The Kansas State Fair is once again putting the spotlight on its most passionate fans, opening up applications for its 2025 Social Media Ambassador Program. The fair will accept applications through May 16

Chosen ambassadors will be tasked with representing the fair across their social media platforms from June through August. Activities include sharing official Kansas State Fair content, creating original posts that capture the fair’s excitement, and participating in other promotional challenges. Optional video tasks may even earn a spot in official Kansas State Fair advertisements.

In exchange for their efforts, ambassadors will earn points for every action completed. These points can be redeemed for a variety of fair perks, including gate admission, grandstand concert tickets, and midway passes. New for 2025, participants can also exchange points for ticket packs and 5-ride passes, making this year’s program more rewarding than ever.

Fair organizers say the ambassador program is a fun way to engage fans while expanding the fair’s reach online. You can find the application at this&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBXAjsvjL0Gq8QUIcXQhtYbHEYr6SvGz1sqtN_vQVKDVsZSg/viewform">link</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725972126895.jpeg" alt="Kansas State Fair Arch-Photo by Pat James" />
                        <figcaption>Kansas State Fair Arch-Photo by Pat James</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The Kansas State Fair is once again putting the spotlight on its most passionate fans, opening up applications for its 2025 Social Media Ambassador Program. The fair will accept applications through May 16</p><p>Chosen ambassadors will be tasked with representing the fair across their social media platforms from June through August. Activities include sharing official Kansas State Fair content, creating original posts that capture the fair’s excitement, and participating in other promotional challenges. Optional video tasks may even earn a spot in official Kansas State Fair advertisements.</p><p>In exchange for their efforts, ambassadors will earn points for every action completed. These points can be redeemed for a variety of fair perks, including gate admission, grandstand concert tickets, and midway passes. New for 2025, participants can also exchange points for ticket packs and 5-ride passes, making this year’s program more rewarding than ever.</p><p>Fair organizers say the ambassador program is a fun way to engage fans while expanding the fair’s reach online. You can find the application at this&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBXAjsvjL0Gq8QUIcXQhtYbHEYr6SvGz1sqtN_vQVKDVsZSg/viewform">link</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Kansas State Fair seeks Social Media Ambassadors

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/david-crary">DAVID CRARY</a>&nbsp;and PETER SMITH

The United States is the home country for 10 of the 133 cardinals eligible to vote for the next pope. That’s more than any nation except Italy, home to 17 of the electors who will gather Wednesday for the Vatican conclave to choose the successor to Pope Francis.

Only four of the American electors actively serve as archbishops in the U.S.: Timothy Dolan of New York, Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, and Robert McElroy of Washington. Two are retired archbishops: Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Wilton Gregory of Washington.

The other four have had long Vatican service: Robert Prevost, James Michael Harvey, Raymond Burke and Kevin Farrell.

Burke, 76, a staunch Catholic traditionalist,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-cardinal-burke-conservatives-strickland-163f2d3522a80fa5f908421cc812cfc9">often clashed</a>&nbsp;with the more reform-minded Francis. Born in Wisconsin, he was a bishop there before becoming archbishop of St. Louis from 2004 to 2008. Pope Benedict XVI made Burke a cardinal in 2010, after he appointed him prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican’s high court. After Francis removed him from that post in 2014, he made Burke the cardinal patron of the Knights of Malta, a prestigious but limited role. There, too, Burke and Francis clashed over a governance crisis at the chivalric order;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-2f8db44416f442a8977f016a83ee74ad">Francis pushed him aside</a>. Burke has been outspoken in saying Catholic politicians shouldn’t take Communion if they support abortion rights.

Cupich, 76, archbishop of Chicago, was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-cupich-cardinal-chicago-abuse-sex-ae387f721771aa9b66668426740af848">close adviser to Francis</a>&nbsp;and served on several Vatican committees. He’s considered a moderate, having balanced upholding conservative Catholic teachings on social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion with advocacy for compassionate responses to the affected communities. Cupich, who inherited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse-illinois-investigation-a298133cec9486c2e51172316bfe7b4b">clergy sex abuse crises</a>&nbsp;in dioceses he led, helped push reforms to combat the problem. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he was ordained in 1975 and appointed by Pope John Paul II in 1998 as bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota. Benedict transferred him in 2010 to Spokane, Washington. In 2014, Francis — in his first major U.S. appointment as pope — made him&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1b0728836e714eea81862cb9e5747fa3">archbishop of Chicago</a>, and then cardinal in 2016.

DiNardo, 75, retired this year as archbishop of Galveston-Houston — the fifth-largest U.S. diocese, with 1.7 million Catholics. DiNardo was ordained in his native Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1977. He earned degrees from Catholic universities in Washington and Rome and worked in the Vatican office overseeing appointments of bishops. He served as bishop of Sioux City, Iowa, before moving to Houston in 2004. DiNardo was named a cardinal in 2007 by Benedict. He was president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2016 to 2019 — a tumultuous time when the USCCB faced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/media-center/ap-in-the-news/2019/allegations-against-top-priest-under-review-after-ap-report/" target="_blank">allegations of coverups</a>&nbsp;of sexual abuse by priests. DiNardo shared Francis’ strong support for migrants while defending traditional church teachings on sexuality.

Dolan, 75, has been archbishop of New York since 2009. He previously served nearly seven years as archbishop of Milwaukee. He grew up in Missouri, where he was ordained in 1976. Among other duties, Dolan was chairman of Catholic Relief Services and served a term as president of the USCCB. In 2012, Benedict appointed him a cardinal. Dolan is widely viewed as conservative, writing a 2018 Wall Street Journal column headlined “The Democrats Abandon Catholics.” Yet in 2023, he wrote a letter of welcome to a conference at Fordham University celebrating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-catholics-outreach-jesuits-pope-francis-8756a79c5fd0323cd019990f6655b749">outreach programs aimed at LGBTQ+ Catholics</a>.

Farrell, 77, was selected by Francis in 2019 as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-religion-21bf68ed6376f57cd9e0a0af631b11d7">the camerlengo</a>, the Vatican official who runs the Holy See after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">death of a pope</a>&nbsp;and before the election of another. Farrell was born in Dublin in 1947, entered the Legionaries of Christ religious order in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1978. He left six years later — before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-religion-connecticut-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-sexual-abuse-e2429a2048dc0da8b4abe9d6f173a226">revelations that its founder</a>&nbsp;was a pedophile — and became a priest in the Washington Archdiocese. He worked in several parishes and helped manage the archdiocese’s finances. He became auxiliary bishop of Washington in 2001 and served under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/theodore-mccarrick-dies-priest-sex-abuse-scandal-a329d3e13ac7de545c5a5e8ee4384586">ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick</a>&nbsp;before becoming bishop of Dallas in 2007.

Francis tapped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-race-and-ethnicity-slavery-social-issues-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-6c0f6e6db26050f7499229557ebf9b6a">Gregory</a>&nbsp;to lead the Archdiocese of Washington in 2019 and made him the first Black cardinal from the U.S. in 2020. Gregory, 77, retired this year from leading the prominent archdiocese, which he shepherded through significant turmoil. Its two previous leaders,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/theodore-mccarrick-ex-cardinal-scandal-989fb97f4f0cad8c4926e8cb795ba2bf">McCarrick</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-8a22e1a2a39c4fe385b265f7f7214d97">Cardinal Donald Wuerl</a>, were implicated in a new wave of the clergy sex abuse scandal. Gregory has supported social justice and solidarity with immigrants. He drew notice for his relatively inclusive approach for LGBTQ+ Catholics. He told&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.faith/2025/01/cardinal-wilton-gregory-i-apologize-to-lgbtq-catholics/" target="_blank">an LGBTQ+ group</a>&nbsp;in January: “I apologize for my own lack of courage to bring healing and hope, and I ask forgiveness.” Gregory was born in Chicago and ordained there in 1973, serving as auxiliary bishop beginning in 1983. After 11 years as bishop in Belleville, Illinois, he was appointed in 2004 by John Paul II to be archbishop of Atlanta.

