By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rod-mcguirk">ROD MCGUIRK</a>

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Riley Allen, a 15-year-old schoolboy living on an Outback sheep ranch, doesn’t know how he’ll keep in touch with his circle of far-flung friends once Australia’s world-first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-children-1abadf5445418c8c14f5f68cf76b38d0">social media ban</a>&nbsp;takes effect on Wednesday.

Riley’s family lives 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Wudinna, a community of just over 1,000 in South Australia state. But some of his school friends live as far as 70 kilometers (43 miles) away.

“I don’t think the impact will be very positive for us. We don’t have a lot out here to get in contact with each other,” Riley said.

“I’m not sure how we’re going to keep in touch over the holidays with each other,” he said, referring to the Southern Hemisphere summer break that starts on Thursday.

Riley and others younger than 16 will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-reddit-kick-e6ae0be8c6b2571edd94d0318f47cb14">banned</a>&nbsp;by law from holding accounts with Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube and Twitch from Wednesday. The platforms face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32.9 million) if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove the accounts.

Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads, was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-media-ban-children-australia-334458608b809a26cc07ea74e39b9b7b">first tech giant to react</a>, beginning to exclude suspected young children from last week.

Riley holds accounts with most of the age-restricted platforms and had been asked by some to verify that he is at least 16. But by Monday, he had not been ousted by any.

Mom won’t help 15-year-old son bypass social media ban

Riley’s schoolteacher mother, Sonia Allen, said she wouldn’t help her son get around the ban, but suspects other parents will.

“I wouldn’t. I do know there are other people that would. If the rule is there, the rule is there. But I know what kids are like, and I’ve been a kid before, and they’re going to get around it if they can,” she said.

While the law allows parents no discretion to allow their children to hold social media accounts, Allen said there was a role for parents in regulating their children’s social media use.

A year ago, she banned Riley from social media for several weeks.

“In the past with Riley, we’ve had to take measures to limit his usage because we found him on social media at midnight and he wasn’t getting his homework done and things like that. We ended up taking it off him for a couple of months,” Allen said. “From that, he’s learned to use it a more responsibly.”

Riley, who turns 16 in April, said he understood the ban’s objectives, but there are other ways to achieve them. He suggested a 10 p.m. enforced social media curfew for young children to prevent them losing sleep.

Teens challenge the ban in Australia’s highest court

Riley has an ally in Australia’s largest city, Sydney: schoolboy Noah Jones, who turns 16 in August.

Noah is one of two 15-year-old plaintiffs in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-children-social-media-ban-court-challenge-5c85493f58c2869505431f101af17f35">constitutional challenge</a>&nbsp;to the law in the High Court. The other in the case brought by the Sydney-based rights group Digital Freedom Project is schoolgirl Macy Neyland.

They claim the law improperly robs 2.6 million young Australians of a right to freedom of political communication implied in Australia’s constitution.

The Australian government is committed to defeating the challenge on behalf of what they say is an overwhelming majority of parents who demand government action against social media harms.

Many restricted children have told media they welcome their exclusion from platforms with design features that encourage them to spend more time on screens while also serving up content that can harm their health and well-being.

The parents’ group Heaps Up Alliance, which lobbied for the social media age restriction, backs the theory behind the blanket ban that “when everybody misses out, nobody misses out.”

Before Parliament passed the ban last year, more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/young-and-resilient/news/in_media/young_and_resilient_research_centre_joins_chorus_of_nearly_150_australian_and_international_experts_opposing_social_media_ban_for_u16s" target="_blank">140 Australian and international academics</a>&nbsp;with expertise in fields related to technology and child welfare signed an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opposing a social media age limit as “too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively.”

Noah said the ban would lead to young Australians swapping from age-restricted platforms to more dangerous, less regulated options.

“I’m against this social media ban because as young Australians, we’ll be completely silenced and cut off from our country and the rest of the world,” Noah said. “We’ve just grown up with this our entire lives, and now it’s just being taken away from us all of a sudden. We wouldn’t even know what else we could do.”

His mother, Renee Jones, is also involved in the court case as her son’s litigation guardian, because as a child he can’t make legal decisions himself.

She considers herself a relatively strict parent on social media, and never allowed Noah or his two older brothers to take devices into their bedrooms. But she supports Noah’s stance.

“My parents would never have dreamed that my children could be so fortunate to have this library of knowledge,” Jones said.

“But I really credit Noah as a young person who recognizes the dangers of social media. It’s not all sunshine and lollypops,” she added.

A plaintiff says tech giants’ money would be welcome

Digital Freedom Project president John Ruddick, who is also a state lawmaker for the minor Libertarian Party, said he had initially intended to apply for a court injunction in a bid to prevent the ban taking effect on Wednesday. But his lawyers advised against it.

A directions hearing will be held in late February to set a hearing date for the constitutional challenge that will be heard by the full bench of seven judges.

Ruddick said the case wasn’t funded by any tech giant, but they would be “extremely welcome” to make a financial contribution.

Ruddick expected children would get around the ban by means including using virtual private networks to make them appear to be offshore.

“They’re going to get around it so they’re then going to be on an underground social media and, to make it worse, without parental supervision,” Ruddick said.

