&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a teen on drug allegations.

On December 10, a sheriff's deputy stopped a 1994 Toyota Celica for a traffic infraction near U.S. Hwy 75 and 158th Road in southern Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver, 18-year-old Thomas Jay Holcomb, of Hoyt was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733947870275.png" alt="Holcomb-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Holcomb-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a teen on drug allegations.On December 10, a sheriff's deputy stopped a 1994 Toyota Celica for a traffic infraction near U.S. Hwy 75 and 158th Road in southern Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver, 18-year-old Thomas Jay Holcomb, of Hoyt was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

Sheriff: Kansas teen caught transporting meth, marijuana

Tests show probable infections in birds recovered in Henry and Vernon counties, prompting advisory asking for reports of dead waterfowl and warning against contact

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

The Missouri Conservation Department received confirmation Wednesday morning of something it feared — three dead snow geese found by state wildlife refuge staff were likely infected with bird flu.

Samples from the birds — two recovered in Henry County and one in Vernon County — were reported as “non-negative” for&nbsp;<a href="https://agriculture.mo.gov/avian-influenza.php" target="_blank">avian influenza</a>&nbsp;after testing at the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, said Deb Hudman, supervisor of the department’s wildlife health program.

The samples will now be sent to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/labs/about-nvsl" target="_blank">National Veterinary Services Laboratory</a>&nbsp;to determine whether the virus is the highly pathogenic variant or one that is less likely to cause an outbreak that can spread through flocks of wild and domestic birds.

“It’s going to be a month or so before we know which version of avian influenza, but you know, we treat that basically as an avian influenza positive,” Hudman said in an interview with The Independent.

More birds have been found, some in southeast Missouri and some in the St. Louis area, she said. They are being tested but results are not available yet.

The discovery of the dead birds prompted the department to issue a warning Tuesday to the public to avoid touching waterfowl found dead&nbsp;<a href="https://mdc12.mdc.mo.gov/applications/WildlifeHealthReporting" target="_blank">and to report</a>&nbsp;any dead ducks or geese they see so samples can be collected for testing.

With the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/waterfowl" target="_blank">waterfowl hunting season</a>&nbsp;underway, the advisory also asked hunters to field dress any birds they kill and carry the offal out for disposal away from lakes and waterways.

“Bald eagles and other raptors are particularly susceptible to avian influenza,” the advisory stated. “This simple action could help prevent bald eagle and other raptor mortalities.”

Pets should be kept away from dead birds as well. Wash hands thoroughly after inadvertent contact.

Wild waterfowl can spread the infection to agricultural flocks that are less immune. Snow geese are common carriers of bird flu in the wild, Hudman said.

Snow geese gather in immense numbers in Missouri as they migrate from summer nesting sites along Hudson Bay and the Arctic Ocean to where they spend the winter along the Gulf Coast. At the Loess Bluff National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City,&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-12/loess_bluffs_waterfowl_survey_20241203.pdf" target="_blank">survey conducted last week</a>&nbsp;showed more than 50,000 geese, 170,000 ducks and 373 bald eagles at the refuge.

The numbers can be far higher. A survey in February 2023 showed approximately 2 million snow geese, about four times the human population of Kansas City.&nbsp;

“They’re susceptible to avian influenza, but they’re also the natural reservoir,” Hudman said.

Many migrating waterfowl carry the low-pathogenic, or less disease-causing, variant.&nbsp;

“These birds, they can carry the virus without showing symptoms, but it allows it to spread easily,” Hudman said.

There is no reason to worry about bird flu infections from songbirds that visit winter feeders, she said.

“We’re specifically worried about waterfowl because of the environment, the wetlands that they’re in and the numbers that they’re in,” she said. “Songbirds are very, very resistant to this.”

In September, a Missouri resident was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-officials-say-no-sign-bird-flu-spreading-among-humans-despite-missouri-case" target="_blank">diagnosed with bird flu</a>&nbsp;without having any known contact with infected birds. An investigation by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spotlights/missouri-h5n1-serology-testing.html" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control</a>&nbsp;was unable to determine the source of the infection and found one other likely, but not confirmed, case associated with it.

The department will respond to reports of dead birds by removing them and taking samples for testing, Hudman said. Removal by professionals will help prevent spread of the disease, she said.

“The longer they’re on the landscape, then the higher the probability things that scavenge on them, like eagles, will feed on them,” Hudman said. “Raptors will feed on them, coyotes will feed on them, raccoons, you know, all the typical things that are happy to eat a goose are doing so. So the longer they’re on the landscape, then the more the outbreak can persist.”

There is no danger for hunters eating fully cooked waterfowl they bag or birdwatchers who visit wetlands to see the huge flocks migrating to winter nesting sites.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734020854095.jpeg" alt=" Snow geese gather in February 2023 at Loess Bluff National Wildlife Refuge on their way North to summer nesting sites. The Missouri Department of Conservation is asking the public to report any dead waterfowl they see this winter to be tested for avian influenza (Photo: Missouri Department of Conservation)." />
 <figcaption> Snow geese gather in February 2023 at Loess Bluff National Wildlife Refuge on their way North to summer nesting sites. The Missouri Department of Conservation is asking the public to report any dead waterfowl they see this winter to be tested for avian influenza (Photo: Missouri Department of Conservation).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Tests show probable infections in birds recovered in Henry and Vernon counties, prompting advisory asking for reports of dead waterfowl and warning against contact</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri Conservation Department received confirmation Wednesday morning of something it feared — three dead snow geese found by state wildlife refuge staff were likely infected with bird flu.Samples from the birds — two recovered in Henry County and one in Vernon County — were reported as “non-negative” for&nbsp;<a href="https://agriculture.mo.gov/avian-influenza.php" target="_blank">avian influenza</a>&nbsp;after testing at the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, said Deb Hudman, supervisor of the department’s wildlife health program.The samples will now be sent to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/labs/about-nvsl" target="_blank">National Veterinary Services Laboratory</a>&nbsp;to determine whether the virus is the highly pathogenic variant or one that is less likely to cause an outbreak that can spread through flocks of wild and domestic birds.“It’s going to be a month or so before we know which version of avian influenza, but you know, we treat that basically as an avian influenza positive,” Hudman said in an interview with The Independent.More birds have been found, some in southeast Missouri and some in the St. Louis area, she said. They are being tested but results are not available yet.The discovery of the dead birds prompted the department to issue a warning Tuesday to the public to avoid touching waterfowl found dead&nbsp;<a href="https://mdc12.mdc.mo.gov/applications/WildlifeHealthReporting" target="_blank">and to report</a>&nbsp;any dead ducks or geese they see so samples can be collected for testing.With the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/waterfowl" target="_blank">waterfowl hunting season</a>&nbsp;underway, the advisory also asked hunters to field dress any birds they kill and carry the offal out for disposal away from lakes and waterways.“Bald eagles and other raptors are particularly susceptible to avian influenza,” the advisory stated. “This simple action could help prevent bald eagle and other raptor mortalities.”Pets should be kept away from dead birds as well. Wash hands thoroughly after inadvertent contact.Wild waterfowl can spread the infection to agricultural flocks that are less immune. Snow geese are common carriers of bird flu in the wild, Hudman said.Snow geese gather in immense numbers in Missouri as they migrate from summer nesting sites along Hudson Bay and the Arctic Ocean to where they spend the winter along the Gulf Coast. At the Loess Bluff National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City,&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-12/loess_bluffs_waterfowl_survey_20241203.pdf" target="_blank">survey conducted last week</a>&nbsp;showed more than 50,000 geese, 170,000 ducks and 373 bald eagles at the refuge.The numbers can be far higher. A survey in February 2023 showed approximately 2 million snow geese, about four times the human population of Kansas City.&nbsp;“They’re susceptible to avian influenza, but they’re also the natural reservoir,” Hudman said.Many migrating waterfowl carry the low-pathogenic, or less disease-causing, variant.&nbsp;“These birds, they can carry the virus without showing symptoms, but it allows it to spread easily,” Hudman said.There is no reason to worry about bird flu infections from songbirds that visit winter feeders, she said.“We’re specifically worried about waterfowl because of the environment, the wetlands that they’re in and the numbers that they’re in,” she said. “Songbirds are very, very resistant to this.”In September, a Missouri resident was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-officials-say-no-sign-bird-flu-spreading-among-humans-despite-missouri-case" target="_blank">diagnosed with bird flu</a>&nbsp;without having any known contact with infected birds. An investigation by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spotlights/missouri-h5n1-serology-testing.html" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control</a>&nbsp;was unable to determine the source of the infection and found one other likely, but not confirmed, case associated with it.The department will respond to reports of dead birds by removing them and taking samples for testing, Hudman said. Removal by professionals will help prevent spread of the disease, she said.“The longer they’re on the landscape, then the higher the probability things that scavenge on them, like eagles, will feed on them,” Hudman said. “Raptors will feed on them, coyotes will feed on them, raccoons, you know, all the typical things that are happy to eat a goose are doing so. So the longer they’re on the landscape, then the more the outbreak can persist.”There is no danger for hunters eating fully cooked waterfowl they bag or birdwatchers who visit wetlands to see the huge flocks migrating to winter nesting sites.

