ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Shortly after 8:30a.m. on Sept. 28, police responded to the area of 7th and R Street in Atchison to check the welfare of several people in and around a parked vehicle, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

One of those persons was&nbsp; 22-year-old Christian Tollett of Branson, Missouri, who was found to be in possession of illegal drugs.

Tollett is being held in the county jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759158665904.png" alt="Tollett photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Tollett photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Shortly after 8:30a.m. on Sept. 28, police responded to the area of 7th and R Street in Atchison to check the welfare of several people in and around a parked vehicle, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.One of those persons was&nbsp; 22-year-old Christian Tollett of Branson, Missouri, who was found to be in possession of illegal drugs.Tollett is being held in the county jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Drug suspect jailed after welfare check on parked car

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Monday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander driven by Michael Bradley, 58, Millersville, Maryland was northbound on Interstate 35 near the 95th Street Bridge.

The SUV struck a pedestrian identified as&nbsp;Joaquin&nbsp;Lopez Perez, 41, Kansas City, Kansas, who was eastbound attempting to run across the Interstate.

EMS transported Perez to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Bradley and a passenger in the SUV were properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Monday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander driven by Michael Bradley, 58, Millersville, Maryland was northbound on Interstate 35 near the 95th Street Bridge.The SUV struck a pedestrian identified as&nbsp;Joaquin&nbsp;Lopez Perez, 41, Kansas City, Kansas, who was eastbound attempting to run across the Interstate.EMS transported Perez to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Bradley and a passenger in the SUV were properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

SUV strikes Kansas man who was running across Interstate

WASHINGTON (AP) —President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;says he will slap a 100% tax on movies made outside the United States — a vague directive aimed at protecting a business that America already dominates.

Claiming that movie production “has been stolen’’ from Hollywood and the U.S., Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that “I will be imposing a 100% tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States.’’

It was unclear how these tariffs would operate, since movies and TV shows can be transmitted digitally without going through ports. Also unclear is what it would mean for U.S. movies filmed on foreign locations — think James Bond and Jason Bourne — or what legal basis the president would claim for imposing the tariffs.

The president had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-films-hollywood-tariff-movies-415367dff6ae5bb7dc0871db5ac97d48">first issued the threat back in May</a>. He has yet to specify when the tariff might go into effect.

Movies are an odd battleground for a U.S. trade war. "Unlike any other country’s film industry, U.S. movies are the most accessible, well-known, and best performing due to the numerous language options and worldwide reach provided by U.S.-based studios,'' trade analyst Jacob Jensen of the center-right American Action Forum wrote in a July commentary.

In movie theaters, American-produced movies overwhelmingly dominate the domestic marketplace. Data from the Motion Picture Association also shows that American films made $22.6 billion in exports and $15.3 billion in trade surplus in 2023 — with a recent report noting that these films “generated a positive balance of trade in every major market in the world” for the U.S.

Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at the New York Law Center, warned that other countries may retaliate with levies on American movies or other services. In movies, “Brand America is way, way ahead,’’ he said. “What this policy does is actually cook the golden goose that’s laying the golden eggs.’’

Tariffs are Trump's go-to solution for America's economic problems, a tool he likes to use to extract concessions from other countries. Reversing decades of U.S. support for lower trade barriers, he's slapped double-digit tariffs on imports from almost every country on earth. And he's targeted specific products, including most recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trade-trump-pharmaceuticals-trucks-cabinets-3f33cb3f2dfac460cb1e48a06f89c3a9">pharmaceuticals, heavy trucks, kitchen cabinets</a>&nbsp;and bathroom vanities.

Unlike other sectors that have recently been targeted by tariffs, movies go beyond physical goods, bringing larger intellectual property ramifications into question.

Why is Trump threatening this steep movie tariff?

Trump has cited national security concerns, a justification he’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariff-justifications-50f0b4416234e63c7136eaa5c5f96759">similarly used</a>&nbsp;to impose import taxes on certain countries and a range of sector-specific goods.

In May, Trump claimed that the American movie industry is “DYING to a very fast death” as other countries offer “all sorts of incentives” to draw filmmaking away from the U.S.

In recent years, U.S. film and television production has been hampered between setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/">the Hollywood guild strikes</a>&nbsp;of 2023 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-oscars-los-angeles-academy-awards-da8cd994872ac6c1c65dcd4bc8721cc5">the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area</a>. Incentive programs have also long-influenced where movies are shot both abroad and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-film-movie-tax-credit-break-1fbd0e52337080320f3761a176199a8e">within the U.S.</a>, with more production leaving California to states like Georgia and New Mexico — as well as countries like Canada.

At the same time, international markets make up a large chunk of Hollywood's total box office revenue — accounting for over 70% last year, according Heeyon Kim, an assistant professor of strategy at Cornell University. She warned that tariffs and potential retaliation from other countries impacting this industry could result in billions of dollars in lost earnings and thousands of jobs.

“To me, (this) makes just no sense,” Kim&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-films-hollywood-tariff-movies-415367dff6ae5bb7dc0871db5ac97d48">previously told</a>&nbsp;The Associated Press, adding that such tariffs could “undermine otherwise a thriving part of the U.S. economy.”

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents behind-the-scenes entertainment workers across the U.S. and Canada, said in May that Trump had “correctly recognized” the “urgent threat from international competition” that the American film and television industry faces today. But the union said it instead recommended the administration implement a federal production tax incentive and other provisions to “level the playing field” while not harming the industry overall.

How could a tax on foreign-made movies work?

“Traditional tariffs apply to physical imports crossing borders, but film production primarily involves digital services — shooting, editing and post-production work that happens electronically,” Ann Koppuzha, a lawyer and business law lecturer at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, explained when Trump first made his May threat.

Koppuzha added that film production is more like an applied service that can be taxed, not tariffed. But taxes require Congressional approval, which could be a challenge even with a Republican majority.

Making a movie is also an incredibly complex — and international — process. It’s common for both large and small films to include production in the U.S. and in other countries, or overseas altogether. Steven Schiffman, a longtime industry veteran and adjunct professor at Georgetown University, pointed to popular titles filmed outside the U.S. — such as Warner Bros’ “Harry Potter” series, which was almost entirely shot in the U.K.

U.S. studios shoot abroad because tax incentives can aid production costs. But a blanket tariff across the board could discourage that or limit options — hurting both Hollywood films and the global industry that helps create them.

“When you make these sort of blanket rules, you’re missing some of the nuance of how production works,” Schiffman said previously. “Sometimes you just need to go to the location, because frankly it’s way too expensive just to try to create in a soundstage”

Could movie tariffs have repercussions on other intellectual property?

Overall, experts warn that the prospect of tariffing foreign-made movies ventures into uncharted waters.

“There’s simply no precedent,” Koppuzha said in May. And while the Trump administration could extend similar threats to other forms of intellectual property, like music, “they’d encounter the same practical hurdles.”

But if successful, some also warn of potential retaliation. Kim pointed to “quotas” that some countries have had to help boost their domestic films by ensuring they get a portion of theater screens, for example.

Many have reduced or suspended such quotas over the years in the name of open trade — but if the U.S. places a sweeping tariff on all foreign-made films, these kinds of quotas could come back, “which would hurt Hollywood film or any of the U.S.-made intellectual property,” Kim said.

