JOHNSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 8:30p.m. Thursday in Overland Park.

According to Overland Park police, a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Joshua Haines of Overland Park was eastbound on W. 151 Street at England Street. The vehicle struck another vehicle that was making a u-turn at England Street to travel eastbound. 

EMS transported Haines to Overland Park Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The crash is still under investigation. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact Overland Park Traffic Unit.

JOHNSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 8:30p.m. Thursday in Overland Park.According to Overland Park police, a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Joshua Haines of Overland Park was eastbound on W. 151 Street at England Street. The vehicle struck another vehicle that was making a u-turn at England Street to travel eastbound. EMS transported Haines to Overland Park Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The crash is still under investigation. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact Overland Park Traffic Unit.

Kansas man dies after crash into vehicle making u-turn

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-ukraine-russia-appeasement-af02a823e986bf27baf34520c6c5b931">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;says he’s responsible for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ed-martin-white-house-justice-department-thom-tillis-cecf801799faa2b56fd1bb4fac48379e">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;victory last fall, but he attributes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-donald-trump-6de09bd9d78d11a2cc4c4591c0f404e2">Kamala Harris’</a>&nbsp;loss, at least in part, to sexism and racism.

(click below to watch Biden's explanation)

Biden, who left office in January, addressed the Democrats’ disastrous 2024 election, concerns about his age and Trump’s divisive leadership during a Thursday interview on ABC’s “The View.” The 82-year-old Democrat said he has intentionally avoided speaking out publicly until this week to give the Republican president more than 100 days in office without his interference, as is typically the tradition following a change in the White House.

Asked about the last election, Biden said he was surprised by the role that gender and race played in the contest.

“They went the sexist route,” Biden said of criticism that “a woman couldn’t lead the country and a woman of mixed race.”

He added: “I was in charge, and he won, so I take responsibility.”

Biden has largely stepped away from national politics since leaving the White House. He’s not expected to play a central role in Democratic affairs as the party turns to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pritzker-trump-ocasio-cortez-democrats-resistance-message-9d4f7868892629e34df7ea1e29dc0b34">a new generation of leadership</a>, although he acknowledged on Thursday that he has maintained regular contact with Harris and has offered his guidance on her political future.

“She’s got a difficult decision to make about what she’s going to do. I hope she stays engaged,” Biden said, declining to share his specific advice.

Biden rejected concerns about his cognitive decline prompted by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-panic-performance-democrats-debate-trump-cnn-fe6546f2c9762e80e6067ba10abedea8">a disastrous debate performance</a>&nbsp;last June. He also declined to criticize the Democratic leaders who privately pressed him to abandon his campaign.

“The only reason I got out of the race was because I didn’t want to have a divided Democratic Party,” he said, adding that the broader party didn’t buy into concerns about his age following the “terrible” debate performance “but the Democratic leadership and some of the very significant contributors did.”

Polling, however, suggests that the concerns among Democrats were widespread.

In January 2022, just a year into Biden’s first term, an AP-NORC poll found that only 48% of Democrats wanted him to seek reelection. That fell to 37% of Democrats in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-biden-2024-presidential-prospects-c843c5af6775b4c8a0cff8e2b1db03f6">an AP-NORC poll conducted February 2023</a>. And two after his debate flop,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-poll-drop-out-debate-democrats-59eebaca6989985c2bfb">nearly two-thirds of Democrats</a>&nbsp;said Biden should withdraw from the race.

Thursday’s appearance also marked Biden’s first joint interview with former first lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-jill-biden-gun-safety-schools-9c16e7f50347f040d8a7c6bd814054fd">Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;since leaving Washington. She rejected those who believe she created a protective cocoon around her husband while in office to protect him from scrutiny about his age.

“It was very hurtful especially from some of our so-called friends,” she said of the criticism.

“I was with Joe day and night … and I did not create a cocoon around him,” she continued. “You saw him in the Oval Office. You saw him making speeches. He wasn’t hiding somewhere.”

Meanwhile, the former president did not hold back when the conversation turned to Trump’s job performance.

“He’s had the worst 100 days any president has ever had,” Biden said.

White House communications director Steven Cheung fired back.

“Joe Biden is a complete disgrace to this country and the office he occupied,” Cheung said. “He has clearly lost all mental faculties and his handlers thought it’d be a good idea for him to do an interview and incoherently mumble his way through every answer. Sadly, this feels like abuse.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722723644132.png" alt="File photo Former President Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris- image White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo Former President Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris- image White House</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;STEVE PEOPLESNEW YORK (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-ukraine-russia-appeasement-af02a823e986bf27baf34520c6c5b931">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;says he’s responsible for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ed-martin-white-house-justice-department-thom-tillis-cecf801799faa2b56fd1bb4fac48379e">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;victory last fall, but he attributes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-donald-trump-6de09bd9d78d11a2cc4c4591c0f404e2">Kamala Harris’</a>&nbsp;loss, at least in part, to sexism and racism.(click below to watch Biden's explanation)<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Former Pres. Biden tells <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheView?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheView</a> he &quot;wasn&#39;t surprised&quot; by Pres. Trump&#39;s win in 2024: &quot;[Kamala Harris is] qualified to be president of the United States of America, but I wasn&#39;t surprised because they went... the sexist route.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/GrtA9iZhP0">pic.twitter.com/GrtA9iZhP0</a>&mdash; The View (@TheView) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheView/status/1920498174143111208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden, who left office in January, addressed the Democrats’ disastrous 2024 election, concerns about his age and Trump’s divisive leadership during a Thursday interview on ABC’s “The View.” The 82-year-old Democrat said he has intentionally avoided speaking out publicly until this week to give the Republican president more than 100 days in office without his interference, as is typically the tradition following a change in the White House.Asked about the last election, Biden said he was surprised by the role that gender and race played in the contest.“They went the sexist route,” Biden said of criticism that “a woman couldn’t lead the country and a woman of mixed race.”He added: “I was in charge, and he won, so I take responsibility.”Biden has largely stepped away from national politics since leaving the White House. He’s not expected to play a central role in Democratic affairs as the party turns to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pritzker-trump-ocasio-cortez-democrats-resistance-message-9d4f7868892629e34df7ea1e29dc0b34">a new generation of leadership</a>, although he acknowledged on Thursday that he has maintained regular contact with Harris and has offered his guidance on her political future.“She’s got a difficult decision to make about what she’s going to do. I hope she stays engaged,” Biden said, declining to share his specific advice.Biden rejected concerns about his cognitive decline prompted by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-panic-performance-democrats-debate-trump-cnn-fe6546f2c9762e80e6067ba10abedea8">a disastrous debate performance</a>&nbsp;last June. He also declined to criticize the Democratic leaders who privately pressed him to abandon his campaign.“The only reason I got out of the race was because I didn’t want to have a divided Democratic Party,” he said, adding that the broader party didn’t buy into concerns about his age following the “terrible” debate performance “but the Democratic leadership and some of the very significant contributors did.”Polling, however, suggests that the concerns among Democrats were widespread.In January 2022, just a year into Biden’s first term, an AP-NORC poll found that only 48% of Democrats wanted him to seek reelection. That fell to 37% of Democrats in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-biden-2024-presidential-prospects-c843c5af6775b4c8a0cff8e2b1db03f6">an AP-NORC poll conducted February 2023</a>. And two after his debate flop,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-poll-drop-out-debate-democrats-59eebaca6989985c2bfb">nearly two-thirds of Democrats</a>&nbsp;said Biden should withdraw from the race.Thursday’s appearance also marked Biden’s first joint interview with former first lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-jill-biden-gun-safety-schools-9c16e7f50347f040d8a7c6bd814054fd">Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;since leaving Washington. She rejected those who believe she created a protective cocoon around her husband while in office to protect him from scrutiny about his age.“It was very hurtful especially from some of our so-called friends,” she said of the criticism.“I was with Joe day and night … and I did not create a cocoon around him,” she continued. “You saw him in the Oval Office. You saw him making speeches. He wasn’t hiding somewhere.”Meanwhile, the former president did not hold back when the conversation turned to Trump’s job performance.“He’s had the worst 100 days any president has ever had,” Biden said.White House communications director Steven Cheung fired back.“Joe Biden is a complete disgrace to this country and the office he occupied,” Cheung said. “He has clearly lost all mental faculties and his handlers thought it’d be a good idea for him to do an interview and incoherently mumble his way through every answer. Sadly, this feels like abuse.”