Conservation Department finds likely bird flu cases among snow geese

JOHNSON COUNTY—A 15-year-old arrested after allegedly bringing a gun to school on Monday has been charged with firearm possession by a felon, juvenile in possession of a firearm and interference with a law enforcement officer, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

Police took the student into custody at Shawnee Mission South High School, 5800 W 107th Street in Overland Park Monday afternoon, according to Overland Park Police.

Another student at the school reported the firearm to an administrator. Officers were then able to take the student into custody and remove the gun. 

The school was placed on lockdown until police arrested the student.&nbsp;The 15-year-old made a first court appearance in the case Tuesday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733784674534.png" alt="Police on the scene at the school on Monday-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene at the school on Monday-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—A 15-year-old arrested after allegedly bringing a gun to school on Monday has been charged with firearm possession by a felon, juvenile in possession of a firearm and interference with a law enforcement officer, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.Police took the student into custody at Shawnee Mission South High School, 5800 W 107th Street in Overland Park Monday afternoon, according to Overland Park Police.Another student at the school reported the firearm to an administrator. Officers were then able to take the student into custody and remove the gun. The school was placed on lockdown until police arrested the student.&nbsp;The 15-year-old made a first court appearance in the case Tuesday afternoon.

15-year-old charged for bringing gun to Kan. high school

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump rang the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nyse.com/bell">opening bell</a>&nbsp;Thursday at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nyse.com/history-of-nyse">New York Stock Exchange</a>&nbsp;after being recognized for the second time by Time magazine as its person of the year.

The honors for the businessman-turned-politician are a measure of Trump's remarkable comeback from an ostracized former president who refused to accept his election loss four years ago to a president-elect who won the White House decisively in November.

Before he rang the opening bell at 9:30 a.m., a first for him, Trump spoke at the exchange and called it “a tremendous honor.”

“Time Magazine, getting this honor for the second time, I think it like it better this time actually,” he said.

He talked up some of the people he has named to his incoming administration, including Treasury pick Secretary Scott Bessent, and some of his announced policies, including a promise this week that the federal government will issue expedited permits, including environmental approvals, for projects and construction worth more than $1 billion.

“I think we’re going to have a tremendous run. We have to straighten out some problems, some big problems in the world,” he said.

Sam Jacobs, Time's editor in chief, announced on NBC's “Today” show that Trump was Time’s 2024 Person of the Year. Jacobs said Trump was someone who “for better or for worse, had the most influence on the news in 2024.”

“This is someone who made an historic comeback, who reshaped the American presidency and who’s reordering American politics," Jacobs said. "It’s hard to argue with the fact that the person who’s moving into the Oval Office is the most influential person in news."

He added that “there’s always a hot debate” at the magazine over the honor, "although I have to admit that this year was an easier decision than years past.”

In an interview with the magazine published Thursday, Trump spoke about his final campaign blitz and election win.

“I called it ‘72 Days of Fury,’” Trump said. “We hit the nerve of the country. The country was angry.”

Trump was on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stock-markets">Wall Street</a>&nbsp;to mark the ceremonial start of the day’s trading. The Time magazine cover featuring him was projected onto a wall at the stock exchange, flanked by American flags.

Trump took the stage at the exchange flanked by family members and members of his incoming administration while his favored walk-on song, “God Bless the U.S.A.,” played.

Trump was also Time's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He was listed as a&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/7200122/person-of-the-year-2024-shortlist/">finalist for this year’s award</a>&nbsp;alongside notables including Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales.

The NYSE regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the 9:30 a.m. ceremonial opening trading. Thursday will be Trump's first time doing the honors, which have become a marker of culture and politics.

Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the NYSE opening bell to unveil the magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-time-person-of-year-2023-6c8ce1275db4cc326fe6ac94ea20bace">Taylor Swift</a>.

Trump has long had a fascination with being on the cover of Time, where he first made an appearance in 1989. He has falsely claimed to hold the record for cover appearances, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-time-magazine-with-trump-on-the-cover-hangs-in-his-golf-clubs-its-fake/2017/06/27/0adf96de-5850-11e7-ba90-f5875b7d1876_story.html">The Washington Post reported in 2017</a>&nbsp;that Trump had a fake picture of himself on the cover of the magazine hanging in several of his golf country clubs.

Earlier this year, Trump sat for interviews with the magazine for a story that ran in April. Time’s billionaire owner, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, criticized Trump’s Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, for not granting the magazine an interview.

"Despite multiple requests, Time has not been granted an interview with Kamala Harris—unlike every other Presidential candidate,” Benioff said in a post on X. “We believe in transparency and publish each interview in full. Why isn’t the Vice President engaging with the public on the same level?”

In his latest interview published Thursday, Trump reiterated that he’s going to pardon most of those convicted in riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. “It’s going to start in the first hour,” he said of the pardons. “Maybe the first nine minutes.”

Trump said he would not ask members of his administration to sign a loyalty pledge. “I think I will be able to, for the most part, determine who’s loyal,” he said. But he said he will fire anyone who doesn’t follow his policies.

On the war in Gaza, Trump said he wants to end the conflict and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows it. When Trump was asked whether he trusted Netanyahu, he told Time: “I don’t trust anybody.”

The incoming president also discussed his plans for mass deportations and argued he will have the authority to use the military to assist with the effort, even though, as the magazine notes, the Posse Comitatus Act forbids the deployment of the military against civilians.

“It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country,” he said. “I’ll only do what the law allows, but I will go up to the maximum level of what the law allows.”

Trump crafted his image as a wealthy real estate developer, which he played up as the star of the TV reality show “The Apprentice” and during his presidential campaign. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-economy-immigration-11db37c033328a7ef6af71fe0a104604">won the election in part by channeling Americans' anxieties</a>&nbsp;about the economy’s ability to provide for the middle class.

The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests.

