SALINE COUNTY —Police are investigating a violent attack involving a machete and have made an arrest.

The altercation occurred between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. December 27 following a heated dispute the previous evening, according to Salina Police Captain David Villanueva.

"Apparently, there were folks hanging out together. They know each other. There was some alcohol involved and that night before, there was some words between the victim and the suspect," Villanueva said. 

The suspect identified as 48-year-old&nbsp;Tualagi Masaniai allegedly had threatened the victim with a knife and also had made comments that he would “choke the person out, or cause him harm,” according to Captain Villanueva.

The following morning, Tualagi came to the 38-year-old victim's house in the 400 Block of South 4th Street in Salina.

According to the police report, Masaniai allegedly struck the victim in the face with a machete, creating a vertical laceration extending from the victim’s eye to his nose. Villanueva described the injury as severe, noting that it exposed facial substructures beneath the skin. The victim was treated for his injuries at Salina Regional Health Center. Police did not have an update on his condition Monday.

A police search of Masaniai’s residence uncovered a machete, described by investigators as a two-and-a-half to three-foot-long bush blade with blood on it. Additional evidence was also recovered from the suspect’s vehicle.

Police found Masaniai at a motel on South Broadway in Salina and arrested him on requested charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery and criminal threat.&nbsp;<br>Villanueva said that the prior verbal threats, combined with the attack, led to the attempted first-degree murder charge.

Police did not release any additional information on the relationship between Masaniai and victim or the number of individuals present during the initial altercation on Friday.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735579321439.jpeg" alt="Tualagi Masaniai-photo Saline County" />
                        <figcaption>Tualagi Masaniai-photo Saline County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SALINE COUNTY —Police are investigating a violent attack involving a machete and have made an arrest.</p><p>The altercation occurred between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. December 27 following a heated dispute the previous evening, according to Salina Police Captain David Villanueva.</p><p>"Apparently, there were folks hanging out together. They know each other. There was some alcohol involved and that night before, there was some words between the victim and the suspect," Villanueva said. </p><p>The suspect identified as 48-year-old&nbsp;Tualagi Masaniai allegedly had threatened the victim with a knife and also had made comments that he would “choke the person out, or cause him harm,” according to Captain Villanueva.</p><p>The following morning, Tualagi came to the 38-year-old victim's house in the 400 Block of South 4th Street in Salina.</p><p>According to the police report, Masaniai allegedly struck the victim in the face with a machete, creating a vertical laceration extending from the victim’s eye to his nose. Villanueva described the injury as severe, noting that it exposed facial substructures beneath the skin. The victim was treated for his injuries at Salina Regional Health Center. Police did not have an update on his condition Monday.</p><p>A police search of Masaniai’s residence uncovered a machete, described by investigators as a two-and-a-half to three-foot-long bush blade with blood on it. Additional evidence was also recovered from the suspect’s vehicle.</p><p>Police found Masaniai at a motel on South Broadway in Salina and arrested him on requested charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery and criminal threat.&nbsp;<br>Villanueva said that the prior verbal threats, combined with the attack, led to the attempted first-degree murder charge.</p><p>Police did not release any additional information on the relationship between Masaniai and victim or the number of individuals present during the initial altercation on Friday.</p>

Police: Kansas man struck victim in face with machete

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a jury’s finding in a civil case that Donald Trump sexually abused a columnist in an upscale department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca2.60504/gov.uscourts.ca2.60504.176.1.pdf">Click here to read</a> the court's ruling

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a written opinion upholding the $5 million award that the Manhattan jury granted to E. Jean Carroll for defamation and sexual abuse.

The longtime magazine columnist had testified at a 2023 trial that Trump turned a friendly encounter in spring 1996 into a violent attack after they playfully entered the store’s dressing room.

Trump skipped the trial after repeatedly denying the attack ever happened. But he briefly testified at a follow-up defamation trial earlier this year that resulted in an $83.3 million award. The second trial resulted from comments then-President Trump made in 2019 after Carroll first made the accusations publicly in a memoir.

In its ruling, a three-judge panel of the appeals court rejected claims by Trump's lawyers that trial Judge Lewis A. Kaplan had made multiple decisions that spoiled the trial, including by permitting two other women who had accused Trump of sexually abusing them to testify.

The judge also had allowed the jury to view the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape in which Trump boasted in 2005 about grabbing women’s genitals because when someone is a star, “you can do anything.”

“We conclude that Mr. Trump has not demonstrated that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings," the 2nd Circuit said. “Further, he has not carried his burden to show that any claimed error or combination of claimed errors affected his substantial rights as required to warrant a new trial.”

In September, both Carroll, 81, and Trump, 78, attended oral arguments by the 2nd Circuit.

Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesperson, said in a statement that Trump was elected by voters who delivered "an overwhelming mandate, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax, which will continue to be appealed.”

Roberta Kaplan, a lawyer who represented Carroll during the trial and is not related to the judge, said in a statement: “Both E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today’s decision. We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties’ arguments.”

The first jury found in May 2023 that Trump sexually abused Carroll and defamed her with comments he made in October 2022. That jury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-carroll-trial-fe68259a4b98bb3947d42af9ec83d7db">awarded Carroll $5 million</a>.

In January, a second jury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-defamation-trial-e4ea8b93cdeb29857864ffd8d14be888">awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million</a>&nbsp;in damages for comments Trump had made about her while he was president, finding that they were defamatory. That jury had been instructed by the judge to accept the first jury’s finding that Trump had sexually abused Carroll. The appeal of that verdict has not yet been heard.

Carroll testified during both trials that her life as an Elle magazine columnist was spoiled by Trump’s public comments, which she said motivated some people to send her death threats and leave her fearful to leave the upstate New York cabin where she lives.

Trump testified for under three minutes at the second trial and was not permitted to challenge conclusions reached by the May 2023 jury. Still, he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-defamation-lawsuit-70d4477120399373934253c7e450643e">animated in the courtroom</a>&nbsp;throughout the two-week trial, and jurors could hear him grumbling about the case.

