SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal shooting in. Topeka have made an arrest.

Just after 7:30a.m. September 1, police responded to a shooting&nbsp;in the 100 block of NW Holman Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell. First responders located 30-year-old Cody Bush of Topeka with&nbsp;life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

As a result of the investigation, police announced Monday they arrested 42-year-old Justin Shumway, 42, of Topeka. He is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;Murder in the 1st Degree and Aggravated Robbery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757412405029.png" alt="Shumway photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Shumway photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal shooting in. Topeka have made an arrest.Just after 7:30a.m. September 1, police responded to a shooting&nbsp;in the 100 block of NW Holman Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell. First responders located 30-year-old Cody Bush of Topeka with&nbsp;life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.As a result of the investigation, police announced Monday they arrested 42-year-old Justin Shumway, 42, of Topeka. He is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;Murder in the 1st Degree and Aggravated Robbery.

Police: Kansas man jailed for robbery, murder

Attorney General Kris Kobach says Kelly is breaking state, federal law

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</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>

TOPEKA — Attorney General Kris Kobach filed a lawsuit Monday against Gov. Laura Kelly to force disclosure to federal officials of names, Social Security numbers, birthdates and home addresses for everyone enrolled in SNAP.

Kobach said he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/home/showdocument?id=24636&amp;t=638929457500168275" target="_blank">filed a motion in Shawnee County District Court</a>&nbsp;to compel the Democratic governor to comply with his interpretation of state and federal statute on sharing information sought by the federal government. The Republican attorney general said he chose to act before a Sept. 19 deadline that could lead to loss of $10.4 million in federal aid to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

SNAP serves 188,000 Kansans and makes use of $400 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funds annually.

Kobach said it was rare for an attorney general to directly file suit against a governor, but he felt compelled to do so for the second time in three years because “when a governor flagrantly violates the law it is necessary for the state, represented by its attorney general, to take action.”

“She appears to be playing a game of chicken, apparently unaware of her obligation under Kansas statute and perhaps also unaware that federal law requires her to provide this information,” Kobach said.

Kobach said he didn’t have a personal conversation with the governor in an attempt to resolve the conflict prior to filing the suit. He was joined at the news conference by House Speaker Dan Hawkins, who advised the governor capitulate to the Trump administration’s requests.

“Attorney General Kobach and Speaker Hawkins are engaging in what can only be described as low-rent political theater,” the governor said. “We learned last week that the attorney general made vague statements about suing me in Alaska. My chief of staff made requests to both the attorney general and speaker for meetings to discuss this issue on Friday, and both declined to meet.”

“Now, in a rushed press conference rife with false statements and incorrect law, we learn there is going to be a lawsuit filed. A copy of which my office has yet to receive,” said Kelly, who is chair of the Democratic Governors Association. “The attorney general is known for not doing his homework or placing priority on protecting Kansans’ private data. I have always worked to protect Kansans, especially from federal overreach, and I will continue to do so.”

For several months, USDA has applied pressure on Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, to divulge all personal data in its possession on SNAP recipients. USDA indicated the information could be used for about a dozen purposes, including an attempt to figure out why about 10% of the people awarded SNAP benefits in Kansas might not be eligible.

Howard, who also was named in Kobach’s lawsuit, told the USDA the state was leery of contributing to a federal database that could be shared with entities not “legally allowed to access that information.”

Kobach said existence of a California lawsuit challenging a federal data request shouldn’t be used by Kelly to justify refusing to cooperate in Kansas. The Kelly administration also endorsed a multistate lawsuit in Massachusetts challenging demands placed on states by the administration of President Donald Trump.

“The idea that a random lawsuit of dubious merit in a distant jurisdiction … somehow allows a governor in another state to refuse to follow the law — that’s crazy,” Kobach said. “Her argument is lawless and absurd.”

Kobach was joined at a news conference by Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi and Hawkins, both Republicans from Wichita.

“The Department for Children and Families must comply with the law and cooperate with the federal government,” Blasi said. “The governor’s refusal to comply with this law jeopardizes benefits for our most needy Kansans.”

Hawkins said he was confounded that the Kelly administration had an elevated error rate in distribution of SNAP benefits.

“The governor is stonewalling,” Hawkins said. “When the secretary refuses to provide the data, she is not only dodging accountability but also breaking the law.”

Kobach said he wanted a district court judge in Shawnee County to expedite the lawsuit to prevent interruption of federal funding earmarked for SNAP. He said the petition submitted to the district court pointed to state law requiring the governor to cooperate in the administration of food stamps and to comply with requests for information on the program. U.S. law sets a system for penalizing states for noncompliance.

“For anyone thinking that the Trump administration is doing this because they just got a wild hair and decided, ‘You know what, let’s go after the states on this.’ No, this is required by federal statute,” the attorney general said.

He asserted Kelly was on the verge of committing a constitutional violation by inviting an avalanche of financial penalties that could eventually deny Kansans access to SNAP.

“It is unclear to me why the governor thinks it’s okay to take food off the table of needy Kansans so that she can demonstrate to the world that she is opposing the Trump administration,” Kobach said. “She has a First Amendment right to say all she wants about the administration in Washington, D.C., but she cannot violate the law and she should never place her desire to perform political theater over the livelihoods of needy Kansans.”

Meanwhile, U.S. Ron Estes and U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, both Kansas Republicans, sent a letter to Kelly urging her to surrender information to USDA about SNAP.

“We are demanding Governor Kelly work with the USDA to strengthen the SNAP program in Kansas and correct the waste of our constituents’ hard-earned dollars,” Estes said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757384151672.png" alt=" Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced filing of a lawsuit against Gov. Laura Kelly related to demands by the administration of President Donald Trump to release personal information about Kansans enrolled in the SNAP food aid program. Joining Kobach at a news conference were state Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi, left, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, right. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced filing of a lawsuit against Gov. Laura Kelly related to demands by the administration of President Donald Trump to release personal information about Kansans enrolled in the SNAP food aid program. Joining Kobach at a news conference were state Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi, left, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, right. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Attorney General Kris Kobach says Kelly is breaking state, federal law</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</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>TOPEKA — Attorney General Kris Kobach filed a lawsuit Monday against Gov. Laura Kelly to force disclosure to federal officials of names, Social Security numbers, birthdates and home addresses for everyone enrolled in SNAP.Kobach said he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/home/showdocument?id=24636&amp;t=638929457500168275" target="_blank">filed a motion in Shawnee County District Court</a>&nbsp;to compel the Democratic governor to comply with his interpretation of state and federal statute on sharing information sought by the federal government. The Republican attorney general said he chose to act before a Sept. 19 deadline that could lead to loss of $10.4 million in federal aid to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.SNAP serves 188,000 Kansans and makes use of $400 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funds annually.Kobach said it was rare for an attorney general to directly file suit against a governor, but he felt compelled to do so for the second time in three years because “when a governor flagrantly violates the law it is necessary for the state, represented by its attorney general, to take action.”“She appears to be playing a game of chicken, apparently unaware of her obligation under Kansas statute and perhaps also unaware that federal law requires her to provide this information,” Kobach said.Kobach said he didn’t have a personal conversation with the governor in an attempt to resolve the conflict prior to filing the suit. He was joined at the news conference by House Speaker Dan Hawkins, who advised the governor capitulate to the Trump administration’s requests.“Attorney General Kobach and Speaker Hawkins are engaging in what can only be described as low-rent political theater,” the governor said. “We learned last week that the attorney general made vague statements about suing me in Alaska. My chief of staff made requests to both the attorney general and speaker for meetings to discuss this issue on Friday, and both declined to meet.”“Now, in a rushed press conference rife with false statements and incorrect law, we learn there is going to be a lawsuit filed. A copy of which my office has yet to receive,” said Kelly, who is chair of the Democratic Governors Association. “The attorney general is known for not doing his homework or placing priority on protecting Kansans’ private data. I have always worked to protect Kansans, especially from federal overreach, and I will continue to do so.”For several months, USDA has applied pressure on Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, to divulge all personal data in its possession on SNAP recipients. USDA indicated the information could be used for about a dozen purposes, including an attempt to figure out why about 10% of the people awarded SNAP benefits in Kansas might not be eligible.Howard, who also was named in Kobach’s lawsuit, told the USDA the state was leery of contributing to a federal database that could be shared with entities not “legally allowed to access that information.”Kobach said existence of a California lawsuit challenging a federal data request shouldn’t be used by Kelly to justify refusing to cooperate in Kansas. The Kelly administration also endorsed a multistate lawsuit in Massachusetts challenging demands placed on states by the administration of President Donald Trump.“The idea that a random lawsuit of dubious merit in a distant jurisdiction … somehow allows a governor in another state to refuse to follow the law — that’s crazy,” Kobach said. “Her argument is lawless and absurd.”Kobach was joined at a news conference by Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi and Hawkins, both Republicans from Wichita.“The Department for Children and Families must comply with the law and cooperate with the federal government,” Blasi said. “The governor’s refusal to comply with this law jeopardizes benefits for our most needy Kansans.”Hawkins said he was confounded that the Kelly administration had an elevated error rate in distribution of SNAP benefits.“The governor is stonewalling,” Hawkins said. “When the secretary refuses to provide the data, she is not only dodging accountability but also breaking the law.”Kobach said he wanted a district court judge in Shawnee County to expedite the lawsuit to prevent interruption of federal funding earmarked for SNAP. He said the petition submitted to the district court pointed to state law requiring the governor to cooperate in the administration of food stamps and to comply with requests for information on the program. U.S. law sets a system for penalizing states for noncompliance.“For anyone thinking that the Trump administration is doing this because they just got a wild hair and decided, ‘You know what, let’s go after the states on this.’ No, this is required by federal statute,” the attorney general said.He asserted Kelly was on the verge of committing a constitutional violation by inviting an avalanche of financial penalties that could eventually deny Kansans access to SNAP.“It is unclear to me why the governor thinks it’s okay to take food off the table of needy Kansans so that she can demonstrate to the world that she is opposing the Trump administration,” Kobach said. “She has a First Amendment right to say all she wants about the administration in Washington, D.C., but she cannot violate the law and she should never place her desire to perform political theater over the livelihoods of needy Kansans.”Meanwhile, U.S. Ron Estes and U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, both Kansas Republicans, sent a letter to Kelly urging her to surrender information to USDA about SNAP.“We are demanding Governor Kelly work with the USDA to strengthen the SNAP program in Kansas and correct the waste of our constituents’ hard-earned dollars,” Estes said.

