WASHINGTON —<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-gop-taxes-ced365c347de9320eef2ccb8df16dda2">House Republicans lifted</a>&nbsp;President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">$4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;to final passage Thursday, overcoming multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package before a self-imposed Fourth of July deadline. On social media, members of the Kansas Congressional delegation shared their thoughts on passage of the bill.

<p>WASHINGTON —<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-gop-taxes-ced365c347de9320eef2ccb8df16dda2">House Republicans lifted</a>&nbsp;President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">$4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;to final passage Thursday, overcoming multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package before a self-imposed Fourth of July deadline. On social media, members of the Kansas Congressional delegation shared their thoughts on passage of the bill.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I am proud to have voted today for the One Big Beautiful Bill, which prevents each Kansan from a $2,200 tax hike next year while delivering no taxes on tips or overtime and making targeted investments in the agricultural economy. <br><br>This pro-growth, pro-worker legislation now goes… <a href="https://t.co/35jzwCXJ5m">pic.twitter.com/35jzwCXJ5m</a></p>&mdash; Tracey Mann (@RepMann) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMann/status/1940891252146557141?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congressman Schmidt issued the following statement celebrating the passage of the &quot;One Big Beautiful Bill&quot;:<br><br>“Last November, Americans voted for change in Washington, D.C. Today, Congress is delivering much of the change promised by President Trump’s America First agenda that…</p>&mdash; Rep. Derek Schmidt Press (@RepDerekSchmidt) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDerekSchmidt/status/1940842306162102639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">✔️ PASSED!<br><br>The most pro-worker piece of legislation now heads to the <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhiteHouse</a> for <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>&#39; signature.<br><br>The tax cuts in the One Big, Beautiful Bill will raise the wages for Kansas workers by $3,300.</p>&mdash; Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1940842831402487856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This bill delivers on what Americans voted for in November - it&#39;s time to pass the One Big, Beautiful Bill. <br> <a href="https://t.co/Kj4LlnSq24">pic.twitter.com/Kj4LlnSq24</a></p>&mdash; Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1940736458027159886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Senate budget reconciliation bill provides certainty for Kansans by preventing a tax hike on middle-class families and small businesses, while also investing in the long-term security of our southern border and bolstering our military’s capabilities at a time when threats…</p>&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1940082244200407180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HUGE win for every American! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/4B2VuGuEA5">https://t.co/4B2VuGuEA5</a></p>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1940848438125777319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Next stop: <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>’ desk! <a href="https://t.co/aU131m5UEf">pic.twitter.com/aU131m5UEf</a></p>&mdash; House Republicans (@HouseGOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseGOP/status/1940841210341741052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump on reconciliation bill: &quot;We&#39;re sort of celebrating the biggest bill of its kind ever signed and it&#39;s going to make this country into a rocket ship.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/A3DWWGMvUc">pic.twitter.com/A3DWWGMvUc</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1940886285498851567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a> signs GOP Tax &amp; Spending Cuts Bill.<br><br>Goes now to the president. <a href="https://t.co/xuaSF5WWzE">pic.twitter.com/xuaSF5WWzE</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1940851195502825702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Kan. GOP lawmakers celebrate passage of the Big, Beautiful Bill

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 1a.m. Thursday in Kansas City.

A northbound Ford Focus struck the pedestrian. EMS pronounced the pedestrian dead at the scene.&nbsp;The driver of the Ford was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is currently in stable condition. 

All lanes of northbound Interstate 435 were closed to traffic at 87th Street for approximately three hours.&nbsp; 

This is fatality #42 compared to #49 at this time last, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation.

<p>KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 1a.m. Thursday in Kansas City.</p><p>A northbound Ford Focus struck the pedestrian. EMS pronounced the pedestrian dead at the scene.&nbsp;The driver of the Ford was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is currently in stable condition. </p><p>All lanes of northbound Interstate 435 were closed to traffic at 87th Street for approximately three hours.&nbsp; </p><p>This is fatality #42 compared to #49 at this time last, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation.</p>

Pedestrian struck, killed on Kansas City highway

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;turned a heartland festival for the United States'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/america-250th-anniversary-independence-trump-monument-27709d81cc4842fc88ac2c4c883a576b">upcoming 250th anniversary</a>&nbsp;into a celebration of himself, basking in a crowd of supporters Thursday night shortly after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-gop-taxes-ced365c347de9320eef2ccb8df16dda2">Congress approved</a>&nbsp;tax cut legislation that he championed.

On the eve of the July 4th holiday, Trump said “there could be no better birthday present for America than the phenomenal victory we achieved just hours ago, when Congress passed the one big beautiful bill to make America great again.”

The Republican president plans to sign the legislation Friday during a picnic at the White House, while stealth bombers and fighter jets that participated in recent airstrikes in Iran fly overhead, a symbolic synthesis of the overwhelming force that he’s deployed to reshape Washington and the country.

“We’ve saved our country,” he boasted after taking the stage, pumping his fists while singer Lee Greenwood belted out Trump’s campaign trail anthem “God Bless the USA.” In addition to tax breaks, the legislation boosts funding for deportations while cutting back on healthcare and food assistance for low income people.

The event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines was the opening act for a yearlong birthday party to mark two and a half centuries of American independence. The plans will culminate next summer with a massive fair on the National Mall in Washington featuring exhibits from every state.

Organizers see the coming year of festivities as a way to help unite a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/polarization-republicans-democrats-abortion-gender-colorado-idaho-406b5a841d4d47c8a08cf054c38bb2a0">polarized nation</a>&nbsp;and bridge political divides. But Trump left no doubt during his speech that he views patriotism as inseparable from his own agenda, saying Democrats who voted against his legislation “hate our country."

U.S. Ambassador Monica Crowley, Trump’s liaison to the organizing group, America250, said in an interview that the anniversary events are “something that I think that all Americans can come together to celebrate and honor our history as well as our present and our future.”

However, when she took the stage to introduce the president, she delivered an ode to Trump, describing him as the inheritor of the country’s original revolutionary spirit.

“I don’t know what more people expect or want from an American president,” Crowley said. “He is literally fulfilling the entire job description, and so much more.”

A few thousand spectators waited for Trump for hours in 90-plus degree Fahrenheit (32 degree Celsius) heat. The audience was awash in Trump paraphernalia, including “Make America Great Again” hats, shirts that said “Ultra MAGA” and a stuffed monkey with its own miniature Trump shirt.

During the speech, Trump heard what sounded like fireworks. The anniversary of his attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, was only ten days away.

“It’s only fireworks, I hope,” he said. “Famous last words.”

Unlike a year ago, Trump was speaking from behind thick bulletproof glass.

“You always have to think positive,” he said. “I didn’t like that sound either.”

The reminder of one of the darkest moments in recent political history did little to dampen Trump’s political euphoria. He boasted about the recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the declining price of eggs, the lower number of migrants crossing the southern border with Mexico and his election victories.

“We got great marks in the first term, and this is going to blow it away," Trump said. He said he likes calling his wife Melania “first lady” because “it reminds me that I’m president.”

Trump has occasionally mused about the fortuitous timing of serving in the White House during the country's 250th anniversary, a chronological overlap that only became possible because he lost his initial bid for a second term — a defeat he's never accepted.

He promised during last year's campaign to create an epic series of festivities and convene a task force to coordinate with state and local governments. On Thursday night, he announced plans for the “Patriot Games," sports contests featuring high school athletes from across the country "to show off the best of American skill, sportsmanship and competitive spirit.”

Trump also suggesting hosting UFC matches at the White House.

A recent Gallup poll showed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patriotism-america-national-pride-decline-poll-gallup-0411dd2f28329a6b640d404db8626d3f">widest partisan split</a>&nbsp;in patriotism in over two decades, with only about a third of Democrats saying they are proud to be American, compared with about 9 in 10 Republicans.

About 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Trump’s performance as president, according to a June AP-NORC poll, while about 6 in 10 disapprove.

The Trump administration’s own cost-cutting moves this year threaten to complicate the celebrations. Reduced funding led the National Endowment for the Humanities to send letters to state humanities councils across the country saying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-cuts-humanities-america250-anniversary-doge-572cf095773c66856a1da94030ffd5a9">their federal grants had been terminated</a>. Many of those councils had been working on programming to commemorate the 250th anniversary and had already dedicated some of their federal grants for events at libraries, schools and museums.

Gabrielle Lyon, executive director of Illinois Humanities and chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission, said the cuts already have curtailed some of the planned programs, including community readings of the Declaration of Independence.

“It is very hard to understand how we can protect and preserve people’s ability locally to make this mean something for them, and to celebrate what they want to celebrate, if you’re not funding the humanities councils,” Lyon said.

AP Polling Editor Amelia Thomson DeVeaux in Washington contributed to this report. AP writers Gary Fields and Chris Megerian also contributed.