During appeals arguments in September, Trump lawyer D. John Sauer said testimony from witnesses who recalled Carroll telling them about the 1996 encounter with Trump immediately afterward was improper because the witnesses had “egregious bias” against Trump.

And the attorney said the judge also should have excluded the testimony of the two women who said Trump committed similar acts of sex abuse against them in the 1970s and in 2005. Trump has denied those allegations too.

The 2nd Circuit wrote: “In each of the three encounters, Mr. Trump engaged in an ordinary conversation with a woman he barely knew, then abruptly lunged at her in a semi-public place and proceeded to kiss and forcefully touch her without her consent. The acts are sufficiently similar to show a pattern.”

It said the “Access Hollywood” tape was “directly corroborative” of the testimony by the women of the pattern of behavior they experienced.

The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735576738520.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a jury’s finding in a civil case that Donald Trump sexually abused a columnist in an upscale department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706306535436.png" alt="File photo - E. Jean Carroll E.&nbsp;leaves court in New York City after a jury awarded her $83.3 million in damages in her defamation suit against former&nbsp;President Donald Trump.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>File photo - E. Jean Carroll E.&nbsp;leaves court in New York City after a jury awarded her $83.3 million in damages in her defamation suit against former&nbsp;President Donald Trump.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca2.60504/gov.uscourts.ca2.60504.176.1.pdf">Click here to read</a> the court's ruling</p><p>The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a written opinion upholding the $5 million award that the Manhattan jury granted to E. Jean Carroll for defamation and sexual abuse.</p><p>The longtime magazine columnist had testified at a 2023 trial that Trump turned a friendly encounter in spring 1996 into a violent attack after they playfully entered the store’s dressing room.</p><p>Trump skipped the trial after repeatedly denying the attack ever happened. But he briefly testified at a follow-up defamation trial earlier this year that resulted in an $83.3 million award. The second trial resulted from comments then-President Trump made in 2019 after Carroll first made the accusations publicly in a memoir.</p><p>In its ruling, a three-judge panel of the appeals court rejected claims by Trump's lawyers that trial Judge Lewis A. Kaplan had made multiple decisions that spoiled the trial, including by permitting two other women who had accused Trump of sexually abusing them to testify.</p><p>The judge also had allowed the jury to view the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape in which Trump boasted in 2005 about grabbing women’s genitals because when someone is a star, “you can do anything.”</p><p>“We conclude that Mr. Trump has not demonstrated that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings," the 2nd Circuit said. “Further, he has not carried his burden to show that any claimed error or combination of claimed errors affected his substantial rights as required to warrant a new trial.”</p><p>In September, both Carroll, 81, and Trump, 78, attended oral arguments by the 2nd Circuit.</p><p>Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesperson, said in a statement that Trump was elected by voters who delivered "an overwhelming mandate, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax, which will continue to be appealed.”</p><p>Roberta Kaplan, a lawyer who represented Carroll during the trial and is not related to the judge, said in a statement: “Both E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today’s decision. We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties’ arguments.”</p><p>The first jury found in May 2023 that Trump sexually abused Carroll and defamed her with comments he made in October 2022. That jury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-carroll-trial-fe68259a4b98bb3947d42af9ec83d7db">awarded Carroll $5 million</a>.</p><p>In January, a second jury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-defamation-trial-e4ea8b93cdeb29857864ffd8d14be888">awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million</a>&nbsp;in damages for comments Trump had made about her while he was president, finding that they were defamatory. That jury had been instructed by the judge to accept the first jury’s finding that Trump had sexually abused Carroll. The appeal of that verdict has not yet been heard.</p><p>Carroll testified during both trials that her life as an Elle magazine columnist was spoiled by Trump’s public comments, which she said motivated some people to send her death threats and leave her fearful to leave the upstate New York cabin where she lives.</p><p>Trump testified for under three minutes at the second trial and was not permitted to challenge conclusions reached by the May 2023 jury. Still, he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-defamation-lawsuit-70d4477120399373934253c7e450643e">animated in the courtroom</a>&nbsp;throughout the two-week trial, and jurors could hear him grumbling about the case.</p><p>During appeals arguments in September, Trump lawyer D. John Sauer said testimony from witnesses who recalled Carroll telling them about the 1996 encounter with Trump immediately afterward was improper because the witnesses had “egregious bias” against Trump.</p><p>And the attorney said the judge also should have excluded the testimony of the two women who said Trump committed similar acts of sex abuse against them in the 1970s and in 2005. Trump has denied those allegations too.</p><p>The 2nd Circuit wrote: “In each of the three encounters, Mr. Trump engaged in an ordinary conversation with a woman he barely knew, then abruptly lunged at her in a semi-public place and proceeded to kiss and forcefully touch her without her consent. The acts are sufficiently similar to show a pattern.”</p><p>It said the “Access Hollywood” tape was “directly corroborative” of the testimony by the women of the pattern of behavior they experienced.</p><p>The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done.</p>

Read the ruling: Court upholds award in sex abuse verdict against Trump

SHAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas felon is recovering from injuries after a crash during a&nbsp; police chase in Shawnee County.

Just after 9p.m. December 27, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received notification of a theft at a business in the 2600 block of NW Rochester Road, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.&nbsp;

A deputy located the suspect's red Chevrolet Blazer northbound in the 4000 Block NW Rochester Road in Topeka.

The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle near NW 46th Street and NW Topeka Boulevard, but the driver refused to stop, initiating a pursuit. 

The driver, later identified as 52-year-old Clifford H. Swarthout, Jr.,&nbsp; continued southbound on NW Topeka Boulevard and then westbound on NW 39th Street. The driver failed to negotiate the T-intersection at NW Button Road and left the roadway. 