Kansas lawsuit seeks to force Gov. Laura Kelly to divulge details about SNAP recipients

NEW YORK (AP) —Ford is recalling almost 1.5 million vehicles in the United States because the rear view camera may show a blank or distorted image on the center display screen while the vehicle is in reverse, which can reduce or distort the driver's view of what's behind the car and increase the risk of a crash.

The recall includes certain vehicles from model years 2015 to 2019 of the Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln MKC, Mustang, Ranger, Transit, Transit Connect, Econoline, Edge, Expedition, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD and F-550 SD.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday in its safety recall report that Ford is aware of 18 accidents and no injuries related to the camera issue.

The agency said that vehicle owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the rear view camera inspected and replaced, if necessary. There will be no charge for the service.

NEW YORK (AP) —Ford is recalling almost 1.5 million vehicles in the United States because the rear view camera may show a blank or distorted image on the center display screen while the vehicle is in reverse, which can reduce or distort the driver's view of what's behind the car and increase the risk of a crash.The recall includes certain vehicles from model years 2015 to 2019 of the Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln MKC, Mustang, Ranger, Transit, Transit Connect, Econoline, Edge, Expedition, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD and F-550 SD.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday in its safety recall report that Ford is aware of 18 accidents and no injuries related to the camera issue.The agency said that vehicle owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the rear view camera inspected and replaced, if necessary. There will be no charge for the service.

Ford recalling vehicles due to rear view camera issue

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 23-year-old Kenneth Hutt,&nbsp;according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just before 11:30p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 8200 block of Bannister Road in Kansas City, Missouri on a shooting call.

On arrival officers were directed inside the business there where they located a Hutt unresponsive on the ground. Officers rendered aid to the victim and summoned EMS to the scene who declared the victim deceased.

Homicide detectives are investigating and canvassing for witnesses. Preliminary investigation indicates that Hutt entered the business shortly before the shooting and had an interaction with one or more additional patrons that were also inside the business. That interaction escalated to gunfire and Hutt was struck. There is no known suspect information at this time and no one is in custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757258826627.png" alt="Business where the fatal shooting occurred -photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Business where the fatal shooting occurred -photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 23-year-old Kenneth Hutt,&nbsp;according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.Just before 11:30p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 8200 block of Bannister Road in Kansas City, Missouri on a shooting call.On arrival officers were directed inside the business there where they located a Hutt unresponsive on the ground. Officers rendered aid to the victim and summoned EMS to the scene who declared the victim deceased.Homicide detectives are investigating and canvassing for witnesses. Preliminary investigation indicates that Hutt entered the business shortly before the shooting and had an interaction with one or more additional patrons that were also inside the business. That interaction escalated to gunfire and Hutt was struck. There is no known suspect information at this time and no one is in custody.

Police ID victim in Kansas City gas station killing

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Wichita have made two arrests.

Just before 4p.m. Sunday, police responded to reports of a shooting and found 62-year-old Terry Collins in the front yard of his home with a gunshot wound to the chest. Neighbors immediately began life-saving efforts until officers arrived. Sedgwick County EMS transported&nbsp; Collins to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

Investigators learned that Collins was involved in a confrontation with three people before a gun was fired. Witnesses reported seeing the suspects flee the area.

Officers deployed drones for aerial support, used a police K-9 team to track evidence and suspects, and relied on Flock camera technology to assist with locating the suspects. WPD’s Community Response Team and Community Policing Officers also responded to help with the investigation.

Detectives arrested a 20-year-old woman identified in booking records as Myna Renae Pitzer and and a 19-year-old man identified in booking records as Jahmarious Jalique Johnson in connection with the incident. A 14-year-old male suspect remains outstanding, and officers continue to search for him.

The community was instrumental in providing key information that helped officers and detectives move quickly to make arrests.

Pitzer and Johnson are being held on requested charges of first degree murder, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757415292340.png" alt="JOHNSON photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>JOHNSON photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Wichita have made two arrests.Just before 4p.m. Sunday, police responded to reports of a shooting and found 62-year-old Terry Collins in the front yard of his home with a gunshot wound to the chest. Neighbors immediately began life-saving efforts until officers arrived. Sedgwick County EMS transported&nbsp; Collins to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757414030998.png" alt="PITZER photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>PITZER photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators learned that Collins was involved in a confrontation with three people before a gun was fired. Witnesses reported seeing the suspects flee the area.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757327761418.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation on Sunday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation on Sunday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers deployed drones for aerial support, used a police K-9 team to track evidence and suspects, and relied on Flock camera technology to assist with locating the suspects. WPD’s Community Response Team and Community Policing Officers also responded to help with the investigation.Detectives arrested a 20-year-old woman identified in booking records as Myna Renae Pitzer and and a 19-year-old man identified in booking records as Jahmarious Jalique Johnson in connection with the incident. A 14-year-old male suspect remains outstanding, and officers continue to search for him.The community was instrumental in providing key information that helped officers and detectives move quickly to make arrests.Pitzer and Johnson are being held on requested charges of first degree murder, according to online jail records.

Neighbors help police ID, arrest suspects in Kan. man's killing

JOHNSON COUNTY— Police on Monday issued a distracted driving reminder.

According to Lenexa Police, they recently responded to a crash in which the driver of this vehicle was looking at their phone when they drove up the ramp and into the trailer of a lawn crew’s vehicle.

Fortunately, no one was hurt, but this could have easily been tragic.

 If you’re driving, put the phone down.No text, call, or notification is worth risking your life or someone else’s. Please stay focused and help keep our roads safe.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757373033950.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY— Police on Monday issued a distracted driving reminder.According to Lenexa Police, they recently responded to a crash in which the driver of this vehicle was looking at their phone when they drove up the ramp and into the trailer of a lawn crew’s vehicle.Fortunately, no one was hurt, but this could have easily been tragic.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757373055483.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> If you’re driving, put the phone down.No text, call, or notification is worth risking your life or someone else’s. Please stay focused and help keep our roads safe.