And while U.S. dominance in film means “there are fewer substitutes” for retaliation, Schiffman noted that other forms of entertainment — like game development — could see related impacts down the road.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759177455503.jpg" alt="Image courtesy Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;says he will slap a 100% tax on movies made outside the United States — a vague directive aimed at protecting a business that America already dominates.Claiming that movie production “has been stolen’’ from Hollywood and the U.S., Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that “I will be imposing a 100% tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States.’’<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/wyLUTF59iH">pic.twitter.com/wyLUTF59iH</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1972646867801673985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It was unclear how these tariffs would operate, since movies and TV shows can be transmitted digitally without going through ports. Also unclear is what it would mean for U.S. movies filmed on foreign locations — think James Bond and Jason Bourne — or what legal basis the president would claim for imposing the tariffs.The president had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-films-hollywood-tariff-movies-415367dff6ae5bb7dc0871db5ac97d48">first issued the threat back in May</a>. He has yet to specify when the tariff might go into effect.Movies are an odd battleground for a U.S. trade war. "Unlike any other country’s film industry, U.S. movies are the most accessible, well-known, and best performing due to the numerous language options and worldwide reach provided by U.S.-based studios,'' trade analyst Jacob Jensen of the center-right American Action Forum wrote in a July commentary.In movie theaters, American-produced movies overwhelmingly dominate the domestic marketplace. Data from the Motion Picture Association also shows that American films made $22.6 billion in exports and $15.3 billion in trade surplus in 2023 — with a recent report noting that these films “generated a positive balance of trade in every major market in the world” for the U.S.Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at the New York Law Center, warned that other countries may retaliate with levies on American movies or other services. In movies, “Brand America is way, way ahead,’’ he said. “What this policy does is actually cook the golden goose that’s laying the golden eggs.’’Tariffs are Trump's go-to solution for America's economic problems, a tool he likes to use to extract concessions from other countries. Reversing decades of U.S. support for lower trade barriers, he's slapped double-digit tariffs on imports from almost every country on earth. And he's targeted specific products, including most recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trade-trump-pharmaceuticals-trucks-cabinets-3f33cb3f2dfac460cb1e48a06f89c3a9">pharmaceuticals, heavy trucks, kitchen cabinets</a>&nbsp;and bathroom vanities.Unlike other sectors that have recently been targeted by tariffs, movies go beyond physical goods, bringing larger intellectual property ramifications into question.Here’s what we know.<h2>Why is Trump threatening this steep movie tariff?</h2>Trump has cited national security concerns, a justification he’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariff-justifications-50f0b4416234e63c7136eaa5c5f96759">similarly used</a>&nbsp;to impose import taxes on certain countries and a range of sector-specific goods.In May, Trump claimed that the American movie industry is “DYING to a very fast death” as other countries offer “all sorts of incentives” to draw filmmaking away from the U.S.In recent years, U.S. film and television production has been hampered between setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/">the Hollywood guild strikes</a>&nbsp;of 2023 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-oscars-los-angeles-academy-awards-da8cd994872ac6c1c65dcd4bc8721cc5">the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area</a>. Incentive programs have also long-influenced where movies are shot both abroad and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-film-movie-tax-credit-break-1fbd0e52337080320f3761a176199a8e">within the U.S.</a>, with more production leaving California to states like Georgia and New Mexico — as well as countries like Canada.At the same time, international markets make up a large chunk of Hollywood's total box office revenue — accounting for over 70% last year, according Heeyon Kim, an assistant professor of strategy at Cornell University. She warned that tariffs and potential retaliation from other countries impacting this industry could result in billions of dollars in lost earnings and thousands of jobs.“To me, (this) makes just no sense,” Kim&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-films-hollywood-tariff-movies-415367dff6ae5bb7dc0871db5ac97d48">previously told</a>&nbsp;The Associated Press, adding that such tariffs could “undermine otherwise a thriving part of the U.S. economy.”The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents behind-the-scenes entertainment workers across the U.S. and Canada, said in May that Trump had “correctly recognized” the “urgent threat from international competition” that the American film and television industry faces today. But the union said it instead recommended the administration implement a federal production tax incentive and other provisions to “level the playing field” while not harming the industry overall.<h2>How could a tax on foreign-made movies work?</h2>That’s anyone’s guess.“Traditional tariffs apply to physical imports crossing borders, but film production primarily involves digital services — shooting, editing and post-production work that happens electronically,” Ann Koppuzha, a lawyer and business law lecturer at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, explained when Trump first made his May threat.Koppuzha added that film production is more like an applied service that can be taxed, not tariffed. But taxes require Congressional approval, which could be a challenge even with a Republican majority.Making a movie is also an incredibly complex — and international — process. It’s common for both large and small films to include production in the U.S. and in other countries, or overseas altogether. Steven Schiffman, a longtime industry veteran and adjunct professor at Georgetown University, pointed to popular titles filmed outside the U.S. — such as Warner Bros’ “Harry Potter” series, which was almost entirely shot in the U.K.U.S. studios shoot abroad because tax incentives can aid production costs. But a blanket tariff across the board could discourage that or limit options — hurting both Hollywood films and the global industry that helps create them.“When you make these sort of blanket rules, you’re missing some of the nuance of how production works,” Schiffman said previously. “Sometimes you just need to go to the location, because frankly it’s way too expensive just to try to create in a soundstage”<h2>Could movie tariffs have repercussions on other intellectual property?</h2>Overall, experts warn that the prospect of tariffing foreign-made movies ventures into uncharted waters.“There’s simply no precedent,” Koppuzha said in May. And while the Trump administration could extend similar threats to other forms of intellectual property, like music, “they’d encounter the same practical hurdles.”But if successful, some also warn of potential retaliation. Kim pointed to “quotas” that some countries have had to help boost their domestic films by ensuring they get a portion of theater screens, for example.Many have reduced or suspended such quotas over the years in the name of open trade — but if the U.S. places a sweeping tariff on all foreign-made films, these kinds of quotas could come back, “which would hurt Hollywood film or any of the U.S.-made intellectual property,” Kim said.And while U.S. dominance in film means “there are fewer substitutes” for retaliation, Schiffman noted that other forms of entertainment — like game development — could see related impacts down the road.____

Why President Trump is threatening a steep movie tariff

The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/firemarshal.ks.gov?__cft__[0]=AZV27LE80Q-6MMo-gpH3SFQmDEBZsL6OGNGmYIx2V6om4ye_t4JSEuFXuoly6sQKryTOEsnG6YHDOPiTyiQ0wof8HY2iE-qWzv5LvmkDxRfItSjvu0mBdSa6asnZhVuALKeXhzug9jP8YeQuGwdezSeWtro8OME8l0J3g24zUdvbzYMgjbfE16CFjDGVKeXZ7Wk&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas Fire Marshal</a>&nbsp; announced the availability of their newest team member, a human remains detection (HRD) dog, according to a social media report from the Fire Marshal's office.

K9 Gator, a year and one half-old Belgian Malinois, was imported from Mexico and purchased by the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HillCountryDogCenter?__cft__[0]=AZV27LE80Q-6MMo-gpH3SFQmDEBZsL6OGNGmYIx2V6om4ye_t4JSEuFXuoly6sQKryTOEsnG6YHDOPiTyiQ0wof8HY2iE-qWzv5LvmkDxRfItSjvu0mBdSa6asnZhVuALKeXhzug9jP8YeQuGwdezSeWtro8OME8l0J3g24zUdvbzYMgjbfE16CFjDGVKeXZ7Wk&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Hill Country Dog Center</a> in Pipe Creek, Texas.

Gator is assigned to his handler, Special Agent Melanie Miller, in the Investigation Division. Gator and S.A. Miller are certified through the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/unitedpolicek9?__cft__[0]=AZV27LE80Q-6MMo-gpH3SFQmDEBZsL6OGNGmYIx2V6om4ye_t4JSEuFXuoly6sQKryTOEsnG6YHDOPiTyiQ0wof8HY2iE-qWzv5LvmkDxRfItSjvu0mBdSa6asnZhVuALKeXhzug9jP8YeQuGwdezSeWtro8OME8l0J3g24zUdvbzYMgjbfE16CFjDGVKeXZ7Wk&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">United Police Work Dog Association</a> in Human Remains Detection on land and water, as well as obedience.

K9 Gator and S.A. Miller are currently working towards their FEMA dog team certifications and will be rostered on Kansas Task Force 1 after those certifications are completed. 

Gator and SA Miller will play a crucial role in providing closure to families and aiding search and rescue efforts. K9 Gator is currently available for mutual aid response through communication with the Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759196937561.png" alt="Gator courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Gator courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/firemarshal.ks.gov?__cft__[0]=AZV27LE80Q-6MMo-gpH3SFQmDEBZsL6OGNGmYIx2V6om4ye_t4JSEuFXuoly6sQKryTOEsnG6YHDOPiTyiQ0wof8HY2iE-qWzv5LvmkDxRfItSjvu0mBdSa6asnZhVuALKeXhzug9jP8YeQuGwdezSeWtro8OME8l0J3g24zUdvbzYMgjbfE16CFjDGVKeXZ7Wk&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas Fire Marshal</a>&nbsp; announced the availability of their newest team member, a human remains detection (HRD) dog, according to a social media report from the Fire Marshal's office.K9 Gator, a year and one half-old Belgian Malinois, was imported from Mexico and purchased by the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HillCountryDogCenter?__cft__[0]=AZV27LE80Q-6MMo-gpH3SFQmDEBZsL6OGNGmYIx2V6om4ye_t4JSEuFXuoly6sQKryTOEsnG6YHDOPiTyiQ0wof8HY2iE-qWzv5LvmkDxRfItSjvu0mBdSa6asnZhVuALKeXhzug9jP8YeQuGwdezSeWtro8OME8l0J3g24zUdvbzYMgjbfE16CFjDGVKeXZ7Wk&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Hill Country Dog Center</a> in Pipe Creek, Texas. Gator is assigned to his handler, Special Agent Melanie Miller, in the Investigation Division. Gator and S.A. Miller are certified through the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/unitedpolicek9?__cft__[0]=AZV27LE80Q-6MMo-gpH3SFQmDEBZsL6OGNGmYIx2V6om4ye_t4JSEuFXuoly6sQKryTOEsnG6YHDOPiTyiQ0wof8HY2iE-qWzv5LvmkDxRfItSjvu0mBdSa6asnZhVuALKeXhzug9jP8YeQuGwdezSeWtro8OME8l0J3g24zUdvbzYMgjbfE16CFjDGVKeXZ7Wk&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">United Police Work Dog Association</a> in Human Remains Detection on land and water, as well as obedience. K9 Gator and S.A. Miller are currently working towards their FEMA dog team certifications and will be rostered on Kansas Task Force 1 after those certifications are completed. Gator and SA Miller will play a crucial role in providing closure to families and aiding search and rescue efforts. K9 Gator is currently available for mutual aid response through communication with the Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office.