<p>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;turned a heartland festival for the United States'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/america-250th-anniversary-independence-trump-monument-27709d81cc4842fc88ac2c4c883a576b">upcoming 250th anniversary</a>&nbsp;into a celebration of himself, basking in a crowd of supporters Thursday night shortly after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-gop-taxes-ced365c347de9320eef2ccb8df16dda2">Congress approved</a>&nbsp;tax cut legislation that he championed.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: “From 1776 all the way through today, American patriots have won triumph after triumph, we’ve had victory after victory, and let nothing stand in the way of the USA.” 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/hfq0JoVIgu">pic.twitter.com/hfq0JoVIgu</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940947450841518461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“We’re going to have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there. We&#39;re gonna build a little - Dana&#39;s gonna do it... Championship fight, full fight, like 20, 25,000 people. And we&#39;re going to do that as part of A250&quot;<br>- Trump in Iowa <a href="https://t.co/5Dkam2IFWU">pic.twitter.com/5Dkam2IFWU</a></p>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1941078076903043230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: Exactly one year from tomorrow, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of America&#39;s founding...<br><br>This evening, we are officially launching &quot;AMERICA 250&quot; — an enormous, year-long, nationwide celebration of our heritage, our flag, and our glorious American freedom. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/ffQuiio1WY">pic.twitter.com/ffQuiio1WY</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940938639464452197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;As we prepare to celebrate two and a half centuries of freedom, I am inviting America’s great religious communities to pray for our nation and for our people... as we chart our course toward the next 250 years, let us rededicate ourselves to ONE NATION UNDER GOD.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ooso9kLNZf">pic.twitter.com/ooso9kLNZf</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940945209661043064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> announces the &quot;Patriot Games&quot; as part of the America 250 celebration — in which top high school athletes from all 50 states participate in a nationally televised sporting event. <a href="https://t.co/02rnXtfgzV">pic.twitter.com/02rnXtfgzV</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940942910167326808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>On the eve of the July 4th holiday, Trump said “there could be no better birthday present for America than the phenomenal victory we achieved just hours ago, when Congress passed the one big beautiful bill to make America great again.”</p><p>The Republican president plans to sign the legislation Friday during a picnic at the White House, while stealth bombers and fighter jets that participated in recent airstrikes in Iran fly overhead, a symbolic synthesis of the overwhelming force that he’s deployed to reshape Washington and the country.</p><p>“We’ve saved our country,” he boasted after taking the stage, pumping his fists while singer Lee Greenwood belted out Trump’s campaign trail anthem “God Bless the USA.” In addition to tax breaks, the legislation boosts funding for deportations while cutting back on healthcare and food assistance for low income people.</p><p>The event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines was the opening act for a yearlong birthday party to mark two and a half centuries of American independence. The plans will culminate next summer with a massive fair on the National Mall in Washington featuring exhibits from every state.</p><p>Organizers see the coming year of festivities as a way to help unite a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/polarization-republicans-democrats-abortion-gender-colorado-idaho-406b5a841d4d47c8a08cf054c38bb2a0">polarized nation</a>&nbsp;and bridge political divides. But Trump left no doubt during his speech that he views patriotism as inseparable from his own agenda, saying Democrats who voted against his legislation “hate our country."</p><p>U.S. Ambassador Monica Crowley, Trump’s liaison to the organizing group, America250, said in an interview that the anniversary events are “something that I think that all Americans can come together to celebrate and honor our history as well as our present and our future.”</p><p>However, when she took the stage to introduce the president, she delivered an ode to Trump, describing him as the inheritor of the country’s original revolutionary spirit.</p><p>“I don’t know what more people expect or want from an American president,” Crowley said. “He is literally fulfilling the entire job description, and so much more.”</p><p>A few thousand spectators waited for Trump for hours in 90-plus degree Fahrenheit (32 degree Celsius) heat. The audience was awash in Trump paraphernalia, including “Make America Great Again” hats, shirts that said “Ultra MAGA” and a stuffed monkey with its own miniature Trump shirt.</p><p>During the speech, Trump heard what sounded like fireworks. The anniversary of his attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, was only ten days away.</p><p>“It’s only fireworks, I hope,” he said. “Famous last words.”</p><p>Unlike a year ago, Trump was speaking from behind thick bulletproof glass.</p><p>“You always have to think positive,” he said. “I didn’t like that sound either.”</p><p>The reminder of one of the darkest moments in recent political history did little to dampen Trump’s political euphoria. He boasted about the recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the declining price of eggs, the lower number of migrants crossing the southern border with Mexico and his election victories.</p><p>“We got great marks in the first term, and this is going to blow it away," Trump said. He said he likes calling his wife Melania “first lady” because “it reminds me that I’m president.”</p><p>Trump has occasionally mused about the fortuitous timing of serving in the White House during the country's 250th anniversary, a chronological overlap that only became possible because he lost his initial bid for a second term — a defeat he's never accepted.</p><p>He promised during last year's campaign to create an epic series of festivities and convene a task force to coordinate with state and local governments. On Thursday night, he announced plans for the “Patriot Games," sports contests featuring high school athletes from across the country "to show off the best of American skill, sportsmanship and competitive spirit.”</p><p>Trump also suggesting hosting UFC matches at the White House.</p><p>A recent Gallup poll showed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patriotism-america-national-pride-decline-poll-gallup-0411dd2f28329a6b640d404db8626d3f">widest partisan split</a>&nbsp;in patriotism in over two decades, with only about a third of Democrats saying they are proud to be American, compared with about 9 in 10 Republicans.</p><p>About 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Trump’s performance as president, according to a June AP-NORC poll, while about 6 in 10 disapprove.</p><p>The Trump administration’s own cost-cutting moves this year threaten to complicate the celebrations. Reduced funding led the National Endowment for the Humanities to send letters to state humanities councils across the country saying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-cuts-humanities-america250-anniversary-doge-572cf095773c66856a1da94030ffd5a9">their federal grants had been terminated</a>. Many of those councils had been working on programming to commemorate the 250th anniversary and had already dedicated some of their federal grants for events at libraries, schools and museums.</p><p>Gabrielle Lyon, executive director of Illinois Humanities and chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission, said the cuts already have curtailed some of the planned programs, including community readings of the Declaration of Independence.</p><p>“It is very hard to understand how we can protect and preserve people’s ability locally to make this mean something for them, and to celebrate what they want to celebrate, if you’re not funding the humanities councils,” Lyon said.</p><p>___</p><p>AP Polling Editor Amelia Thomson DeVeaux in Washington contributed to this report. AP writers Gary Fields and Chris Megerian also contributed.</p>

🎥Trump kicks off yearlong celebration of America's 250th anniversary 

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) — Former University of Kansas and NBA player Ben McLemore has been found guilty of raping a 21-year-old woman during a lake house party attended by many of his then-teammates from the Portland Trail Blazers, a jury ruled Thursday.

The jury in Clackamas County, located directly south of Portland, found McLemore, 32, guilty of rape, unlawful sexual penetration and one count of sexual abuse. He was found not guilty on another count of sexual abuse,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kptv.com/2025/07/03/former-portland-trail-blazer-found-guilty-rape-trial/">Portland television station KGW</a>&nbsp;reported.

"We recognize there are those who fear individuals with celebrity status or a position of prominence can avoid prosecution. Not in Clackamas County. This case demonstrates my office prosecutes criminal acts regardless of the offender’s community status,” District Attorney John Wentworth said in a statement.

The charges stemmed from a party Oct. 3, 2021, at the Lake Oswego home owned by his Trail Blazers teammate Robert Covington.

Prosecutors claimed during the trial that the sexual encounter was rape, while McLemore’s attorney countered it was consensual sex.

The woman said she was incapacitated after a night of heavy drinking and was unable to give consent. Prosecutors submitted photos of the woman hovering over a toilet and then passed out on a couch,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/06/ex-trail-blazer-robert-covington-testifies-in-former-teammates-rape-trial.html">The Oregonian/Oregon Live</a>&nbsp;earlier reported.

She said she woke up at one point during the rape and froze in terror.

“I don’t know who this person is,” she testified. “This is a random person that is doing something like this to me.” The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of sexual assault.

At one point, she said she let her body slide to the floor in an effort to stop the assault. The woman testified McLemore pulled her back onto the couch and continued.

Covington earlier testified he saw the woman flirting with McLemore while they sat on a couch.

McLemore testified he was also drinking but claimed the sex was consensual. He also said he and the woman did not have a conversation before, during or after the act, after which he immediately left the home.

One of his attorneys, Kris Winemiller, said McLemore left after receiving an angry message from this then-wife, who tracked him and wanted to know why he wasn’t in their own Lake Oswego home.

Clackamas County prosecutor Scott Healy said there was no confusion. “When you look at all the surrounding circumstances and you assess the evidence in this case, I submit to you that the defendant is guilty,” he said during closing arguments Tuesday.

Another defense attorney, Lisa Maxfield, argued for McLemore’s acquittal.

“The only reasonable verdict in a case where two people get drunk and have sex and the man is drunker than the woman, the only reasonable verdict in a case like that is not guilty,” she said.

The woman said she did not hire an attorney to sue McLemore and didn’t seek money from him. Instead she pursued the criminal case because “you can’t do that to somebody, let alone somebody that you don’t know.”

McLemore, who played college at Kansas, was the seventh pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. He also played for Memphis, Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers before his last NBA season with Portland in 2021-2022.

Since then, he has played in Europe and China. Last August he signed with a team in Turkey.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751586386443.png" alt="McLemore&nbsp;Clackamas County" />
                        <figcaption>McLemore&nbsp;Clackamas County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) — Former University of Kansas and NBA player Ben McLemore has been found guilty of raping a 21-year-old woman during a lake house party attended by many of his then-teammates from the Portland Trail Blazers, a jury ruled Thursday.</p><p>The jury in Clackamas County, located directly south of Portland, found McLemore, 32, guilty of rape, unlawful sexual penetration and one count of sexual abuse. He was found not guilty on another count of sexual abuse,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kptv.com/2025/07/03/former-portland-trail-blazer-found-guilty-rape-trial/">Portland television station KGW</a>&nbsp;reported.</p><p>Sentencing was scheduled for Wednesday.</p><p>"We recognize there are those who fear individuals with celebrity status or a position of prominence can avoid prosecution. Not in Clackamas County. This case demonstrates my office prosecutes criminal acts regardless of the offender’s community status,” District Attorney John Wentworth said in a statement.</p><p>The charges stemmed from a party Oct. 3, 2021, at the Lake Oswego home owned by his Trail Blazers teammate Robert Covington.</p><p>Prosecutors claimed during the trial that the sexual encounter was rape, while McLemore’s attorney countered it was consensual sex.</p><p>The woman said she was incapacitated after a night of heavy drinking and was unable to give consent. Prosecutors submitted photos of the woman hovering over a toilet and then passed out on a couch,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/06/ex-trail-blazer-robert-covington-testifies-in-former-teammates-rape-trial.html">The Oregonian/Oregon Live</a>&nbsp;earlier reported.</p><p>She said she woke up at one point during the rape and froze in terror.</p><p>“I don’t know who this person is,” she testified. “This is a random person that is doing something like this to me.” The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of sexual assault.</p><p>At one point, she said she let her body slide to the floor in an effort to stop the assault. The woman testified McLemore pulled her back onto the couch and continued.</p><p>Covington earlier testified he saw the woman flirting with McLemore while they sat on a couch.</p><p>McLemore testified he was also drinking but claimed the sex was consensual. He also said he and the woman did not have a conversation before, during or after the act, after which he immediately left the home.</p><p>One of his attorneys, Kris Winemiller, said McLemore left after receiving an angry message from this then-wife, who tracked him and wanted to know why he wasn’t in their own Lake Oswego home.</p><p>Clackamas County prosecutor Scott Healy said there was no confusion. “When you look at all the surrounding circumstances and you assess the evidence in this case, I submit to you that the defendant is guilty,” he said during closing arguments Tuesday.</p><p>Another defense attorney, Lisa Maxfield, argued for McLemore’s acquittal.</p><p>“The only reasonable verdict in a case where two people get drunk and have sex and the man is drunker than the woman, the only reasonable verdict in a case like that is not guilty,” she said.</p><p>The woman said she did not hire an attorney to sue McLemore and didn’t seek money from him. Instead she pursued the criminal case because “you can’t do that to somebody, let alone somebody that you don’t know.”</p><p>McLemore, who played college at Kansas, was the seventh pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. He also played for Memphis, Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers before his last NBA season with Portland in 2021-2022.</p><p>Since then, he has played in Europe and China. Last August he signed with a team in Turkey.</p>

Former KU player convicted of rape, sexual assault in Oregon

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY–Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 1a.m. June 30, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Toyota Highlander on U.S. Highway 75, near 118th Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The traffic stop led to a search of the vehicle. The front seat passenger, Janette Pendleton, 54, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751298972628.png" alt="Pendleton" />
                        <figcaption>Pendleton</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY–Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.</p><p>Just after 1a.m. June 30, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Toyota Highlander on U.S. Highway 75, near 118th Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.</p><p>The traffic stop led to a search of the vehicle. The front seat passenger, Janette Pendleton, 54, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.</p>

Sheriff: Passenger caught with meth during Kan. traffic stop

<b>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a></b><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/"><i>Kansas Reflector</i></a>

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said Thursday that she and her husband of more than 40 years were granted a divorce.