Police: Distracted Kan. drive into the trailer of lawn crew’s pickup

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-joint-chiefs-chairman-razin-caine-military-41b3faeaefd4d965dc22b15b0223ec58">Air Force Gen. Dan Caine</a>, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday for an unexpected visit as the U.S. steps up its military operations against drug cartels in the Caribbean.

Their arrival in the U.S. territory comes more than a week after ships carrying hundreds of U.S. Marines deployed to Puerto Rico for what officials said was a training exercise, a move that some on the island have criticized.

But on Monday night, Hegseth said in a video posted on X that the deployed Marines were “on the front lines of defending the American homeland.”

“Make no mistake about it, what you’re doing right now is not training. This is the real-world exercise on behalf of the vital national interest of the United States of America to end the poisoning of the American people,” he said while aboard the USS Iwo Jima.

Earlier in the day,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/puerto-rico-jenniffer-gonzalez-new-governor-sworn-84afbbfa537b23f35494df0127b20c2d">Puerto Rico's Gov. Jenniffer González</a>&nbsp;said Hegseth and Caine visited on behalf of President Donald Trump's administration to support those participating in the training.

“We thank President Trump and his administration for recognizing the strategic importance of Puerto Rico to U.S. national security and for their fight against drug cartels and the narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro,” González said.

Hegseth and Caine met with officials at the 156th Wing Muñiz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, a city just east of the capital of San Juan.

González said Hegseth spoke to nearly 300 soldiers at the base and thanked those he described as “American warriors” for their work. He later departed for the USS Iwo Jima.

“The American people are counting on you to ensure the American homeland is kept safe,” Hegseth told the Marines aboard the USS Iwo Jima. “Narco terrorists and drug traffickers are on notice.”

The visit comes as the U.S. prepares to deploy 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico for operations targeting drug cartels, a person familiar with the planning said Saturday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because information about the deployments has not been made public.

On Sept. 2, Trump announced that the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-strike-rubio-trump-0f901b2a30ee20e314bcab1385ffb0c0">carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean</a>&nbsp;against a vessel that had left Venezuela and was suspected of carrying drugs. Eleven people were killed in the rare U.S. military operation in the Caribbean, with the president saying the vessel was operated by the Venezuelan gang&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-strike-rubio-trump-0f901b2a30ee20e314bcab1385ffb0c0">Tren de Aragua</a>.

While the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trinidad-caribbean-us-strike-boat-drugs-f0529291209ffbf4162340df7860ba4c">praised the strike</a>&nbsp;and said the U.S. should kill all drug traffickers “violently,” reaction from other Caribbean leaders has been more subdued.

Barbadian Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds&nbsp;<a href="https://f0529291209ffbf4162340df7860ba4c/">recently told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;that members of Caricom, a regional trade bloc, sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking for an open line of communication on developments. He said they want to avoid being surprised by any U.S. moves against Venezuela.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s government on Monday insisted that the U.S. is falsely accusing it of playing a crucial role in the global drug trade. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez told reporters the U.S. government should redirect its recently deployed maritime force to the Pacific, where fast boats and container ships have long carried Colombian cocaine.

“Those ships that are trying to intimidate Venezuela today should be there in the Pacific if they truly wanted to fight and prevent cocaine from reaching the United States of America,” she said. “They have a GPS location problem. They’re where they shouldn’t be. They need to calibrate their GPS.”

Rodríguez, citing reports from the United Nations and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, added that Venezuela “has absolutely nothing to do with the deaths of (U.S.) citizens from drug overdoses” as the country “is not relevant” in global drug production.

She suggested the U.S. should focus on fighting consumption within its borders.

“There’s a lot of hypocrisy, a lot of double standards, a lot of political manipulation of this issue to attack, to intervene, to aim for regime change in countries that aren’t sympathetic,” she said, referring to drug trafficking.

The ongoing training of the Marines in Puerto Rico and the upcoming deployment of fighter jets have rankled some in the U.S. territory, where the memories of the U.S. Navy using nearby islands as training ranges for decades remains fresh,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-hiking-army-puerto-rico-bombings-816e653d04dc9e88599d37fdcb7da5d8">with the cleanup still ongoing</a>.

The April 1999 death of civilian security guard David Sanes Rodríguez sparked large protests at the time, eventually leading to the U.S. military leaving the island. Rodríguez was killed after two 500-pound (226-kilogram) bombs were dropped near him as part of a training mission in Vieques.

On Sunday, dozens of people gathered at the National Guard base in Carolina to decry the heightened U.S. military presence on the island.

They held signs that said, “No to War” and “No to military bases in P.R.”

Organizers also warned against the use of Puerto Rico as a staging ground for potential U.S. military actions in the region.

“We denounce the existence of military bases in Puerto Rico,” said Sonia Santiago Hernández, founder of Mothers Against War.

González has dismissed those concerns, saying that Puerto Rico is playing an important role in Trump's ongoing fight against drug trafficking since it represents a U.S. border in the Caribbean.

She also has noted that the ongoing training of Marines involves logistics exercises and no ammunition.

Siul López, a spokesman for Puerto Rico’s National Guard, told the AP that the Marines were practicing amphibious maneuvers with a variety of vehicles, adding that he did not know how many were on the island.

Meanwhile, González said last week that she estimates more than 1,000 Marines were in Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Marine Corps issued a statement on Aug. 31 noting that marines and sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit would be conducting amphibious training and flight operations in southern Puerto Rico.

“The challenging terrain and tropical climate of Puerto Rico provides an ideal environment for the 22nd MEU to conduct realistic amphibious training and hone specialized skills such as patrolling, reconnaissance and survival techniques, ensuring a high level of readiness while forward deployed,” the Marine Corps said in a statement.

It wasn’t immediately clear how long Hegseth and Caine planned to stay in Puerto Rico, or if they visited other sites while on the island.

López, the National Guard’s spokesman, declined to comment on specifics of the visit.