The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-stocks-volatility-bonds-economy-retirement-59201a39bffd596b253021a6526a4b60">regardless of which party wins</a>&nbsp;the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wins-second-term-policies-de3dcf0f173b42602b258042fd7aaafb">higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation</a>&nbsp;that Trump favors will mean.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734014095189.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump rang the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nyse.com/bell">opening bell</a>&nbsp;Thursday at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nyse.com/history-of-nyse">New York Stock Exchange</a>&nbsp;after being recognized for the second time by Time magazine as its person of the year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President-elect Donald Trump rings opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. <a href="https://t.co/r4SgQ0vEFT">pic.twitter.com/r4SgQ0vEFT</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1867217065917960537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div>30<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump on being Time Magazine Person of the Year: &quot;Time Magazine, getting this honor for the second time, I think I like it better this time.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/D1fSNNIG87">pic.twitter.com/D1fSNNIG87</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1867212436895367196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Donald Trump is TIME&#39;s Person of the Year <a href="https://t.co/IjP5W2otV5">https://t.co/IjP5W2otV5</a> <a href="https://t.co/CVHX9o0DB3">pic.twitter.com/CVHX9o0DB3</a>&mdash; TIME (@TIME) <a href="https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1867187660814504285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The honors for the businessman-turned-politician are a measure of Trump's remarkable comeback from an ostracized former president who refused to accept his election loss four years ago to a president-elect who won the White House decisively in November.Before he rang the opening bell at 9:30 a.m., a first for him, Trump spoke at the exchange and called it “a tremendous honor.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734012038807.png" alt="President-elect Donald Trump signs the NYSE guest book and learns he is the first President to ring the bell since Ronald Reagan&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>President-elect Donald Trump signs the NYSE guest book and learns he is the first President to ring the bell since Ronald Reagan&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>“Time Magazine, getting this honor for the second time, I think it like it better this time actually,” he said.He talked up some of the people he has named to his incoming administration, including Treasury pick Secretary Scott Bessent, and some of his announced policies, including a promise this week that the federal government will issue expedited permits, including environmental approvals, for projects and construction worth more than $1 billion.“I think we’re going to have a tremendous run. We have to straighten out some problems, some big problems in the world,” he said.Sam Jacobs, Time's editor in chief, announced on NBC's “Today” show that Trump was Time’s 2024 Person of the Year. Jacobs said Trump was someone who “for better or for worse, had the most influence on the news in 2024.”“This is someone who made an historic comeback, who reshaped the American presidency and who’s reordering American politics," Jacobs said. "It’s hard to argue with the fact that the person who’s moving into the Oval Office is the most influential person in news."He added that “there’s always a hot debate” at the magazine over the honor, "although I have to admit that this year was an easier decision than years past.”In an interview with the magazine published Thursday, Trump spoke about his final campaign blitz and election win.“I called it ‘72 Days of Fury,’” Trump said. “We hit the nerve of the country. The country was angry.”Trump was on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stock-markets">Wall Street</a>&nbsp;to mark the ceremonial start of the day’s trading. The Time magazine cover featuring him was projected onto a wall at the stock exchange, flanked by American flags.Trump took the stage at the exchange flanked by family members and members of his incoming administration while his favored walk-on song, “God Bless the U.S.A.,” played.Trump was also Time's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He was listed as a&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/7200122/person-of-the-year-2024-shortlist/">finalist for this year’s award</a>&nbsp;alongside notables including Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales.The NYSE regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the 9:30 a.m. ceremonial opening trading. Thursday will be Trump's first time doing the honors, which have become a marker of culture and politics.Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the NYSE opening bell to unveil the magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-time-person-of-year-2023-6c8ce1275db4cc326fe6ac94ea20bace">Taylor Swift</a>.Trump has long had a fascination with being on the cover of Time, where he first made an appearance in 1989. He has falsely claimed to hold the record for cover appearances, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-time-magazine-with-trump-on-the-cover-hangs-in-his-golf-clubs-its-fake/2017/06/27/0adf96de-5850-11e7-ba90-f5875b7d1876_story.html">The Washington Post reported in 2017</a>&nbsp;that Trump had a fake picture of himself on the cover of the magazine hanging in several of his golf country clubs.Earlier this year, Trump sat for interviews with the magazine for a story that ran in April. Time’s billionaire owner, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, criticized Trump’s Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, for not granting the magazine an interview."Despite multiple requests, Time has not been granted an interview with Kamala Harris—unlike every other Presidential candidate,” Benioff said in a post on X. “We believe in transparency and publish each interview in full. Why isn’t the Vice President engaging with the public on the same level?”In his latest interview published Thursday, Trump reiterated that he’s going to pardon most of those convicted in riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. “It’s going to start in the first hour,” he said of the pardons. “Maybe the first nine minutes.”Trump said he would not ask members of his administration to sign a loyalty pledge. “I think I will be able to, for the most part, determine who’s loyal,” he said. But he said he will fire anyone who doesn’t follow his policies.On the war in Gaza, Trump said he wants to end the conflict and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows it. When Trump was asked whether he trusted Netanyahu, he told Time: “I don’t trust anybody.”The incoming president also discussed his plans for mass deportations and argued he will have the authority to use the military to assist with the effort, even though, as the magazine notes, the Posse Comitatus Act forbids the deployment of the military against civilians.“It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country,” he said. “I’ll only do what the law allows, but I will go up to the maximum level of what the law allows.”Trump crafted his image as a wealthy real estate developer, which he played up as the star of the TV reality show “The Apprentice” and during his presidential campaign. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-economy-immigration-11db37c033328a7ef6af71fe0a104604">won the election in part by channeling Americans' anxieties</a>&nbsp;about the economy’s ability to provide for the middle class.The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests.The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-stocks-volatility-bonds-economy-retirement-59201a39bffd596b253021a6526a4b60">regardless of which party wins</a>&nbsp;the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wins-second-term-policies-de3dcf0f173b42602b258042fd7aaafb">higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation</a>&nbsp;that Trump favors will mean.___

🎥Trump named Time's Person of the Year, rings opening bell at NYSE

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago.

Travis Pete Timmerman appears to have been among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-saydnaya-prison-assad-families-search-9f533d54b4df72f97416f90921dd2a9c">thousands of people</a>&nbsp;released from the country's notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/syria">overthrowing President Bashar Assad</a>&nbsp;and ending his family's 54-year rule.

As video emerged online of Timmerman on Thursday, he was initially mistaken by some for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tice-journalist-syria-carstens-e20547144d1ad0580e7d64462b8c4135">Austin Tice, an American journalist</a>&nbsp;who went missing in Syria 12 years ago.

In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said that he was being treated well and would be safely returned home.

This year, a Missouri State Highway Patrol bulletin identified him as Pete Travis Timmerman, 29, and said he had gone missing in Hungary in early June. In late August, Hungarian police put out a missing persons announcement saying that Timmerman was last seen at a church in Hungary's capital, Budapest.

Missouri court records indicate that Timmerman is from Urbana, Missouri, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Springfield in the southwestern part of the state.

There was no immediate comment from U.S. officials traveling with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Aqaba, Jordan.

Timmerman later gave an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago before being detained.

He said that he was treated well in detention, but could hear other young men being tortured.

“It was OK. I was fed. I was watered. The one difficulty was that I couldn’t go to the bathroom when I wanted to,” he said. He said he was only allowed to go three times a day.

“I was not beaten and the guards treated me decently,” he added.

The U.S. government’s top hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens, traveled to Lebanon earlier this week in hopes of collecting information on the whereabouts of Tice.

U.S. President Joe Biden has said his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, though he also acknowledged on Sunday that “we have no direct evidence” of his status.

Tice, who has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and others, disappeared at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus in August 2012 as the Syrian civil war intensified.

