FORT HANCOCK, Texas (AP) — The U.S. military used a laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection drone, members of Congress said Thursday, and the Federal Aviation Administration responded by closing more airspace near El Paso, Texas.

It's not clear why the laser was deployed but it's the second time in two weeks that one has been fired in the area.

The earlier laser firing did not hit a target. It was done by the CBP near Fort Bliss, about 50 miles northwest, and prompted the FAA to shut down air traffic at El Paso airport and the surrounding area. This time, the closure was smaller and commercial flights not affected.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and several other top Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee said they were stunned when notified of the latest incident.

“Our heads are exploding over the news,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. They criticized the Trump administration for “sidestepping” a bipartisan bill to train drone operators and improve communication among the Pentagon, FAA and Department of Homeland Security.

"Now, we’re seeing the result of its incompetence,” they said.

The Defense and Transportation departments referred questions to the FAA, which said in a brief statement that it had expanded the airspace closure around Fort Hancock. Border Protection did not immediately respond to questions.

The El Paso shutdown two weeks ago lasted only a few hours but it raised alarm and led to a number of flight cancellations in the city of nearly 700,000 people not far from the Mexican border.

In that case, an anti-drone laser was deployed by CBP near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA, which then decided to close the El Paso airspace to ensure commercial air safety, according to sources familiar with what happened who weren’t authorized to discuss it.

Afterward, members of Congress said it appeared to be another example of dysfunction within the government with different agencies failing to coordinate with each other.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he was planning to brief members of Congress sometime this week about what happened. He said at an unrelated news conference last Friday that it wasn’t a mistake for the FAA to close the airspace in El Paso and that he doesn’t think it was a communication issue that led to the problems.

The investigation into last year’s midair collision near Washington, D.C., between an airliner and Army helicopter that killed 67 people highlighted how the FAA and Pentagon were not always working well together.

FORT HANCOCK, Texas (AP) — The U.S. military used a laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection drone, members of Congress said Thursday, and the Federal Aviation Administration responded by closing more airspace near El Paso, Texas.It's not clear why the laser was deployed but it's the second time in two weeks that one has been fired in the area.The earlier laser firing did not hit a target. It was done by the CBP near Fort Bliss, about 50 miles northwest, and prompted the FAA to shut down air traffic at El Paso airport and the surrounding area. This time, the closure was smaller and commercial flights not affected.U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and several other top Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee said they were stunned when notified of the latest incident.“Our heads are exploding over the news,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. They criticized the Trump administration for “sidestepping” a bipartisan bill to train drone operators and improve communication among the Pentagon, FAA and Department of Homeland Security."Now, we’re seeing the result of its incompetence,” they said.The Defense and Transportation departments referred questions to the FAA, which said in a brief statement that it had expanded the airspace closure around Fort Hancock. Border Protection did not immediately respond to questions.The El Paso shutdown two weeks ago lasted only a few hours but it raised alarm and led to a number of flight cancellations in the city of nearly 700,000 people not far from the Mexican border.In that case, an anti-drone laser was deployed by CBP near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA, which then decided to close the El Paso airspace to ensure commercial air safety, according to sources familiar with what happened who weren’t authorized to discuss it.Afterward, members of Congress said it appeared to be another example of dysfunction within the government with different agencies failing to coordinate with each other.Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he was planning to brief members of Congress sometime this week about what happened. He said at an unrelated news conference last Friday that it wasn’t a mistake for the FAA to close the airspace in El Paso and that he doesn’t think it was a communication issue that led to the problems.The investigation into last year’s midair collision near Washington, D.C., between an airliner and Army helicopter that killed 67 people highlighted how the FAA and Pentagon were not always working well together.

Lawmakers say US military used laser to take down Border Protection drone

CLAY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Clay County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Kia Optima driven by a 21-year-old Kansas City, Missouri woman was northbound on Interstate 35 near the 435 interchange. The car struck a person who entered the road. The pedestrian, later identified as a 40-year-old Bates City man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

CLAY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Clay County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Kia Optima driven by a 21-year-old Kansas City, Missouri woman was northbound on Interstate 35 near the 435 interchange. The car struck a person who entered the road. The pedestrian, later identified as a 40-year-old Bates City man, was pronounced dead at the scene.The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

Man dead after struck by a car near Kansas City

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas city man faces multiple felony charges&nbsp;in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred during an attempted home invasion in 2024.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2814/Perkins-Redacted-Complaint">Sheldon Perkins</a>, 34,&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Felony Murder, 1st Degree Attempted Robbery, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, 1st Degree Burglary, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2815/Perkins-Redacted-PC">According to court records</a>, Kansas City detectives determined Perekins allegedly recruited two other men, including his brother, to help him rob the occupants of a Kansas City residence on August 26, 2024. The three men forced their way into the home, where an altercation ensued with one of the occupants of the residence.&nbsp;

During the struggle, a firearm belonging to one of the intruders became loose. The second occupant of the home picked up the firearm and fired at the men. The gunfire killed one of the intruders and injured the other two, including the defendant, who fled the scene and checked into a nearby hospital.&nbsp;

The occupant who fired the shots called 911 to report the attempted robbery and shooting.

When Kansas City police arrived at the residence, they found one victim outside the home with gunshot wounds to the back. He was transported to a nearby hospital and determined to be paralyzed as a result of the shooting. Inside the residence, officers found a second victim who was deceased.&nbsp;

DNA testing of the firearms recovered at the crime scene found the Perkin’s DNA on two of the firearms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772120101060.png" alt="Perkins photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Perkins photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas city man faces multiple felony charges&nbsp;in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred during an attempted home invasion in 2024.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2814/Perkins-Redacted-Complaint">Sheldon Perkins</a>, 34,&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Felony Murder, 1st Degree Attempted Robbery, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, 1st Degree Burglary, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2815/Perkins-Redacted-PC">According to court records</a>, Kansas City detectives determined Perekins allegedly recruited two other men, including his brother, to help him rob the occupants of a Kansas City residence on August 26, 2024. The three men forced their way into the home, where an altercation ensued with one of the occupants of the residence.&nbsp;During the struggle, a firearm belonging to one of the intruders became loose. The second occupant of the home picked up the firearm and fired at the men. The gunfire killed one of the intruders and injured the other two, including the defendant, who fled the scene and checked into a nearby hospital.&nbsp;The occupant who fired the shots called 911 to report the attempted robbery and shooting.When Kansas City police arrived at the residence, they found one victim outside the home with gunshot wounds to the back. He was transported to a nearby hospital and determined to be paralyzed as a result of the shooting. Inside the residence, officers found a second victim who was deceased.&nbsp;DNA testing of the firearms recovered at the crime scene found the Perkin’s DNA on two of the firearms.

Suspect was wounded in failed KC home-invasion robbery

WYANDOTTE COUNTY- A man wanted for murder in Denver remains behind bars in Kansas, after a multi-agency traffic stop.

Just after noon, Feb. 20, The FBI and Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department's Special Operations Unit and Violent Crimes Task Force conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from KCK Police.

During the stop, police arrested 20-year-old Yeanbraiker Yriarte-Valera who&nbsp;was a passenger inside the vehicle.

Yriarte-Valera is being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on&nbsp;a first-degree murder charge from Denver and a separate hold from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772105519803.png" alt="Yriarte-Valera photo Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>Yriarte-Valera photo Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY- A man wanted for murder in Denver remains behind bars in Kansas, after a multi-agency traffic stop.Just after noon, Feb. 20, The FBI and Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department's Special Operations Unit and Violent Crimes Task Force conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from KCK Police.During the stop, police arrested 20-year-old Yeanbraiker Yriarte-Valera who&nbsp;was a passenger inside the vehicle.Yriarte-Valera is being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on&nbsp;a first-degree murder charge from Denver and a separate hold from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to online jail records.