She decided to speak publicly about the amicable end of her marriage because of inquiries about the status of her relationship with retired physician Ted Daughety.

Kelly, 75, said the pair remained on friendly terms before and after the divorce was finalized in October. They were married in 1983 and have two adult daughters.

“Throughout my time in public office, I’ve always guarded my family’s privacy. It’s been my policy to keep my personal life separate from my public one to the extent possible,” Kelly said.

She said it had “come to my attention that my marital status has become a topic of some speculation, so I will share that Ted and I divorced in October of 2024.”

“It was amicable and mutual, and we both continue to share in the lives of our family,” the governor said.

The Democratic governor’s brief statement was the first official confirmation of a split. The governor resides at the Topeka residence for Kansas governors known as Cedar Crest. Her family home in the Potwin neighborhood of central Topeka has been sold.

In a statement, Daughety said that “Laura and I made this decision together, based on what worked best for us and for our family.”

Kelly was elected to the Kansas Senate to represent a Topeka-area district in 2005 and remained in that job for nearly 15 years. She was elected governor in 2018 and reelected in 2022.

Daughety was a pulmonary and sleep disorder specialist who practiced medicine for decades in Kansas.

Divorce among sitting U.S. governors hasn’t been common, but Democrat John Carlin ended two marriages while serving as governor of Kansas.

Carlin took office in 1979 and received a divorce from Ramona Hawkinson in 1980. Carlin and his second wife, Karen Bigsby Hurley, were divorced in 1985 during his second term.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751579549104.png" alt=" Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said she and former Topeka physician Ted Daughety, shown together during Kelly's inauguration ceremony in 2023, have been granted a divorce. They were married in 1983 and moved to Topeka in the late 1980s. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
                        <figcaption> Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said she and former Topeka physician Ted Daughety, shown together during Kelly's inauguration ceremony in 2023, have been granted a divorce. They were married in 1983 and moved to Topeka in the late 1980s. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a></b><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/"><i>Kansas Reflector</i></a></p><p>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said Thursday that she and her husband of more than 40 years were granted a divorce.</p><p>She decided to speak publicly about the amicable end of her marriage because of inquiries about the status of her relationship with retired physician Ted Daughety.</p><p>Kelly, 75, said the pair remained on friendly terms before and after the divorce was finalized in October. They were married in 1983 and have two adult daughters.</p><p>“Throughout my time in public office, I’ve always guarded my family’s privacy. It’s been my policy to keep my personal life separate from my public one to the extent possible,” Kelly said.</p><p>She said it had “come to my attention that my marital status has become a topic of some speculation, so I will share that Ted and I divorced in October of 2024.”</p><p>“It was amicable and mutual, and we both continue to share in the lives of our family,” the governor said.</p><p>The Democratic governor’s brief statement was the first official confirmation of a split. The governor resides at the Topeka residence for Kansas governors known as Cedar Crest. Her family home in the Potwin neighborhood of central Topeka has been sold.</p><p>In a statement, Daughety said that “Laura and I made this decision together, based on what worked best for us and for our family.”</p><p>Kelly was elected to the Kansas Senate to represent a Topeka-area district in 2005 and remained in that job for nearly 15 years. She was elected governor in 2018 and reelected in 2022.</p><p>Daughety was a pulmonary and sleep disorder specialist who practiced medicine for decades in Kansas.</p><p>Divorce among sitting U.S. governors hasn’t been common, but Democrat John Carlin ended two marriages while serving as governor of Kansas.</p><p>Carlin took office in 1979 and received a divorce from Ramona Hawkinson in 1980. Carlin and his second wife, Karen Bigsby Hurley, were divorced in 1985 during his second term.</p>

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly confirms divorce from spouse of more than 40 years

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans propelled President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">$4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;to final congressional passage Thursday, overcoming multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package before a Fourth of July deadline.

The tight roll call, 218-214, came at a potentially high political cost, with two Republicans joining all Democrats opposed. As expected, the three Kansas GOP lawmakers voted with the majority.

GOP leaders worked overnight and the president himself leaned on a handful of skeptics to drop their opposition and send the bill to him to sign into law. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York delayed voting by holding the floor for more than eight hours with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffries-trump-record-speech-house-tax-bill-f75825c61f0cb75f294c9eb25b739306">record-breaking speech</a>&nbsp;against the bill.

“We have a big job to finish,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speaker-johnson-trump-tax-bill-christian-prayer-f82ed140d9110d5cc7b4029b681ea9eb">House Speaker Mike Johnson</a>, R-La. “With one big beautiful bill we are going to make this country stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before.”

The outcome delivers a milestone for the president, by his Friday goal, and for his party,. It was a long-shot effort to compile a lengthy list of GOP priorities into what they called his “one big beautiful bill,” an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-119hr1eas.pdf">800-plus page measure</a>. With Democrats unified in opposition, the bill will become a defining measure of Trump's return to the White House, aided by Republican control of Congress.

At its core, the package's priority is $4.5 trillion in tax breaks enacted in 2017 during Trump's first term that would expire if Congress failed to act, along with new ones. This includes allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and a $6,000&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-big-bill-tax-social-security-adea287e00c7c553f69f3667d3ef78cc">deduction for most older adults</a>&nbsp;earning less than $75,000 a year.

There's also a hefty investment, some $350 billion, in national security and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-enforcement-deportation-public-polling-df7d0d35dfa031e1444bfa9e9e0b13bd">Trump's deportation agenda</a>&nbsp;and to help develop the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-dome-missile-defense-trump-space-e74d637feac06edcfde79214d8acf179">“Golden Dome”</a>&nbsp;defensive system over the U.S.

To help offset the lost tax revenue, the package includes $1.2 trillion in cutbacks to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gop-bill-trump-medicaid-cuts-coverage-health-bb4f090d2706ffb3d5652e70f246a10e">the Medicaid health care</a>&nbsp;and food stamps, largely by imposing new work requirements, including for some parents and older people, and a major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-republican-tax-credits-wind-solar-trump-ceb3bd36c25017e29fccdcc4c749391f">rollback of green energy tax credits</a>.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-big-beautiful-bill-trump-republican-deficit-debt-d432b67a965790e4a26de46ea8db1266">nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimates the package will add&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-trump-tax-bill-republicans-senate-5f591bea21bd95eec45ba90c93c50687">$3.3 trillion to the deficit</a>&nbsp;over the decade and 11.8 million more people will go without health coverage.

"This was a generational opportunity to deliver the most comprehensive and consequential set of conservative reforms in modern history, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, the House Budget Committee chairman.

Democrats unified against the bill as a tax giveaway to the rich paid for on the backs of the working class and most vulnerable in society, what they called “trickle down cruelty.” Tensions ran high in the chamber.

Jeffries began the speech at 4:53 a.m. EDT and finished at 1:37 p.m. EDT, 8 hours, 44 minutes later, a record, as he argued against what he called Trump’s “big ugly bill.”

“We’re better than this,” Jeffries said, who used a leader's prerogative for unlimited debate and read letter after letter from Americans writing about their reliance of the health care programs.

“I never thought that I’d be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene," Jeffries said.

“It’s a crime scene, going after the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people."

And as Democrats, he said, "We want no part of it.”

Hauling the package through the Congress has been difficult from the start. Republicans have struggled mightily with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/johnson-trump-republicans-budget-vote-tax-cuts-4cb74ca15f6a74a7344355e4507ab9fe">the bill</a>&nbsp;nearly every step of the way quarreling in the House and Senate, and often succeeding only by the narrowest of margins: just one vote.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://i%20never%20thought%20that%20i'd%20be%20on%20the%20house%20floor%20saying%20that%20this%20is%20a%20crime%20scene.%20and%20house%20democrats%20want%20no%20part%20of%20it.%20...%20it's%20a%20crime%20scene,%20going%20after%20the%20health,%20and%20the%20safety,%20and%20the%20wellbeing%20of%20the%20american%20people.%20and%20mr.%20speaker,%20we%20want%20no%20part%20of%20i/">Senate passed the package days earlier</a>&nbsp;with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie vote. The slim majority in the House left Republicans little room for defections.

Despite their discomfort with various aspects of the sprawling package, in some ways it became too big to fail — in part because Republicans found it difficult to buck Trump.

As Wednesday's stalled floor action dragged overnight Trump railed against the delays.

“What are the Republicans waiting for???" the president said in a midnight post. "What are you trying to prove???”

Johnson relied heavily on White House Cabinet secretaries, lawyers and others to satisfy skeptical GOP holdouts. Moderate Republicans worried about the severity of cuts while conservatives pressed for steeper reductions. Lawmakers said they were being told the administration could provide executive actions, projects or other provisions in their districts back home.

The alternative was clear. Republicans who staked out opposition to the bill, including Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kentucky-thomas-massie-primary-iran-55252ce7fbda9c27f6fbd9123927b1b4">being warned</a>&nbsp;by Trump’s well-funded political operation. Tillis soon after announced he would not seek reelection.

