JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man admitted his role in a drug overdose death.

On June 2, 22-year-old Ahmad Mohammed Karraz pleaded guilty to distribution of drugs causing death and use of a communication facility during a drug felony, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

In November, the Johnson County district attorney's office charged Karraz and 22-year-old Ronaley Arriola in connection with the death of Kylie Liston.&nbsp; Karraz was charged with distribution of drugs causing death and three counts of using a communication facility during a felony. Arriola was charged with one count of&nbsp;using a communication facility during a felony.&nbsp; They were arrested after an investigation by the Overland&nbsp; Park Police Department.

Karraz is scheduled for sentencing August 20.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749153492662.png" alt="Karraz photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Karraz photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man admitted his role in a drug overdose death.On June 2, 22-year-old Ahmad Mohammed Karraz pleaded guilty to distribution of drugs causing death and use of a communication facility during a drug felony, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.In November, the Johnson County district attorney's office charged Karraz and 22-year-old Ronaley Arriola in connection with the death of Kylie Liston.&nbsp; Karraz was charged with distribution of drugs causing death and three counts of using a communication facility during a felony. Arriola was charged with one count of&nbsp;using a communication facility during a felony.&nbsp; They were arrested after an investigation by the Overland&nbsp; Park Police Department.Karraz is scheduled for sentencing August 20.

Kansas man admits role in drug overdose death

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating three suspects on multiple allegations after a drug bust.

Just before 8p.m. June 5, the Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force&nbsp; initiated a search warrant at 714 Iowa Street in Hiawatha, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Upon conclusion of the warrant,&nbsp; Peter Carter, 45, Hiawatha was arrested on an outstanding $10,000 Brown County Felony Warrant for Contempt of Court, Aggravated Child Endangerment, Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Patricia McKinney, 35, Hiawatha was arrested on requested charges of Aggravated Child Endangerment, Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Felony Obstruction.&nbsp;

 Thomas Doyle, 65, Hiawatha was arrested on requested charges of Aggravated Child Endangerment, Possession of Meth an Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp; Hiawatha Police assisted with the arrests.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749228407077.png" alt="Carter photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Carter photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating three suspects on multiple allegations after a drug bust.Just before 8p.m. June 5, the Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force&nbsp; initiated a search warrant at 714 Iowa Street in Hiawatha, according to Sheriff John Merchant.Upon conclusion of the warrant,&nbsp; Peter Carter, 45, Hiawatha was arrested on an outstanding $10,000 Brown County Felony Warrant for Contempt of Court, Aggravated Child Endangerment, Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749228376073.png" alt="McKinney Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>McKinney Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Patricia McKinney, 35, Hiawatha was arrested on requested charges of Aggravated Child Endangerment, Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Felony Obstruction.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749228441083.png" alt="Doyle photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Doyle photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> Thomas Doyle, 65, Hiawatha was arrested on requested charges of Aggravated Child Endangerment, Possession of Meth an Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp; Hiawatha Police assisted with the arrests.

Sheriff found meth, marijuana and small children at Kansas home

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;really wants to fly on an upgraded Air Force One — but making that happen could depend on whether he’s willing to cut corners with security.

As government lawyers sort out the legal arrangement for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c">accepting a luxury jet</a>&nbsp;from the Qatari royal family, another crucial conversation is unfolding about modifying the plane so it's safe for the American president.

Installing capabilities equivalent to the decades-old 747s now used as Air Force One would almost certainly consign the project to a similar fate as Boeing's replacement initiative, which has been plagued by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boeing-air-force-one-presidential-plane-61aec3dbc8ee10d840e160911c9f7cc2">delays and cost overruns</a>.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers Thursday that those security modifications would cost less than $400 million but provided no details.

Satisfying Trump's desire to use the new plane before the end of his term could require leaving out some of those precautions, however.

A White House official said Trump wants the Qatari jet ready as soon as possible while adhering to security standards. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, did not provide details on equipment issues or the timeline.

Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-b989e21dae38e7220ccfaccb02abd151">survived two assassination attempts</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-fbi-justice-department-iran-83cff84a7d65901a058ad6f41a564bdb">Iran allegedly also plotted</a>&nbsp;to kill him, so he’s well aware of the danger he faces. However, he seems willing to take some chances with security, particularly when it comes to communications. For example, he likes to keep his personal phone handy despite the threat of hacks.

He boasted this week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-gift-jet-air-force-one-7f9afb461c6b3ac16fca3bb0973715ff">the government got the jet</a>&nbsp;“for free,” saying, “We need it as Air Force One until the other ones are done.”

Here’s a look at what it would take to make the Qatari plane into a presidential transport:

What makes a plane worthy of being Air Force One?

Air Force One is the call sign for any plane that's carrying the president. The first aircraft to get the designation was a propeller-powered C-54 Skymaster, which ferried Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in 1945. It featured a conference room with a bulletproof window.

Things are a lot more complicated these days. Boeing has spent years stripping down and rebuilding two 747s to replace the versions that have carried presidents for more than three decades. The project is slated to cost more than $5.3 billion and may not be finished before Trump leaves office.

A 2021 report made public through the Freedom of Information Act outlines the unclassified requirements for the replacement 747s under construction. At the top of the list — survivability and communications.

The government decided more than a decade ago that the new planes had to have four engines so they could remain airborne if one or two fail, said Deborah Lee James, who was Air Force secretary at the time. That creates a challenge because 747s are no longer manufactured, which could make spare parts harder to come by.

Air Force One also has to have the highest level of classified communications, anti-jamming capabilities and external protections against foreign surveillance, so the president can securely command military forces and nuclear weapons during a national emergency. It's an extremely sensitive and complex system, including video, voice and data transmissions.

James said there are anti-missile measures and shielding against radiation or an electromagnetic pulse that could be caused by a nuclear blast.

“The point is, it remains in flight no matter what,” she said.

Will Trump want all the security bells and whistles?

If the Qatari plane is retrofitted to presidential standards, it could cost $1.5 billion and take years, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that aren't publicly available.

Testifying before Congress this week, Meink discounted such estimates, arguing that some of the costs associated with retrofitting the Qatari plane would have been spent anyway as the Air Force moves to build the long-delayed new presidential planes, including buying aircraft for training and to have spares available if needed.

In response, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., said that based on the contract costs for the planes that the Air Force is building, it would cost about $1 billion to strip down the Qatar plane, install encrypted communications, harden its defenses and make other required upgrades.

James said simply redoing the wiring means “you’d have to break that whole thing wide open and almost start from scratch."

Trump, as commander in chief, could waive some of these requirements. He could decide to skip shielding systems from an electromagnetic pulse, leaving his communications more vulnerable in case of a disaster but shaving time off the project.

After all, Boeing has already scaled back its original plans for the new 747s. Their range was trimmed by 1,200 nautical miles, and the ability to refuel while airborne was scrapped.

Paul Eckloff, a former leader of protection details at the Secret Service, expects the president would get the final say.

“The Secret Service's job is to plan for and mitigate risk," he said. "It can never eliminate it.”

If Trump does waive some requirements, James said that should be kept under wraps because "you don’t want to advertise to your potential adversaries what the vulnerabilities of this new aircraft might be.”

It's unlikely that Trump will want to skimp on the plane's appearance. He keeps a model of a new Air Force One in the Oval Office, complete with a darker color scheme that echoes his personal jet instead of the light blue design that's been used for decades.

Trump toured the Qatari plane in February when it was parked at an airport near Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort. Air Force chief of staff Gen. David Allvin was there, too.

The U.S. official said the jet needs maintenance but not more than what would be expected of a four-engine plane of its complexity.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it would be irresponsible to put the president and national security equipment aboard the Qatari plane “without knowing that the aircraft is fully capable of withstanding a nuclear attack.”

“It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars,” she said.

Meanwhile, Boeing's project has been hampered by stress corrosion cracks on the planes and excessive noise in the cabins from the decompression system, among other issues that have delayed delivery, according to a Government Accountability Office report released last year.

Boeing referred questions to the Air Force, which said in a statement that it's working with the aircraft manufacturer to find ways to accelerate the delivery of at least one of the 747s.

