BY&nbsp;&nbsp;MICHELLE L. PRICE&nbsp;AND ALEX CONNOR

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;will return to the White House accompanied by a crew of longtime friends and aides as well as newfound, splashy allies.

The Republican president-elect has barely begun naming key figures in his administration, but he has kept a rotation of associates with him on and off the campaign trail in recent weeks who joined him on stage early Wednesday as he declared victory.

Here’s a look at some key figures in Trump’s orbit as he prepares once again to occupy the White House.

For the second time, Trump has won the White House with a woman steering his campaign. Wiles, who joined his 2024 effort early, served in effect as his campaign manager and was named Thursday as his new chief of staff. She’s been credited with being a steadfast and quiet power behind Trump’s third White House campaign, running a largely disciplined and ultimately winning operation.

Wiles is a longtime Florida-based Republican strategist who ran Trump’s campaign in the state in 2016 and 2020. Before that, she ran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rick-scott">Rick Scott</a>&nbsp;’s 2010 campaign for Florida governor and briefly served as the manager of former Utah Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jon-huntsman-jr">Jon Huntsman</a>&nbsp;’s 2012 presidential campaign.

Wiles is the daughter of the late NFL player-turned-broadcaster&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pat-summerall">Pat Summerall</a>.

Both in business and in government, Trump has always kept relatives in key roles. If physical proximity is any sign of power, it’s worth noting the person standing to Trump’s right at his victory party was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lara-trump">Lara Trump</a>.

She is married to the former president’s middle son, Eric, and since the spring has been Donald Trump’s handpicked choice to serve as co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

Lara Trump, a former television producer, was a prominent campaigner for her father-in-law and contemplated her own campaign in 2022, weighing a run for Senate in her home state of North Carolina, before deciding against a bid.

At the RNC, she’s been a TV-ready advocate for the former president and tasked with boosting fundraising, expanding outreach to voters and the party’s “election integrity” initiative. She’s also explored a side venture as a singer, releasing several songs, which sometimes feature political imagery.

White is the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Trump’s longtime friend. They go back to 2001, when White hosted a UFC battle at the Republican’s former Trump Taj Mahal casino-hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Trump has appeared at UFC matches over the years with White, especially in his 2024 campaign as he sought to appeal to younger male voters.

White, in turn, has had speaking roles at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Republican conventions and appeared on stage at Trump’s victory party Wednesday, even speaking briefly to the crowd.

McMahon, who serves as the other co-chair of the president-elect’s transition team, has been Trump’s longtime friend.

She and her husband, Vince, founded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/world-wrestling-entertainment-inc">World Wrestling Entertainment</a>, growing the organization into a powerhouse. Trump participated in some WWE events over the years, and McMahon was one of his most generous benefactors in his 2016 campaign.

Trump tapped her to lead the Small Business Administration during his first term in office. She left to work on his reelection campaign and spent the years since he left office as one of the leaders of the America First Policy Institute strategizing for another Trump term.

Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, co-chairs of Donald Trump’s transition team, are among the crew of longtime friends, aides and new allies attending an election night watch party for Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon; AP Illustration by Alex Connor)

Lutnick, the CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, is the co-chair of Trump’s transition team helping to find the team that will work in the next administration.

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

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

Epshteyn is a lawyer and longtime aide to Trump who was a key surrogate in his 2016 campaign. Epshteyn briefly served as an adviser in Trump’s White House and as an on-screen political analyst for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sinclair-broadcast-group-inc">Sinclair Broadcast Group</a>.

After Trump refused to accept his loss in 2020, Epshteyn worked with former New York City Mayor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rudolph-giuliani">Rudy Giuliani</a>&nbsp;on efforts to overturn the result. He was accused of carrying out a scheme with Giuliani to submit fake electors for Trump in Arizona and obstruct the certification of the results by Congress. He has pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges in Arizona related to the case.

Epshteyn has also appeared at Trump’s side during his court appearances.

Miller was a senior adviser in Trump’s first term and has been a central figure in many of the former president’s policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families as a deterrence program in 2018. Miller helped craft many of Trump’s hardline speeches and plans on immigration.

Since Trump left office, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization of former Trump advisers fashioned as a conservative version of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/union">American Civil Liberties Union</a>, challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as freedom of speech and religion and national security.

He is expected to take a leading role in Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration and promised largest deportation operation in U.S. history.

Grenell is Trump’s former ambassador to Germany and former acting director of national intelligence who has remained a key foreign policy adviser and political aide. He’s expected to be at the top of Trump’s list to serve as secretary of state.

Throughout the campaign, Grenell played a role in events featuring Trump’s wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/Melania%20Trump" target="_blank">Melania Trump</a>, and the Log Cabin Republicans. He was a key broker in Trump’s outreach to Arab Americans in Michigan and joined Trump in September when he met with Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>.

Grenell developed a reputation as a pro-Trump antagonist in Berlin. Trump has joked about former German Chancellor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/angela-merkel">Angela Merkel</a>&nbsp;‘s happiness when he moved Grenell from his ambassador’s post to place him in the intelligence position.

One of the most powerful figures in Trump’s orbit these days is Musk, the billionaire head of car maker Tesla and rocket company SpaceX.

Musk bought Twitter in 2022 and transformed it into X, boosting conservative and far-right voices on the platform. Having once endorsed President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/obama">Barack Obama</a>, Musk has moved to the right and emerged as a leading voice among American conservatives. He endorsed Trump after the Republican survived an assassination attempt in July and poured more than $119 million into backing Trump’s campaign, including a $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes in Pennsylvania.

Trump praises Musk frequently and tells crowds about his awe watching SpaceX rocket landings. Trump has said he will give Musk, a major government contractor, a role in his administration running an efficiency commission to audit the entire federal government.

Kennedy, an anti-vaccine activist and environmentalist, is a Democratic Party scion whose rise in Trump’s orbit was among the surprises of the 2024 presidential campaign.

Kennedy entered the race as a Democratic candidate, left the party to run as an independent before abandoning his bid, then endorsed Trump with the promise to have an impact on health policy in a future administration.

In recent weeks, he has talked about exercising control of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or gaining the power to “reorganize” federal health agencies. He has said Trump upon taking office would push local water systems to remove fluoride from drinking water — one of the great public health achievements of the last century — and allow him to investigate the safety of vaccines, about which he has long promoted debunked theories.

Rollins is another longtime associate who is seen as a potential hire in the incoming administration. She is Trump’s former domestic policy chief who has served as the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute.

America First Policy flew under the radar compared with the Heritage Foundation, which ran the Project 2025 effort that Democrats frequently attacked to the chagrin of Trump’s campaign, which insisted that Project 2025 and Heritage did not speak for it.

Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rick-perry">Rick Perry</a>&nbsp;and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731100201525.png" alt="File photo courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications" />
 <figcaption>File photo courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;MICHELLE L. PRICE&nbsp;AND ALEX CONNORWASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;will return to the White House accompanied by a crew of longtime friends and aides as well as newfound, splashy allies.The Republican president-elect has barely begun naming key figures in his administration, but he has kept a rotation of associates with him on and off the campaign trail in recent weeks who joined him on stage early Wednesday as he declared victory.Here’s a look at some key figures in Trump’s orbit as he prepares once again to occupy the White House.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731020614290.png" alt="Photo courtesy Susie Wiles" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Susie Wiles</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Susie Wiles</h2>For the second time, Trump has won the White House with a woman steering his campaign. Wiles, who joined his 2024 effort early, served in effect as his campaign manager and was named Thursday as his new chief of staff. She’s been credited with being a steadfast and quiet power behind Trump’s third White House campaign, running a largely disciplined and ultimately winning operation.Wiles is a longtime Florida-based Republican strategist who ran Trump’s campaign in the state in 2016 and 2020. Before that, she ran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rick-scott">Rick Scott</a>&nbsp;’s 2010 campaign for Florida governor and briefly served as the manager of former Utah Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jon-huntsman-jr">Jon Huntsman</a>&nbsp;’s 2012 presidential campaign.Wiles is the daughter of the late NFL player-turned-broadcaster&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pat-summerall">Pat Summerall</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730904888553.png" alt="Election night photo courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications" />
 <figcaption>Election night photo courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Lara Trump</h2>Both in business and in government, Trump has always kept relatives in key roles. If physical proximity is any sign of power, it’s worth noting the person standing to Trump’s right at his victory party was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lara-trump">Lara Trump</a>.She is married to the former president’s middle son, Eric, and since the spring has been Donald Trump’s handpicked choice to serve as co-chair of the Republican National Committee.Lara Trump, a former television producer, was a prominent campaigner for her father-in-law and contemplated her own campaign in 2022, weighing a run for Senate in her home state of North Carolina, before deciding against a bid.At the RNC, she’s been a TV-ready advocate for the former president and tasked with boosting fundraising, expanding outreach to voters and the party’s “election integrity” initiative. She’s also explored a side venture as a singer, releasing several songs, which sometimes feature political imagery.<h2>Dana White</h2>White is the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Trump’s longtime friend. They go back to 2001, when White hosted a UFC battle at the Republican’s former Trump Taj Mahal casino-hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.Trump has appeared at UFC matches over the years with White, especially in his 2024 campaign as he sought to appeal to younger male voters.White, in turn, has had speaking roles at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Republican conventions and appeared on stage at Trump’s victory party Wednesday, even speaking briefly to the crowd.<h2>Linda McMahon</h2>McMahon, who serves as the other co-chair of the president-elect’s transition team, has been Trump’s longtime friend.She and her husband, Vince, founded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/world-wrestling-entertainment-inc">World Wrestling Entertainment</a>, growing the organization into a powerhouse. Trump participated in some WWE events over the years, and McMahon was one of his most generous benefactors in his 2016 campaign.Trump tapped her to lead the Small Business Administration during his first term in office. She left to work on his reelection campaign and spent the years since he left office as one of the leaders of the America First Policy Institute strategizing for another Trump term.Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, co-chairs of Donald Trump’s transition team, are among the crew of longtime friends, aides and new allies attending an election night watch party for Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon; AP Illustration by Alex Connor)<h2>Howard Lutnick</h2>Lutnick, the CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, is the co-chair of Trump’s transition team helping to find the team that will work in the next administration.Lutnick has donated to both Democrats and Republicans in the past, once appeared on Trump’s NBC reality show, “The Apprentice,” and has become a part of the president-elect’s inner circle. He shared the stage with Trump at events in the closing days of his campaign, including the rally at Madison Square Garden.He came under criticism in the campaign’s final days for an interview with CNN in which he repeated Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s debunked criticisms of vaccines.<h2>Boris Epshteyn</h2>Epshteyn is a lawyer and longtime aide to Trump who was a key surrogate in his 2016 campaign. Epshteyn briefly served as an adviser in Trump’s White House and as an on-screen political analyst for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sinclair-broadcast-group-inc">Sinclair Broadcast Group</a>.After Trump refused to accept his loss in 2020, Epshteyn worked with former New York City Mayor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rudolph-giuliani">Rudy Giuliani</a>&nbsp;on efforts to overturn the result. He was accused of carrying out a scheme with Giuliani to submit fake electors for Trump in Arizona and obstruct the certification of the results by Congress. He has pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges in Arizona related to the case.Epshteyn has also appeared at Trump’s side during his court appearances.<h2>Stephen Miller</h2>Miller was a senior adviser in Trump’s first term and has been a central figure in many of the former president’s policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families as a deterrence program in 2018. Miller helped craft many of Trump’s hardline speeches and plans on immigration.Since Trump left office, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization of former Trump advisers fashioned as a conservative version of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/union">American Civil Liberties Union</a>, challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as freedom of speech and religion and national security.He is expected to take a leading role in Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration and promised largest deportation operation in U.S. history.<h2>Richard Grenell</h2>Grenell is Trump’s former ambassador to Germany and former acting director of national intelligence who has remained a key foreign policy adviser and political aide. He’s expected to be at the top of Trump’s list to serve as secretary of state.Throughout the campaign, Grenell played a role in events featuring Trump’s wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/Melania%20Trump" target="_blank">Melania Trump</a>, and the Log Cabin Republicans. He was a key broker in Trump’s outreach to Arab Americans in Michigan and joined Trump in September when he met with Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>.Grenell developed a reputation as a pro-Trump antagonist in Berlin. Trump has joked about former German Chancellor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/angela-merkel">Angela Merkel</a>&nbsp;‘s happiness when he moved Grenell from his ambassador’s post to place him in the intelligence position.<h2>Elon Musk</h2>One of the most powerful figures in Trump’s orbit these days is Musk, the billionaire head of car maker Tesla and rocket company SpaceX.Musk bought Twitter in 2022 and transformed it into X, boosting conservative and far-right voices on the platform. Having once endorsed President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/obama">Barack Obama</a>, Musk has moved to the right and emerged as a leading voice among American conservatives. He endorsed Trump after the Republican survived an assassination attempt in July and poured more than $119 million into backing Trump’s campaign, including a $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes in Pennsylvania.Trump praises Musk frequently and tells crowds about his awe watching SpaceX rocket landings. Trump has said he will give Musk, a major government contractor, a role in his administration running an efficiency commission to audit the entire federal government.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729085039877.png" alt="Robert F. Kennedy Jr. courtesy phhoto" />
 <figcaption>Robert F. Kennedy Jr. courtesy phhoto</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</h2>Kennedy, an anti-vaccine activist and environmentalist, is a Democratic Party scion whose rise in Trump’s orbit was among the surprises of the 2024 presidential campaign.Kennedy entered the race as a Democratic candidate, left the party to run as an independent before abandoning his bid, then endorsed Trump with the promise to have an impact on health policy in a future administration.In recent weeks, he has talked about exercising control of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or gaining the power to “reorganize” federal health agencies. He has said Trump upon taking office would push local water systems to remove fluoride from drinking water — one of the great public health achievements of the last century — and allow him to investigate the safety of vaccines, about which he has long promoted debunked theories.<h2>Brooke Rollins</h2>Rollins is another longtime associate who is seen as a potential hire in the incoming administration. She is Trump’s former domestic policy chief who has served as the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute.America First Policy flew under the radar compared with the Heritage Foundation, which ran the Project 2025 effort that Democrats frequently attacked to the chagrin of Trump’s campaign, which insisted that Project 2025 and Heritage did not speak for it.Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rick-perry">Rick Perry</a>&nbsp;and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation.<h2>__</h2>

A guide to key figures in Donald Trump’s orbit

KANSAS CITY —Just after 6p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 2700 block of Garfield, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

First responders were directed into a residence on the block there. Inside that residence officers located an adult male shooting victim unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS into the scene who declared the victim deceased.There were multiple individuals at the scene when officers arrived. 

One of those, an adult male, was detained as a subject of interest for further investigation.Detectives are not searching for any additional suspects at this time.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was inside the residence when he had an interaction with a suspect that escalated and led to gunfire and the victim was struck.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731209737157.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Just after 6p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 2700 block of Garfield, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.First responders were directed into a residence on the block there. Inside that residence officers located an adult male shooting victim unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS into the scene who declared the victim deceased.There were multiple individuals at the scene when officers arrived. One of those, an adult male, was detained as a subject of interest for further investigation.Detectives are not searching for any additional suspects at this time.Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was inside the residence when he had an interaction with a suspect that escalated and led to gunfire and the victim was struck.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the victim.