Kan. Fire Marshal ads K9 certified in human remains detection

DALLAS (AP) — A second detainee shot in an attack on a Dallas immigration field office last week has died, his family said Tuesday.

In a statement shared by the League of United Latin American Citizens, the family confirmed that Miguel Ángel García-Hernández, 32, succumbed to his injuries after being removed from life support.

The Mexican man was one of three detainees shot in the Sept. 24 attack on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas. That attack left one man dead and two other detainees critically wounded. Officials previously identified the man who was killed in the attack as Norlan Guzman-Fuentes.

Authorities have said the gunman, 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, fired indiscriminately from a nearby rooftop. They said he hated the U.S. government and wanted to incite terror by killing federal agents. No ICE personnel were hurt in the shooting, and Jahn fatally shot himself following the assault.

The attack happened as heightened immigration enforcement has generated a backlash against ICE agents and stirred fear in immigrant communities across the country.

“My husband Miguel was a good man, a loving father, and the provider for our family,” Stephany Gauffeny said in the statement. “We had just bought our first home together, and he worked hard every single day to make sure our children had what they needed. His death is a senseless tragedy that has left our family shattered. I do not know how to explain to our children that their father is gone.”

Gauffeny is expecting their fifth child, LULAC said.

DALLAS (AP) — A second detainee shot in an attack on a Dallas immigration field office last week has died, his family said Tuesday.In a statement shared by the League of United Latin American Citizens, the family confirmed that Miguel Ángel García-Hernández, 32, succumbed to his injuries after being removed from life support.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This morning just before 7am local time, an individual fired multiple rounds at a Dallas, Texas ICE facility, killing one, wounding several others, before taking his own life. FBI, DHS, ATF are on the ground with Dallas PD and state authorities. While the investigation is… <a href="https://t.co/SMOyxiKLqA">pic.twitter.com/SMOyxiKLqA</a>&mdash; FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1970877754221498599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Mexican man was one of three detainees shot in the Sept. 24 attack on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas. That attack left one man dead and two other detainees critically wounded. Officials previously identified the man who was killed in the attack as Norlan Guzman-Fuentes.Authorities have said the gunman, 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, fired indiscriminately from a nearby rooftop. They said he hated the U.S. government and wanted to incite terror by killing federal agents. No ICE personnel were hurt in the shooting, and Jahn fatally shot himself following the assault.The attack happened as heightened immigration enforcement has generated a backlash against ICE agents and stirred fear in immigrant communities across the country.“My husband Miguel was a good man, a loving father, and the provider for our family,” Stephany Gauffeny said in the statement. “We had just bought our first home together, and he worked hard every single day to make sure our children had what they needed. His death is a senseless tragedy that has left our family shattered. I do not know how to explain to our children that their father is gone.”Gauffeny is expecting their fifth child, LULAC said.

Family: 2nd detainee shot at a Dallas ICE facility has died

SEWARD COUNTY– The U.S. Marshals are seeking the public’s help and offering a reward of up to&nbsp;$5,000&nbsp;for information leading to the arrest of a Guatemalan man wanted in Seward County on multiple counts of crimes against children, according to a media release.

Juan Ralios-Batz, (estimated age) 30, is wanted on three counts of rape of a child, one count of aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated human trafficking, and one count of abuse of a child.

Batz and his sister are alleged to have sponsored a 13-year-old unaccompanied alien child and, over a two-year-period, Batz allegedly raped the child and forced the child to do manual labor. &nbsp;The child eventually became pregnant and has a child with Batz. When Batz became aware of his wanted status, his family allegedly helped him escape to Fremont, Nebraska, to evade the charges against him. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Batz is a white or Hispanic man, stands 5-feet-1 inch and weighs approximately 115 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair and a tattoo of the letter J on his right arm.&nbsp;

Batz, who is in the U.S. illegally, is known to use multiple aliases, including Juan Ralios, Juan Batz, Randy Guerro, Juan Ramos-Batz, Juan Ramos and Omar Gonzalez.&nbsp;

Anyone with information regarding his location is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals at&nbsp;1-877-WANTED-2&nbsp;or send tip information via the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/what-we-do/fugitive-investigations/submitting-a-tip">USMS Tips App</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758163504048.png" alt="Batz photo Seward Co." />
 <figcaption>Batz photo Seward Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEWARD COUNTY– The U.S. Marshals are seeking the public’s help and offering a reward of up to&nbsp;$5,000&nbsp;for information leading to the arrest of a Guatemalan man wanted in Seward County on multiple counts of crimes against children, according to a media release.Juan Ralios-Batz, (estimated age) 30, is wanted on three counts of rape of a child, one count of aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated human trafficking, and one count of abuse of a child.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758163443530.png" alt="Batz photo Seward Co." />
 <figcaption>Batz photo Seward Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Batz and his sister are alleged to have sponsored a 13-year-old unaccompanied alien child and, over a two-year-period, Batz allegedly raped the child and forced the child to do manual labor. &nbsp;The child eventually became pregnant and has a child with Batz. When Batz became aware of his wanted status, his family allegedly helped him escape to Fremont, Nebraska, to evade the charges against him. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Batz is a white or Hispanic man, stands 5-feet-1 inch and weighs approximately 115 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair and a tattoo of the letter J on his right arm.&nbsp;Batz, who is in the U.S. illegally, is known to use multiple aliases, including Juan Ralios, Juan Batz, Randy Guerro, Juan Ramos-Batz, Juan Ramos and Omar Gonzalez.&nbsp;Anyone with information regarding his location is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals at&nbsp;1-877-WANTED-2&nbsp;or send tip information via the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/what-we-do/fugitive-investigations/submitting-a-tip">USMS Tips App</a>.

Still hiding: Man in U.S. illegally is wanted for child sex crimes in Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Family and friends are working to raise funds for a Kansas teacher wounded in a shooting Saturday night in Wichita.

Officers responded to the&nbsp;400 block of South Vassar and found two male victims 30-year-old Kevin Norfleet, who teaches at Maize High School and a 15-year-old both suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. EMS transported both to a local hospital where they remain in critical condition.

Investigators learned Norfleet, identified from an online fundraiser, went outside after seeing the 15-year-old rummaging through his vehicle. The 15-year-old then fired a weapon, striking Norfleet. He returned fire, hitting the 15-year-old.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/donations-for-kevin-norfleet-and-family">Click here to view</a> the online fundraiser that provides more details on the incident. "Kevin is a beloved husband, father, and son. He's a high school teacher here in town and is loved by so many."

"On Saturday night, September 27th, Kevin was shot multiple times by someone attempting to break into his car at his home in Wichita."

"Kevin is receiving excellent care in a surgical intensive care unit in town. There have been multiple surgeries already performed to save his life and more surgery ahead once he is more stable. His doctors say it will be weeks before he leaves the hospital, and even longer before he can go home to his wife and son, as he'll need extensive rehab."

"All funds raised here will go directly to his wife and son, to support them through this time and especially to pay future medical bills, which are sure to be astronomical. Any help is truly appreciated."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759228677398.png" alt="Kevin Norfleet photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Kevin Norfleet photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Family and friends are working to raise funds for a Kansas teacher wounded in a shooting Saturday night in Wichita.Officers responded to the&nbsp;400 block of South Vassar and found two male victims 30-year-old Kevin Norfleet, who teaches at Maize High School and a 15-year-old both suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. EMS transported both to a local hospital where they remain in critical condition.Investigators learned Norfleet, identified from an online fundraiser, went outside after seeing the 15-year-old rummaging through his vehicle. The 15-year-old then fired a weapon, striking Norfleet. He returned fire, hitting the 15-year-old.<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/donations-for-kevin-norfleet-and-family">Click here to view</a> the online fundraiser that provides more details on the incident. "Kevin is a beloved husband, father, and son. He's a high school teacher here in town and is loved by so many.""On Saturday night, September 27th, Kevin was shot multiple times by someone attempting to break into his car at his home in Wichita.""Kevin is receiving excellent care in a surgical intensive care unit in town. There have been multiple surgeries already performed to save his life and more surgery ahead once he is more stable. His doctors say it will be weeks before he leaves the hospital, and even longer before he can go home to his wife and son, as he'll need extensive rehab.""All funds raised here will go directly to his wife and son, to support them through this time and especially to pay future medical bills, which are sure to be astronomical. Any help is truly appreciated."