The vehicle came to rest in the trees on it’s side. Both occupants were extricated from the vehicle and taken to a local hospital by American Medical Response (AMR) with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Topeka Police Department handled the female passenger in regards to the initial theft. The male driver, Clifford H. Swarthout Jr., 52, of Topeka, was taken into custody and once released from the hospital will be booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the following requested charges&nbsp;Aggravated battery;&nbsp;Flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and&nbsp;Driving while license suspended.

Swarthout has numerous previous felony convictions that include forgery, theft, burglary and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735524980127.png" alt="Swarthout has numerous previous felony convictions that include forgery, theft, burglary and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.-Photo KDOC" />
                        <figcaption>Swarthout has numerous previous felony convictions that include forgery, theft, burglary and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.-Photo KDOC</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SHAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas felon is recovering from injuries after a crash during a&nbsp; police chase in Shawnee County.</p><p>Just after 9p.m. December 27, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received notification of a theft at a business in the 2600 block of NW Rochester Road, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.&nbsp;</p><p>A deputy located the suspect's red Chevrolet Blazer northbound in the 4000 Block NW Rochester Road in Topeka.</p><p>The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle near NW 46th Street and NW Topeka Boulevard, but the driver refused to stop, initiating a pursuit. </p><p>The driver, later identified as 52-year-old Clifford H. Swarthout, Jr.,&nbsp; continued southbound on NW Topeka Boulevard and then westbound on NW 39th Street. The driver failed to negotiate the T-intersection at NW Button Road and left the roadway. </p><p>The vehicle came to rest in the trees on it’s side. Both occupants were extricated from the vehicle and taken to a local hospital by American Medical Response (AMR) with non-life-threatening injuries.</p><p>The Topeka Police Department handled the female passenger in regards to the initial theft. The male driver, Clifford H. Swarthout Jr., 52, of Topeka, was taken into custody and once released from the hospital will be booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the following requested charges&nbsp;Aggravated battery;&nbsp;Flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and&nbsp;Driving while license suspended.</p><p>Swarthout has numerous previous felony convictions that include forgery, theft, burglary and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</p>

Kan. felon hospitalized after crash during police chase

Former President&nbsp;Jimmy Carter has died&nbsp;at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

Carter died Sunday, coming up on two years after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia.

Kansas lawmakers issued statement about the former President on social media.

President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9.

Members of the public are encouraged to visit the official tribute website to the life of President Carter at&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jimmycartertribute.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cnina.pardo%40cartercenter.org%7C91568bb26a924c33adea08dd284e71ad%7C16decddb28ac4bea8fc95844aadea669%7C0%7C0%7C638711039552458792%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2BL7wuK9%2BVXZ9gaA9dPs1umaY5zYLqBBGytTSjnf%2FE3M%3D&amp;reserved=0">www.jimmycartertribute.org</a>. This site includes the official online condolence book as well as print and visual biographical materials commemorating his life.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735528950240.png" alt="Former President Jimmy Carter photo courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>Former President Jimmy Carter photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Former President&nbsp;Jimmy Carter has died&nbsp;at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.</p><p>Carter died Sunday, coming up on two years after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia.</p><p>Kansas lawmakers issued statement about the former President on social media.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Jimmy Carter was a truly moral man. His innate humanity, his humility, his devotion to serving his community and his country, and his belief that the world could live in peace is the remarkable legacy he leaves behind. A corresponding order for flag honors is to come. <a href="https://t.co/2ROqmzBxqY">pic.twitter.com/2ROqmzBxqY</a></p>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1873525957140877691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Carter lived a life of service to his nation as a member of the U.S. Navy, the Governor of Georgia and the President of the United States. Today, we mourn the loss of a leader and champion of human rights. Robba and I offer our prayers and sincerest condolences to the…</p>&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1873515797001458050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I am saddened to hear the passing of President Jimmy Carter. His story is one of unwavering commitment to public service, extending long before and far beyond his time in the White House. His life was a devoted journey of protecting and serving our great nation, and giving back…</p>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1873496280380448930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9.</p><p>Members of the public are encouraged to visit the official tribute website to the life of President Carter at&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jimmycartertribute.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cnina.pardo%40cartercenter.org%7C91568bb26a924c33adea08dd284e71ad%7C16decddb28ac4bea8fc95844aadea669%7C0%7C0%7C638711039552458792%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2BL7wuK9%2BVXZ9gaA9dPs1umaY5zYLqBBGytTSjnf%2FE3M%3D&amp;reserved=0">www.jimmycartertribute.org</a>. This site includes the official online condolence book as well as print and visual biographical materials commemorating his life.</p>

Kan. lawmakers reflect on the life of former President Jimmy Carter

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a weekend homicide in Kansas have identified the victim as 18-year-old&nbsp;Zamauria Jones, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Just after 10p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 7600 block of Monroe Avenue on a reported sound of shots call for service. While officers were on the way to the call, they were flagged down by an individual who stated she was transporting a shooting victim, later identified as Jones, to the hospital and needed help.

Officers immediately removed Jones from the vehicle. She was unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. 

Medical aid was provided for Jones by officers on scene until emergency medical personnel responded. Jones was immediately transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

Police have not reported information indicating what lead up to the shooting. Police are working to gather information on anyone who may be responsible for this incident. 

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735481260828.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a weekend homicide in Kansas have identified the victim as 18-year-old&nbsp;Zamauria Jones, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.</p><p>Just after 10p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 7600 block of Monroe Avenue on a reported sound of shots call for service. While officers were on the way to the call, they were flagged down by an individual who stated she was transporting a shooting victim, later identified as Jones, to the hospital and needed help.</p><p>Officers immediately removed Jones from the vehicle. She was unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. </p><p>Medical aid was provided for Jones by officers on scene until emergency medical personnel responded. Jones was immediately transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.</p><p>Police have not reported information indicating what lead up to the shooting. Police are working to gather information on anyone who may be responsible for this incident. </p>

Homicide: KCPD flagged down by driver taking woman to hospital

SALINA—All dogs at the animal shelter in Salina are currently under quarantine, according to a social media report from Salina Animal Services.