In many ways, the package is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-bill-medicaid-tax-cuts-bec87c569760ed979ac8c34cccba186b">repudiation of the agendas</a>&nbsp;of the last two Democratic presidents, a chiseling away at the Medicaid expansion from Barack Obama's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-obamacare-preventive-care-health-care-d81aa3b66b94642dceafb3e51be9a319">Affordable Care Act</a>, and a pullback of Joe Biden's climate change strategies in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-climate-health-tax-law-economy-inflation-f112d7c78abaa724d22964317d213deb">Inflation Reduction Act</a>.

Democrats have described the bill in dire terms, warning that cuts to Medicaid, which some 80 million Americans rely on, would result in lives lost. Food stamps that help feed more than 40 million people would "rip food from the mouths of hungry children, hungry veterans and hungry seniors,” Jeffries said.

Republicans say the tax breaks will prevent a tax hike on households and grow the economy. They maintain they are trying to rightsize the safety net programs for the population they were initially designed to serve, mainly pregnant women, the disabled and children, and root out what they describe as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-waste-fraud-abuse-635b1419014a43e061f548c9713860c4">waste, fraud and abuse</a>.

The Tax Policy Center, which provides nonpartisan analysis of tax and budget policy, projected the bill would result next year in a $150 tax break for the lowest quintile of Americans, a $1,750 tax cut for the middle quintile and a $10,950 tax cut for the top quintile. That's compared with what they would face if the 2017 tax cuts expired.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751536761079.png" alt="As House Speaker Mike Johnson looks on, Kansas 4th District Rep. Ron Estes speaks during the overnight session in the House on the battle to pass the Big, Beautiful Bill-image courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>As House Speaker Mike Johnson looks on, Kansas 4th District Rep. Ron Estes speaks during the overnight session in the House on the battle to pass the Big, Beautiful Bill-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans propelled President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">$4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;to final congressional passage Thursday, overcoming multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package before a Fourth of July deadline.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">✅ The House of Representatives just officially PASSED the One Big Beautiful Bill.<br><br>The largest middle-class tax cut in American history — and so much more — is on its way to President Trump&#39;s desk.<br><br>MAGA! <a href="https://t.co/V3U8xhenrS">pic.twitter.com/V3U8xhenrS</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940841386305319258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">VICTORY: The One Big Beautiful Bill Passes U.S. Congress, Heads to President Trump’s Desk 🇺🇸🎉 <a href="https://t.co/d1nbOlL21G">pic.twitter.com/d1nbOlL21G</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1940840879075611037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>The tight roll call, 218-214, came at a potentially high political cost, with two Republicans joining all Democrats opposed. As expected, the three Kansas GOP lawmakers voted with the majority.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This bill delivers on what Americans voted for in November - it&#39;s time to pass the One Big, Beautiful Bill. <br> <a href="https://t.co/Kj4LlnSq24">pic.twitter.com/Kj4LlnSq24</a></p>&mdash; Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1940736458027159886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>GOP leaders worked overnight and the president himself leaned on a handful of skeptics to drop their opposition and send the bill to him to sign into law. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York delayed voting by holding the floor for more than eight hours with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffries-trump-record-speech-house-tax-bill-f75825c61f0cb75f294c9eb25b739306">record-breaking speech</a>&nbsp;against the bill.</p><p>“We have a big job to finish,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speaker-johnson-trump-tax-bill-christian-prayer-f82ed140d9110d5cc7b4029b681ea9eb">House Speaker Mike Johnson</a>, R-La. “With one big beautiful bill we are going to make this country stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before.”</p><p>The outcome delivers a milestone for the president, by his Friday goal, and for his party,. It was a long-shot effort to compile a lengthy list of GOP priorities into what they called his “one big beautiful bill,” an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-119hr1eas.pdf">800-plus page measure</a>. With Democrats unified in opposition, the bill will become a defining measure of Trump's return to the White House, aided by Republican control of Congress.</p><h2>Tax breaks and safety net cuts</h2><p>At its core, the package's priority is $4.5 trillion in tax breaks enacted in 2017 during Trump's first term that would expire if Congress failed to act, along with new ones. This includes allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and a $6,000&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-big-bill-tax-social-security-adea287e00c7c553f69f3667d3ef78cc">deduction for most older adults</a>&nbsp;earning less than $75,000 a year.</p><p>There's also a hefty investment, some $350 billion, in national security and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-enforcement-deportation-public-polling-df7d0d35dfa031e1444bfa9e9e0b13bd">Trump's deportation agenda</a>&nbsp;and to help develop the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-dome-missile-defense-trump-space-e74d637feac06edcfde79214d8acf179">“Golden Dome”</a>&nbsp;defensive system over the U.S.</p><p>To help offset the lost tax revenue, the package includes $1.2 trillion in cutbacks to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gop-bill-trump-medicaid-cuts-coverage-health-bb4f090d2706ffb3d5652e70f246a10e">the Medicaid health care</a>&nbsp;and food stamps, largely by imposing new work requirements, including for some parents and older people, and a major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-republican-tax-credits-wind-solar-trump-ceb3bd36c25017e29fccdcc4c749391f">rollback of green energy tax credits</a>.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-big-beautiful-bill-trump-republican-deficit-debt-d432b67a965790e4a26de46ea8db1266">nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimates the package will add&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-trump-tax-bill-republicans-senate-5f591bea21bd95eec45ba90c93c50687">$3.3 trillion to the deficit</a>&nbsp;over the decade and 11.8 million more people will go without health coverage.</p><p>"This was a generational opportunity to deliver the most comprehensive and consequential set of conservative reforms in modern history, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, the House Budget Committee chairman.</p><h2>Democrats united against ‘ugly bill’</h2><p>Democrats unified against the bill as a tax giveaway to the rich paid for on the backs of the working class and most vulnerable in society, what they called “trickle down cruelty.” Tensions ran high in the chamber.</p><p>Jeffries began the speech at 4:53 a.m. EDT and finished at 1:37 p.m. EDT, 8 hours, 44 minutes later, a record, as he argued against what he called Trump’s “big ugly bill.”</p><p>“We’re better than this,” Jeffries said, who used a leader's prerogative for unlimited debate and read letter after letter from Americans writing about their reliance of the health care programs.</p><p>“I never thought that I’d be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene," Jeffries said.</p><p>“It’s a crime scene, going after the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people."</p><p>And as Democrats, he said, "We want no part of it.”</p><p>Hauling the package through the Congress has been difficult from the start. Republicans have struggled mightily with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/johnson-trump-republicans-budget-vote-tax-cuts-4cb74ca15f6a74a7344355e4507ab9fe">the bill</a>&nbsp;nearly every step of the way quarreling in the House and Senate, and often succeeding only by the narrowest of margins: just one vote.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://i%20never%20thought%20that%20i'd%20be%20on%20the%20house%20floor%20saying%20that%20this%20is%20a%20crime%20scene.%20and%20house%20democrats%20want%20no%20part%20of%20it.%20...%20it's%20a%20crime%20scene,%20going%20after%20the%20health,%20and%20the%20safety,%20and%20the%20wellbeing%20of%20the%20american%20people.%20and%20mr.%20speaker,%20we%20want%20no%20part%20of%20i/">Senate passed the package days earlier</a>&nbsp;with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie vote. The slim majority in the House left Republicans little room for defections.</p><h2>Political costs of saying no</h2><p>Despite their discomfort with various aspects of the sprawling package, in some ways it became too big to fail — in part because Republicans found it difficult to buck Trump.</p><p>As Wednesday's stalled floor action dragged overnight Trump railed against the delays.</p><p>“What are the Republicans waiting for???" the president said in a midnight post. "What are you trying to prove???”</p><p>Johnson relied heavily on White House Cabinet secretaries, lawyers and others to satisfy skeptical GOP holdouts. Moderate Republicans worried about the severity of cuts while conservatives pressed for steeper reductions. Lawmakers said they were being told the administration could provide executive actions, projects or other provisions in their districts back home.</p><p>The alternative was clear. Republicans who staked out opposition to the bill, including Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kentucky-thomas-massie-primary-iran-55252ce7fbda9c27f6fbd9123927b1b4">being warned</a>&nbsp;by Trump’s well-funded political operation. Tillis soon after announced he would not seek reelection.</p><h2>Rollback of past presidential agendas</h2><p>In many ways, the package is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-bill-medicaid-tax-cuts-bec87c569760ed979ac8c34cccba186b">repudiation of the agendas</a>&nbsp;of the last two Democratic presidents, a chiseling away at the Medicaid expansion from Barack Obama's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-obamacare-preventive-care-health-care-d81aa3b66b94642dceafb3e51be9a319">Affordable Care Act</a>, and a pullback of Joe Biden's climate change strategies in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-climate-health-tax-law-economy-inflation-f112d7c78abaa724d22964317d213deb">Inflation Reduction Act</a>.</p><p>Democrats have described the bill in dire terms, warning that cuts to Medicaid, which some 80 million Americans rely on, would result in lives lost. Food stamps that help feed more than 40 million people would "rip food from the mouths of hungry children, hungry veterans and hungry seniors,” Jeffries said.</p><p>Republicans say the tax breaks will prevent a tax hike on households and grow the economy. They maintain they are trying to rightsize the safety net programs for the population they were initially designed to serve, mainly pregnant women, the disabled and children, and root out what they describe as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-waste-fraud-abuse-635b1419014a43e061f548c9713860c4">waste, fraud and abuse</a>.</p><p>The Tax Policy Center, which provides nonpartisan analysis of tax and budget policy, projected the bill would result next year in a $150 tax break for the lowest quintile of Americans, a $1,750 tax cut for the middle quintile and a $10,950 tax cut for the top quintile. That's compared with what they would face if the 2017 tax cuts expired.</p><p>___</p>

Kansas GOP lawmakers help House pass Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill

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

Just before 4a.m. Thursday, crews responded to a reported apartment fire in the 2700 block of E 30th Street in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Crews reported smoke and fire showing from a two-story occupied apartment building on arrival. Searches of the structure were conducted. The fire was brought under control just after 4:30 a.m. One occupant was treated for smoke inhalation on scene but declined transport to the hospital. The Red Cross has been ordered for 7 adults and 3 children.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751567656218.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CIty —Authorities are working to determine the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City.</p><p>Just before 4a.m. Thursday, crews responded to a reported apartment fire in the 2700 block of E 30th Street in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.</p><p>Crews reported smoke and fire showing from a two-story occupied apartment building on arrival. Searches of the structure were conducted. The fire was brought under control just after 4:30 a.m. One occupant was treated for smoke inhalation on scene but declined transport to the hospital. The Red Cross has been ordered for 7 adults and 3 children.&nbsp;</p>

Fire at KC apartment while 7 adults, 3 children were sleeping

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks climbed further into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-japan-tariffs-rates-b9723d20a05804798618c28d9a90d172">record heights</a>&nbsp;on Thursday after a report showed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-unemployment-trump-tariff-hiring-1d0ff530d9704e1dd5f4c08205dc0d21">U.S. job market looks stronger</a>&nbsp;than Wall Street expected.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.8% and set an all-time high for the fourth time in five days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 344 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%.