Police: Altercation led to killing in a Kansas City home

WORTH COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Saturday in Worth County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Dodge Caravan was stopped on private property at 301 West Street in Grant City.&nbsp; A 72-year-old driver left the vehicle in drive and turned it off. As the driver attempted to exit the van, it began to roll backwards down a hill.&nbsp;

The open van door struck the driver and she fell to the ground. The van continued backwards across West Street, continued downhill and struck a parked 2015 Toyota Camry at 303 West 4th Street.

Worth County EMS transported the woman to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph for treatment of serious injuries. The Patrol did not release the woman's name. Grant City is located two hours north of Kansas City.

WORTH COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Saturday in Worth County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Dodge Caravan was stopped on private property at 301 West Street in Grant City.&nbsp; A 72-year-old driver left the vehicle in drive and turned it off. As the driver attempted to exit the van, it began to roll backwards down a hill.&nbsp;The open van door struck the driver and she fell to the ground. The van continued backwards across West Street, continued downhill and struck a parked 2015 Toyota Camry at 303 West 4th Street.Worth County EMS transported the woman to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph for treatment of serious injuries. The Patrol did not release the woman's name. Grant City is located two hours north of Kansas City.

Woman seriously injured after run over by her own van

WASHINGTON (AP) — As it became clear Donald Trump was returning to the White House, the Florida man who posed for photos with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern during the Capitol riot popped a bottle of Trump-branded sparkling wine. “Y’all are in trouble,” he said after taking a sip in a video&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/lecternleader/status/1854052008518402450">shared on social media</a>.

Rioters who stormed the Capitol on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">Jan. 6, 2021</a>, are celebrating Trump’s victory and hoping he makes good on his campaign trail promise to pardon them.

Trump didn’t mention the Jan. 6 defendants, whom he has called “hostages” and “patriots,” during his victory speech on Wednesday. But his defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris throws into doubt the future of the largest prosecution in Justice Department history over the unprecedented assault on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">seat of American democracy.</a>

More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot that left more than 100 police officers injured and sent lawmakers running into hiding as they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-committee-final-report-takeaways-56cf44f8809cc76632f91f5c7910ec81">met to certify Joe Biden’s 2020 victory</a>. More than 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial of charges, including misdemeanor trespassing offenses, assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy.

Trump's praise of Jan. 6 defendants was a centerpiece of his campaign, with rallies honoring them as heroes featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/j6-choir-trump-national-anthem-capitol-riot-79618f1f2a689c308dfdc34d54d327ea">a song</a>&nbsp;he collaborated on with a group of jailed rioters. Trump hasn't explained how he will decide who gets pardoned. But he has suggested he would consider granting them even for those accused of assault as well as the former Proud Boys leader convicted of orchestrating a violent plot in 2020 to keep Trump in power.

During his first term as president, Trump deployed his pardon power in overtly political ways, granting clemency in his final days in office to a broad range of political allies -- including five defendants convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation -- as well as celebrities, Republican members of Congress and the father of Jared Kushner, his son-in-law.

<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.226964/gov.uscourts.dcd.226964.1.1.pdf">Jacob Lang</a>, a Capitol riot defendant who's jailed while awaiting a trial in Washington, posted within hours of Trump's victory that he and other Jan. 6 “political prisoners” were “finally coming home.”

“There will be no bitterness in my heart as I walk out of these doors in 75 days on inauguration day,” Lang wrote.

Lawyers for some Jan. 6 defendants cited Trump's victory in requests to hold off on sentencing their clients.

Defense attorney Marina Medvin said her client,&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.254654/gov.uscourts.dcd.254654.110.0_1.pdf">Christopher Carnell</a>, is “expecting to be relieved of the criminal prosecution that he is currently facing when the new administration takes office.” Michelle Peterson, an assistant federal public defender, argued it would be "fundamentally unfair" to sentence&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.257209/gov.uscourts.dcd.257209.82.0.pdf">a client</a>&nbsp;whose case may be dismissed by Trump's Justice Department.

Judges swiftly denied both requests and refused to delay separate hearings for their respective cases on Friday.

Other defense attorneys on Wednesday asked for a Jan. 6 defendant's trial to be postponed. They argued that their client,&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.268119/gov.uscourts.dcd.268119.1.1.pdf">Mitchell Bosch</a>, cannot receive a fair trial in Washington so soon after the election given that voters in the nation's capital overwhelmingly supported Harris over Trump.

“Mr. Bosch understands that the President-elect’s proclamations of stolen elections and pardons for patriots are not relevant evidence in his trial. However, they are highly relevant to the ability of the jury pool to be fair and impartial,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.268118/gov.uscourts.dcd.268118.54.0.pdf">the lawyers wrote</a>.

A trial is scheduled to start next week for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-baker-blaze-news-capitol-riot-88004e2ce919d39cc84e1b2922840fc2">Steve Baker</a>, a writer charged with Capitol riot-related misdemeanors. Baker, who has written articles about the Jan. 6 riot for the conservative outlet Blaze News, posted a photo of a press credential for him to cover Congress.

"I plan on covering J6, 2025 ‘inside’ the Capitol," he wrote on Wednesday, adding a winking face emoji.

Of the more than 1,000 convicted rioters who have been sentenced, over 650 have received prison time ranging from a few days to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-da60222b3e1e54902db2bbbb219dc3fb">22 years</a>. Hundreds of people who went into the Capitol but did not attack police or damage the building were charged only with misdemeanors. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">violence and destruction</a>&nbsp;by other members of the mob have been documented in videos and other evidence heard in court, including testimony from police officers about being beaten and scared for their lives as they defended the Capitol.

Trump has said he would issue pardons to Capitol rioters on “Day 1” of his presidency. He told&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/6972022/donald-trump-transcript-2024-election/">Time Magazine</a>&nbsp;he would consider pardoning all of the Jan. 6 defendants, though later added: “If somebody was evil and bad, I would look at that differently.” He told&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-pardon-abortion-putin-59460113ce82ce6f6140d47856261a56">NBC's “Meet the Press”</a>&nbsp;last year that he would consider pardoning former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison after being convicted of seditious conspiracy. Trump said Tarrio was treated “horribly.”

When pressed during an event in July, Trump said he “absolutely” would pardon rioters accused of assaulting police — if they were “innocent.” When the interviewer noted she was talking about convicted rioters, Trump replied that they were convicted “by a very tough system.”

<a href="https://kimberlywehle.com/">Kim Wehle</a>, a University of Baltimore law professor and author of a book about presidential pardons, said presidents have the unfettered power to issue mass pardons.

“The pardon system is set up for winners and losers. Who gets them and who doesn’t get them is completely subjective. It’s completely arbitrary and based on the whims of the president,” Wehle said. “Donald Trump could fashion the pardon however he wants to fashion the pardon, and the general public wouldn’t be able to challenge it.”

Presidents have used their power to issue mass pardons for the sake of promoting national unity. George Washington pardoned&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-first-president/whiskey-rebellion">Whiskey Rebellion</a>&nbsp;rebels. Abraham Lincoln pardoned former Confederate soldiers after the Civil War. Jimmy Carter pardoned Vietnam War draft dodgers.

Many of those expressing support for Jan. 6 defendants also echoed Trump's campaign talk of seeking retribution against political foes. Julie Kelly, a right-wing political commentator who calls herself a “J6 conspiracy theorist” on her social media profile, posted that Washington-based U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves' “reign of terror is going to end soon."