The quarantine is a precautionary measure&nbsp;due to a recent Giardia outbreak. Giardia is a tiny parasite (germ) that causes diarrhea, according to the CDC.

"The health and safety of our animals are our top priority, and we are currently consulting with a local veterinarian to manage the situation and ensure proper care," the shelter wrote.

"We appreciate your understanding and support during this time. If you are interested in adopting, please stay tuned for further updates as we continue to monitor the situation. Thank you for your patience!For any questions, please feel free to reach out to us directly."

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689626848974.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SALINA—All dogs at the animal shelter in Salina are currently under quarantine, according to a social media report from Salina Animal Services.</p><p>The quarantine is a precautionary measure&nbsp;due to a recent Giardia outbreak. Giardia is a tiny parasite (germ) that causes diarrhea, according to the CDC.</p><p>"The health and safety of our animals are our top priority, and we are currently consulting with a local veterinarian to manage the situation and ensure proper care," the shelter wrote.</p><p>"We appreciate your understanding and support during this time. If you are interested in adopting, please stay tuned for further updates as we continue to monitor the situation. Thank you for your patience!For any questions, please feel free to reach out to us directly."</p>

All dogs at Salina Animal Shelter under quarantine

<b>By&nbsp;ANNA KAMINSKI</b><br><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

While thousands of patients cross the border with medical cards in hand, countless more are buying recreational cannabis without a prescription. That’s unlikely to change as some Kansas lawmakers signal resistance to medical legalization in 2025.

TOPEKA — Thousands of Kansans are crossing the Missouri border with medical marijuana cards in hand, and that’s unlikely to change as Kansas lawmakers resist medical legalization in 2025.

Legislators&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/03/28/kansas-senate-committee-tables-medical-marijuana-bill-until-2025-legislative-session/" target="_blank">tabled</a>&nbsp;a medical marijuana bill in March and promised to revisit it at the beginning of the 2025 session, which begins Jan. 13. In October, a majority of medical marijuana committee members declined in a 5-4 vote to urge the Legislature to pass a medical marijuana bill.

Anyone can bring a bill for consideration at any time, said Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, at the October committee meeting.

“But I think it would not be the place of this committee to force upon the Legislature a bill when a large number — well, quite a few of the committee — I think still have a lot of questions,” he said.

Thompson has been cautioning legislators against making a hasty decision for at least two&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/01/despite-high-hopes-success-of-kansas-marijuana-legislation-remains-unclear/" target="_blank">years</a>.

Nearly 2,200 Kansans are medical marijuana patients in Missouri, according to October data obtained through a public records request from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Outgoing Rep. Dennis “Boog” Highberger, a Lawrence Democrat, pointed to polls that show more than&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/11/01/kansans-support-marijuana-legalization-lawmakers-wont-bite/" target="_blank">70% of Kansans favor legalization</a>.

“I think if we don’t come back to this in January, it will just die or get punted until next year,” he said.

Medical and recreational sales in Missouri in 2024 have totaled more than $1.3 billion combined as of October, according to the state’s cannabis patient, caregiver and consumer&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/stats.php" target="_blank">data</a>. Most of the sales, about $1.1 billion worth, were recreational, which began in February 2023.

Taxes gleaned from marijuana sales — 4% on medical and 6% on recreational — have funneled millions of dollars to Missouri’s veterans commission, public defense system and a substance use treatment program within the health department.

The Kansas Cannabis Chamber of Commerce has been watching the number of people taking Kansas dollars to Missouri, but its focus has shifted to hemp instead of marijuana after years of adversarial legislative sessions, said Erren Wright, the chamber’s board president.

Small businesses and community members are suffering, she said. All the while, she said legislators continue to act in bad faith.

“We’re really unhappy with the way Kansas is going about this,” Wright said.

Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s office, said medical marijuana legalization is a widely supported, “commonsense” policy.

“Gov. Kelly has been consistent in her belief that legalizing medical marijuana would improve Kansas’ overall health and economy and help those who suffer from chronic pain and serious illnesses,” Hoge said. “She will continue to support the passage of a Kansas-specific approach that is both feasible and well-regulated.”

Some legislators expressed interest at the October meeting in waiting to see the results of marijuana ballot measures in Nebraska and Florida in the 2024 general election.

Nebraska voters approved a medical marijuana program, joining the ranks of other Kansas neighbors Colorado, Missouri and Oklahoma. While&nbsp;<a href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/11/05/amendment-3-comes-up-short-of-the-60-required-for-passage/" target="_blank">a majority of Florida voters favored</a>&nbsp;a ballot measure to legalize recreational cannabis, it was 4 percentage points short of the required 60% threshold for passage. Recreational cannabis is permitted for people 21 and older in Missouri and Colorado.

Colorado doesn’t allow medical marijuana cardholders to live outside the state upon applying, said Mariah La Rue, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Center for Health and Environmental Data. Similarly, Oklahoma requires out-of-state medical marijuana cardholders to possess licenses from their own state.

The true number of Kansans crossing state lines to access some form of legal cannabis is unknown.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is aware of the exploration of legalized cannabis in and around Kansas, but it’s focused on impaired driving, said April McCollum, a spokeswoman for the patrol.

“We strive to provide our troopers and other officers both in and out of state with the most current and reliable methods for removing impaired drivers from our roadways,” she said. “We will continue to remain focused on these efforts.”