A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men. He hasn't been heard from since.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-middle-east-syria-journalists-bashar-assad-f7e100380b1bc75c3c895858db9edbc5">Assad's government had denied</a>&nbsp;that it was holding him.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734009338567.png" alt="Image of a bulletin from the Missouri State Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Image of a bulletin from the Missouri State Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago.Travis Pete Timmerman appears to have been among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-saydnaya-prison-assad-families-search-9f533d54b4df72f97416f90921dd2a9c">thousands of people</a>&nbsp;released from the country's notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/syria">overthrowing President Bashar Assad</a>&nbsp;and ending his family's 54-year rule.As video emerged online of Timmerman on Thursday, he was initially mistaken by some for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tice-journalist-syria-carstens-e20547144d1ad0580e7d64462b8c4135">Austin Tice, an American journalist</a>&nbsp;who went missing in Syria 12 years ago.In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said that he was being treated well and would be safely returned home.This year, a Missouri State Highway Patrol bulletin identified him as Pete Travis Timmerman, 29, and said he had gone missing in Hungary in early June. In late August, Hungarian police put out a missing persons announcement saying that Timmerman was last seen at a church in Hungary's capital, Budapest.Missouri court records indicate that Timmerman is from Urbana, Missouri, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Springfield in the southwestern part of the state.There was no immediate comment from U.S. officials traveling with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Aqaba, Jordan.Timmerman later gave an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago before being detained.He said that he was treated well in detention, but could hear other young men being tortured.“It was OK. I was fed. I was watered. The one difficulty was that I couldn’t go to the bathroom when I wanted to,” he said. He said he was only allowed to go three times a day.“I was not beaten and the guards treated me decently,” he added.The U.S. government’s top hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens, traveled to Lebanon earlier this week in hopes of collecting information on the whereabouts of Tice.U.S. President Joe Biden has said his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, though he also acknowledged on Sunday that “we have no direct evidence” of his status.Tice, who has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and others, disappeared at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus in August 2012 as the Syrian civil war intensified.A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men. He hasn't been heard from since.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-middle-east-syria-journalists-bashar-assad-f7e100380b1bc75c3c895858db9edbc5">Assad's government had denied</a>&nbsp;that it was holding him.

Missouri man found in Syria after imprisoned for months

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is commuting the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic and is pardoning 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. It's the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.

The commutations announced Thursday are for people who have served out home confinement sentences for at least one year after they were released. Prisons were uniquely bad for spreading the virus and some inmates were released in part to stop the spread. At one point,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-race-and-ethnicity-prisons-united-states-coronavirus-pandemic-0bef0673013aa579551db5ad61b885e0">1 in 5 prisoners had COVID-19,</a>&nbsp;according to a tally kept by The Associated Press.

Biden said he would be taking more steps in the weeks ahead and would continue to review clemency petitions. The second largest single-day act of clemency was by Barack Obama, with 330, shortly before leaving office in 2017.

“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said in a statement. “As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses.”

The clemency follows a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-son-hunter-charges-pardon-pledge-24f3007c2d2f467fa48e21bbc7262525">broad pardon for his son Hunter</a>, who was prosecuted for gun and tax crimes. Biden is under pressure from advocacy groups to pardon broad swaths of people, including those on federal death row, before the Trump administration takes over in January. He’s also weighing whether&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-pardons-retribution-trump-hunter-cheney-fauci-9f6fd6f05f7f6c8cead3a37ebadc8cba">to issue preemptive pardons</a>&nbsp;to those who investigated Trump’s effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and are facing possible retribution when he takes office.

Those pardoned Thursday had been convicted of nonviolent crimes such as drug offenses and turned their lives around, White House lawyers said. They include a woman who led emergency response teams during natural disasters; a church deacon who has worked as an addiction counselor and youth counselor; a doctoral student in molecular biosciences; and a decorated military veteran.

The president had previously issued 122 commutations and 21 other pardons. He's also broadly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-marijuana-pardons-clemency-02abde991a05ff7dfa29bfc3c74e9d64">pardoned those convicted of use and simple</a>&nbsp;possession of marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia, and pardoned former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-lgbtq-pride-pardon-military-pentagon-sodomy-a83b799323380de10aac0ca6fb57595b">U.S. service members convicted</a>&nbsp;of violating a now-repealed military ban on consensual gay sex.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and 34 other lawmakers are urging the president to pardon environmental and human rights lawyer Steven Donziger, who was imprisoned or under house arrest for three years because of a contempt of court charge related to his work representing Indigenous farmers in a lawsuit against Chevron.

Others are advocating for Biden to commute the sentences of federal death row prisoners. His attorney general, Merrick Garland, paused federal executions. Biden had said on the campaign trail in 2020 that he wanted to end the death penalty but he never did, and now, with Trump coming back into office, it’s likely executions will resume. During his first term, Trump presided over an unprecedented number of federal executions,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-death-penalty-legacy-838932ac2b665b42373309336d130f56">carried out during the height of the pandemic.</a>

More pardons are coming before Biden leaves office on Jan. 20, but it's not clear whether he'll take action to guard against possible prosecution by Trump, an untested use of the power. The president has been taking the idea seriously and has been thinking about it for as much as six months — before the presidential election — but has been concerned about the precedent it would set, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions.

But those who received the pardons would have to accept them.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adam-schiff-senate-trump-california-1f611ee885e9c6b73a22ea1cab0d08bc">New California Sen. Adam Schiff,</a>&nbsp;who was the chairman of the congressional committee that investigated the violent Jan. 6 insurrection, said such a pardon from Biden would be “unnecessary,” and that the president shouldn’t be spending his waning days in office worrying about this.

A president has the power to both pardon, in which a person is relieved of guilt and punishment, or commute a sentence, which reduces or eliminates the punishment but doesn’t exonerate the wrongdoing. It’s customary for a president to grant mercy at the end of his term, using the power of the office to wipe away records or end prison terms.

Before pardoning his son, Biden had repeatedly pledged not to do so. He said in a statement explaining his reversal that the prosecution had been poisoned by politics. The decision prompted criminal justice advocates and lawmakers to put additional public pressure on the administration to use that same power for everyday Americans.&nbsp;<a href="https://cb7b7e4931b0a778bd0a68cc1733c4a9/">It wasn’t a very popular move</a>; only about 2 in 10 Americans approved of his decision, according to a poll from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730830602296.png" alt="Biden said he would be taking more steps in the weeks ahead and would continue to review clemency petitions File photo&nbsp; White House" />
 <figcaption>Biden said he would be taking more steps in the weeks ahead and would continue to review clemency petitions File photo&nbsp; White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is commuting the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic and is pardoning 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. It's the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.The commutations announced Thursday are for people who have served out home confinement sentences for at least one year after they were released. Prisons were uniquely bad for spreading the virus and some inmates were released in part to stop the spread. At one point,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-race-and-ethnicity-prisons-united-states-coronavirus-pandemic-0bef0673013aa579551db5ad61b885e0">1 in 5 prisoners had COVID-19,</a>&nbsp;according to a tally kept by The Associated Press.Biden said he would be taking more steps in the weeks ahead and would continue to review clemency petitions. The second largest single-day act of clemency was by Barack Obama, with 330, shortly before leaving office in 2017.“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said in a statement. “As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses.”The clemency follows a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-son-hunter-charges-pardon-pledge-24f3007c2d2f467fa48e21bbc7262525">broad pardon for his son Hunter</a>, who was prosecuted for gun and tax crimes. Biden is under pressure from advocacy groups to pardon broad swaths of people, including those on federal death row, before the Trump administration takes over in January. He’s also weighing whether&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-pardons-retribution-trump-hunter-cheney-fauci-9f6fd6f05f7f6c8cead3a37ebadc8cba">to issue preemptive pardons</a>&nbsp;to those who investigated Trump’s effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and are facing possible retribution when he takes office.Those pardoned Thursday had been convicted of nonviolent crimes such as drug offenses and turned their lives around, White House lawyers said. They include a woman who led emergency response teams during natural disasters; a church deacon who has worked as an addiction counselor and youth counselor; a doctoral student in molecular biosciences; and a decorated military veteran.The president had previously issued 122 commutations and 21 other pardons. He's also broadly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-marijuana-pardons-clemency-02abde991a05ff7dfa29bfc3c74e9d64">pardoned those convicted of use and simple</a>&nbsp;possession of marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia, and pardoned former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-lgbtq-pride-pardon-military-pentagon-sodomy-a83b799323380de10aac0ca6fb57595b">U.S. service members convicted</a>&nbsp;of violating a now-repealed military ban on consensual gay sex.Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and 34 other lawmakers are urging the president to pardon environmental and human rights lawyer Steven Donziger, who was imprisoned or under house arrest for three years because of a contempt of court charge related to his work representing Indigenous farmers in a lawsuit against Chevron.Others are advocating for Biden to commute the sentences of federal death row prisoners. His attorney general, Merrick Garland, paused federal executions. Biden had said on the campaign trail in 2020 that he wanted to end the death penalty but he never did, and now, with Trump coming back into office, it’s likely executions will resume. During his first term, Trump presided over an unprecedented number of federal executions,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-death-penalty-legacy-838932ac2b665b42373309336d130f56">carried out during the height of the pandemic.</a>More pardons are coming before Biden leaves office on Jan. 20, but it's not clear whether he'll take action to guard against possible prosecution by Trump, an untested use of the power. The president has been taking the idea seriously and has been thinking about it for as much as six months — before the presidential election — but has been concerned about the precedent it would set, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions.But those who received the pardons would have to accept them.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adam-schiff-senate-trump-california-1f611ee885e9c6b73a22ea1cab0d08bc">New California Sen. Adam Schiff,</a>&nbsp;who was the chairman of the congressional committee that investigated the violent Jan. 6 insurrection, said such a pardon from Biden would be “unnecessary,” and that the president shouldn’t be spending his waning days in office worrying about this.A president has the power to both pardon, in which a person is relieved of guilt and punishment, or commute a sentence, which reduces or eliminates the punishment but doesn’t exonerate the wrongdoing. It’s customary for a president to grant mercy at the end of his term, using the power of the office to wipe away records or end prison terms.Before pardoning his son, Biden had repeatedly pledged not to do so. He said in a statement explaining his reversal that the prosecution had been poisoned by politics. The decision prompted criminal justice advocates and lawmakers to put additional public pressure on the administration to use that same power for everyday Americans.&nbsp;<a href="https://cb7b7e4931b0a778bd0a68cc1733c4a9/">It wasn’t a very popular move</a>; only about 2 in 10 Americans approved of his decision, according to a poll from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>.