Even so, the aircraft will have to be tested and flown in real-world conditions to ensure no other issues.

James said it remains to be seen how Trump would handle any of those challenges.

“The normal course of business would say there could be delays in certifications,” she said. “But things seem to get waived these days when the president wants it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746987808468.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;really wants to fly on an upgraded Air Force One — but making that happen could depend on whether he’s willing to cut corners with security.As government lawyers sort out the legal arrangement for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c">accepting a luxury jet</a>&nbsp;from the Qatari royal family, another crucial conversation is unfolding about modifying the plane so it's safe for the American president.Installing capabilities equivalent to the decades-old 747s now used as Air Force One would almost certainly consign the project to a similar fate as Boeing's replacement initiative, which has been plagued by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boeing-air-force-one-presidential-plane-61aec3dbc8ee10d840e160911c9f7cc2">delays and cost overruns</a>.Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers Thursday that those security modifications would cost less than $400 million but provided no details.Satisfying Trump's desire to use the new plane before the end of his term could require leaving out some of those precautions, however.A White House official said Trump wants the Qatari jet ready as soon as possible while adhering to security standards. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, did not provide details on equipment issues or the timeline.Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-b989e21dae38e7220ccfaccb02abd151">survived two assassination attempts</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-fbi-justice-department-iran-83cff84a7d65901a058ad6f41a564bdb">Iran allegedly also plotted</a>&nbsp;to kill him, so he’s well aware of the danger he faces. However, he seems willing to take some chances with security, particularly when it comes to communications. For example, he likes to keep his personal phone handy despite the threat of hacks.He boasted this week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-gift-jet-air-force-one-7f9afb461c6b3ac16fca3bb0973715ff">the government got the jet</a>&nbsp;“for free,” saying, “We need it as Air Force One until the other ones are done.”Here’s a look at what it would take to make the Qatari plane into a presidential transport:<h2>What makes a plane worthy of being Air Force One?</h2>Air Force One is the call sign for any plane that's carrying the president. The first aircraft to get the designation was a propeller-powered C-54 Skymaster, which ferried Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in 1945. It featured a conference room with a bulletproof window.Things are a lot more complicated these days. Boeing has spent years stripping down and rebuilding two 747s to replace the versions that have carried presidents for more than three decades. The project is slated to cost more than $5.3 billion and may not be finished before Trump leaves office.A 2021 report made public through the Freedom of Information Act outlines the unclassified requirements for the replacement 747s under construction. At the top of the list — survivability and communications.The government decided more than a decade ago that the new planes had to have four engines so they could remain airborne if one or two fail, said Deborah Lee James, who was Air Force secretary at the time. That creates a challenge because 747s are no longer manufactured, which could make spare parts harder to come by.Air Force One also has to have the highest level of classified communications, anti-jamming capabilities and external protections against foreign surveillance, so the president can securely command military forces and nuclear weapons during a national emergency. It's an extremely sensitive and complex system, including video, voice and data transmissions.James said there are anti-missile measures and shielding against radiation or an electromagnetic pulse that could be caused by a nuclear blast.“The point is, it remains in flight no matter what,” she said.<h2>Will Trump want all the security bells and whistles?</h2>If the Qatari plane is retrofitted to presidential standards, it could cost $1.5 billion and take years, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that aren't publicly available.Testifying before Congress this week, Meink discounted such estimates, arguing that some of the costs associated with retrofitting the Qatari plane would have been spent anyway as the Air Force moves to build the long-delayed new presidential planes, including buying aircraft for training and to have spares available if needed.In response, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., said that based on the contract costs for the planes that the Air Force is building, it would cost about $1 billion to strip down the Qatar plane, install encrypted communications, harden its defenses and make other required upgrades.James said simply redoing the wiring means “you’d have to break that whole thing wide open and almost start from scratch."Trump, as commander in chief, could waive some of these requirements. He could decide to skip shielding systems from an electromagnetic pulse, leaving his communications more vulnerable in case of a disaster but shaving time off the project.After all, Boeing has already scaled back its original plans for the new 747s. Their range was trimmed by 1,200 nautical miles, and the ability to refuel while airborne was scrapped.Paul Eckloff, a former leader of protection details at the Secret Service, expects the president would get the final say.“The Secret Service's job is to plan for and mitigate risk," he said. "It can never eliminate it.”If Trump does waive some requirements, James said that should be kept under wraps because "you don’t want to advertise to your potential adversaries what the vulnerabilities of this new aircraft might be.”It's unlikely that Trump will want to skimp on the plane's appearance. He keeps a model of a new Air Force One in the Oval Office, complete with a darker color scheme that echoes his personal jet instead of the light blue design that's been used for decades.<h2>What happens next?</h2>Trump toured the Qatari plane in February when it was parked at an airport near Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort. Air Force chief of staff Gen. David Allvin was there, too.The U.S. official said the jet needs maintenance but not more than what would be expected of a four-engine plane of its complexity.Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it would be irresponsible to put the president and national security equipment aboard the Qatari plane “without knowing that the aircraft is fully capable of withstanding a nuclear attack.”“It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars,” she said.Meanwhile, Boeing's project has been hampered by stress corrosion cracks on the planes and excessive noise in the cabins from the decompression system, among other issues that have delayed delivery, according to a Government Accountability Office report released last year.Boeing referred questions to the Air Force, which said in a statement that it's working with the aircraft manufacturer to find ways to accelerate the delivery of at least one of the 747s.Even so, the aircraft will have to be tested and flown in real-world conditions to ensure no other issues.James said it remains to be seen how Trump would handle any of those challenges.“The normal course of business would say there could be delays in certifications,” she said. “But things seem to get waived these days when the president wants it.”

Air Force reports costs to update Qatari plane for Trump 

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/lindsay-whitehurst">LINDSAY WHITEHURST</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court handed the Trump administration two victories Friday in cases involving the Department of Government Efficiency, including giving it access to Social Security systems containing personal data on millions of Americans.

The justices also separately reined in orders seeking transparency at DOGE,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-donald-trump-962778979dd35ea79d6092df9cb2cb56">the team once led by billionaire Elon Musk</a>.'

he court’s conservative majority sided with the Trump administration in the first Supreme Court appeals involving DOGE. The three liberal justices dissented in both cases.

The DOGE victories come amid a messy breakup between the president and the world’s richest man that started shortly after Musk’s departure from the White House and has included threats to cut government contracts and a call for the president to be impeached. The future of DOGE’s work isn’t clear without Musk at the helm, but both men have previously said that it will continue its efforts.

In one case, the high court halted an order from a judge in Maryland that has restricted the team’s access to the Social Security Administration under federal privacy laws.

“We conclude that, under the present circumstances, SSA may proceed to afford members of the SSA DOGE Team access to the agency records in question in order for those members to do their work,” the court said in an unsigned order. Conservative lower-court judges have said there’s no evidence at this point of DOGE mishandling personal information.

The agency holds sensitive data on nearly everyone in the country, including school records, salary details and medical information.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said the court’s action creates “grave privacy risks” for millions of Americans by giving “unfettered data access to DOGE regardless — despite its failure to show any need or any interest in complying with existing privacy safeguards, and all before we know for sure whether federal law countenances such access.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor joined Jackson’s opinion and Justice Elena Kagan said she also would have ruled against the administration.

The Trump administration says DOGE needs the access to carry out its mission of targeting waste in the federal government. Musk had been focused on Social Security as an alleged hotbed of fraud. The entrepreneur has described it as a “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-b21b74f56f30012a6450a629e7232a1a">Ponzi scheme</a>&nbsp;” and insisted that reducing waste in the program is an important way to cut government spending.

But U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander in Maryland found that DOGE’s efforts at Social Security amounted to a “fishing expedition” based on “little more than suspicion” of fraud, and allowing unfettered access puts Americans’ private information at risk.

Her ruling did allow access to anonymous data for staffers who have undergone training and background checks, or wider access for those who have detailed a specific need.

The Trump administration has said DOGE can’t work effectively with those restrictions.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer also argued that the ruling is an example of federal judges overstepping their authority and trying to micromanage executive branch agencies.

The plaintiffs say it’s a narrow order that’s urgently needed to protect personal information.