🎥Joe Biden explains why he thinks Kamala Harris lost the election

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

Just after 2:30a.m. Friday, patrol officers were dispatched to 11th and Wyandotte on the report of a dead body, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Security guards were conducting patrol rounds when they located an adult male victim in a nearby parking garage. Officers were directed to the upper floor of the parking garage and located the victim suffering from obvious bodily trauma. 

KCFD EMS responded and medics pronounced the victim deceased on scene. This is being investigated as a homicide. Investigators are working to determine what led up to the incident and what caused the victim’s fatal injuries. Detectives are canvassing the area for witnesses and surveillance footage. Crime scene personnel will be processing the scene for all available physical evidence.&nbsp; Police released no additional details early Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746786942808.png" alt="KCTV" />
 <figcaption>KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.Just after 2:30a.m. Friday, patrol officers were dispatched to 11th and Wyandotte on the report of a dead body, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746790386685.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>Security guards were conducting patrol rounds when they located an adult male victim in a nearby parking garage. Officers were directed to the upper floor of the parking garage and located the victim suffering from obvious bodily trauma. KCFD EMS responded and medics pronounced the victim deceased on scene. This is being investigated as a homicide. Investigators are working to determine what led up to the incident and what caused the victim’s fatal injuries. Detectives are canvassing the area for witnesses and surveillance footage. Crime scene personnel will be processing the scene for all available physical evidence.&nbsp; Police released no additional details early Friday.

Homicide: Body of man found in Kansas City parking garage

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the White House’s East Room on a rainy Thursday, first lady Melania Trump and members of the Bush family gathered to unveil a U.S postage stamp bearing the portrait of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/barbara-bush">former first lady Barbara Bush</a>.

Amid the anticipation of the unveiling, Trump, Bush’s daughter Dorothy “Doro” Bush Koch and Judy de Torok, a vice president at U.S. Postal Service, took turns sharing stories chronicling the former first lady’s life and achievements.

Bush Koch held back tears recalling moments from her mother’s early life. “Mom was never one to shy away from speaking the truth or taking a stand,” she said. “With her signature white hair and pearls, she became an icon in her own right, and yet, even as a former first lady, she remained humble and humorous.”

The image on the stamp is Barbara Bush’s official White House portrait, which currently hangs in the entrance to the East Wing. She is depicted in a black suit and purple blouse, wearing her hallmark triple strand of pearls.

After a commemoration ceremony in Kennebunkport, Maine, where the Bush family compound is located, the stamp will go on sale June 10th.

Bush notably championed literacy programs and helped destigmatized people with AIDS and HIV when she cradled an infant during a 1989 visit to a hospice for children with the disease. Trump said Bush “changed the national conversation on AIDS and took a stand supporting gay rights.”

Trump also said she appreciated how Bush inspired people to pursue their personal dreams and was ahead of her time when she made the call for a female American president.

“Who knows?” Trump said. “Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps and preside over the White House, and I wish him well,” she said to laughs.

Barbara Bush&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-houston-26296df048a042acbb7b600d5885ed82">died in 2018 at 92 years-old</a>. She was married to President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0a70f6a7eb374acb88fd52b41e1f3c56">George H. W. Bush</a>. She is the mother of former President George W. Bush.

She was one of only two first ladies who had a child who was elected president. The other was Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams and mother of President John Quincy Adams.

And in 2016 — at 90 years-old — Barbara Bush campaigned for her son, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush when he vied for the Republican presidential nomination, according to the George H. W. Bush library.

She had strong words for Donald Trump — back in 2016 she said in a joint CNN interview with Jeb Bush that she was “sick” of the current president. “He’s said terrible things about women, terrible things about the military. I don’t understand why people are for him, for that reason,” she said at the time.

Melania Trump attended Bush’s funeral in 2018 while Donald Trump did not attend. The White House said he stayed away to avoid security disruptions.

Bush is the eighth first lady to be honored with a U.S. postage stamp.

Bush Koch said “it’s unlikely that mom ever pictured herself on the postage stamp, and it’s very likely that she would be wondering what all this fuss is about.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the White House’s East Room on a rainy Thursday, first lady Melania Trump and members of the Bush family gathered to unveil a U.S postage stamp bearing the portrait of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/barbara-bush">former first lady Barbara Bush</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A new stamp featuring former first lady Barbara Bush is unveiled at the White House. Full video here: <a href="https://t.co/LDKQrbYGSl">https://t.co/LDKQrbYGSl</a> <a href="https://t.co/A3YoguAfyO">pic.twitter.com/A3YoguAfyO</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1920637483064111162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Melania Trump remarks during postage stamp unveiling in honor of former first lady Barbara Bush ... <a href="https://t.co/DXADc6POjZ">pic.twitter.com/DXADc6POjZ</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1920635383521423667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Amid the anticipation of the unveiling, Trump, Bush’s daughter Dorothy “Doro” Bush Koch and Judy de Torok, a vice president at U.S. Postal Service, took turns sharing stories chronicling the former first lady’s life and achievements.Bush Koch held back tears recalling moments from her mother’s early life. “Mom was never one to shy away from speaking the truth or taking a stand,” she said. “With her signature white hair and pearls, she became an icon in her own right, and yet, even as a former first lady, she remained humble and humorous.”The image on the stamp is Barbara Bush’s official White House portrait, which currently hangs in the entrance to the East Wing. She is depicted in a black suit and purple blouse, wearing her hallmark triple strand of pearls.After a commemoration ceremony in Kennebunkport, Maine, where the Bush family compound is located, the stamp will go on sale June 10th.Bush notably championed literacy programs and helped destigmatized people with AIDS and HIV when she cradled an infant during a 1989 visit to a hospice for children with the disease. Trump said Bush “changed the national conversation on AIDS and took a stand supporting gay rights.”Trump also said she appreciated how Bush inspired people to pursue their personal dreams and was ahead of her time when she made the call for a female American president.“Who knows?” Trump said. “Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps and preside over the White House, and I wish him well,” she said to laughs.Barbara Bush&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-houston-26296df048a042acbb7b600d5885ed82">died in 2018 at 92 years-old</a>. She was married to President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0a70f6a7eb374acb88fd52b41e1f3c56">George H. W. Bush</a>. She is the mother of former President George W. Bush.She was one of only two first ladies who had a child who was elected president. The other was Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams and mother of President John Quincy Adams.And in 2016 — at 90 years-old — Barbara Bush campaigned for her son, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush when he vied for the Republican presidential nomination, according to the George H. W. Bush library.She had strong words for Donald Trump — back in 2016 she said in a joint CNN interview with Jeb Bush that she was “sick” of the current president. “He’s said terrible things about women, terrible things about the military. I don’t understand why people are for him, for that reason,” she said at the time.Melania Trump attended Bush’s funeral in 2018 while Donald Trump did not attend. The White House said he stayed away to avoid security disruptions.Bush is the eighth first lady to be honored with a U.S. postage stamp.Bush Koch said “it’s unlikely that mom ever pictured herself on the postage stamp, and it’s very likely that she would be wondering what all this fuss is about.”

🎥White House unveils Barbara Bush postage stamp

SALINE COUNTY — Two people were injured in a house fire in rural Saline County.

Just after 5:30p.m. Thursday, sheriff's deputies and Saline County Rural Fire Districts 5, 7, and 2 responded to a working house fire in the 1500 block of N Marymount Road, according to Saline County Sheriff's Operations Captain Jim Hughes.

A 75-year-old female resident received serious burns and was transported to Salina Regional and transferred to Via Christi in Wichita.&nbsp; &nbsp;An 83-year-old male resident suffered smoke inhalation and was also transferred to Salina Regional Health Center;

The cause of the fire is suspected to be due to electrical issues.&nbsp; The residence is a total loss and the amount of loss is still being evaluated, according to Hughes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746798465659.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY — Two people were injured in a house fire in rural Saline County.Just after 5:30p.m. Thursday, sheriff's deputies and Saline County Rural Fire Districts 5, 7, and 2 responded to a working house fire in the 1500 block of N Marymount Road, according to Saline County Sheriff's Operations Captain Jim Hughes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746798263843.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A 75-year-old female resident received serious burns and was transported to Salina Regional and transferred to Via Christi in Wichita.&nbsp; &nbsp;An 83-year-old male resident suffered smoke inhalation and was also transferred to Salina Regional Health Center;The cause of the fire is suspected to be due to electrical issues.&nbsp; The residence is a total loss and the amount of loss is still being evaluated, according to Hughes.