The market’s gains were widespread, and companies whose profits can get the biggest boosts when workers are feeling confident helped lead the way. Expedia climbed 3.2%, and Norwegian Cruise Line steamed 2.9% higher.

Bank stocks were also strong, with Citigroup up 2.3%, and JPMorgan Chase up 1.9%.

The reaction was bigger in the bond market following the report from the U.S. government, which said employers added 147,000 more jobs to their payrolls last month than they cut. The unexpected acceleration in hiring signals the U.S. job market is holding up despite worries about how&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-trump-trade-6ea513a44876c2f4dc948a25c15b0eb0">President Donald Trump’s tariffs</a>&nbsp;may hurt the economy and inflation.

“There is nothing to complain about here,” according to Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics. “You cannot find any evidence of a nascent recession in these figures.”

A separate report, meanwhile, said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobless-claims-unemployment-benefits-layoffs-labor-afc0c74ae1b5aab6f7d374523b9ec034">fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week</a>, an indication of easing layoffs.

Yields jumped in the bond market as investors bet the better-than-expected data could keep the Federal Reserve on hold when it comes to interest rates, instead of cutting them like Trump has loudly been calling for.

Traders in the futures market now see less than a 5% chance that the Fed could cut its main interest rate at its next meeting later this month. That’s down sharply from the nearly 24% chance they saw just a day earlier, according to data from CME Group.

The Fed’s chair, Jerome Powell, has been insisting that he wants to wait and see how Trump’s tariffs affect the economy and inflation before making its next move. While lower rates give a boost to the economy by making it easier to borrow money, they can also give inflation more fuel. And that could be dangerous if Trump’s tariffs are about to send inflation higher.

Many of Trump’s stiff proposed taxes on imports are currently on pause, but they’re scheduled to kick in next week unless Trump reaches deals with other countries to lower them.

Many U.S. companies in the services industries are still saying they’re concerned about the impacts of tariffs, even if they returned to growth last month following May’s contraction, according to the most recent survey by the Institute for Supply Management.

“Increased cost from tariffs and the potential for tariffs is impacting cost increases,” one company in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry said in the survey.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.34% from 4.30% late Wednesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which moves more closely with expectations for the Fed, jumped even more. It climbed to 3.88% from 3.78%.

On Wall Street, Datadog rallied 14.9% after learning that its stock will join the widely followed S&amp;P 500 index before trading begins on Wednesday. Many managers of funds either directly mimic or at least compare themselves against the S&amp;P 500, which drives investment into any stock that joins the index.

Datadog will replace Juniper Networks, which combined with Hewlett Packard Enterprise in a merger.

On the losing side of Wall Street were companies that can feel pain from interest rates staying high.

Homebuilders would like rates to fall in order to make mortgages cheaper to get, for example, and Lennar sank 4.1%, while D.R. Horton dropped 2.7%.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 51.93 points to 6,279.35. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 344.11 to 44,828.53, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 207.97 to 20,601.10.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. South Korea’s Kospi climbed 1.3%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.6% for two of the bigger moves.

<p>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks climbed further into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-japan-tariffs-rates-b9723d20a05804798618c28d9a90d172">record heights</a>&nbsp;on Thursday after a report showed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-unemployment-trump-tariff-hiring-1d0ff530d9704e1dd5f4c08205dc0d21">U.S. job market looks stronger</a>&nbsp;than Wall Street expected.</p><p>The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.8% and set an all-time high for the fourth time in five days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 344 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%.</p><p>The market’s gains were widespread, and companies whose profits can get the biggest boosts when workers are feeling confident helped lead the way. Expedia climbed 3.2%, and Norwegian Cruise Line steamed 2.9% higher.</p><p>Bank stocks were also strong, with Citigroup up 2.3%, and JPMorgan Chase up 1.9%.</p><p>The reaction was bigger in the bond market following the report from the U.S. government, which said employers added 147,000 more jobs to their payrolls last month than they cut. The unexpected acceleration in hiring signals the U.S. job market is holding up despite worries about how&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-trump-trade-6ea513a44876c2f4dc948a25c15b0eb0">President Donald Trump’s tariffs</a>&nbsp;may hurt the economy and inflation.</p><p>“There is nothing to complain about here,” according to Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics. “You cannot find any evidence of a nascent recession in these figures.”</p><p>A separate report, meanwhile, said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobless-claims-unemployment-benefits-layoffs-labor-afc0c74ae1b5aab6f7d374523b9ec034">fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week</a>, an indication of easing layoffs.</p><p>Yields jumped in the bond market as investors bet the better-than-expected data could keep the Federal Reserve on hold when it comes to interest rates, instead of cutting them like Trump has loudly been calling for.</p><p>Traders in the futures market now see less than a 5% chance that the Fed could cut its main interest rate at its next meeting later this month. That’s down sharply from the nearly 24% chance they saw just a day earlier, according to data from CME Group.</p><p>The Fed’s chair, Jerome Powell, has been insisting that he wants to wait and see how Trump’s tariffs affect the economy and inflation before making its next move. While lower rates give a boost to the economy by making it easier to borrow money, they can also give inflation more fuel. And that could be dangerous if Trump’s tariffs are about to send inflation higher.</p><p>Many of Trump’s stiff proposed taxes on imports are currently on pause, but they’re scheduled to kick in next week unless Trump reaches deals with other countries to lower them.</p><p>Many U.S. companies in the services industries are still saying they’re concerned about the impacts of tariffs, even if they returned to growth last month following May’s contraction, according to the most recent survey by the Institute for Supply Management.</p><p>“Increased cost from tariffs and the potential for tariffs is impacting cost increases,” one company in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry said in the survey.</p><p>The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.34% from 4.30% late Wednesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which moves more closely with expectations for the Fed, jumped even more. It climbed to 3.88% from 3.78%.</p><p>On Wall Street, Datadog rallied 14.9% after learning that its stock will join the widely followed S&amp;P 500 index before trading begins on Wednesday. Many managers of funds either directly mimic or at least compare themselves against the S&amp;P 500, which drives investment into any stock that joins the index.</p><p>Datadog will replace Juniper Networks, which combined with Hewlett Packard Enterprise in a merger.</p><p>On the losing side of Wall Street were companies that can feel pain from interest rates staying high.</p><p>Homebuilders would like rates to fall in order to make mortgages cheaper to get, for example, and Lennar sank 4.1%, while D.R. Horton dropped 2.7%.</p><p>All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 51.93 points to 6,279.35. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 344.11 to 44,828.53, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 207.97 to 20,601.10.</p><p>In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. South Korea’s Kospi climbed 1.3%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.6% for two of the bigger moves.</p>

US stocks set another record on signals the US economy is solid

RENO COUNTY —The Hutchinson Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying an unidentified woman whose remains were discovered earlier this year on the city’s east side, according to a media release from police.

On January 2, 2025, officers responded to a call about a deceased person in the 1600 block of East 1st Avenue. When they arrived, they found human remains at the location. The scene was secured and processed, and the remains were sent to the Johnson County Medical Examiner’s Office for further examination.

So far, investigators say the cause of death remains undetermined. However, they have found no signs of trauma prior to death. Forensic analysis indicates the woman—currently referred to as Jane Doe—is likely a Caucasian female, probably over 50 years old, with wavy or slightly curly brown hair that has gray streaks. Investigators believe she may have been deceased for six months to a year before she was found.

A dental examination revealed that the woman had severe dental issues, including badly worn, fractured, and decayed teeth—details that may help identify her.

Despite months of investigative work, the woman’s identity remains unknown. The Hutchinson Police Department says they are committed to finding answers for Jane Doe and providing closure for her family and loved ones.

Anyone with information that may help identify her is encouraged to contact the Hutchinson Police Department at 620-694-2822, their local law enforcement agency, or Crime Stoppers of Reno County at 800-222-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the P3Tips App or by texting RENOKS to 738477 to receive a link to an anonymous form. Standard message rates may apply.

The investigation is ongoing, and police say more information will be released as it becomes available.

<p>RENO COUNTY —The Hutchinson Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying an unidentified woman whose remains were discovered earlier this year on the city’s east side, according to a media release from police.</p><p>On January 2, 2025, officers responded to a call about a deceased person in the 1600 block of East 1st Avenue. When they arrived, they found human remains at the location. The scene was secured and processed, and the remains were sent to the Johnson County Medical Examiner’s Office for further examination.</p><p>So far, investigators say the cause of death remains undetermined. However, they have found no signs of trauma prior to death. Forensic analysis indicates the woman—currently referred to as Jane Doe—is likely a Caucasian female, probably over 50 years old, with wavy or slightly curly brown hair that has gray streaks. Investigators believe she may have been deceased for six months to a year before she was found.</p><p>A dental examination revealed that the woman had severe dental issues, including badly worn, fractured, and decayed teeth—details that may help identify her.</p><p>Despite months of investigative work, the woman’s identity remains unknown. The Hutchinson Police Department says they are committed to finding answers for Jane Doe and providing closure for her family and loved ones.</p><p>Anyone with information that may help identify her is encouraged to contact the Hutchinson Police Department at 620-694-2822, their local law enforcement agency, or Crime Stoppers of Reno County at 800-222-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the P3Tips App or by texting RENOKS to 738477 to receive a link to an anonymous form. Standard message rates may apply.</p><p>The investigation is ongoing, and police say more information will be released as it becomes available.</p>

Police still working to ID remains of woman found in January

MCPHERSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged online threats against children in McPherson County.

Just before 7p.m. Wednesday, the Marquette, Kansas Police department learned of a video posted on TikTok threatening harm to children who attend the Marquette Learning Center,&nbsp;310 Swedonia Street in the City of Marquette, according to a media release from the McPherson County Sheriff.