“Then we turn the tables,” Kelly wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731016401408.png" alt="Jacob Lang&nbsp;a Capitol riot defendant who's jailed while awaiting a trial in Washington, posted within hours of Trump's victory that he and other Jan. 6 “political prisoners” were “finally coming home.”-image Justice Department" />
 <figcaption>Jacob Lang&nbsp;a Capitol riot defendant who's jailed while awaiting a trial in Washington, posted within hours of Trump's victory that he and other Jan. 6 “political prisoners” were “finally coming home.”-image Justice Department</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — As it became clear Donald Trump was returning to the White House, the Florida man who posed for photos with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern during the Capitol riot popped a bottle of Trump-branded sparkling wine. “Y’all are in trouble,” he said after taking a sip in a video&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/lecternleader/status/1854052008518402450">shared on social media</a>.Rioters who stormed the Capitol on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">Jan. 6, 2021</a>, are celebrating Trump’s victory and hoping he makes good on his campaign trail promise to pardon them.Trump didn’t mention the Jan. 6 defendants, whom he has called “hostages” and “patriots,” during his victory speech on Wednesday. But his defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris throws into doubt the future of the largest prosecution in Justice Department history over the unprecedented assault on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">seat of American democracy.</a>More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot that left more than 100 police officers injured and sent lawmakers running into hiding as they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-committee-final-report-takeaways-56cf44f8809cc76632f91f5c7910ec81">met to certify Joe Biden’s 2020 victory</a>. More than 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial of charges, including misdemeanor trespassing offenses, assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy.Trump's praise of Jan. 6 defendants was a centerpiece of his campaign, with rallies honoring them as heroes featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/j6-choir-trump-national-anthem-capitol-riot-79618f1f2a689c308dfdc34d54d327ea">a song</a>&nbsp;he collaborated on with a group of jailed rioters. Trump hasn't explained how he will decide who gets pardoned. But he has suggested he would consider granting them even for those accused of assault as well as the former Proud Boys leader convicted of orchestrating a violent plot in 2020 to keep Trump in power.During his first term as president, Trump deployed his pardon power in overtly political ways, granting clemency in his final days in office to a broad range of political allies -- including five defendants convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation -- as well as celebrities, Republican members of Congress and the father of Jared Kushner, his son-in-law.<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.226964/gov.uscourts.dcd.226964.1.1.pdf">Jacob Lang</a>, a Capitol riot defendant who's jailed while awaiting a trial in Washington, posted within hours of Trump's victory that he and other Jan. 6 “political prisoners” were “finally coming home.”“There will be no bitterness in my heart as I walk out of these doors in 75 days on inauguration day,” Lang wrote.Lawyers for some Jan. 6 defendants cited Trump's victory in requests to hold off on sentencing their clients.Defense attorney Marina Medvin said her client,&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.254654/gov.uscourts.dcd.254654.110.0_1.pdf">Christopher Carnell</a>, is “expecting to be relieved of the criminal prosecution that he is currently facing when the new administration takes office.” Michelle Peterson, an assistant federal public defender, argued it would be "fundamentally unfair" to sentence&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.257209/gov.uscourts.dcd.257209.82.0.pdf">a client</a>&nbsp;whose case may be dismissed by Trump's Justice Department.Judges swiftly denied both requests and refused to delay separate hearings for their respective cases on Friday.Other defense attorneys on Wednesday asked for a Jan. 6 defendant's trial to be postponed. They argued that their client,&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.268119/gov.uscourts.dcd.268119.1.1.pdf">Mitchell Bosch</a>, cannot receive a fair trial in Washington so soon after the election given that voters in the nation's capital overwhelmingly supported Harris over Trump.“Mr. Bosch understands that the President-elect’s proclamations of stolen elections and pardons for patriots are not relevant evidence in his trial. However, they are highly relevant to the ability of the jury pool to be fair and impartial,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.268118/gov.uscourts.dcd.268118.54.0.pdf">the lawyers wrote</a>.A trial is scheduled to start next week for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-baker-blaze-news-capitol-riot-88004e2ce919d39cc84e1b2922840fc2">Steve Baker</a>, a writer charged with Capitol riot-related misdemeanors. Baker, who has written articles about the Jan. 6 riot for the conservative outlet Blaze News, posted a photo of a press credential for him to cover Congress."I plan on covering J6, 2025 ‘inside’ the Capitol," he wrote on Wednesday, adding a winking face emoji.Of the more than 1,000 convicted rioters who have been sentenced, over 650 have received prison time ranging from a few days to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-da60222b3e1e54902db2bbbb219dc3fb">22 years</a>. Hundreds of people who went into the Capitol but did not attack police or damage the building were charged only with misdemeanors. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">violence and destruction</a>&nbsp;by other members of the mob have been documented in videos and other evidence heard in court, including testimony from police officers about being beaten and scared for their lives as they defended the Capitol.Trump has said he would issue pardons to Capitol rioters on “Day 1” of his presidency. He told&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/6972022/donald-trump-transcript-2024-election/">Time Magazine</a>&nbsp;he would consider pardoning all of the Jan. 6 defendants, though later added: “If somebody was evil and bad, I would look at that differently.” He told&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-pardon-abortion-putin-59460113ce82ce6f6140d47856261a56">NBC's “Meet the Press”</a>&nbsp;last year that he would consider pardoning former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison after being convicted of seditious conspiracy. Trump said Tarrio was treated “horribly.”When pressed during an event in July, Trump said he “absolutely” would pardon rioters accused of assaulting police — if they were “innocent.” When the interviewer noted she was talking about convicted rioters, Trump replied that they were convicted “by a very tough system.”<a href="https://kimberlywehle.com/">Kim Wehle</a>, a University of Baltimore law professor and author of a book about presidential pardons, said presidents have the unfettered power to issue mass pardons.“The pardon system is set up for winners and losers. Who gets them and who doesn’t get them is completely subjective. It’s completely arbitrary and based on the whims of the president,” Wehle said. “Donald Trump could fashion the pardon however he wants to fashion the pardon, and the general public wouldn’t be able to challenge it.”Presidents have used their power to issue mass pardons for the sake of promoting national unity. George Washington pardoned&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-first-president/whiskey-rebellion">Whiskey Rebellion</a>&nbsp;rebels. Abraham Lincoln pardoned former Confederate soldiers after the Civil War. Jimmy Carter pardoned Vietnam War draft dodgers.Many of those expressing support for Jan. 6 defendants also echoed Trump's campaign talk of seeking retribution against political foes. Julie Kelly, a right-wing political commentator who calls herself a “J6 conspiracy theorist” on her social media profile, posted that Washington-based U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves' “reign of terror is going to end soon."“Then we turn the tables,” Kelly wrote.

Rioters who stormed Capitol after Trump's 2020 defeat celebrate his return

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department are investigating a shooting that has left one person dead.

Just after 5p.m. Friday officers were dispatched to a shooting at a residence in the area of N. 6th Street and Splitlog Avenue, according to a media release.

&nbsp;When officers arrived on scene, they discovered an adult male with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased on scene. The suspect was located and taken into custody. Police have not released the name of the victim or additional details.

This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time. ###

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department are investigating a shooting that has left one person dead.Just after 5p.m. Friday officers were dispatched to a shooting at a residence in the area of N. 6th Street and Splitlog Avenue, according to a media release.&nbsp;When officers arrived on scene, they discovered an adult male with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased on scene. The suspect was located and taken into custody. Police have not released the name of the victim or additional details.This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time. ###

Police: Suspect in custody after deadly shooting in Kansas home

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mayasmith/">MAYA SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LAWRENCE — The delayed rollout last year of a federal aid form left Kansas college students unsure of what their financial assistance would look like for months longer than previous years.

But the U.S. Department of Education now is testing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form with a goal of delivering information to schools by Dec. 1.

At the University of Kansas, last year’s problems with the form made it difficult for students to understand what their financial aid options were in the timeline many expected, said Leah Nicholson, associate director of financial aid and scholarships at KU. The delay also caused the university to release financial aid offers much later compared to previous years, she said.

“I think that when the FAFSA is available to everyone in December that it’ll have a much smoother rollout than it was last year,” Nicholson said. “I think the efforts of testing and the updates that they have been providing about the testing process have been far and above what we experienced last year.”

