration crisis is finally stopped,” Paxton said.The U.S. Homeland Security Department didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment late Friday.

Court rules against policy to shield immigrants who came to US as young children

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died and another is in custody after a two vehicle crash Friday in Johnson County.

Just after 11 p.m. Friday, police responded to the scene of a reported injury crash at the intersection of West 89th Terrace and Park Street in Lenexa, according to a media release.

First responders located two vehicles involved in the collision, a Toyota RAV4 and a Ford Bronco, both of which had come to rest off the roadway in a nearby yard. The Ford Bronco was occupied by two adult females, neither of whom sustained injuries. The driver of the Bronco was taken into custody at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence.

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died and another is in custody after a two vehicle crash Friday in Johnson County.Just after 11 p.m. Friday, police responded to the scene of a reported injury crash at the intersection of West 89th Terrace and Park Street in Lenexa, according to a media release.First responders located two vehicles involved in the collision, a Toyota RAV4 and a Ford Bronco, both of which had come to rest off the roadway in a nearby yard. The Ford Bronco was occupied by two adult females, neither of whom sustained injuries. The driver of the Bronco was taken into custody at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence.The Toyota RAV4 was occupied by an adult female driver who was pronounced deceased at the scene by paramedics.A preliminary investigation conducted by the Lenexa Police Traffic Safety Unit indicates that the Toyota RAV4 was traveling southbound on Park Street when the Ford Bronco, traveling eastbound on West 89th Terrace, failed to stop at a posted stop sign. The Bronco struck the RAV4, causing both vehicles to leave the roadway.Police have not released the name of the woman who died or the driver in custody as they continue to investigate.