Associated Press reporter Will Weissert in Washington D.C., Regina García Cano in Caracas and AP videographer Alejandro Granadillo in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-joint-chiefs-chairman-razin-caine-military-41b3faeaefd4d965dc22b15b0223ec58">Air Force Gen. Dan Caine</a>, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday for an unexpected visit as the U.S. steps up its military operations against drug cartels in the Caribbean.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Welcome aboard the USS Iwo Jima <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> <a href="https://t.co/hx42HBSFez">pic.twitter.com/hx42HBSFez</a>&mdash; DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DOWResponse/status/1965133239158440203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">. <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SECWAR</a> aboard the USS Iwo Jima, addressing America’s WARRIORS: “What you’re doing right now is NOT training. This is a REAL-WORLD EXERCISE on behalf of the vital national interests of the United States of America—to end the POISONING of the American people.” <a href="https://t.co/euQHFPsIll">pic.twitter.com/euQHFPsIll</a>&mdash; DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DOWResponse/status/1965152057196957935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A message to our warfighters from the Secretary of War. <a href="https://t.co/UVbsvAuNmR">pic.twitter.com/UVbsvAuNmR</a>&mdash; Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/1965177415455682691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Their arrival in the U.S. territory comes more than a week after ships carrying hundreds of U.S. Marines deployed to Puerto Rico for what officials said was a training exercise, a move that some on the island have criticized.But on Monday night, Hegseth said in a video posted on X that the deployed Marines were “on the front lines of defending the American homeland.”“Make no mistake about it, what you’re doing right now is not training. This is the real-world exercise on behalf of the vital national interest of the United States of America to end the poisoning of the American people,” he said while aboard the USS Iwo Jima.Earlier in the day,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/puerto-rico-jenniffer-gonzalez-new-governor-sworn-84afbbfa537b23f35494df0127b20c2d">Puerto Rico's Gov. Jenniffer González</a>&nbsp;said Hegseth and Caine visited on behalf of President Donald Trump's administration to support those participating in the training.“We thank President Trump and his administration for recognizing the strategic importance of Puerto Rico to U.S. national security and for their fight against drug cartels and the narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro,” González said.Hegseth and Caine met with officials at the 156th Wing Muñiz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, a city just east of the capital of San Juan.González said Hegseth spoke to nearly 300 soldiers at the base and thanked those he described as “American warriors” for their work. He later departed for the USS Iwo Jima.“The American people are counting on you to ensure the American homeland is kept safe,” Hegseth told the Marines aboard the USS Iwo Jima. “Narco terrorists and drug traffickers are on notice.”The visit comes as the U.S. prepares to deploy 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico for operations targeting drug cartels, a person familiar with the planning said Saturday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because information about the deployments has not been made public.<h2>Tensions escalating</h2>On Sept. 2, Trump announced that the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-strike-rubio-trump-0f901b2a30ee20e314bcab1385ffb0c0">carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean</a>&nbsp;against a vessel that had left Venezuela and was suspected of carrying drugs. Eleven people were killed in the rare U.S. military operation in the Caribbean, with the president saying the vessel was operated by the Venezuelan gang&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-strike-rubio-trump-0f901b2a30ee20e314bcab1385ffb0c0">Tren de Aragua</a>.While the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trinidad-caribbean-us-strike-boat-drugs-f0529291209ffbf4162340df7860ba4c">praised the strike</a>&nbsp;and said the U.S. should kill all drug traffickers “violently,” reaction from other Caribbean leaders has been more subdued.Barbadian Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds&nbsp;<a href="https://f0529291209ffbf4162340df7860ba4c/">recently told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;that members of Caricom, a regional trade bloc, sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking for an open line of communication on developments. He said they want to avoid being surprised by any U.S. moves against Venezuela.Meanwhile, Venezuela’s government on Monday insisted that the U.S. is falsely accusing it of playing a crucial role in the global drug trade. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez told reporters the U.S. government should redirect its recently deployed maritime force to the Pacific, where fast boats and container ships have long carried Colombian cocaine.“Those ships that are trying to intimidate Venezuela today should be there in the Pacific if they truly wanted to fight and prevent cocaine from reaching the United States of America,” she said. “They have a GPS location problem. They’re where they shouldn’t be. They need to calibrate their GPS.”Rodríguez, citing reports from the United Nations and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, added that Venezuela “has absolutely nothing to do with the deaths of (U.S.) citizens from drug overdoses” as the country “is not relevant” in global drug production.She suggested the U.S. should focus on fighting consumption within its borders.“There’s a lot of hypocrisy, a lot of double standards, a lot of political manipulation of this issue to attack, to intervene, to aim for regime change in countries that aren’t sympathetic,” she said, referring to drug trafficking.<h2>‘No to War’</h2>The ongoing training of the Marines in Puerto Rico and the upcoming deployment of fighter jets have rankled some in the U.S. territory, where the memories of the U.S. Navy using nearby islands as training ranges for decades remains fresh,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-hiking-army-puerto-rico-bombings-816e653d04dc9e88599d37fdcb7da5d8">with the cleanup still ongoing</a>.The April 1999 death of civilian security guard David Sanes Rodríguez sparked large protests at the time, eventually leading to the U.S. military leaving the island. Rodríguez was killed after two 500-pound (226-kilogram) bombs were dropped near him as part of a training mission in Vieques.On Sunday, dozens of people gathered at the National Guard base in Carolina to decry the heightened U.S. military presence on the island.They held signs that said, “No to War” and “No to military bases in P.R.”Organizers also warned against the use of Puerto Rico as a staging ground for potential U.S. military actions in the region.“We denounce the existence of military bases in Puerto Rico,” said Sonia Santiago Hernández, founder of Mothers Against War.González has dismissed those concerns, saying that Puerto Rico is playing an important role in Trump's ongoing fight against drug trafficking since it represents a U.S. border in the Caribbean.She also has noted that the ongoing training of Marines involves logistics exercises and no ammunition.<h2>Marines in Puerto Rico</h2>Siul López, a spokesman for Puerto Rico’s National Guard, told the AP that the Marines were practicing amphibious maneuvers with a variety of vehicles, adding that he did not know how many were on the island.Meanwhile, González said last week that she estimates more than 1,000 Marines were in Puerto Rico.The U.S. Marine Corps issued a statement on Aug. 31 noting that marines and sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit would be conducting amphibious training and flight operations in southern Puerto Rico.“The challenging terrain and tropical climate of Puerto Rico provides an ideal environment for the 22nd MEU to conduct realistic amphibious training and hone specialized skills such as patrolling, reconnaissance and survival techniques, ensuring a high level of readiness while forward deployed,” the Marine Corps said in a statement.It wasn’t immediately clear how long Hegseth and Caine planned to stay in Puerto Rico, or if they visited other sites while on the island.López, the National Guard’s spokesman, declined to comment on specifics of the visit.___Associated Press reporter Will Weissert in Washington D.C., Regina García Cano in Caracas and AP videographer Alejandro Granadillo in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed.

 US steps up military operations in the Caribbean

FINNEY COUNTY: —A Garden City man’s fence-hopping escape plan fell flat after he was arrested for burglary over the weekend. 

Just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 1100 block of W. Campbell Street in Garden City for a reported burglary in progress, where a suspect broke into an apartment, stole property, and fled the scene, according to a media release from police.

The resident, who was not home at the time, witnessed the break-in remotely via a security camera and immediately called police. After arriving, Officers learned the suspect, identified as Victor Viurquez, 34, was actively jumping fences throughout the neighborhood to avoid being captured. 

After a brief search, Viurquez was located in a nearby alley and taken into custody. Viurquez is being held in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Burglary, multiple counts of Criminal Trespass, and multiple counts of Criminal Damage. No injuries were reported, and the Finney County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with the incident. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757358713405.png" alt="Viurquez" />
 <figcaption>Viurquez</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY: —A Garden City man’s fence-hopping escape plan fell flat after he was arrested for burglary over the weekend. Just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 1100 block of W. Campbell Street in Garden City for a reported burglary in progress, where a suspect broke into an apartment, stole property, and fled the scene, according to a media release from police.The resident, who was not home at the time, witnessed the break-in remotely via a security camera and immediately called police. After arriving, Officers learned the suspect, identified as Victor Viurquez, 34, was actively jumping fences throughout the neighborhood to avoid being captured. After a brief search, Viurquez was located in a nearby alley and taken into custody. Viurquez is being held in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Burglary, multiple counts of Criminal Trespass, and multiple counts of Criminal Damage. No injuries were reported, and the Finney County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with the incident.

SW Kan. homeowner watched burglary remotely via a security camera

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a weekend manhunt in northeast Kansas.

Just after noon on Sept. 5, a sheriff's&nbsp;deputy on routine patrol in the vicinity of U.S. 36&nbsp; near Bittersweet,&nbsp; was alerted of a stolen vehicle out of Wisconsin, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

The deputy attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle and a short chase ensued.&nbsp; The vehicle traveled southout of Fairview and&nbsp; ended up in a soybean field just east of the Sac andFox Casino on Coyote between 130th and 140th Road.&nbsp;

 At this point the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle Dustin Hampton 40 of Prairie DuChein, Wisconsin, ran from the vehicle.&nbsp;

Several tracking dogs were brought in and located Hampton approximately 3/4 mile east of where his original location. No injuries were reported and once Hampton was located, he complied without incident.

The vehicle Hampton was driving, a 1983 Datsun pickup, had been reported stolen out of Rice, Wisconsin. Hampton is in custody on requested charges of Possession of Stolen Property, Criminal Damage to Property, Felony Flee to Elude and Obstruction.