Nicholson said she hopes for not only positive user experience but also ease on the other end when applications are sent to schools like KU.

“I hope that on the back end they fix the glitches that are happening on the processing side of when the file gets sent to us. But that’s a little bit more complicated and takes a little bit more time,” Nicholson said. “But if they can at least get the front end user part fixed, that would be a huge accomplishment.”

For Kate Haney, a KU freshman from Kansas, the form was confusing to fill out with her parents.

“Some of the questions were worded odd,” Haney said. “I had a ton of friends impacted by the delay though. It was an inconvenience for me because I just wanted to get it completed and then just kept having to wait.”

Simeon Moulton, a Drake University freshman from Kansas, said the delay made it difficult to decide which school to attend.

“It made it really stressful for me, and I was one of the people who had a secondary delay,” Moulton said. “I was just waiting to see if I could afford to go to school.”

The U.S. Department of Education responded to students’ concerns by launching a beta testing program this fall with the goal of improving the user experience when filling out the form. The agency intends to expand testing to thousands of high school students across the country, improve usability of the form and increase transparency with any potential problems going forward.

“Testing the FAFSA system with real students and institutions in a wide range of contexts is critical to ensuring a successful launch by Dec. 1,” said FAFSA executive adviser Jeremy Singer. “We are grateful to the many organizations that will help us achieve this goal.”

The Education Department brought Singer on as executive adviser because of his experience with technology innovation within education and his previous work at the College Board. Singer was named the FAFSA executive adviser at the Office of Federal Student Aid after taking a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2024/06/14/education-dept-taps-college-board-president-oversee" target="_blank">temporary leave</a>&nbsp;from the College Board this summer.

Moulton said that while testing now is a good idea, the department should have taken more responsibility for the mistakes made last year. For students like Moulton, delays not only prolonged college decisions but also caused stress among families.

“It felt like every time they announced a new delay they were just apologetic and did not take responsibility for the effect that the delays were having on students,” Moulton said. “I think it’s good they are being a little more proactive earlier on, but I still think they need to have the FAFSA fully fleshed out before it is expected to be used.”

The U.S. Department of Education in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-successful-beta-1-testing-2025-26" target="_blank">news release</a>&nbsp;said the first round of beta testing was successful, with 650 students being able to submit their form without any “critical bugs.” Testing will continue into the fall in more states, with an emphasis on students with diverse backgrounds economically, geographically and educationally.

Although there is no testing site planned for Kansas, the department intends to continue sharing updates with students and families to make the FAFSA process as accessible as possible. Singer said the department is on track for a complete launch by Dec. 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700516528497.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mayasmith/">MAYA SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a> LAWRENCE — The delayed rollout last year of a federal aid form left Kansas college students unsure of what their financial assistance would look like for months longer than previous years.But the U.S. Department of Education now is testing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form with a goal of delivering information to schools by Dec. 1.At the University of Kansas, last year’s problems with the form made it difficult for students to understand what their financial aid options were in the timeline many expected, said Leah Nicholson, associate director of financial aid and scholarships at KU. The delay also caused the university to release financial aid offers much later compared to previous years, she said.“I think that when the FAFSA is available to everyone in December that it’ll have a much smoother rollout than it was last year,” Nicholson said. “I think the efforts of testing and the updates that they have been providing about the testing process have been far and above what we experienced last year.”Nicholson said she hopes for not only positive user experience but also ease on the other end when applications are sent to schools like KU.“I hope that on the back end they fix the glitches that are happening on the processing side of when the file gets sent to us. But that’s a little bit more complicated and takes a little bit more time,” Nicholson said. “But if they can at least get the front end user part fixed, that would be a huge accomplishment.”For Kate Haney, a KU freshman from Kansas, the form was confusing to fill out with her parents.“Some of the questions were worded odd,” Haney said. “I had a ton of friends impacted by the delay though. It was an inconvenience for me because I just wanted to get it completed and then just kept having to wait.”Simeon Moulton, a Drake University freshman from Kansas, said the delay made it difficult to decide which school to attend.“It made it really stressful for me, and I was one of the people who had a secondary delay,” Moulton said. “I was just waiting to see if I could afford to go to school.”The U.S. Department of Education responded to students’ concerns by launching a beta testing program this fall with the goal of improving the user experience when filling out the form. The agency intends to expand testing to thousands of high school students across the country, improve usability of the form and increase transparency with any potential problems going forward.“Testing the FAFSA system with real students and institutions in a wide range of contexts is critical to ensuring a successful launch by Dec. 1,” said FAFSA executive adviser Jeremy Singer. “We are grateful to the many organizations that will help us achieve this goal.”The Education Department brought Singer on as executive adviser because of his experience with technology innovation within education and his previous work at the College Board. Singer was named the FAFSA executive adviser at the Office of Federal Student Aid after taking a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2024/06/14/education-dept-taps-college-board-president-oversee" target="_blank">temporary leave</a>&nbsp;from the College Board this summer.Moulton said that while testing now is a good idea, the department should have taken more responsibility for the mistakes made last year. For students like Moulton, delays not only prolonged college decisions but also caused stress among families.“It felt like every time they announced a new delay they were just apologetic and did not take responsibility for the effect that the delays were having on students,” Moulton said. “I think it’s good they are being a little more proactive earlier on, but I still think they need to have the FAFSA fully fleshed out before it is expected to be used.”The U.S. Department of Education in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-successful-beta-1-testing-2025-26" target="_blank">news release</a>&nbsp;said the first round of beta testing was successful, with 650 students being able to submit their form without any “critical bugs.” Testing will continue into the fall in more states, with an emphasis on students with diverse backgrounds economically, geographically and educationally.Although there is no testing site planned for Kansas, the department intends to continue sharing updates with students and families to make the FAFSA process as accessible as possible. Singer said the department is on track for a complete launch by Dec. 1.

Kansas college students expect aid on time after FAFSA application beta testing

PHOENIX (AP) —Donald Trump won Arizona on Saturday, returning the state and its 11 electoral votes to the Republican column after Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. The win over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris marks Trump's second in Arizona since 2016. 

Trump campaigned on border security and the economy, tying Harris to inflation and record illegal border crossings during Biden’s administration. 

Trump’s victory dims the hopes of Arizona Democrats, who sought to continue their ascendance, which began with the 2018 flip of a longtime GOP-held Senate seat and continued in 2020 and 2022. Biden was the second Democrat to win Arizona in 70 years. The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 9:21 p.m. EST.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731207341242.png" alt="Image Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Image Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>PHOENIX (AP) —Donald Trump won Arizona on Saturday, returning the state and its 11 electoral votes to the Republican column after Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. The win over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris marks Trump's second in Arizona since 2016. Trump campaigned on border security and the economy, tying Harris to inflation and record illegal border crossings during Biden’s administration. Trump’s victory dims the hopes of Arizona Democrats, who sought to continue their ascendance, which began with the 2018 flip of a longtime GOP-held Senate seat and continued in 2020 and 2022. Biden was the second Democrat to win Arizona in 70 years. The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 9:21 p.m. EST.

Trump wins Arizona to sweep swing states, secure 312 electoral votes

KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City man was indicted by a federal grand jury this week for producing child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

Leonardo Leon, 25, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. The indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Leon on Oct. 14.

The federal indictment alleges that Leon used a minor victim to produce child pornography from Aug. 1 to Sept. 2, 2024. The indictment also charges Leon with distributing child pornography.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, law enforcement officers were dispatched to Children’s Mercy Hospital shortly after midnight on Sept. 3, 2024, when a 15-year-old victim suffered a fatal drug overdose. In the course of their investigation, officers learned that Leon had been communicating on Instagram with the child victim’s best friend. This witness told officers that Leon was having sex with the child victim and, about a week after the child victim’s death, had sent her a video of them having sex.