An appeals court previously refused to immediately to lift the block on DOGE access, though it split along ideological lines. Conservative judges in the minority said there’s no evidence that the team has done any “targeted snooping” or exposed personal information.

The lawsuit was originally filed by a group of labor unions and retirees represented by the group Democracy Forward. It’s one of more than two dozen lawsuits filed over DOGE’s work, which has included deep cuts at federal agencies and large-scale layoffs.

The plaintiffs called the high court’s order “a sad day for our democracy and a scary day for millions of people. Elon Musk may have left Washington, D.C., but his impact continues to harm millions of people.”

Liz Huston, a spokesperson for the White House, applauded the order. “The Supreme Court allowing the Trump Administration to carry out commonsense efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse and modernize government information systems is a huge victory for the rule of law.”

The nation’s court system has been ground zero for pushback to President Donald Trump’s sweeping conservative agenda, with hundreds of lawsuits filed challenging policies on everything from immigration to education to mass layoffs of federal workers.

In the other DOGE order handed down Friday, the justices extended a pause on orders that would require the team to publicly disclose information about its operations, as part of a lawsuit filed by a government watchdog group.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington argues that DOGE, which has been central to Trump’s push to remake the government, is a federal agency and must be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

But the Trump administration says DOGE is just a presidential advisory body aimed at government cost-cutting, which would make it exempt from requests for documents under FOIA.

The justices did not decide that issue Friday, but the conservative majority held that U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled too broadly in ordering documents be turned over to CREW.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738614192317.png" alt="Department of Government Efficiency-image" />
 <figcaption>Department of Government Efficiency-image</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/lindsay-whitehurst">LINDSAY WHITEHURST</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court handed the Trump administration two victories Friday in cases involving the Department of Government Efficiency, including giving it access to Social Security systems containing personal data on millions of Americans.The justices also separately reined in orders seeking transparency at DOGE,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-donald-trump-962778979dd35ea79d6092df9cb2cb56">the team once led by billionaire Elon Musk</a>.'he court’s conservative majority sided with the Trump administration in the first Supreme Court appeals involving DOGE. The three liberal justices dissented in both cases.The DOGE victories come amid a messy breakup between the president and the world’s richest man that started shortly after Musk’s departure from the White House and has included threats to cut government contracts and a call for the president to be impeached. The future of DOGE’s work isn’t clear without Musk at the helm, but both men have previously said that it will continue its efforts.In one case, the high court halted an order from a judge in Maryland that has restricted the team’s access to the Social Security Administration under federal privacy laws.“We conclude that, under the present circumstances, SSA may proceed to afford members of the SSA DOGE Team access to the agency records in question in order for those members to do their work,” the court said in an unsigned order. Conservative lower-court judges have said there’s no evidence at this point of DOGE mishandling personal information.The agency holds sensitive data on nearly everyone in the country, including school records, salary details and medical information.Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said the court’s action creates “grave privacy risks” for millions of Americans by giving “unfettered data access to DOGE regardless — despite its failure to show any need or any interest in complying with existing privacy safeguards, and all before we know for sure whether federal law countenances such access.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor joined Jackson’s opinion and Justice Elena Kagan said she also would have ruled against the administration.The Trump administration says DOGE needs the access to carry out its mission of targeting waste in the federal government. Musk had been focused on Social Security as an alleged hotbed of fraud. The entrepreneur has described it as a “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-b21b74f56f30012a6450a629e7232a1a">Ponzi scheme</a>&nbsp;” and insisted that reducing waste in the program is an important way to cut government spending.But U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander in Maryland found that DOGE’s efforts at Social Security amounted to a “fishing expedition” based on “little more than suspicion” of fraud, and allowing unfettered access puts Americans’ private information at risk.Her ruling did allow access to anonymous data for staffers who have undergone training and background checks, or wider access for those who have detailed a specific need.The Trump administration has said DOGE can’t work effectively with those restrictions.Solicitor General D. John Sauer also argued that the ruling is an example of federal judges overstepping their authority and trying to micromanage executive branch agencies.The plaintiffs say it’s a narrow order that’s urgently needed to protect personal information.An appeals court previously refused to immediately to lift the block on DOGE access, though it split along ideological lines. Conservative judges in the minority said there’s no evidence that the team has done any “targeted snooping” or exposed personal information.The lawsuit was originally filed by a group of labor unions and retirees represented by the group Democracy Forward. It’s one of more than two dozen lawsuits filed over DOGE’s work, which has included deep cuts at federal agencies and large-scale layoffs.The plaintiffs called the high court’s order “a sad day for our democracy and a scary day for millions of people. Elon Musk may have left Washington, D.C., but his impact continues to harm millions of people.”Liz Huston, a spokesperson for the White House, applauded the order. “The Supreme Court allowing the Trump Administration to carry out commonsense efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse and modernize government information systems is a huge victory for the rule of law.”The nation’s court system has been ground zero for pushback to President Donald Trump’s sweeping conservative agenda, with hundreds of lawsuits filed challenging policies on everything from immigration to education to mass layoffs of federal workers.In the other DOGE order handed down Friday, the justices extended a pause on orders that would require the team to publicly disclose information about its operations, as part of a lawsuit filed by a government watchdog group.Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington argues that DOGE, which has been central to Trump’s push to remake the government, is a federal agency and must be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.But the Trump administration says DOGE is just a presidential advisory body aimed at government cost-cutting, which would make it exempt from requests for documents under FOIA.The justices did not decide that issue Friday, but the conservative majority held that U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled too broadly in ordering documents be turned over to CREW.___

Supreme Court allows DOGE team to access Social Security data 

NEW YORK (AP) — Craft labels from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joann-closing-bankruptcy-crafts-retail-b83c68fb641fad18cd6c8be925c6d90b">now-shuttered fabrics seller Joann</a>&nbsp;are making their way to a new home: Michaels.

The Michaels Companies announced on Thursday that it had completed its purchase of Joann's intellectual property and private label brands — in an acquisition that arrives as the Texas-based arts and crafting chain works to expand its own fabric, sewing and yarn offerings.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to welcome JOANN customers into our creative community and are committed to delivering the selection, value, and inspiration they are looking for at Michaels,” Michaels CEO David Boone said in a statement. The deal, he added, allows the company to better “respond to rising demand” among both new and existing customers.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The Associated Press reached out to Michaels for further information on Friday.

With roots dating back to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joann-bankruptcy-chapter-11-filing-75093d4032907c59a45e472dd4e23229">single Ohio storefront in 1943</a>, Joann had grown into a destination for generations of sewers, quilters, knitters and lovers of other crafts for more than 80 years. But more recently, operational challenges continued to pile up — with the retailer pointing to sluggish consumer demand, inventory shortages and rising competition.

Joann announced it would be going out of business back in February, just one month after filing for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-consumers-retail-41198c67d1d9b6bcd353a054fb4f7203">Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection</a>&nbsp;for the second time within a year. At the time, the company said financial services company GA Group, together with Joann’s term lenders, had been selected as the winning bidder to “acquire substantially all of Joann’s assets” and conduct going-out-of-business sales at all store locations.

Michaels on Thursday said that its purchase of Joann's IP and private brands included the acquisition of “Big Twist” yarns, which had become a staple in Joann stores over the years.

Those “Big Twist” labels are now being developed as part of Michaels' portfolio — and will be available in-stores and online later this year, the company said. In the meantime, Michaels has also dedicated a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.michaels.com/lp/welcome-joann?joannweb">landing page</a>&nbsp;to welcome former Joann customers online.

And as part of its overall expansion into fabrics, Michaels said on Thursday that its adding more than 600 new products from new and existing brands — including quilting supplies and fabrics, specialty threads, sewing machines and more.