Harvey, 76, has pursued a long career at the Vatican, initially as a diplomat and more recently as manager of the papal household. Born in Milwaukee, he studied at seminary there before completing his formation in Rome. He was ordained by Pope Paul VI in Rome in 1975 and entered the Holy See’s diplomatic service in 1980. John Paul II appointed Harvey prefect of the Papal Household in 1998, managing the pope’s official activities. Benedict made him a cardinal in 2012.

Francis named McElroy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/catholic-cardinal-robert-mcelroy-immigration-donald-trump-58c728cef89a25d606406014693af85e">archbishop of Washington</a>&nbsp;in January, tapping one of his most progressive allies to head the Catholic Church in the U.S. capital at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. McElroy criticized Trump’s threats of mass deportations of immigrants as “incompatible with Catholic doctrine.” Francis appointed McElroy bishop of San Diego in 2015 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pope-francis-religion-san-diego-455583360c31fe2b90fe558a8815c5c8">elevated him to cardinal</a>&nbsp;in 2022. McElroy, 71, was one of a few U.S. bishops assailing a campaign to exclude Catholic politicians who support abortion rights from Communion. He has also expressed support for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church. A native San Franciscan, McElroy received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard, a master’s degree and doctorate from Stanford, and a doctorate from the Gregorian University in Rome.

The Chicago-born Prevost, 69, is prefect of the Vatican’s powerful dicastery for bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then archbishop. Francis had an eye on him for years, sending him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role.

Tobin, 72, is archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, and a veteran of the Vatican bureaucracy who speaks five languages. The Detroit native was ordained in 1978 and earned master’s degrees in religious education and divinity at Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, New York. Benedict appointed Tobin in 2010 as secretary of the Vatican’s office overseeing religious orders. Tobin reportedly ruffled feathers by seeking to mend its frayed ties with U.S. nuns facing complaints they had become too liberal. Benedict appointed Tobin archbishop of Indianapolis in 2012. Francis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-87461d2875774be4b546eb310d715911">made him cardinal</a>&nbsp;and archbishop of Newark in 2016. Tobin welcomed Syrian refugees to Indiana despite opposition from then-Gov. Mike Pence. He has a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-gays-and-lesbians-newark-tyler-clementi-new-mexico-d0ec28cb69c6ede7ff3a0f2ba533efdb">welcoming stance toward LGBTQ+ people</a>.

Seven U.S. cardinals, due to being 80 or older, are not conclave electors: Edwin O’Brien, Roger Mahony, Adam Maida, Seán Patrick O’Malley, Justin Rigali, James Francis Stafford, Donald Wuerl.

AP journalists Holly Meyer and Tiffany Stanley contributed.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir" target="_blank">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/2025/4/1745282817865.png" alt="Robert Francis Prevost" />
                        <figcaption>Robert Francis Prevost</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/david-crary">DAVID CRARY</a>&nbsp;and PETER SMITH</p><p>The United States is the home country for 10 of the 133 cardinals eligible to vote for the next pope. That’s more than any nation except Italy, home to 17 of the electors who will gather Wednesday for the Vatican conclave to choose the successor to Pope Francis.</p><p>Only four of the American electors actively serve as archbishops in the U.S.: Timothy Dolan of New York, Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, and Robert McElroy of Washington. Two are retired archbishops: Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Wilton Gregory of Washington.</p><p>The other four have had long Vatican service: Robert Prevost, James Michael Harvey, Raymond Burke and Kevin Farrell.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As I prepare to enter the Papal Conclave with my brother cardinals to elect the Successor of Saint Peter, I respectfully ask for your prayers. May the Holy Spirit guide each step of our discernment. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Conclave2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Conclave2025</a> <a href="https://t.co/FYI3sPFICe">pic.twitter.com/FYI3sPFICe</a></p>&mdash; Cardinal Cupich (@CardinalBCupich) <a href="https://twitter.com/CardinalBCupich/status/1919708948728316349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Profiles of the cardinal electors:</p><h2>Raymond Burke</h2><p>Burke, 76, a staunch Catholic traditionalist,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-cardinal-burke-conservatives-strickland-163f2d3522a80fa5f908421cc812cfc9">often clashed</a>&nbsp;with the more reform-minded Francis. Born in Wisconsin, he was a bishop there before becoming archbishop of St. Louis from 2004 to 2008. Pope Benedict XVI made Burke a cardinal in 2010, after he appointed him prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican’s high court. After Francis removed him from that post in 2014, he made Burke the cardinal patron of the Knights of Malta, a prestigious but limited role. There, too, Burke and Francis clashed over a governance crisis at the chivalric order;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-2f8db44416f442a8977f016a83ee74ad">Francis pushed him aside</a>. Burke has been outspoken in saying Catholic politicians shouldn’t take Communion if they support abortion rights.</p><h2>Blase Cupich</h2><p>Cupich, 76, archbishop of Chicago, was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-cupich-cardinal-chicago-abuse-sex-ae387f721771aa9b66668426740af848">close adviser to Francis</a>&nbsp;and served on several Vatican committees. He’s considered a moderate, having balanced upholding conservative Catholic teachings on social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion with advocacy for compassionate responses to the affected communities. Cupich, who inherited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse-illinois-investigation-a298133cec9486c2e51172316bfe7b4b">clergy sex abuse crises</a>&nbsp;in dioceses he led, helped push reforms to combat the problem. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he was ordained in 1975 and appointed by Pope John Paul II in 1998 as bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota. Benedict transferred him in 2010 to Spokane, Washington. In 2014, Francis — in his first major U.S. appointment as pope — made him&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1b0728836e714eea81862cb9e5747fa3">archbishop of Chicago</a>, and then cardinal in 2016.</p><h2>Daniel DiNardo</h2><p>DiNardo, 75, retired this year as archbishop of Galveston-Houston — the fifth-largest U.S. diocese, with 1.7 million Catholics. DiNardo was ordained in his native Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1977. He earned degrees from Catholic universities in Washington and Rome and worked in the Vatican office overseeing appointments of bishops. He served as bishop of Sioux City, Iowa, before moving to Houston in 2004. DiNardo was named a cardinal in 2007 by Benedict. He was president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2016 to 2019 — a tumultuous time when the USCCB faced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/media-center/ap-in-the-news/2019/allegations-against-top-priest-under-review-after-ap-report/" target="_blank">allegations of coverups</a>&nbsp;of sexual abuse by priests. DiNardo shared Francis’ strong support for migrants while defending traditional church teachings on sexuality.</p><h2>Timothy Dolan</h2><p>Dolan, 75, has been archbishop of New York since 2009. He previously served nearly seven years as archbishop of Milwaukee. He grew up in Missouri, where he was ordained in 1976. Among other duties, Dolan was chairman of Catholic Relief Services and served a term as president of the USCCB. In 2012, Benedict appointed him a cardinal. Dolan is widely viewed as conservative, writing a 2018 Wall Street Journal column headlined “The Democrats Abandon Catholics.” Yet in 2023, he wrote a letter of welcome to a conference at Fordham University celebrating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-catholics-outreach-jesuits-pope-francis-8756a79c5fd0323cd019990f6655b749">outreach programs aimed at LGBTQ+ Catholics</a>.</p><h2>Kevin Farrell</h2><p>Farrell, 77, was selected by Francis in 2019 as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-religion-21bf68ed6376f57cd9e0a0af631b11d7">the camerlengo</a>, the Vatican official who runs the Holy See after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">death of a pope</a>&nbsp;and before the election of another. Farrell was born in Dublin in 1947, entered the Legionaries of Christ religious order in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1978. He left six years later — before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-religion-connecticut-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-sexual-abuse-e2429a2048dc0da8b4abe9d6f173a226">revelations that its founder</a>&nbsp;was a pedophile — and became a priest in the Washington Archdiocese. He worked in several parishes and helped manage the archdiocese’s finances. He became auxiliary bishop of Washington in 2001 and served under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/theodore-mccarrick-dies-priest-sex-abuse-scandal-a329d3e13ac7de545c5a5e8ee4384586">ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick</a>&nbsp;before becoming bishop of Dallas in 2007.</p><h2>Wilton Gregory</h2><p>Francis tapped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-race-and-ethnicity-slavery-social-issues-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-6c0f6e6db26050f7499229557ebf9b6a">Gregory</a>&nbsp;to lead the Archdiocese of Washington in 2019 and made him the first Black cardinal from the U.S. in 2020. Gregory, 77, retired this year from leading the prominent archdiocese, which he shepherded through significant turmoil. Its two previous leaders,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/theodore-mccarrick-ex-cardinal-scandal-989fb97f4f0cad8c4926e8cb795ba2bf">McCarrick</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-8a22e1a2a39c4fe385b265f7f7214d97">Cardinal Donald Wuerl</a>, were implicated in a new wave of the clergy sex abuse scandal. Gregory has supported social justice and solidarity with immigrants. He drew notice for his relatively inclusive approach for LGBTQ+ Catholics. He told&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.faith/2025/01/cardinal-wilton-gregory-i-apologize-to-lgbtq-catholics/" target="_blank">an LGBTQ+ group</a>&nbsp;in January: “I apologize for my own lack of courage to bring healing and hope, and I ask forgiveness.” Gregory was born in Chicago and ordained there in 1973, serving as auxiliary bishop beginning in 1983. After 11 years as bishop in Belleville, Illinois, he was appointed in 2004 by John Paul II to be archbishop of Atlanta.</p><h2>James Michael Harvey</h2><p>Harvey, 76, has pursued a long career at the Vatican, initially as a diplomat and more recently as manager of the papal household. Born in Milwaukee, he studied at seminary there before completing his formation in Rome. He was ordained by Pope Paul VI in Rome in 1975 and entered the Holy See’s diplomatic service in 1980. John Paul II appointed Harvey prefect of the Papal Household in 1998, managing the pope’s official activities. Benedict made him a cardinal in 2012.</p><h2>Robert McElroy</h2><p>Francis named McElroy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/catholic-cardinal-robert-mcelroy-immigration-donald-trump-58c728cef89a25d606406014693af85e">archbishop of Washington</a>&nbsp;in January, tapping one of his most progressive allies to head the Catholic Church in the U.S. capital at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. McElroy criticized Trump’s threats of mass deportations of immigrants as “incompatible with Catholic doctrine.” Francis appointed McElroy bishop of San Diego in 2015 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pope-francis-religion-san-diego-455583360c31fe2b90fe558a8815c5c8">elevated him to cardinal</a>&nbsp;in 2022. McElroy, 71, was one of a few U.S. bishops assailing a campaign to exclude Catholic politicians who support abortion rights from Communion. He has also expressed support for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church. A native San Franciscan, McElroy received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard, a master’s degree and doctorate from Stanford, and a doctorate from the Gregorian University in Rome.</p><h2>Robert Francis Prevost</h2><p>The Chicago-born Prevost, 69, is prefect of the Vatican’s powerful dicastery for bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then archbishop. Francis had an eye on him for years, sending him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role.</p><h2>Joseph Tobin</h2><p>Tobin, 72, is archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, and a veteran of the Vatican bureaucracy who speaks five languages. The Detroit native was ordained in 1978 and earned master’s degrees in religious education and divinity at Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, New York. Benedict appointed Tobin in 2010 as secretary of the Vatican’s office overseeing religious orders. Tobin reportedly ruffled feathers by seeking to mend its frayed ties with U.S. nuns facing complaints they had become too liberal. Benedict appointed Tobin archbishop of Indianapolis in 2012. Francis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-87461d2875774be4b546eb310d715911">made him cardinal</a>&nbsp;and archbishop of Newark in 2016. Tobin welcomed Syrian refugees to Indiana despite opposition from then-Gov. Mike Pence. He has a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-gays-and-lesbians-newark-tyler-clementi-new-mexico-d0ec28cb69c6ede7ff3a0f2ba533efdb">welcoming stance toward LGBTQ+ people</a>.</p><p>___</p><p>Seven U.S. cardinals, due to being 80 or older, are not conclave electors: Edwin O’Brien, Roger Mahony, Adam Maida, Seán Patrick O’Malley, Justin Rigali, James Francis Stafford, Donald Wuerl.</p><p>___</p><p>AP journalists Holly Meyer and Tiffany Stanley contributed.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir" target="_blank">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.</p>