Investigators searched Leon’s Instagram account, the affidavit says, and found three video clips he had sent to the witness of himself engaging in sex with the child victim.

KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City man was indicted by a federal grand jury this week for producing child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.Leonardo Leon, 25, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. The indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Leon on Oct. 14.The federal indictment alleges that Leon used a minor victim to produce child pornography from Aug. 1 to Sept. 2, 2024. The indictment also charges Leon with distributing child pornography.According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, law enforcement officers were dispatched to Children’s Mercy Hospital shortly after midnight on Sept. 3, 2024, when a 15-year-old victim suffered a fatal drug overdose. In the course of their investigation, officers learned that Leon had been communicating on Instagram with the child victim’s best friend. This witness told officers that Leon was having sex with the child victim and, about a week after the child victim’s death, had sent her a video of them having sex.Investigators searched Leon’s Instagram account, the affidavit says, and found three video clips he had sent to the witness of himself engaging in sex with the child victim.

15-year-old's fatal drug overdose in KC led to child sex crime indictment

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

Just before 3:30p.m. November 6, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2005 Ford F150 at 118th Road on U.S. 75 Highway for multiple alleged traffic infractions, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Lisa Rene McKinney, 58, and the passenger was identified as Antonio Ramirez, 60, both of Hiawatha. A search was conducted of the vehicle which resulted in the discovery of illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia.

McKinney and Ramirez were arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730934687198.png" alt="McKinney photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>McKinney photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730934741762.png" alt="Ramirez photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ramirez photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 3:30p.m. November 6, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2005 Ford F150 at 118th Road on U.S. 75 Highway for multiple alleged traffic infractions, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver of the vehicle was identified as Lisa Rene McKinney, 58, and the passenger was identified as Antonio Ramirez, 60, both of Hiawatha. A search was conducted of the vehicle which resulted in the discovery of illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia.McKinney and Ramirez were arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kansas couple caught transporting  methamphetamine 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.

Just before 6p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a shooting at 75th and Paseo, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

First responders were directed towards a vehicle that was stopped in the southbound lanes of Paseo. As they approached the vehicle, they located a shooting victim unresponsive inside the vehicle. Officers rendered aid until EMS arrived and took over. EMS transported the man to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. At the hospital, the victim was declared deceased, according to Becchina.

Homicide detectives and Crime Scene investigators are here at the scene processing for evidence and canvassing for any potential witnesses.Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was in his vehicle when he was shot by an unknown suspect from outside of the vehicle.

If anyone heard or saw anything in this area or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731123731422.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.Just before 6p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a shooting at 75th and Paseo, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.First responders were directed towards a vehicle that was stopped in the southbound lanes of Paseo. As they approached the vehicle, they located a shooting victim unresponsive inside the vehicle. Officers rendered aid until EMS arrived and took over. EMS transported the man to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. At the hospital, the victim was declared deceased, according to Becchina.Homicide detectives and Crime Scene investigators are here at the scene processing for evidence and canvassing for any potential witnesses.Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was in his vehicle when he was shot by an unknown suspect from outside of the vehicle.If anyone heard or saw anything in this area or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

KCPD: Man found with gunshot wound in his vehicle

WASHINGTON —Daylight saving time ended at 2 a.m. November 2. Standard time will last until March 9 when we will again “spring forward”&nbsp;with the return of daylight saving time.

On his social media account, Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry wrote he hopes his fellow members in the Senate take action to 'lock the clock.'

Moran wrote, "The Senate should again prioritize and pass the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent and end this outdated practice.."

"This commonsense change will keep our days brighter, reduce seasonal depression, create more economic activity and eliminate disruptions between farmers and their suppliers."

That spring time change can be tougher on your body. Darker mornings and lighter evenings can knock your internal body clock out of whack, making it harder to fall asleep on time for weeks or longer. Studies have even found an uptick in heart attacks and strokes right after the March time change.

“Fall back” should be easier. But it still may take a while to adjust your sleep habits, not to mention the downsides of leaving work in the dark or trying to exercise while there's still enough light. Some people with seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression usually linked to the shorter days and less sunlight of fall and winter, may struggle, too.

On the other hand, some health groups, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology.

-The Associated Press contributed this this report

WASHINGTON —Daylight saving time ended at 2 a.m. November 2. Standard time will last until March 9 when we will again “spring forward”&nbsp;with the return of daylight saving time.On his social media account, Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry wrote he hopes his fellow members in the Senate take action to 'lock the clock.'Moran wrote, "The Senate should again prioritize and pass the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent and end this outdated practice..""This commonsense change will keep our days brighter, reduce seasonal depression, create more economic activity and eliminate disruptions between farmers and their suppliers."That spring time change can be tougher on your body. Darker mornings and lighter evenings can knock your internal body clock out of whack, making it harder to fall asleep on time for weeks or longer. Studies have even found an uptick in heart attacks and strokes right after the March time change.“Fall back” should be easier. But it still may take a while to adjust your sleep habits, not to mention the downsides of leaving work in the dark or trying to exercise while there's still enough light. Some people with seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression usually linked to the shorter days and less sunlight of fall and winter, may struggle, too.On the other hand, some health groups, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology.-The Associated Press contributed this this report

Kan. U.S. Senator wants to make daylight saving time permanent

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas’ child care providers view the state’s child care subsidy program as cumbersome and ineffective, according to a new survey, but they also see ways to fix the underused system.&nbsp;

In partnership with Kansas State University, the Hutchinson-based United Methodist Health Ministry Fund highlighted&nbsp;<a href="https://healthfund.org/a/ccsubsidy/" target="_blank">a report</a>&nbsp;Wednesday detailing providers’ perceptions of the state’s child care subsidy program.&nbsp;

Child care providers and administrators across Kansas said that the state’s processes can be a barrier to those seeking assistance due to excessive paperwork, lack of communication and stringent eligibility requirements, the survey found. That’s in addition to inadequate reimbursement rates and delayed payments.

Jennifer Francois, the author of the survey and a K-State professor, said in a news release the goal of the study was to better understand providers and their thoughts on how to improve Kansas’ child care subsidy system to increase participation. Ninety-three Kansas counties were represented in Francois’ survey of nearly 300 child care providers and administrators.

In Kansas, families qualify for the state’s child care subsidy program if they fall into one of four categories: they receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, benefits; they are low income or a foster parent and working; they are pursuing education or training activities; or they are a teen parent completing high school or a GED. The Kansas Department for Children and Families administers the program and loads payments to families on their Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT cards, each month, and the family pays child care providers.

Desiree Streight, the owner of Little Explorers Playschool in Kingman, in south-central Kansas, accepts families using subsidies and said at a Wednesday news conference that families and child care providers are carrying the burden of a flawed system. Seven of the 12 children she cares for are part of families who are receiving child care subsidies, she said.&nbsp;

“Those families are working hard to get by,” Straight said.&nbsp;

Eligibility review takes too long, and families that are already struggling often can’t afford to shoulder the costs of child care or the penalties associated with the state’s subsidy program, she said.&nbsp;

More than 70% of providers identified higher reimbursement rates and direct payments to providers as ways to increase participation in the program, the health ministry fund’s survey found.&nbsp;

“Kansas is one of the few remaining states that pays families subsidies, or the assistance stipend, to then pay the provider, and oftentimes this is inefficient,” said David Jordan, executive director of the health ministry fund, at the news conference.&nbsp;

DCF’s subsidy program is underused. A report based on 2020 data from the Center for Law and Social Policy found that 12% of eligible families are participating. That was lower than the national rate of 14%.