Online fundraiser IDs Kan. teacher injured in gunfight with boy

Democratic and Republican congressional leaders met at the White House with President Donald Trump on Monday to try to prevent a government shutdown. They made no progress. If the two sides don't reach a deal and have it signed by the President on Tuesday night, the government will shut down.

On social media, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall wrote, "Republicans are committed to keeping the government funded — but not at the cost of reckless spending."

"Dems are quick to blame Republicans for the healthcare crisis—skyrocketing costs and rural hospitals shutting down. Newsflash: This mess is the direct result of dem policies in action."

Democratic and Republican congressional leaders met at the White House with President Donald Trump on Monday to try to prevent a government shutdown. They made no progress. If the two sides don't reach a deal and have it signed by the President on Tuesday night, the government will shut down.On social media, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall wrote, "Republicans are committed to keeping the government funded — but not at the cost of reckless spending.""Dems are quick to blame Republicans for the healthcare crisis—skyrocketing costs and rural hospitals shutting down. Newsflash: This mess is the direct result of dem policies in action."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Just left the White House meeting with Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans. This fight is about the healthcare of the American people. <a href="https://t.co/q0HALCVKhq">pic.twitter.com/q0HALCVKhq</a>&mdash; Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJeffries/status/1972773826875556098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Kansas U.S. Senator's statement on government shutdown fight

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Two days after four teenage girls were found murdered in a burning&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austin-yogurt-shop-1991-murders-solved-1bc45a19a8fe021bde015794de9a5865">Austin yogurt shop</a>&nbsp;in 1991, a man with a pistol in a stolen car was arrested at a border checkpoint west of El Paso.

Nearly 34 years later, cold case detectives have now connected that man and the weapon to the horrific killings that stunned Texas’ capital city. The case frustrated investigators for decades and previously led to the convictions of two men who were sent to prison, one of them to death row.

Investigators on Monday outlined how advanced DNA testing technology and a fresh look at old ballistics testing from the crime scene, led them to to identify Robert Eugene Brashers as the likely killer. Brashers, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-f713abeb28824e1d89a66459da465972">died in 1999</a>&nbsp;when he shot himself in a standoff with police in 1999, has been linked to similar violent crimes in multiple other states.

“Austin lost its innocence the night those young souls became victims. ... Today was a long time coming,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said at a news conference attended by several members of the victims’ families, where police outlined the rapid cascade of new evidence that developed over the past few months.

The announcement that Brashers was the suspect came amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austin-yogurt-shop-1991-murders-solved-fc86a1997a8895224f6cd213be3f4321">renewed attention</a>&nbsp;on the case with the release last month of “The Yogurt Shop Murders,” an HBO documentary series.

On Dec. 6, 1991, Amy Ayers, 13; Eliza Thomas, 17; and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, ages 17 and 15, were bound, gagged and shot in the head at the “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt” store where two of them worked. The building was then set on fire.

Investigators have said that around closing time, someone was either in the store or entered through the back door, attacked the girls and set the fire. The bodies were found by firefighters who were still battling the blaze, and the efforts to put out the fire badly damaged the crime scene.

Detectives chased thousands of leads, including multiple confessions, before the case went cold for years. Then in 1999, police arrested four men who were juveniles at the time of the crime. Two of them, Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott, confessed and implicated each other, but later recanted and said their statements were coerced by police.

Springsteen and Scott were convicted. Springsteen was sent to death row before the sentence was reduced to life in prison. Both convictions were later overturned, and the charges were dropped in 2009 when new DNA evidence told detectives they were looking for a previously unknown male at the crime scene.

Authorities had identified Brashers as a killer who left a deadly trail across several states before he was connected to the yogurt shop murders.

In 2018, Missouri authorities said DNA evidence linked him to the strangulation of a South Carolina woman in 1990, and the shooting of a mother and daughter in Missouri in 1998. The evidence also connected Brashers to the 1997 rape of a 14-year-old girl in Tennessee.

In June, Austin cold case detective Daniel Jackson resubmitted to a federal system the ballistics findings on a shell casing from a .380 caliber handgun taken from the yogurt shop that was used to kill Ayers. It came back as a match to an unsolved 1998 crime in Kentucky. Jackson would not detail the Kentucky case but said it has similarities to the crime in Austin.

And in August, South Carolina officials told Austin detectives that advanced DNA tests on a sample taken from under Ayers’ fingernail came back as a match to Brashers from the 1990 murder in South Carolina.

“Amy’s final moments on this Earth were to solve this case for us,” Jackson said. “It’s because of her fighting back.”

Police said they don’t know why Brashers would have been in Austin the night of the murders but noted the stop near El Paso just two days later. He was driving to visit his father in Arizona in a truck reported stolen in Georgia. He tried to flee when stopped, but was eventually detained and arrested on charges of auto theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The gun found on Brashers that day was confiscated, but it was eventually returned to his father, who may have given it back to him. Jackson said the gun is the same .380 caliber make and model Brashers used it to kill himself in the standoff with police in 1999 in Missouri.

Prosecutor says evidence points to 1 killer

Police said the case remains open for now and asked for help from anyone who could connect Brashers to Austin at the time. Brashers could be a suspect in other unsolved killings, Jackson said.

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said the “overwhelming weight of the evidence points to the guilt of one man” and the innocence of the men previously arrested and convicted.

“If the conclusions of APD’s investigation are confirmed, as it appears that they will be, I will say: I am sorry, though I know that that will never be enough,” Garza said.

“This case stole decades of my life, but the truth has finally come to light,” Scott said in a statement issued by his attorney, who said Scott deserves a full exoneration.

“It must happen very soon. This is a long, hard battle for justice,” attorney Tony Diaz said. Springsteen’s trial attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

“We never wanted anyone to go to jail or be charged with anything that they didn’t do,” said Barbara Wilson, mothers of the Harbison sisters. “Vengeance was never it. It was always the truth.”

Police noted similarities in the yogurt shop case to Brasher’s other crimes — including that the victims were tied up with their own clothing, sexually assaulted and some crime scenes were set on fire. Jackson also noted Brashers was known to carry multiple weapons and act alone.

“At this point there is no evidence he had an accomplice,” in the Austin killings, Jackson said.

Sonora Thomas, sister of Eliza Thomas, said she thought she would die not knowing what happened and had to come to terms with that.