These are the US cardinals who will vote for the next pope

By BRENT MARTIN<br><i>St. Joseph Post</i>

St. Joseph police say a person now being held on a burglary warrant in Johnson County, Kansas is a suspect in the downtown St. Joseph burglaries March 10th.

The St. Joseph Police Department says 42-year-old Joshua Littrell is a suspect in the break-ins of three downtown St. Joseph stores on the 10th as well as the Mark’s Tire and Automotive burglary.

Littrell is being held in the Johnson County, Kansas Adult Detention Center on a burglary warrant from Mission, Kansas.

Littrell is also suspected in four active burglary cases under investigation by the Kansas City Police Department. In addition, Ray County, Missouri authorities have an additional burglary case pending against him.

The department says they are working closely with law enforcement in Missouri and Kansas to coordinate the investigation and prosecution of these cases.&nbsp; Littrell is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday, according to online jail records.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746558452397.png" alt="Littrell photo Johnson Co." />
                        <figcaption>Littrell photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By BRENT MARTIN<br><i>St. Joseph Post</i></p><p>St. Joseph police say a person now being held on a burglary warrant in Johnson County, Kansas is a suspect in the downtown St. Joseph burglaries March 10th.</p><p>The St. Joseph Police Department says 42-year-old Joshua Littrell is a suspect in the break-ins of three downtown St. Joseph stores on the 10th as well as the Mark’s Tire and Automotive burglary.</p><p>Littrell is being held in the Johnson County, Kansas Adult Detention Center on a burglary warrant from Mission, Kansas.</p><p>Littrell is also suspected in four active burglary cases under investigation by the Kansas City Police Department. In addition, Ray County, Missouri authorities have an additional burglary case pending against him.</p><p>The department says they are working closely with law enforcement in Missouri and Kansas to coordinate the investigation and prosecution of these cases.&nbsp; Littrell is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday, according to online jail records.</p>

Suspect in series of Missouri burglaries jailed in Kansas

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Monday in Kansas City.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 TaoTao 50 Moped driven by a 29-year-old Kansas City man was westbound on East Gregory Boulevard just west of Evanston Avenue in Raytown.

The vehicle crossed the center of the road and into the path of an eastbound 2013 Lexus RX450 driven by a 41-year-old Kansas City woman.&nbsp; The moped side-swiped the car.

EMS transported the moped driver to Research Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; He was wearing a helmet. The Patrol has not released the name of the victim.

<p>KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Monday in Kansas City.</p><p>The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 TaoTao 50 Moped driven by a 29-year-old Kansas City man was westbound on East Gregory Boulevard just west of Evanston Avenue in Raytown.</p><p>The vehicle crossed the center of the road and into the path of an eastbound 2013 Lexus RX450 driven by a 41-year-old Kansas City woman.&nbsp; The moped side-swiped the car.</p><p>EMS transported the moped driver to Research Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; He was wearing a helmet. The Patrol has not released the name of the victim.</p>

Kansas City man dies after moped side-swipes a car

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jon-gambrell">JON GAMBRELL</a>

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An F/A-18 fighter jet landing on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea went overboard, forcing its two pilots to eject, a defense official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The incident Tuesday marks the latest mishap to mar the deployment of the Truman, which has been essential in the airstrike campaign by the United States against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump and Oman’s foreign minister both said a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-houthis-end-of-bombing-yemen-israel-e2f08ac04024ef3d6409b4ce97092489">ceasefire had been reached with the Houthis</a>, who would no longer target ships in the Red Sea corridor — something not immediately acknowledged by the rebels.

Meanwhile, the Houthis continue to assess the damage after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-yemen-houthis-airport-23c27ae5ef0b8c9c8860dbb79abee5ad">daytime Israeli airstrikes targeted Yemen’s rebel-held capital of Sanaa</a>.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet landed on the Truman after a flight, but “the arrestment failed,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the incident now under investigation.

“Arrestment” refers to the hook system used by aircraft landing on carriers, which catches steel wire ropes on the flight deck. It remains unclear what part of the system failed.

The two pilots on board were later rescued by a helicopter and suffered minor injuries in the incident, the official added. No one on the flight deck was hurt.