With the tall crops the search was very difficult and without&nbsp; a joint effort that included a Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter, other KHP troopers, Jackson County Sheriff deputies, Sabetha police, Hiawatha police, Horton police, Kickapoo and Sac and Fox police, Hiawatha Town and Country he may have eluded arrest.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757329643145.png" alt="Hampton-photo Brown County." />
 <figcaption>Hampton-photo Brown County.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a weekend manhunt in northeast Kansas.Just after noon on Sept. 5, a sheriff's&nbsp;deputy on routine patrol in the vicinity of U.S. 36&nbsp; near Bittersweet,&nbsp; was alerted of a stolen vehicle out of Wisconsin, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.The deputy attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle and a short chase ensued.&nbsp; The vehicle traveled southout of Fairview and&nbsp; ended up in a soybean field just east of the Sac andFox Casino on Coyote between 130th and 140th Road.&nbsp; At this point the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle Dustin Hampton 40 of Prairie DuChein, Wisconsin, ran from the vehicle.&nbsp;Several tracking dogs were brought in and located Hampton approximately 3/4 mile east of where his original location. No injuries were reported and once Hampton was located, he complied without incident.The vehicle Hampton was driving, a 1983 Datsun pickup, had been reported stolen out of Rice, Wisconsin. Hampton is in custody on requested charges of Possession of Stolen Property, Criminal Damage to Property, Felony Flee to Elude and Obstruction.With the tall crops the search was very difficult and without&nbsp; a joint effort that included a Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter, other KHP troopers, Jackson County Sheriff deputies, Sabetha police, Hiawatha police, Horton police, Kickapoo and Sac and Fox police, Hiawatha Town and Country he may have eluded arrest.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Sheriff: Pickup theft suspect captured hiding in tall Kansas crops

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/michelle-l-price">MICHELLE L. PRICE</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released on Monday a sexually suggestive letter to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;purportedly signed by President Donald Trump, which he has denied.

The letter was included as part of a 50th birthday album compiled in 2003 for Epstein, a wealthy and well-connected financier who was once a friend of Trump’s. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that said he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls.

Trump has said he did not write the letter or create the drawing of a curvaceous woman that surrounds the letter, and he filed a $10 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-justice-department-ece8a837f9bd179771f801a765e242e4">lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal</a>&nbsp;for earlier reporting on his link to the letter.

“As I have said all along, it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement posted on X. “President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation.”

White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich posted various pictures on X of Trump’s signature over the years and wrote, “it’s not his signature.”

The release of the drawing comes as the president has for months faced increasing pressure to force more disclosure in the case of Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6184561-Jeffrey-Epstein-indictment.html" target="_blank">was accused</a>&nbsp;of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them, while Maxwell was convicted of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by him.

It also once again puts a spotlight on Trump’s former friendship with Epstein, which the president has said ended two decades ago after a falling-out. Trump said recently that he cut ties with Epstein&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-congress-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-3ca45e130deb5f2eee8deff36d99734f">because he “stole” young women</a>&nbsp;— including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-roberts-giuffre-obit-778c4fdd6fac2522133ca3d79244bccd">Virginia Giuffre</a>, who was among Epstein’s most well-known sex trafficking accusers — who worked for the spa at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

The case against Epstein was brought more than a decade after he secretly cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida to dispose of nearly identical allegations. Trump had suggested during the presidential campaign that he’d seek to open the government’s files into Epstein, but much of what the government has released so far had already been out there.

Democrats on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-maxwell-congress-justice-department-trump-3e0d2146ce0cd0f6cecaab0198402ac7">House Oversight Committee</a>&nbsp;received a copy of the birthday album on Monday as part of a batch of documents from Epstein’s estate.

Trump has denied writing the letter and creating the drawing, calling The Wall Street Journal report on it “false, malicious, and defamatory.”

“These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures,” Trump said.

The letter released by the committee looks exactly as described by The Wall Street Journal in its report.

The letter bearing Trump’s name and what appears to be his signature includes text framed by a hand-drawn outline of a curvaceous woman.

“A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,” the letter says.

The letter’s disclosure comes amid a bipartisan push in Congress for the release of the so-called Epstein files amid years of speculation and conspiracy theories. Calls for the release of the records came from Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, before he was sworn into the country’s No. 2 position.

The Justice Department in August began turning over records from the Epstein sex trafficking investigation to the House Oversight Committee.

The committee subpoenaed the Epstein estate for documents last month. In addition to the birthday book, lawmakers requested Epstein’s last will and testament, agreements he signed with prosecutors, his contact books, and his financial transactions and holdings.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/michelle-l-price">MICHELLE L. PRICE</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released on Monday a sexually suggestive letter to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;purportedly signed by President Donald Trump, which he has denied.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨🚨HERE IT IS: We got Trump’s birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein that the President said doesn’t exist. Trump talks about a “wonderful secret” the two of them shared. What is he hiding? Release the files! <a href="https://t.co/k2Mq8Hu3LY">pic.twitter.com/k2Mq8Hu3LY</a>&mdash; Oversight Dems (@OversightDems) <a href="https://twitter.com/OversightDems/status/1965125560016994708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Time for <a href="https://twitter.com/newscorp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@newscorp</a> to open that checkbook, it’s not his signature. DEFAMATION! <a href="https://t.co/O6iKk4SYF5">https://t.co/O6iKk4SYF5</a> <a href="https://t.co/T0wlp36P9h">pic.twitter.com/T0wlp36P9h</a>&mdash; Taylor Budowich (@TayFromCA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TayFromCA/status/1965133529177878754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Donald Trump wrote a personalized note in Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday book. He’s spent all summer lying about its existence. We got a copy. Ranking Member <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRobertGarcia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepRobertGarcia</a> explains what we know and how we got here: <a href="https://t.co/PVbHaVWppw">pic.twitter.com/PVbHaVWppw</a>&mdash; Oversight Dems (@OversightDems) <a href="https://twitter.com/OversightDems/status/1965133235685298250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The letter was included as part of a 50th birthday album compiled in 2003 for Epstein, a wealthy and well-connected financier who was once a friend of Trump’s. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that said he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The latest piece published by the Wall Street Journal PROVES this entire “Birthday Card” story is false. As I have said all along, it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it. President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively…&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1965146390348398627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump has said he did not write the letter or create the drawing of a curvaceous woman that surrounds the letter, and he filed a $10 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-justice-department-ece8a837f9bd179771f801a765e242e4">lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal</a>&nbsp;for earlier reporting on his link to the letter.“As I have said all along, it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement posted on X. “President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation.”White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich posted various pictures on X of Trump’s signature over the years and wrote, “it’s not his signature.”The release of the drawing comes as the president has for months faced increasing pressure to force more disclosure in the case of Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6184561-Jeffrey-Epstein-indictment.html" target="_blank">was accused</a>&nbsp;of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them, while Maxwell was convicted of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by him.It also once again puts a spotlight on Trump’s former friendship with Epstein, which the president has said ended two decades ago after a falling-out. Trump said recently that he cut ties with Epstein&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-congress-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-3ca45e130deb5f2eee8deff36d99734f">because he “stole” young women</a>&nbsp;— including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-roberts-giuffre-obit-778c4fdd6fac2522133ca3d79244bccd">Virginia Giuffre</a>, who was among Epstein’s most well-known sex trafficking accusers — who worked for the spa at his Mar-a-Lago resort.The case against Epstein was brought more than a decade after he secretly cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida to dispose of nearly identical allegations. Trump had suggested during the presidential campaign that he’d seek to open the government’s files into Epstein, but much of what the government has released so far had already been out there.Democrats on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-maxwell-congress-justice-department-trump-3e0d2146ce0cd0f6cecaab0198402ac7">House Oversight Committee</a>&nbsp;received a copy of the birthday album on Monday as part of a batch of documents from Epstein’s estate.Trump has denied writing the letter and creating the drawing, calling The Wall Street Journal report on it “false, malicious, and defamatory.”“These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures,” Trump said.The letter released by the committee looks exactly as described by The Wall Street Journal in its report.The letter bearing Trump’s name and what appears to be his signature includes text framed by a hand-drawn outline of a curvaceous woman.“A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,” the letter says.The letter’s disclosure comes amid a bipartisan push in Congress for the release of the so-called Epstein files amid years of speculation and conspiracy theories. Calls for the release of the records came from Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, before he was sworn into the country’s No. 2 position.The Justice Department in August began turning over records from the Epstein sex trafficking investigation to the House Oversight Committee.The committee subpoenaed the Epstein estate for documents last month. In addition to the birthday book, lawmakers requested Epstein’s last will and testament, agreements he signed with prosecutors, his contact books, and his financial transactions and holdings.