<i>This story was originally published by&nbsp;</i><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/12/09/thousands-of-kansans-are-missouri-medical-marijuana-patients/" target="_blank"><i>Kansas Reflector</i></a><i>.</i>

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734976451995.png" alt="Kansas legislators tabled a medical marijuana bill in March and promised to revisit it at the beginning of the 2025 session, which begins Jan. 13. In October, a majority of medical marijuana committee members declined in a 5-4 vote to urge the Legislature to pass a medical marijuana bill. Tim Carpenter / Kansas Reflector" />
                        <figcaption>Kansas legislators tabled a medical marijuana bill in March and promised to revisit it at the beginning of the 2025 session, which begins Jan. 13. In October, a majority of medical marijuana committee members declined in a 5-4 vote to urge the Legislature to pass a medical marijuana bill. Tim Carpenter / Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>By&nbsp;ANNA KAMINSKI</b><br><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a></p><h2>While thousands of patients cross the border with medical cards in hand, countless more are buying recreational cannabis without a prescription. That’s unlikely to change as some Kansas lawmakers signal resistance to medical legalization in 2025.</h2><p>TOPEKA — Thousands of Kansans are crossing the Missouri border with medical marijuana cards in hand, and that’s unlikely to change as Kansas lawmakers resist medical legalization in 2025.</p><p>Legislators&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/03/28/kansas-senate-committee-tables-medical-marijuana-bill-until-2025-legislative-session/" target="_blank">tabled</a>&nbsp;a medical marijuana bill in March and promised to revisit it at the beginning of the 2025 session, which begins Jan. 13. In October, a majority of medical marijuana committee members declined in a 5-4 vote to urge the Legislature to pass a medical marijuana bill.</p><p>Anyone can bring a bill for consideration at any time, said Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, at the October committee meeting.</p><p>“But I think it would not be the place of this committee to force upon the Legislature a bill when a large number — well, quite a few of the committee — I think still have a lot of questions,” he said.</p><p>Thompson has been cautioning legislators against making a hasty decision for at least two&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/01/despite-high-hopes-success-of-kansas-marijuana-legislation-remains-unclear/" target="_blank">years</a>.</p><p>Nearly 2,200 Kansans are medical marijuana patients in Missouri, according to October data obtained through a public records request from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.</p><p>Outgoing Rep. Dennis “Boog” Highberger, a Lawrence Democrat, pointed to polls that show more than&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/11/01/kansans-support-marijuana-legalization-lawmakers-wont-bite/" target="_blank">70% of Kansans favor legalization</a>.</p><p>“I think if we don’t come back to this in January, it will just die or get punted until next year,” he said.</p><p>Medical and recreational sales in Missouri in 2024 have totaled more than $1.3 billion combined as of October, according to the state’s cannabis patient, caregiver and consumer&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/stats.php" target="_blank">data</a>. Most of the sales, about $1.1 billion worth, were recreational, which began in February 2023.</p><p>Taxes gleaned from marijuana sales — 4% on medical and 6% on recreational — have funneled millions of dollars to Missouri’s veterans commission, public defense system and a substance use treatment program within the health department.</p><p>The Kansas Cannabis Chamber of Commerce has been watching the number of people taking Kansas dollars to Missouri, but its focus has shifted to hemp instead of marijuana after years of adversarial legislative sessions, said Erren Wright, the chamber’s board president.</p><p>Small businesses and community members are suffering, she said. All the while, she said legislators continue to act in bad faith.</p><p>“We’re really unhappy with the way Kansas is going about this,” Wright said.</p><p>Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s office, said medical marijuana legalization is a widely supported, “commonsense” policy.</p><p>“Gov. Kelly has been consistent in her belief that legalizing medical marijuana would improve Kansas’ overall health and economy and help those who suffer from chronic pain and serious illnesses,” Hoge said. “She will continue to support the passage of a Kansas-specific approach that is both feasible and well-regulated.”</p><h2>Cannabis on all four corners</h2><p>Some legislators expressed interest at the October meeting in waiting to see the results of marijuana ballot measures in Nebraska and Florida in the 2024 general election.</p><p>Nebraska voters approved a medical marijuana program, joining the ranks of other Kansas neighbors Colorado, Missouri and Oklahoma. While&nbsp;<a href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/11/05/amendment-3-comes-up-short-of-the-60-required-for-passage/" target="_blank">a majority of Florida voters favored</a>&nbsp;a ballot measure to legalize recreational cannabis, it was 4 percentage points short of the required 60% threshold for passage. Recreational cannabis is permitted for people 21 and older in Missouri and Colorado.</p><p>Colorado doesn’t allow medical marijuana cardholders to live outside the state upon applying, said Mariah La Rue, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Center for Health and Environmental Data. Similarly, Oklahoma requires out-of-state medical marijuana cardholders to possess licenses from their own state.</p><p>The true number of Kansans crossing state lines to access some form of legal cannabis is unknown.</p><p>The Kansas Highway Patrol is aware of the exploration of legalized cannabis in and around Kansas, but it’s focused on impaired driving, said April McCollum, a spokeswoman for the patrol.</p><p>“We strive to provide our troopers and other officers both in and out of state with the most current and reliable methods for removing impaired drivers from our roadways,” she said. “We will continue to remain focused on these efforts.”</p><p><i>This story was originally published by&nbsp;</i><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/12/09/thousands-of-kansans-are-missouri-medical-marijuana-patients/" target="_blank"><i>Kansas Reflector</i></a><i>.</i></p>

Thousands of Kansans are buying medical marijuana in Missouri

WASHINGTON (AP)—Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-dies-18c198c20352c835bca3eec276020dd7">Jimmy Carter has died</a>&nbsp;at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan.&nbsp;

Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the U.S. Carter, the longest-lived former president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100.

Guterres' remembrance focuses on Carter's contributions to peace

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday praised Carter for his significant contributions to international peace through the Camp David Accords, the SALT II Treaty and the Panama Canal treaties.

“President Carter’s commitment to international peace and human rights also found full expression after he left the presidency,” Guterres said in a statement. "He played a key role in conflict mediation, election monitoring, the promotion of democracy, and disease prevention and eradication. These and other efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and helped advance the work of the United Nations.

“President Carter will be remembered for his solidarity with the vulnerable, his abiding grace, and his unrelenting faith in the common good and our common humanity,” Guterres said.

King Charles III joined leaders from around the world in issuing their condolences and sharing their reflections on the former president.

“It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of former President Carter," the king said in a public statement. “He was a committed public servant, and devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights. His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977."