Tuesday’s incident was the latest to see the Navy lose an F/A-18, which cost about $60 million. In April, another F/A-18 fighter jet slipped off the hangar deck of the Truman and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carrier-fighter-jet-truman-cfeaecc314bfcaf85ce5c30038306ac3">fell into the Red Sea</a>. The crew members who were in the pilot seat of the Super Hornet and on the small towing tractor both jumped away.

In December,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-yemen-us-navy-pilots-houthi-95a792daae3b0120186bfc6c66e1b6fe">the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down an F/A-18</a>&nbsp;after ships earlier shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels. Both aviators in that incident also survived.

And in February,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/truman-aircraft-carrier-collision-merchant-vessel-50e039f339c4658d246a08ca496a21d9">the Truman collided with a merchant vessel near Port Said,</a>&nbsp;Egypt.

The Truman, based out of Norfolk, Virginia, has seen its deployment extended multiple times amid the Houthi airstrike campaign. It had been joined recently by the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier operating out of the Arabian Sea.

The Houthis had been waging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-israel-hamas-red-sea-shipping-ab6fee82e73170b7e2edbab90ed6c14c">persistent missile and drone attacks</a>&nbsp;against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group’s leadership has described as an effort to end Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

From November 2023 until January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">killing four sailors</a>. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it annually.

The Houthis paused attacks in a self-imposed ceasefire until the U.S. launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745891378009.png" alt="USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on April 15, 2025. US Navy Photo" />
                        <figcaption>USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on April 15, 2025. US Navy Photo</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jon-gambrell">JON GAMBRELL</a></p><p>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An F/A-18 fighter jet landing on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea went overboard, forcing its two pilots to eject, a defense official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.</p><p>The incident Tuesday marks the latest mishap to mar the deployment of the Truman, which has been essential in the airstrike campaign by the United States against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>.</p><p>On Tuesday, President Donald Trump and Oman’s foreign minister both said a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-houthis-end-of-bombing-yemen-israel-e2f08ac04024ef3d6409b4ce97092489">ceasefire had been reached with the Houthis</a>, who would no longer target ships in the Red Sea corridor — something not immediately acknowledged by the rebels.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Houthis continue to assess the damage after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-yemen-houthis-airport-23c27ae5ef0b8c9c8860dbb79abee5ad">daytime Israeli airstrikes targeted Yemen’s rebel-held capital of Sanaa</a>.</p><h2>Landing goes wrong on carrier</h2><p>The F/A-18 Super Hornet landed on the Truman after a flight, but “the arrestment failed,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the incident now under investigation.</p><p>“Arrestment” refers to the hook system used by aircraft landing on carriers, which catches steel wire ropes on the flight deck. It remains unclear what part of the system failed.</p><p>The two pilots on board were later rescued by a helicopter and suffered minor injuries in the incident, the official added. No one on the flight deck was hurt.</p><p>CNN first reported on the incident.</p><p>Tuesday’s incident was the latest to see the Navy lose an F/A-18, which cost about $60 million. In April, another F/A-18 fighter jet slipped off the hangar deck of the Truman and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carrier-fighter-jet-truman-cfeaecc314bfcaf85ce5c30038306ac3">fell into the Red Sea</a>. The crew members who were in the pilot seat of the Super Hornet and on the small towing tractor both jumped away.</p><p>In December,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-yemen-us-navy-pilots-houthi-95a792daae3b0120186bfc6c66e1b6fe">the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down an F/A-18</a>&nbsp;after ships earlier shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels. Both aviators in that incident also survived.</p><p>And in February,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/truman-aircraft-carrier-collision-merchant-vessel-50e039f339c4658d246a08ca496a21d9">the Truman collided with a merchant vessel near Port Said,</a>&nbsp;Egypt.</p><p>The Truman, based out of Norfolk, Virginia, has seen its deployment extended multiple times amid the Houthi airstrike campaign. It had been joined recently by the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier operating out of the Arabian Sea.</p><h2>Houthi attacks on shipping</h2><p>The Houthis had been waging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-israel-hamas-red-sea-shipping-ab6fee82e73170b7e2edbab90ed6c14c">persistent missile and drone attacks</a>&nbsp;against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group’s leadership has described as an effort to end Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.</p><p>From November 2023 until January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">killing four sailors</a>. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it annually.</p><p>The Houthis paused attacks in a self-imposed ceasefire until the U.S. launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March.</p>

U.S. fighter jet landing on aircraft carrier goes overboard, forcing pilots to eject

Vietti Food Group of Nashville, TN is recalling 4,515 cases of its Yellowstone Brown Sugar Molasses Baked Beans (15 oz.) due to the presence of undeclared soy. Individuals with an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy risk serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product.

The recalled product was distributed through retailers in Kansas, Missouri and 21 other states including Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi,&nbsp; New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.&nbsp; The beans were sold at Walmart, Hy-Vee, Meijer and other retailers.

The product can be identified by its Lot Code: Best if Used By Feb 17, 2028. The code is printed on the bottom of each can.

To date, no illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported. Consumers who have purchased the affected product are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746612539735.png" alt="FDA courtesy image" />
                        <figcaption>FDA courtesy image</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Vietti Food Group of Nashville, TN is recalling 4,515 cases of its Yellowstone Brown Sugar Molasses Baked Beans (15 oz.) due to the presence of undeclared soy. Individuals with an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy risk serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product.</p><p>The recalled product was distributed through retailers in Kansas, Missouri and 21 other states including Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi,&nbsp; New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.&nbsp; The beans were sold at Walmart, Hy-Vee, Meijer and other retailers.</p><p>The product can be identified by its Lot Code: Best if Used By Feb 17, 2028. The code is printed on the bottom of each can.</p><p>To date, no illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported. Consumers who have purchased the affected product are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.</p>

Baked beans sold in Kansas and Missouri recalled

WICHITA —Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputies located and arrested 37-year-old Thomas Torrez on Tuesday evening.&nbsp; Torrez, a violent offender, was wanted for a serious of dangerous events that began early Sunday. The sheriff's office released few details about the arrest.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, Wichita Police officers were recovering a stolen vehicle in the 4800 block of E. 21st Street North. During the recovery, Torrez—an occupant of the vehicle—fled the scene in the stolen car. He was not located during the initial incident.

Just before 8p.m., a Sedgwick County deputy spotted the same stolen vehicle using a Flock license plate reader at a McDonald’s drive-thru in the 4800 block of S. Broadway. Torrez was behind the wheel with a female passenger.

The deputy positioned his patrol vehicle to block the stolen car, but Torrez accelerated, ramming the patrol unit. He then reversed into the building, drove over a curb and landscaping, and fled onto 47th Street. The deputy’s vehicle was disabled from the impact, and he was unable to pursue. The deputy sustained minor injuries as a result.

The deputy was “put out in trouble,” and charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer were broadcast to responding units.

While responding with lights and sirens, a second deputy collided with a civilian vehicle at the intersection of 47th Street and Hydraulic. The civilian vehicle was carrying five people—a 37-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman, and three children ages 6, 8, and 10. All suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital. No officers were actively pursuing the stolen vehicle at the time of the crash. This deputy sustained minor injuries that did not require medical attention.

Shortly after fleeing McDonald’s, the female passenger escaped the vehicle near Laura Street, north of 47th. She was located by officers and cooperated with the investigation. According to her statement, she tried to surrender during the initial stop and attempted multiple times to exit the vehicle, even using mace on Torrez.

Torrez later abandoned the stolen vehicle near 44th and Pattie and fled on foot. He then stole a second vehicle from a mobile home park in the 1000 block of E. MacArthur and led deputies on a brief pursuit, driving off-road in the area of O.J. Watson Park.

During his escape, Torrez caused a hit-and-run crash near Harry and McLean. The victim followed him to the area of Water and Zimmerly, where Torrez ditched the second vehicle and fled on foot.