Read the Trump note to Epstein that he denies signing released by Congress

SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan. – The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating a shooting that left 43-year-old Jesse Dean Rau of Haysville dead in the 7700 block of South Broadway near Haysville.

Just before 3 a.m. Sunday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received an automated crash detection alert from a mobile device in the area Haysville Police officers, along with Sedgwick County EMS and Fire District 1, responded and located an SUV that had crashed into a tree.

Inside the vehicle, first responders found Rau suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he later died. A female passenger sustained minor injuries from the crash.

Based on the preliminary investigation, detectives believe at least three individuals were inside the SUV when a disturbance occurred, during which Rau was shot by another occupant. The SUV then left the roadway and struck a tree. The suspected shooter ran from the scene to the west and remains at large.

The suspect is described as a white male in his mid-30s, last seen wearing black shorts and a tan puffy Carhartt jacket. He should be considered armed and dangerous.

The Sheriff’s Office has deployed multiple resources to identify and locate the individual responsible. Anyone with information is urged to call the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Investigations Division at 316-660-5300. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan. – The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating a shooting that left 43-year-old Jesse Dean Rau of Haysville dead in the 7700 block of South Broadway near Haysville.Just before 3 a.m. Sunday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received an automated crash detection alert from a mobile device in the area Haysville Police officers, along with Sedgwick County EMS and Fire District 1, responded and located an SUV that had crashed into a tree.Inside the vehicle, first responders found Rau suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he later died. A female passenger sustained minor injuries from the crash.Based on the preliminary investigation, detectives believe at least three individuals were inside the SUV when a disturbance occurred, during which Rau was shot by another occupant. The SUV then left the roadway and struck a tree. The suspected shooter ran from the scene to the west and remains at large.The suspect is described as a white male in his mid-30s, last seen wearing black shorts and a tan puffy Carhartt jacket. He should be considered armed and dangerous.The Sheriff’s Office has deployed multiple resources to identify and locate the individual responsible. Anyone with information is urged to call the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Investigations Division at 316-660-5300. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Sheriff IDs Kan. man in SUV crash who died from gunshot wounds

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon who admitted his role in a 2023 mass shooting at a nightclub in Wichita's Old Town that left 11 injured is going to prison.

On Friday, Judge Seth Rundle sentenced 29-year-old John Houze to 17 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In July Houze pleaded no contest to criminal possession of a weapon

&nbsp;The other charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

Just before 1a.m. July 2, 2023, police responded to the City Nightz Club in the 200 Block of North Washington in Wichita, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

There were nine people with gunshot wounds and two people were trampled during the mass exodus out of the club.&nbsp;&nbsp;No one was killed but one person was critically injured.&nbsp; Police originally arrested a Missouri man as a suspect.&nbsp;He was released from jail after the Sedgwick County District Attorney determined he was acting in self defense.

The investigation indicates there were at least four firearms discharged inside the club. Police&nbsp; also seized an additional four firearms as part of the investigation.

The shooting victims included a 21-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 24-year-old woman, 34-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 30-year-old man, 24-year-old man. The traumatic injury victims were a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, according to Moses. Two additional gunshot victims checked into the hospital later.

Eight days after the incident, police arrested Houze in the case.&nbsp; Houze has previous convictions for aggravated battery, fleeing law enforcement, criminal possession of a weapon and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

In December Judge David Dahl sentenced 25-year-old Jaylen Thomas of Wichita to 82 months in prison with 36 months post release for his role in the shooting, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.  The judge also ordered restitution to a City Nightz victim of $8,499.89, and $1,000 to City Nightz.

In June of 2024, co-defendant in the crime, 21-year-old Ameir King-Ingram was sentenced to just more than 4-years in prison.&nbsp;

Just before noon Monday police booked 27-year-old John D. Houze on requested charges of of aggravated battery and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, as well as a Kansas Department of Corrections warrant stemming from the shooting.

On Friday police booked 19-year-old Ameir King-Ingram in the case on requested charges that include two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Rebolledo.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A 31-year-old Missouri man arrested in the case on July 3, was released when the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office determined he fired a weapon in self defense.

Police continue&nbsp;&nbsp;asking the public for help to locate&nbsp;23-year-old Jaylen Thomas of Wichita for questioning in connection to the incident.

Just before 1a.m. July 2, police responded to the club in the 200 Block of North Washington, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

Police on the scene of the shooting investigation July 2, -photo courtesy KWCH

The shooting victims included a 21-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 24-year-old woman, 34-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 30-year-old man, 24-year-old man. The traumatic injury victims were a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, according to Moses. Two additional gunshot victims checked into the hospital later Sunday.

King-Ingram is being held on requested charges that include two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688300318332.png" alt="Police on the scene of the July 2023 investigation photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the July 2023 investigation photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon who admitted his role in a 2023 mass shooting at a nightclub in Wichita's Old Town that left 11 injured is going to prison.On Friday, Judge Seth Rundle sentenced 29-year-old John Houze to 17 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In July Houze pleaded no contest to criminal possession of a weapon<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689015131240.png" alt="Houze photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Houze photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;The other charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.Just before 1a.m. July 2, 2023, police responded to the City Nightz Club in the 200 Block of North Washington in Wichita, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.There were nine people with gunshot wounds and two people were trampled during the mass exodus out of the club.&nbsp;&nbsp;No one was killed but one person was critically injured.&nbsp; Police originally arrested a Missouri man as a suspect.&nbsp;He was released from jail after the Sedgwick County District Attorney determined he was acting in self defense.The investigation indicates there were at least four firearms discharged inside the club. Police&nbsp; also seized an additional four firearms as part of the investigation.The shooting victims included a 21-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 24-year-old woman, 34-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 30-year-old man, 24-year-old man. The traumatic injury victims were a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, according to Moses. Two additional gunshot victims checked into the hospital later.Eight days after the incident, police arrested Houze in the case.&nbsp; Houze has previous convictions for aggravated battery, fleeing law enforcement, criminal possession of a weapon and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.In December Judge David Dahl sentenced 25-year-old Jaylen Thomas of Wichita to 82 months in prison with 36 months post release for his role in the shooting, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office. The judge also ordered restitution to a City Nightz victim of $8,499.89, and $1,000 to City Nightz.In June of 2024, co-defendant in the crime, 21-year-old Ameir King-Ingram was sentenced to just more than 4-years in prison.&nbsp;Just before noon Monday police booked 27-year-old John D. Houze on requested charges of of aggravated battery and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, as well as a Kansas Department of Corrections warrant stemming from the shooting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688816302231.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>King-Ingram-photo Sedgwick Co.On Friday police booked 19-year-old Ameir King-Ingram in the case on requested charges that include two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Rebolledo.&nbsp;&nbsp;A 31-year-old Missouri man arrested in the case on July 3, was released when the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office determined he fired a weapon in self defense.Police continue&nbsp;&nbsp;asking the public for help to locate&nbsp;23-year-old Jaylen Thomas of Wichita for questioning in connection to the incident.ADVERTISING<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688849063007.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Thomas-photo Wichita PoliceJust before 1a.m. July 2, police responded to the club in the 200 Block of North Washington, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688300318332.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation July 2, -photo courtesy KWCHThere were nine people with gunshot wounds and two people were trampled during the mass exodus out of the club.&nbsp;&nbsp;No one was killed but one person was critically injured.&nbsp; Police originally arrested a Missouri man as a suspect.&nbsp;He was released from jail after the Sedgwick County District Attorney determined he was acting in self defense.The investigation indicates there were at least four firearms discharged inside the club. Police&nbsp; also seized an additional four firearms as part of the investigation.The shooting victims included a 21-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 24-year-old woman, 34-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 30-year-old man, 24-year-old man. The traumatic injury victims were a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, according to Moses. Two additional gunshot victims checked into the hospital later Sunday.King-Ingram is being held on requested charges that include two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Kan. felon going back to prison for role in night club mass shooting 

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department is attempting to identify the a suspect invoved in an aggravated assault that occurred in the area of E 23rd Street and Indiana Ave on August 4 at 11:38p.m.