History: Biden commutes 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a standoff in Kansas City.

Just after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday patrol officers responded to the 1000 block of Westport Road in Kansas City on the report of a party armed in a vehicle, according KCPD&nbsp;Sgt. Phil DiMartino.

Preliminary investigation revealed a ride share service driver had just picked up a fare, when the customer began making threatening comments.&nbsp; The subject mentioned a weapon and the ride share driver stopped in the 1000 block of Westport Road to exit the vehicle and call the police.

As officers arrived they observed a man in a vehicle refusing to exit.&nbsp; Because of the comments made and the threat he was possibly armed, an Operation 100 was called, according to DiMartino.

 Tactical response officers and trained negotiators responded to the scene in order to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution. Officers surrounded the area to prevent escape and had patrons in local businesses shelter in place for safety. At around 1:00p.m., after several hours of negotiations the man was taken into custody without incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733953211816.png" alt="View of police near the scene of the standoff -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>View of police near the scene of the standoff -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a standoff in Kansas City.Just after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday patrol officers responded to the 1000 block of Westport Road in Kansas City on the report of a party armed in a vehicle, according KCPD&nbsp;Sgt. Phil DiMartino.Preliminary investigation revealed a ride share service driver had just picked up a fare, when the customer began making threatening comments.&nbsp; The subject mentioned a weapon and the ride share driver stopped in the 1000 block of Westport Road to exit the vehicle and call the police.As officers arrived they observed a man in a vehicle refusing to exit.&nbsp; Because of the comments made and the threat he was possibly armed, an Operation 100 was called, according to DiMartino. Tactical response officers and trained negotiators responded to the scene in order to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution. Officers surrounded the area to prevent escape and had patrons in local businesses shelter in place for safety. At around 1:00p.m., after several hours of negotiations the man was taken into custody without incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Standoff: Suspect arrested after threatening KC ride share driver

SEWARD COUNTY —Law enforcement in southwest Kansas are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Early Thursday, a sheriff's deputy initiated a traffic stop on Highway 54 near Kismet for a traffic violation, according to a media release from the Seward County Sheriff.

 During the traffic enforcement, the Deputy observed numerous indicators of criminal activity. A subsequent search revealed vacuum-sealed bundles of suspected methamphetamine. 

The total approximate weight of the methamphetamine located was 45 pounds.&nbsp; Deputies took a 48-year-old man into custody. He is being held in the Seward County Jail.

The sheriff's office did not release the name of the suspect or specific details on requested charges.

SEWARD COUNTY —Law enforcement in southwest Kansas are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Early Thursday, a sheriff's deputy initiated a traffic stop on Highway 54 near Kismet for a traffic violation, according to a media release from the Seward County Sheriff. During the traffic enforcement, the Deputy observed numerous indicators of criminal activity. A subsequent search revealed vacuum-sealed bundles of suspected methamphetamine. The total approximate weight of the methamphetamine located was 45 pounds.&nbsp; Deputies took a 48-year-old man into custody. He is being held in the Seward County Jail.The sheriff's office did not release the name of the suspect or specific details on requested charges.

45 pounds of meth found during SW Kansas traffic stop

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a double homicide in Kansas City have identified the victims as 19-year-old Deontae Marchbanks and 17-year-old Cierra Pennington.

Just before 3:30p.m. Monday patrol officers were dispatched to the 6000 block of Blue Hills Road on a reported sound of shots, according to KCPD Officer Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

As officers arrived they were directed to a vehicle in a parking lot. There they located a Marchbanks and Pennington suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; 

Emergency medical personnel responded and pronounced Marchbanks deceased on scene. EMS transported Pennington to a local hospital where she died a short time later.

This is being investigated as a homicide. Detectives continue working to determine the events that led up to the shooting. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733792910134.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a double homicide in Kansas City have identified the victims as 19-year-old Deontae Marchbanks and 17-year-old Cierra Pennington.Just before 3:30p.m. Monday patrol officers were dispatched to the 6000 block of Blue Hills Road on a reported sound of shots, according to KCPD Officer Sergeant Phil DiMartino.As officers arrived they were directed to a vehicle in a parking lot. There they located a Marchbanks and Pennington suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Emergency medical personnel responded and pronounced Marchbanks deceased on scene. EMS transported Pennington to a local hospital where she died a short time later.This is being investigated as a homicide. Detectives continue working to determine the events that led up to the shooting.

17-year-old girl among two dead in KC apartment killing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats failed Wednesday to confirm a Democratic member of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/national-labor-relations-board">National Labor Relations Board</a>&nbsp;after independent Sens.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-manchin">Joe Manchin</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kyrsten-sinema">Kyrsten Sinema</a>&nbsp;opposed the nomination, thwarting their hopes of locking in a majority at the federal agency for the first two years of President-elect Donald Trump’s term.

A vote to move ahead with the nomination of Lauren McFarren, who currently chairs the NLRB, failed 49-50. Kansas Junior U.S. Senator Roger Marshall was the lone Republican who did not vote. Kansas Senior U.S. Senator Jerry Moran voted with the majority.

Had McFarren been confirmed to another five-year term, it would have cemented a Democratic majority on the agency’s board for the first two years of the incoming Trump administration. Now, Trump will likely be able to nominate McFarren’s replacement.

The NLRB oversees labor disputes, supervises union elections and has the power to investigate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/labor-unions">unfair labor practices</a>. The partisan breakdown of the NLRB’s leadership is fiercely contested by businesses and labor groups, as the majority on the board sets the agenda and determines how readily the agency uses its power to investigate and enforce labor laws.

“It is deeply disappointing, a direct attack on working people, and incredibly troubling that this highly qualified nominee — with a proven track record of protecting worker rights — did not have the votes,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement.