Torrez is required to register with the Sheriff’s Office under the Offender Registration Act. He currently has two felony warrants for his arrest: one for failure to report as required and another for a probation violation. He will also face a host of new requested charges.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746467676255.png" alt="Photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WICHITA —Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputies located and arrested 37-year-old Thomas Torrez on Tuesday evening.&nbsp; Torrez, a violent offender, was wanted for a serious of dangerous events that began early Sunday. The sheriff's office released few details about the arrest.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746583893877.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Just after 1a.m. Sunday, Wichita Police officers were recovering a stolen vehicle in the 4800 block of E. 21st Street North. During the recovery, Torrez—an occupant of the vehicle—fled the scene in the stolen car. He was not located during the initial incident.</p><p>Just before 8p.m., a Sedgwick County deputy spotted the same stolen vehicle using a Flock license plate reader at a McDonald’s drive-thru in the 4800 block of S. Broadway. Torrez was behind the wheel with a female passenger.</p><p>The deputy positioned his patrol vehicle to block the stolen car, but Torrez accelerated, ramming the patrol unit. He then reversed into the building, drove over a curb and landscaping, and fled onto 47th Street. The deputy’s vehicle was disabled from the impact, and he was unable to pursue. The deputy sustained minor injuries as a result.</p><p>The deputy was “put out in trouble,” and charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer were broadcast to responding units.</p><p>While responding with lights and sirens, a second deputy collided with a civilian vehicle at the intersection of 47th Street and Hydraulic. The civilian vehicle was carrying five people—a 37-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman, and three children ages 6, 8, and 10. All suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital. No officers were actively pursuing the stolen vehicle at the time of the crash. This deputy sustained minor injuries that did not require medical attention.</p><p>Shortly after fleeing McDonald’s, the female passenger escaped the vehicle near Laura Street, north of 47th. She was located by officers and cooperated with the investigation. According to her statement, she tried to surrender during the initial stop and attempted multiple times to exit the vehicle, even using mace on Torrez.</p><p>Torrez later abandoned the stolen vehicle near 44th and Pattie and fled on foot. He then stole a second vehicle from a mobile home park in the 1000 block of E. MacArthur and led deputies on a brief pursuit, driving off-road in the area of O.J. Watson Park.</p><p>During his escape, Torrez caused a hit-and-run crash near Harry and McLean. The victim followed him to the area of Water and Zimmerly, where Torrez ditched the second vehicle and fled on foot.</p><p>Torrez is required to register with the Sheriff’s Office under the Offender Registration Act. He currently has two felony warrants for his arrest: one for failure to report as required and another for a probation violation. He will also face a host of new requested charges.</p>

Deputies capture Kan. violent offender who rammed patrol car 

WASHINGTON — Four Mexican nationals unlawfully residing in the United States have been charged for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that illegally brought aliens across the Canadian border to the United States for profit, according to the United State's Attorney.

Edgar Sanchez-Solis, 23, unlawfully residing in Kansas City, Kansas; Ignacio Diaz-Perez, 35, unlawfully residing in Oakwood, Georgia; Samuel Diaz-Perez, 26, unlawfully residing in Dublin, Ohio; and Salvador Diaz-Diaz, 32, unlawfully residing in Columbus, Ohio, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States and 25 counts of bringing aliens illegally to the United States for profit. The defendants were arrested at multiple locations throughout the United States and are currently detained. Ignacio Diaz-Perez and Salvador Diaz-Diaz had been previously removed from the United States.

“As alleged, these defendants illegally entered this country and then sought to smuggle hundreds of aliens per week to the United States from Mexico, Central America, and South America through the Canadian border,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendants instructed smuggled aliens to make testimonial videos touting the enterprise’s services. In reality, the defendants imperiled their human cargo and innocent American lives when they repeatedly engaged in life-threatening conduct, including multiple high-speed getaways from law enforcement.”

“This case demonstrates our relentless efforts to secure our northern border against the criminal organizations profiting from human smuggling and other illegal activities,” said U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York. “We are grateful for our partnership with Joint Task Force Alpha as we work to dismantle these transnational criminal organizations and make our North Country communities safer.”

According to court documents, the four defendants were part of an alien smuggling organization that has been operating for the last two years in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The four defendants, in exchange for money, conspired with others to smuggle hundreds of aliens per week from Mexico, Central America, and South America through Canada, into northern New York, including Franklin and Clinton Counties, as alleged in court documents. The aliens or their family members paid thousands of dollars to be smuggled into the United States. The defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly facilitated the illegal travel of the aliens from Mexico to Canada and then across the northern border, where they were picked up and driven farther into the United States.

On multiple occasions members of the alien smuggling organization led local and federal law enforcement officers on high-speed vehicle chases along the U.S. northern border, creating a grave public safety risk, according to court documents. For example, in April 2023, smugglers allegedly fled the Burke Border Patrol Station’s sector at a high rate of speed after setting off a border sensor. Border Patrol successfully stopped the vehicle and apprehended the smugglers, who were transporting seven adult aliens and three minors. In another incident, in May 2023, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office used a tire deflation device to stop a van carrying aliens after it allegedly failed to yield to both federal and state law enforcement. The smugglers and aliens allegedly fled on foot after the vehicle was disabled. As additionally alleged, in August 2023, a vehicle carrying aliens that was fleeing from Border Patrol drove into Plattsburgh, New York, where it drove erratically, passed vehicles in a congested traffic area, ran a red light, and struck a motorist at an intersection. The driver and six illegal aliens fled the accident scene on foot but eventually were apprehended.

“These individuals acted in blatant disregard of our nation’s laws, allegedly smuggling hundreds of aliens into the United States for thousands of dollars each,” said Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo. “They’re alleged to have repeatedly put the public at risk through dangerous vehicle chases with law enforcement further demonstrating their contempt for the law and safety of others. We work every day with our partners in the U.S. Border Patrol and are proud to support the security of our borders and uphold public safety in our communities.”

“These charges are a testament to the hard work of the men and women of the United States Border Patrol and its partner agencies,” said Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector. “The days of catch-and-release are over, and the reality is clear; if you attempt to enter the United States illegally, if you attempt to smuggle or traffic human beings, you will be apprehended and you will face severe consequences.”

The investigation and arrests of the defendants were coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 360 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 330 U.S. convictions; more than 275 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

Mr. Galeotti expressed his gratitude to Joint Task Force Alpha, which is focused on combatting human smuggling organizations, and its partners in this case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and HSI. HSI Rouses Point and U.S. Border Patrol Burke Station led U.S. investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.

Trial Attorney Jenna Reed of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carling Dunham for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood.

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746215404230.png" alt="SANCHEZ-SOLIS photo Wyandotte Co." />
                        <figcaption>SANCHEZ-SOLIS photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON — Four Mexican nationals unlawfully residing in the United States have been charged for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that illegally brought aliens across the Canadian border to the United States for profit, according to the United State's Attorney.</p><p>Edgar Sanchez-Solis, 23, unlawfully residing in Kansas City, Kansas; Ignacio Diaz-Perez, 35, unlawfully residing in Oakwood, Georgia; Samuel Diaz-Perez, 26, unlawfully residing in Dublin, Ohio; and Salvador Diaz-Diaz, 32, unlawfully residing in Columbus, Ohio, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States and 25 counts of bringing aliens illegally to the United States for profit. The defendants were arrested at multiple locations throughout the United States and are currently detained. Ignacio Diaz-Perez and Salvador Diaz-Diaz had been previously removed from the United States.</p><p>“As alleged, these defendants illegally entered this country and then sought to smuggle hundreds of aliens per week to the United States from Mexico, Central America, and South America through the Canadian border,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendants instructed smuggled aliens to make testimonial videos touting the enterprise’s services. In reality, the defendants imperiled their human cargo and innocent American lives when they repeatedly engaged in life-threatening conduct, including multiple high-speed getaways from law enforcement.”</p><p>“This case demonstrates our relentless efforts to secure our northern border against the criminal organizations profiting from human smuggling and other illegal activities,” said U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York. “We are grateful for our partnership with Joint Task Force Alpha as we work to dismantle these transnational criminal organizations and make our North Country communities safer.”</p><p>According to court documents, the four defendants were part of an alien smuggling organization that has been operating for the last two years in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The four defendants, in exchange for money, conspired with others to smuggle hundreds of aliens per week from Mexico, Central America, and South America through Canada, into northern New York, including Franklin and Clinton Counties, as alleged in court documents. The aliens or their family members paid thousands of dollars to be smuggled into the United States. The defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly facilitated the illegal travel of the aliens from Mexico to Canada and then across the northern border, where they were picked up and driven farther into the United States.</p><p>On multiple occasions members of the alien smuggling organization led local and federal law enforcement officers on high-speed vehicle chases along the U.S. northern border, creating a grave public safety risk, according to court documents. For example, in April 2023, smugglers allegedly fled the Burke Border Patrol Station’s sector at a high rate of speed after setting off a border sensor. Border Patrol successfully stopped the vehicle and apprehended the smugglers, who were transporting seven adult aliens and three minors. In another incident, in May 2023, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office used a tire deflation device to stop a van carrying aliens after it allegedly failed to yield to both federal and state law enforcement. The smugglers and aliens allegedly fled on foot after the vehicle was disabled. As additionally alleged, in August 2023, a vehicle carrying aliens that was fleeing from Border Patrol drove into Plattsburgh, New York, where it drove erratically, passed vehicles in a congested traffic area, ran a red light, and struck a motorist at an intersection. The driver and six illegal aliens fled the accident scene on foot but eventually were apprehended.</p><p>“These individuals acted in blatant disregard of our nation’s laws, allegedly smuggling hundreds of aliens into the United States for thousands of dollars each,” said Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo. “They’re alleged to have repeatedly put the public at risk through dangerous vehicle chases with law enforcement further demonstrating their contempt for the law and safety of others. We work every day with our partners in the U.S. Border Patrol and are proud to support the security of our borders and uphold public safety in our communities.”</p><p>“These charges are a testament to the hard work of the men and women of the United States Border Patrol and its partner agencies,” said Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector. “The days of catch-and-release are over, and the reality is clear; if you attempt to enter the United States illegally, if you attempt to smuggle or traffic human beings, you will be apprehended and you will face severe consequences.”</p><p>The investigation and arrests of the defendants were coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 360 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 330 U.S. convictions; more than 275 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.</p><p>Mr. Galeotti expressed his gratitude to Joint Task Force Alpha, which is focused on combatting human smuggling organizations, and its partners in this case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and HSI. HSI Rouses Point and U.S. Border Patrol Burke Station led U.S. investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.</p><p>Trial Attorney Jenna Reed of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carling Dunham for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.</p><p>This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood.</p><p>An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.</p>