“I now know what happened, and that does ease my suffering,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759190702804.png" alt="Brashers photo MSHP" />
 <figcaption>Brashers photo MSHP</figcaption>
 </figure>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Two days after four teenage girls were found murdered in a burning&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austin-yogurt-shop-1991-murders-solved-1bc45a19a8fe021bde015794de9a5865">Austin yogurt shop</a>&nbsp;in 1991, a man with a pistol in a stolen car was arrested at a border checkpoint west of El Paso.Nearly 34 years later, cold case detectives have now connected that man and the weapon to the horrific killings that stunned Texas’ capital city. The case frustrated investigators for decades and previously led to the convictions of two men who were sent to prison, one of them to death row.Investigators on Monday outlined how advanced DNA testing technology and a fresh look at old ballistics testing from the crime scene, led them to to identify Robert Eugene Brashers as the likely killer. Brashers, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-f713abeb28824e1d89a66459da465972">died in 1999</a>&nbsp;when he shot himself in a standoff with police in 1999, has been linked to similar violent crimes in multiple other states.“Austin lost its innocence the night those young souls became victims. ... Today was a long time coming,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said at a news conference attended by several members of the victims’ families, where police outlined the rapid cascade of new evidence that developed over the past few months.The announcement that Brashers was the suspect came amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austin-yogurt-shop-1991-murders-solved-fc86a1997a8895224f6cd213be3f4321">renewed attention</a>&nbsp;on the case with the release last month of “The Yogurt Shop Murders,” an HBO documentary series.<h2>The crime shocked the city</h2>On Dec. 6, 1991, Amy Ayers, 13; Eliza Thomas, 17; and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, ages 17 and 15, were bound, gagged and shot in the head at the “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt” store where two of them worked. The building was then set on fire.Investigators have said that around closing time, someone was either in the store or entered through the back door, attacked the girls and set the fire. The bodies were found by firefighters who were still battling the blaze, and the efforts to put out the fire badly damaged the crime scene.Detectives chased thousands of leads, including multiple confessions, before the case went cold for years. Then in 1999, police arrested four men who were juveniles at the time of the crime. Two of them, Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott, confessed and implicated each other, but later recanted and said their statements were coerced by police.Springsteen and Scott were convicted. Springsteen was sent to death row before the sentence was reduced to life in prison. Both convictions were later overturned, and the charges were dropped in 2009 when new DNA evidence told detectives they were looking for a previously unknown male at the crime scene.<h2>New connections to Brashers</h2>Authorities had identified Brashers as a killer who left a deadly trail across several states before he was connected to the yogurt shop murders.In 2018, Missouri authorities said DNA evidence linked him to the strangulation of a South Carolina woman in 1990, and the shooting of a mother and daughter in Missouri in 1998. The evidence also connected Brashers to the 1997 rape of a 14-year-old girl in Tennessee.In June, Austin cold case detective Daniel Jackson resubmitted to a federal system the ballistics findings on a shell casing from a .380 caliber handgun taken from the yogurt shop that was used to kill Ayers. It came back as a match to an unsolved 1998 crime in Kentucky. Jackson would not detail the Kentucky case but said it has similarities to the crime in Austin.And in August, South Carolina officials told Austin detectives that advanced DNA tests on a sample taken from under Ayers’ fingernail came back as a match to Brashers from the 1990 murder in South Carolina.“Amy’s final moments on this Earth were to solve this case for us,” Jackson said. “It’s because of her fighting back.”Police said they don’t know why Brashers would have been in Austin the night of the murders but noted the stop near El Paso just two days later. He was driving to visit his father in Arizona in a truck reported stolen in Georgia. He tried to flee when stopped, but was eventually detained and arrested on charges of auto theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm.The gun found on Brashers that day was confiscated, but it was eventually returned to his father, who may have given it back to him. Jackson said the gun is the same .380 caliber make and model Brashers used it to kill himself in the standoff with police in 1999 in Missouri.<h2>Prosecutor says evidence points to 1 killer</h2>Police said the case remains open for now and asked for help from anyone who could connect Brashers to Austin at the time. Brashers could be a suspect in other unsolved killings, Jackson said.Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said the “overwhelming weight of the evidence points to the guilt of one man” and the innocence of the men previously arrested and convicted.“If the conclusions of APD’s investigation are confirmed, as it appears that they will be, I will say: I am sorry, though I know that that will never be enough,” Garza said.“This case stole decades of my life, but the truth has finally come to light,” Scott said in a statement issued by his attorney, who said Scott deserves a full exoneration.“It must happen very soon. This is a long, hard battle for justice,” attorney Tony Diaz said. Springsteen’s trial attorney did not respond to requests for comment.“We never wanted anyone to go to jail or be charged with anything that they didn’t do,” said Barbara Wilson, mothers of the Harbison sisters. “Vengeance was never it. It was always the truth.”Police noted similarities in the yogurt shop case to Brasher’s other crimes — including that the victims were tied up with their own clothing, sexually assaulted and some crime scenes were set on fire. Jackson also noted Brashers was known to carry multiple weapons and act alone.“At this point there is no evidence he had an accomplice,” in the Austin killings, Jackson said.Sonora Thomas, sister of Eliza Thomas, said she thought she would die not knowing what happened and had to come to terms with that.“I now know what happened, and that does ease my suffering,” she said.

Serial killer with Missouri victims linked to 30-year-old cold case

MORGAN COUNTY, Missouri—A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Sunday at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Yamaha Viking driven by a 59-year-old Overland Park woman was southbound on Viewside Drive near Memory Lane at Lake of the Ozarks. The driver lost control of the UTV in a turn. The vehicle traveled off the left side of the road, overturned and struck a ditch.

MU Air transported the woman to University Hospital. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

MORGAN COUNTY, Missouri—A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Sunday at Lake of the Ozarks.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Yamaha Viking driven by a 59-year-old Overland Park woman was southbound on Viewside Drive near Memory Lane at Lake of the Ozarks. The driver lost control of the UTV in a turn. The vehicle traveled off the left side of the road, overturned and struck a ditch.MU Air transported the woman to University Hospital. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Kan. woman airlifted to hospital after UTV crash 

WASHINGTON (AP) —Hamas said Tuesday it will discuss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-palestinians-peace-plan-ce2e84de8aa5fd308fe751ae9c3118e8">U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza</a>&nbsp;within the group and with other Palestinian factions before responding. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already thrown his support behind it but it’s unclear whether Hamas will agree and when it would give its response.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-plan-gaza-israel-hamas-war-d5bb4097af1d46ba16ab20914d265ff7">proposal demands that Hamas effectively surrender</a>&nbsp;and disarm in return for an end to fighting, humanitarian aid for Palestinians and the promise of reconstruction in Gaza — all desperately hoped for by the population in the devastated territory where the death toll in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;has topped 66,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Meanwhile, backing and support were pouring in for the proposal from the international community. Trump and Netanyahu said after talks Monday in the White House that they had agreed on the plan.

Israeli foreign minister says it's now up to Hamas

Gideon Saar said that his country has accepted Trump’s "plan for ending the war in Gaza and for a better future" that it is now up to Hamas to announce its position.

“We will now see if Hamas accepts the president’s plan,” Saar said during a visit to Belgrade, Serbia’s capital.

He accused Hamas of trying in the past to change the terms or avoid implementing any past agreements. “We will see," he said.

“We want to see our hostages come home after two years … Alive and dead,” Saar said. “We also want to see a different Gaza: deradicalized, demilitarized and no longer posing a threat to Israel and its citizens.”

Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Djuric said Belgrade also backs the peace proposal and demands the release of the hostages held in Gaza, one of whom holds dual Israeli-Serbian citizenship.

The Kremlin says Russia hopes Trump's plan for Gaza succeeds

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a call with reporters that Russia welcomes Trump's efforts aimed at "ending the ongoing tragedy” and that Moscow officials "certainly wish that this plan is implemented and helps achieve peace in the Middle East.”

Peskov noted that Russia has maintained contacts with all parties to the conflict and stands ready to take efforts to help the settlement if asked to do so.

The UN, though not involved in Trump's plan, says it's ready to step up Gaza aid

The United Nations says it's prepared to increase aid deliveries into Gaza whenever possible. Deliveries by U.N. agencies and its partners have been largely limited in recent months as Israel has allowed a separate organization — the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — to ferry in aid.

Trump's plan says that aid entries will proceed “without interference” by Israel or Hamas “through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent” in addition to other international institutions “not associated in any manner with either party.”

Alessandra Vellucci, a U.N. Geneva spokesperson, said the world body is in contact “with the various parties about the peace efforts ... we welcome all the mediation.”

Jens Laerke, a spokesman for U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said the U.N. stands "ready and prepared and capable to increase aid deliveries inside Gaza, whenever the opportunity is such that we are allowed to do so and the ... safety and security of doing so is there indeed.”

China reiterates its support for a 2-state solution

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing calls “on all relevant parties” to “immediately achieve a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, release all detainees and alleviate the humanitarian disaster in the region as soon as possible.”

China supports a two-state solution and is willing to work with the international community for a “comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution of the Palestinian issue,” Guo added.

Germany's chancellor says Trump's plan is ‘best chance for ending the war’

Chancellor Friedrich Merz thanked Trump for his “persistent efforts” and Arab and Muslim countries in the Middle East for their “influence” with Hamas. He said Germany remained in close contact with its European neighbors and the United States on the issue.

Merz's came shortly after Merz on Tuesday hosted relatives of German hostages of Hamas. During the meeting, he said the suffering of the hostages “must end now,” and called on Hamas to release all hostages, according to the statement.

Spain says a 2-state solution is the ‘only possible one’ for Israel and the Palestinians

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed the U.S. peace proposal and said a two-state solution was “the only possible one” for the Middle East.

“It is time for the violence to cease, for the immediate release of all the hostages to take place, and for humanitarian aid to be provided to the civilian population,” Sánchez wrote on X.

Spain has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, with Sánchez earlier this month calling Israel’s conduct a genocide.

Turkey ready to help the Gaza flotilla with humanitarian needs

Turkey’s defense ministry says it's closely monitoring the eastern Mediterranean and that its ships in the region are prepared to assist “humanitarian missions if needed” — a reference to the Gaza-bound&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-flotilla-italy-spain-000441922caa2c88cf73203e83d3e6e2">Global Sumud Flotilla</a>&nbsp;seeking to break the Israeli blockade of the territory.

A day earlier, Turkish navy helped evacuate activists on board Johnny M, one of the flotilla vessels — after it began taking in water in an area off the coast of Crete, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Meanwhile, at least three activists working with the flotilla from Egypt were arrested in Cairo, the flotilla committee said. It's unclear where they are being detained.

Some of the activists in Egypt plan to join the group of more than 50 small vessels carrying activists from dozens of countries attempting to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza.

The flotilla includes 52 mostly small vessels carrying activists from dozens of countries and a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, mainly food and medicine, for Palestinians in Gaza.

‘Hamas has no choice’ but to release hostages and accept the peace plan, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron says he welcomes Trump’s “commitment to ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of all hostages.”

“I expect Israel to engage resolutely on this basis. Hamas has no choice but to immediately release all hostages and follow this plan,” Macron posted on X.