The rejection of McFarren was yet another blow to Senate Democrats and President Joe Biden from Manchin and Sinema, who served as major brakes — and at times outright obstacles — to much of their legislative agenda the first two years of Biden’s term.

Manchin left the Democratic Party in May, while Sinema withdrew from the party in 2022. Both chose not to run for another Senate term and will be leaving the Congress in January.

Some congressional Republicans praised Manchin and Sinema for preventing the confirmation.

“This NLRB seat should be filled by President Trump and the new incoming Senate. Not a historically unpopular president and a Senate Democrat Majority that has lost its mandate to govern,” Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, said in a statement after the vote.

“Big Labor knows the days of having the federal government do its bidding are numbered,” Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., wrote in a statement. Foxx, who chairs the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said that the incoming Trump administration would focus on “enacting a truly pro-worker agenda.”

Business groups also praised the rejection of McFarren. Kristen Swearingen, a vice president at Associated Builders and Contractors, a trade group, called McFarren’s policies “harmful” and said the process to nominate her was “flawed.”

“Under McFerran’s leadership, the NLRB has issued decisions and expanded interpretations of the National Labor Relations Act that have been rejected by the business community, Congress and federal courts,” argued Swearingen.

Labor unions decried the vote. Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest consortium of labor unions, said the senators who rejected McFarren’s nomination “voted against the working people of this country” and warned that the incoming Trump administration would direct the NLRB to side with management over workers.

“Make no mistake: This vote had nothing to do with stopping Chair McFerran’s renomination and everything to do with reversing generations of progress workers have made toward building a fairer and more just economy,” Shuler said.

Democratic lawmakers, like Schumer, took a dim view of the vote. Some directed their anger directly at Manchin and Sinema.

“Shortchanging workers is a bad way to leave,” Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis.,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MarkPocan/status/1866940235453698469" target="_blank">wrote on social media</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733969852876.png" alt="Counting votes Wednesday in the U.S. Senate-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Counting votes Wednesday in the U.S. Senate-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats failed Wednesday to confirm a Democratic member of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/national-labor-relations-board">National Labor Relations Board</a>&nbsp;after independent Sens.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-manchin">Joe Manchin</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kyrsten-sinema">Kyrsten Sinema</a>&nbsp;opposed the nomination, thwarting their hopes of locking in a majority at the federal agency for the first two years of President-elect Donald Trump’s term.A vote to move ahead with the nomination of Lauren McFarren, who currently chairs the NLRB, failed 49-50. Kansas Junior U.S. Senator Roger Marshall was the lone Republican who did not vote. Kansas Senior U.S. Senator Jerry Moran voted with the majority.Had McFarren been confirmed to another five-year term, it would have cemented a Democratic majority on the agency’s board for the first two years of the incoming Trump administration. Now, Trump will likely be able to nominate McFarren’s replacement.The NLRB oversees labor disputes, supervises union elections and has the power to investigate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/labor-unions">unfair labor practices</a>. The partisan breakdown of the NLRB’s leadership is fiercely contested by businesses and labor groups, as the majority on the board sets the agenda and determines how readily the agency uses its power to investigate and enforce labor laws.“It is deeply disappointing, a direct attack on working people, and incredibly troubling that this highly qualified nominee — with a proven track record of protecting worker rights — did not have the votes,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement.The rejection of McFarren was yet another blow to Senate Democrats and President Joe Biden from Manchin and Sinema, who served as major brakes — and at times outright obstacles — to much of their legislative agenda the first two years of Biden’s term.Manchin left the Democratic Party in May, while Sinema withdrew from the party in 2022. Both chose not to run for another Senate term and will be leaving the Congress in January.Some congressional Republicans praised Manchin and Sinema for preventing the confirmation.“This NLRB seat should be filled by President Trump and the new incoming Senate. Not a historically unpopular president and a Senate Democrat Majority that has lost its mandate to govern,” Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, said in a statement after the vote.“Big Labor knows the days of having the federal government do its bidding are numbered,” Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., wrote in a statement. Foxx, who chairs the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said that the incoming Trump administration would focus on “enacting a truly pro-worker agenda.”Business groups also praised the rejection of McFarren. Kristen Swearingen, a vice president at Associated Builders and Contractors, a trade group, called McFarren’s policies “harmful” and said the process to nominate her was “flawed.”“Under McFerran’s leadership, the NLRB has issued decisions and expanded interpretations of the National Labor Relations Act that have been rejected by the business community, Congress and federal courts,” argued Swearingen.Labor unions decried the vote. Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest consortium of labor unions, said the senators who rejected McFarren’s nomination “voted against the working people of this country” and warned that the incoming Trump administration would direct the NLRB to side with management over workers.“Make no mistake: This vote had nothing to do with stopping Chair McFerran’s renomination and everything to do with reversing generations of progress workers have made toward building a fairer and more just economy,” Shuler said.Democratic lawmakers, like Schumer, took a dim view of the vote. Some directed their anger directly at Manchin and Sinema.“Shortchanging workers is a bad way to leave,” Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis.,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MarkPocan/status/1866940235453698469" target="_blank">wrote on social media</a>.___

Kan. U.S. Senator missed vote but Dems fail to secure NLRB majority

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an illegal immigrant on multiple allegations after a high-speed chase.

Just before 9p.m. Tuesday, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic on a 2019 Honda CRV, for a traffic infraction near 142nd&nbsp;and U.S. Hwy 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Upon attempting to contact the vehicle, the driver of the vehicle allegedly fled in the vehicle initiating a&nbsp;pursuit northbound on U.S. Hwy 75. A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper deployed a tire deflation device around 214th Road where the vehicle came to a stop. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Quelvin Reyes Corea, 37, of Honduras. The vehicle was discovered to be stolen out of Kansas City, Missouri this past weekend.

Corea was arrested and is being held in the the Jackson County Jail for requested charges of Flee or attempt to elude LEO; 5 or more moving violations, Possession of stolen property; Value $1,500 – $25,000, Felony interference with LEO, Operate a vehicle without a valid driver’s license, Operate a vehicle with expired registration, Reckless driving, Improper driving on laned roadway, Speed 110 miles per hour in a 70 mile per hour zone, No tail lamps when required and Improper turn signal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733947954658.png" alt="Corea-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Corea-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an illegal immigrant on multiple allegations after a high-speed chase.Just before 9p.m. Tuesday, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic on a 2019 Honda CRV, for a traffic infraction near 142nd&nbsp;and U.S. Hwy 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Upon attempting to contact the vehicle, the driver of the vehicle allegedly fled in the vehicle initiating a&nbsp;pursuit northbound on U.S. Hwy 75. A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper deployed a tire deflation device around 214th Road where the vehicle came to a stop. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Quelvin Reyes Corea, 37, of Honduras. The vehicle was discovered to be stolen out of Kansas City, Missouri this past weekend.Corea was arrested and is being held in the the Jackson County Jail for requested charges of Flee or attempt to elude LEO; 5 or more moving violations, Possession of stolen property; Value $1,500 – $25,000, Felony interference with LEO, Operate a vehicle without a valid driver’s license, Operate a vehicle with expired registration, Reckless driving, Improper driving on laned roadway, Speed 110 miles per hour in a 70 mile per hour zone, No tail lamps when required and Improper turn signal.

110mph chase: Illegal immigrant was driving stolen SUV in Kansas

PAWNEE COUNTY —Roy Gene Robinson, 46 of Great Bend, appeared in the Pawnee County District Court Tuesday morning for a combined jury trial regarding two separate felon complaints for incidents that occurred during the Summer of 2023, according to. Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. The matters were scheduled for a three day trial.

The defendant was charged in one case with Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, a severity level 8 nonperson felony, alleged to have occurred on or about August 1, 2023. In the second case he was charged with one count of Burglary of a Non-Dwelling, a severity level 7 nonperson felony, and two counts of misdemeanor Theft alleged to have occurred on or about July 10, 2023.