Michaels, founded in 1973, currently operates 1,300 stores across 49 U.S. states and Canada. Its parent company also owns Artistree, a framing merchandise manufacturer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749228946741.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Craft labels from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joann-closing-bankruptcy-crafts-retail-b83c68fb641fad18cd6c8be925c6d90b">now-shuttered fabrics seller Joann</a>&nbsp;are making their way to a new home: Michaels.The Michaels Companies announced on Thursday that it had completed its purchase of Joann's intellectual property and private label brands — in an acquisition that arrives as the Texas-based arts and crafting chain works to expand its own fabric, sewing and yarn offerings.“We’re honored to have the opportunity to welcome JOANN customers into our creative community and are committed to delivering the selection, value, and inspiration they are looking for at Michaels,” Michaels CEO David Boone said in a statement. The deal, he added, allows the company to better “respond to rising demand” among both new and existing customers.Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The Associated Press reached out to Michaels for further information on Friday.With roots dating back to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joann-bankruptcy-chapter-11-filing-75093d4032907c59a45e472dd4e23229">single Ohio storefront in 1943</a>, Joann had grown into a destination for generations of sewers, quilters, knitters and lovers of other crafts for more than 80 years. But more recently, operational challenges continued to pile up — with the retailer pointing to sluggish consumer demand, inventory shortages and rising competition.Joann announced it would be going out of business back in February, just one month after filing for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-consumers-retail-41198c67d1d9b6bcd353a054fb4f7203">Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection</a>&nbsp;for the second time within a year. At the time, the company said financial services company GA Group, together with Joann’s term lenders, had been selected as the winning bidder to “acquire substantially all of Joann’s assets” and conduct going-out-of-business sales at all store locations.Michaels on Thursday said that its purchase of Joann's IP and private brands included the acquisition of “Big Twist” yarns, which had become a staple in Joann stores over the years.Those “Big Twist” labels are now being developed as part of Michaels' portfolio — and will be available in-stores and online later this year, the company said. In the meantime, Michaels has also dedicated a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.michaels.com/lp/welcome-joann?joannweb">landing page</a>&nbsp;to welcome former Joann customers online.And as part of its overall expansion into fabrics, Michaels said on Thursday that its adding more than 600 new products from new and existing brands — including quilting supplies and fabrics, specialty threads, sewing machines and more.Michaels, founded in 1973, currently operates 1,300 stores across 49 U.S. states and Canada. Its parent company also owns Artistree, a framing merchandise manufacturer.

Michaels completes acquisition of Joann's intellectual property and fan-favorite labels

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to find driver traveling far above the posted speed limit.

On Thursday night, a deputy was running radar in the block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka, according to a social media report from the Shawnee County Sheriff.

 This area has had multiple injury accidents and the sheriff's office has had&nbsp; many complaints of speeders.

Around 9:45pm, the deputy stopped a Chrysler 300 southbound on Wanamaker driving at 114 miles per hour.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details but did encourage driver to "Slow Down."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749222951499.png" alt="Shawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Shawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to find driver traveling far above the posted speed limit.On Thursday night, a deputy was running radar in the block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka, according to a social media report from the Shawnee County Sheriff. This area has had multiple injury accidents and the sheriff's office has had&nbsp; many complaints of speeders.Around 9:45pm, the deputy stopped a Chrysler 300 southbound on Wanamaker driving at 114 miles per hour.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details but did encourage driver to "Slow Down."

Sheriff: Driver stopped for 114mph on Kansas street

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal shooting in Topeka have identified the victim as 29-year-old&nbsp;Ian A. Mwaniki of Topeka.

Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, police&nbsp;responded to reports of gunshots in the 700 block of SW Western in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.

First responders located a victim, later identified Mwaniki, with life-threatening injuries. Medical personnel on scene later pronounced him deceased.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

This is the city’s 8th homicide investigation of 2025, according to Eubanks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749233917699.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal shooting in Topeka have identified the victim as 29-year-old&nbsp;Ian A. Mwaniki of Topeka.Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, police&nbsp;responded to reports of gunshots in the 700 block of SW Western in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.First responders located a victim, later identified Mwaniki, with life-threatening injuries. Medical personnel on scene later pronounced him deceased.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.This is the city’s 8th homicide investigation of 2025, according to Eubanks.

Homicide: Police ID Kansas shooting victim

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump late Wednesday ordered the White House legal counsel and U.S. attorney general to investigate when Biden administration staff used an autopen to sign the former president’s name on official documents, alleging that Biden might not have known or approved of their actions.

The inquiry represents an escalation in Trump’s animosity toward and legal action against former President Joe Biden, who vehemently denies the allegations that he didn’t know what executive orders or pardons were signed during his term.

Trump has repeatedly suggested that Biden wasn’t fully cognizant during the end of his administration. Similar concerns were reported on by dozens of news organizations following Biden’s answers and behavior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-and-trump-trade-insults-accusations-lying-acrimonious-presidential-debate" target="_blank">during a debate</a>&nbsp;in June 2024.

Biden’s apparent confusion during some of the debate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-calls-new-nominee-ramp-biden-camp-pledges-stay-course" target="_blank">raised alarm bells among fellow Democrats</a>&nbsp;and eventually&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/president-joe-biden-bows-out-reelection-campaign-harris-vows-win-nomination-8" target="_blank">led him to withdraw</a>&nbsp;from his reelection campaign, later endorsing then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/reviewing-certain-presidential-actions/" target="_blank">memorandum</a>&nbsp;alleges “Biden’s aides abused the power of Presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to conceal Biden’s cognitive decline and assert Article II authority.

“This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history. The American public was purposefully shielded from discovering who wielded the executive power, all while Biden’s signature was deployed across thousands of documents to effect radical policy shifts.”&nbsp;

The memo stated that if Biden staff used an autopen, a mechanical device that mimics a person’s signature, “to conceal this incapacity, while taking radical executive actions all in his name, that would constitute an unconstitutional wielding of the power of the Presidency, a circumstance that would have implications for the legality and validity of numerous executive actions undertaken in Biden’s name.”

Trump said Thursday during an appearance in the Oval Office that he hadn’t discovered any evidence that Biden aides violated the law.

“No, but I’ve uncovered the human mind,” Trump said. “I was in a debate with the human mind and I didn’t think he knew what the hell he was doing. So it’s one of those things, one of those problems. We can’t ever allow that to happen to our country.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Biden released a written statement rejecting the claims Trump laid out in the memo, arguing the investigation “is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs like Medicaid and raise costs on American families, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations.”

“Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations,” Biden wrote. “Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.”

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump late Wednesday ordered the White House legal counsel and U.S. attorney general to investigate when Biden administration staff used an autopen to sign the former president’s name on official documents, alleging that Biden might not have known or approved of their actions.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ICYMI 🖊️ <a href="https://t.co/1WVXvSjXLv">pic.twitter.com/1WVXvSjXLv</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1930282954523087179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The inquiry represents an escalation in Trump’s animosity toward and legal action against former President Joe Biden, who vehemently denies the allegations that he didn’t know what executive orders or pardons were signed during his term.Trump has repeatedly suggested that Biden wasn’t fully cognizant during the end of his administration. Similar concerns were reported on by dozens of news organizations following Biden’s answers and behavior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-and-trump-trade-insults-accusations-lying-acrimonious-presidential-debate" target="_blank">during a debate</a>&nbsp;in June 2024.Biden’s apparent confusion during some of the debate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-calls-new-nominee-ramp-biden-camp-pledges-stay-course" target="_blank">raised alarm bells among fellow Democrats</a>&nbsp;and eventually&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/president-joe-biden-bows-out-reelection-campaign-harris-vows-win-nomination-8" target="_blank">led him to withdraw</a>&nbsp;from his reelection campaign, later endorsing then-Vice President Kamala Harris.Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/reviewing-certain-presidential-actions/" target="_blank">memorandum</a>&nbsp;alleges “Biden’s aides abused the power of Presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to conceal Biden’s cognitive decline and assert Article II authority.“This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history. The American public was purposefully shielded from discovering who wielded the executive power, all while Biden’s signature was deployed across thousands of documents to effect radical policy shifts.”&nbsp;The memo stated that if Biden staff used an autopen, a mechanical device that mimics a person’s signature, “to conceal this incapacity, while taking radical executive actions all in his name, that would constitute an unconstitutional wielding of the power of the Presidency, a circumstance that would have implications for the legality and validity of numerous executive actions undertaken in Biden’s name.”Trump said Thursday during an appearance in the Oval Office that he hadn’t discovered any evidence that Biden aides violated the law.“No, but I’ve uncovered the human mind,” Trump said. “I was in a debate with the human mind and I didn’t think he knew what the hell he was doing. So it’s one of those things, one of those problems. We can’t ever allow that to happen to our country.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Biden released a written statement rejecting the claims Trump laid out in the memo, arguing the investigation “is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs like Medicaid and raise costs on American families, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations.”“Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations,” Biden wrote. “Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.”