“These elements must pave the way for in-depth discussions with all relevant partners to build a lasting peace in the region, based on the two-state solution,” he wrote. “France stands ready to contribute. It will remain vigilant regarding the commitments of each party.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759172020282.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Hamas said Tuesday it will discuss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-palestinians-peace-plan-ce2e84de8aa5fd308fe751ae9c3118e8">U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza</a>&nbsp;within the group and with other Palestinian factions before responding. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already thrown his support behind it but it’s unclear whether Hamas will agree and when it would give its response.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Donald J. Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict: 1. Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors. 2. Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough. 3. If… <a href="https://t.co/veqhr9MW28">pic.twitter.com/veqhr9MW28</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1972726021196562494?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-plan-gaza-israel-hamas-war-d5bb4097af1d46ba16ab20914d265ff7">proposal demands that Hamas effectively surrender</a>&nbsp;and disarm in return for an end to fighting, humanitarian aid for Palestinians and the promise of reconstruction in Gaza — all desperately hoped for by the population in the devastated territory where the death toll in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;has topped 66,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.Meanwhile, backing and support were pouring in for the proposal from the international community. Trump and Netanyahu said after talks Monday in the White House that they had agreed on the plan.Here's the latest:<h2>Israeli foreign minister says it's now up to Hamas</h2>Gideon Saar said that his country has accepted Trump’s "plan for ending the war in Gaza and for a better future" that it is now up to Hamas to announce its position.“We will now see if Hamas accepts the president’s plan,” Saar said during a visit to Belgrade, Serbia’s capital.He accused Hamas of trying in the past to change the terms or avoid implementing any past agreements. “We will see," he said.“We want to see our hostages come home after two years … Alive and dead,” Saar said. “We also want to see a different Gaza: deradicalized, demilitarized and no longer posing a threat to Israel and its citizens.”Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Djuric said Belgrade also backs the peace proposal and demands the release of the hostages held in Gaza, one of whom holds dual Israeli-Serbian citizenship.<h2>The Kremlin says Russia hopes Trump's plan for Gaza succeeds</h2>Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a call with reporters that Russia welcomes Trump's efforts aimed at "ending the ongoing tragedy” and that Moscow officials "certainly wish that this plan is implemented and helps achieve peace in the Middle East.”Peskov noted that Russia has maintained contacts with all parties to the conflict and stands ready to take efforts to help the settlement if asked to do so.<h2>The UN, though not involved in Trump's plan, says it's ready to step up Gaza aid</h2>The United Nations says it's prepared to increase aid deliveries into Gaza whenever possible. Deliveries by U.N. agencies and its partners have been largely limited in recent months as Israel has allowed a separate organization — the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — to ferry in aid.Trump's plan says that aid entries will proceed “without interference” by Israel or Hamas “through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent” in addition to other international institutions “not associated in any manner with either party.”Alessandra Vellucci, a U.N. Geneva spokesperson, said the world body is in contact “with the various parties about the peace efforts ... we welcome all the mediation.”Jens Laerke, a spokesman for U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said the U.N. stands "ready and prepared and capable to increase aid deliveries inside Gaza, whenever the opportunity is such that we are allowed to do so and the ... safety and security of doing so is there indeed.”<h2>China reiterates its support for a 2-state solution</h2>Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing calls “on all relevant parties” to “immediately achieve a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, release all detainees and alleviate the humanitarian disaster in the region as soon as possible.”China supports a two-state solution and is willing to work with the international community for a “comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution of the Palestinian issue,” Guo added.<h2>Germany's chancellor says Trump's plan is ‘best chance for ending the war’</h2>Chancellor Friedrich Merz thanked Trump for his “persistent efforts” and Arab and Muslim countries in the Middle East for their “influence” with Hamas. He said Germany remained in close contact with its European neighbors and the United States on the issue.Merz's came shortly after Merz on Tuesday hosted relatives of German hostages of Hamas. During the meeting, he said the suffering of the hostages “must end now,” and called on Hamas to release all hostages, according to the statement.<h2>Spain says a 2-state solution is the ‘only possible one’ for Israel and the Palestinians</h2>Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed the U.S. peace proposal and said a two-state solution was “the only possible one” for the Middle East.“It is time for the violence to cease, for the immediate release of all the hostages to take place, and for humanitarian aid to be provided to the civilian population,” Sánchez wrote on X.Spain has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, with Sánchez earlier this month calling Israel’s conduct a genocide.<h2>Turkey ready to help the Gaza flotilla with humanitarian needs</h2>Turkey’s defense ministry says it's closely monitoring the eastern Mediterranean and that its ships in the region are prepared to assist “humanitarian missions if needed” — a reference to the Gaza-bound&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-flotilla-italy-spain-000441922caa2c88cf73203e83d3e6e2">Global Sumud Flotilla</a>&nbsp;seeking to break the Israeli blockade of the territory.A day earlier, Turkish navy helped evacuate activists on board Johnny M, one of the flotilla vessels — after it began taking in water in an area off the coast of Crete, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported.Meanwhile, at least three activists working with the flotilla from Egypt were arrested in Cairo, the flotilla committee said. It's unclear where they are being detained.Some of the activists in Egypt plan to join the group of more than 50 small vessels carrying activists from dozens of countries attempting to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza.The flotilla includes 52 mostly small vessels carrying activists from dozens of countries and a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, mainly food and medicine, for Palestinians in Gaza.<h2>‘Hamas has no choice’ but to release hostages and accept the peace plan, Macron says</h2>French President Emmanuel Macron says he welcomes Trump’s “commitment to ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of all hostages.”“I expect Israel to engage resolutely on this basis. Hamas has no choice but to immediately release all hostages and follow this plan,” Macron posted on X.“These elements must pave the way for in-depth discussions with all relevant partners to build a lasting peace in the region, based on the two-state solution,” he wrote. “France stands ready to contribute. It will remain vigilant regarding the commitments of each party.”

Hamas says it will study Trump's peace plan before responding

JOHNSON COUNTY –A Kansas man is going to prison for killing a man near a Kansas middle school.

On September 25, a judge sentenced 25-year-old Armando Javier Guerrero&nbsp; to 55 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for the shooting death of 21-year-old Landen Roggenkamp in March, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;Guerrero entered a guilty plea last month to the voluntary manslaughter charge.

On March 25, &nbsp;police responded to a shooting in the 1400 block of East Mart-Way Circle in Olathe. The location is less than a quarter of a mile from Santa Fe Trail Middle School. 

First responders found Roggenkamp with multiple wounds, according to a statement from police. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was was pronounced deceased.

The Olathe Police Department took Guerrero into custody, and officers said they believed he and Roggenkamp knew each other.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743418050944.png" alt="GUERRERO photo Johnson COunty" />
 <figcaption>GUERRERO photo Johnson COunty</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY –A Kansas man is going to prison for killing a man near a Kansas middle school.On September 25, a judge sentenced 25-year-old Armando Javier Guerrero&nbsp; to 55 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for the shooting death of 21-year-old Landen Roggenkamp in March, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;Guerrero entered a guilty plea last month to the voluntary manslaughter charge.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759180422399.png" alt="Landen Roggenkamp -photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Landen Roggenkamp -photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>On March 25, &nbsp;police responded to a shooting in the 1400 block of East Mart-Way Circle in Olathe. The location is less than a quarter of a mile from Santa Fe Trail Middle School. First responders found Roggenkamp with multiple wounds, according to a statement from police. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was was pronounced deceased.The Olathe Police Department took Guerrero into custody, and officers said they believed he and Roggenkamp knew each other.&nbsp;

Prison for the death of 21-year-old Kansas man

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect after an altercation between two women in a store parking lot.

Just before 1p.m. September 24, police investigated a disturbance that had occurred in the Walmart parking lot in the 1900 block U.S.73 Highway in the city of Atchson, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

A 72-year-old woman reported being threatened, struck and pulled to the ground by a person known to her. 

The 78 year old suspect had left the scene before officers arrived.&nbsp; At 7p.m. police took 78-year-old Paula Phillips into custody at her residence. She remains jailed on requested charges that includes criminal threat and battery.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759158957289.png" alt="Phillips photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Phillips photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect after an altercation between two women in a store parking lot.Just before 1p.m. September 24, police investigated a disturbance that had occurred in the Walmart parking lot in the 1900 block U.S.73 Highway in the city of Atchson, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.A 72-year-old woman reported being threatened, struck and pulled to the ground by a person known to her. The 78 year old suspect had left the scene before officers arrived.&nbsp; At 7p.m. police took 78-year-old Paula Phillips into custody at her residence. She remains jailed on requested charges that includes criminal threat and battery.&nbsp;

Kansas woman jailed after alleged parking lot fight

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A state agency revoked the professional license of the leader of Iowa’s largest school district on Monday, days after federal agents arrested him on accusations that he was living and working in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-des-moines-superintendent-ian-roberts-b52a9ea28d002d27832c67513403368e">country illegally.</a>

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners said in a letter to Des Moines public schools Superintendent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-des-moines-iowa-school-superintendent-8fbcf8353997c3a3bab10231c16cbf49">Ian Roberts</a>&nbsp;that he was ineligible to hold a license because “you no longer possess legal presence in the United States.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Roberts on Friday, saying he was subject to a final removal order that an immigration judge signed in May 2024. Roberts is a native of Guyana who entered the United States on a student visa in 1999, according to ICE. He’s being held at an Iowa jail.