Prior to jury selections, the parties announced they had reached a plea agreement whereby Roy Robinson entered a plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. In exchange for the plea the State agreed to dismiss the Burglary case.

The defendant’s brother, Dale R. Robinson, 54, of Hutchinson, was also charged as a co-defendant in the Burglary case. Dale Robinson pleaded guilty to the charges on January 18, 2024, and was ordered to pay full restitution as a condition of probation. 

Initially Roy Robison was not a suspect in the burglary/thefts as boot impressions found at the scenes matched Dale Robinson, but subsequent review of cellular telephone records by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department suggested Roy Robinson was present at the time of the alleged crimes.

In support of the firearm plea, Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett advised the Court that had the matter proceeded to trial the evidence would have shown that on the morning of July 10, 2023, the Pawnee County Sheriff received a report of theft of agricultural diesel from an irrigation unit south of Larned. 

Later that same morning the Sheriff received reports of multiple truck batteries being stolen from vehicles parked in a shed a few miles from the site of the fuel theft. Tire tracks at both crime scenes suggested a light duty pickup had been involved. A witness indicated they had seen Roy Robinson driving a similar style pickup in the area. 

When the Sheriff’s department executed a search warrant at the Robinson rural Pawnee County residence, they discovered the missing batteries. They also witnessed several firearms and notified State Parole. At the time, Roy Robinson was on postrelease supervision as a result of a Pawnee County jury conviction for aggravated burglary. 

He had been released from prison on or about August 8, 2022. The Kansas Department of Corrections conducted their own search of the Robinson residence on August 1, 2023, and discovered .22 caliber rifle under a mattress.

Robinson was arrested by Kansas Department of Corrections personnel at the scene on August 1, 2023, without incident. He posted a bond on March 23, 2024, and was released.

After accepting the defendant’s plea Pawnee County District Judge Bruce Gatterman ordered a presentence investigation report be completed to determine the defendant’s criminal history. Sentencing was scheduled for February 20, 2025.

Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces a sentence between 7 months and 23 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history. Based on the parties’ understanding of that criminal history, it is anticipated that Robinson will be subject to a presumptive prison sentence

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733851589790.png" alt="Roy Robinson-photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Roy Robinson-photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY —Roy Gene Robinson, 46 of Great Bend, appeared in the Pawnee County District Court Tuesday morning for a combined jury trial regarding two separate felon complaints for incidents that occurred during the Summer of 2023, according to. Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. The matters were scheduled for a three day trial.The defendant was charged in one case with Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, a severity level 8 nonperson felony, alleged to have occurred on or about August 1, 2023. In the second case he was charged with one count of Burglary of a Non-Dwelling, a severity level 7 nonperson felony, and two counts of misdemeanor Theft alleged to have occurred on or about July 10, 2023.Prior to jury selections, the parties announced they had reached a plea agreement whereby Roy Robinson entered a plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. In exchange for the plea the State agreed to dismiss the Burglary case.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733851673236.png" alt="Dale Robinson-photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Dale Robinson-photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The defendant’s brother, Dale R. Robinson, 54, of Hutchinson, was also charged as a co-defendant in the Burglary case. Dale Robinson pleaded guilty to the charges on January 18, 2024, and was ordered to pay full restitution as a condition of probation. Initially Roy Robison was not a suspect in the burglary/thefts as boot impressions found at the scenes matched Dale Robinson, but subsequent review of cellular telephone records by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department suggested Roy Robinson was present at the time of the alleged crimes.In support of the firearm plea, Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett advised the Court that had the matter proceeded to trial the evidence would have shown that on the morning of July 10, 2023, the Pawnee County Sheriff received a report of theft of agricultural diesel from an irrigation unit south of Larned. Later that same morning the Sheriff received reports of multiple truck batteries being stolen from vehicles parked in a shed a few miles from the site of the fuel theft. Tire tracks at both crime scenes suggested a light duty pickup had been involved. A witness indicated they had seen Roy Robinson driving a similar style pickup in the area. When the Sheriff’s department executed a search warrant at the Robinson rural Pawnee County residence, they discovered the missing batteries. They also witnessed several firearms and notified State Parole. At the time, Roy Robinson was on postrelease supervision as a result of a Pawnee County jury conviction for aggravated burglary. He had been released from prison on or about August 8, 2022. The Kansas Department of Corrections conducted their own search of the Robinson residence on August 1, 2023, and discovered .22 caliber rifle under a mattress.Robinson was arrested by Kansas Department of Corrections personnel at the scene on August 1, 2023, without incident. He posted a bond on March 23, 2024, and was released.After accepting the defendant’s plea Pawnee County District Judge Bruce Gatterman ordered a presentence investigation report be completed to determine the defendant’s criminal history. Sentencing was scheduled for February 20, 2025.Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces a sentence between 7 months and 23 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history. Based on the parties’ understanding of that criminal history, it is anticipated that Robinson will be subject to a presumptive prison sentence

Kansas felon agrees to plea deal in burglary case

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

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A judge has overturned a Black man's conviction in a 2009 double homicide that was investigated by a discredited white Kansas City, Kansas, police detective.

The ruling Monday in the case of 34-year-old Cedric Warren came exactly one week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-police-abuse-trial-roger-golubski-de11e2b098348066b4f37ebd304cbe6d">Roger Golubski died</a>&nbsp;in an apparent suicide just before the start of his criminal trial over allegations that he sexually assaulted Black women.

Warren is now jailed in Wyandotte County while the prosecutor decides whether to retry him. A spokesman in the prosecutor’s office didn’t immediately respond to an email or phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

“I’m very thrilled,” Warren’s father, Cedric Toney, said in a phone interview Tuesday.

He said before Golubski supervised the investigation that led to his son's arrest, the former detective stalked his daughter and his son's mother. The allegation is similar to one raised in the case of Lamonte McIntyre, who served 23 years behind bars for a double homicide before he was freed.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3e379716ed9e4dba83412311eaadfd08">McIntyre’s mother</a>&nbsp;has said Golubski pressured her for sexual favors.

But Wyandotte County Judge Aaron Roberts based his ruling in Warren's case on something different. He ruled from the bench that prosecutors failed to turn over information about the severe mental health issues of a key witness in the drug house shooting that killed Charles Ford and Larry Ledoux.

The witness had schizophrenia, and offered a shifting account of what happened before he became the only person to link Warren to the killing, the defense wrote in court filings.

Attorneys for Warren argued that the prosecution should have known about the witness’ mental health struggles because they caused issues years earlier when he was charged with passing bad checks. A mental health exam in that case found the man was incompetent to stand trial and highlighted several psychiatric hospitalizations.

Police officers also were aware of the witness' mental health struggles because they took him to a psychiatric facility after questioning him in the double homicide, the defense said.

The defense wrote that the undisclosed evidence “undermined his credibility and ability to competently and reliably recount events.”

The family's claims that Golubski harassed Warren's mother and sister haven't been aired in court, said Lindsay Runnels, an attorney for Warren. She said that is largely because a judge was focused on their allegations that evidence was withheld.

“As far as Cedric Warren is concerned, out is out,” she said, adding she is confident he will be released and possibly soon.

But while Golubski's role in Warren's case didn't play a role in Roberts' decision, the allegations have led the county prosecutor’s office to undertake a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-bd0898c8649b1ede27e2c3749547bbed">$1.7 million</a>&nbsp;effort to reexamine other cases he worked on during his 35 years on the force.

Cheryl Pilate, another attorney representing Warren, is pursuing another claim that a person Golubski investigated is innocent. She stressed that the problems in the community extended beyond one detective and that others also played a role.