Following an investigation, deputies identified a suspect. According to online booking records, 53-year-old Steven Patrick of Marquette was arrested&nbsp; on requested charges of aggravated criminal threat and criminal threat.&nbsp;

An officer was assigned to the Learning Center during normal business hours Thursday to ensure safety of the children and staff, according to the sheriff's office.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751556875146.png" alt="Patrick. photo McPherson County" />
                        <figcaption>Patrick. photo McPherson County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>MCPHERSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged online threats against children in McPherson County.</p><p>Just before 7p.m. Wednesday, the Marquette, Kansas Police department learned of a video posted on TikTok threatening harm to children who attend the Marquette Learning Center,&nbsp;310 Swedonia Street in the City of Marquette, according to a media release from the McPherson County Sheriff.</p><p>Following an investigation, deputies identified a suspect. According to online booking records, 53-year-old Steven Patrick of Marquette was arrested&nbsp; on requested charges of aggravated criminal threat and criminal threat.&nbsp;</p><p>An officer was assigned to the Learning Center during normal business hours Thursday to ensure safety of the children and staff, according to the sheriff's office.</p>

Sheriff: Kansas man made social media threat to harm children

WASHINGTON (AP) — There’s no filibuster in the House, but Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries essentially conducted one anyway.

Jeffries held the House floor for more than eight hours Thursday, taking his “sweet time” with a marathon floor speech that delayed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-7-3-2025">passage</a>&nbsp;of Republicans’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">massive tax and spending cuts legislation</a>&nbsp;and gave his minority party a lengthy spotlight to excoriate what he called an “immoral” bill.

As Democratic leader, Jeffries can speak for as long as he wants during debate on legislation — hence its nickname on Capitol Hill, the “magic minute," that lasts as long as leaders are speaking.

He began the speech at 4:53 a.m. EDT, and was on pace to break the record set by then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in 2021, when he was the GOP leader. McCarthy spoke for 8 hours, 32 minutes when he angrily&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-donald-trump-joe-biden-kevin-mccarthy-congress-4e62762dee96af071d139ac9d4624b01">criticized Democrats’ “Build Back Better” legislation</a>, breaking a record set by Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2e040c93cda0458e9b73dfb3b11ac4aa">she spoke about immigration</a>&nbsp;for 8 hours, 7 minutes in 2018.

“I feel an obligation, Mr. Speaker, to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time,” Jeffries said as he opened.

The speech pushed a final vote on Republican President Donald Trump's tax bill, initially expected in the early morning, into the daylight hours. The New York Democrat used the time to criticize the bill’s health care and food aid cuts, tax breaks for the wealthy and rollbacks to renewable energy programs, among other parts of the bill that Democrats decry.

He also killed time by riffing on hip-hop, King George III and his own life story, among other diversions. He called out Republicans who have voiced concerns about the bill, read stories from people concerned about their health care from those GOP lawmakers’ districts and praised his own members, some of whom sat behind him and cheered, clapped, laughed and joined hands.

“This reckless Republican budget is an immoral document, and that is why I stand here on the floor of the House of Representatives with my colleagues in the House Democratic caucus to stand up and push back against it with everything we have,” Jeffries said.

Jeffries sneaked small bites of food and drank liquids to boost his energy, but did not leave the chamber or his podium. The speech would be over if he did.

Democrats were powerless to stop the huge bill, which Republicans are passing by using an obscure budget procedure that bypasses the Senate filibuster. So they were using the powers they do have, mostly to delay. In the Senate, Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York forced Senate clerks to read the bill for almost 16 hours over the weekend.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., similarly gained attention in April when he spoke for more than 25 hours on the Senate floor and broke the record for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cory-booker-new-jersey-senator-speech-ab573bb7c3c76fa107cacac7136d3823">longest continuous Senate floor speech</a>&nbsp;in the chamber’s history. Booker was assisted by fellow Democrats who gave him a break from speaking by asking him questions on the Senate floor, but Jeffries’ “magic minute” did not allow for any interaction with other members.

Republicans who were sitting on the floor when Jeffries started trickled out, leaving half the chamber empty. And as they anxiously awaited their vote, some mocked him on social media.

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — There’s no filibuster in the House, but Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries essentially conducted one anyway.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY, <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJeffries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJeffries</a>) concludes his record-setting floor speech (8 hrs. 44 min.): <br><br>&quot;No matter the outcome on this single day, we&#39;re going to press on...we&#39;re going to press on for our children,<br>press on for our seniors,<br>press on for our… <a href="https://t.co/Q2I7YQnyaP">pic.twitter.com/Q2I7YQnyaP</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1940829573647663207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here&#39;s the moment Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) set the record for longest floor speech in the U.S. House of Representatives. <a href="https://t.co/2IT8Hwx2Ax">pic.twitter.com/2IT8Hwx2Ax</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1940826628784902333?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Jeffries held the House floor for more than eight hours Thursday, taking his “sweet time” with a marathon floor speech that delayed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-7-3-2025">passage</a>&nbsp;of Republicans’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">massive tax and spending cuts legislation</a>&nbsp;and gave his minority party a lengthy spotlight to excoriate what he called an “immoral” bill.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;MAGIC MINUTE&quot; RECORD:<br><br>On Nov. 18-19, 2021, then Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy spoke on the House floor for a record 8 hours and 32 minutes.<br><br>Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries began his floor remarks at 4:53am ET – 8 hours and 33 minutes ago. <a href="https://t.co/jHjfBs6njh">pic.twitter.com/jHjfBs6njh</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1940824776798621849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>As Democratic leader, Jeffries can speak for as long as he wants during debate on legislation — hence its nickname on Capitol Hill, the “magic minute," that lasts as long as leaders are speaking.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/G3gpC9zbgi">pic.twitter.com/G3gpC9zbgi</a></p>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1940828336877719972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>He began the speech at 4:53 a.m. EDT, and was on pace to break the record set by then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in 2021, when he was the GOP leader. McCarthy spoke for 8 hours, 32 minutes when he angrily&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-donald-trump-joe-biden-kevin-mccarthy-congress-4e62762dee96af071d139ac9d4624b01">criticized Democrats’ “Build Back Better” legislation</a>, breaking a record set by Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2e040c93cda0458e9b73dfb3b11ac4aa">she spoke about immigration</a>&nbsp;for 8 hours, 7 minutes in 2018.</p><p>“I feel an obligation, Mr. Speaker, to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time,” Jeffries said as he opened.</p><p>The speech pushed a final vote on Republican President Donald Trump's tax bill, initially expected in the early morning, into the daylight hours. The New York Democrat used the time to criticize the bill’s health care and food aid cuts, tax breaks for the wealthy and rollbacks to renewable energy programs, among other parts of the bill that Democrats decry.</p><p>He also killed time by riffing on hip-hop, King George III and his own life story, among other diversions. He called out Republicans who have voiced concerns about the bill, read stories from people concerned about their health care from those GOP lawmakers’ districts and praised his own members, some of whom sat behind him and cheered, clapped, laughed and joined hands.</p><p>“This reckless Republican budget is an immoral document, and that is why I stand here on the floor of the House of Representatives with my colleagues in the House Democratic caucus to stand up and push back against it with everything we have,” Jeffries said.</p><p>Jeffries sneaked small bites of food and drank liquids to boost his energy, but did not leave the chamber or his podium. The speech would be over if he did.</p><p>Democrats were powerless to stop the huge bill, which Republicans are passing by using an obscure budget procedure that bypasses the Senate filibuster. So they were using the powers they do have, mostly to delay. In the Senate, Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York forced Senate clerks to read the bill for almost 16 hours over the weekend.</p><p>Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., similarly gained attention in April when he spoke for more than 25 hours on the Senate floor and broke the record for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cory-booker-new-jersey-senator-speech-ab573bb7c3c76fa107cacac7136d3823">longest continuous Senate floor speech</a>&nbsp;in the chamber’s history. Booker was assisted by fellow Democrats who gave him a break from speaking by asking him questions on the Senate floor, but Jeffries’ “magic minute” did not allow for any interaction with other members.</p><p>Republicans who were sitting on the floor when Jeffries started trickled out, leaving half the chamber empty. And as they anxiously awaited their vote, some mocked him on social media.</p>

🎥Rep. Jeffries sets record for longest House speech to delay Trump's tax bill

LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — Two elderly female tourists in Zambia were killed by an elephant Thursday while on a walking safari in a national park, police said.

Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said the victims — 68-year-old Easton Janet Taylor from the U.K. and 67-year-old Alison Jean Taylor from New Zealand — were attacked by a female elephant that was with a calf.

Safari guides who were with the group attempted to stop the elephant from charging at the women by firing shots at it, police said. The elephant was hit and wounded by the gunshots. The guides were unable to prevent the elephant’s attack and both women died at the scene, police said.

It happened at the South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, around 600 kilometers (370 miles) from the capital, Lusaka.

Female elephants are very protective of their calves and can respond aggressively to what they perceive as threats.

Last year, two American tourists&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zambia-elephant-kills-american-minnesota-tourist-87be84fb8c1796a8d426871bf2ad0629">were killed in separate encounters</a>&nbsp;with elephants in different parts of Zambia. In both cases, the tourists were also elderly women and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zambia-tourist-elephant-attack-101c3fe49ada3ad4d6ab4605e63a3641">were on a safari vehicle</a>&nbsp;when they were attacked.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751559785082.png" alt="File photo courtesy South Luangwa National Park " />
                        <figcaption>File photo courtesy South Luangwa National Park </figcaption>
                    </figure><p>LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — Two elderly female tourists in Zambia were killed by an elephant Thursday while on a walking safari in a national park, police said.</p><p>Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said the victims — 68-year-old Easton Janet Taylor from the U.K. and 67-year-old Alison Jean Taylor from New Zealand — were attacked by a female elephant that was with a calf.</p><p>Safari guides who were with the group attempted to stop the elephant from charging at the women by firing shots at it, police said. The elephant was hit and wounded by the gunshots. The guides were unable to prevent the elephant’s attack and both women died at the scene, police said.</p><p>It happened at the South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, around 600 kilometers (370 miles) from the capital, Lusaka.</p><p>Female elephants are very protective of their calves and can respond aggressively to what they perceive as threats.</p><p>Last year, two American tourists&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zambia-elephant-kills-american-minnesota-tourist-87be84fb8c1796a8d426871bf2ad0629">were killed in separate encounters</a>&nbsp;with elephants in different parts of Zambia. In both cases, the tourists were also elderly women and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zambia-tourist-elephant-attack-101c3fe49ada3ad4d6ab4605e63a3641">were on a safari vehicle</a>&nbsp;when they were attacked.</p>

Elephant kills 2 women tourists in Zambian national park

NEW YORK (AP) — Nissan is recalling more than 480,000 of its vehicles across the U.S. and Canada due to potential manufacturing defects that could cause engine failure.