Illegal alien in Kansas accused of human smuggling 

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DEVI%20SHASTRI%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DEVI SHASTRI<br>&nbsp;AP Health Writer</a>

North Dakota is the 11th state in the U.S. with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">measles outbreak</a>, logging its first cases since 2011.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles case</a>&nbsp;count is 935, more than triple the amount seen in all of 2024. The three-month outbreak in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">Texas</a>&nbsp;accounts for the vast majority of cases, with 702 confirmed as of Tuesday. The outbreak has also spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas.</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;died from measles-related illnesses in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">the epicenter in West Texas,</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness.

Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

North America has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">two other ongoing outbreaks</a>. One in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=323859266e21469b8b97a294d6c6f98e&amp;sc_lang=en">1,243 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through April 29. And the Mexican state of Chihuahua had 922 measles cases and one death as of Tuesday, according to data from the state health ministry. Health officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;and the U.S. say all three outbreaks are of the same measles strain.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-vaccines-autism-measles-obesity-food-dye-f26089856550e978d28fd25b653d8103">preventable through vaccines</a>, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

As the virus takes hold in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">U.S. communities with low vaccination rates</a>, health experts fear that spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>. Here's what else you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">need to know about measles in the U.S.</a>

<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>&nbsp;added nine cases Wednesday for a total of 46 across eight counties in the southwest part of the state. Gray County is up to 15 cases. The state also reported its first hospitalization.

Kansas' health department didn't elaborate Wednesday about a discrepancy in the number of new cases at the state and county levels beyond noting that case counts are “fluid as the outbreak progresses."

The state's first reported case is linked to the Texas outbreak based on genetic testing.

How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico?

Texas state health officials said Tuesday there were 19 new cases of measles since Friday, bringing the total to 702&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">across 29 counties</a>&nbsp;— most of them in West Texas. The state also added two hospitalizations to its count Friday, for a total of 91 throughout the outbreak.

<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;about 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious.

Fifty-seven percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 403 cases since late January — just over 1.7% of the county's residents.

The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;Local health officials in Texas said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February — Kennedy said age 6.

New Mexico was steady Tuesday with 67 total cases. Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Three are in Eddy County, two in Doña Ana County and one in Chaves County.

Indiana confirmed two more cases April 21 in an outbreak that has sickened eight in Allen County in the northeast part of the state — five are unvaccinated minors and three are adults whose vaccination status is unknown.

The cases have no known link to other outbreaks, the Allen County Department of Health has said.

Montcalm County, near Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has an outbreak of four cases that state health officials say is tied to the Ontario outbreak. The state had nine confirmed measles cases as of Friday, but the remaining five are not part of the Montcalm County outbreak.

Montana state health officials announced five cases April 17 in unvaccinated children and adults who had traveled out of state, and later confirmed it was an outbreak. All five are isolating at home in Gallatin County in the southwest part of the state.

They were Montana’s first measles cases in 35 years. Health officials didn’t say whether the cases are linked to other outbreaks in North America.

How many measles cases are there in North Dakota?

North Dakota announced its first measles case since 2011 on Friday, and by Tuesday, there were nine cases.

All are in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border. The state health department said Monday that three of the confirmed cases are linked to the first case — an unvaccinated child who health officials believe got it from an out-of-state visitor.

The other five cases, announced Tuesday, were people who were not vaccinated and did not have contact with the other cases, causing concern about community transmission. The state health department said four people diagnosed with measles attended classes while infectious at a Williston elementary school, middle school and high school.

The state has two outbreaks. Ashtabula County near Cleveland has 16 cases. And Knox County in east-central Ohio has 20 — 14 among Ohio residents and the rest among visitors.

The Ohio Department of Health on Thursday confirmed 33 measles cases and one hospitalization. That count includes only Ohio residents. Defiance County in the northwestern part of the state has logged its first case.

Allen and Holmes counties have had one case each.

Oklahoma added one case for a total of 14 confirmed and three probable cases as of Tuesday. The outbreak is linked to Texas and New Mexico.

The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases, but Cleveland, Oklahoma and Sequoyah counties have had public exposures in the past couple of months.

How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?

There are eight measles cases in Erie County in far northwest Pennsylvania, officials said Friday. The county declared an outbreak in mid-April. The state has said it has 13 cases overall in 2025, including international travel-related cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/2025%20HAN/2025-787-3-13-ADV-%20Measles.pdf">Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia</a>.

Tennessee had six measles cases as of last week. Health department spokesman Bill Christian said all cases are the middle part of the state, and that “at least three of these cases are linked to each other” but declined to specify further. The state also did not say whether the cases were linked to other outbreaks or when Tennessee's outbreak started.

The state health department announced the first measles case March 21, three more on April 1 and the last two on April 17, but none of the news releases declared an outbreak. However, Tennessee was on a list of outbreak states in a CDC report April 17.

Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?

Cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.

People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because most children back then had measles and now have “presumptive immunity.”

In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”