ICE said that Roberts fled after a traffic stop in Des Moines, and that he was apprehended with the assistance of the Iowa State Patrol. The agency said that Roberts, 54, had possessed a loaded handgun in his district-issued vehicle, a hunting knife and $3,000 cash when arrested.

Des Moines school officials said they had known nothing about Roberts being in the country illegally. They said that he had signed a form verifying that he was a citizen when he was hired in 2023 and submitted a driver’s license and Social Security card to verify his eligibility.

The school board voted 6-0 Monday evening to put Roberts on unpaid leave from his job, which has an annual salary of $286,716. His contract, which the board had voted to extend in May through June 30, 2028, requires that he hold a state certification to serve as superintendent.

Board chair Jackie Norris said the district received notice Monday afternoon from the Department of Homeland Security that Roberts was unauthorized to work in the country, and a copy of the removal order issued by the Department of Justice.

Norris said the board would give Roberts’ attorney until noon on Tuesday to challenge those facts, and would otherwise move to fire him.

“We need to understand what happened and why,” she said.

Roberts’ attorney, Alfredo Parrish, didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.

The district, which has more than 30,000 students and nearly 5,000 employees, has said Roberts was identified as a candidate for the job by a search firm and that a “comprehensive background check” was completed as part of the process.

The state board that granted Roberts a license to serve as superintendent said the process included background checks by the state police and FBI. The Iowa Department of Education said it was the school district’s responsibility to verify employees’ eligibility to work, and that it would investigate the district’s practices.

The arrest shocked a district where he was known as a frequent presence at community events and a champion of students during his two-year tenure. Roberts had been in education for the last two decades, and served as a superintendent in Pennsylvania before his hiring in Iowa.

The school board put Roberts on paid leave during a brief special meeting Saturday but decided to cut off his pay Monday evening after a closed session held for about 90 minutes. The board has appointed district administrator Matt Smith to serve as interim superintendent.

Norris said that Des Moines students had identified with Roberts “and the enthusiasm he brought to our classroom,” and were scared and concerned by his arrest. She called on critics to stop “the hateful rhetoric directed at our district” to minimize the impact to education.

Norris said district officials were shocked to learn that Roberts allegedly had a gun in a school vehicle, which would violate policy.

ICE said that it had asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate how Roberts obtained the handgun. People in the country illegally are ineligible to possess firearms. Roberts had a history of gun ownership, however, and had been cited in 2021 in Pennsylvania and fined $100 for storing a loaded hunting rifle in his vehicle.

ICE has alleged that Roberts also had a separate, pending weapons charge dating to February 2020, but has not provided further details. ICE media representatives didn’t respond to inquiries about the claim Monday.

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican who represents the Des Moines area in Congress, wrote to ICE on Saturday requesting records related to the case. He said he was alarmed by the circumstances of the arrest.

“At the same time, it is important to our community to establish a clear, verifiable timeline and to confirm that ICE’s enforcement actions involving a senior public official were supported by proper documentation,” he wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758925503158.png" alt="&nbsp;Ian Roberts in February 2020.- photo ICE" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Ian Roberts in February 2020.- photo ICE</figcaption>
 </figure>IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A state agency revoked the professional license of the leader of Iowa’s largest school district on Monday, days after federal agents arrested him on accusations that he was living and working in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-des-moines-superintendent-ian-roberts-b52a9ea28d002d27832c67513403368e">country illegally.</a>The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners said in a letter to Des Moines public schools Superintendent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-des-moines-iowa-school-superintendent-8fbcf8353997c3a3bab10231c16cbf49">Ian Roberts</a>&nbsp;that he was ineligible to hold a license because “you no longer possess legal presence in the United States.”U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Roberts on Friday, saying he was subject to a final removal order that an immigration judge signed in May 2024. Roberts is a native of Guyana who entered the United States on a student visa in 1999, according to ICE. He’s being held at an Iowa jail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758925645393.png" alt="-Roberts Photo from September 26, 2025- image ICE" />
 <figcaption>-Roberts Photo from September 26, 2025- image ICE</figcaption>
 </figure>ICE said that Roberts fled after a traffic stop in Des Moines, and that he was apprehended with the assistance of the Iowa State Patrol. The agency said that Roberts, 54, had possessed a loaded handgun in his district-issued vehicle, a hunting knife and $3,000 cash when arrested.Des Moines school officials said they had known nothing about Roberts being in the country illegally. They said that he had signed a form verifying that he was a citizen when he was hired in 2023 and submitted a driver’s license and Social Security card to verify his eligibility.The school board voted 6-0 Monday evening to put Roberts on unpaid leave from his job, which has an annual salary of $286,716. His contract, which the board had voted to extend in May through June 30, 2028, requires that he hold a state certification to serve as superintendent.Board chair Jackie Norris said the district received notice Monday afternoon from the Department of Homeland Security that Roberts was unauthorized to work in the country, and a copy of the removal order issued by the Department of Justice.Norris said the board would give Roberts’ attorney until noon on Tuesday to challenge those facts, and would otherwise move to fire him.“We need to understand what happened and why,” she said.Roberts’ attorney, Alfredo Parrish, didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.The district, which has more than 30,000 students and nearly 5,000 employees, has said Roberts was identified as a candidate for the job by a search firm and that a “comprehensive background check” was completed as part of the process.The state board that granted Roberts a license to serve as superintendent said the process included background checks by the state police and FBI. The Iowa Department of Education said it was the school district’s responsibility to verify employees’ eligibility to work, and that it would investigate the district’s practices.The arrest shocked a district where he was known as a frequent presence at community events and a champion of students during his two-year tenure. Roberts had been in education for the last two decades, and served as a superintendent in Pennsylvania before his hiring in Iowa.The school board put Roberts on paid leave during a brief special meeting Saturday but decided to cut off his pay Monday evening after a closed session held for about 90 minutes. The board has appointed district administrator Matt Smith to serve as interim superintendent.Norris said that Des Moines students had identified with Roberts “and the enthusiasm he brought to our classroom,” and were scared and concerned by his arrest. She called on critics to stop “the hateful rhetoric directed at our district” to minimize the impact to education.Norris said district officials were shocked to learn that Roberts allegedly had a gun in a school vehicle, which would violate policy.ICE said that it had asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate how Roberts obtained the handgun. People in the country illegally are ineligible to possess firearms. Roberts had a history of gun ownership, however, and had been cited in 2021 in Pennsylvania and fined $100 for storing a loaded hunting rifle in his vehicle.ICE has alleged that Roberts also had a separate, pending weapons charge dating to February 2020, but has not provided further details. ICE media representatives didn’t respond to inquiries about the claim Monday.U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican who represents the Des Moines area in Congress, wrote to ICE on Saturday requesting records related to the case. He said he was alarmed by the circumstances of the arrest.“At the same time, it is important to our community to establish a clear, verifiable timeline and to confirm that ICE’s enforcement actions involving a senior public official were supported by proper documentation,” he wrote.

Iowa revokes license of schools superintendent arrested by ICE

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A driver charged in a crash that killed two Kansas women was due back in court on Monday. The hearing was continued, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Clowie Ann McLaughlin, 80, Augusta, was to appear in Judge Roger Woods courtroom. She&nbsp;is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, severity level 4 person felonies, in the deaths of 42-year-old LaShea Bell and her daughter, 25-year-old A’Niah Bell.

The crash happened around 9:35 p.m.&nbsp; August 30, at the intersection of Central and Webb Road in Wichita

. According to Wichita police, McLaughlin’s black Chevrolet truck collided with a white BMW carrying the Bells and a gray Jeep driven by a 41-year-old man. LaShea Bell was pronounced dead at the scene, while A’Niah Bell later died at a local hospital. The Jeep driver was treated at the scene and released.