“It’s much better for it to be out in the open and for parents to play a very, very active role … in monitoring what they’re doing on social media,” he added.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758981317980.jpg" alt="Instagram image courtesy Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Instagram image courtesy Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rod-mcguirk">ROD MCGUIRK</a>MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Riley Allen, a 15-year-old schoolboy living on an Outback sheep ranch, doesn’t know how he’ll keep in touch with his circle of far-flung friends once Australia’s world-first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-children-1abadf5445418c8c14f5f68cf76b38d0">social media ban</a>&nbsp;takes effect on Wednesday.Riley’s family lives 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Wudinna, a community of just over 1,000 in South Australia state. But some of his school friends live as far as 70 kilometers (43 miles) away.“I don’t think the impact will be very positive for us. We don’t have a lot out here to get in contact with each other,” Riley said.“I’m not sure how we’re going to keep in touch over the holidays with each other,” he said, referring to the Southern Hemisphere summer break that starts on Thursday.Riley and others younger than 16 will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-reddit-kick-e6ae0be8c6b2571edd94d0318f47cb14">banned</a>&nbsp;by law from holding accounts with Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube and Twitch from Wednesday. The platforms face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32.9 million) if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove the accounts.Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads, was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-media-ban-children-australia-334458608b809a26cc07ea74e39b9b7b">first tech giant to react</a>, beginning to exclude suspected young children from last week.Riley holds accounts with most of the age-restricted platforms and had been asked by some to verify that he is at least 16. But by Monday, he had not been ousted by any.<h2>Mom won’t help 15-year-old son bypass social media ban</h2>Riley’s schoolteacher mother, Sonia Allen, said she wouldn’t help her son get around the ban, but suspects other parents will.“I wouldn’t. I do know there are other people that would. If the rule is there, the rule is there. But I know what kids are like, and I’ve been a kid before, and they’re going to get around it if they can,” she said.While the law allows parents no discretion to allow their children to hold social media accounts, Allen said there was a role for parents in regulating their children’s social media use.A year ago, she banned Riley from social media for several weeks.“In the past with Riley, we’ve had to take measures to limit his usage because we found him on social media at midnight and he wasn’t getting his homework done and things like that. We ended up taking it off him for a couple of months,” Allen said. “From that, he’s learned to use it a more responsibly.”Riley, who turns 16 in April, said he understood the ban’s objectives, but there are other ways to achieve them. He suggested a 10 p.m. enforced social media curfew for young children to prevent them losing sleep.<h2>Teens challenge the ban in Australia’s highest court</h2>Riley has an ally in Australia’s largest city, Sydney: schoolboy Noah Jones, who turns 16 in August.Noah is one of two 15-year-old plaintiffs in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-children-social-media-ban-court-challenge-5c85493f58c2869505431f101af17f35">constitutional challenge</a>&nbsp;to the law in the High Court. The other in the case brought by the Sydney-based rights group Digital Freedom Project is schoolgirl Macy Neyland.They claim the law improperly robs 2.6 million young Australians of a right to freedom of political communication implied in Australia’s constitution.The Australian government is committed to defeating the challenge on behalf of what they say is an overwhelming majority of parents who demand government action against social media harms.Many restricted children have told media they welcome their exclusion from platforms with design features that encourage them to spend more time on screens while also serving up content that can harm their health and well-being.The parents’ group Heaps Up Alliance, which lobbied for the social media age restriction, backs the theory behind the blanket ban that “when everybody misses out, nobody misses out.”Before Parliament passed the ban last year, more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/young-and-resilient/news/in_media/young_and_resilient_research_centre_joins_chorus_of_nearly_150_australian_and_international_experts_opposing_social_media_ban_for_u16s" target="_blank">140 Australian and international academics</a>&nbsp;with expertise in fields related to technology and child welfare signed an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opposing a social media age limit as “too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively.”Noah said the ban would lead to young Australians swapping from age-restricted platforms to more dangerous, less regulated options.“I’m against this social media ban because as young Australians, we’ll be completely silenced and cut off from our country and the rest of the world,” Noah said. “We’ve just grown up with this our entire lives, and now it’s just being taken away from us all of a sudden. We wouldn’t even know what else we could do.”His mother, Renee Jones, is also involved in the court case as her son’s litigation guardian, because as a child he can’t make legal decisions himself.She considers herself a relatively strict parent on social media, and never allowed Noah or his two older brothers to take devices into their bedrooms. But she supports Noah’s stance.“My parents would never have dreamed that my children could be so fortunate to have this library of knowledge,” Jones said.“But I really credit Noah as a young person who recognizes the dangers of social media. It’s not all sunshine and lollypops,” she added.<h2>A plaintiff says tech giants’ money would be welcome</h2>Digital Freedom Project president John Ruddick, who is also a state lawmaker for the minor Libertarian Party, said he had initially intended to apply for a court injunction in a bid to prevent the ban taking effect on Wednesday. But his lawyers advised against it.A directions hearing will be held in late February to set a hearing date for the constitutional challenge that will be heard by the full bench of seven judges.Ruddick said the case wasn’t funded by any tech giant, but they would be “extremely welcome” to make a financial contribution.Ruddick expected children would get around the ban by means including using virtual private networks to make them appear to be offshore.“They’re going to get around it so they’re then going to be on an underground social media and, to make it worse, without parental supervision,” Ruddick said.“It’s much better for it to be out in the open and for parents to play a very, very active role … in monitoring what they’re doing on social media,” he added.

World-first social media ban leaves teen worried about losing touch with friends

CHEROKEE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 6a.m. Saturday in Cherokee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1994 Chevy Blazer driven by Meredith&nbsp;Wagner, 19, Columbus, was westbound on U.S. 400 two miles east of Baxter Springs. The SUV traveled off the road to the left. The driver overcorrected. The vehicle crossed over U.S. 400 off&nbsp; the road to the right, rolled and the driver&nbsp; was ejected.&nbsp;

Wagner was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Derfelt Funeral Home. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

CHEROKEE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 6a.m. Saturday in Cherokee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1994 Chevy Blazer driven by Meredith&nbsp;Wagner, 19, Columbus, was westbound on U.S. 400 two miles east of Baxter Springs. The SUV traveled off the road to the left. The driver overcorrected. The vehicle crossed over U.S. 400 off&nbsp; the road to the right, rolled and the driver&nbsp; was ejected.&nbsp;Wagner was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Derfelt Funeral Home. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman killed after ejected in rollover accident

MCPHERSON COUNTY —Law enforcement in McPherson are investigating alleged child abuse and have made two arrests including a school teacher.

On Thursday morning, police in McPherson arrested 36-year-old Abby Bradstreet, an elementary school teacher in USD 418 McPherson, on requested charges of attempted aggravated endangering a chid; reckless situation involving a child under age 18 and abuse of a child; knowingly torture/cruelly beat; strike; kick a child between the age of 6 and 18, according to online jail records. Just after 12:30p.m. Thursday, Bradstreet, met the requirement of a $12,500 bond and was released, according to online jail records.

On Thursday afternoon, police also arrested 26-year-old Brady Burr, an employee of the McPherson Fire Department, on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child; reckless situation to a child under the age of 18 and for abuse of a child; knowingly torture/cruelly beat; strike; kick a child between the age of 6 and 18, according to online jail records. Burr was&nbsp;released 90 minutes after his arrest after he met the requirement of a $12,500 bond, according to online jail records.

Police released no additional details. The McPherson County Attorney will determine formal charges against them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765595766205.png" alt="Burr photo McPherson County" />
 <figcaption>Burr photo McPherson County</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON COUNTY —Law enforcement in McPherson are investigating alleged child abuse and have made two arrests including a school teacher.On Thursday morning, police in McPherson arrested 36-year-old Abby Bradstreet, an elementary school teacher in USD 418 McPherson, on requested charges of attempted aggravated endangering a chid; reckless situation involving a child under age 18 and abuse of a child; knowingly torture/cruelly beat; strike; kick a child between the age of 6 and 18, according to online jail records. Just after 12:30p.m. Thursday, Bradstreet, met the requirement of a $12,500 bond and was released, according to online jail records.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765595745383.png" alt="Bradstreet -photo McPherson Co." />
 <figcaption>Bradstreet -photo McPherson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On Thursday afternoon, police also arrested 26-year-old Brady Burr, an employee of the McPherson Fire Department, on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child; reckless situation to a child under the age of 18 and for abuse of a child; knowingly torture/cruelly beat; strike; kick a child between the age of 6 and 18, according to online jail records. Burr was&nbsp;released 90 minutes after his arrest after he met the requirement of a $12,500 bond, according to online jail records.Police released no additional details. The McPherson County Attorney will determine formal charges against them.

Kansas elementary school teacher among two accused of child abuse

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mead-gruver">MEAD GRUVER</a>

Getting trapped in quicksand is a corny peril of old movies and TV shows, but it really did happen to one unfortunate hiker in Utah’s Arches National Park.

The park famous for dozens of natural, sandstone arches gets over 1 million visitors a year, and accidents ranging from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arches-national-park-hiker-dies-fall-0a2f0d4de9dd246c7ae95cec87195ce8">falls</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-hiker-dead-heat-stroke-arches-utah-c547aacd31b54cebdba5f6b96bc35748">heat stroke</a>&nbsp;are common.

Quicksand? Not really — but it has happened at least a couple of times now.

“The wet sand just kind of flows back in. It’s kind of a never-ending battle,” said John Marshall, who helped a woman stuck in quicksand over a decade ago and coordinated the latest rescue.

On Sunday, an experienced hiker, whose identity wasn’t released, was traversing a small canyon on the second day of a 20-mile (32-kilometer) backpacking trip when he sank up to his thigh, according to Marshall.

Unable to free himself, the hiker activated an emergency satellite beacon. His message got forwarded to Grand County emergency responders and Marshall got the call at 7:15 a.m..