Murder suspect captured in Kansas also wanted by ICE

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday rejected a preservationist group’s request to block the Trump administration from continuing construction of a $400 million ballroom where it demolished the East Wing of the White House.

<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.47.0.pdf">U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled</a>&nbsp;that the National Trust for Historic Preservation was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its bid to temporarily halt President Donald Trump’s project. He said the privately funded group based its challenge on a "ragtag group of theories" under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution, and would have a better chance of success if it amended the lawsuit.

“Unfortunately, because both sides initially focused on the President’s constitutional authority to destruct and construct the East Wing of the White House, Plaintiff didn’t bring the necessary cause of action to test the statutory authority the President claims is the basis to do this construction project without the blessing of Congress and with private funds,” the judge wrote.

The preservationists sought an order pausing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-ballroom-57512e0d91432f75529946fddfbfe2c5">ballroom project</a>&nbsp;until it undergoes multiple independent reviews and wins approval from Congress.

Trump used his social media account to hail the ruling as “Great news for America.” The Republican president said the project was ahead of schedule and under budget and "will stand long into the future as a symbol to the Greatness of America.”

Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation said the group was “disappointed" that no injunction was issued but “pleased that Judge Leon ruled that the National Trust has standing to bring this lawsuit, as we have asserted from the start.”

“We are also pleased that he encouraged us to amend our complaint — specifically, to assert that the president has acted beyond his statutory authority — and we plan to do so promptly,” Quillen said in a statement. “The judge indicated he will rule expeditiously once we do so, and we will await his decision.”

The White House announced the ballroom project over the summer. By late October, the Republican president had demolished the East Wing to make way for a ballroom that he said will fit 999 people. The White House said private donations, including from Trump himself, would pay for the planned construction of a 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom.

Trump proceeded with the project before seeking input from a pair of federal review panels, the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts. Trump has stocked both commission with allies.

The arts panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-ballroom-commission-fine-arts-f2a15d0b1c9c95f24816fe60b6b1ee5f">approved the project</a>&nbsp;at a meeting last week. The planning commission is set to discuss it further at a March 5 meeting.

During a preliminary hearing in December, Leon warned the administration to refrain from making decisions on underground work, such as the routing of plumbing and gas lines, that would dictate the scope of future ballroom construction above ground.

The group challenging the project argued that Trump could be emboldened to go further — and possibly demolish the White House’s West Wing or Executive Mansion — if the court did not intervene.

“The losers will be (the) American public, who will be left with a massive ballroom that not only overwhelms what is perhaps the nation’s most historically important building, but will have been built in violation of an astonishingly wide range of laws,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.33.0.pdf">plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote</a>.

The administration said in a court filing that above-ground construction on the ballroom would not begin until April. In the meantime,&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.14.0_2.pdf">government lawyers argued</a>, the preservationist group’s challenge was premature because the building plans were not final.

The administration also argued that other presidents did not need congressional approval for previous White House renovation projects, large and small.

“Many of those projects were highly controversial in their time yet have since become accepted—even beloved—parts of the White House,” government lawyers wrote.

Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, said the White House office behind the project is not an agency covered under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Procedure Act. The judge also said the preservationists, who argued that the ballroom usurped the authority of Congress, did not have the basis to invoke the power of the courts.

As a result, “I cannot reach the merits of the National Trust’s novel and weighty statutory arguments” at this time, Leon said.

Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771522704150.png" alt="White House photo" />
 <figcaption>White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday rejected a preservationist group’s request to block the Trump administration from continuing construction of a $400 million ballroom where it demolished the East Wing of the White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/W18hXCkCgW">pic.twitter.com/W18hXCkCgW</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2027087614168179145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.47.0.pdf">U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled</a>&nbsp;that the National Trust for Historic Preservation was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its bid to temporarily halt President Donald Trump’s project. He said the privately funded group based its challenge on a "ragtag group of theories" under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution, and would have a better chance of success if it amended the lawsuit.“Unfortunately, because both sides initially focused on the President’s constitutional authority to destruct and construct the East Wing of the White House, Plaintiff didn’t bring the necessary cause of action to test the statutory authority the President claims is the basis to do this construction project without the blessing of Congress and with private funds,” the judge wrote.The preservationists sought an order pausing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-ballroom-57512e0d91432f75529946fddfbfe2c5">ballroom project</a>&nbsp;until it undergoes multiple independent reviews and wins approval from Congress.Trump used his social media account to hail the ruling as “Great news for America.” The Republican president said the project was ahead of schedule and under budget and "will stand long into the future as a symbol to the Greatness of America.”Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation said the group was “disappointed" that no injunction was issued but “pleased that Judge Leon ruled that the National Trust has standing to bring this lawsuit, as we have asserted from the start.”“We are also pleased that he encouraged us to amend our complaint — specifically, to assert that the president has acted beyond his statutory authority — and we plan to do so promptly,” Quillen said in a statement. “The judge indicated he will rule expeditiously once we do so, and we will await his decision.”The White House announced the ballroom project over the summer. By late October, the Republican president had demolished the East Wing to make way for a ballroom that he said will fit 999 people. The White House said private donations, including from Trump himself, would pay for the planned construction of a 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom.Trump proceeded with the project before seeking input from a pair of federal review panels, the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts. Trump has stocked both commission with allies.The arts panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-ballroom-commission-fine-arts-f2a15d0b1c9c95f24816fe60b6b1ee5f">approved the project</a>&nbsp;at a meeting last week. The planning commission is set to discuss it further at a March 5 meeting.During a preliminary hearing in December, Leon warned the administration to refrain from making decisions on underground work, such as the routing of plumbing and gas lines, that would dictate the scope of future ballroom construction above ground.The group challenging the project argued that Trump could be emboldened to go further — and possibly demolish the White House’s West Wing or Executive Mansion — if the court did not intervene.“The losers will be (the) American public, who will be left with a massive ballroom that not only overwhelms what is perhaps the nation’s most historically important building, but will have been built in violation of an astonishingly wide range of laws,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.33.0.pdf">plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote</a>.The administration said in a court filing that above-ground construction on the ballroom would not begin until April. In the meantime,&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.14.0_2.pdf">government lawyers argued</a>, the preservationist group’s challenge was premature because the building plans were not final.The administration also argued that other presidents did not need congressional approval for previous White House renovation projects, large and small.“Many of those projects were highly controversial in their time yet have since become accepted—even beloved—parts of the White House,” government lawyers wrote.Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, said the White House office behind the project is not an agency covered under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Procedure Act. The judge also said the preservationists, who argued that the ballroom usurped the authority of Congress, did not have the basis to invoke the power of the courts.As a result, “I cannot reach the merits of the National Trust’s novel and weighty statutory arguments” at this time, Leon said.___Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report.

Trump responds to judge's decision on $400 million ballroom project

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA —&nbsp;FIFA World Cup games will go around-the-clock, but under current law the alcoholic drinks in Kansas will stop before the final whistle.&nbsp;

A proposed Senate bill would change that.

Proponents are worried that fans will cross the border to Missouri, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/sports/world-cup/where-kansas-city-area-cities-stand-on-23-hour-alcohol-sales-during-world-cup-in-missouri" target="_blank">already passed</a>&nbsp;legislation to extend liquor sales to 23 hours of the day.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sen. Adam Thomas, a Republican from Olathe with decades of restaurant experience, modeled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb393/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 393</a>&nbsp;after Missouri’s law.&nbsp;

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime deal. The reason this was brought is because as we know, last year Missouri already passed this,” Thomas said. “As we know, KCK is not that far from the state line.”