But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a>

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743085628490.png" alt="Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.png" />
                        <figcaption>Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.png</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DEVI%20SHASTRI%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DEVI SHASTRI<br>&nbsp;AP Health Writer</a></p><p>North Dakota is the 11th state in the U.S. with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">measles outbreak</a>, logging its first cases since 2011.</p><p>The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles case</a>&nbsp;count is 935, more than triple the amount seen in all of 2024. The three-month outbreak in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">Texas</a>&nbsp;accounts for the vast majority of cases, with 702 confirmed as of Tuesday. The outbreak has also spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas.</a></p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;died from measles-related illnesses in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">the epicenter in West Texas,</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness.</p><p>Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.</p><p>North America has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">two other ongoing outbreaks</a>. One in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=323859266e21469b8b97a294d6c6f98e&amp;sc_lang=en">1,243 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through April 29. And the Mexican state of Chihuahua had 922 measles cases and one death as of Tuesday, according to data from the state health ministry. Health officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;and the U.S. say all three outbreaks are of the same measles strain.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-vaccines-autism-measles-obesity-food-dye-f26089856550e978d28fd25b653d8103">preventable through vaccines</a>, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.</p><p>As the virus takes hold in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">U.S. communities with low vaccination rates</a>, health experts fear that spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>. Here's what else you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">need to know about measles in the U.S.</a></p><h2>How many cases are there in Kansas?</h2><p><a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>&nbsp;added nine cases Wednesday for a total of 46 across eight counties in the southwest part of the state. Gray County is up to 15 cases. The state also reported its first hospitalization.</p><p>Kansas' health department didn't elaborate Wednesday about a discrepancy in the number of new cases at the state and county levels beyond noting that case counts are “fluid as the outbreak progresses."</p><p>The state's first reported case is linked to the Texas outbreak based on genetic testing.</p><h2>How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico?</h2><p>Texas state health officials said Tuesday there were 19 new cases of measles since Friday, bringing the total to 702&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">across 29 counties</a>&nbsp;— most of them in West Texas. The state also added two hospitalizations to its count Friday, for a total of 91 throughout the outbreak.</p><p><a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;about 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious.</p><p>Fifty-seven percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 403 cases since late January — just over 1.7% of the county's residents.</p><p>The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;Local health officials in Texas said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February — Kennedy said age 6.</p><p>New Mexico was steady Tuesday with 67 total cases. Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Three are in Eddy County, two in Doña Ana County and one in Chaves County.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Indiana?</h2><p>Indiana confirmed two more cases April 21 in an outbreak that has sickened eight in Allen County in the northeast part of the state — five are unvaccinated minors and three are adults whose vaccination status is unknown.</p><p>The cases have no known link to other outbreaks, the Allen County Department of Health has said.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Michigan?</h2><p>Montcalm County, near Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has an outbreak of four cases that state health officials say is tied to the Ontario outbreak. The state had nine confirmed measles cases as of Friday, but the remaining five are not part of the Montcalm County outbreak.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Montana?</h2><p>Montana state health officials announced five cases April 17 in unvaccinated children and adults who had traveled out of state, and later confirmed it was an outbreak. All five are isolating at home in Gallatin County in the southwest part of the state.</p><p>They were Montana’s first measles cases in 35 years. Health officials didn’t say whether the cases are linked to other outbreaks in North America.</p><h2>How many measles cases are there in North Dakota?</h2><p>North Dakota announced its first measles case since 2011 on Friday, and by Tuesday, there were nine cases.</p><p>All are in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border. The state health department said Monday that three of the confirmed cases are linked to the first case — an unvaccinated child who health officials believe got it from an out-of-state visitor.</p><p>The other five cases, announced Tuesday, were people who were not vaccinated and did not have contact with the other cases, causing concern about community transmission. The state health department said four people diagnosed with measles attended classes while infectious at a Williston elementary school, middle school and high school.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Ohio?</h2><p>The state has two outbreaks. Ashtabula County near Cleveland has 16 cases. And Knox County in east-central Ohio has 20 — 14 among Ohio residents and the rest among visitors.</p><p>The Ohio Department of Health on Thursday confirmed 33 measles cases and one hospitalization. That count includes only Ohio residents. Defiance County in the northwestern part of the state has logged its first case.</p><p>Allen and Holmes counties have had one case each.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Oklahoma?</h2><p>Oklahoma added one case for a total of 14 confirmed and three probable cases as of Tuesday. The outbreak is linked to Texas and New Mexico.</p><p>The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases, but Cleveland, Oklahoma and Sequoyah counties have had public exposures in the past couple of months.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?</h2><p>There are eight measles cases in Erie County in far northwest Pennsylvania, officials said Friday. The county declared an outbreak in mid-April. The state has said it has 13 cases overall in 2025, including international travel-related cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/2025%20HAN/2025-787-3-13-ADV-%20Measles.pdf">Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia</a>.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Tennessee?</h2><p>Tennessee had six measles cases as of last week. Health department spokesman Bill Christian said all cases are the middle part of the state, and that “at least three of these cases are linked to each other” but declined to specify further. The state also did not say whether the cases were linked to other outbreaks or when Tennessee's outbreak started.</p><p>The state health department announced the first measles case March 21, three more on April 1 and the last two on April 17, but none of the news releases declared an outbreak. However, Tennessee was on a list of outbreak states in a CDC report April 17.</p><h2>Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?</h2><p>Cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.</p><p>Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.</p><h2>What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?</h2><p>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.</p><p>Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.</p><p>People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because most children back then had measles and now have “presumptive immunity.”</p><p>In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”</p><p>But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a></p><h2>What are the symptoms of measles?</h2><p>Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.</p><p>The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.</p><p>Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.</p><h2>How can you treat measles?</h2><p>There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.</p>

11 states now with a measles outbreak

SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan<b>.</b>&nbsp;—A Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy is under investigation.

On Sunday, the Derby Police Department arrested 21-year-old Jordan Rubio&nbsp; on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a statement from the Sheriff's Department.

Rubio has been employed with the Sheriff’s Office since February 2024. He is currently the subject of both a criminal investigation by Derby Police Department and an internal administrative investigation related to the arrest.

He met the requirements to bond out of jail at 5a.m. Sunday, according to online jail records.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746544018763.png" alt="Rubio photo Sedgwick Co." />
                        <figcaption>Rubio photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan<b>.</b>&nbsp;—A Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy is under investigation.</p><p>On Sunday, the Derby Police Department arrested 21-year-old Jordan Rubio&nbsp; on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a statement from the Sheriff's Department.</p><p>Rubio has been employed with the Sheriff’s Office since February 2024. He is currently the subject of both a criminal investigation by Derby Police Department and an internal administrative investigation related to the arrest.</p><p>He met the requirements to bond out of jail at 5a.m. Sunday, according to online jail records.</p>

Kansas sheriff's detention deputy accused of DUI

Job description: Leading the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church.

There are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/next-pope-contenders-list-101d68d61be2401a85310e34b45371a9">no official candidates</a>&nbsp;for the papacy, but some cardinals are considered “papabile,” or possessing the characteristics necessary to become pope. After St. John Paul II broke the centurieslong Italian hold on the papacy in 1978, the field of contenders has broadened considerably.

When the cardinals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conclave-definition-what-happens-92a4da4116a62ccc165a63d1ae3c30dc">enter the Sistine Chapel on May 7</a>&nbsp;to choose a successor to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">Pope Francis</a>, the first pontiff from Latin America, they will be looking above all for a holy man who can guide the Catholic Church. Beyond that, they will weigh his administrative and pastoral experience and consider what the church needs today.

Here is a selection of possible contenders, in no particular order. The list will be updated as cardinals continue their closed-door, preconclave discussions.

Position: Vatican secretary of state under Francis

The 70-year-old veteran diplomat was Francis' secretary of state, essentially the Holy See's prime minister.

Though associated closely with Francis' pontificate, Parolin is much more demure in personality and diplomatic in his approach to leading than the Argentine Jesuit he served and he knows where the Catholic Church might need a course correction.

Parolin oversaw the Holy See’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-vatican-agreement-b9cd669a0a91ad3da8fc70fe41611bdb">controversial deal with China</a>&nbsp;over bishop nominations and was involved -- but not charged -- in the Vatican’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/london-europe-voting-rights-business-religion-4abac4eee3bfd02205349c353906fcbf">botched investment</a>&nbsp;in a London real estate venture that led to a 2021 trial of another cardinal and nine others. A former ambassador to Venezuela, Parolin knows the Latin American church well and played a key role in the 2014 U.S.-Cuba detente, which the Vatican helped facilitate.

If he were elected, he would return an Italian to the papacy after three successive outsiders: St. John Paul II (Poland), Pope Benedict XVI (Germany) and Francis (Argentina).

But Parolin has very little pastoral experience: He entered the seminary at age 14, four years after his father was killed in a car accident. After his 1980 ordination, he spent two years as a parish priest near his hometown in northern Italy, but then went to Rome to study and entered the Vatican diplomatic service, where he has remained ever since. He has served at Vatican embassies in Nigeria, Mexico and Venezuela.

He is widely respected for his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-ukraine-white-flag-af55b9a6e3fe1e1bff5f3a07104e52cb">diplomatic finesse</a>&nbsp;on some of the thorniest dossiers facing the Catholic Church. He has long been involved in the China file, and he played a hands-on role in the Holy See’s diplomatic rapprochement with Vietnam that resulted in an agreement to establish a resident Vatican representative in the country.