“I was just rolling out of bed,” Marshall said. “I’m scratching my head, going, ‘Did I hear that right? Did they say quicksand?’”

He put his boots on and rendezvoused with a team that set out with all-terrain vehicles, a ladder, traction boards, backboards and a drone. Soon, Marshall had a bird’s-eye view of the situation.

Through the drone camera he saw a park ranger who’d tossed the man a shovel. But the quicksand flowed back as soon as the backpacker shoveled it away, Marshall said.

The Grand County Search and Rescue team positioned the ladder and boards near the backpacker and slowly worked his leg loose. By then he’d been standing in near-freezing muck, in temperatures in the 20s (minus 6 to minus 1 Celsius), for a couple of hours.

Rescuers warmed him up until he could stand, then walk. He then hiked out on his own, even carrying his backpack, Marshall said.

Quicksand is dangerous but it’s a myth total submersion is the main risk, said Marshall.

“In quicksand you’re extremely buoyant,” he said. “Most people won’t sink past their waist in quicksand.”

Marshall is more or less a quicksand expert.

In 2014, he was a medic who helped a 78-year-old woman after she was stuck for over 13 hours in the same canyon just 2 miles (3 kilometers) from where Sunday’s rescue took place.

The woman’s book club got worried when she missed their meeting. They went looking for her and found her car at a trailhead. It was June — warmer than Sunday but not sweltering in the canyon’s shade — and the woman made a full recovery after regaining use of her legs.

“Both had very happy endings,” Marshall said.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mead-gruver">MEAD GRUVER</a>Getting trapped in quicksand is a corny peril of old movies and TV shows, but it really did happen to one unfortunate hiker in Utah’s Arches National Park.The park famous for dozens of natural, sandstone arches gets over 1 million visitors a year, and accidents ranging from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arches-national-park-hiker-dies-fall-0a2f0d4de9dd246c7ae95cec87195ce8">falls</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-hiker-dead-heat-stroke-arches-utah-c547aacd31b54cebdba5f6b96bc35748">heat stroke</a>&nbsp;are common.Quicksand? Not really — but it has happened at least a couple of times now.“The wet sand just kind of flows back in. It’s kind of a never-ending battle,” said John Marshall, who helped a woman stuck in quicksand over a decade ago and coordinated the latest rescue.On Sunday, an experienced hiker, whose identity wasn’t released, was traversing a small canyon on the second day of a 20-mile (32-kilometer) backpacking trip when he sank up to his thigh, according to Marshall.Unable to free himself, the hiker activated an emergency satellite beacon. His message got forwarded to Grand County emergency responders and Marshall got the call at 7:15 a.m..“I was just rolling out of bed,” Marshall said. “I’m scratching my head, going, ‘Did I hear that right? Did they say quicksand?’”He put his boots on and rendezvoused with a team that set out with all-terrain vehicles, a ladder, traction boards, backboards and a drone. Soon, Marshall had a bird’s-eye view of the situation.Through the drone camera he saw a park ranger who’d tossed the man a shovel. But the quicksand flowed back as soon as the backpacker shoveled it away, Marshall said.The Grand County Search and Rescue team positioned the ladder and boards near the backpacker and slowly worked his leg loose. By then he’d been standing in near-freezing muck, in temperatures in the 20s (minus 6 to minus 1 Celsius), for a couple of hours.Rescuers warmed him up until he could stand, then walk. He then hiked out on his own, even carrying his backpack, Marshall said.Quicksand is dangerous but it’s a myth total submersion is the main risk, said Marshall.“In quicksand you’re extremely buoyant,” he said. “Most people won’t sink past their waist in quicksand.”Marshall is more or less a quicksand expert.In 2014, he was a medic who helped a 78-year-old woman after she was stuck for over 13 hours in the same canyon just 2 miles (3 kilometers) from where Sunday’s rescue took place.The woman’s book club got worried when she missed their meeting. They went looking for her and found her car at a trailhead. It was June — warmer than Sunday but not sweltering in the canyon’s shade — and the woman made a full recovery after regaining use of her legs.“Both had very happy endings,” Marshall said.

Hiker rescued after mired in quicksand at national park

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged scam that cost a man $200,000 over several months this year.&nbsp;

In May, a 77-year-old Salina man received a phone call claiming he won a "MegaMillions lottery ticket and brand new vehicle," according to Salina Police Lt. Andrew Zeigler on Friday.

The scammers told the man he needed pay a price for "legal fees and other reasons.

The man then sent $500 increments on various cash cards. As time passed, the man was then contacted by another individual stating the previous two callers were scammers. However, the caller told the man he needed to send money in order to recover the $500 previously sent.

The victim then sent an undetermined amount of money through cash cards to the new scammer. The scammer then persuaded him to purchase a new vehicle and then sell it. He was advised to then take the cash from the sold vehicle, and place it into a bank account.

As a result, the man could not find the money in the account after following through with the scammer’s instructions. The total loss resulted in over $200,000, according to Lt. Andrew Zeigler,

Police reminded the public to never believe anyone from a sudden phone call, stating you have won a lottery ticket and new a vehicle. It is a scam.

Additionally, if a caller informs you that the previous call was a scam and further states you need to send money to recover the funds you sent, it is a scam.&nbsp;It is a common scheme for scammers to work together to successfully follow through with the crime.&nbsp;

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged scam that cost a man $200,000 over several months this year.&nbsp;In May, a 77-year-old Salina man received a phone call claiming he won a "MegaMillions lottery ticket and brand new vehicle," according to Salina Police Lt. Andrew Zeigler on Friday.The scammers told the man he needed pay a price for "legal fees and other reasons.The man then sent $500 increments on various cash cards. As time passed, the man was then contacted by another individual stating the previous two callers were scammers. However, the caller told the man he needed to send money in order to recover the $500 previously sent.The victim then sent an undetermined amount of money through cash cards to the new scammer. The scammer then persuaded him to purchase a new vehicle and then sell it. He was advised to then take the cash from the sold vehicle, and place it into a bank account.As a result, the man could not find the money in the account after following through with the scammer’s instructions. The total loss resulted in over $200,000, according to Lt. Andrew Zeigler,Police reminded the public to never believe anyone from a sudden phone call, stating you have won a lottery ticket and new a vehicle. It is a scam.Additionally, if a caller informs you that the previous call was a scam and further states you need to send money to recover the funds you sent, it is a scam.&nbsp;It is a common scheme for scammers to work together to successfully follow through with the crime.&nbsp;

Police: Kansas man lost $200,000 in phone scam

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-vote-affordable-care-act-obamacare-6ffc1ea9f878c6b3da995589ef8a012c">failed</a>&nbsp;to get anywhere on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-tax-credits-affordable-care-act-2b5ae3651ff16783a00e00dc1ce264bf">the health care issue</a>&nbsp;this week. Now it's the House's turn to show what it can do.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Speaker Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;unveiled a Republican alternative late Friday, a last-minute sprint as his party refuses to extend the enhanced tax subsidies for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">those who buy policies</a>&nbsp;through the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, which are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-health-care-tax-credits-obamacare-shutdown-f1ee636ddba7f65baa5234c55cb0c96e">expiring at the end of the year</a>. Those subsidies help lower the cost of coverage.

Johnson, R-La., huddled behind closed doors in the morning — as he did days earlier this week — working to assemble the package for consideration as the House focuses the final days of its 2025 work on health care.

“House Republicans are tackling the real drivers of health care costs to provide affordable care,” Johnson said in a statement announcing the package. He said it would be voted on next week.