Man and woman hospitalized after rural Kansas house fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump agreed Thursday to cut tariffs on U.K. autos, steel and aluminum in a planned trade deal but played down the possibility of other nations getting similarly favorable terms on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-deals-china-trade-02986c700a2d46c8b1ba85afe77d139f">his import taxes</a>, which are roiling the global economy.

Under the framework agreement, the United Kingdom is to buy more American beef and ethanol and streamline its customs process for goods from the United States. But Trump's baseline 10% tariffs against British goods are to stay in place, and the Republican president suggested that even higher import taxes would be charged on other countries trying to reach deals with the U.S.

“That's a low number,” Trump said of the U.K.'s 10% tariff rate, adding that other countries would face higher tariff rates in their deals because the U.S. runs trade deficits with them and “in many cases they didn't treat us right.”

The announcement provided a political victory for U.K. Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-starmer-reshape-government-musk-ai-f0d5a76f8540299a5338ccd2fe54c956">Keir Starmer</a>&nbsp;and offered a degree of validation for Trump's claims that his turbulent approach on trade may be able to rebalance the global economy on his preferred terms. While the deal should improve Britain's situation relative to when Trump began imposing new tariffs, the world economy is still mired in the confusion and uncertainty unleashed by the president's import taxes. The deal with the U.K. would be a resonant but small step toward greater clarity given that Britain represents a fraction of U.S. imports.

The U.S. president talked up the framework to reporters in the Oval Office, although the fine print remains in flux.

“In the coming weeks, we’ll have it all very conclusive,” Trump said.

The president said the agreement would lead to more beef and ethanol exports to the U.K., and streamline the processing of U.S. goods through customs. Commerce Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2">Howard Lutnick</a>&nbsp;said the baseline 10% tariffs would stay in place and said an unspecified British company would be announcing the purchase of $10 billion in aircraft from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boeing-co">Boeing</a>.

U.K. officials said Trump's auto tariffs would go from 27.5% to 10% on a quota of 100,000 vehicles and the import taxes on steel and aluminum would go from 25% to zero. Starmer said Britain would preserve its health and safety standards on food products.

The U.K. government also said it would also reduce tariffs on 2,500 U.S. products such as olive oil, wine and sports equipment, bringing down the average tariff rate 1.8%.

Starmer, speaking over the phone to Trump while reporters listened in, stressed the importance of the relationship between the two countries as the anniversary of the Allies'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-victory-day-world-war-celebration-proclamation-1bc0d2cacc2d5220484d837efc492436">World War II victory in Europe</a>&nbsp;was being commemorated.

“To be able to announce this great deal, on the same day 80 years forward, almost at the same hour,” Starmer said, “I think is incredibly important and makes this truly historic.”

Starmer later spoke to workers at a Jaguar Land Rover plant and promoted the deal, which he said would protect thousands of auto jobs. He told the workers that “this is just the start,” saying “we are hammering out further details to reduce barriers to trade with the United States and across the world.”

While celebrating the planned deal, Trump talked up the U.S. economy's future despite worrisome signs of a possible slowdown and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-rate-inflation-tariff-7b96cf47c986602db51ce87055ca5f24">increase in inflation</a>&nbsp;that could hurt most Americans' financial well-being and lead to layoffs.

The president said the public should buy into the stock market because the U.S. was about to go up like a “rocket ship," even as he dismissed reports of fewer container ships docking in the U.S. and companies warning of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-economy-poll-tariffs-inflation-prices-recession-1d320115e8801e4970bd5cccf2742fc4">price increases</a>&nbsp;if the tariffs remain.

Trump said that fewer container ships arriving from China meant “we lose less money” from the trade deficit, even though the goods in those ships are used by U.S. manufacturers and sold by retailers in ways that can support jobs while holding down prices.

Asked about companies saying they would need to raise prices because of the tariffs, Trump said, “I think they’re saying that just to try and negotiate deals with me.” Trump suggested that he might put 100% tariffs on Mattel toys if they don't relocate their factories to the United States.

Trump has maintained that there is “virtually” no inflation. The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure has increased at 2.3% annually, slightly higher than the central bank's 2% target.

The U.S. president on Thursday said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jerome-powell">Fed Chair Jerome Powell</a>&nbsp;should cut the Fed's benchmark interest rates that are designed to manage inflation, saying that Powell was holding the Fed's rates at current levels instead of slashing them because “he's not in love with me.” Powell warned at a Wednesday news conference that the tariffs were creating uncertainty and the Fed could afford to wait until more data shows the impacts on the economy.

The U.S. already runs a trade surplus with the U.K., making it a bit easier to find common ground at a time when Trump has staked his tariffs on eliminating the annual trade deficits with multiple nations he says have taken advantage of the U.S.

A British government official, insisting on anonymity to discuss the talks, said the U.K. planned to seek greater trade liberalization as negotiations continue, such that the effective tariff rate charged by the U.S. could be lower than the 10% baseline.

The official said the talks have been built on the longstanding closeness between the two nations and, when in discussions with the Trump administration, the key was to be charming and know how to say “no” nicely.

The official said Trump had invited the British government to agree to a trade deal before April 2, but the president changed his mind so that he could impose his sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs. That statement indicates that Trump could have announced some form of Thursday's agreement weeks earlier.

No new deals have been reached with the United States' largest trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and China. Trump has left the highest tariffs in place on China, sparking a confrontation between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-tariffs-trump-dce0557297c1a367cac9353d270a3c2e">the world's two biggest economies</a>. Washington and Beijing are sending officials to Switzerland this weekend for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-china-trade-switzerland-bessent-2a3335ed92989dc4b3a74ea550b79b3f">an initial round of trade talks</a>.

Trump said Thursday that he "could" lower the 145% rate charged on Chinese goods if the weekend talks go well.

“Right now, you can’t get any higher," Trump said. "It's at 145, so we know it’s coming down.”

The U.S. and the U.K. have been aiming to strike a bilateral trade agreement since the British people voted in 2016 to leave the European Union, allowing the country to negotiate independently of the rest of the continent. Then-Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boris-johnson-resigns-partygate-lockdown-misled-parliament-64a8697c9ccbed381915fbfe45ffe028">Boris Johnson</a>&nbsp;touted a future deal with the U.S. as an incentive for Brexit.

Negotiations started in 2020, during Trump’s first term. But the talks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-nations-general-assembly-boris-johnson-entertainment-states-e5d3799d03fa90704376dc52fdf1f709">made little progress</a>&nbsp;under President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-ukraine-russia-appeasement-af02a823e986bf27baf34520c6c5b931">Joe Biden</a>, a Democrat and a critic of Brexit. Negotiations resumed after Trump returned to office in January and intensified in recent weeks.

The U.S. ran a $11.9 billion trade surplus in goods with the U.K. last year, according to the Census Bureau. The $68 billion in goods that the U.S. imported from the U.K. last year accounted for just 2% of all goods imported into the country.

The U.S. is far more important for the U.K. economy. It was Britain's biggest trading partner last year, according to government statistics, though the bulk of Britain’s exports to the U.S. are services rather than goods.