Other states use presumptive eligibility, which allows families to enroll their kids in child care while they undergo the application process for assistance. Kansas has no such thing.&nbsp;

However, Kansas isn’t unique in its child care challenges.&nbsp;

“Every state is struggling in their own way,” said Emily Barnes, education policy advisor for the Topeka child advocacy nonprofit Kansas Action for Children. “Each state is working to increase the effectiveness of their system, and part of it is we have just not had adequate conversation for a really long time.”

As those working in the child care and child advocacy fields look toward the 2025 legislative session, more funding for providers, which could mean dipping into the state’s general fund, and reevaluating work requirements to qualify for child care subsidies could ease barriers.&nbsp;

Quality, affordable child care is important to Kansans. Kansas Speaks, a statewide comprehensive survey from Fort Hays State University’s Docking Institute, found that more than 85% of Kansans believed that “high-quality, affordable infant and toddler child care was extremely or highly important for families in Kansas, regardless of whether or not they had young children.”

The same survey found that nearly 80% of Kansans surveyed either strongly agree or somewhat agree that access to affordable child care strengthens the economy.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647281893666.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas’ child care providers view the state’s child care subsidy program as cumbersome and ineffective, according to a new survey, but they also see ways to fix the underused system.&nbsp;In partnership with Kansas State University, the Hutchinson-based United Methodist Health Ministry Fund highlighted&nbsp;<a href="https://healthfund.org/a/ccsubsidy/" target="_blank">a report</a>&nbsp;Wednesday detailing providers’ perceptions of the state’s child care subsidy program.&nbsp;Child care providers and administrators across Kansas said that the state’s processes can be a barrier to those seeking assistance due to excessive paperwork, lack of communication and stringent eligibility requirements, the survey found. That’s in addition to inadequate reimbursement rates and delayed payments.Jennifer Francois, the author of the survey and a K-State professor, said in a news release the goal of the study was to better understand providers and their thoughts on how to improve Kansas’ child care subsidy system to increase participation. Ninety-three Kansas counties were represented in Francois’ survey of nearly 300 child care providers and administrators.In Kansas, families qualify for the state’s child care subsidy program if they fall into one of four categories: they receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, benefits; they are low income or a foster parent and working; they are pursuing education or training activities; or they are a teen parent completing high school or a GED. The Kansas Department for Children and Families administers the program and loads payments to families on their Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT cards, each month, and the family pays child care providers.Desiree Streight, the owner of Little Explorers Playschool in Kingman, in south-central Kansas, accepts families using subsidies and said at a Wednesday news conference that families and child care providers are carrying the burden of a flawed system. Seven of the 12 children she cares for are part of families who are receiving child care subsidies, she said.&nbsp;“Those families are working hard to get by,” Straight said.&nbsp;Eligibility review takes too long, and families that are already struggling often can’t afford to shoulder the costs of child care or the penalties associated with the state’s subsidy program, she said.&nbsp;More than 70% of providers identified higher reimbursement rates and direct payments to providers as ways to increase participation in the program, the health ministry fund’s survey found.&nbsp;“Kansas is one of the few remaining states that pays families subsidies, or the assistance stipend, to then pay the provider, and oftentimes this is inefficient,” said David Jordan, executive director of the health ministry fund, at the news conference.&nbsp;DCF’s subsidy program is underused. A report based on 2020 data from the Center for Law and Social Policy found that 12% of eligible families are participating. That was lower than the national rate of 14%.Other states use presumptive eligibility, which allows families to enroll their kids in child care while they undergo the application process for assistance. Kansas has no such thing.&nbsp;However, Kansas isn’t unique in its child care challenges.&nbsp;“Every state is struggling in their own way,” said Emily Barnes, education policy advisor for the Topeka child advocacy nonprofit Kansas Action for Children. “Each state is working to increase the effectiveness of their system, and part of it is we have just not had adequate conversation for a really long time.”As those working in the child care and child advocacy fields look toward the 2025 legislative session, more funding for providers, which could mean dipping into the state’s general fund, and reevaluating work requirements to qualify for child care subsidies could ease barriers.&nbsp;Quality, affordable child care is important to Kansans. Kansas Speaks, a statewide comprehensive survey from Fort Hays State University’s Docking Institute, found that more than 85% of Kansans believed that “high-quality, affordable infant and toddler child care was extremely or highly important for families in Kansas, regardless of whether or not they had young children.”The same survey found that nearly 80% of Kansans surveyed either strongly agree or somewhat agree that access to affordable child care strengthens the economy.&nbsp;

Kansas child care providers say subsidies difficult to access, survey finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will host President-elect Donald Trump for a traditional postelection meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday, the White House said Saturday.

Such a meeting is customary between the outgoing president and the incoming president, and is meant partly to mark the start of a peaceful transfer of power under America's democracy.

But Trump, a Republican, did not host Biden, a Democrat, for a sit-down after the 2020 election, when Trump lost his reelection bid.

Trump sought the presidency four years later, and this week he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat. Trump is the first former president to return to power since Grover Cleveland regained the White House in the 1892 election.

The White House said Biden called Trump this past Wednesday to congratulate him and invite him to meet in the Oval Office.

In a speech Thursday, Biden said he had assured Trump “that I would direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition. That’s what the American people deserve.”

Their upcoming meeting is set for 11 a.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731173511452.png" alt="File photo President Biden, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and President elect Donald Trump at a 9/11 ceremony in September" />
 <figcaption>File photo President Biden, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and President elect Donald Trump at a 9/11 ceremony in September</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will host President-elect Donald Trump for a traditional postelection meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday, the White House said Saturday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731174197816.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Such a meeting is customary between the outgoing president and the incoming president, and is meant partly to mark the start of a peaceful transfer of power under America's democracy.But Trump, a Republican, did not host Biden, a Democrat, for a sit-down after the 2020 election, when Trump lost his reelection bid.Trump sought the presidency four years later, and this week he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat. Trump is the first former president to return to power since Grover Cleveland regained the White House in the 1892 election.The White House said Biden called Trump this past Wednesday to congratulate him and invite him to meet in the Oval Office.In a speech Thursday, Biden said he had assured Trump “that I would direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition. That’s what the American people deserve.”Their upcoming meeting is set for 11 a.m.

Biden, Trump set date for meeting in the Oval Office

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating alleged criminal damage in Kansas City have made an arrest.

Early Friday, police arrested a suspect responsible for vandalizing a Vietnamese business in the Columbus Park neighborhood this week, according to a social media report from Kansas City Police.

Officers worked with detectives from a neighboring agency to track down this criminal. Police are now checking into other crimes this suspect may have committed, and charges are pending.

Police did not release the name of the suspect or additional details.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating alleged criminal damage in Kansas City have made an arrest.Early Friday, police arrested a suspect responsible for vandalizing a Vietnamese business in the Columbus Park neighborhood this week, according to a social media report from Kansas City Police.Officers worked with detectives from a neighboring agency to track down this criminal. Police are now checking into other crimes this suspect may have committed, and charges are pending.Police did not release the name of the suspect or additional details.

Suspect accused of vandalism at Vietnamese business in KC

WASHINGTON (AP) —Democratic incumbent Sen. Jacky Rosen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nevada-senate-election-race-2024-f6646cfc6bdfb00d78897322cd25ae44">won reelection</a>&nbsp;early Saturday morning after The Associated Press declared she had beat Republican Sam Brown in a race that turned on Rosen’s strong performance in the state’s two largest counties — Clark and Washoe.

With nearly all of the vote counted, the AP called the race for Rosen.

At the time the AP called the race at 12:15 a.m. ET on Saturday, there were not enough votes left to count, according to AP’s estimates, in the state’s rural areas to make up the gap created by Rosen’s performance in the counties that are home to Las Vegas and Reno.