The bill would authorize bars, restaurants and liquor stores to sell liquor from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. for the duration of the World Cup, which is predicted to bring&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-disaster-declaration-prepares-state-for-world-cup-visitor-boom/">650,000 visitors</a>&nbsp;this summer. Thomas said the one-hour window is to give restaurant staff time to recoup.&nbsp;

The proposed change is a jump from current&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/abcsaledays.html#:~:text=When%20Can%20Alcoholic%20Liquor%20and%20Cereal%20Malt,more%20restrictive%20hours%20via%20ordinance%20or%20resolution" target="_blank">liquor sale hours</a>. Under current law, liquor stores can generally sell from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. with various restrictions on the weekends, and bars from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.&nbsp;

Kansas will be the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/news/kansas-city-selected-by-four-national-teams-for-base-camps-emerging-as-the-base-camp-capital-of-the-fifa-world-cup-2026tm" target="_blank">home base</a>&nbsp;for two teams: Argentina at Kansas City’s Sporting KC Training Center, and Algeria at Lawrence’s Rock Chalk Park. Missouri will have two teams as well, with England at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Netherlands at Riverside’s KC Current Training Facility.&nbsp;

Janez Lomshek, who owns bars and grills in Johnson County, testified on behalf of the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association. Lomshek said he already has invested tens of thousands of dollars in renovations in anticipation.&nbsp;

“Our current alcohol sales hour restrictions risk preventing us from fully accommodating this international moment,” Lomshek said in his written testimony. “A meaningful share of visitor spending — especially during late-night or early morning games due to global scheduling — could easily cross State Line Road into Missouri.”

“With a full one-third of Kansas alcohol licensees located within 10 miles of the Missouri border, and about 26.4% in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties alone (including businesses like mine), this cross-border diversion represents a real threat to local revenue,” he added.

Sen. Ron Ryckman, R-Meade, said he is apprehensive about changing the drinking hours for the whole state, including his southwest Kansas district — far away from the World Cup action.

“I’m not excited about people in southwest Kansas drinking till 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning,” Ryckman said. “We know the problem that alcohol causes there, and I know you do too.”

Thomas said the bill wouldn’t force businesses to be open late, just give them the option.&nbsp;

“We’re not mandating that anybody do this,” Thomas said. “ We’re simply opening the door for folks, that right now instead of staying open till 2 a.m., have that couple of extra hours to sell.”

There was no neutral or opposition testimony for the bill, but Sen. Kenny Titus, R-Manhattan, brought up the security needs associated with late-night and early-morning drinking. Lomshek said his bars and grills would have extra staff on board, and their kitchens would stay open later.

Sen. Stephen Owens, a Republican from Hesston, asked Thomas a joking question: “Nothing good happens after midnight. What good is going to happen after midnight here?”

“We’re already open till 2 right now,” Thomas replied. “So I would argue if nothing good happens after midnight the difference between 2 and 5 is — not much is going to change.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772132095539.png" alt="Sen. Adam Thomas, R-Olathe, has introduced a bill extending Kansas drinking hours during the World Cup tournament. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Adam Thomas, R-Olathe, has introduced a bill extending Kansas drinking hours during the World Cup tournament. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA —&nbsp;FIFA World Cup games will go around-the-clock, but under current law the alcoholic drinks in Kansas will stop before the final whistle.&nbsp;A proposed Senate bill would change that.Proponents are worried that fans will cross the border to Missouri, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/sports/world-cup/where-kansas-city-area-cities-stand-on-23-hour-alcohol-sales-during-world-cup-in-missouri" target="_blank">already passed</a>&nbsp;legislation to extend liquor sales to 23 hours of the day.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sen. Adam Thomas, a Republican from Olathe with decades of restaurant experience, modeled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb393/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 393</a>&nbsp;after Missouri’s law.&nbsp;“This is a once-in-a-lifetime deal. The reason this was brought is because as we know, last year Missouri already passed this,” Thomas said. “As we know, KCK is not that far from the state line.”The bill would authorize bars, restaurants and liquor stores to sell liquor from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. for the duration of the World Cup, which is predicted to bring&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-disaster-declaration-prepares-state-for-world-cup-visitor-boom/">650,000 visitors</a>&nbsp;this summer. Thomas said the one-hour window is to give restaurant staff time to recoup.&nbsp;The proposed change is a jump from current&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/abcsaledays.html#:~:text=When%20Can%20Alcoholic%20Liquor%20and%20Cereal%20Malt,more%20restrictive%20hours%20via%20ordinance%20or%20resolution" target="_blank">liquor sale hours</a>. Under current law, liquor stores can generally sell from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. with various restrictions on the weekends, and bars from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.&nbsp;Kansas will be the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/news/kansas-city-selected-by-four-national-teams-for-base-camps-emerging-as-the-base-camp-capital-of-the-fifa-world-cup-2026tm" target="_blank">home base</a>&nbsp;for two teams: Argentina at Kansas City’s Sporting KC Training Center, and Algeria at Lawrence’s Rock Chalk Park. Missouri will have two teams as well, with England at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Netherlands at Riverside’s KC Current Training Facility.&nbsp;Janez Lomshek, who owns bars and grills in Johnson County, testified on behalf of the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association. Lomshek said he already has invested tens of thousands of dollars in renovations in anticipation.&nbsp;“Our current alcohol sales hour restrictions risk preventing us from fully accommodating this international moment,” Lomshek said in his written testimony. “A meaningful share of visitor spending — especially during late-night or early morning games due to global scheduling — could easily cross State Line Road into Missouri.”“With a full one-third of Kansas alcohol licensees located within 10 miles of the Missouri border, and about 26.4% in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties alone (including businesses like mine), this cross-border diversion represents a real threat to local revenue,” he added.Sen. Ron Ryckman, R-Meade, said he is apprehensive about changing the drinking hours for the whole state, including his southwest Kansas district — far away from the World Cup action.“I’m not excited about people in southwest Kansas drinking till 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning,” Ryckman said. “We know the problem that alcohol causes there, and I know you do too.”Thomas said the bill wouldn’t force businesses to be open late, just give them the option.&nbsp;“We’re not mandating that anybody do this,” Thomas said. “ We’re simply opening the door for folks, that right now instead of staying open till 2 a.m., have that couple of extra hours to sell.”There was no neutral or opposition testimony for the bill, but Sen. Kenny Titus, R-Manhattan, brought up the security needs associated with late-night and early-morning drinking. Lomshek said his bars and grills would have extra staff on board, and their kitchens would stay open later.Sen. Stephen Owens, a Republican from Hesston, asked Thomas a joking question: “Nothing good happens after midnight. What good is going to happen after midnight here?”“We’re already open till 2 right now,” Thomas replied. “So I would argue if nothing good happens after midnight the difference between 2 and 5 is — not much is going to change.”

Senate bill would uncork round-the-clock drinking in Kansas during FIFA World Cup

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating more credit card skimmers on gas pumps in Salina.

On Wednesday afternoon, police made contact with employees of Flying J Travel Center, 2250 N. Ohio in Salina in reference to finding two more skimmers on two diesel pumps, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.

The employees reported after finding the initial two skimmers Tuesday they had checked the pumps and had not located any others. 

Prior to calling they checked the pumps and located two new skimmers. The business checked their security cameras and observed a white dually pickup pull up to both pumps for a short amount of time before leaving. 