Jill Lawless reported from London. Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746749775236.png" alt="President Trump celebrating the trade deal with U.K. negotiators in the Oval Office- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Trump celebrating the trade deal with U.K. negotiators in the Oval Office- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump agreed Thursday to cut tariffs on U.K. autos, steel and aluminum in a planned trade deal but played down the possibility of other nations getting similarly favorable terms on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-deals-china-trade-02986c700a2d46c8b1ba85afe77d139f">his import taxes</a>, which are roiling the global economy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The UK offers a strategic market for American aviation &amp; agricultural products. I introduced legislation earlier this year to lay the groundwork for a strong bilateral trade relationship, &amp; President Trump’s announcement of a new trade agreement with the UK is a positive step… <a href="https://t.co/HRK1fu8PMy">https://t.co/HRK1fu8PMy</a>&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1920549416441622683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Under the framework agreement, the United Kingdom is to buy more American beef and ethanol and streamline its customs process for goods from the United States. But Trump's baseline 10% tariffs against British goods are to stay in place, and the Republican president suggested that even higher import taxes would be charged on other countries trying to reach deals with the U.S.“That's a low number,” Trump said of the U.K.'s 10% tariff rate, adding that other countries would face higher tariff rates in their deals because the U.S. runs trade deficits with them and “in many cases they didn't treat us right.”The announcement provided a political victory for U.K. Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-starmer-reshape-government-musk-ai-f0d5a76f8540299a5338ccd2fe54c956">Keir Starmer</a>&nbsp;and offered a degree of validation for Trump's claims that his turbulent approach on trade may be able to rebalance the global economy on his preferred terms. While the deal should improve Britain's situation relative to when Trump began imposing new tariffs, the world economy is still mired in the confusion and uncertainty unleashed by the president's import taxes. The deal with the U.K. would be a resonant but small step toward greater clarity given that Britain represents a fraction of U.S. imports.The U.S. president talked up the framework to reporters in the Oval Office, although the fine print remains in flux.“In the coming weeks, we’ll have it all very conclusive,” Trump said.The president said the agreement would lead to more beef and ethanol exports to the U.K., and streamline the processing of U.S. goods through customs. Commerce Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2">Howard Lutnick</a>&nbsp;said the baseline 10% tariffs would stay in place and said an unspecified British company would be announcing the purchase of $10 billion in aircraft from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boeing-co">Boeing</a>.<h2>Cars, steel and olive oil</h2>U.K. officials said Trump's auto tariffs would go from 27.5% to 10% on a quota of 100,000 vehicles and the import taxes on steel and aluminum would go from 25% to zero. Starmer said Britain would preserve its health and safety standards on food products.The U.K. government also said it would also reduce tariffs on 2,500 U.S. products such as olive oil, wine and sports equipment, bringing down the average tariff rate 1.8%.Starmer, speaking over the phone to Trump while reporters listened in, stressed the importance of the relationship between the two countries as the anniversary of the Allies'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-victory-day-world-war-celebration-proclamation-1bc0d2cacc2d5220484d837efc492436">World War II victory in Europe</a>&nbsp;was being commemorated.“To be able to announce this great deal, on the same day 80 years forward, almost at the same hour,” Starmer said, “I think is incredibly important and makes this truly historic.”Starmer later spoke to workers at a Jaguar Land Rover plant and promoted the deal, which he said would protect thousands of auto jobs. He told the workers that “this is just the start,” saying “we are hammering out further details to reduce barriers to trade with the United States and across the world.”While celebrating the planned deal, Trump talked up the U.S. economy's future despite worrisome signs of a possible slowdown and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-rate-inflation-tariff-7b96cf47c986602db51ce87055ca5f24">increase in inflation</a>&nbsp;that could hurt most Americans' financial well-being and lead to layoffs.The president said the public should buy into the stock market because the U.S. was about to go up like a “rocket ship," even as he dismissed reports of fewer container ships docking in the U.S. and companies warning of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-economy-poll-tariffs-inflation-prices-recession-1d320115e8801e4970bd5cccf2742fc4">price increases</a>&nbsp;if the tariffs remain.Trump said that fewer container ships arriving from China meant “we lose less money” from the trade deficit, even though the goods in those ships are used by U.S. manufacturers and sold by retailers in ways that can support jobs while holding down prices.Asked about companies saying they would need to raise prices because of the tariffs, Trump said, “I think they’re saying that just to try and negotiate deals with me.” Trump suggested that he might put 100% tariffs on Mattel toys if they don't relocate their factories to the United States.Trump has maintained that there is “virtually” no inflation. The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure has increased at 2.3% annually, slightly higher than the central bank's 2% target.The U.S. president on Thursday said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jerome-powell">Fed Chair Jerome Powell</a>&nbsp;should cut the Fed's benchmark interest rates that are designed to manage inflation, saying that Powell was holding the Fed's rates at current levels instead of slashing them because “he's not in love with me.” Powell warned at a Wednesday news conference that the tariffs were creating uncertainty and the Fed could afford to wait until more data shows the impacts on the economy.<h2>Looking for a deal since Brexit</h2>The U.S. already runs a trade surplus with the U.K., making it a bit easier to find common ground at a time when Trump has staked his tariffs on eliminating the annual trade deficits with multiple nations he says have taken advantage of the U.S.A British government official, insisting on anonymity to discuss the talks, said the U.K. planned to seek greater trade liberalization as negotiations continue, such that the effective tariff rate charged by the U.S. could be lower than the 10% baseline.The official said the talks have been built on the longstanding closeness between the two nations and, when in discussions with the Trump administration, the key was to be charming and know how to say “no” nicely.The official said Trump had invited the British government to agree to a trade deal before April 2, but the president changed his mind so that he could impose his sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs. That statement indicates that Trump could have announced some form of Thursday's agreement weeks earlier.No new deals have been reached with the United States' largest trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and China. Trump has left the highest tariffs in place on China, sparking a confrontation between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-tariffs-trump-dce0557297c1a367cac9353d270a3c2e">the world's two biggest economies</a>. Washington and Beijing are sending officials to Switzerland this weekend for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-china-trade-switzerland-bessent-2a3335ed92989dc4b3a74ea550b79b3f">an initial round of trade talks</a>.Trump said Thursday that he "could" lower the 145% rate charged on Chinese goods if the weekend talks go well.“Right now, you can’t get any higher," Trump said. "It's at 145, so we know it’s coming down.”The U.S. and the U.K. have been aiming to strike a bilateral trade agreement since the British people voted in 2016 to leave the European Union, allowing the country to negotiate independently of the rest of the continent. Then-Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boris-johnson-resigns-partygate-lockdown-misled-parliament-64a8697c9ccbed381915fbfe45ffe028">Boris Johnson</a>&nbsp;touted a future deal with the U.S. as an incentive for Brexit.Negotiations started in 2020, during Trump’s first term. But the talks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-nations-general-assembly-boris-johnson-entertainment-states-e5d3799d03fa90704376dc52fdf1f709">made little progress</a>&nbsp;under President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-ukraine-russia-appeasement-af02a823e986bf27baf34520c6c5b931">Joe Biden</a>, a Democrat and a critic of Brexit. Negotiations resumed after Trump returned to office in January and intensified in recent weeks.The U.S. ran a $11.9 billion trade surplus in goods with the U.K. last year, according to the Census Bureau. The $68 billion in goods that the U.S. imported from the U.K. last year accounted for just 2% of all goods imported into the country.The U.S. is far more important for the U.K. economy. It was Britain's biggest trading partner last year, according to government statistics, though the bulk of Britain’s exports to the U.S. are services rather than goods.___Jill Lawless reported from London. Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

Kan. U.S. Senator's hard work led to Trump trade deal with the U.K. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter, the ascetic bachelor and New Hampshire Republican who became a darling of liberals during his nearly 20 years on the bench, has died. He was 85.

Souter died Thursday at his home in New Hampshire,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">the court</a>&nbsp;said in a statement Friday.

He retired from the court in June 2009, giving President Barack Obama his first Supreme Court vacancy to fill. Obama, a Democrat, chose Sonia Sotomayor, the court’s first Latina justice.

Souter was appointed by Republican President George H.W. Bush in 1990. He was a reliably liberal vote on abortion, church-state relations, freedom of expression and the accessibility of federal courts.

In retirement, Souter warned that ignorance of how government works could undermine American democracy.

"What I worry about is that when problems are not addressed, people will not know who is responsible. And when the problems get bad enough ... some one person will come forward and say, ‘Give me total power and I will solve this problem.’ That is how the Roman republic fell,” Souter said in a 2012 interview.

His lifestyle was spare — yogurt and an apple, consumed at his desk, was a typical lunch — and he shunned Washington’s social scene. He couldn’t wait to leave town in early summer. As soon as the court finished its work in late June, he climbed into his Volkswagen Jetta for the drive back to the worn farmhouse where his family moved when he was 11.