Parolin was also the Vatican’s point-person in its frustrated efforts to end the wars in Ukraine and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-israel-palestinians-gaza-d837110b8201d7dc6494216ddb812b3f">Middle East</a>. He has tried to make the church’s voice heard as the Trump administration began working to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“Let’s hope we can arrive at a peace that, in order to be solid, lasting, must be a just peace, must involve all the actors who are at stake and take into account the principles of international law and the UN declarations,” he said.

Parolin might find the geopolitical reality ushered in by the Trump administration somewhat unreceptive to the Holy See's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-pope-francis-diplomacy-europe-83a98bf40d2c51ba8a1de88e847c6e70">soft power</a>.

Position: Pro-Prefect, Dicastery for Evangelization under Francis

Experience: Former archbishop of Manila, Philippines

Tagle, 67, is on many bookmakers’ lists to be the first Asian pope, a choice that would acknowledge a part of the world where the church is growing.

Francis brought the popular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-7c1fff5eabfe9b8eb5c3d48769580f02">archbishop of Manila</a>&nbsp;to Rome to head the Vatican’s missionary evangelization office, which serves the needs of the Catholic Church in much of Asia and Africa. His role took on greater weight when Francis reformed the Vatican bureaucracy. Tagle often cites his Chinese heritage — his maternal grandmother was part of a Chinese family that moved to the Philippines.

Though he has pastoral, Vatican and management experience — he headed the Vatican’s Caritas Internationalis federation of charity groups before coming to Rome permanently — Tagle would be on the young side to be elected pope, with cardinals perhaps preferring an older candidate whose papacy would be more limited.

Tagle is known as a good communicator and teacher — key attributes for a pope.

“The pope will have to do a lot of teaching, we’ll have to face the cameras all the time so if there will be a communicator pope, that’s very desirable,” said Leo Ocampo, a theology professor at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

That said, Tagle’s tenure at Caritas was not without controversy and some have questioned his management skills.

In 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-philanthropy-dd48a5818e58a1c416b27b57925b895a">,</a>&nbsp;Francis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-philanthropy-dd48a5818e58a1c416b27b57925b895a">ousted the Caritas management</a>, including demoting Tagle. The Holy See said an outside investigation had found “real deficiencies” in management that had affected staff morale at the Caritas secretariat in Rome.

— By Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, and Nicole Winfield in Vatican City

Experience: President of the bishops conferences of Africa and Madagascar

The 65-year-old Ambongo is one of Africa's most outspoken Catholic leaders, heading the archdiocese that has the largest number of Catholics on the continent that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-egypt-africa-middle-east-52264c1e130b3fe5b352a1a8c93dbff6">seen as the future of the church</a>.

He has been archbishop of Congo's capital since 2018 and a cardinal since in 2019. Francis also appointed him to a group of advisers that was helping reorganize the Vatican bureaucracy.

In Congo and across Africa, Ambongo has been deeply committed to the Catholic orthodoxy and is seen as conservative.

In 2024, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-lgbtq-blessing-africa-france-12ede13dec72ecdd9f6da1dd1877d7e5">signed a statement</a>&nbsp;on behalf of the bishops conferences of Africa and Madagascar refusing to follow Francis'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-lgbtq-pope-bfa5b71fa79055626e362936e739d1d8">declaration allowing priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples</a>&nbsp;in what amounted to continent-wide dissent from a papal teaching. The rebuke crystalized both the African church's line on LGBTQ+ outreach and Ambongo's stature within the African hierarchy.

He has received praise from some in Congo for promoting interfaith tolerance, especially on a continent where religious divisions between Christians and Muslims are common.

“He is for the openness of the church to different cultures,” said Monsignor Donatien Nshole, secretary-general of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo, who has long worked with Ambongo.

An outspoken government critic, the cardinal is also known for his unwavering advocacy for social justice.

In a country with high poverty and hunger levels despite being rich in minerals, and where fighting by rebel groups has killed thousands and displaced millions in one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises, he frequently criticizes both government corruption and inaction, as well as the exploitation of the country’s natural resources by foreign powers.

“Congo is the plate from which everyone eats, except for our people,” he said last year during a speech at the Pontifical Antonianum University.

Ambongo's criticism of authorities has drawn both public admiration and legal scrutiny. Last year, prosecutors ordered a judicial investigation of him after accusing him of “seditious behavior” over his criticism of the government’s handling of the conflict in eastern Congo.

Current position: Archbishop of Bologna, Italy, president of the Italian bishops conference

Previous position: Auxiliary bishop of Rome

Zuppi, 69, came up as a street priest in the image of Francis, who promoted him quickly: first to archbishop of the wealthy archdiocese of Bologna in northern Italy in 2015, before bestowing the title of cardinal in 2019.

He is closely closely affiliated with the Sant’Egidio Community, a Rome-based Catholic charity that was influential under Francis, particularly in interfaith dialogue. Zuppi was part of Sant’Egidio’s team that helped negotiate the end of Mozambique’s civil war in the 1990s and was named Francis’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-ukraine-pope-0e9ee7e7c9b26b4fa3da2dbebf7b5dfc">peace envoy</a>&nbsp;for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

He traveled to Kyiv and Moscow after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the Holy See for help in winning the release of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-vatican-pope-children-reunification-24c3931fd9fe3234ddb8e3fdf949f02f">19,000 Ukrainian children taken from their families</a>&nbsp;and brought to Russia during the war. The mission also took him to China and the United States.

After making him a cardinal, Francis made clear he wanted him in charge of Italy’s bishops, a sign of his admiration for the prelate who, like Francis, is known as a “street priest” — someone who prioritizes ministering to poor and homeless people and refugees.

Zuppi would be a candidate in Francis’ tradition of ministering to those on the margins, although his relative youth would count against him for cardinals seeking a short papacy.

In a sign of his progressive leanings, Zuppi wrote the introduction to the Italian edition of “Building a Bridge,” by the Rev. James Martin, an American Jesuit, about the church’s need to improve its outreach to the LGBTQ+ community.

Zuppi wrote that building bridges with the community was a “difficult process, still unfolding.'' He recognized that “doing nothing, on the other hand, risks causing a great deal of suffering, makes people feel lonely, and often leads to the adoption of positions that are both contrasting and extreme.”

Zuppi's family also has strong institutional ties: His father worked for the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, and his mother was the niece of Cardinal Carlo Confalonieri, dean of the College of Cardinals in the 1960s and 1970s.

Position: Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary

Past experience: Twice elected head of the umbrella group of European bishops conferences

Known by his peers as a serious theologian, scholar and educator, Erdő, 72, is a leading contender&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-hungary-visit-orban-ukraine-5d35e834ebac80ec14840fa90071af95">among conservatives</a>. He has served as the archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest since 2002 and was made a cardinal by John Paul the following year. He has participated in two conclaves, in 2005 and 2013, for the selection of Benedict and Francis.

Holding doctorates in theology and canon law, Erdő, speaks six languages, is a proponent of doctrinal orthodoxy, and champions the church’s positions on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage.

Erdő opposes same-sex unions, and has also resisted suggestions that Catholics who remarry after divorce be able to receive communion. He stated in 2015 that divorced Catholics should only be permitted communion if they remain sexually abstinent in their new marriage.

An advocate for traditional family structures, he helped organize Francis’ 2014 and 2015 Vatican meetings on the family.

From 2006 to 2016, Erdő served as president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, helping to foster collaboration among Catholic bishops across Europe and to address contemporary issues facing the church on the continent.

While careful to avoid taking part in Hungary’s often tumultuous political life, Erdő has maintained a close relationship with the country’s rightist populist government, which provides generous subsidies to Christian churches.

He has been reluctant to take positions on several of the government’s policies that divided society in Hungary such as public campaigns that villainized migrants and refugees and laws that eroded the rights of LGBTQ+ communities.

When hundreds of thousands of asylum-seekers entered Europe in 2015 fleeing war and deprivation in the Middle East and Africa, Erdő emphasized that the church had a Christian duty to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need, but stopped short of the full-throated advocacy for migrants that was one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-migrant-advocate-82193bcef21f096ce5f9754bba8f0cbb">Francis’ top priorities</a>.

Position: Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops; president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America under Francis