The vehicle was at the pumps between 4:30 AM and 4:45 AM on the morning Wednesday.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772040372270.png" alt="Photo Salina Police Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo Salina Police Department</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating more credit card skimmers on gas pumps in Salina.On Wednesday afternoon, police made contact with employees of Flying J Travel Center, 2250 N. Ohio in Salina in reference to finding two more skimmers on two diesel pumps, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.The employees reported after finding the initial two skimmers Tuesday they had checked the pumps and had not located any others. Prior to calling they checked the pumps and located two new skimmers. The business checked their security cameras and observed a white dually pickup pull up to both pumps for a short amount of time before leaving. The vehicle was at the pumps between 4:30 AM and 4:45 AM on the morning Wednesday.&nbsp;

More credit card skimmers found in central Kansas

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran– a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry – today applauded the removal of the lesser prairie-chicken from the&nbsp;Endangered Species Act&nbsp;(ESA) list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), following a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas:

“The removal of the lesser prairie‑chicken from the endangered and threatened species list is a major win for Kansas farmers, ranchers and rural communities. For years, Kansas producers have worked to protect the bird’s habitat through voluntary, locally‑driven conservation efforts, but the listing’s burdensome federal regulations put severe strain on many Kansas industries.&nbsp;I have worked to oppose the listing of the lesser prairie-chicken for more than a decade, and I applaud today’s decision to remove the listing and continue to support local efforts to promote voluntary solutions that will protect the bird’s habitat without placing unnecessary burdens on our agricultural community.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681935383708.jpeg" alt="Photo by Cristina Janney" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Cristina Janney</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Senator Jerry MoranWASHINGTON&nbsp;– Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran– a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry – today applauded the removal of the lesser prairie-chicken from the&nbsp;Endangered Species Act&nbsp;(ESA) list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), following a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas:“The removal of the lesser prairie‑chicken from the endangered and threatened species list is a major win for Kansas farmers, ranchers and rural communities. For years, Kansas producers have worked to protect the bird’s habitat through voluntary, locally‑driven conservation efforts, but the listing’s burdensome federal regulations put severe strain on many Kansas industries.&nbsp;I have worked to oppose the listing of the lesser prairie-chicken for more than a decade, and I applaud today’s decision to remove the listing and continue to support local efforts to promote voluntary solutions that will protect the bird’s habitat without placing unnecessary burdens on our agricultural community.”

Kan. U.S. Senator applauds removal of prairie-chicken from ESA list

SEATTLE (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hilary-knight">Hilary Knight</a>&nbsp;doesn’t want to let what she called a “distasteful” joke by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-canada-womens-hockey-olympic-final-141b5904352673676656cbe2a1c253e5">gold-medal winning</a>&nbsp;U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team get in the way of a historic performance by American women across all sports at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">Milan Cortina Games</a>.

“I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate,” Knight said on Wednesday alongside fellow Olympians Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes at the Seattle Space Needle ahead of their return to play for the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. “And, I think just the way women are represented, it’s a great teaching point and really shines light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats.”

Knight, a two-time gold medalist whose 15 goals and 33 points in Olympic competition are the most by a U.S. hockey player at the Games, said she’s not focusing on an offhand comment by Trump after the American men topped Canada for gold in overtime on Sunday.

Talking on a speakerphone in the postgame locker room, Trump extended an invitation to the White House to the men’s team, then added, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.” The president later joked that if he didn’t extend the invitation, he would probably be impeached.

While the vast majority of the men’s team flew to Washington on Tuesday and visited Trump in the White House before being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-union-hockey-olympics-trump-89fff7bdec947251ff926e09ac24d4e4">guests at the State of the Union</a>, many of the women’s players were on the way back to their professional or college clubs.

USA Hockey, which said it was “honored” by the invitation, cited logistical issues as the major hurdle that prevented the women’s team from stopping by the White House. The team was originally scheduled to fly commercially into New York on Monday, but was forced to reroute through Atlanta due to a snowstorm in the Northeast.

Several players were going to stick around New York for promotional purposes, even ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Those scheduled appearances had to be canceled because of flight changes.

Knight lamented that the video — which included several players laughing after Trump’s comments — took on a life of its own and didn’t convey the true nature of the relationship between the men’s and women’s US hockey programs.

“The men’s and the women’s team did it together,” Knight said. “And, that’s super special. It’s never been done in our program’s history. It’s something we’re extremely proud about. But these women are amazing. And whatever’s going on should never outshine or minimize their work and our success on the world stage.”

Kelly Pannek, a forward on the women’s team, told reporters “the video is what it is” but added it was a “special feeling” spending time with the men’s team after they won the first Olympic gold for the U.S. in 46 years. Pannek believes there is mutual respect and support on both sides.

Goaltender Jeremy Swayman told reporters in Boston after returning to practice with the Bruins that the men “should have reacted differently” to Trump’s remarks.

“To share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for,” Swayman said. “And now that we’re home we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support we have from the USA and share this incredible gold medal.”

Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal in overtime for the U.S., also said the moment did not reflect the views of the men’s team.

“You’re in the moment and the president calls. We’re blaring the music. It is what it is,” Hughes said Wednesday night after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sabres-devils-score-0eb145127b212254164b4d837c11204d">his first game back</a>&nbsp;with the New Jersey Devils. “We have so much respect for the women’s team and they have so much respect for us. We are all just proud Americans.”

The earliest the U.S. women could make a White House visit would be in late spring after the conclusion of the PWHL season.

The U.S. won 12 gold medals in Milan Cortina, with women playing a hand in eight of them. The women’s hockey team outscored opponents 33-2 on its way to the top of the podium.

“This was the best American women’s hockey team, the best American team we’ve ever put together on the world stage when the lights have been the brightest ever,” Knight said. “And so, I think everybody felt that going through the tournament. And, I want to celebrate. I want people to be remembered for that. I want the legacy of this team to be remembered.”

AP freelancer Everett Merrill in Newark, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771816710692.png" alt="Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>SEATTLE (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hilary-knight">Hilary Knight</a>&nbsp;doesn’t want to let what she called a “distasteful” joke by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-canada-womens-hockey-olympic-final-141b5904352673676656cbe2a1c253e5">gold-medal winning</a>&nbsp;U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team get in the way of a historic performance by American women across all sports at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">Milan Cortina Games</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Trump invited both the men&#39;s and women&#39;s U.S. Olympic ice <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hockey?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hockey</a> teams to the White House. In a phone call with the men&#39;s team, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trump?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Trump</a> joked that he only invited the women to avoid impeachment if he didn&#39;t. After that, the women&#39;s declined his invitation. <a href="https://t.co/7gm7rusKTl">pic.twitter.com/7gm7rusKTl</a>&mdash; Mina (@Mina696645851) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mina696645851/status/2026455099149615199?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate,” Knight said on Wednesday alongside fellow Olympians Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes at the Seattle Space Needle ahead of their return to play for the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. “And, I think just the way women are represented, it’s a great teaching point and really shines light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats.”Knight, a two-time gold medalist whose 15 goals and 33 points in Olympic competition are the most by a U.S. hockey player at the Games, said she’s not focusing on an offhand comment by Trump after the American men topped Canada for gold in overtime on Sunday.Talking on a speakerphone in the postgame locker room, Trump extended an invitation to the White House to the men’s team, then added, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.” The president later joked that if he didn’t extend the invitation, he would probably be impeached.While the vast majority of the men’s team flew to Washington on Tuesday and visited Trump in the White House before being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-union-hockey-olympics-trump-89fff7bdec947251ff926e09ac24d4e4">guests at the State of the Union</a>, many of the women’s players were on the way back to their professional or college clubs.USA Hockey, which said it was “honored” by the invitation, cited logistical issues as the major hurdle that prevented the women’s team from stopping by the White House. The team was originally scheduled to fly commercially into New York on Monday, but was forced to reroute through Atlanta due to a snowstorm in the Northeast.Several players were going to stick around New York for promotional purposes, even ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Those scheduled appearances had to be canceled because of flight changes.Knight lamented that the video — which included several players laughing after Trump’s comments — took on a life of its own and didn’t convey the true nature of the relationship between the men’s and women’s US hockey programs.“The men’s and the women’s team did it together,” Knight said. “And, that’s super special. It’s never been done in our program’s history. It’s something we’re extremely proud about. But these women are amazing. And whatever’s going on should never outshine or minimize their work and our success on the world stage.”Kelly Pannek, a forward on the women’s team, told reporters “the video is what it is” but added it was a “special feeling” spending time with the men’s team after they won the first Olympic gold for the U.S. in 46 years. Pannek believes there is mutual respect and support on both sides.Goaltender Jeremy Swayman told reporters in Boston after returning to practice with the Bruins that the men “should have reacted differently” to Trump’s remarks.“To share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for,” Swayman said. “And now that we’re home we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support we have from the USA and share this incredible gold medal.”Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal in overtime for the U.S., also said the moment did not reflect the views of the men’s team.“You’re in the moment and the president calls. We’re blaring the music. It is what it is,” Hughes said Wednesday night after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sabres-devils-score-0eb145127b212254164b4d837c11204d">his first game back</a>&nbsp;with the New Jersey Devils. “We have so much respect for the women’s team and they have so much respect for us. We are all just proud Americans.”The earliest the U.S. women could make a White House visit would be in late spring after the conclusion of the PWHL season.The U.S. won 12 gold medals in Milan Cortina, with women playing a hand in eight of them. The women’s hockey team outscored opponents 33-2 on its way to the top of the podium.“This was the best American women’s hockey team, the best American team we’ve ever put together on the world stage when the lights have been the brightest ever,” Knight said. “And so, I think everybody felt that going through the tournament. And, I want to celebrate. I want people to be remembered for that. I want the legacy of this team to be remembered.”___AP freelancer Everett Merrill in Newark, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