Yet for all his reserve, Souter was beloved by colleagues, court employees and friends. He was a noted storyteller and generous with his time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746797327799.png" alt="In 2011, former Justice David Souter moderated a panel on the U.S. Constitution and its role in shaping civil society&nbsp; -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>In 2011, former Justice David Souter moderated a panel on the U.S. Constitution and its role in shaping civil society&nbsp; -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter, the ascetic bachelor and New Hampshire Republican who became a darling of liberals during his nearly 20 years on the bench, has died. He was 85.Souter died Thursday at his home in New Hampshire,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">the court</a>&nbsp;said in a statement Friday.He retired from the court in June 2009, giving President Barack Obama his first Supreme Court vacancy to fill. Obama, a Democrat, chose Sonia Sotomayor, the court’s first Latina justice.Souter was appointed by Republican President George H.W. Bush in 1990. He was a reliably liberal vote on abortion, church-state relations, freedom of expression and the accessibility of federal courts.In retirement, Souter warned that ignorance of how government works could undermine American democracy."What I worry about is that when problems are not addressed, people will not know who is responsible. And when the problems get bad enough ... some one person will come forward and say, ‘Give me total power and I will solve this problem.’ That is how the Roman republic fell,” Souter said in a 2012 interview.His lifestyle was spare — yogurt and an apple, consumed at his desk, was a typical lunch — and he shunned Washington’s social scene. He couldn’t wait to leave town in early summer. As soon as the court finished its work in late June, he climbed into his Volkswagen Jetta for the drive back to the worn farmhouse where his family moved when he was 11.Yet for all his reserve, Souter was beloved by colleagues, court employees and friends. He was a noted storyteller and generous with his time.

Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter has died

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a drive-by pellet gun shooting in Salina have released an image of the suspect vehicle.

Just after 11:30a.m. April 30, a subject reported a white vehicle was driving eastbound in the 900 block of E. Ash, Salina, when the occupants of the vehicle discharged a pellet gun at a residence in the area, according to Officer James Feldman.

Multiple windows on a 2013 Ford Expedition at the residence were shattered. Two windows on the residence were also damaged. Total damage was valued at over $1,000.

A witness described the vehicle as an older, longer white sedan which was occupied by at least three subjects. A possible suspect vehicle was captured on surveillance video in the area.

If you have any information concerning this incident or identification of the individual involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an on—line tip at: https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, case 2025-11314

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746793712150.png" alt="Photo Salina Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Salina Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a drive-by pellet gun shooting in Salina have released an image of the suspect vehicle.Just after 11:30a.m. April 30, a subject reported a white vehicle was driving eastbound in the 900 block of E. Ash, Salina, when the occupants of the vehicle discharged a pellet gun at a residence in the area, according to Officer James Feldman.Multiple windows on a 2013 Ford Expedition at the residence were shattered. Two windows on the residence were also damaged. Total damage was valued at over $1,000.A witness described the vehicle as an older, longer white sedan which was occupied by at least three subjects. A possible suspect vehicle was captured on surveillance video in the area.If you have any information concerning this incident or identification of the individual involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an on—line tip at: https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, case 2025-11314

Police look for Kan. suspects in drive-by pellet gun shooting 

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating&nbsp; a man&nbsp;following a bizarre and violent encounter with officers at the Casey’s General Store in the 1700 block of W. 6th Street in Lawrence, according to a social media report from police.

Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, police called to the store for a report of a transient man in the store bathroom, with a dog, refusing to leave. Officers entered the bathroom and discovered the man naked and performing a sexual act on himself. 

Officers attempted to arrest the man after he refused to stop, but he began fighting the officers, who radioed for emergency assistance. The man was tased twice but continued to fight. 

Eventually, officers were able to get the man in handcuffs, but he continued to resist being restrained, and while still in the cramped bathroom, the man bit onto his dog’s ear and neck, refusing to let go. 

As more officers arrived on scene, they were able to subdue the man and assisted LDCFM in transporting him to the hospital for evaluation. Once released, the man will be transported to the Douglas County Correctional Facility and booked on a litany of charges after he is identified. 

Multiple officers suffered minor injuries during the scuffle, including an officer who was treated at the hospital for a puncturing bite wound from the suspect. 

Officers transported the dog to the Lawrence Humane Society for treatment and evaluation of minor injuries.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating&nbsp; a man&nbsp;following a bizarre and violent encounter with officers at the Casey’s General Store in the 1700 block of W. 6th Street in Lawrence, according to a social media report from police.Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, police called to the store for a report of a transient man in the store bathroom, with a dog, refusing to leave. Officers entered the bathroom and discovered the man naked and performing a sexual act on himself. Officers attempted to arrest the man after he refused to stop, but he began fighting the officers, who radioed for emergency assistance. The man was tased twice but continued to fight. Eventually, officers were able to get the man in handcuffs, but he continued to resist being restrained, and while still in the cramped bathroom, the man bit onto his dog’s ear and neck, refusing to let go. As more officers arrived on scene, they were able to subdue the man and assisted LDCFM in transporting him to the hospital for evaluation. Once released, the man will be transported to the Douglas County Correctional Facility and booked on a litany of charges after he is identified. Multiple officers suffered minor injuries during the scuffle, including an officer who was treated at the hospital for a puncturing bite wound from the suspect. Officers transported the dog to the Lawrence Humane Society for treatment and evaluation of minor injuries.

Police: Naked man bit dog, injured officers at Kan. gas station

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/maria-sherman">MARIA SHERMAN</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — It was her night once again.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lainey-wilson">Lainey Wilson</a>&nbsp;took home the top prize at the 60th annual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/academy-of-country-music-awards">Academy of Country Music Awards</a>&nbsp;— the title of entertainer of the year — for a second year in a row. And that was after she cleaned house, taking home trophies for both female artist and album of the year.

“I really do have the best fans in the world,” she said in her final acceptance speech, admitting to experiencing impostor syndrome. “I dreamed about entertaining. ... Country music has given me more than I deserve.”

Beyond Wilson’s dominance, the 2025 ACM Awards were packed with celebration. Earlier,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/acm-awards-2025-ella-langley-morgan-wallen-627254ce15387577638370bb61a15ae5">first-time and leading nominee</a>&nbsp;Ella Langley’s duet with Riley Green, the ubiquitous “You Look Like You Love Me,” was named single and music event of the year.

Both Langley and Green used their first acceptance speech to shout out classic country — songs with talking in them — that inspired their modern hit.

A revisitation of the past might have been a theme Thursday night, evidenced right at the top of the ceremony: a 14-minute medley of six decades of country classics, performed by giants of the genre.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/reba-mcentire">Host Reba McEntire</a>&nbsp;launched into Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee,” followed by Clint Black with Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” and Wynonna Judd with The Judds’ “Why Not Me.” LeAnn Rimes returned to the ACM Awards stage for her 1997 ballad “Blue.” Little Big Town tackled their 2014 track “Girl Crush” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dan-shay-bigger-houses-e45c43b2af0618b6573353a516f64729">Dan + Shay delivered</a>&nbsp;their “Tequila.”

It was an exciting way to kick off the ACM Awards, live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, just north of Dallas.

And it was a show highlight, rivaled only by the introduction of the ACM&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/alan-jackson">Alan Jackson</a>&nbsp;Lifetime Achievement Award, the inaugural trophy given to its namesake, Jackson, after he performed “Remember When.”

In his acceptance speech, he joked that a fan named a dog after him. Having an award named after him? That isn’t half bad, either.

The first trophy of the night, the coveted song of the year, was awarded to Cody Johnson for his radio hit “Dirt Cheap.”

Performances followed, fast and furious. McEntire, Wilson and Miranda Lambert teamed up for the world premiere of their new single “Trailblazer,” celebrating women in country music.

Eric Church performed his brand-new single “Hands of Time,” succeeded by the most awarded artist in the history of the award show, Lambert with “Run.” She was then joined by Langley to duet “Kerosene” from Lambert’s 2005 debut album of the same name.

Zach Top stripped things down for “Use Me.” Blake Shelton channeled the great George Strait for his new single “Texas,” followed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lainey-wilson-interview-whirlwind-9659b6919f25ff037f732e42a4ef0c74">Wilson with “Whirlwind.”</a>&nbsp;Kelsea Ballerini performed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kelsea-ballerini-album-patterns-sorry-mom-0bd6ab2846d791638d32544dab035749">atop her “Baggage.”</a>&nbsp;Johnson rocked “The Fall,” before performing “Red Dirt Road” with Brooks &amp; Dunn. Chris Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, harmonized on “It Takes a Woman.”