Security camera images show someone in a sweatshirt and sweatpants with a plaid backpack and hat. Police released no additional informtion.

Anyone who can identify the suspect or provide information is asked to contact the Assault Squad at 816-234-5227 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757357790550.png" alt="Image KC Police" />
 <figcaption>Image KC Police</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas City Missouri Police Department is attempting to identify the a suspect invoved in an aggravated assault that occurred in the area of E 23rd Street and Indiana Ave on August 4 at 11:38p.m.Security camera images show someone in a sweatshirt and sweatpants with a plaid backpack and hat. Police released no additional informtion.Anyone who can identify the suspect or provide information is asked to contact the Assault Squad at 816-234-5227 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

KCPD asks for help to ID alleged aggravated assault suspect

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/makiya-seminera">MAKIYA SEMINERA</a> Associated Press

High school history teacher Katharina Matro often pulls materials from the Smithsonian Institution website as she assembles her lessons. She trusts its materials, which don’t require the same level of vetting as other online resources. She uses documents and other primary sources it curates for discussions of topics like genocide and slavery.

As the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/smithsonian-review-250th-anniversary-2e26f9555bb8d51c7c0f92edede1c866">White House presses for changes at the Smithsonian</a>, she’s worried she may not be able to rely on it in the same way.

“We don’t want a partisan history,” said Matro, a teacher in Bethesda, Maryland. “We want the history that’s produced by real historians.”

Far beyond museums in Washington, President Donald Trump’s review at the Smithsonian could influence how history is taught in classrooms around the country. The institution is a leading provider of curriculum and other educational materials, which are subject to the sweeping new assessment of all its public-facing content.

Trump is moving to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-smithsonian-american-history-slavery-impeachment-fe5b1a41a96e4c99249943c058e15196">bring the Smithsonian into alignment</a>&nbsp;with his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-american-history-mckinley-greenland-7e2b6f2e98e93f76fb2cbcad71f36c5d">vision of American history</a>. In a letter last month to the Smithsonian Institution, the White House said its review is meant to “assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals.” It’s part of Trump’s agenda to “celebrate American exceptionalism” by removing “divisive or partisan narratives,” it said.

Those opposed to the changes fear they will promote a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/smithsonian-trump-history-impeachment-b2b60d952d92df1a4a5233e0d60ecaa6">more sanitized version of American history.</a>

In celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary next year, the Education Department recently launched the White House’s Founders Museum in partnership with PragerU,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-teacher-test-ideology-california-new-york-1d08d0ef4e6e3dc71d8537601d8455e9">a conservative nonprofit</a>&nbsp;that produces videos on politics and history. Visitors to the museum in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, as well as the White House website, can read biographies on the signers of the Declaration of Independence and watch videos that depict them speaking.

“Real patriotic education means that just as our founders loved and honored America, so we should honor them,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prageru.com/videos/prageru-unveils-the-founders-museum-at-the-white-house?ref=404media.co&amp;showFilter=" target="_blank">PragerU video</a>&nbsp;introducing the project.

The project mentions some signers favoring abolition and includes Phillis Wheatley, an enslaved woman who became the first published Black female poet in the U.S. But critics say it brushes over some of the nation’s darker past.

“Those are the kinds of things that teachers are really leery of because they don’t see partisanship in the sources that we’re using as being good educational practice,” said Tina Ellsworth, president of the National Council for the Social Studies.

History teachers use supplemental resources over textbooks

Like many other history teachers, Matro said she turns to materials from the Smithsonian because she doesn’t have the time to create lessons from scratch or the budget to buy the latest books. She favors the museum’s digitized collections to guide her classes.

“I don’t have to figure out ‘is this real? Is this not real?’ I can trust the descriptions of the artifact,” she said.

More than 80% of history teachers report using free resources from federal museums, archives and institutions including the Smithsonian, according to an American Historical Association survey last year.

The federal institutions’ materials have been widely trusted partly because they are thoroughly examined by professionals, said Brendan Gillis, the historical association’s director of teaching and learning. Some teachers have out-of-date history textbooks, and online resources from institutions like the Smithsonian can fill the gaps, he said.

“That’s been one of the most influential and profoundly important ways that the federal government has invested in social studies education over the last couple of decades,” Gillis said.

While education always has been part of the Smithsonian’s mission, developing materials specifically for classrooms became more prevalent after World War II, said William Walker, a State University of New York, Oneonta, professor who has researched the Smithsonian’s history. The museum organizes professional development workshops for teachers and offers materials ranging from worksheets to videos.

Russell Jeung, an Asian-American studies professor at San Francisco State University and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, took part in a Smithsonian video series in 2020 meant to educate high schoolers and adults on racism and discrimination against Asians during the COVID-19 pandemic and other points in American history.

Jeung said he expects the project will be shelved by the White House review.

“I think the story will be told,” Jeung said. “But the tragedy again and the loss is that we won’t get the national recognition that we deserve.”

In recent years, many states have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-business-education-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-cc00d3bfecc7c286a268998b50533d17">passed laws</a>&nbsp;adopting guidelines on how schools can address topics including racism, sexism and other topics. And professional groups say teachers will continue to adapt and find resources to put historical events in due context, regardless of what happens at the Smithsonian.

“Education is always political, so we know that as social studies teachers, it’s our job to navigate that terrain, which we do and we do well,” Ellsworth said.

Educators worry students will be turned off on history

Michael Heiman, a longtime social studies teacher in Juneau, Alaska, said he typically had his students do a scavenger hunt of artifacts in a virtual Smithsonian tour.

He said the exhibits always have been culturally inclusive and if that changes, he worries it would affect students of color he’s taught, including Native American children. It could discourage them from pursuing careers in museum sciences or engaging with history at all, he said.

“We are further quieting voices that are important to our country,” Heiman said. “We are also restricting certain kids in those underrepresented populations to really understand more about their past.”

About a decade ago, graduate students of history professor Sam Redman at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, had the opportunity to collaborate with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History for a blog series commemorating the Americans with Disabilities Act. The exercise connected objects in the Smithsonian collection to the civil rights law. The experience for his students was “really incredible,” he said.

Each year, he’s heard students say they want to get a job in the federal government or work at the Smithsonian after graduation. But not this year. Redman said he hasn’t heard a single student express interest.