Later Friday, though, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said: “House Republicans have introduced toxic legislation that is completely unserious, hurts hardworking America taxpayers and is not designed to secure bipartisan support. If the bill reaches the House floor, I will strongly oppose it.”

Time is running out for Congress to act. Democrats engineered the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-11-12-2025">longest federal government shutdown ever</a>&nbsp;this fall in a failed effort to force Republicans to the negotiating table on health care. But after promising votes, the Senate failed this week to advance both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-health-care-insurance-premiums-ee6ccda9ea9df4a8e5a0af351e65afd4">a Republican health care plan</a>&nbsp;and the Democratic-offered bill to extend the tax credits for three years.

Now, with just days to go, Congress is about to wrap up its work with no consensus solution in sight.

The House Republicans offered a 100-plus-page package that focuses on long-sought GOP proposals to enhance access to employer-sponsored health insurance plans and clamp down on so-called pharmacy benefit managers.

Republicans propose expanding access to what's referred to as association health plans, which would allow more small businesses and self-employed individuals to band together and purchase health coverage.

Proponents say such plans increase the leverage businesses have to negotiate a lower rate. But critics say the plans provide skimpier coverage than what is required under the Affordable Care Act.

The Republicans’ proposal would also require more data from pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, as a way to help control drug costs. Critics say PBMs have padded their bottom line and made it more difficult for independent pharmacists to survive.

Additionally, the GOP plan includes mention of cost-sharing reductions for some lower-income people who rely on Obamacare, but those do not take effect until January 2027.

The emerging package from the House Republicans does not include an extension of an enhanced tax credit for millions of Americans who get insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Put in place during the COVID-19 crisis, that enhanced subsidy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">expires</a>&nbsp;Dec. 31, leaving most families in the program facing more than double their current out-of-pocket premiums, and in some cases, much more.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has said he believes Republicans are going to figure out a better plan than Obamacare — something he has promised for years — but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-health-care-plan-affordable-care-act-obamacare-97483a1f4d5e844f439c630d74d86ff2">offered few details</a>&nbsp;beyond his idea for providing Americans with stipends to help buy insurance.

“I want to see the billions of dollars go to people, not to the insurance companies," Trump said late Friday during an event at the White House. “And I want to see the people go out and buy themselves great healthcare.”

The president did not comment directly on the House's new plan. He has repeatedly touted his idea of sending money directly to Americans to help offset the costs of health care policies, rather than extending the tax credits for those buying policies through Obamacare. It’s unclear how much money Trump envisions. The Senate GOP proposal that failed to advance would have provided payments to new health savings accounts of $1,000 a year for adult enrollees, or $1,500 for those ages 50 to 64.

It appeared there were no such health savings accounts in the new House GOP plan.

Going Johnson's route has left vulnerable House Republicans representing key battleground districts in a tough spot.

Frustrated with the delays, a group of more centrist GOP lawmakers is aligning with Democrats to push their own proposals for continuing the tax credits, for now, so that Americans don't face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/millions-face-higher-health-costs-after-senate-rejects-dueling-aca-proposals-bb044bd633d847ef886e41a42bdc78ce">rising health care costs</a>.

They are pursuing several paths for passing a temporary ACA subsidy extension, co-sponsoring a handful of bills. They are also signing onto so-called discharge petitions that could force a floor vote if a majority of the House signs on.

Such petitions are designed to get around the majority's control and are rarely successful, but this year has proven to be an exception. Lawmakers, for example, were able to use a discharge petition to force a vote on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-congress-trump-house-297a66ce48bd2a67c571bc643e32ef71">release</a>&nbsp;of the Jeffrey Epstein files held by the Department of Justice.

One petition, filed by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., had signatures from 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats as of Friday afternoon. It would force a vote on a bill that includes a two-year subsidy extension and contains provisions designed to combat fraud in the ACA marketplace. There are also restrictions for PBMs, among other things.

Another petition from Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., has 39 signatures and is broadly bipartisan. It's a simpler proposal that would force a vote on a one-year ACA enhanced subsidy extension and would include new income caps limiting who qualifies for the enhanced credit.

Both discharge petitions have enough Republicans’ support that they would likely succeed if Jeffries encouraged his caucus to jump on board. So far, he's not tipping his hand.

“We’re actively reviewing those two discharge petitions and we’ll have more to say about it early next week,” Jeffries said.

Meanwhile, Jeffries is pushing Democrats' own discharge petition, which has 214 signatures and would provide for a clean three-year subsidy extension. No Republicans have signed onto that one.

And as Republicans made clear in the Senate this week, a three-year extension without changes to the program has no chance of passing their chamber.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765625556088.png" alt="Speaker Johnson at the&nbsp;the White House Congressional Christmas Ball on Friday -image from his social media page" />
 <figcaption>Speaker Johnson at the&nbsp;the White House Congressional Christmas Ball on Friday -image from his social media page</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-vote-affordable-care-act-obamacare-6ffc1ea9f878c6b3da995589ef8a012c">failed</a>&nbsp;to get anywhere on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-tax-credits-affordable-care-act-2b5ae3651ff16783a00e00dc1ce264bf">the health care issue</a>&nbsp;this week. Now it's the House's turn to show what it can do.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Speaker Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;unveiled a Republican alternative late Friday, a last-minute sprint as his party refuses to extend the enhanced tax subsidies for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">those who buy policies</a>&nbsp;through the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, which are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-health-care-tax-credits-obamacare-shutdown-f1ee636ddba7f65baa5234c55cb0c96e">expiring at the end of the year</a>. Those subsidies help lower the cost of coverage.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today House Republicans introduced the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act. While Democrats demand that taxpayers write bigger checks to insurance companies to hide the cost of their failed law, House Republicans are tackling the real drivers of health care costs…&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1999634277974131166?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Johnson, R-La., huddled behind closed doors in the morning — as he did days earlier this week — working to assemble the package for consideration as the House focuses the final days of its 2025 work on health care.“House Republicans are tackling the real drivers of health care costs to provide affordable care,” Johnson said in a statement announcing the package. He said it would be voted on next week.Later Friday, though, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said: “House Republicans have introduced toxic legislation that is completely unserious, hurts hardworking America taxpayers and is not designed to secure bipartisan support. If the bill reaches the House floor, I will strongly oppose it.”Time is running out for Congress to act. Democrats engineered the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-11-12-2025">longest federal government shutdown ever</a>&nbsp;this fall in a failed effort to force Republicans to the negotiating table on health care. But after promising votes, the Senate failed this week to advance both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-health-care-insurance-premiums-ee6ccda9ea9df4a8e5a0af351e65afd4">a Republican health care plan</a>&nbsp;and the Democratic-offered bill to extend the tax credits for three years.Now, with just days to go, Congress is about to wrap up its work with no consensus solution in sight.<h2>What Republicans are proposing</h2>The House Republicans offered a 100-plus-page package that focuses on long-sought GOP proposals to enhance access to employer-sponsored health insurance plans and clamp down on so-called pharmacy benefit managers.Republicans propose expanding access to what's referred to as association health plans, which would allow more small businesses and self-employed individuals to band together and purchase health coverage.Proponents say such plans increase the leverage businesses have to negotiate a lower rate. But critics say the plans provide skimpier coverage than what is required under the Affordable Care Act.The Republicans’ proposal would also require more data from pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, as a way to help control drug costs. Critics say PBMs have padded their bottom line and made it more difficult for independent pharmacists to survive.Additionally, the GOP plan includes mention of cost-sharing reductions for some lower-income people who rely on Obamacare, but those do not take effect until January 2027.The emerging package from the House Republicans does not include an extension of an enhanced tax credit for millions of Americans who get insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Put in place during the COVID-19 crisis, that enhanced subsidy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">expires</a>&nbsp;Dec. 31, leaving most families in the program facing more than double their current out-of-pocket premiums, and in some cases, much more.<h2>What Trump wants</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has said he believes Republicans are going to figure out a better plan than Obamacare — something he has promised for years — but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-health-care-plan-affordable-care-act-obamacare-97483a1f4d5e844f439c630d74d86ff2">offered few details</a>&nbsp;beyond his idea for providing Americans with stipends to help buy insurance.“I want to see the billions of dollars go to people, not to the insurance companies," Trump said late Friday during an event at the White House. “And I want to see the people go out and buy themselves great healthcare.”The president did not comment directly on the House's new plan. He has repeatedly touted his idea of sending money directly to Americans to help offset the costs of health care policies, rather than extending the tax credits for those buying policies through Obamacare. It’s unclear how much money Trump envisions. The Senate GOP proposal that failed to advance would have provided payments to new health savings accounts of $1,000 a year for adult enrollees, or $1,500 for those ages 50 to 64.It appeared there were no such health savings accounts in the new House GOP plan.<h2>Political pressure is building for many</h2>Going Johnson's route has left vulnerable House Republicans representing key battleground districts in a tough spot.Frustrated with the delays, a group of more centrist GOP lawmakers is aligning with Democrats to push their own proposals for continuing the tax credits, for now, so that Americans don't face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/millions-face-higher-health-costs-after-senate-rejects-dueling-aca-proposals-bb044bd633d847ef886e41a42bdc78ce">rising health care costs</a>.They are pursuing several paths for passing a temporary ACA subsidy extension, co-sponsoring a handful of bills. They are also signing onto so-called discharge petitions that could force a floor vote if a majority of the House signs on.Such petitions are designed to get around the majority's control and are rarely successful, but this year has proven to be an exception. Lawmakers, for example, were able to use a discharge petition to force a vote on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-congress-trump-house-297a66ce48bd2a67c571bc643e32ef71">release</a>&nbsp;of the Jeffrey Epstein files held by the Department of Justice.One petition, filed by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., had signatures from 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats as of Friday afternoon. It would force a vote on a bill that includes a two-year subsidy extension and contains provisions designed to combat fraud in the ACA marketplace. There are also restrictions for PBMs, among other things.Another petition from Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., has 39 signatures and is broadly bipartisan. It's a simpler proposal that would force a vote on a one-year ACA enhanced subsidy extension and would include new income caps limiting who qualifies for the enhanced credit.Both discharge petitions have enough Republicans’ support that they would likely succeed if Jeffries encouraged his caucus to jump on board. So far, he's not tipping his hand.“We’re actively reviewing those two discharge petitions and we’ll have more to say about it early next week,” Jeffries said.Meanwhile, Jeffries is pushing Democrats' own discharge petition, which has 214 signatures and would provide for a clean three-year subsidy extension. No Republicans have signed onto that one.And as Republicans made clear in the Senate this week, a three-year extension without changes to the program has no chance of passing their chamber.