Trump opens investigation into Biden autopen use

SEDGWICK COUNTY– A Kansas teacher, accused of sex crimes involving a student, made her first appearance before a judge Thursday.

Nicole Morgan Baird Hernandez, 30, was charged with four counts of unlawful sexual relations with a student, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; She was an art teacher at Wichita North High School, according to the school web site.&nbsp;The student involved was over the age of 16, according to the arrest report.

On May 22, police arrested her in the 300 Block of West Tyler in Wichita, according to Sedgwick County booking reports.&nbsp;

She met the requirements of a $50,000 bond and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records. She is due back in court on June 16, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749221483052.png" alt="Hernandez -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Hernandez -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY– A Kansas teacher, accused of sex crimes involving a student, made her first appearance before a judge Thursday.Nicole Morgan Baird Hernandez, 30, was charged with four counts of unlawful sexual relations with a student, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; She was an art teacher at Wichita North High School, according to the school web site.&nbsp;The student involved was over the age of 16, according to the arrest report.On May 22, police arrested her in the 300 Block of West Tyler in Wichita, according to Sedgwick County booking reports.&nbsp;She met the requirements of a $50,000 bond and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records. She is due back in court on June 16, according to the district attorney's office.

Kansas art teacher accused of sex crimes with student

NEW YORK (AP) —A federal judge signed off on arguably the biggest change in the history of college sports Friday, clearing the way for schools to begin paying their athletes millions of dollars as soon as next month as the multibillion-dollar industry shreds the last vestiges of the amateur model that defined it for more than a century.

Nearly five years after Arizona State swimmer Grant House sued the NCAA and its five biggest conferences to lift restrictions on revenue sharing, U.S. Judge Claudia Wilken approved the final proposal that had been hung up on roster limits, just one of many changes ahead amid concerns that thousands of walk-on athletes will lose their chance to play college sports.

The sweeping terms of the so-called House settlement include approval for each school to share up to $20.5 million with athletes over the next year and $2.7 billion that will be paid over the next decade to thousands of former players who were barred from that revenue for years.

The agreement brings a seismic shift to hundreds of schools that were forced to reckon with the reality that their players are the ones producing the billions in TV and other revenue, mostly through football and basketball, that keep this machine humming.

The scope of the changes — some have already begun — is difficult to overstate. The professionalization of college athletics will be seen in the high-stakes and expensive recruitment of stars on their way to the NFL and NBA, and they will be felt by athletes whose schools have decided to pare their programs. The agreement will resonate in nearly every one of the NCAA’s 1,100 member schools boasting nearly 500,000 athletes.

Wilken’s ruling comes 11 years after she dealt the first significant blow to the NCAA ideal of amateurism when she ruled in favor of former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon and others who were seeking a way to earn money from the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL) — a term that is now as common in college sports as “March Madness” or “Roll Tide.” It was just four years ago that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/laws-sports-6fb10bea4176ac6a912138ce7f0a764e">NCAA cleared the way for NIL money</a>&nbsp;to start flowing, but the changes coming are even bigger.

Wilken granted preliminary approval to the settlement last October. That sent colleges scurrying to determine not only how they were going to afford the payments, but how to regulate an industry that also allows players to cut deals with third parties so long as they are deemed compliant by a newly formed enforcement group that will be run by auditors at Deloitte.

The agreement takes a big chunk of oversight away from the NCAA and puts it in the hands of the four biggest conferences. The ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC hold most of the power and decision-making heft, especially when it comes to the College Football Playoff, which is the most significant financial driver in the industry and is not under the NCAA umbrella like the March Madness tournaments are.

The deal looked ready to go since last fall, but Wilken put a halt to it after listening to a number of players who had lost their spots because of newly imposed roster limits being placed on teams.

The limits were part of a trade-off that allowed the schools to offer scholarships to everyone on the roster, instead of only a fraction, as has been the case for decades. Schools started cutting walk-ons in anticipation of the deal being approved.

Wilken asked for a solution and, after weeks, the parties decided to let anyone cut from a roster — now termed a “Designated Student-Athlete” — return to their old school or play for a new one without counting against the new limit.

Wilken ultimately agreed, going point-by-point through the objectors’ arguments to explain why they didn’t hold up.

“The modifications provide Designated Student-Athletes with what they had prior to the roster limits provisions being implemented, which was the opportunity to be on a roster at the discretion of a Division I school,” Wilken wrote.

The list of winners and losers is long and, in some cases, hard to tease out.

A rough guide of winners would include football and basketball stars at the biggest schools, which will devote much of their bankroll to signing and retaining them. For instance, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood’s NIL deal is reportedly worth between $10.5 million and $12 million.

Losers, despite Wilken’s ruling, figure to be at least some of the walk-ons and partial scholarship athletes whose spots are gone.

Also in limbo are Olympic sports many of those athletes play and that serve as the main pipeline for a U.S. team that has won the most medals at every Olympics since the downfall of the Soviet Union.

All this is a price worth paying, according to the attorneys who crafted the settlement and argue they delivered exactly what they were asked for: an attempt to put more money in the pockets of the players whose sweat and toil keep people watching from the start of football season through March Madness and the College World Series in June.

What the settlement does not solve is the threat of further litigation.

Though this deal brings some uniformity to the rules, states still have separate laws regarding how NIL can be doled out, which could lead to legal challenges. NCAA President Charlie Baker has been consistent in pushing for federal legislation that would put college sports under one rulebook and, if he has his way, provide some form of antitrust protection to prevent the new model from being disrupted again.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726059008795.jpeg" alt="File (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)" />
 <figcaption>File (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —A federal judge signed off on arguably the biggest change in the history of college sports Friday, clearing the way for schools to begin paying their athletes millions of dollars as soon as next month as the multibillion-dollar industry shreds the last vestiges of the amateur model that defined it for more than a century.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/OjqkLJovr1">pic.twitter.com/OjqkLJovr1</a>&mdash; Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) <a href="https://twitter.com/Big12Conference/status/1931181739784691837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Nearly five years after Arizona State swimmer Grant House sued the NCAA and its five biggest conferences to lift restrictions on revenue sharing, U.S. Judge Claudia Wilken approved the final proposal that had been hung up on roster limits, just one of many changes ahead amid concerns that thousands of walk-on athletes will lose their chance to play college sports.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749263208278.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The sweeping terms of the so-called House settlement include approval for each school to share up to $20.5 million with athletes over the next year and $2.7 billion that will be paid over the next decade to thousands of former players who were barred from that revenue for years.The agreement brings a seismic shift to hundreds of schools that were forced to reckon with the reality that their players are the ones producing the billions in TV and other revenue, mostly through football and basketball, that keep this machine humming.The scope of the changes — some have already begun — is difficult to overstate. The professionalization of college athletics will be seen in the high-stakes and expensive recruitment of stars on their way to the NFL and NBA, and they will be felt by athletes whose schools have decided to pare their programs. The agreement will resonate in nearly every one of the NCAA’s 1,100 member schools boasting nearly 500,000 athletes.<h2>The road to a settlement</h2>Wilken’s ruling comes 11 years after she dealt the first significant blow to the NCAA ideal of amateurism when she ruled in favor of former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon and others who were seeking a way to earn money from the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL) — a term that is now as common in college sports as “March Madness” or “Roll Tide.” It was just four years ago that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/laws-sports-6fb10bea4176ac6a912138ce7f0a764e">NCAA cleared the way for NIL money</a>&nbsp;to start flowing, but the changes coming are even bigger.Wilken granted preliminary approval to the settlement last October. That sent colleges scurrying to determine not only how they were going to afford the payments, but how to regulate an industry that also allows players to cut deals with third parties so long as they are deemed compliant by a newly formed enforcement group that will be run by auditors at Deloitte.The agreement takes a big chunk of oversight away from the NCAA and puts it in the hands of the four biggest conferences. The ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC hold most of the power and decision-making heft, especially when it comes to the College Football Playoff, which is the most significant financial driver in the industry and is not under the NCAA umbrella like the March Madness tournaments are.<h2>Roster limits held things up</h2>The deal looked ready to go since last fall, but Wilken put a halt to it after listening to a number of players who had lost their spots because of newly imposed roster limits being placed on teams.The limits were part of a trade-off that allowed the schools to offer scholarships to everyone on the roster, instead of only a fraction, as has been the case for decades. Schools started cutting walk-ons in anticipation of the deal being approved.Wilken asked for a solution and, after weeks, the parties decided to let anyone cut from a roster — now termed a “Designated Student-Athlete” — return to their old school or play for a new one without counting against the new limit.Wilken ultimately agreed, going point-by-point through the objectors’ arguments to explain why they didn’t hold up.“The modifications provide Designated Student-Athletes with what they had prior to the roster limits provisions being implemented, which was the opportunity to be on a roster at the discretion of a Division I school,” Wilken wrote.<h2>Winners and losers</h2>The list of winners and losers is long and, in some cases, hard to tease out.A rough guide of winners would include football and basketball stars at the biggest schools, which will devote much of their bankroll to signing and retaining them. For instance, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood’s NIL deal is reportedly worth between $10.5 million and $12 million.Losers, despite Wilken’s ruling, figure to be at least some of the walk-ons and partial scholarship athletes whose spots are gone.Also in limbo are Olympic sports many of those athletes play and that serve as the main pipeline for a U.S. team that has won the most medals at every Olympics since the downfall of the Soviet Union.All this is a price worth paying, according to the attorneys who crafted the settlement and argue they delivered exactly what they were asked for: an attempt to put more money in the pockets of the players whose sweat and toil keep people watching from the start of football season through March Madness and the College World Series in June.What the settlement does not solve is the threat of further litigation.Though this deal brings some uniformity to the rules, states still have separate laws regarding how NIL can be doled out, which could lead to legal challenges. NCAA President Charlie Baker has been consistent in pushing for federal legislation that would put college sports under one rulebook and, if he has his way, provide some form of antitrust protection to prevent the new model from being disrupted again.___