Jelly Roll and Shaboozey joined forces for their collaboration, “Amen.”

“It’s Shaboozey’s birthday,” Jelly Roll said. “We wanna thank y’all and we wanna thank God.”

Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts closed the show.

The Oak Ridge Boys gave the group of the year award to Old Dominion. It was a moving gesture; in 2024 the Oak Ridge Boys’ Joe Bonsall, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/grammy-awards">Grammy award winner</a>&nbsp;and celebrated tenor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-bonsall-dies-oak-ridge-boys-87a2858ee6ca2517604c6d2fce79d663">died from complications</a>&nbsp;of the neuromuscular disorder Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Another tearjerker: McEntire leading the audience in a sing-along of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kris-kristofferson-dead-47becf20fecd41aba66840af2e1275db">the late Kris Kristofferson’s</a>&nbsp;“Me and Bobby McGee.”

Male artist of the year went to Stapleton. Duo of the year was awarded to Brooks &amp; Dunn.

Megan Moroney covered Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy” and Stapleton did “Blue Ain’t Your Color” ahead of the Australian superstar’s reception of the coveted ACM Triple Crown Award, marking the first time an artist has received the trophy on stage since Carrie Underwood was honored in 2010.

If anything, the 60th ACM Awards proved the show is at its best when it celebrates new acts and legends in equal measure.

The ACM Awards streamed on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch Live. No Prime membership was required to view the livestream.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746785422945.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/maria-sherman">MARIA SHERMAN</a>NEW YORK (AP) — It was her night once again.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lainey-wilson">Lainey Wilson</a>&nbsp;took home the top prize at the 60th annual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/academy-of-country-music-awards">Academy of Country Music Awards</a>&nbsp;— the title of entertainer of the year — for a second year in a row. And that was after she cleaned house, taking home trophies for both female artist and album of the year.“I really do have the best fans in the world,” she said in her final acceptance speech, admitting to experiencing impostor syndrome. “I dreamed about entertaining. ... Country music has given me more than I deserve.”Beyond Wilson’s dominance, the 2025 ACM Awards were packed with celebration. Earlier,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/acm-awards-2025-ella-langley-morgan-wallen-627254ce15387577638370bb61a15ae5">first-time and leading nominee</a>&nbsp;Ella Langley’s duet with Riley Green, the ubiquitous “You Look Like You Love Me,” was named single and music event of the year.Both Langley and Green used their first acceptance speech to shout out classic country — songs with talking in them — that inspired their modern hit.A revisitation of the past might have been a theme Thursday night, evidenced right at the top of the ceremony: a 14-minute medley of six decades of country classics, performed by giants of the genre.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/reba-mcentire">Host Reba McEntire</a>&nbsp;launched into Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee,” followed by Clint Black with Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” and Wynonna Judd with The Judds’ “Why Not Me.” LeAnn Rimes returned to the ACM Awards stage for her 1997 ballad “Blue.” Little Big Town tackled their 2014 track “Girl Crush” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dan-shay-bigger-houses-e45c43b2af0618b6573353a516f64729">Dan + Shay delivered</a>&nbsp;their “Tequila.”It was an exciting way to kick off the ACM Awards, live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, just north of Dallas.And it was a show highlight, rivaled only by the introduction of the ACM&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/alan-jackson">Alan Jackson</a>&nbsp;Lifetime Achievement Award, the inaugural trophy given to its namesake, Jackson, after he performed “Remember When.”In his acceptance speech, he joked that a fan named a dog after him. Having an award named after him? That isn’t half bad, either.The first trophy of the night, the coveted song of the year, was awarded to Cody Johnson for his radio hit “Dirt Cheap.”Performances followed, fast and furious. McEntire, Wilson and Miranda Lambert teamed up for the world premiere of their new single “Trailblazer,” celebrating women in country music.Eric Church performed his brand-new single “Hands of Time,” succeeded by the most awarded artist in the history of the award show, Lambert with “Run.” She was then joined by Langley to duet “Kerosene” from Lambert’s 2005 debut album of the same name.Zach Top stripped things down for “Use Me.” Blake Shelton channeled the great George Strait for his new single “Texas,” followed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lainey-wilson-interview-whirlwind-9659b6919f25ff037f732e42a4ef0c74">Wilson with “Whirlwind.”</a>&nbsp;Kelsea Ballerini performed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kelsea-ballerini-album-patterns-sorry-mom-0bd6ab2846d791638d32544dab035749">atop her “Baggage.”</a>&nbsp;Johnson rocked “The Fall,” before performing “Red Dirt Road” with Brooks &amp; Dunn. Chris Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, harmonized on “It Takes a Woman.”Jelly Roll and Shaboozey joined forces for their collaboration, “Amen.”“It’s Shaboozey’s birthday,” Jelly Roll said. “We wanna thank y’all and we wanna thank God.”Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts closed the show.The Oak Ridge Boys gave the group of the year award to Old Dominion. It was a moving gesture; in 2024 the Oak Ridge Boys’ Joe Bonsall, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/grammy-awards">Grammy award winner</a>&nbsp;and celebrated tenor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-bonsall-dies-oak-ridge-boys-87a2858ee6ca2517604c6d2fce79d663">died from complications</a>&nbsp;of the neuromuscular disorder Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.Another tearjerker: McEntire leading the audience in a sing-along of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kris-kristofferson-dead-47becf20fecd41aba66840af2e1275db">the late Kris Kristofferson’s</a>&nbsp;“Me and Bobby McGee.”Male artist of the year went to Stapleton. Duo of the year was awarded to Brooks &amp; Dunn.Megan Moroney covered Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy” and Stapleton did “Blue Ain’t Your Color” ahead of the Australian superstar’s reception of the coveted ACM Triple Crown Award, marking the first time an artist has received the trophy on stage since Carrie Underwood was honored in 2010.If anything, the 60th ACM Awards proved the show is at its best when it celebrates new acts and legends in equal measure.The ACM Awards streamed on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch Live. No Prime membership was required to view the livestream.___

Lainey Wilson rules the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards, Alan Jackson is honored

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will immediately begin moving as many as 1,000 openly identifying transgender service members out of the military and give others 30 days to self-identify under a new directive issued Thursday.

Buoyed by Tuesday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-transgender-military-ban-ef67038857bd5b99e128bf0b8866afb4">Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;allowing the Trump administration to enforce a ban on transgender individuals in the military, the Defense Department will begin going through medical records to identify others who haven’t come forward.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who issued the latest memo, made his views clear after the court’s decision.

“No More Trans @ DoD,” Hegseth wrote in a post on X. Earlier in the day, before the court acted, Hegseth said that his department is leaving wokeness and weakness behind.

“No more pronouns,” he told a special operations forces conference in Tampa. “No more dudes in dresses. We’re done with that s---.”

Department officials have said it’s difficult to determine exactly how many transgender service members there are, but medical records will show those who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, who show symptoms or are being treated.

Those troops would then be involuntarily forced out of the service. And no one with that diagnosis will be allowed to enlist. Gender dysphoria occurs when a person’s biological sex does not match up with their gender identity.

Officials have said that as of Dec. 9, 2024, there were 4,240 troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria in the active duty, National Guard and Reserve. But they acknowledge the number may be higher.

There are about 2.1 million total troops serving.

The memo released Thursday mirrors one sent out in February, but any action was stalled at that point by several lawsuits.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;ruled that the administration could enforce the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-military-trump-ban-troops-deb9e388ff588d9d25fb0d8cc58e540f">ban on transgender people in the military</a>, while other legal challenges proceed. The court’s three liberal justices said they would have kept the policy on hold.

Neither the justices in the majority or dissent explained their votes, which is not uncommon in emergency appeals.

When the initial Pentagon directive came out earlier this year, it gave service members 30 days to self-identify. Since then, about 1,000 have done so.

In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the 1,000 troops who already self-identified “will begin the voluntary separation process” from the military.

Under the new guidelines, active duty troops will have until June 6 to voluntarily identify themselves to the department, and troops in the National Guard and Reserve will have until July 7.

While it may be difficult to see which troops have changed their gender identity in their military records, it will be easier to determine who has gotten a gender dysphoria diagnosis because that will be part of their medical record, as will any medication they are taking.

Between 2015 and 2024, the total cost for psychotherapy, gender-affirming hormone therapy, gender-affirming surgery and other treatment for service members is about $52 million, according to a defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues.