What's included in Speaker Johnson's new health care propsal

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/james-robson">JAMES ROBSON</a>

Soccer fans have accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” after latest prices for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup">World Cup</a>&nbsp;tickets began to circulate on Thursday.

The governing body allocates 8% of tickets to national associations for games involving their team to sell to the most loyal fans.

And a list published by the German soccer federation revealed prices ranged from $180-$700 for varying group stage games. The lowest price for the final was $4,185 and the highest was $8,680.

Those group-stage prices are very different from FIFA’s claims of $60 tickets being available, while the target from United States soccer officials when bidding for the tournament seven years ago was to offer hundreds of thousands of $21 seats across the opening phase of games.

Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) described the current prices as “extortionate.”

“This is a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of supporters to the spectacle it is,” it said in a statement.

The English Football Association shared pricing information with the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) on Thursday evening, which showed that if a fan bought a ticket for every game through to the final it would cost just over $7,000.

FIFA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fifa-world-cup-tickets-2026-bcf8864cafa11ee30ba659a14d098968">said in September</a>&nbsp;that tickets released through its website would initially range from $60 for group-stage matches to $6,730 for the final. But those prices are subject to change as it adopts dynamic pricing for the first time at the World Cup.

FIFA tickets are available in four categories, with the best seats in Category 1.

In the price list published by the German federation, there were only three categories.

The lowest priced ticket was $180 for Germany’s opening group game against Curacao in Houston. The lowest price for the semifinal was $920 rising to $1,125.

The FSE called on FIFA to immediately halt ticket sales via national associations “until a solution that respects the tradition, universality, and cultural significance of the World Cup is found.”

The Associated Press approached FIFA for comment.

FIFA launched its third phase of widespread ticket sales Thursday, with fans now able to apply for specific matches for the first time through its “Random Selection Draw.”

Following last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/world-cup-draw-2026-updates">draw for the 2026 tournament</a>, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, an updated schedule has been published.

That means fans know when and where the likes of Lionel Messi and Argentina will play. Previous ticket ballots were blind as the qualification period had not even been completed and the draw was yet to take place.

Now participating nations have been placed in groups, with their paths through the tournament determined. For instance, Messi and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronaldo-world-cup-qualifying-portugal-norway-d7cd3bd194dea0436590b7d0af985273">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>&nbsp;could go on to meet in the quarterfinals in Kansas City if both Argentina and Portugal top their respective groups.

Not that fans are guaranteed to get tickets to the games they apply for.

The draw opened Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT) and closes Jan. 13, 2026.

FIFA says ticket applications can be made at any point during this window and the timing of entry will not impact the chances of success. Fans can apply via FIFA’s website for a maximum of four tickets per household per match and a maximum of 40 tickets throughout the tournament.

Fans will need a FIFA ID to apply for tickets and can pick which matches and which pricing category they want to apply for.

Successful applicants will be notified by email in February and charged automatically.

The last time the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994 prices ranged from $25 to $475. In Qatar in 2022 prices ranged from around $70 to $1,600 when ticket details were announced.

Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 are already going for in excess of $11,000 on secondary resale sites.

For this tournament FIFA has also set up its own resale platform where it charges a 15% fee based on the total resale price.

FIFA said that closer to the tournament any remaining tickets will go on general sale on a first-come, first-served basis.

It did not reveal a time frame for the release of those remaining tickets.

AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655416562140.png" alt="File Image courtesy FIFA live broadcast in 2022" />
 <figcaption>File Image courtesy FIFA live broadcast in 2022</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/james-robson">JAMES ROBSON</a>Soccer fans have accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” after latest prices for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup">World Cup</a>&nbsp;tickets began to circulate on Thursday.The governing body allocates 8% of tickets to national associations for games involving their team to sell to the most loyal fans.And a list published by the German soccer federation revealed prices ranged from $180-$700 for varying group stage games. The lowest price for the final was $4,185 and the highest was $8,680.Those group-stage prices are very different from FIFA’s claims of $60 tickets being available, while the target from United States soccer officials when bidding for the tournament seven years ago was to offer hundreds of thousands of $21 seats across the opening phase of games.Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) described the current prices as “extortionate.”“This is a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of supporters to the spectacle it is,” it said in a statement.The English Football Association shared pricing information with the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) on Thursday evening, which showed that if a fan bought a ticket for every game through to the final it would cost just over $7,000.FIFA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fifa-world-cup-tickets-2026-bcf8864cafa11ee30ba659a14d098968">said in September</a>&nbsp;that tickets released through its website would initially range from $60 for group-stage matches to $6,730 for the final. But those prices are subject to change as it adopts dynamic pricing for the first time at the World Cup.FIFA tickets are available in four categories, with the best seats in Category 1.In the price list published by the German federation, there were only three categories.The lowest priced ticket was $180 for Germany’s opening group game against Curacao in Houston. The lowest price for the semifinal was $920 rising to $1,125.The FSE called on FIFA to immediately halt ticket sales via national associations “until a solution that respects the tradition, universality, and cultural significance of the World Cup is found.”The Associated Press approached FIFA for comment.<h2>Latest phase</h2>FIFA launched its third phase of widespread ticket sales Thursday, with fans now able to apply for specific matches for the first time through its “Random Selection Draw.”Following last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/world-cup-draw-2026-updates">draw for the 2026 tournament</a>, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, an updated schedule has been published.That means fans know when and where the likes of Lionel Messi and Argentina will play. Previous ticket ballots were blind as the qualification period had not even been completed and the draw was yet to take place.Now participating nations have been placed in groups, with their paths through the tournament determined. For instance, Messi and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronaldo-world-cup-qualifying-portugal-norway-d7cd3bd194dea0436590b7d0af985273">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>&nbsp;could go on to meet in the quarterfinals in Kansas City if both Argentina and Portugal top their respective groups.Not that fans are guaranteed to get tickets to the games they apply for.The draw opened Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT) and closes Jan. 13, 2026.FIFA says ticket applications can be made at any point during this window and the timing of entry will not impact the chances of success. Fans can apply via FIFA’s website for a maximum of four tickets per household per match and a maximum of 40 tickets throughout the tournament.Fans will need a FIFA ID to apply for tickets and can pick which matches and which pricing category they want to apply for.Successful applicants will be notified by email in February and charged automatically.<h2>Prices</h2>The last time the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994 prices ranged from $25 to $475. In Qatar in 2022 prices ranged from around $70 to $1,600 when ticket details were announced.Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 are already going for in excess of $11,000 on secondary resale sites.For this tournament FIFA has also set up its own resale platform where it charges a 15% fee based on the total resale price.FIFA said that closer to the tournament any remaining tickets will go on general sale on a first-come, first-served basis.It did not reveal a time frame for the release of those remaining tickets.___AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.

FIFA accused of 'monumental betrayal' over latest World Cup ticket prices

KANSAS&nbsp; CITY —Two suspects&nbsp; have been charged in connection to a pursuit that occurred on December 7, according to the Cass County, Missouri Sheriff.

Aron Creedon, 33, Edwardsville, is being held on no bond on felony charges of Aggravated Fleeing a Detention/Stop.

Kevin Garrett Jr., 28,&nbsp; Lansing, is being held on a $5,000 bond&nbsp; on charges of Aggravated Fleeing a Detention/Stop (A Misdemeanor). The sheriff's office released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765423048244.png" alt="Garrett photo Cass Co." />
 <figcaption>Garrett photo Cass Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS&nbsp; CITY —Two suspects&nbsp; have been charged in connection to a pursuit that occurred on December 7, according to the Cass County, Missouri Sheriff.Aron Creedon, 33, Edwardsville, is being held on no bond on felony charges of Aggravated Fleeing a Detention/Stop.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765423010994.png" alt="Creedon Cass Co." />
 <figcaption>Creedon Cass Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kevin Garrett Jr., 28,&nbsp; Lansing, is being held on a $5,000 bond&nbsp; on charges of Aggravated Fleeing a Detention/Stop (A Misdemeanor). The sheriff's office released no additional details.

Two Kansas men charged in connection with a police pursuit

WASHINGTON (AP) —A West Virginia National Guard member who was shot&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-dc-c5785dd8920d2d1ac7d71fab769faf5f">last month in the nation’s capital</a>&nbsp;is being transitioned from hospital acute care to in-patient rehabilitation, a doctor said Friday.

Staff. Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was airlifted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center with a critical gunshot wound to the head on Nov. 26.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-victims-west-virginia-washington-b070b093743b016ce32005f800087873">Wolfe and Spc. Sarah Beckstrom</a>&nbsp;were ambushed as they patrolled a subway station three blocks from the White House.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-white-house-afghan-national-138fbe6872d7ac30b20973783b39002c">Beckstrom died</a>&nbsp;the next day.

Wolfe has “made extraordinary progress” and can stand with assistance, Dr. Jeffrey Mai, a MedStar neurosurgeon, said in a news release. Wolfe’s family chose not to disclose the location of his rehabilitation.

Beckstrom was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-national-guard-shooting-funeral-1f30c4b99f71f2f5b2c8b2fcd5bf688">buried in a private funeral</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lakanwal-national-guard-shooting-suspect-afghan-5e5e9567d95a5d0ef806b714bb3ee3b7">29-year-old Afghan national</a>&nbsp;who was also shot during the confrontation, has been charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764267409790.png" alt="Andrew Wolfe photo released by the Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Andrew Wolfe photo released by the Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —A West Virginia National Guard member who was shot&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-dc-c5785dd8920d2d1ac7d71fab769faf5f">last month in the nation’s capital</a>&nbsp;is being transitioned from hospital acute care to in-patient rehabilitation, a doctor said Friday.Staff. Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was airlifted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center with a critical gunshot wound to the head on Nov. 26.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-victims-west-virginia-washington-b070b093743b016ce32005f800087873">Wolfe and Spc. Sarah Beckstrom</a>&nbsp;were ambushed as they patrolled a subway station three blocks from the White House.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-white-house-afghan-national-138fbe6872d7ac30b20973783b39002c">Beckstrom died</a>&nbsp;the next day.Wolfe has “made extraordinary progress” and can stand with assistance, Dr. Jeffrey Mai, a MedStar neurosurgeon, said in a news release. Wolfe’s family chose not to disclose the location of his rehabilitation.Beckstrom was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-national-guard-shooting-funeral-1f30c4b99f71f2f5b2c8b2fcd5bf688">buried in a private funeral</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday.Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lakanwal-national-guard-shooting-suspect-afghan-5e5e9567d95a5d0ef806b714bb3ee3b7">29-year-old Afghan national</a>&nbsp;who was also shot during the confrontation, has been charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

Wounded National Guard member continues to improve

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats released a selection of photos from the estate of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;on Friday, including some of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and the former Prince Andrew.

<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/fq3vn18ltfd83re8ggtle/AHYB3CbERvyT38o_vHllVx4?dl=0&amp;e=1&amp;rlkey=tz5pq4zr9i6nofkpi2g7l5vne&amp;st=rxoz19hb">Click here to see</a> all the photo

The dozens of photos initially released by Democratic lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee were a small part of more than 95,000 they received from the estate of Epstein, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">died in a New York jail cell</a>&nbsp;in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The photos released Friday were separate from the case files that the Department of Justice is now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-sex-trafficking-case-records-justice-department-016bbded12959c90d1679e15aa273b60">under compulsion to release</a>, but anticipation is growing as the Trump administration faces a deadline next week to produce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-release-justice-department-32cbc21a6ae8189dccd00455dc83d2be">the Epstein files</a>&nbsp;that have been the source of conspiracy theories and speculation for years.

The photos were released without captions or context and included a black-and-white image of Trump alongside six women whose faces were blacked out.

The president said he hadn’t seen the photos from Epstein’s estate released Friday, but they were “no big deal.”

Trump said Epstein was “all over Palm Beach” and had “photos with everybody.”

Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, did not say whether any of the women in the photos was a victim of abuse, but he added, “Our commitment from day one has been to redact any photo, any information that could lead to any sort of harm to any of the victims.”