The recall covers certain Nissan Rogues between 2021-2024 model years and 2019-2020 Altimas — as well as a number of 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50s and 2022 Infiniti QX55s sold under the automaker's luxury brand, according to Nissan and documents&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=25V437000">published by</a>&nbsp;the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this week.

The vehicles impacted carry specific “VC-Turbo” engines that may have manufacturing defects in their bearings, the NHTSA's&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V437-0139.pdf">recall report notes</a>. This may cause engine damage and possibly lead to engine failure while driving, the regulator warns — increasing crash risks.

Engine bearing failures “are not typically instantaneous and tend to progress over time,” the NHTSA’s recall report notes. That means effected drivers may see multiple warning signs to look out for — including abnormal noises or malfunction indicator lights.

In the U.S., 443,899 vehicles are covered in this recall, per NHTSA documents. And in Canada, 37,837 are affected, a Nissan spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday.

As a remedy, the NHSTA's recall report notes, Nissan and Infiniti dealers will inspect the engine pan of these-now recalled cars — and repair or replace the engine if necessary. The recall covers vehicles with either 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L VC-Turbo engines. Potential repairs — which will be performed free of charge — will depend on the engine and whether or not debris is detected during the inspection.

In an emailed statement, Nissan said it initiated this recall as part of its “ongoing commitment to customer safety.” And in late August, the company added, notification letters will be mailed out to affected owners "with instructions to bring their vehicle to a Nissan dealer or INFINITI retailer for inspection and repair if necessary.”

In the meantime, drivers can also confirm if their specific vehicle is included in this recall and find more information using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/search-safety-issues#recall">the NHTSA site</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nissanusa.com/recalls-vin.html">Nissan's recall lookup</a>.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751556530582.png" alt="Google image" />
                        <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>NEW YORK (AP) — Nissan is recalling more than 480,000 of its vehicles across the U.S. and Canada due to potential manufacturing defects that could cause engine failure.</p><p>The recall covers certain Nissan Rogues between 2021-2024 model years and 2019-2020 Altimas — as well as a number of 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50s and 2022 Infiniti QX55s sold under the automaker's luxury brand, according to Nissan and documents&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=25V437000">published by</a>&nbsp;the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this week.</p><p>The vehicles impacted carry specific “VC-Turbo” engines that may have manufacturing defects in their bearings, the NHTSA's&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V437-0139.pdf">recall report notes</a>. This may cause engine damage and possibly lead to engine failure while driving, the regulator warns — increasing crash risks.</p><p>Engine bearing failures “are not typically instantaneous and tend to progress over time,” the NHTSA’s recall report notes. That means effected drivers may see multiple warning signs to look out for — including abnormal noises or malfunction indicator lights.</p><p>In the U.S., 443,899 vehicles are covered in this recall, per NHTSA documents. And in Canada, 37,837 are affected, a Nissan spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday.</p><p>As a remedy, the NHSTA's recall report notes, Nissan and Infiniti dealers will inspect the engine pan of these-now recalled cars — and repair or replace the engine if necessary. The recall covers vehicles with either 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L VC-Turbo engines. Potential repairs — which will be performed free of charge — will depend on the engine and whether or not debris is detected during the inspection.</p><p>In an emailed statement, Nissan said it initiated this recall as part of its “ongoing commitment to customer safety.” And in late August, the company added, notification letters will be mailed out to affected owners "with instructions to bring their vehicle to a Nissan dealer or INFINITI retailer for inspection and repair if necessary.”</p><p>In the meantime, drivers can also confirm if their specific vehicle is included in this recall and find more information using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/search-safety-issues#recall">the NHTSA site</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nissanusa.com/recalls-vin.html">Nissan's recall lookup</a>.</p>

Nissan recalls vehicles due to engine failure risk

SALINE COUNTY —A Kansas teen is facing a charge for alleged arson after a fireworks fire in a Saline County p ark.

Just after 5p.m. Tuesday, police and the Salina Fire Department responded to Indian Rock Park, 1500 Gypsum, in reference to a grass fire, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman. A passerby reported seeing a juvenile throwing fireworks into the tall grass near the park bathroom. 

The fire was extinguished. Two juveniles, both 16 years of age, were located in the area, which the passerby identified as the subjects involved. It was determined the fireworks were purchased in the city of Minneapolis and the subjects went to Indian Rock Park to set them off. 

One of the boy from Salina, admitted to lighting a firework and throwing into the grass where it detonated and started a grass fire. The juvenile was taken into custody and is being referred for one count of Arson. Damage was estimated at $100.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751549465004.png" alt="Google image" />
                        <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SALINE COUNTY —A Kansas teen is facing a charge for alleged arson after a fireworks fire in a Saline County p ark.</p><p>Just after 5p.m. Tuesday, police and the Salina Fire Department responded to Indian Rock Park, 1500 Gypsum, in reference to a grass fire, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman. A passerby reported seeing a juvenile throwing fireworks into the tall grass near the park bathroom. </p><p>The fire was extinguished. Two juveniles, both 16 years of age, were located in the area, which the passerby identified as the subjects involved. It was determined the fireworks were purchased in the city of Minneapolis and the subjects went to Indian Rock Park to set them off. </p><p>One of the boy from Salina, admitted to lighting a firework and throwing into the grass where it detonated and started a grass fire. The juvenile was taken into custody and is being referred for one count of Arson. Damage was estimated at $100.</p>

Kansas boy accused of arson after fireworks fire at park

CAMDEN COUNTY —A man drowned just after 6:30p.m. Wednesday at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 70-year-old Wentzville, Missouri boat operator fell into the water at the 8 mile mark of Workmen Hollow Cove. 

Bystanders were able to pull him out of the water. He was pronounced deceased at the scene and transported to Hedges-Scott Funeral Home in Camdenton. He was not wearing a life jacket, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of drowning victims.

<p>CAMDEN COUNTY —A man drowned just after 6:30p.m. Wednesday at Lake of the Ozarks.</p><p>The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 70-year-old Wentzville, Missouri boat operator fell into the water at the 8 mile mark of Workmen Hollow Cove. </p><p>Bystanders were able to pull him out of the water. He was pronounced deceased at the scene and transported to Hedges-Scott Funeral Home in Camdenton. He was not wearing a life jacket, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of drowning victims.</p>

70-year-old fell from boat, drowned at Lake of the Ozarks

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in connection with sex crimes involving a runaway teen is due back in Judge Quentin Pittman's courtroom Thursday afternoon for a plea hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's ofice.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/inmatesearch/Details.aspx?Id=747078">Samuel Loredo, 22, is charged</a>&nbsp;with 3 counts of Criminal Sodomy, 2 counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child, 1 count of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, 1 count of Aggravated Interference With Parental Custody, and 2 counts of Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct, according to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just after noon November 18, law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.

Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.

Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp; &nbsp;Loredo remains jailed on bonds totaling&nbsp;$1,870,000.00, according to online jail records.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732208663228.png" alt="Loredo photo Sedgwick County" />
                        <figcaption>Loredo photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in connection with sex crimes involving a runaway teen is due back in Judge Quentin Pittman's courtroom Thursday afternoon for a plea hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's ofice.</p><p><a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/inmatesearch/Details.aspx?Id=747078">Samuel Loredo, 22, is charged</a>&nbsp;with 3 counts of Criminal Sodomy, 2 counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child, 1 count of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, 1 count of Aggravated Interference With Parental Custody, and 2 counts of Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct, according to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Just after noon November 18, law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.</p><p>Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.</p><p>Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.</p><p>As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.</p><p>Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp; &nbsp;Loredo remains jailed on bonds totaling&nbsp;$1,870,000.00, according to online jail records.</p>

Kan. man accused of sex crimes with runaway is due back in court

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-gop-taxes-ced365c347de9320eef2ccb8df16dda2">House Republicans are ready to vote</a>&nbsp;on President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">$4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;early Thursday after staying up all night with GOP leaders and the president himself working to persuade skeptical holdouts to drop their opposition by his Fourth of July deadline.