Police said speed and alcohol are believed to have been factors in the collision. McLaughlin was taken to a hospital for treatment of her own injuries and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail after being medically cleared. She bonded out of jail the following day after posting a $100,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757541241700.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A driver charged in a crash that killed two Kansas women was due back in court on Monday. The hearing was continued, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756722147795.png" alt="-Clowie Ann McLaughlin -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>-Clowie Ann McLaughlin -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Clowie Ann McLaughlin, 80, Augusta, was to appear in Judge Roger Woods courtroom. She&nbsp;is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, severity level 4 person felonies, in the deaths of 42-year-old LaShea Bell and her daughter, 25-year-old A’Niah Bell.The crash happened around 9:35 p.m.&nbsp; August 30, at the intersection of Central and Webb Road in Wichita. According to Wichita police, McLaughlin’s black Chevrolet truck collided with a white BMW carrying the Bells and a gray Jeep driven by a 41-year-old man. LaShea Bell was pronounced dead at the scene, while A’Niah Bell later died at a local hospital. The Jeep driver was treated at the scene and released.Police said speed and alcohol are believed to have been factors in the collision. McLaughlin was taken to a hospital for treatment of her own injuries and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail after being medically cleared. She bonded out of jail the following day after posting a $100,000 bond.

Hearing postponed for driver in crash that killed 2 Kan. women 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A government shutdown fast approaching, Democratic and Republican congressional leaders left a White House meeting with President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;Monday afternoon showing little willingness to compromise from their entrenched positions in order to avoid a lapse in funding.

If government funding legislation isn't passed by Congress and signed by Trump on Tuesday night, many government offices across the nation will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-omb-government-shutdown-mass-firings-41e2bb0ebd2d2cc13b2894721d6b6641">temporarily shuttered</a>&nbsp;and nonexempt federal employees will be furloughed, adding to the strain on workers and the nation's economy.

But lawmakers were locked in an impasse Monday as Democrats demanded legislation to extend health care benefits and Republicans dared them to vote against legislation that would keep government funding mostly at current levels.

“There are still large differences between us,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said as he left the White House.

Vice President JD Vance told reporters after the meeting, “I think we’re headed into a shutdown because the Democrats won’t do the right thing.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-democrats-health-care-blame-ee852953197b7b59f3447aa3a2167ac0">Trump has shown little interest</a>&nbsp;in entertaining Democrats' demands on health care, even as he agreed to hold a sit-down meeting Monday with Schumer, along with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. The Republican president has said repeatedly he fully expects the government to enter a shutdown this week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759179453157.jpeg" alt="Vice President JD Vance and other GOP leaders spoke to reporters after the unsuccessful meeting on Monday-photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President" />
 <figcaption>Vice President JD Vance and other GOP leaders spoke to reporters after the unsuccessful meeting on Monday-photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A government shutdown fast approaching, Democratic and Republican congressional leaders left a White House meeting with President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;Monday afternoon showing little willingness to compromise from their entrenched positions in order to avoid a lapse in funding.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">SCHUMER: &quot;We have very large differences on health care...&quot; Yes, Democrats want taxpayers to fund free health care for illegals and Republicans do not. <a href="https://t.co/ZkA9HaJEBX">pic.twitter.com/ZkA9HaJEBX</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1972763437567816170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>If government funding legislation isn't passed by Congress and signed by Trump on Tuesday night, many government offices across the nation will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-omb-government-shutdown-mass-firings-41e2bb0ebd2d2cc13b2894721d6b6641">temporarily shuttered</a>&nbsp;and nonexempt federal employees will be furloughed, adding to the strain on workers and the nation's economy.But lawmakers were locked in an impasse Monday as Democrats demanded legislation to extend health care benefits and Republicans dared them to vote against legislation that would keep government funding mostly at current levels.“There are still large differences between us,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said as he left the White House.Vice President JD Vance told reporters after the meeting, “I think we’re headed into a shutdown because the Democrats won’t do the right thing.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: Democrats want a $1.5 TRILLION spending package that funded free health care for illegals. We told them that was absurd — and now they&#39;re willing to shut down the government over it. It&#39;s unacceptable. <a href="https://t.co/B8aUN9cp4i">pic.twitter.com/B8aUN9cp4i</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1972765852484391095?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a>: &quot;During the Biden Administration, there were 13 threatened shutdowns. The Republicans, in the minority, did the right thing — we kept the government open. We&#39;re simply asking for the Democrats to do the same.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/PqPKlOGjN4">pic.twitter.com/PqPKlOGjN4</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1972766650626920751?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderJohnThune?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderJohnThune</a> on the Democrats pulling America towards a government shutdown over their partisan demands: &quot;This is a hijacking of the American people — and it&#39;s the American people that are going to pay the price.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/GvHzHgEKMk">pic.twitter.com/GvHzHgEKMk</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1972767146515337390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/WHOMB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WHOMB</a> Director <a href="https://twitter.com/russvought?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@russvought</a>: This can all be avoided if Democrats accept the reasonable position, which the House has already passed — a short term Continuing Resolution. Democrats&#39; $1.5 TRILLION demand is hostage taking and it&#39;s unacceptable. <a href="https://t.co/MjRuTLayhj">pic.twitter.com/MjRuTLayhj</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1972767237678526903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Just left the White House meeting with Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans. This fight is about the healthcare of the American people. <a href="https://t.co/q0HALCVKhq">pic.twitter.com/q0HALCVKhq</a>&mdash; Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJeffries/status/1972773826875556098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Democrats' health care demands</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-democrats-health-care-blame-ee852953197b7b59f3447aa3a2167ac0">Trump has shown little interest</a>&nbsp;in entertaining Democrats' demands on health care, even as he agreed to hold a sit-down meeting Monday with Schumer, along with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. The Republican president has said repeatedly he fully expects the government to enter a shutdown this week.“If it has to shut down, it’ll have to shut down,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-democrats-health-care-blame-ee852953197b7b59f3447aa3a2167ac0">said Friday</a>. “But they’re the ones that are shutting down government.”The Trump administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-health-care-subsidies-schumer-6b0d64fe442fc4fa8a8daf283a30ce76">tried to pressure Democratic lawmakers</a>&nbsp;into backing away from their demands, warning that federal employees could be permanently laid off in a funding lapse.“Chuck Schumer said a few months ago that a government shutdown would be chaotic, harmful and painful. He’s right, and that's why we shouldn't do it,” Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said Sunday on NBC's “Meet the Press.”Still, Democrats argued Trump's agreement to hold a meeting shows he's feeling the pressure to negotiate. They say that because Republicans control the White House and Congress, Americans will mostly blame them for any&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdowns-history-schumer-trump-f442ba1392fab3e7cab37756302e829c">government shutdown</a>.Democrats are pushing for an extension to Affordable Care Act&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economic-bill-house-vote-be99d8db5bd610c5b1d78bc047a03e77">tax credits</a>&nbsp;that have subsidized health insurance for millions of people since the COVID-19 pandemic. The credits, which are designed to expand coverage for low- and middle-income people, are set to expire at the end of the year.At a Monday news conference, Jeffries, a New York Democrat, called health care cuts a “five-alarm fire” that is rippling across communities nationwide.“We’re not going to simply go along to get along with a Republican bill that continues to gut the health care of everyday Americans who are already living with this Trump economy, where costs aren’t going down but they’re going up,” he said.The pandemic-era ACA subsidies are set to expire in a matter of months if Congress fails to act.Some Republicans are open to extending the tax credits but want changes. Thune said Sunday that the program is “desperately in need of reform” and Republicans want to address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-waste-fraud-abuse-635b1419014a43e061f548c9713860c4">“waste, fraud and abuse.”</a>&nbsp;He has pressed Democrats to vote for the funding bill and take up the debate on tax credits later.<h2>How will Democrats vote?</h2>To hold on to their negotiating leverage, Senate Democrats will likely have to vote against a bill to temporarily extend government funding on Tuesday, just hours before a shutdown — an uncomfortable position for a party that has long denounced shutdowns as pointless and destructive.The bill has already passed the Republican-controlled House and would keep the government funded for seven more weeks while Congress works on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-gdp-spending-trump-federal-reserve-rates-97346d37c4edaa00f519e45941f75264">annual spending legislation</a>.Any legislation to fund the government will need support from at least 60 senators in the 100-member chamber. That means that at least eight Democrats would have to vote for the short-term funding bill, because Republican Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thomas-massie-trump-kentucky-primary-rand-paul-bc447fc30c913f520459f8f63e5d50ca">Rand Paul</a>&nbsp;of Kentucky is expected to vote against it.During the last potential government shutdown in March, Schumer and nine other Democrats voted to break a filibuster and allow a Republican-led funding bill to advance to a final vote. The New York Democrat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrats-congress-chuck-schumer-government-funding-shutdown-43d1acea20c34ad28d848edc08ad6375">faced fierce backlash</a>&nbsp;from many in his own party for that decision, with some even calling for him to step down as Democratic leader.Senate Democrats have begun to discuss some possible next steps if the government does shut down — potentially a proposal for a one- or two-week stopgap if Republicans will work with them on a health care fix, according to several people familiar with the private talks who requested anonymity to discuss them. But there is no consensus in the caucus about how to proceed, or guarantees that Republicans and Trump would negotiate.