Women's Olympic hockey star: President's call to men's team 'distasteful' 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in a fatal shooting at an American Legion Hall in Wichita is scheduled to return to court Thursday..

Darrell E. Buckner, Jr., 52, will attend a hearing in the courtroom of Judge Tyler Roush in an attempt to have the one-million dollar bond reduced, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

He is charged with First degree murder and aggravated battery in connection with the killing at the American Legion in Wichita.

Just before 7:30p.m. October 11, police responded to a report of a shooting inside the American Legion, 1135 North Hydraulic in Wichita, according t a media release.&nbsp; First responders found 55-year-old Anthony Grayson from Wichita unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 7:55 p.m.

A second victim, a 56-year-old man, arrived at a hospital by private vehicle with a gunshot wound to the torso.&nbsp;

Investigators confirmed that the suspect, identified as Buckner, and Grayson were involved in a fight inside the bar. Buckner then left, retrieved a firearm from his vehicle, and returned. Employees attempted to prevent him from reentering, but he pushed past them and went back inside, where another fight broke out. During the altercation, Buckner fired the gun, striking Grayson and the second victim, who was attempting to intervene.

Buckner was taken into custody at the scene and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier this month, a preliminary hearing for Buckner was delayed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760102689111.png" alt="Buckner-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Buckner-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in a fatal shooting at an American Legion Hall in Wichita is scheduled to return to court Thursday..Darrell E. Buckner, Jr., 52, will attend a hearing in the courtroom of Judge Tyler Roush in an attempt to have the one-million dollar bond reduced, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.He is charged with First degree murder and aggravated battery in connection with the killing at the American Legion in Wichita.Just before 7:30p.m. October 11, police responded to a report of a shooting inside the American Legion, 1135 North Hydraulic in Wichita, according t a media release.&nbsp; First responders found 55-year-old Anthony Grayson from Wichita unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 7:55 p.m.A second victim, a 56-year-old man, arrived at a hospital by private vehicle with a gunshot wound to the torso.&nbsp;Investigators confirmed that the suspect, identified as Buckner, and Grayson were involved in a fight inside the bar. Buckner then left, retrieved a firearm from his vehicle, and returned. Employees attempted to prevent him from reentering, but he pushed past them and went back inside, where another fight broke out. During the altercation, Buckner fired the gun, striking Grayson and the second victim, who was attempting to intervene.Buckner was taken into custody at the scene and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier this month, a preliminary hearing for Buckner was delayed.

Suspect in Kan. American Legion killing returns to court

By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writer

Instagram said Thursday it will start alerting parents if their kids repeatedly search for terms clearly associated with suicide or self-harm. The alerts will only go to parents who are enrolled in Instagram’s parental supervision program.

Instagram says it already blocks such content from showing up in teen accounts’ search results and directs people to helplines instead.

The announcement comes as Meta is in the midst of two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-trials-meta-zuckerberg-youtube-tiktok-addiction-85c4d813c42845aeb3f913ec8f2f3e86">trials over harms to children</a>. A trial underway in Los Angeles questions whether Meta’s platforms&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-trial-testimony-instagram-c8cbaa32ccbf4933ec3a7beebd6cf34b">deliberately addict and harm</a>&nbsp;minors. Another, in New Mexico, seeks to determine whether Meta failed to protect kids from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-new-mexico-child-exploitation-trial-19195fc680dba782fb971d68082e11a4">sexual exploitation on its platforms</a>. Thousands of families — along with school districts and government entities — have sued Meta and other social media companies claiming they deliberately design their platforms to be addictive and fail to protect kids from content that can lead to depression, eating disorders and suicide.

Meta executives including CEO Mark Zuckerberg have disputed that the platforms cause addiction. During questioning by the plaintiff’s lawyer, in Los Angeles, Zuckerberg said he still agrees with a previous statement he made that the existing body of scientific work has not proved that social media causes mental health harms.

The alerts will be sent via email, text or WhatsApp, depending on the parent's contact information available, as well as a notification through the parent's Instagram account.

“Our goal is to empower parents to step in if their teen’s searches suggest they may need support. We also want to avoid sending these notifications unnecessarily, which, if done too much, could make the notifications less useful overall,” Meta said in a blog post.

Meta said it is also working on similar notifications to parents about their kids' interactions with artificial intelligence.

“These will notify parents if a teen attempts to engage in certain types of conversations related to suicide or self-harm with our AI,” Meta said. “This is important work and we’ll have more to share in the coming months.”

By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology WriterInstagram said Thursday it will start alerting parents if their kids repeatedly search for terms clearly associated with suicide or self-harm. The alerts will only go to parents who are enrolled in Instagram’s parental supervision program.Instagram says it already blocks such content from showing up in teen accounts’ search results and directs people to helplines instead.The announcement comes as Meta is in the midst of two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-trials-meta-zuckerberg-youtube-tiktok-addiction-85c4d813c42845aeb3f913ec8f2f3e86">trials over harms to children</a>. A trial underway in Los Angeles questions whether Meta’s platforms&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-trial-testimony-instagram-c8cbaa32ccbf4933ec3a7beebd6cf34b">deliberately addict and harm</a>&nbsp;minors. Another, in New Mexico, seeks to determine whether Meta failed to protect kids from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-new-mexico-child-exploitation-trial-19195fc680dba782fb971d68082e11a4">sexual exploitation on its platforms</a>. Thousands of families — along with school districts and government entities — have sued Meta and other social media companies claiming they deliberately design their platforms to be addictive and fail to protect kids from content that can lead to depression, eating disorders and suicide.Meta executives including CEO Mark Zuckerberg have disputed that the platforms cause addiction. During questioning by the plaintiff’s lawyer, in Los Angeles, Zuckerberg said he still agrees with a previous statement he made that the existing body of scientific work has not proved that social media causes mental health harms.The alerts will be sent via email, text or WhatsApp, depending on the parent's contact information available, as well as a notification through the parent's Instagram account.“Our goal is to empower parents to step in if their teen’s searches suggest they may need support. We also want to avoid sending these notifications unnecessarily, which, if done too much, could make the notifications less useful overall,” Meta said in a blog post.Meta said it is also working on similar notifications to parents about their kids' interactions with artificial intelligence.“These will notify parents if a teen attempts to engage in certain types of conversations related to suicide or self-harm with our AI,” Meta said. “This is important work and we’ll have more to share in the coming months.”