Final debates began in the predawn hours after another chaotic day and night at the Capitol following a series of closed-door meetings.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751536826780.png" alt="As House Speaker Mike Johnson looks on, Kansas 4th District Rep. Ron Estes speaks during the overnight session in the House on the battle to pass the Big, Beautiful Bill-image courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>As House Speaker Mike Johnson looks on, Kansas 4th District Rep. Ron Estes speaks during the overnight session in the House on the battle to pass the Big, Beautiful Bill-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-gop-taxes-ced365c347de9320eef2ccb8df16dda2">House Republicans are ready to vote</a>&nbsp;on President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">$4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;early Thursday after staying up all night with GOP leaders and the president himself working to persuade skeptical holdouts to drop their opposition by his Fourth of July deadline.</p><p>Final debates began in the predawn hours after another chaotic day and night at the Capitol following a series of closed-door meetings.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy. What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove??? MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!” —President Donald J. Trump <a href="https://t.co/FNG9rvHOl2">pic.twitter.com/FNG9rvHOl2</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1940627290217763270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Putting the bill on Trump's desk would be a milestone for the president and his party as Republicans have the votes to overcome Democratic opposition to a long list of GOP priorities. Trump's “one big beautiful bill,” an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-119hr1eas.pdf">800-plus page package</a>, is a defining measure of his return to the White House. Read&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text">what’s in the full bill for yourself</a>.</p><p>Here's the latest:</p><h2>What's in the Big Beautiful Bill Act</h2><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">At some 887 pages, the legislation</a>&nbsp;includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-beautiful-bill-trump-tax-spending-cuts-78fabe42ae09e0c5ac692a92dca8af5b">tax breaks</a>, spending cuts, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/clean-energy-residential-solar-big-beautiful-bill-07dd482926ee2d45a019ce2b6e636c7d">rollback of solar energy tax credits</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-budget-congress-trump-bill-e37bb0a5c5ca883438db349239a6c251">new money for national defense and deportations</a>. The bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-big-bill-tax-social-security-adea287e00c7c553f69f3667d3ef78cc">does not eliminate taxes</a>&nbsp;on Social Security benefits, despite what Trump says.</p><p>The bill rolls back past presidential agendas: In many ways, the package is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-bill-medicaid-tax-cuts-bec87c569760ed979ac8c34cccba186b">repudiation of the agendas</a>&nbsp;of the last two Democratic presidents, a chiseling away at the Medicaid expansion from Barack Obama’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-obamacare-preventive-care-health-care-d81aa3b66b94642dceafb3e51be9a319">Affordable Care Act</a>, and a pullback of Joe Biden’s climate change strategies in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-climate-health-tax-law-economy-inflation-f112d7c78abaa724d22964317d213deb">Inflation Reduction Act</a>.</p><p>Congressional Budget Office review: The nonpartisan CBO said Sunday the bill would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-trump-tax-bill-republicans-senate-5f591bea21bd95eec45ba90c93c50687">pile nearly $3.3 trillion onto the nation’s debt</a>&nbsp;load from 2025 to 2034, a nearly $1 trillion increase over the House-passed version of the bill. The analysis also found that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-7-2-2025#00000197-cd30-db03-a79f-ff774e980000">11.8 million Americans would become uninsured</a>&nbsp;by 2034 if the bill passed.</p><p>The outcome would be a milestone for the president and his party, a longshot effort to compile a long list of GOP priorities into what they call his “one big beautiful bill,” an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-119hr1eas.pdf">800-plus page package</a>. With Democrats unified in opposition, the bill will become a defining measure of Trump's return to the White House, with the sweep of Republican control of Congress.</p><h2>White House: The big bill is kind of like the solution to a bad hair day</h2><p>With Trump’s spending and tax cut bill nearing passage, the White House is getting creative in pitching it to Americans who haven’t been closely following the debate over the legislation.</p><p>The White House late Wednesday dropped&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLoOzbZJH7D/">a tongue-in-cheek video</a>&nbsp;on social media that includes before and after shots of women who transform flat hair to voluminous bouffants as a narrator ticks off aspects of the bill that she says will make Americans’ lives better.</p><p>“Are you tired of government promises falling flat? Do you go through an outrageous amount of stress just trying to get by?” the narrator intones as a woman screams in frustration over her bad hair day. “Then bump it up with ‘one big, beautiful bill’ and get that relief fast and easy.”</p><p>By the end of the short video, the screaming woman and others are sporting new hairdos that are markedly more voluminous.</p><h2>Hakeem Jeffries has been talking for three hours and counting</h2><p>Republican leadership spent much of the night and early morning persuading a handful of holdouts to support the Senate-approved tax cuts and spending bill. But now, House Speaker Mike Johnson appears to have the votes, and Democrats are standing in the way.</p><p>As the House wrapped up its debate over passing Trump’s agenda, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries used a tool known as the “magic minute” that allows leaders unlimited time to speak. He started his address just before 5 a.m. ET. And it’s still going.</p><p>“I’m going to take my time,” he said, before launching into a speech criticizing Republicans’ deference to Trump, reading through personal accounts of people concerned about losing their health care coverage, and recounting American history.</p><p>Eventually, Jeffries will end his speech, and Republicans will move to final passage of the bill.</p><p>--------------</p><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are ready to vote on President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">$4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;early Thursday, up all night as GOP leaders and the president himself worked to persuade skeptical holdouts to drop their opposition by his Fourth of July deadline.</p><p>Final debates began in the predawn hours after another chaotic day, and night, at the Capitol. House Speaker Mike Johnson insisted the House would meet the holiday deadline after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-tax-cuts-trump-big-bill-bf3f94471b13db3e5d50f0cd1f8fe793">Senate approved Trump's signature domestic policy package</a>&nbsp;on the narrowest vote.</p><p>“Our way is to plow through and get it done,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speaker-johnson-trump-tax-bill-christian-prayer-f82ed140d9110d5cc7b4029b681ea9eb">Johnson</a>&nbsp;said, emerging in the middle of the night from a series of closed-door meetings. “We will meet our July 4th deadline.”</p><p>The outcome would be a milestone for the president and his party, a longshot effort to compile a long list of GOP priorities into what they call his “one big beautiful bill,” an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-119hr1eas.pdf">800-plus page package</a>. With Democrats unified in opposition, the bill will become a defining measure of Trump's return to the White House, with the sweep of Republican control of Congress.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy. What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove??? MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!” —President Donald J. Trump <a href="https://t.co/FNG9rvHOl2">pic.twitter.com/FNG9rvHOl2</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1940627290217763270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Tax breaks and safety net cuts</h2><p>At it core, the package's priority is $4.5 trillion in tax breaks enacted in Trump's first term, in 2017, that would expire if Congress failed to act, along with new ones. This includes allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and a $6,000 deduction for most older adults earning less than $75,000 a year.</p><p>There's also a hefty investment, some $350 billion, in national security and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-enforcement-deportation-public-polling-df7d0d35dfa031e1444bfa9e9e0b13bd">Trump's deportation agenda</a>&nbsp;and to help develop the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-dome-missile-defense-trump-space-e74d637feac06edcfde79214d8acf179">“Golden Dome”</a>&nbsp;defensive system over the U.S.</p><p>To help offset the costs of lost tax revenue, the package includes $1.2 trillion in cutbacks to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gop-bill-trump-medicaid-cuts-coverage-health-bb4f090d2706ffb3d5652e70f246a10e">the Medicaid health care</a>&nbsp;and food stamps, largely by imposing new work requirements, including for some parents and older people, and a massive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-republican-tax-credits-wind-solar-trump-ceb3bd36c25017e29fccdcc4c749391f">rollback of green energy investments</a>.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-big-beautiful-bill-trump-republican-deficit-debt-d432b67a965790e4a26de46ea8db1266">nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimates the package will add&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-trump-tax-bill-republicans-senate-5f591bea21bd95eec45ba90c93c50687">$3.3 trillion to the deficit</a>&nbsp;over the decade and 11.8 million more people will go without health coverage.</p><p>"This was a generational opportunity to deliver the most comprehensive and consequential set of conservative reforms in modern history, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, the House Budget Committee chairman.</p><h2>Democrats united against ‘ugly bill’</h2><p>Democrats unified against the bill as a tax giveaway to the rich paid for on the backs of the most vulnerable in society, what they called “trickle down cruelty.”</p><p>“Have you no shame?” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn. “Have the moral courage to oppose this bill."</p><p>House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries invoked the powerful history of the nation's Independence Day holiday, and asked: "What does any of that have to do with this one, big ugly bill?"</p><p>He read for nearly two hours from a binder of letters, written by people across the country explaining how the health care programs have helped their families — and how devastating cuts would hurt.</p><p>Hauling the package this far in Congress has been difficult rom the start. Republicans have struggled mightily with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/johnson-trump-republicans-budget-vote-tax-cuts-4cb74ca15f6a74a7344355e4507ab9fe">the bill</a>&nbsp;nearly every step of the way in the House and Senate, often succeeding only by the narrowest of margins: just one vote. In the Senate, Vice President JD Vance broke the tie vote. The slim 220-212 majority in the House leaves Republicans little room for defections.</p><h2>Political costs of saying no</h2><p>But few GOP lawmakers have been fully satisfied with the final product. Several more moderate Republicans had reservations about the cuts to Medicaid health care and the loss of green energy credits that could derail solar, wind and other renewable projects in their districts.</p><p>At the same time, conservatives, including those from the House Freedom Caucus, held out for steeper reductions. Republicans had warned the Senate against making changes to the House-passed bill, but senators put their own stamp on the final draft.</p><p>The House ground to a standstill Wednesday as a handful of holdouts refused to move so quickly. A morning roll call dragged for about seven hours, while an evening vote stalled for more than five, and Trump himself worked the phones and lashed out on social media.</p><p>“What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove???” Trump railed in a post-midnight vote.</p><p>Johnson, who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-house-speaker-johnson-madison-square-garden-995a7ee3324e04ec6da680c826136655">pulled close to Trump</a>, relied on White House officials — including Cabinet secretaries, lawyers and others — to work skeptical Republicans through the details. Lawmakers were being told the administration could provide executive actions, projects or other provisions they needed in their districts back home.</p><p>"The president’s message was, ‘We’re on a roll,’” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. “He wants to see this.”</p><p>And the alternative, of bucking the president on his signature second-term package, carried grave political risks.</p><p>Trump has publicly threatened to campaign against the defectors. One House Republican who has staked out opposition to the bill, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kentucky-thomas-massie-primary-iran-55252ce7fbda9c27f6fbd9123927b1b4">being targeted</a>&nbsp;by Trump’s well-funded political operation.</p><p>And Senate Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had been on the receiving end of Trump’s lashings, announced he would not seek reelection shortly before voting against the bill.</p><h2>Rollback of past presidential agendas</h2><p>In many ways, the package is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-bill-medicaid-tax-cuts-bec87c569760ed979ac8c34cccba186b">repudiation of the agendas</a>&nbsp;of the last two Democratic presidents, a chiseling away at the Medicaid expansion from Barack Obama's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-obamacare-preventive-care-health-care-d81aa3b66b94642dceafb3e51be9a319">Affordable Care Act</a>, and a pullback of Joe Biden's climate change strategies in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-climate-health-tax-law-economy-inflation-f112d7c78abaa724d22964317d213deb">Inflation Reduction Act</a>.</p><p>Democrats have described the bill in dire terms, warning that cuts to Medicaid, which some 80 million Americans rely on, would result in lives lost. Food stamps that help feed more than 40 million people would "rip food from the mouths of hungry children, hungry veterans and hungry seniors,” Jeffries said.</p><p>Republicans say the tax breaks will prevent a tax hike on households and grow the economy. They maintain they are trying to rightsize the safety net programs for the population they were initially designed to serve, mainly pregnant women, the disabled and children, and root out what they describe as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-waste-fraud-abuse-635b1419014a43e061f548c9713860c4">waste, fraud and abuse</a>.</p><p>The Tax Policy Center, which provides nonpartisan analysis of tax and budget policy, projected the bill would result next year in a $150 tax break for the lowest quintile of Americans, a $1,750 tax cut for the middle quintile and a $10,950 tax cut for the top quintile. That's compared with what they would face if the 2017 tax cuts expired.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Joey Cappelletti and Matt Brown contributed.</p>