President Joe Biden broke from his family vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands to remember Carter, recalling his predecessor as a role model and friend.

America and the world lost a “remarkable leader” with Carter’s death, Biden said, adding that he had spoken to several of the former president's children and was working with them to formalize memorial arrangements in Washington. Speaking for roughly 10 minutes, Biden remembered Carter as a humanitarian and statesman, someone he couldn't imagine walking past a person in need without trying to help them. He represented “the most fundamental human values we can never let slip away,” Biden said.

The president repeatedly praised Carter's “simple decency” and his values, saying some will see him as a man of honesty and humility from a bygone era.

“I don’t believe it’s a bygone era. I see a man not only of our time, but for all times,” Biden said. “To know his core, you need to know he never stopped being a Sunday school teacher at that Baptist church in Plains, Georgia.”

Egyptian president notes historic Camp David Accords

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on X that Carter's significant role in achieving the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel "will remain etched in the annals of history.”

He went on to say Carter's “humanitarian work exemplifies a lofty standard of love, peace, and brotherhood.” Carter will be remembered as “one of the world’s most prominent leaders in service to humanity,” el-Sissi said.

Carter’s relationship with his wife Rosalynn spanned a near-lifetime

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter had one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rosalynn-carter-dead-69fadff26354d26bdda94c5d52558a7f">great love stories</a>&nbsp;and political partnerships in U.S. presidential history.

The former president sometimes called his wife, who died Nov. 19. 2023, “Rosie,” which is a good way to remember how her name actually is pronounced. It is “ROSE-uh-lyn,” not, repeat NOT, “RAHZ-uh-lyn.”

They were married more than 77 years but their relationship went back even further. Jimmy’s mother, “Miss Lillian,” delivered Eleanor Rosalynn Smith at the Smith home in Plains on Aug. 18, 1927. The nurse brought her eldest child back a few days later to visit, meaning the longest-married presidential couple met as preschooler and newborn.

She became his trusted campaign aide and White House adviser, surprising Washington by sitting in on Cabinet meetings. Then they traveled the world together as co-founders of The Carter Center.

Most of the nation saw the former president for the last time at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral.

Grandson Jason Carter says Plains kept his grandparents humble

Jason Carter is now the chairman of The Carter Center’s board of governors. He said his grandparents “never changed who they were” even after reaching the White House and becoming global humanitarians.

He says their four years in Washington were just one period of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-life-career-timeline-38b962a71cb8c05e1f7dba3b0873ebc7">putting their values into action</a>&nbsp;and that the center his grandparents founded in Atlanta is a lasting “extension of their belief in human rights as a fundamental global force.”

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter traveled the world advocating for democracy and fighting disease, but Jason Carter said they weren’t motivated by pity, or arrogance that a former American president had all the answers — they ventured to remote places because they could “recognize these people.” They too were from “a 600-person village” and understood that even the poorest people “have the power ... the ability ... the knowledge and the expertise to change their own community.”

As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others.

Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington.

Pelosi says Carter’s life ‘was saintly’ in devotion to peace

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering Carter as a man steeped “in devotion to public service and peace.”

The California Democrat said in a statement Sunday that Carter was committed to “honoring the spark of divinity within every person,” something she said manifested in “teaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.”

Pelosi also said Carter led “perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.”

Historical praise from the United Kingdom

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted in a post on X the special contribution Carter made by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and through his work with the Carter Center.

“Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,” Starmer said.

To commemorate Carter’s death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, “to honor the life and legacy” of the late former president.

The Obamas recall Carter's Sunday services

In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday,s” but added that the late former president “will never be far away -- buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.”

Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-4e0f31e58fbc4ae2a98b3351a736ef22">longest-lived American president</a>&nbsp;died Sunday, more than a year after entering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-roslaynn-hospice-year-anniversary-c93498575e806f1a1d83714cf8e5c0b6">hospice care</a>, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rosalynn-carter">Rosalynn,</a>&nbsp;who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rosalynn-carter-dead-e4291133392444bc9ad9d1da461d95c1">died at 96 in November 2023</a>, spent most of their lives.

“Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family.

In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.”

A moderate Democrat,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-georgia-state-barack-obama-794d225a2a4de24e4545bbca60095bc1">Carter entered the 1976 presidential race</a>&nbsp;as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer.

After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ne-state-wire-us-news-ap-top-news-ms-state-wire-baptist-e0fb39dc916d48c1a8fa5bf72f5deb32">taught Sunday School lessons</a>&nbsp;at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world.

Former Vice President Gore remembers Carter for life "of purpose”

Former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-supreme-court-lawsuits-trump-harris-1507df4e695ca13c5da00c22ef8e14e5">Al Gore</a>&nbsp;praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.”

Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes.

Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.”

During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter.

The Clintons react to Jimmy Carter's death

Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-hillary-clinton-library-little-rock-trump-b9fd56cc6927e08910ac76100d0d105d">Bill Clinton and his wife,</a>&nbsp;former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others.

“Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end."

The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David."