Instagram to send parents teens' search alerts

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged with murder for the fatal shooting of a teenage girl late last year in Independence, Missouri.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2813/Phillips-COMP">Eric R. Phillips II</a>, 28,&nbsp;faces 1st Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Abandonment of a Corpse, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2812/PhillipsEric---PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police received a call on November 28, 2025, reporting that an 18-year-old victim had been shot multiple times in a vehicle at a location in Independence earlier that morning. Detectives began using investigative leads to locate the vehicle.&nbsp;

Due to the circumstances, the victim was entered as a missing person in Independence.&nbsp;

Through multiple witness reports and surveillance footage, detectives identified Phillips as the shooter. Detectives determined he shot the victim multiple times while she was in the back of his vehicle in the early morning hours of Nov. 28.&nbsp; Ring camera footage captured the sound of gunshots coming from the location of his vehicle where it had been reported the shooting had occurred, and Phillips was seen in video footage multiple times carrying a firearm.&nbsp;

On November 29, police found the victim deceased in Kansas City. Phillips' cell phone pinged in the area where the victim’s body was located.

A Jackson County judge set Phillips’s bond at $350,000 cash only.&nbsp;

Prosecutors charged the defendant on December 3, 2025, under seal. The case has been unsealed this week.

Phillips is not yet in custody and law enforcement are working to locate him. If you have any information about his whereabouts, please contact police or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers over the phone: 816-474-8477 or online at kccrimestoppers.com.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged with murder for the fatal shooting of a teenage girl late last year in Independence, Missouri.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2813/Phillips-COMP">Eric R. Phillips II</a>, 28,&nbsp;faces 1st Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Abandonment of a Corpse, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772119544094.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2812/PhillipsEric---PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police received a call on November 28, 2025, reporting that an 18-year-old victim had been shot multiple times in a vehicle at a location in Independence earlier that morning. Detectives began using investigative leads to locate the vehicle.&nbsp;Due to the circumstances, the victim was entered as a missing person in Independence.&nbsp;Through multiple witness reports and surveillance footage, detectives identified Phillips as the shooter. Detectives determined he shot the victim multiple times while she was in the back of his vehicle in the early morning hours of Nov. 28.&nbsp; Ring camera footage captured the sound of gunshots coming from the location of his vehicle where it had been reported the shooting had occurred, and Phillips was seen in video footage multiple times carrying a firearm.&nbsp;On November 29, police found the victim deceased in Kansas City. Phillips' cell phone pinged in the area where the victim’s body was located.A Jackson County judge set Phillips’s bond at $350,000 cash only.&nbsp;Prosecutors charged the defendant on December 3, 2025, under seal. The case has been unsealed this week.Phillips is not yet in custody and law enforcement are working to locate him. If you have any information about his whereabouts, please contact police or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers over the phone: 816-474-8477 or online at kccrimestoppers.com.&nbsp;

Wanted suspect charged in fatal shooting of Kansas City girl

House cuts $60M in revenue sharing, makes it easy for dissenters to stop increases

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 — The Kansas House voted Wednesday to alter significant provisions of a bipartisan property tax reform bill granting the public a direct voice in decisions by local government to raise property taxes more than 3% annually.

The House agreed to an amendment lowering by half the signature threshold on protest petitions used to block a city or county from exceeding the cap. The House also passed an amendment deleting a $60 million state fund to compensate local units of government that held annual growth in property taxes under the cap. The revised bill advanced on a vote of 87-22.

Rep. Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican and chair of the House Taxation Committee, said the committee’s version of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2745/" target="_blank">House Bill 2745</a>&nbsp;respected the necessity of local units of government to secure operating revenue that tracked with inflation.

He said the objective of the bill was to require cities or counties to more aggressively lower mill levies whenever property valuations surged.

“This is really the heart of the problem,” Smith said. “As assessed valuations rise, the mill levy doesn’t go down enough.”

Smith said it was important the 2026 Legislature take action to curb outlandish increases in property taxes at the local level. Exceptions to the bill’s cap would be made for economic development programs, abatements, annexations, new construction projects or changes in land use. In addition, the bill wouldn’t apply the lid to public school districts.

Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, convinced House colleagues to adopt the amendment deleting $60 million in state appropriations to reward local units of government for avoiding property tax increases higher than 3%. She expressed appreciation for the House committee’s work to pressure local government to control tax increases and spending, but argued the state “cannot afford” the $60 million appropriation. The bill would have attached a 2% annual inflation adjustment for the fund.

Williams and other House Republicans said the GOP-controlled Legislature was annually spending $500 million or $600 million more each year than was raised in state tax revenue.

“Every $60 million we approve here is $60 million not available for core state obligations, tax relief or reserve stability,” Williams said.

The House bill would have earmarked new state aid to local governments for public services, including roads and bridges, law enforcement, elections, public health and other services mandated by state law.

Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, said the state could afford to use some of its $2 billion rainy-day fund to bring about tax relief through local units of government. She also encouraged city and county officials in Johnson County to appreciate some legislators in Topeka were convinced the original draft of the bill was overly generous to local governments.

“I just want you to get a bit of a reality check here and see that we have colleagues that even think this is too much,” she said.

Rep. Troy Waymaster, a Bunker Hill Republican and chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said he didn’t appreciate the $60 million property tax relief account nor the idea of drawing down the state’s emergency fund.

“That fund was not created to backfill spending regardless if its something for social services or property taxes,” Waymaster said.

The House also accepted an amendment proposed by Rep. Shannon Francis, R-Liberal, to lower the bar for voters to advance petitions to thwart annual property tax increases greater than 3%.

Under the revised bill, 5% of the number of a taxing jurisdiction’s voters who participated in the previous election would have to sign a protest petition to block a property tax increase above the cap. The original version of the bill set that signature requirement at 10% of voters in a previous election.

Francis said the reason for the adjustment was Seward County’s decision to adopt a 41% increase in property taxes for 2026.

“My community is honestly the poster child for why we have to do something,” he said. “The people in my community felt betrayed. They felt like they had no voice.”

Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita, said the 10% threshold should be restored. He said a 5% petition requirement would make it too easy for a fraction of voters to undermine tax increases to complete projects supported by the public. The 5% threshold would make it especially challenging for smaller communities to finance priority projects with property tax revenue, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772068633885.png" alt=" Rep. Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican and chairman of the House Taxation Committee, says the Legislature needs to take action to slow annual increases in city or county property taxes. In this image, Smith addresses House colleagues on April 10, 2025. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican and chairman of the House Taxation Committee, says the Legislature needs to take action to slow annual increases in city or county property taxes. In this image, Smith addresses House colleagues on April 10, 2025. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>House cuts $60M in revenue sharing, makes it easy for dissenters to stop increases</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 — The Kansas House voted Wednesday to alter significant provisions of a bipartisan property tax reform bill granting the public a direct voice in decisions by local government to raise property taxes more than 3% annually.The House agreed to an amendment lowering by half the signature threshold on protest petitions used to block a city or county from exceeding the cap. The House also passed an amendment deleting a $60 million state fund to compensate local units of government that held annual growth in property taxes under the cap. The revised bill advanced on a vote of 87-22.Rep. Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican and chair of the House Taxation Committee, said the committee’s version of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2745/" target="_blank">House Bill 2745</a>&nbsp;respected the necessity of local units of government to secure operating revenue that tracked with inflation.He said the objective of the bill was to require cities or counties to more aggressively lower mill levies whenever property valuations surged.“This is really the heart of the problem,” Smith said. “As assessed valuations rise, the mill levy doesn’t go down enough.”Smith said it was important the 2026 Legislature take action to curb outlandish increases in property taxes at the local level. Exceptions to the bill’s cap would be made for economic development programs, abatements, annexations, new construction projects or changes in land use. In addition, the bill wouldn’t apply the lid to public school districts.Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, convinced House colleagues to adopt the amendment deleting $60 million in state appropriations to reward local units of government for avoiding property tax increases higher than 3%. She expressed appreciation for the House committee’s work to pressure local government to control tax increases and spending, but argued the state “cannot afford” the $60 million appropriation. The bill would have attached a 2% annual inflation adjustment for the fund.Williams and other House Republicans said the GOP-controlled Legislature was annually spending $500 million or $600 million more each year than was raised in state tax revenue.“Every $60 million we approve here is $60 million not available for core state obligations, tax relief or reserve stability,” Williams said.The House bill would have earmarked new state aid to local governments for public services, including roads and bridges, law enforcement, elections, public health and other services mandated by state law.Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, said the state could afford to use some of its $2 billion rainy-day fund to bring about tax relief through local units of government. She also encouraged city and county officials in Johnson County to appreciate some legislators in Topeka were convinced the original draft of the bill was overly generous to local governments.“I just want you to get a bit of a reality check here and see that we have colleagues that even think this is too much,” she said.Rep. Troy Waymaster, a Bunker Hill Republican and chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said he didn’t appreciate the $60 million property tax relief account nor the idea of drawing down the state’s emergency fund.“That fund was not created to backfill spending regardless if its something for social services or property taxes,” Waymaster said.The House also accepted an amendment proposed by Rep. Shannon Francis, R-Liberal, to lower the bar for voters to advance petitions to thwart annual property tax increases greater than 3%.Under the revised bill, 5% of the number of a taxing jurisdiction’s voters who participated in the previous election would have to sign a protest petition to block a property tax increase above the cap. The original version of the bill set that signature requirement at 10% of voters in a previous election.Francis said the reason for the adjustment was Seward County’s decision to adopt a 41% increase in property taxes for 2026.“My community is honestly the poster child for why we have to do something,” he said. “The people in my community felt betrayed. They felt like they had no voice.”Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita, said the 10% threshold should be restored. He said a 5% petition requirement would make it too easy for a fraction of voters to undermine tax increases to complete projects supported by the public. The 5% threshold would make it especially challenging for smaller communities to finance priority projects with property tax revenue, he said.

Kansas House amends bill aimed at constraining local property tax increases

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s government said late Wednesday that the 10 passengers on a boat that opened fire on its soldiers were armed Cubans living in the U.S. who were trying to infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism.

The announcement came hours after Cuba said its soldiers killed four people and wounded six others aboard a Florida-registered speed boat that had entered Cuban waters and opened fire on the soldiers first, injuring one Cuban officer.

Cuba’s government said the majority of the 10 people on the boat “have a known history of criminal and violent activity.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had told reporters earlier that he was made aware of the incident and that the U.S. is now gathering its own information to determine if the victims were American citizens or permanent residents.

“We have various different elements of the U.S. government that are trying to identify elements of the story that may not be provided to us now,” Rubio said while at the airport in Basseterre, St. Kitts, where he was attending a regional summit with Caribbean leaders.

The Cuban government identified two of the boat passengers as Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, who are wanted by Cuban authorities “based on their involvement in the promotion, planning, organization, financing, support or commission of actions carried out in the national territory or in other countries, in connection with acts of terrorism.”

The government said it also had arrested Duniel Hernández Santos, adding that he was “sent from the United States to guarantee the reception of the armed infiltration, who at this time has confessed to his actions.”

The Associated Press was not immediately able to independently verify that information.

Cuba’s government said it obtained the details about the passengers aboard the boat from the suspects detained following the shootout.

It identified seven of the 10 passengers, including Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. Cuba's government said that one of the four killed was Michel Ortega Casanova. Three others have not yet been identified.

“The investigation process continues until the facts are fully clarified,” the ministry said in a statement.

Misael Ortega Casanova, brother of Michel Ortega Casanova, told The Associated Press late Wednesday that he was mourning his brother’s death but lamented that he fell into what he called an “obsessive and diabolical” quest for Cuba’s freedom.

“Only us Cubans who have lived over there understand,” Misael Ortega Casanova said, referring to the “great suffering” that he and other Cubans on the island have faced.

He noted that his brother, who was a truck driver and an American citizen who lived for more than 20 years in the U.S., leaves behind his wife, his mother, two sisters — one of whom lives in Cuba — and a daughter who is pregnant.

“No one knew,” Misael said of his brother’s plans. “My mother is devastated.”

He added: “They became so obsessed that they didn’t think about the consequences nor their own lives.”

Misael said that he did not recognize any of the names that the Cuban government released.

He said that while he doesn’t believe in heroes — “because that is ignorance” — he hopes that his brother’s death might be a worthwhile sacrifice: “maybe it will justify that some day Cuba will be free.”

U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cuba-venezuela-maduro-oil-economy-b9ffd24928e34dc7e3fc1fdcb22709a1">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;top diplomat refused to speculate on what happened, saying that it could be a “wide range of things,” and that the U.S. will not solely rely on what the Cuban authorities have provided thus far.

“Suffice it to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in open sea like that. It’s not something that happens every day. It’s something, frankly, that hasn’t happened with Cuba in a very long time,” Rubio said.

He said both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard are investigating the incident and stressed that he wants to verify the facts.

“The majority of the facts being publicly reported are those by the information provided by the Cubans. We will verify that independently as we gather more information, and we’ll be prepared to respond accordingly," Rubio said. "We’re going to have our own information on this. We’re going to figure out exactly what happened.”

He said it was not a U.S. government operation and that he wasn’t "going to speculate about whose boat it was, what they were doing, why they were there, what actually happened.”

One of the men identified by the Cuban government, Conrado Galindo Sariol, was interviewed in June 2025 by Martí Noticias, a U.S.-based news site that has long called for a change of government in Cuba.

Galindo, whom the host called “a legend” and a former political prisoner, was quoted as saying that he wants to support the struggles that Cubans face, especially in the eastern part of the island “to achieve the freedom that is needed.”

He said that the protests in Cuba at that time were “not a spark that’s going to be extinguished.”

“The regime’s leaders are crisscrossing Cuba, trying to mitigate what’s coming very soon because ... they know they’re out of power, that they can’t do anything about it, and they’re looking for ways to prevent the protests from growing in other parts of the country,” Galindo was quoted as saying.

Rubio said he found out about the shooting before the Cuban government posted on social media, noting that the U.S. has “constant contact” with the country “at the Coast Guard level.”

Earlier, Cuba’s Interior Ministry issued a statement that provided few details about the shooting, but noted that the boat was roughly 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) northeast of Cayo Falcones, off Cuba’s north coast.

The government provided the boat’s registration number, but The Associated Press was unable to readily verify details of the boat because boat registrations are not public in the state of Florida.

It wasn’t immediately known what the boat and its occupants were doing in Cuban waters. In the statement, the ministry said Cuba’s government was “safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida said it would pursue answers “through every legal and diplomatic channel available,” adding that “facts remain unclear and conflicting.”

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said late Wednesday afternoon that Rubio had briefed him on the incident. He added that the White House was monitoring the situation.

“Hopefully it’s not as bad as we fear it could be,” Vance said.