“This was a one witness case with no corroborating evidence," she said. "And the witness was someone who was very vulnerable and had very significant mental health issues.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733964348020.png" alt="Warren photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Warren photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HEATHER%20HOLLINGSWORTH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press</a>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A judge has overturned a Black man's conviction in a 2009 double homicide that was investigated by a discredited white Kansas City, Kansas, police detective.The ruling Monday in the case of 34-year-old Cedric Warren came exactly one week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-police-abuse-trial-roger-golubski-de11e2b098348066b4f37ebd304cbe6d">Roger Golubski died</a>&nbsp;in an apparent suicide just before the start of his criminal trial over allegations that he sexually assaulted Black women.Warren is now jailed in Wyandotte County while the prosecutor decides whether to retry him. A spokesman in the prosecutor’s office didn’t immediately respond to an email or phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment.“I’m very thrilled,” Warren’s father, Cedric Toney, said in a phone interview Tuesday.He said before Golubski supervised the investigation that led to his son's arrest, the former detective stalked his daughter and his son's mother. The allegation is similar to one raised in the case of Lamonte McIntyre, who served 23 years behind bars for a double homicide before he was freed.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3e379716ed9e4dba83412311eaadfd08">McIntyre’s mother</a>&nbsp;has said Golubski pressured her for sexual favors.But Wyandotte County Judge Aaron Roberts based his ruling in Warren's case on something different. He ruled from the bench that prosecutors failed to turn over information about the severe mental health issues of a key witness in the drug house shooting that killed Charles Ford and Larry Ledoux.The witness had schizophrenia, and offered a shifting account of what happened before he became the only person to link Warren to the killing, the defense wrote in court filings.Attorneys for Warren argued that the prosecution should have known about the witness’ mental health struggles because they caused issues years earlier when he was charged with passing bad checks. A mental health exam in that case found the man was incompetent to stand trial and highlighted several psychiatric hospitalizations.Police officers also were aware of the witness' mental health struggles because they took him to a psychiatric facility after questioning him in the double homicide, the defense said.The defense wrote that the undisclosed evidence “undermined his credibility and ability to competently and reliably recount events.”The family's claims that Golubski harassed Warren's mother and sister haven't been aired in court, said Lindsay Runnels, an attorney for Warren. She said that is largely because a judge was focused on their allegations that evidence was withheld.“As far as Cedric Warren is concerned, out is out,” she said, adding she is confident he will be released and possibly soon.But while Golubski's role in Warren's case didn't play a role in Roberts' decision, the allegations have led the county prosecutor’s office to undertake a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-bd0898c8649b1ede27e2c3749547bbed">$1.7 million</a>&nbsp;effort to reexamine other cases he worked on during his 35 years on the force.Cheryl Pilate, another attorney representing Warren, is pursuing another claim that a person Golubski investigated is innocent. She stressed that the problems in the community extended beyond one detective and that others also played a role.“This was a one witness case with no corroborating evidence," she said. "And the witness was someone who was very vulnerable and had very significant mental health issues.”

Judge overturns Kan. conviction in case involving now-discredited detective

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident Wednesday in Sedgwick County.

Just before 10 a.m., sheriff's deputies responded to the intersection of 167th Street West and Central near Goddard after 9-1-1 received an Apple crash detection alert and an additional call, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department spokesman Branden Stitt.

First responders found a 66-year-old woman driving a maroon Chevrolet Malibu unresponsive and not breathing.

According to the preliminary investigation, the driver of the Ford Explorer was eastbound on Central and told deputies she became distracted by her phone and items inside her vehicle. She failed to stop at a stop sign, colliding with the northbound Chevrolet Malibu. The impact caused the Malibu and the Explorer to strike a black Nissan Sentra, which was stopped facing westbound on Central.

Sedgwick County EMS transported the critically injured 66-year-old driver and a 15-year-old passenger in Malibu to a local hospital.&nbsp;&nbsp;EMS also transported the 30-year-old woman driving the Ford Explorer to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

The driver of a black Nissan Sentra, a 30-year-old woman, declined medical treatment at the scene.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office crash reconstruction team&nbsp; investigated the collision.

Potential charges, if any, will be determined after the investigation into the circumstances of the crash is complete and reviewed by investigators along with consultation with the District Attorney’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers to stay alert, particularly during the busy holiday season. Distractions while driving can have devastating consequences. We urge everyone to focus on the road and avoid using mobile devices while driving.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733951717489.jpeg" alt="Photo Sedgwick County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sedgwick County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident Wednesday in Sedgwick County.Just before 10 a.m., sheriff's deputies responded to the intersection of 167th Street West and Central near Goddard after 9-1-1 received an Apple crash detection alert and an additional call, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department spokesman Branden Stitt.First responders found a 66-year-old woman driving a maroon Chevrolet Malibu unresponsive and not breathing.According to the preliminary investigation, the driver of the Ford Explorer was eastbound on Central and told deputies she became distracted by her phone and items inside her vehicle. She failed to stop at a stop sign, colliding with the northbound Chevrolet Malibu. The impact caused the Malibu and the Explorer to strike a black Nissan Sentra, which was stopped facing westbound on Central.Sedgwick County EMS transported the critically injured 66-year-old driver and a 15-year-old passenger in Malibu to a local hospital.&nbsp;&nbsp;EMS also transported the 30-year-old woman driving the Ford Explorer to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries.The driver of a black Nissan Sentra, a 30-year-old woman, declined medical treatment at the scene.The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office crash reconstruction team&nbsp; investigated the collision.Potential charges, if any, will be determined after the investigation into the circumstances of the crash is complete and reviewed by investigators along with consultation with the District Attorney’s Office.The Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers to stay alert, particularly during the busy holiday season. Distractions while driving can have devastating consequences. We urge everyone to focus on the road and avoid using mobile devices while driving.

Sheriff: Kan. driver distracted by phone caused 3-vehicle crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday passed a $895 billion measure that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military.

The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 281-140. Kansas GOP lawmakers all voted in favor of the bill that will next move to the Senate, where lawmakers had sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows.

Lawmakers are touting the bill's 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term.

Lawmakers said service member pay has failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing.

“No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that's exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “This bill goes a long way to fixing that.”

The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-biden-mccarthy-senate-house-default-b8c3566b0c9cb168d9706aa256e327f7">agreement</a>&nbsp;that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation’s borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators had wanted to increase defense spending some $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed.

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a “tremendous loss for our national defense," though he agreed with many provisions within the bill.

“We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it,” Wicker said.

House Republicans don't want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many non-defense programs.

They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization.

Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a "very real problem." He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, have proven effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression.

“These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives,” Smith said. “And in this bill, we decided we're going to bar servicemembers' children from having access to that.”

Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson's office insisted upon the ban and said the provision “taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation.”

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, “I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates.”

Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, “and yet, here it is in this bill.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday passed a $895 billion measure that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military.The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization.The bill passed the House by a vote of 281-140. Kansas GOP lawmakers all voted in favor of the bill that will next move to the Senate, where lawmakers had sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows.Lawmakers are touting the bill's 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term.Lawmakers said service member pay has failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing.“No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that's exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “This bill goes a long way to fixing that.”The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-biden-mccarthy-senate-house-default-b8c3566b0c9cb168d9706aa256e327f7">agreement</a>&nbsp;that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation’s borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators had wanted to increase defense spending some $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed.Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a “tremendous loss for our national defense," though he agreed with many provisions within the bill.“We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it,” Wicker said.House Republicans don't want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many non-defense programs.They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization.Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a "very real problem." He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, have proven effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression.“These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives,” Smith said. “And in this bill, we decided we're going to bar servicemembers' children from having access to that.”Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson's office insisted upon the ban and said the provision “taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation.”Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, “I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates.”Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, “and yet, here it is in this bill.”Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team was not telling Democrats how to vote on the bill.“There's a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well,” Jeffries said.The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration had requested about $10 billion.On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas.The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January.