Republican Rep. Don Bacon won a fifth term representing the Omaha-centered U.S. House district for Nebraska on Friday. In yet another hard-fought bid, Bacon defeated Democrat Tony Vargas, a state lawmaker, in a rematch of their 2022 race. Unlike other GOP candidates in the solidly Republican state, Bacon emphasized his bipartisan credentials and highlighted his vote for the Biden administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Democrat Joe Biden won the 2nd District’s vote in the Electoral College in 2020, making it a top target as Democrats attempt to win back the House majority.

The second update of the day in Arizona’s Maricopa County saw the race for U.S. Senate draw tighter, while Trump expanded his margin over Harris in the race for the state’s 11 electoral votes.

There are still hundreds of thousands of ballots left to count in the state, and AP will be watching for additional vote result updates in Maricopa County and across the state over the weekend.

Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump won his sixth battleground state of the 2024 election early Saturday, beating Vice President Kamala Harris in Nevada.

The Associated Press declared Trump the winner after concluding there were not enough uncounted ballots in the state’s strongest Democratic areas to overcome the former president’s 46,000-vote lead over the Democratic nominee.

Trump clinched a second term early Wednesday when Wisconsin pushed him past the 270 electoral votes needed to win, so Nevada’s six electoral votes only added to the size of his victory: He now has 301 electoral votes and has won six of the seven battleground states. Only Arizona remains to be called.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731154057115.png" alt="Image Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Image Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Democratic incumbent Sen. Jacky Rosen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nevada-senate-election-race-2024-f6646cfc6bdfb00d78897322cd25ae44">won reelection</a>&nbsp;early Saturday morning after The Associated Press declared she had beat Republican Sam Brown in a race that turned on Rosen’s strong performance in the state’s two largest counties — Clark and Washoe.With nearly all of the vote counted, the AP called the race for Rosen.At the time the AP called the race at 12:15 a.m. ET on Saturday, there were not enough votes left to count, according to AP’s estimates, in the state’s rural areas to make up the gap created by Rosen’s performance in the counties that are home to Las Vegas and Reno.Republican Rep. Don Bacon won a fifth term representing the Omaha-centered U.S. House district for Nebraska on Friday. In yet another hard-fought bid, Bacon defeated Democrat Tony Vargas, a state lawmaker, in a rematch of their 2022 race. Unlike other GOP candidates in the solidly Republican state, Bacon emphasized his bipartisan credentials and highlighted his vote for the Biden administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Democrat Joe Biden won the 2nd District’s vote in the Electoral College in 2020, making it a top target as Democrats attempt to win back the House majority.The second update of the day in Arizona’s Maricopa County saw the race for U.S. Senate draw tighter, while Trump expanded his margin over Harris in the race for the state’s 11 electoral votes.There are still hundreds of thousands of ballots left to count in the state, and AP will be watching for additional vote result updates in Maricopa County and across the state over the weekend.Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump won his sixth battleground state of the 2024 election early Saturday, beating Vice President Kamala Harris in Nevada.The Associated Press declared Trump the winner after concluding there were not enough uncounted ballots in the state’s strongest Democratic areas to overcome the former president’s 46,000-vote lead over the Democratic nominee.Trump clinched a second term early Wednesday when Wisconsin pushed him past the 270 electoral votes needed to win, so Nevada’s six electoral votes only added to the size of his victory: He now has 301 electoral votes and has won six of the seven battleground states. Only Arizona remains to be called.

Dems pick up U.S. Senate seat; control of House still uncertain

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City.

Just after 12:30p.m. Friday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported apartment fire in the 200 block of N. Clinton Place, according to&nbsp;Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Crews found smoke showing from the three-story apartment building. Crews initiated an interior offensive attack using three handlines. Searches of the structure came back all clear. Heavy fire damage on the second-floor apartment with water and smoke damage throughout the structure. The Red Cross was ordered for 12 individuals. There were no injuries were reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731100741509.png" alt="Photos KC Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Photos KC Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City.Just after 12:30p.m. Friday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported apartment fire in the 200 block of N. Clinton Place, according to&nbsp;Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731100764172.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Crews found smoke showing from the three-story apartment building. Crews initiated an interior offensive attack using three handlines. Searches of the structure came back all clear. Heavy fire damage on the second-floor apartment with water and smoke damage throughout the structure. The Red Cross was ordered for 12 individuals. There were no injuries were reported.

Fire damages 3-story apartment building in Kansas City

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday congratulated Donald Trump on his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2">election victory</a>&nbsp;in his first public comment on the U.S. vote, and he praised the president-elect's courage during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/attempted-assassination-of-donald-trump">the July assassination attempt</a>.

“His behavior at the moment of an attempt on his life left an impression on me. He turned out to be a brave man," Putin said at an international forum following a speech in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

"He manifested himself in the very correct way, bravely as a man,” he added.

Putin also said that what Trump has said “about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to help end the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, deserves attention at least.”

The Kremlin earlier welcomed Trump’s claim that he could negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine “in 24 hours” but emphasized that it will wait for concrete policy steps.

″I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States of America,” Putin said in a question-and-answer session at the conference.

As to what he expects from a second Trump administration, Putin said, “I don’t know what will happen now. I have no idea.”

"For him, this is still his last presidential term. What he will do is his matter,” added Putin, who this year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-election-putin-2024-updates-ebdaae1bf12b44343b88ba471f9f0cb0">began a fifth term</a>&nbsp;that will keep him in power until 2030 and could seek six more years in office after that.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday the Kremlin is not ruling out the possibility of contact between Putin and Trump before the inauguration, given that Trump “said he would call Putin before the inauguration.”

Peskov has emphasized that Moscow views the U.S. as an “unfriendly” country that is directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict. He dismissed arguments that Putin’s failure to reach out quickly to Trump could hurt future ties, saying that Moscow's relations with Washington already are at the “lowest point in history” and arguing that it will be up to the new U.S. leadership to change the situation.

The Kremlin’s cautious stand reflected its view of the U.S. vote as a choice between two unappealing possibilities. While Trump is known for his admiration of Putin, the Russian leader has repeatedly noted that during Trump’s first term, there were “so many restrictions and sanctions against Russia like no other president has ever introduced before him.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663760963726.jpeg" alt="File photo (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)" />
 <figcaption>File photo (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday congratulated Donald Trump on his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2">election victory</a>&nbsp;in his first public comment on the U.S. vote, and he praised the president-elect's courage during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/attempted-assassination-of-donald-trump">the July assassination attempt</a>.“His behavior at the moment of an attempt on his life left an impression on me. He turned out to be a brave man," Putin said at an international forum following a speech in the Black Sea resort of Sochi."He manifested himself in the very correct way, bravely as a man,” he added.Putin also said that what Trump has said “about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to help end the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, deserves attention at least.”The Kremlin earlier welcomed Trump’s claim that he could negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine “in 24 hours” but emphasized that it will wait for concrete policy steps.″I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States of America,” Putin said in a question-and-answer session at the conference.As to what he expects from a second Trump administration, Putin said, “I don’t know what will happen now. I have no idea.”"For him, this is still his last presidential term. What he will do is his matter,” added Putin, who this year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-election-putin-2024-updates-ebdaae1bf12b44343b88ba471f9f0cb0">began a fifth term</a>&nbsp;that will keep him in power until 2030 and could seek six more years in office after that.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday the Kremlin is not ruling out the possibility of contact between Putin and Trump before the inauguration, given that Trump “said he would call Putin before the inauguration.”Peskov has emphasized that Moscow views the U.S. as an “unfriendly” country that is directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict. He dismissed arguments that Putin’s failure to reach out quickly to Trump could hurt future ties, saying that Moscow's relations with Washington already are at the “lowest point in history” and arguing that it will be up to the new U.S. leadership to change the situation.The Kremlin’s cautious stand reflected its view of the U.S. vote as a choice between two unappealing possibilities. While Trump is known for his admiration of Putin, the Russian leader has repeatedly noted that during Trump’s first term, there were “so many restrictions and sanctions against Russia like no other president has ever introduced before him.”