The shooting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cuba-health-care-us-energy-embargo-crisis-33ad8447dc4b442ea9b614eb91392be5">threatens to increase tensions</a>&nbsp;between the U.S. and Cuba. Following the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump and top administration officials have taken an increasingly aggressive stance toward Cuba, which had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cuba-airplanes-fuel-shortages-us-blockade-oil-18d79e2f138520dcbf28c24c1599b1a5">largely kept economically afloat</a>&nbsp;by Venezuela’s oil.

The energy crisis Cuba has been grappling with in recent years entered new extremes last month when Trump signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. The move put pressure on Mexico, which Cuba became largely dependent on for petroleum after Trump halted oil shipments from Venezuela.

Meanwhile, James Uthmeier, Florida’s attorney general, said he has ordered prosecutors to work with federal, state and law enforcement partners to start an investigation.

“The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable,” he wrote on X.

Lee reported from Basseterre, St. Kitts and Coto from San José, Costa Rica. Associated Press reporters Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, and Michael Biesecker, Aamer Madhani and Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed to this report.

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s government said late Wednesday that the 10 passengers on a boat that opened fire on its soldiers were armed Cubans living in the U.S. who were trying to infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">SECRETARY RUBIO on CUBA: What I’m telling you is we’re going to find out exactly what happened and who was involved. We’re not going to just take what somebody else tells us. I’m very confident we will be able to know the story independently. <a href="https://t.co/965ul2lC8b">pic.twitter.com/965ul2lC8b</a>&mdash; Department of State (@StateDept) <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/2026882562551873825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The announcement came hours after Cuba said its soldiers killed four people and wounded six others aboard a Florida-registered speed boat that had entered Cuban waters and opened fire on the soldiers first, injuring one Cuban officer.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Note from the Ministry of the Interior: On the morning of February 25, 2026, a violating speedboat was detected within Cuban territorial waters. The vessel, registered in Florida, United States, with registration number FL7726SH, approached up to 1 nautical mile northeast of the… <a href="https://t.co/AEmwtAZ4lO">pic.twitter.com/AEmwtAZ4lO</a>&mdash; Cuban Embassy in US (@EmbaCubaUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmbaCubaUS/status/2026732911114760673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Cuba’s government said the majority of the 10 people on the boat “have a known history of criminal and violent activity.”U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had told reporters earlier that he was made aware of the incident and that the U.S. is now gathering its own information to determine if the victims were American citizens or permanent residents.“We have various different elements of the U.S. government that are trying to identify elements of the story that may not be provided to us now,” Rubio said while at the airport in Basseterre, St. Kitts, where he was attending a regional summit with Caribbean leaders.The Cuban government identified two of the boat passengers as Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, who are wanted by Cuban authorities “based on their involvement in the promotion, planning, organization, financing, support or commission of actions carried out in the national territory or in other countries, in connection with acts of terrorism.”The government said it also had arrested Duniel Hernández Santos, adding that he was “sent from the United States to guarantee the reception of the armed infiltration, who at this time has confessed to his actions.”The Associated Press was not immediately able to independently verify that information.Cuba’s government said it obtained the details about the passengers aboard the boat from the suspects detained following the shootout.It identified seven of the 10 passengers, including Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. Cuba's government said that one of the four killed was Michel Ortega Casanova. Three others have not yet been identified.“The investigation process continues until the facts are fully clarified,” the ministry said in a statement.Misael Ortega Casanova, brother of Michel Ortega Casanova, told The Associated Press late Wednesday that he was mourning his brother’s death but lamented that he fell into what he called an “obsessive and diabolical” quest for Cuba’s freedom.“Only us Cubans who have lived over there understand,” Misael Ortega Casanova said, referring to the “great suffering” that he and other Cubans on the island have faced.He noted that his brother, who was a truck driver and an American citizen who lived for more than 20 years in the U.S., leaves behind his wife, his mother, two sisters — one of whom lives in Cuba — and a daughter who is pregnant.“No one knew,” Misael said of his brother’s plans. “My mother is devastated.”He added: “They became so obsessed that they didn’t think about the consequences nor their own lives.”Misael said that he did not recognize any of the names that the Cuban government released.He said that while he doesn’t believe in heroes — “because that is ignorance” — he hopes that his brother’s death might be a worthwhile sacrifice: “maybe it will justify that some day Cuba will be free.”<h2>A ‘highly unusual’ shootout</h2>U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cuba-venezuela-maduro-oil-economy-b9ffd24928e34dc7e3fc1fdcb22709a1">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;top diplomat refused to speculate on what happened, saying that it could be a “wide range of things,” and that the U.S. will not solely rely on what the Cuban authorities have provided thus far.“Suffice it to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in open sea like that. It’s not something that happens every day. It’s something, frankly, that hasn’t happened with Cuba in a very long time,” Rubio said.He said both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard are investigating the incident and stressed that he wants to verify the facts.“The majority of the facts being publicly reported are those by the information provided by the Cubans. We will verify that independently as we gather more information, and we’ll be prepared to respond accordingly," Rubio said. "We’re going to have our own information on this. We’re going to figure out exactly what happened.”He said it was not a U.S. government operation and that he wasn’t "going to speculate about whose boat it was, what they were doing, why they were there, what actually happened.”One of the men identified by the Cuban government, Conrado Galindo Sariol, was interviewed in June 2025 by Martí Noticias, a U.S.-based news site that has long called for a change of government in Cuba.Galindo, whom the host called “a legend” and a former political prisoner, was quoted as saying that he wants to support the struggles that Cubans face, especially in the eastern part of the island “to achieve the freedom that is needed.”He said that the protests in Cuba at that time were “not a spark that’s going to be extinguished.”“The regime’s leaders are crisscrossing Cuba, trying to mitigate what’s coming very soon because ... they know they’re out of power, that they can’t do anything about it, and they’re looking for ways to prevent the protests from growing in other parts of the country,” Galindo was quoted as saying.<h2>Fear over increased tensions</h2>Rubio said he found out about the shooting before the Cuban government posted on social media, noting that the U.S. has “constant contact” with the country “at the Coast Guard level.”Earlier, Cuba’s Interior Ministry issued a statement that provided few details about the shooting, but noted that the boat was roughly 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) northeast of Cayo Falcones, off Cuba’s north coast.The government provided the boat’s registration number, but The Associated Press was unable to readily verify details of the boat because boat registrations are not public in the state of Florida.It wasn’t immediately known what the boat and its occupants were doing in Cuban waters. In the statement, the ministry said Cuba’s government was “safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region.”The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida said it would pursue answers “through every legal and diplomatic channel available,” adding that “facts remain unclear and conflicting.”U.S. Vice President JD Vance said late Wednesday afternoon that Rubio had briefed him on the incident. He added that the White House was monitoring the situation.“Hopefully it’s not as bad as we fear it could be,” Vance said.The shooting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cuba-health-care-us-energy-embargo-crisis-33ad8447dc4b442ea9b614eb91392be5">threatens to increase tensions</a>&nbsp;between the U.S. and Cuba. Following the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump and top administration officials have taken an increasingly aggressive stance toward Cuba, which had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cuba-airplanes-fuel-shortages-us-blockade-oil-18d79e2f138520dcbf28c24c1599b1a5">largely kept economically afloat</a>&nbsp;by Venezuela’s oil.The energy crisis Cuba has been grappling with in recent years entered new extremes last month when Trump signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. The move put pressure on Mexico, which Cuba became largely dependent on for petroleum after Trump halted oil shipments from Venezuela.Meanwhile, James Uthmeier, Florida’s attorney general, said he has ordered prosecutors to work with federal, state and law enforcement partners to start an investigation.“The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable,” he wrote on X.___Lee reported from Basseterre, St. Kitts and Coto from San José, Costa Rica. Associated Press reporters Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, and Michael Biesecker, Aamer Madhani and Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed to this report.