After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735523868696.png" alt="Former President Jimmy Carter during an interview in 2010 -image courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>Former President Jimmy Carter during an interview in 2010 -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP)—Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-dies-18c198c20352c835bca3eec276020dd7">Jimmy Carter has died</a>&nbsp;at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH: President Biden complete remarks on death of former President Jimmy Carter. <a href="https://t.co/Sea2QtgMPW">pic.twitter.com/Sea2QtgMPW</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1873534289557545352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Statement from President-elect Trump. <a href="https://t.co/q0ctSXm0Rs">pic.twitter.com/q0ctSXm0Rs</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1873493252319670612?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Carter died Sunday, coming up on two years after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia.</p><p>At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan.&nbsp;</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tonight we will shine in Red White and Blue to honor the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter<br><br>📷: captiv_8/IG <a href="https://t.co/xIksQuUp68">pic.twitter.com/xIksQuUp68</a></p>&mdash; Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmpireStateBldg/status/1873483205611061568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Carter's state funeral will be Jan. 9</h2><p>President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9.</p><p>Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the U.S. Carter, the longest-lived former president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Statement by President George W. Bush. <a href="https://t.co/nlooc1eg68">pic.twitter.com/nlooc1eg68</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1873494280125505716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Guterres' remembrance focuses on Carter's contributions to peace</h2><p>United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday praised Carter for his significant contributions to international peace through the Camp David Accords, the SALT II Treaty and the Panama Canal treaties.</p><p>“President Carter’s commitment to international peace and human rights also found full expression after he left the presidency,” Guterres said in a statement. "He played a key role in conflict mediation, election monitoring, the promotion of democracy, and disease prevention and eradication. These and other efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and helped advance the work of the United Nations.</p><p>“President Carter will be remembered for his solidarity with the vulnerable, his abiding grace, and his unrelenting faith in the common good and our common humanity,” Guterres said.</p><h2>Reflections from King Charles III</h2><p>King Charles III joined leaders from around the world in issuing their condolences and sharing their reflections on the former president.</p><p>“It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of former President Carter," the king said in a public statement. “He was a committed public servant, and devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights. His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977."</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian. <a href="https://t.co/Ki7Rhbent0">pic.twitter.com/Ki7Rhbent0</a></p>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1873503977792225522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Biden remembers Carter for his decency</h2><p>President Joe Biden broke from his family vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands to remember Carter, recalling his predecessor as a role model and friend.</p><p>America and the world lost a “remarkable leader” with Carter’s death, Biden said, adding that he had spoken to several of the former president's children and was working with them to formalize memorial arrangements in Washington. Speaking for roughly 10 minutes, Biden remembered Carter as a humanitarian and statesman, someone he couldn't imagine walking past a person in need without trying to help them. He represented “the most fundamental human values we can never let slip away,” Biden said.</p><p>The president repeatedly praised Carter's “simple decency” and his values, saying some will see him as a man of honesty and humility from a bygone era.</p><p>“I don’t believe it’s a bygone era. I see a man not only of our time, but for all times,” Biden said. “To know his core, you need to know he never stopped being a Sunday school teacher at that Baptist church in Plains, Georgia.”</p><h2>Egyptian president notes historic Camp David Accords</h2><p>Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on X that Carter's significant role in achieving the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel "will remain etched in the annals of history.”</p><p>He went on to say Carter's “humanitarian work exemplifies a lofty standard of love, peace, and brotherhood.” Carter will be remembered as “one of the world’s most prominent leaders in service to humanity,” el-Sissi said.</p><h2>Carter’s relationship with his wife Rosalynn spanned a near-lifetime</h2><p>Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter had one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rosalynn-carter-dead-69fadff26354d26bdda94c5d52558a7f">great love stories</a>&nbsp;and political partnerships in U.S. presidential history.</p><p>The former president sometimes called his wife, who died Nov. 19. 2023, “Rosie,” which is a good way to remember how her name actually is pronounced. It is “ROSE-uh-lyn,” not, repeat NOT, “RAHZ-uh-lyn.”</p><p>They were married more than 77 years but their relationship went back even further. Jimmy’s mother, “Miss Lillian,” delivered Eleanor Rosalynn Smith at the Smith home in Plains on Aug. 18, 1927. The nurse brought her eldest child back a few days later to visit, meaning the longest-married presidential couple met as preschooler and newborn.</p><p>She became his trusted campaign aide and White House adviser, surprising Washington by sitting in on Cabinet meetings. Then they traveled the world together as co-founders of The Carter Center.</p><p>Most of the nation saw the former president for the last time at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral.</p><h2>Grandson Jason Carter says Plains kept his grandparents humble</h2><p>Jason Carter is now the chairman of The Carter Center’s board of governors. He said his grandparents “never changed who they were” even after reaching the White House and becoming global humanitarians.</p><p>He says their four years in Washington were just one period of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-life-career-timeline-38b962a71cb8c05e1f7dba3b0873ebc7">putting their values into action</a>&nbsp;and that the center his grandparents founded in Atlanta is a lasting “extension of their belief in human rights as a fundamental global force.”</p><p>Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter traveled the world advocating for democracy and fighting disease, but Jason Carter said they weren’t motivated by pity, or arrogance that a former American president had all the answers — they ventured to remote places because they could “recognize these people.” They too were from “a 600-person village” and understood that even the poorest people “have the power ... the ability ... the knowledge and the expertise to change their own community.”</p><h2>President Biden mourns his predecessor</h2><p>As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others.</p><p>Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington.</p><h2>Pelosi says Carter’s life ‘was saintly’ in devotion to peace</h2><p>Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering Carter as a man steeped “in devotion to public service and peace.”</p><p>The California Democrat said in a statement Sunday that Carter was committed to “honoring the spark of divinity within every person,” something she said manifested in “teaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.”</p><p>Pelosi also said Carter led “perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.”</p><h2>Historical praise from the United Kingdom</h2><p>British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted in a post on X the special contribution Carter made by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and through his work with the Carter Center.</p><p>“Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,” Starmer said.</p><h2>Commemoration in New York City</h2><p>To commemorate Carter’s death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, “to honor the life and legacy” of the late former president.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Carter taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man. <a href="https://t.co/dZHL0Nu0Tj">https://t.co/dZHL0Nu0Tj</a></p>&mdash; Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1873499254309998688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>The Obamas recall Carter's Sunday services</h2><p>In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday,s” but added that the late former president “will never be far away -- buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.”</p><p>Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.”</p><h2>A somber announcement</h2><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-4e0f31e58fbc4ae2a98b3351a736ef22">longest-lived American president</a>&nbsp;died Sunday, more than a year after entering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-roslaynn-hospice-year-anniversary-c93498575e806f1a1d83714cf8e5c0b6">hospice care</a>, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rosalynn-carter">Rosalynn,</a>&nbsp;who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rosalynn-carter-dead-e4291133392444bc9ad9d1da461d95c1">died at 96 in November 2023</a>, spent most of their lives.</p><p>“Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family.</p><h2>A Southerner and a man of faith</h2><p>In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.”</p><p>A moderate Democrat,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-georgia-state-barack-obama-794d225a2a4de24e4545bbca60095bc1">Carter entered the 1976 presidential race</a>&nbsp;as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer.</p><p>After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ne-state-wire-us-news-ap-top-news-ms-state-wire-baptist-e0fb39dc916d48c1a8fa5bf72f5deb32">taught Sunday School lessons</a>&nbsp;at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world.</p><h2>Former Vice President Gore remembers Carter for life "of purpose”</h2><p>Former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-supreme-court-lawsuits-trump-harris-1507df4e695ca13c5da00c22ef8e14e5">Al Gore</a>&nbsp;praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.”</p><p>Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes.</p><p>Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.”</p><p>During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter.</p><h2>The Clintons react to Jimmy Carter's death</h2><p>Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-hillary-clinton-library-little-rock-trump-b9fd56cc6927e08910ac76100d0d105d">Bill Clinton and his wife,</a>&nbsp;former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others.</p><p>“Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end."</p><p>The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David."</p><p>After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said.</p>