Judge OKs $2.8B settlement, paving way for US colleges to pay athletes millions

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose mistaken deportation to El Salvador became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/van-hollen-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-deportation-53c7c2dc95486f5f0c4afd96dc0fb01c">a political flashpoint in the Trump administration's stepped-up immigration enforcement</a>, was returned to the United States on Friday to face criminal charges related to what the Trump administration said was a massive human smuggling operation that brought immigrants into the country illegally.

His abrupt release from El Salvador closes one chapter and opens another in a saga that yielded a remarkable, months-long standoff between Trump officials and the courts over a deportation that officials initially acknowledged was done in error but then continued to stand behind in apparent defiance of orders by judges to facilitate his return to the U.S.

The development occurred after U.S. officials presented El Salvador President Nayib Bukele with an arrest warrant for federal charges in Tennessee accusing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-abrego-garcia-e1b2af6528f915a1f0ec60f9a1c73cdd">Abrego Garcia</a>&nbsp;of playing a key role in smuggling immigrants into the country for money. He is expected to be prosecuted in the U.S. and, if convicted, will be returned to his home country of El Salvador at the conclusion of the case, officials said Friday.

“This is what American justice looks like,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in announcing Abrego Garcia's return and the unsealing of a grand jury indictment. A court appearance in Nashville was set for Friday.

Abrego Garcia's attorneys called the case “baseless."

“There’s no way a jury is going to see the evidence and agree that this sheet metal worker is the leader of an international MS-13 smuggling conspiracy,” attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg said.

Democrats and immigrant rights group had pressed for Abrego Garcia’s release, with several lawmakers — including Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, where Abrego Garcia had lived for years — even traveling to El Salvador to visit him. A federal judge had ordered him to be returned in April and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-deportation-trump-9f46dd62890befdc321ed1ab56107470">Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal</a>&nbsp;by directing the government to work to bring him back.

But the news that Abrego Garcia, who had an immigration court order preventing his deportation to his native country over fears he would face persecution from local gangs, was being brought back for the purpose of prosecution was greeted with dismay by his lawyers.

Abrego Garcia's lawyer calls charges ‘preposterous’

“This administration ... instead of simply admitting their mistake, they’ll stop at nothing at all, including some of the most preposterous charges imageable," Sandoval-Moshenberg said.

Ama Frimpong, legal director with the group CASA, said Abrego Garcia's family has mixed emotions about his return to the U.S.

“Let him talk to his wife. Let him talk to his children. This family has suffered enough,” she said.

Sandoval-Moshenberg said Abrego Garcia is one of the first, if not the first, person released from a notorious prison in El Salvador, though he was later imprisoned at another facility.

“So it’s going to be very interesting to hear what he has to say about the way in which he was treated,” the attorney said.

The indictment, filed last month and unsealed Friday, lays out a string of allegations that date back to 2016 but are only being disclosed now, nearly three months after Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported and following the Trump administration’s repeated claims that he is a criminal.

It accuses him of smuggling throughout the U.S. thousands of people living in the country illegally, including members of the violent MS-13 gang, from Central America and abusing women he was transporting. A co-conspirator also alleged that he participated in the killing of a gang member’s mother in El Salvador, prosecutors wrote in papers urging the judge to keep him behind bars while he awaits trial.

The indictment does not charge him in connection with that allegation.

“Later, as part of his immigration proceedings in the United States, the defendant claimed he could not return to El Salvador because he was in fear of retribution from the 18th Street gang,” the detention memo states.

“While partially true — the defendant, according to the information received by the Government, was in fear of retaliation by the 18th Street gang — the underlying reason for the retaliation was the defendant’s own actions in participating in the murder of a rival 18th Street gang member’s mother," prosecutors wrote.

The charges stem from a 2022 vehicle stop in which the Tennessee Highway Patrol suspected him of human trafficking. A report released by the Department of Homeland Security in April states that none of the people in the vehicle had luggage, while they listed the same address as Abrego Garcia.

Abrego Garcia was never charged with a crime, while the officers allowed him to drive on with only a warning about an expired driver’s license, according to the DHS report. The report said he was traveling from Texas to Maryland, via Missouri, to bring in people to perform construction work.

In response to the report’s release in April, Abrego Garcia’s wife said in a statement that he sometimes transported groups of workers between job sites, “so it’s entirely plausible he would have been pulled over while driving with others in the vehicle. He was not charged with any crime or cited for any wrongdoing.”

Immigrant rights advocates vs. the Trump administration

Abrego Garcia's background and personal life have been a source of dispute and contested facts. Immigrant rights advocates have cast his arrest as emblematic of an administration whose deportation policy is haphazard and error-prone, while Trump officials have pointed to prior interactions with police and described him as a gang member who fits the mold they are determined to expel from the country.

Abrego Garcia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-c21e54f77c1e6716e2998c2463f6650b">lived in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;for roughly 14 years, during which he worked construction, got married and was raising three children with disabilities, according to court records. Trump administration officials said he was deported based on a 2019 accusation from Maryland police that he was an MS-13 gang member. Abrego Garcia denied the allegation and was never charged with a crime, his attorneys said.

A U.S. immigration judge subsequently shielded Abrego Garcia from deportation to El Salvador because he likely faced persecution there by local gangs. The Trump administration deported him there in March, later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-error-818a0fa1218de714448edcb5be1f7347">describing the mistake</a>&nbsp;as “an administrative error” but insisting he was in MS-13.

Even if Abrego Garcia is convicted of the charges announced Friday, the Trump administration would still have to return to a U.S. immigration court if it wanted to deport him to El Salvador, Sandoval-Moshenberg said. He also expects the case in Maryland to continue as the federal judge there considers whether the administration obeyed her orders to return him.