“This is a pressing concern, no doubt about it,” he said.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725669343205.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/makiya-seminera">MAKIYA SEMINERA</a> Associated PressHigh school history teacher Katharina Matro often pulls materials from the Smithsonian Institution website as she assembles her lessons. She trusts its materials, which don’t require the same level of vetting as other online resources. She uses documents and other primary sources it curates for discussions of topics like genocide and slavery.As the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/smithsonian-review-250th-anniversary-2e26f9555bb8d51c7c0f92edede1c866">White House presses for changes at the Smithsonian</a>, she’s worried she may not be able to rely on it in the same way.“We don’t want a partisan history,” said Matro, a teacher in Bethesda, Maryland. “We want the history that’s produced by real historians.”Far beyond museums in Washington, President Donald Trump’s review at the Smithsonian could influence how history is taught in classrooms around the country. The institution is a leading provider of curriculum and other educational materials, which are subject to the sweeping new assessment of all its public-facing content.Trump is moving to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-smithsonian-american-history-slavery-impeachment-fe5b1a41a96e4c99249943c058e15196">bring the Smithsonian into alignment</a>&nbsp;with his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-american-history-mckinley-greenland-7e2b6f2e98e93f76fb2cbcad71f36c5d">vision of American history</a>. In a letter last month to the Smithsonian Institution, the White House said its review is meant to “assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals.” It’s part of Trump’s agenda to “celebrate American exceptionalism” by removing “divisive or partisan narratives,” it said.Those opposed to the changes fear they will promote a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/smithsonian-trump-history-impeachment-b2b60d952d92df1a4a5233e0d60ecaa6">more sanitized version of American history.</a>In celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary next year, the Education Department recently launched the White House’s Founders Museum in partnership with PragerU,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-teacher-test-ideology-california-new-york-1d08d0ef4e6e3dc71d8537601d8455e9">a conservative nonprofit</a>&nbsp;that produces videos on politics and history. Visitors to the museum in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, as well as the White House website, can read biographies on the signers of the Declaration of Independence and watch videos that depict them speaking.“Real patriotic education means that just as our founders loved and honored America, so we should honor them,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prageru.com/videos/prageru-unveils-the-founders-museum-at-the-white-house?ref=404media.co&amp;showFilter=" target="_blank">PragerU video</a>&nbsp;introducing the project.The project mentions some signers favoring abolition and includes Phillis Wheatley, an enslaved woman who became the first published Black female poet in the U.S. But critics say it brushes over some of the nation’s darker past.“Those are the kinds of things that teachers are really leery of because they don’t see partisanship in the sources that we’re using as being good educational practice,” said Tina Ellsworth, president of the National Council for the Social Studies.<h2>History teachers use supplemental resources over textbooks</h2>Like many other history teachers, Matro said she turns to materials from the Smithsonian because she doesn’t have the time to create lessons from scratch or the budget to buy the latest books. She favors the museum’s digitized collections to guide her classes.“I don’t have to figure out ‘is this real? Is this not real?’ I can trust the descriptions of the artifact,” she said.More than 80% of history teachers report using free resources from federal museums, archives and institutions including the Smithsonian, according to an American Historical Association survey last year.The federal institutions’ materials have been widely trusted partly because they are thoroughly examined by professionals, said Brendan Gillis, the historical association’s director of teaching and learning. Some teachers have out-of-date history textbooks, and online resources from institutions like the Smithsonian can fill the gaps, he said.“That’s been one of the most influential and profoundly important ways that the federal government has invested in social studies education over the last couple of decades,” Gillis said.While education always has been part of the Smithsonian’s mission, developing materials specifically for classrooms became more prevalent after World War II, said William Walker, a State University of New York, Oneonta, professor who has researched the Smithsonian’s history. The museum organizes professional development workshops for teachers and offers materials ranging from worksheets to videos.Russell Jeung, an Asian-American studies professor at San Francisco State University and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, took part in a Smithsonian video series in 2020 meant to educate high schoolers and adults on racism and discrimination against Asians during the COVID-19 pandemic and other points in American history.Jeung said he expects the project will be shelved by the White House review.“I think the story will be told,” Jeung said. “But the tragedy again and the loss is that we won’t get the national recognition that we deserve.”In recent years, many states have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-business-education-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-cc00d3bfecc7c286a268998b50533d17">passed laws</a>&nbsp;adopting guidelines on how schools can address topics including racism, sexism and other topics. And professional groups say teachers will continue to adapt and find resources to put historical events in due context, regardless of what happens at the Smithsonian.“Education is always political, so we know that as social studies teachers, it’s our job to navigate that terrain, which we do and we do well,” Ellsworth said.<h2>Educators worry students will be turned off on history</h2>Michael Heiman, a longtime social studies teacher in Juneau, Alaska, said he typically had his students do a scavenger hunt of artifacts in a virtual Smithsonian tour.He said the exhibits always have been culturally inclusive and if that changes, he worries it would affect students of color he’s taught, including Native American children. It could discourage them from pursuing careers in museum sciences or engaging with history at all, he said.“We are further quieting voices that are important to our country,” Heiman said. “We are also restricting certain kids in those underrepresented populations to really understand more about their past.”About a decade ago, graduate students of history professor Sam Redman at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, had the opportunity to collaborate with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History for a blog series commemorating the Americans with Disabilities Act. The exercise connected objects in the Smithsonian collection to the civil rights law. The experience for his students was “really incredible,” he said.Each year, he’s heard students say they want to get a job in the federal government or work at the Smithsonian after graduation. But not this year. Redman said he hasn’t heard a single student express interest.“This is a pressing concern, no doubt about it,” he said.——The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

White House’s review of Smithsonian content could reach into classrooms nationwide

CLOUD COUNTY —Two juveniles are hospitalized in critical condition after they were burned at a bonfire in Concordia.

Just before 10p.m. Saturday, police heard a loud noice and screaming, according to a media release from Concordia Police. As officers were attempting to located the screaming, police dispatch received a 911 call from the 400 Block of West 5th Street reporting two juveniles who were severely burned.

First responders located the two juveniles consistent with the 911 report of burn injuries. Concordia Fire Department responded and transported the juveniles to North Central Kansas Medical Center for treatment of critical injuries. They were later transferred to a burn unit at a level one trauma hospital. Both were still reported in critical condition on Monday, according to police.

Investigators determined the juveniles were pouring accelerant on a bonfire. The fire traveled up the stream of the accelerant and caused the explosion. Police did not release the names of the victims.

CLOUD COUNTY —Two juveniles are hospitalized in critical condition after they were burned at a bonfire in Concordia.Just before 10p.m. Saturday, police heard a loud noice and screaming, according to a media release from Concordia Police. As officers were attempting to located the screaming, police dispatch received a 911 call from the 400 Block of West 5th Street reporting two juveniles who were severely burned.First responders located the two juveniles consistent with the 911 report of burn injuries. Concordia Fire Department responded and transported the juveniles to North Central Kansas Medical Center for treatment of critical injuries. They were later transferred to a burn unit at a level one trauma hospital. Both were still reported in critical condition on Monday, according to police.Investigators determined the juveniles were pouring accelerant on a bonfire. The fire traveled up the stream of the accelerant and caused the explosion. Police did not release the names of the victims.

2 juveniles critically burned at bonfire in north central Kansas

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-defamation-trial-e4ea8b93cdeb29857864ffd8d14be888">civil jury's finding</a>&nbsp;that President Donald Trump must pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for his repeated social media attacks against the longtime advice columnist after she accused him of sexual assault.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706306535436.png" alt="File photo - E. Jean Carroll E. leaves court in New York City after a jury awarded her $83.3 million in damages in her defamation suit against former President Donald Trump.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo - E. Jean Carroll E. leaves court in New York City after a jury awarded her $83.3 million in damages in her defamation suit against former President Donald Trump.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-defamation-trial-e4ea8b93cdeb29857864ffd8d14be888">civil jury's finding</a>&nbsp;that President Donald Trump must pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for his repeated social media attacks against the longtime advice columnist after she accused him of sexual assault.In a ruling issued Monday, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trump's appeal of the defamation award, finding that the “jury's damages awards are fair and reasonable.”Trump had argued that he should not have to pay the sum as a result of a Supreme Court decision expanding presidential immunity. His lawyers had asked for a new trial.A civil jury in Manhattan issued the $88.3 million award last year following a trial that centered on Trump’s repeated social media attacks against Carroll over her claims that he sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store in 1996.That award followed a separate trial, in which Trump was found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-carroll-trial-fe68259a4b98bb3947d42af9ec83d7db">liable for sexually abusing Carroll</a>&nbsp;and ordered to pay $5 million. That award was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-lawsuit-defamation-trial-78e4196024539653a6de492312770ff2">upheld</a>&nbsp;by an appeals court last December.In a memoir, and again at a 2023 trial, Carroll described how a chance encounter with Trump at Bergdorf Goodman’s Fifth Avenue in 1996 started with the two flirting as they shopped, then ended with a violent struggle inside a dressing room.Carroll said Trump slammed her against a dressing room wall, pulled down her tights and forced himself on her.A jury found Trump liable for sexual assault, but concluded he hadn’t committed rape, as defined under New York law.Trump repeatedly denied that the encounter took place and accused Carroll of making it up to help sell her book.He also said that Carroll was “not my type.”The 2023 jury awarded Carroll $5 million to compensate her for both the alleged attack and statements Trump made denying that it had happened.After that first verdict, the court held a second trial with a new jury for the purpose of deciding damages for additional statements Trump made attacking Carroll’s character and truthfulness.Trump had skipped the first civil trial but he attended the second, which took place as he was running for president in 2024. Speaking to reporters throughout the trial, Trump portrayed the lawsuit as part of a broader effort to smear him and prevent him from regaining the White House.His lawyers complained that the judge, in setting rules for the second, damages trial, had barred Trump and his defense team from claiming in front of the jury that he was innocent of the attack. The judge ruled that that issue had been settled by the first jury and didn’t need to be revisited.