🎥Biden and Trump pay tribute to former President Jimmy Carter

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just&nbsp; just after 2:30p.m. Sunday in Kansas&nbsp; City.

A Harley Davidson Tri Glide motorcycle was traveling eastbound and entered a private drive in the area of 500 block of NW Barry Road in Kansas City, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez

The motorcycle entered the driveway too quickly, at too sharp of a turn and overturned.&nbsp; The vehicle rolled on top of the operator causing critical injuries. EMS transported the motorcycle operator to a local hospital where hospital staff pronounced them deceased.

This is fatality #94 compared to #101 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; The name of the victim has not been released.

<p>KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just&nbsp; just after 2:30p.m. Sunday in Kansas&nbsp; City.</p><p>A Harley Davidson Tri Glide motorcycle was traveling eastbound and entered a private drive in the area of 500 block of NW Barry Road in Kansas City, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez</p><p>The motorcycle entered the driveway too quickly, at too sharp of a turn and overturned.&nbsp; The vehicle rolled on top of the operator causing critical injuries. EMS transported the motorcycle operator to a local hospital where hospital staff pronounced them deceased.</p><p>This is fatality #94 compared to #101 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; The name of the victim has not been released.</p>

Motorcycle rolls on top of rider in fatal driveway accident

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22BILL%20BARROW%20and%20ALEX%20SANZ%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By BILL BARROW and ALEX SANZ&nbsp;</a>

ATLANTA (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jimmy-carter">Jimmy Carter,</a>&nbsp;the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-100th-birthday-1e540c277dea07bd84242d290b4ebcdc">He was 100 years old</a>.

The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-roslaynn-hospice-year-anniversary-c93498575e806f1a1d83714cf8e5c0b6">more than a year after entering hospice care</a>, at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rosalynn-carter">Rosalynn,</a>&nbsp;who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family.

“To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.”

A moderate Democrat,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-georgia-state-barack-obama-794d225a2a4de24e4545bbca60095bc1">Carter ran for president in 1976</a>&nbsp;as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia.

“If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said.

Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978.

But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election.

Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ga-state-wire-jimmy-carter-rosalynn-carter-us-news-d72c1e75aa626d41565117c88952a5fb">The Carter Center</a>&nbsp;in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health.

Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6a4d9b86ab5bdbc3d4ffdeb736006967">negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia</a>&nbsp;and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-skin-conditions-atlanta-south-sudan-central-african-republic-e7f12b17a6661907874ea05e77f83094">eradicate guinea worm infections</a>&nbsp;as one of many health initiatives.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9ef214c0b3c748b6b32fa40a70ff6624">Swinging hammers into their 90s,</a>&nbsp;the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity.

The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-middle-east-jimmy-carter-18eab7024282910f6aab29026a1e04e2">revisit his presidency</a>&nbsp;and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time.

Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing.

The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief" and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats.

But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-human-rights-1a7853176b43bc0c73e48266fcc882da">Emphasizing human rights</a>, he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing.

But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll.

When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise" speech, even though he never used that word.

After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed.

Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter's diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states.

Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-politics-government-and-politics-georgia-jimmy-carter-55f6bac7ab089707a18a5cd23194b2b9">married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith</a>&nbsp;in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rosalynn-carter-death-jimmy-relationship-0b3b3b6c4dcb462265253c8e98f70228">they soon turned their ambitions to politics</a>. Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.”

Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results.

After&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1150203131f842d28ebb65475cf86a49">a 2015 cancer diagnosis,</a>&nbsp;Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.”

“I’ve had a wonderful life,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fd1ca946921a402d9da6bdc8d4c212da">he said.</a>&nbsp;“I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”

Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.

ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old.

The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said.

"Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia," the center simply said in posting about Carter's death on the social media platform X.

Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation's highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s.

"My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference," Carter once said.

A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon's disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia.

"If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don't vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president," Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon.

Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women's rights and America's global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy.

Yet Carter's electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan.

Carter acknowledged in his 2020 "White House Diary" that he could be "micromanaging" and "excessively autocratic," complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington's news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes.

"It didn't take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake," Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had "an inherent incompatibility" with Washington insiders.

Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to "protect our nation's security and interests peacefully" and "enhance human rights here and abroad" — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term.

Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights.

"I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia," Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. "I wanted a place where we could work."

That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well.

Carter's stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors.

He went "where others are not treading," he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010.

"I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don't," Carter said.

He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton's White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America's approach to Israel with his 2006 book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid." And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump.

Among the center's many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity.

The Nobel committee's 2002 Peace Prize cites his "untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added.

Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done.

"The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place," he said. "The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect."

Carter's globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little "Jimmy Carters," so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington's National Cathedral.

The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously.

His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America's historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China.