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson accused Democrats of “selectively releasing cherry-picked photos with random redactions to try and create a false narrative" and called it part of a “Democrat hoax against President Trump.”

Many of the photos have already circulated in the public. Democrats pledged to continue to release photos in the days and weeks ahead, as they look to pressure Trump over his Republican administration’s earlier refusal to release documents in the Epstein probe. Garcia said his staff had looked through about a quarter of the images it had received from Epstein’s estate, which included photos that were sent to him or that he had in his possession.

“Donald Trump right now needs to release the files to the American public so that the truth can come out and we can actually get some sense of justice for the survivors,” Garcia added.

He initially released 19 photos Friday morning, then roughly 70 more photos later Friday, including one of Epstein taking a bath, a photo of him with a swollen lip, photos of his home and a photo of him posing with a book about the scandal.

Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracies-97200cfab77572a36bc9ab25841a8833">once a close friend</a>&nbsp;of Epstein, has said he parted ways with him long before he faced the sex trafficking charges. Clinton, too, has minimized his relationship with Epstein, acknowledging that he traveled on Epstein’s private jet but saying through a spokesperson that he had no knowledge of the late financier’s crimes. Clinton also has never been accused of misconduct by Epstein’s known victims. However, Republicans on the House committee are pushing him and Hillary Clinton to testify in their investigation.

Rep. James Comer, the GOP chair of the House Oversight Committee, threatened late Friday to begin contempt of Congress proceedings against the Clintons if they don't appear next week or reschedule depositions in January.

A spokesperson for the Republican-controlled committee also said that nothing in the documents the committee has received shows “any wrongdoing” by Trump.

Andrew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prince-andrew-charles-epstein-chinese-spy-91c4bec9a5cf3de8fcb16f9c1fe52e60">lost his royal titles and privileges</a>&nbsp;this year amid new revelations of his ties to Epstein, though he has denied wrongdoing.

The photo release also included images of the right-wing political operative Steve Bannon, billionaires Richard Branson and Bill Gates, filmmaker Woody Allen, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and law professor Alan Dershowitz. The men have denied any wrongdoing in their associations with Epstein, who kept many high-profile figures in his circle of friends.

Amid an earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-summers-harvard-jeffrey-epstein-bebad1142f859c15467ed010c08ea6fa">release of emails between Summers and Epstein</a>, Summers stepped away from his teaching position at Harvard University and faced other fallout to his standing in academic circles.

Allen has faced allegations from his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, of molesting her as a child. He has denied the allegations.

Some lawmakers, however, believe that other high-powered figures could be implicated in Epstein’s abuse if the full case files from the Justice Department are released.

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who was instrumental in passing a bill to require the public release of the files, said it was a good sign that the Department of Justice has sought to have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-sex-trafficking-case-records-justice-department-016bbded12959c90d1679e15aa273b60">grand jury material released from several courts</a>.

“The grand jury material is just a small fraction of what the DOJ needs to release, because the FBI and DOJ probably has evidence that they chose not to take to the grand jury because the evidence they’re in possession of would implicate other people, not Epstein or Maxwell,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765560450572.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats released a selection of photos from the estate of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;on Friday, including some of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and the former Prince Andrew.<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/fq3vn18ltfd83re8ggtle/AHYB3CbERvyT38o_vHllVx4?dl=0&amp;e=1&amp;rlkey=tz5pq4zr9i6nofkpi2g7l5vne&amp;st=rxoz19hb">Click here to see</a> all the photoThe dozens of photos initially released by Democratic lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee were a small part of more than 95,000 they received from the estate of Epstein, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">died in a New York jail cell</a>&nbsp;in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The photos released Friday were separate from the case files that the Department of Justice is now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-sex-trafficking-case-records-justice-department-016bbded12959c90d1679e15aa273b60">under compulsion to release</a>, but anticipation is growing as the Trump administration faces a deadline next week to produce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-release-justice-department-32cbc21a6ae8189dccd00455dc83d2be">the Epstein files</a>&nbsp;that have been the source of conspiracy theories and speculation for years.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765560316012.png" alt="Photos released by the House Oversight Committee" />
 <figcaption>Photos released by the House Oversight Committee</figcaption>
 </figure>The photos were released without captions or context and included a black-and-white image of Trump alongside six women whose faces were blacked out.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765560235625.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The president said he hadn’t seen the photos from Epstein’s estate released Friday, but they were “no big deal.”Trump said Epstein was “all over Palm Beach” and had “photos with everybody.”Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, did not say whether any of the women in the photos was a victim of abuse, but he added, “Our commitment from day one has been to redact any photo, any information that could lead to any sort of harm to any of the victims.”White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson accused Democrats of “selectively releasing cherry-picked photos with random redactions to try and create a false narrative" and called it part of a “Democrat hoax against President Trump.”Many of the photos have already circulated in the public. Democrats pledged to continue to release photos in the days and weeks ahead, as they look to pressure Trump over his Republican administration’s earlier refusal to release documents in the Epstein probe. Garcia said his staff had looked through about a quarter of the images it had received from Epstein’s estate, which included photos that were sent to him or that he had in his possession.“Donald Trump right now needs to release the files to the American public so that the truth can come out and we can actually get some sense of justice for the survivors,” Garcia added.He initially released 19 photos Friday morning, then roughly 70 more photos later Friday, including one of Epstein taking a bath, a photo of him with a swollen lip, photos of his home and a photo of him posing with a book about the scandal.Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracies-97200cfab77572a36bc9ab25841a8833">once a close friend</a>&nbsp;of Epstein, has said he parted ways with him long before he faced the sex trafficking charges. Clinton, too, has minimized his relationship with Epstein, acknowledging that he traveled on Epstein’s private jet but saying through a spokesperson that he had no knowledge of the late financier’s crimes. Clinton also has never been accused of misconduct by Epstein’s known victims. However, Republicans on the House committee are pushing him and Hillary Clinton to testify in their investigation.Rep. James Comer, the GOP chair of the House Oversight Committee, threatened late Friday to begin contempt of Congress proceedings against the Clintons if they don't appear next week or reschedule depositions in January.A spokesperson for the Republican-controlled committee also said that nothing in the documents the committee has received shows “any wrongdoing” by Trump.Andrew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prince-andrew-charles-epstein-chinese-spy-91c4bec9a5cf3de8fcb16f9c1fe52e60">lost his royal titles and privileges</a>&nbsp;this year amid new revelations of his ties to Epstein, though he has denied wrongdoing.The photo release also included images of the right-wing political operative Steve Bannon, billionaires Richard Branson and Bill Gates, filmmaker Woody Allen, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and law professor Alan Dershowitz. The men have denied any wrongdoing in their associations with Epstein, who kept many high-profile figures in his circle of friends.Amid an earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-summers-harvard-jeffrey-epstein-bebad1142f859c15467ed010c08ea6fa">release of emails between Summers and Epstein</a>, Summers stepped away from his teaching position at Harvard University and faced other fallout to his standing in academic circles.Allen has faced allegations from his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, of molesting her as a child. He has denied the allegations.Some lawmakers, however, believe that other high-powered figures could be implicated in Epstein’s abuse if the full case files from the Justice Department are released.Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who was instrumental in passing a bill to require the public release of the files, said it was a good sign that the Department of Justice has sought to have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-sex-trafficking-case-records-justice-department-016bbded12959c90d1679e15aa273b60">grand jury material released from several courts</a>.“The grand jury material is just a small fraction of what the DOJ needs to release, because the FBI and DOJ probably has evidence that they chose not to take to the grand jury because the evidence they’re in possession of would implicate other people, not Epstein or Maxwell,” he said.___

See the photos:  Trump says release of more Epstein photos is ‘no big deal'

JOHNSON COUNTY —The Johnson County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a stabbing which ultimately ended in an officer-involved shooting on Friday, according to a statement from the sheriff's office. One person died.

The Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigations Team is taking over the investigation, with the lead agency as the Olathe Police Department.

Just before 11 a.m. on Friday, law enforcement received a call reporting a stabbing at the Panasonic facility at 103rd and Astra Parkway in De Soto. 

Deputies arrived on scene shortly after and located one victim with multiple stab wounds. The deputies located the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred. Deputies performed life-saving efforts on the suspect. The suspect was pronounced deceased by MED-ACT at 11:25 a.m.

MED-ACT transported one victim with stab wounds in critical condition to the hospital.

Johnson County Park Police also responded to the incident. No deputies or officers were injured.

JOHNSON COUNTY—There was a large law enforcement presence in the area of the Panasonic battery plant near 103rd and Astra Parkway in DeSoto, according to a statement from the&nbsp;Johnson County Sheriff's Office.

"The situation is contained and there is no active threat to the public. There will be a law enforcement presence in the area for an extended time," the sheriff's office reported.&nbsp; The plant opened in July.

Check the&nbsp; Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765575072296.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —The Johnson County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a stabbing which ultimately ended in an officer-involved shooting on Friday, according to a statement from the sheriff's office. One person died.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJOCOSheriff%2Fvideos%2F912921905236007%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigations Team is taking over the investigation, with the lead agency as the Olathe Police Department.Just before 11 a.m. on Friday, law enforcement received a call reporting a stabbing at the Panasonic facility at 103rd and Astra Parkway in De Soto. Deputies arrived on scene shortly after and located one victim with multiple stab wounds. The deputies located the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred. Deputies performed life-saving efforts on the suspect. The suspect was pronounced deceased by MED-ACT at 11:25 a.m.MED-ACT transported one victim with stab wounds in critical condition to the hospital.Johnson County Park Police also responded to the incident. No deputies or officers were injured.---------JOHNSON COUNTY—There was a large law enforcement presence in the area of the Panasonic battery plant near 103rd and Astra Parkway in DeSoto, according to a statement from the&nbsp;Johnson County Sheriff's Office."The situation is contained and there is no active threat to the public. There will be a law enforcement presence in the area for an extended time," the sheriff's office reported.&nbsp; The plant opened in July.Check the&nbsp; Post for additional details as they become available.

Sheriff: One dead after officer-shooting at Kansas battery plant 

BARTON COUNTY—A Kansas man is facing multiple allegations after a wild chase across Great Bend.

Just after 10:30p.m. Thursday&nbsp;a deputy with the Barton County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a 1992 Oldsmobile passenger car in the 1500 block of Morphy in the city of Great Bend, according to a media release.

The vehicle had been observed speeding and running stop signs. When the deputy activated their emergency equipment, the vehicle shut off its headlights and attempted to flee from the officer. 

Near the intersection of 18th and Hubbard, a deputy sheriff attempted to stop the vehicle by means of legal intervention, the vehicle spun out but was able to regain control and continued to flee. 

At least two more attempts at lawful invention were made without success. The vehicle was reaching speeds in excess of 70 miles an hour, blacked out, never leaving the city of Great Bend. 

 Sheriff’s deputies were authorized to use whatever force necessary to stop the vehicle due to the danger to the public. The driver zigzagged across the city of Great Bend several times and at one point nearly struck the Great Bend police officer who was attempting to deploy stop sticks. 

Near the intersection of 18th and Baker, lawful intervention was attempted by a deputy and the vehicle again spun out, this time losing the right rear tire, wheel, and hub assembly. 

 Despite only having three wheels on the vehicle, the vehicle continued to flee southbound on Kansas Street and attempted to get back on Main Street at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Main. 

The driver struck a fire hydrant at that intersection causing the vehicle rollover one time into a building on the west side of Main Street. 

The driver, later identified as 34-year-old Trenton Berens of Russell was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody.&nbsp; Great Bend Fire and EMS were called to evaluate Berens, and it was found he had no serious injuries. 

During the chase the vehicle traveled through numerous yards and striking stop signs and property as he fled.

  The Sheriff’s office K9 Rem alerted to the presence of controlled substances in the vehicle while at the scene.

&nbsp;Berens was booked into the Barton County jail on requested charges of felony flee and elude, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer,  aggravated assault (non-LEO), driving while suspended, numerous charges of criminal damage to property, as well as approximately 14 other traffic violations.

 Berens also had an outstanding warrant from Russell County for violation of a stalking order. Berens has previous history of fleeing from law enforcement officers and given the disregard for the safety of others, the Barton County Attorney was contacted, and the Sheriff’s Office requested a higher bond be set. A District Court Judge authorized a bond in the amount of $250,000.

At least two Barton County Sheriff’s office patrol cars received moderate damage during the pursuit. The Sheriff’s office was assisted by the Great Bend Police Department as well as Great Bend fire and EMS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765562127497.png" alt="Berens photo Barton County" />
 <figcaption>Berens photo Barton County</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—A Kansas man is facing multiple allegations after a wild chase across Great Bend.Just after 10:30p.m. Thursday&nbsp;a deputy with the Barton County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a 1992 Oldsmobile passenger car in the 1500 block of Morphy in the city of Great Bend, according to a media release.The vehicle had been observed speeding and running stop signs. When the deputy activated their emergency equipment, the vehicle shut off its headlights and attempted to flee from the officer. Near the intersection of 18th and Hubbard, a deputy sheriff attempted to stop the vehicle by means of legal intervention, the vehicle spun out but was able to regain control and continued to flee. At least two more attempts at lawful invention were made without success. The vehicle was reaching speeds in excess of 70 miles an hour, blacked out, never leaving the city of Great Bend. Sheriff’s deputies were authorized to use whatever force necessary to stop the vehicle due to the danger to the public. The driver zigzagged across the city of Great Bend several times and at one point nearly struck the Great Bend police officer who was attempting to deploy stop sticks. Near the intersection of 18th and Baker, lawful intervention was attempted by a deputy and the vehicle again spun out, this time losing the right rear tire, wheel, and hub assembly. Despite only having three wheels on the vehicle, the vehicle continued to flee southbound on Kansas Street and attempted to get back on Main Street at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Main. The driver struck a fire hydrant at that intersection causing the vehicle rollover one time into a building on the west side of Main Street. The driver, later identified as 34-year-old Trenton Berens of Russell was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody.&nbsp; Great Bend Fire and EMS were called to evaluate Berens, and it was found he had no serious injuries. During the chase the vehicle traveled through numerous yards and striking stop signs and property as he fled. The Sheriff’s office K9 Rem alerted to the presence of controlled substances in the vehicle while at the scene.&nbsp;Berens was booked into the Barton County jail on requested charges of felony flee and elude, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault (non-LEO), driving while suspended, numerous charges of criminal damage to property, as well as approximately 14 other traffic violations. Berens also had an outstanding warrant from Russell County for violation of a stalking order. Berens has previous history of fleeing from law enforcement officers and given the disregard for the safety of others, the Barton County Attorney was contacted, and the Sheriff’s Office requested a higher bond be set. A District Court Judge authorized a bond in the amount of $250,000.At least two Barton County Sheriff’s office patrol cars received moderate damage during the pursuit. The Sheriff’s office was assisted by the Great Bend Police Department as well as Great Bend fire and EMS.