Abrego Garcia's return comes days after the Trump administration complied with a court order to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-deportation-guatemala-trump-return-64602344d97ef93529ef5f21b4fd5807">return a Guatemalan man</a>&nbsp;deported to Mexico despite his fears of being harmed there. The man, identified in court papers as O.C.G, was the first person known to have been returned to U.S. custody after deportation since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745499007975.png" alt="U.S. Senator Chis Van Hollen with with Garcia in El Salvador in March-photo from the Senator's office" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Senator Chis Van Hollen with with Garcia in El Salvador in March-photo from the Senator's office</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose mistaken deportation to El Salvador became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/van-hollen-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-deportation-53c7c2dc95486f5f0c4afd96dc0fb01c">a political flashpoint in the Trump administration's stepped-up immigration enforcement</a>, was returned to the United States on Friday to face criminal charges related to what the Trump administration said was a massive human smuggling operation that brought immigrants into the country illegally.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746223900563.png" alt="Kilmar Abrego Garcia as seen body cam video released by the Tennessee Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Kilmar Abrego Garcia as seen body cam video released by the Tennessee Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>His abrupt release from El Salvador closes one chapter and opens another in a saga that yielded a remarkable, months-long standoff between Trump officials and the courts over a deportation that officials initially acknowledged was done in error but then continued to stand behind in apparent defiance of orders by judges to facilitate his return to the U.S.The development occurred after U.S. officials presented El Salvador President Nayib Bukele with an arrest warrant for federal charges in Tennessee accusing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-abrego-garcia-e1b2af6528f915a1f0ec60f9a1c73cdd">Abrego Garcia</a>&nbsp;of playing a key role in smuggling immigrants into the country for money. He is expected to be prosecuted in the U.S. and, if convicted, will be returned to his home country of El Salvador at the conclusion of the case, officials said Friday.“This is what American justice looks like,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in announcing Abrego Garcia's return and the unsealing of a grand jury indictment. A court appearance in Nashville was set for Friday.Abrego Garcia's attorneys called the case “baseless."“There’s no way a jury is going to see the evidence and agree that this sheet metal worker is the leader of an international MS-13 smuggling conspiracy,” attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg said.Democrats and immigrant rights group had pressed for Abrego Garcia’s release, with several lawmakers — including Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, where Abrego Garcia had lived for years — even traveling to El Salvador to visit him. A federal judge had ordered him to be returned in April and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-deportation-trump-9f46dd62890befdc321ed1ab56107470">Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal</a>&nbsp;by directing the government to work to bring him back.But the news that Abrego Garcia, who had an immigration court order preventing his deportation to his native country over fears he would face persecution from local gangs, was being brought back for the purpose of prosecution was greeted with dismay by his lawyers.<h2>Abrego Garcia's lawyer calls charges ‘preposterous’</h2>“This administration ... instead of simply admitting their mistake, they’ll stop at nothing at all, including some of the most preposterous charges imageable," Sandoval-Moshenberg said.Ama Frimpong, legal director with the group CASA, said Abrego Garcia's family has mixed emotions about his return to the U.S.“Let him talk to his wife. Let him talk to his children. This family has suffered enough,” she said.Sandoval-Moshenberg said Abrego Garcia is one of the first, if not the first, person released from a notorious prison in El Salvador, though he was later imprisoned at another facility.“So it’s going to be very interesting to hear what he has to say about the way in which he was treated,” the attorney said.The indictment, filed last month and unsealed Friday, lays out a string of allegations that date back to 2016 but are only being disclosed now, nearly three months after Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported and following the Trump administration’s repeated claims that he is a criminal.It accuses him of smuggling throughout the U.S. thousands of people living in the country illegally, including members of the violent MS-13 gang, from Central America and abusing women he was transporting. A co-conspirator also alleged that he participated in the killing of a gang member’s mother in El Salvador, prosecutors wrote in papers urging the judge to keep him behind bars while he awaits trial.The indictment does not charge him in connection with that allegation.“Later, as part of his immigration proceedings in the United States, the defendant claimed he could not return to El Salvador because he was in fear of retribution from the 18th Street gang,” the detention memo states.“While partially true — the defendant, according to the information received by the Government, was in fear of retaliation by the 18th Street gang — the underlying reason for the retaliation was the defendant’s own actions in participating in the murder of a rival 18th Street gang member’s mother," prosecutors wrote.The charges stem from a 2022 vehicle stop in which the Tennessee Highway Patrol suspected him of human trafficking. A report released by the Department of Homeland Security in April states that none of the people in the vehicle had luggage, while they listed the same address as Abrego Garcia.Abrego Garcia was never charged with a crime, while the officers allowed him to drive on with only a warning about an expired driver’s license, according to the DHS report. The report said he was traveling from Texas to Maryland, via Missouri, to bring in people to perform construction work.In response to the report’s release in April, Abrego Garcia’s wife said in a statement that he sometimes transported groups of workers between job sites, “so it’s entirely plausible he would have been pulled over while driving with others in the vehicle. He was not charged with any crime or cited for any wrongdoing.”<h2>Immigrant rights advocates vs. the Trump administration</h2>Abrego Garcia's background and personal life have been a source of dispute and contested facts. Immigrant rights advocates have cast his arrest as emblematic of an administration whose deportation policy is haphazard and error-prone, while Trump officials have pointed to prior interactions with police and described him as a gang member who fits the mold they are determined to expel from the country.Abrego Garcia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-c21e54f77c1e6716e2998c2463f6650b">lived in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;for roughly 14 years, during which he worked construction, got married and was raising three children with disabilities, according to court records. Trump administration officials said he was deported based on a 2019 accusation from Maryland police that he was an MS-13 gang member. Abrego Garcia denied the allegation and was never charged with a crime, his attorneys said.A U.S. immigration judge subsequently shielded Abrego Garcia from deportation to El Salvador because he likely faced persecution there by local gangs. The Trump administration deported him there in March, later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-error-818a0fa1218de714448edcb5be1f7347">describing the mistake</a>&nbsp;as “an administrative error” but insisting he was in MS-13.Even if Abrego Garcia is convicted of the charges announced Friday, the Trump administration would still have to return to a U.S. immigration court if it wanted to deport him to El Salvador, Sandoval-Moshenberg said. He also expects the case in Maryland to continue as the federal judge there considers whether the administration obeyed her orders to return him.Abrego Garcia's return comes days after the Trump administration complied with a court order to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-deportation-guatemala-trump-return-64602344d97ef93529ef5f21b4fd5807">return a Guatemalan man</a>&nbsp;deported to Mexico despite his fears of being harmed there. The man, identified in court papers as O.C.G, was the first person known to have been returned to U.S. custody after deportation since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term.

Abrego Garcia is back in the US to face human smuggling charges 

LITTLE ROCK (AP) —A former police chief and convicted killer known as the “Devil in the Ozarks” was captured by law enforcement 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) northwest of the prison&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-934e7fe6a45d3eafb18443f5b2bc5680?utm_source=Facebook&amp;utm_medium=share&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawKjFE9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF4MmxjbUJyV05JWjVpTWZxAR7HdBxBzlrOzjOfYiCdChZPCLBAhbxLUw0ibnBZA-1ZgEI9955QwHFHVGhqmw_aem_bQ6Hm8suIdhTYD_ucbzvWg">he escaped from</a>&nbsp;following a massive, nearly two-week-long manhunt in the rugged mountains of northern Arkansas, authorities announced Friday.

Grant Hardin, a former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was serving lengthy sentences&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-chief-arkansas-prison-escape-grant-hardin-280127e9737bc8e8e0d6388d7f268bd1">for murder and rape</a>. Eventually, his notoriety led to a TV documentary, “Devil in the Ozarks.”

Hardin briefly attempted to run from officers when he saw them approach Friday afternoon, but he was quickly tackled to the ground, said Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system.

“He’d been on the run for a week and a half and probably didn’t have any energy left in him,” he added.

Hardin’s identity was confirmed through fingerprinting, the Izard County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.

There’s no indication that Hardin was injured, though he will be checked for dehydration and other medical problems.

Now, investigators are “chomping at the bit and really ready to talk to him,” said Champion, who used his cellphone to capture an image of Hardin being led away by officers. Hardin said nothing during those moments.

Hardin had been held at the Calico Rock prison since 2017 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in a fatal shooting. In order to escape, he impersonated a corrections officer “in dress and manner,” according to a court document. A prison officer in one of the guard towers opened a secure gate, allowing him to walk out of the facility.