Pentagon officials in an earlier memo defended the ban, saying that “the medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria are incompatible with the high mental and physical standards necessary for military service."

The new Pentagon policy would allow for limited exemptions.

That includes transgender personnel seeking to enlist who can prove on a case-by-case basis that they directly support warfighting activities, or if an existing service member diagnosed with gender dysphoria can prove they support a specific warfighting need, never transitioned to the gender they identify with and proves over 36 months they are stable in their biological sex “without clinically significant distress.”

If a waiver is issued, the applicant would still face a situation where only their biological sex was recognized for bathroom facilities, sleeping quarters and even in official recognition, such as being called “Sir” or “Ma’am.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will immediately begin moving as many as 1,000 openly identifying transgender service members out of the military and give others 30 days to self-identify under a new directive issued Thursday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After a SCOTUS victory for <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>, TRANS is out at the DOD. <a href="https://t.co/4WkEhSS3dL">pic.twitter.com/4WkEhSS3dL</a>&mdash; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1920592223147540887?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Buoyed by Tuesday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-transgender-military-ban-ef67038857bd5b99e128bf0b8866afb4">Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;allowing the Trump administration to enforce a ban on transgender individuals in the military, the Defense Department will begin going through medical records to identify others who haven’t come forward.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who issued the latest memo, made his views clear after the court’s decision.“No More Trans @ DoD,” Hegseth wrote in a post on X. Earlier in the day, before the court acted, Hegseth said that his department is leaving wokeness and weakness behind.“No more pronouns,” he told a special operations forces conference in Tampa. “No more dudes in dresses. We’re done with that s---.”Department officials have said it’s difficult to determine exactly how many transgender service members there are, but medical records will show those who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, who show symptoms or are being treated.Those troops would then be involuntarily forced out of the service. And no one with that diagnosis will be allowed to enlist. Gender dysphoria occurs when a person’s biological sex does not match up with their gender identity.Officials have said that as of Dec. 9, 2024, there were 4,240 troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria in the active duty, National Guard and Reserve. But they acknowledge the number may be higher.There are about 2.1 million total troops serving.The memo released Thursday mirrors one sent out in February, but any action was stalled at that point by several lawsuits.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;ruled that the administration could enforce the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-military-trump-ban-troops-deb9e388ff588d9d25fb0d8cc58e540f">ban on transgender people in the military</a>, while other legal challenges proceed. The court’s three liberal justices said they would have kept the policy on hold.Neither the justices in the majority or dissent explained their votes, which is not uncommon in emergency appeals.When the initial Pentagon directive came out earlier this year, it gave service members 30 days to self-identify. Since then, about 1,000 have done so.In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the 1,000 troops who already self-identified “will begin the voluntary separation process” from the military.Under the new guidelines, active duty troops will have until June 6 to voluntarily identify themselves to the department, and troops in the National Guard and Reserve will have until July 7.While it may be difficult to see which troops have changed their gender identity in their military records, it will be easier to determine who has gotten a gender dysphoria diagnosis because that will be part of their medical record, as will any medication they are taking.Between 2015 and 2024, the total cost for psychotherapy, gender-affirming hormone therapy, gender-affirming surgery and other treatment for service members is about $52 million, according to a defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues.Pentagon officials in an earlier memo defended the ban, saying that “the medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria are incompatible with the high mental and physical standards necessary for military service."The new Pentagon policy would allow for limited exemptions.That includes transgender personnel seeking to enlist who can prove on a case-by-case basis that they directly support warfighting activities, or if an existing service member diagnosed with gender dysphoria can prove they support a specific warfighting need, never transitioned to the gender they identify with and proves over 36 months they are stable in their biological sex “without clinically significant distress.”If a waiver is issued, the applicant would still face a situation where only their biological sex was recognized for bathroom facilities, sleeping quarters and even in official recognition, such as being called “Sir” or “Ma’am.”

🎥Trans troops are being moved out of the military in new Pentagon order

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis brought Robert Prevost to the Vatican in 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-canada-vatican-city-chicago-peru-a2df40ea86c77a2c1442de8a5615b198">as the powerful head</a>&nbsp;of the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. On Thursday, he ascended to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conclave-pope-francis-cardinals-vatican-d7991a37a679f09792ed220cc1f6bbed">become Pope Leo XIV</a>&nbsp;— the first pontiff from the United States.

Prevost, 69, had to overcome the taboo against an American pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the U.S. in the secular sphere.

The Chicago native is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.

He evoked his broad experience in his first public remarks as pope, speaking in Italian, then switching to Spanish — and saying not a word in English as he addressed the crowd in Saint Peter's Square.

He had prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals have.

Prevost was twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinians, the 13th century religious order founded by St. Augustine. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years, moving him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo.

He remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to assume the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In that job he would have kept in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that counts the most Catholics.

Ever since arriving in Rome, Prevost has kept a low public profile, but he was well known to the men who count.

Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-29e916926583aaa49bd385e874b70c84">three women to the voting bloc</a>&nbsp;that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope. In early 2025, Francis again showed his esteem by appointing Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals.

The selection of a U.S.-born pope could have profound impact on the future of the U.S. Catholic Church, which has been sharply divided between conservatives and progressives. Francis, with Prevost’s help at the help of the bishop vetting office, had embarked on a 12-year project to rein in the traditionalist tendencies in the United States.

Prevost's election “is a deep sign of commitment to social issues. I think it is going to be exciting to see a different kind of American Catholicism in Rome,’’ said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a professor of religious studies at Manhattan University in New York City.

The bells of the cathedral in Peru’s capital of Lima tolled after Prevost's election was announced. People outside the church expressed their desire for a papal visit at one point.

“For us Peruvians, it is a source of pride that this is a pope who represents our country,” said elementary school teacher Isabel Panez, who happened to be near the cathedral when the news was announced. “We would like him to visit us here in Peru.”

The Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for Prevost’s old diocese in Chiclayo, remembers the cardinal rising each day and having breakfast with his fellow priests after saying his prayers.

“No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humor and joy,” Purisaca said in an email.

Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost joined the Order of St. Augustine in 1977. He attended Villanova University near Philadelphia, where he received a Bachelor of Science in 1977, and he got a Master of Divinity degree from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746735672512.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis brought Robert Prevost to the Vatican in 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-canada-vatican-city-chicago-peru-a2df40ea86c77a2c1442de8a5615b198">as the powerful head</a>&nbsp;of the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. On Thursday, he ascended to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conclave-pope-francis-cardinals-vatican-d7991a37a679f09792ed220cc1f6bbed">become Pope Leo XIV</a>&nbsp;— the first pontiff from the United States.Prevost, 69, had to overcome the taboo against an American pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the U.S. in the secular sphere.The Chicago native is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Complete remarks from Pope Leo XIV. <a href="https://t.co/aOzEdyb0G0">pic.twitter.com/aOzEdyb0G0</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1920538411326169492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He evoked his broad experience in his first public remarks as pope, speaking in Italian, then switching to Spanish — and saying not a word in English as he addressed the crowd in Saint Peter's Square.He had prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals have.Prevost was twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinians, the 13th century religious order founded by St. Augustine. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years, moving him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo.He remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to assume the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In that job he would have kept in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that counts the most Catholics.Ever since arriving in Rome, Prevost has kept a low public profile, but he was well known to the men who count.Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-29e916926583aaa49bd385e874b70c84">three women to the voting bloc</a>&nbsp;that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope. In early 2025, Francis again showed his esteem by appointing Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals.The selection of a U.S.-born pope could have profound impact on the future of the U.S. Catholic Church, which has been sharply divided between conservatives and progressives. Francis, with Prevost’s help at the help of the bishop vetting office, had embarked on a 12-year project to rein in the traditionalist tendencies in the United States.Prevost's election “is a deep sign of commitment to social issues. I think it is going to be exciting to see a different kind of American Catholicism in Rome,’’ said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a professor of religious studies at Manhattan University in New York City.The bells of the cathedral in Peru’s capital of Lima tolled after Prevost's election was announced. People outside the church expressed their desire for a papal visit at one point.“For us Peruvians, it is a source of pride that this is a pope who represents our country,” said elementary school teacher Isabel Panez, who happened to be near the cathedral when the news was announced. “We would like him to visit us here in Peru.”The Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for Prevost’s old diocese in Chiclayo, remembers the cardinal rising each day and having breakfast with his fellow priests after saying his prayers.“No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humor and joy,” Purisaca said in an email.Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost joined the Order of St. Augustine in 1977. He attended Villanova University near Philadelphia, where he received a Bachelor of Science in 1977, and he got a Master of Divinity degree from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.___Briceño reported from Lima, Peru.

Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, overcame a taboo against a US pontiff

The Kansas Prisoner Review Board has granted parole to Jimmie Nelms, a man convicted of murdering Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Conroy O’Brien during a 1978 traffic stop near Matfield Green.&nbsp;

Nelms, now in his 70s, was sentenced to two life terms plus additional years for aggravated kidnapping and unlawful possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be released to out-of-state family custody, officials said.&nbsp;

The decision has sparked strong backlash from state officials and law enforcement groups, who say Nelms’ release undermines justice for the violent killing of a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;

“This cop killer received two life sentences after he brutally executed a highway patrol officer. Now, he is about to be released on parole. There is something deeply wrong with this picture,” said Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach in a statement. “Those who murder law enforcement officers should expect to receive the death penalty, not to be walking free on the streets of Kansas.”&nbsp;

Trooper O’Brien, 26, was conducting a routine traffic stop on the Kansas Turnpike during the early morning hours of May 24, 1978, when Nelms and two others overpowered him. Authorities said O’Brien was forced at gunpoint into a roadside ditch, where he was pistol-whipped and fatally shot twice in the head with his own service weapon.&nbsp;

The three suspects, later identified as being wanted in a string of armed robberies across multiple states, were apprehended later that day after engaging another trooper in a gunfight. All were taken into custody following a manhunt.&nbsp;

Col. Erik Smith, superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, said he received notice of the parole decision early Wednesday morning and called the announcement “a gut-punch.”&nbsp;

“There is no conceivable world in which the release of a convicted cop killer—an executioner—is acceptable,” Smith said in a written statement. “While we may vehemently disagree with the Board’s decision, we must live with it by continuing to support [O'Brien’s] surviving family and his blue family.”&nbsp;

The Kansas State Troopers Association also condemned the decision, calling the board’s actions “disgraceful and disgusting.”&nbsp;

O’Brien, a native of Hutchinson, Kansas, joined the patrol in 1974 and transferred to the Kansas Turnpike detail in 1977. He was survived by his pregnant wife and their unborn daughter, who never met her father.&nbsp;

Under Kansas law at the time of Nelms’ sentencing, life imprisonment allowed for the possibility of parole. The Prisoner Review Board said it believes Nelms “is able and willing to fulfill the obligations of a law-abiding citizen and… can be released without detriment to the community or to himself.”&nbsp;

Despite continued opposition during parole hearings over the years, including the most recent in March, the board determined Nelms met the criteria for release.&nbsp;

The Kansas Highway Patrol emphasized that its members will continue to serve with professionalism and dignity and will not forget the sacrifice of Trooper O’Brien.&nbsp;

A memorial for O’Brien is located on the Kansas Turnpike and on the Kansas Highway Patrol’s official website.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746748524625.png" alt="Jimmie Nelms photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Jimmie Nelms photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>MARC JACOBS Hutch PostThe Kansas Prisoner Review Board has granted parole to Jimmie Nelms, a man convicted of murdering Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Conroy O’Brien during a 1978 traffic stop near Matfield Green.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746744283330.jpeg" alt="Conroy O'Brien from Kansas Highway Patrol&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Conroy O'Brien from Kansas Highway Patrol&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Nelms, now in his 70s, was sentenced to two life terms plus additional years for aggravated kidnapping and unlawful possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be released to out-of-state family custody, officials said.&nbsp;The decision has sparked strong backlash from state officials and law enforcement groups, who say Nelms’ release undermines justice for the violent killing of a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;“This cop killer received two life sentences after he brutally executed a highway patrol officer. Now, he is about to be released on parole. There is something deeply wrong with this picture,” said Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach in a statement. “Those who murder law enforcement officers should expect to receive the death penalty, not to be walking free on the streets of Kansas.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746744404741.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Trooper O’Brien, 26, was conducting a routine traffic stop on the Kansas Turnpike during the early morning hours of May 24, 1978, when Nelms and two others overpowered him. Authorities said O’Brien was forced at gunpoint into a roadside ditch, where he was pistol-whipped and fatally shot twice in the head with his own service weapon.&nbsp;The three suspects, later identified as being wanted in a string of armed robberies across multiple states, were apprehended later that day after engaging another trooper in a gunfight. All were taken into custody following a manhunt.&nbsp;Col. Erik Smith, superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, said he received notice of the parole decision early Wednesday morning and called the announcement “a gut-punch.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746744469926.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>“There is no conceivable world in which the release of a convicted cop killer—an executioner—is acceptable,” Smith said in a written statement. “While we may vehemently disagree with the Board’s decision, we must live with it by continuing to support [O'Brien’s] surviving family and his blue family.”&nbsp;The Kansas State Troopers Association also condemned the decision, calling the board’s actions “disgraceful and disgusting.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746744546042.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>O’Brien, a native of Hutchinson, Kansas, joined the patrol in 1974 and transferred to the Kansas Turnpike detail in 1977. He was survived by his pregnant wife and their unborn daughter, who never met her father.&nbsp;Under Kansas law at the time of Nelms’ sentencing, life imprisonment allowed for the possibility of parole. The Prisoner Review Board said it believes Nelms “is able and willing to fulfill the obligations of a law-abiding citizen and… can be released without detriment to the community or to himself.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746744593302.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Despite continued opposition during parole hearings over the years, including the most recent in March, the board determined Nelms met the criteria for release.&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol emphasized that its members will continue to serve with professionalism and dignity and will not forget the sacrifice of Trooper O’Brien.&nbsp;A memorial for O’Brien is located on the Kansas Turnpike and on the Kansas Highway Patrol’s official website.&nbsp;

Kan. trooper's killer granted parole after nearly five decades in prison

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man is going to prison for his involvement in a high-speed chase and police shooting that occurred earlier this year, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2615/Jason-Keith-Judgement-Red">Jason P. Keith</a>, 39,&nbsp;pled guilty to Vehicle Hijacking, Armed Criminal Action, Aggravated Fleeing, and 1st Degree Assault. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2506/PC-KEITH_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police made contact with a victim of an armed silver Nissan Rogue carjacking in South Kansas City on Feb. 12, who gave a detailed description of the defendant.&nbsp;

Later that afternoon, officers found the stolen vehicle at a gas station and attempted a felony car check, but the vehicle fled. Around 4 p.m., officers found the vehicle parked in the area around East 11th Street and Elmwood Avenue and attempted to contact the defendant. 

As officers attempted to approach him, Keith brandished a rifle, pointed it at the officers, and fired two rounds in the direction of the officers. No one was injured. &nbsp;He fled back to the Nissan Rogue and a police pursuit was initiated onto I-70. The defendant initially ignored verbal commands to exit the vehicle and bean bag rounds were utilized. He exited the vehicle and was taken into custody.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736686363226.png" alt="Keith photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>Keith photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man is going to prison for his involvement in a high-speed chase and police shooting that occurred earlier this year, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2615/Jason-Keith-Judgement-Red">Jason P. Keith</a>, 39,&nbsp;pled guilty to Vehicle Hijacking, Armed Criminal Action, Aggravated Fleeing, and 1st Degree Assault. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2506/PC-KEITH_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police made contact with a victim of an armed silver Nissan Rogue carjacking in South Kansas City on Feb. 12, who gave a detailed description of the defendant.&nbsp;Later that afternoon, officers found the stolen vehicle at a gas station and attempted a felony car check, but the vehicle fled. Around 4 p.m., officers found the vehicle parked in the area around East 11th Street and Elmwood Avenue and attempted to contact the defendant. As officers attempted to approach him, Keith brandished a rifle, pointed it at the officers, and fired two rounds in the direction of the officers. No one was injured. &nbsp;He fled back to the Nissan Rogue and a police pursuit was initiated onto I-70. The defendant initially ignored verbal commands to exit the vehicle and bean bag rounds were utilized. He exited the vehicle and was taken into custody.&nbsp;