Champion said that someone should have checked Hardin’s identity before he was allowed to leave, describing the lack of verification as a “lapse” that’s being investigated.

Searchers had been using bloodhounds, officers on horseback, drones and helicopters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-b48323fc891ac94d04209b50caa2a04d">in their hunt for Hardin</a>&nbsp;since he escaped on May 25.

Shortly after the escape,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-b48323fc891ac94d04209b50caa2a04d">a bloodhound found — then quickly lost — Hardin’s scent</a>&nbsp;when heavy rains blew through the area, Champion said. The bloodhound tracked Hardin's path for less than a quarter of a mile, after which could have gone in any direction.

“That was one of the most frustrating things, that they were able to track him but then they lost him because of the rain,” Champion said.

An elite and highly trained U.S. Border Patrol team had recently joined the search, federal authorities announced this week.

The Border Patrol Tactical Team known as BORTAC provided “advanced search capabilities and operational support," U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. Its members are experienced in navigating complex terrain, the agency said. The Ozark Mountains region is known for its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-441d37501f2ab0de8af27501546dfb13">rocky and rugged landscape,</a>&nbsp;thick forests and an extensive cave network.

Hardin pleaded guilty in 2017 to first-degree murder for the killing of James Appleton, 59. Appleton worked for the Gateway water department when he was shot in the head Feb. 23, 2017, near Garfield. Police found Appleton’s body inside a car. Hardin was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Hardin’s DNA was also matched to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-5a4557c60ac6484887303e37bd86a477">1997 rape of a teacher</a>&nbsp;at an elementary school in Rogers, north of Fayetteville. He was sentenced to 50 years for that crime.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-441d37501f2ab0de8af27501546dfb13">Cheryl Tillman, Appleton's sister</a>, was with her mother and sister at a flea market in Ozark, Missouri, when law enforcement called to tell her Hardin had been captured. Tillman is also the mayor of Gateway, the 450-person town where Hardin was briefly police chief.

Tillman told The Associated Press that Hardin's capture was a “big sigh of relief” for her whole family.

“We don’t have to walk around, turning around all the time, thinking somebody’s on our back,” Tillman said, emphasizing her appreciation for the officers who helped capture Hardin.

Though Hardin was police chief in Gateway for just four months, he had served as an officer in multiple communities around northwest Arkansas, his police records show.

In his first job as a police officer 35 years ago in Fayetteville, Hardin struggled almost immediately, his supervisors said. He was dismissed by Fayetteville police, but kept getting hired for other law enforcement jobs in northwest Arkansas over the years.

Hardin worked about six months at the Huntsville Police Department before resigning, but records do not give a reason for his resignation.

He later worked at the Eureka Springs Police Department from 1993 to 1996. Former Chief Earl Hyatt said Hardin resigned because Hyatt was going to fire him over incidents that included the use of excessive force.

“He did not need to be a police officer at all,” Hyatt told television station KNWA.

By the time he was the police chief in Gateway in 2016, “he was out chasing cars for no reason,” Tillman recalled in the documentary “Devil in the Ozarks.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749255342198.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LITTLE ROCK (AP) —A former police chief and convicted killer known as the “Devil in the Ozarks” was captured by law enforcement 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) northwest of the prison&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-934e7fe6a45d3eafb18443f5b2bc5680?utm_source=Facebook&amp;utm_medium=share&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawKjFE9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF4MmxjbUJyV05JWjVpTWZxAR7HdBxBzlrOzjOfYiCdChZPCLBAhbxLUw0ibnBZA-1ZgEI9955QwHFHVGhqmw_aem_bQ6Hm8suIdhTYD_ucbzvWg">he escaped from</a>&nbsp;following a massive, nearly two-week-long manhunt in the rugged mountains of northern Arkansas, authorities announced Friday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749249432578.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Grant Hardin, a former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was serving lengthy sentences&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-chief-arkansas-prison-escape-grant-hardin-280127e9737bc8e8e0d6388d7f268bd1">for murder and rape</a>. Eventually, his notoriety led to a TV documentary, “Devil in the Ozarks.”Hardin briefly attempted to run from officers when he saw them approach Friday afternoon, but he was quickly tackled to the ground, said Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system.“He’d been on the run for a week and a half and probably didn’t have any energy left in him,” he added.Hardin’s identity was confirmed through fingerprinting, the Izard County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.There’s no indication that Hardin was injured, though he will be checked for dehydration and other medical problems.Now, investigators are “chomping at the bit and really ready to talk to him,” said Champion, who used his cellphone to capture an image of Hardin being led away by officers. Hardin said nothing during those moments.<h2>How the escape happened</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748354598066.png" alt="Hardin escape -photo Arkansas Dept. of Corections" />
 <figcaption>Hardin escape -photo Arkansas Dept. of Corections</figcaption>
 </figure>Hardin had been held at the Calico Rock prison since 2017 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in a fatal shooting. In order to escape, he impersonated a corrections officer “in dress and manner,” according to a court document. A prison officer in one of the guard towers opened a secure gate, allowing him to walk out of the facility.Champion said that someone should have checked Hardin’s identity before he was allowed to leave, describing the lack of verification as a “lapse” that’s being investigated.Searchers had been using bloodhounds, officers on horseback, drones and helicopters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-b48323fc891ac94d04209b50caa2a04d">in their hunt for Hardin</a>&nbsp;since he escaped on May 25.Shortly after the escape,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-b48323fc891ac94d04209b50caa2a04d">a bloodhound found — then quickly lost — Hardin’s scent</a>&nbsp;when heavy rains blew through the area, Champion said. The bloodhound tracked Hardin's path for less than a quarter of a mile, after which could have gone in any direction.“That was one of the most frustrating things, that they were able to track him but then they lost him because of the rain,” Champion said.An elite and highly trained U.S. Border Patrol team had recently joined the search, federal authorities announced this week.The Border Patrol Tactical Team known as BORTAC provided “advanced search capabilities and operational support," U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. Its members are experienced in navigating complex terrain, the agency said. The Ozark Mountains region is known for its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-441d37501f2ab0de8af27501546dfb13">rocky and rugged landscape,</a>&nbsp;thick forests and an extensive cave network.<h2>Hardin's criminal convictions</h2>Hardin pleaded guilty in 2017 to first-degree murder for the killing of James Appleton, 59. Appleton worked for the Gateway water department when he was shot in the head Feb. 23, 2017, near Garfield. Police found Appleton’s body inside a car. Hardin was sentenced to 30 years in prison.Hardin’s DNA was also matched to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-5a4557c60ac6484887303e37bd86a477">1997 rape of a teacher</a>&nbsp;at an elementary school in Rogers, north of Fayetteville. He was sentenced to 50 years for that crime.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-441d37501f2ab0de8af27501546dfb13">Cheryl Tillman, Appleton's sister</a>, was with her mother and sister at a flea market in Ozark, Missouri, when law enforcement called to tell her Hardin had been captured. Tillman is also the mayor of Gateway, the 450-person town where Hardin was briefly police chief.Tillman told The Associated Press that Hardin's capture was a “big sigh of relief” for her whole family.“We don’t have to walk around, turning around all the time, thinking somebody’s on our back,” Tillman said, emphasizing her appreciation for the officers who helped capture Hardin.<h2>A problematic past in law enforcement</h2>Though Hardin was police chief in Gateway for just four months, he had served as an officer in multiple communities around northwest Arkansas, his police records show.In his first job as a police officer 35 years ago in Fayetteville, Hardin struggled almost immediately, his supervisors said. He was dismissed by Fayetteville police, but kept getting hired for other law enforcement jobs in northwest Arkansas over the years.Hardin worked about six months at the Huntsville Police Department before resigning, but records do not give a reason for his resignation.He later worked at the Eureka Springs Police Department from 1993 to 1996. Former Chief Earl Hyatt said Hardin resigned because Hyatt was going to fire him over incidents that included the use of excessive force.“He did not need to be a police officer at all,” Hyatt told television station KNWA.By the time he was the police chief in Gateway in 2016, “he was out chasing cars for no reason,” Tillman recalled in the documentary “Devil in the Ozarks.”