WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Tuesday refused to halt a judge’s order requiring the Trump administration to release billions of dollars in federal grants and loans. States say the money remains frozen even after a court blocked a sweeping pause on federal funding.

The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals turned back the emergency appeal, though it said it expected the lower court judge to act quickly to clarify his order.

The Justice Department argued the sweeping lower court order to keep all federal grants and loans flowing was “intolerable judicial overreach.”

That ruling came from U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island, the first judge to find that the administration had disobeyed a court order.

McConnell is presiding over a lawsuit from nearly two dozen states filed after the administration issued a boundary-pushing memo purporting to halt all federals grants and loans, worth trillions of dollars. The plan sparked chaos around the country.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Tuesday refused to halt a judge’s order requiring the Trump administration to release billions of dollars in federal grants and loans. States say the money remains frozen even after a court blocked a sweeping pause on federal funding.The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals turned back the emergency appeal, though it said it expected the lower court judge to act quickly to clarify his order.The Justice Department argued the sweeping lower court order to keep all federal grants and loans flowing was “intolerable judicial overreach.”That ruling came from U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island, the first judge to find that the administration had disobeyed a court order.McConnell is presiding over a lawsuit from nearly two dozen states filed after the administration issued a boundary-pushing memo purporting to halt all federals grants and loans, worth trillions of dollars. The plan sparked chaos around the country.

Appeals court won’t halt order requiring Trump admin. unfreeze all federal cash

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' Democratic governor on Tuesday vetoed a proposed Republican-backed ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-gender-affirming-supreme-court-tennessee-c302c0e307dc1ab70f01b84bab72eaf0">gender-affirming care for transgender minors.</a>

The GOP-controlled Legislature's members had expected Gov. Laura Kelly's action because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gender-affirming-care-minors-ban-kansas-veto-b63daeec39cf26e0741569b03aa9ebe9">she vetoed</a>&nbsp;two similar bills previously. This year's measure not only would ban gender-affirming surgeries, hormone treatments and puberty blockers for minors but also prohibit state employees caring for children from promoting social transitioning for them.

At least 26 other states have restricted gender-affirming care for minors.

Votes last month suggested that backers of a Kansas ban have the legislative supermajorities needed to override Kelly's veto. House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, a Kansas City-area Democrat, acknowledged as much during a recent news conference and said opponents will ask state courts to overturn a ban.

Supporters argue that a ban would protect vulnerable children from what they've often described as a radical ideology about gender.

Transgender youth and their parents have said such care often lessens depression and suicidal tendencies.

Kelly chastised lawmakers in her veto message for what she said was their attempt to interfere with parental rights and in medical decisions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739315068850.png" alt="File photo Gov. Laura Kelly during the State of the State address last month" />
 <figcaption>File photo Gov. Laura Kelly during the State of the State address last month</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' Democratic governor on Tuesday vetoed a proposed Republican-backed ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-gender-affirming-supreme-court-tennessee-c302c0e307dc1ab70f01b84bab72eaf0">gender-affirming care for transgender minors.</a>The GOP-controlled Legislature's members had expected Gov. Laura Kelly's action because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gender-affirming-care-minors-ban-kansas-veto-b63daeec39cf26e0741569b03aa9ebe9">she vetoed</a>&nbsp;two similar bills previously. This year's measure not only would ban gender-affirming surgeries, hormone treatments and puberty blockers for minors but also prohibit state employees caring for children from promoting social transitioning for them.At least 26 other states have restricted gender-affirming care for minors.Votes last month suggested that backers of a Kansas ban have the legislative supermajorities needed to override Kelly's veto. House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, a Kansas City-area Democrat, acknowledged as much during a recent news conference and said opponents will ask state courts to overturn a ban.Supporters argue that a ban would protect vulnerable children from what they've often described as a radical ideology about gender.Transgender youth and their parents have said such care often lessens depression and suicidal tendencies.Kelly chastised lawmakers in her veto message for what she said was their attempt to interfere with parental rights and in medical decisions.

Kan. governor vetoes a ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating alleged child sex crimes involving a staff member at an elementary school in Lawrence and learned of more victims.

On Saturday, police in Lawrence launched&nbsp;an investigation into an alleged sexual assault of two students at Prairie Park Elementary, according to police spokesperson Laura McCabe.

A concerned parent of one student called police Saturday morning about events that occurred during the school day on February 7. Investigators quickly uncovered evidence that led to the Saturday night arrest of 60-year-old Mark Elliott Gridley.&nbsp; &nbsp;He is a Speech and Language Pathologist at the school.

Monday morning, investigators learned of a second possible victim.&nbsp; That alleged assault also occurred Friday morning at the school.

On Tuesday, police confirmed there are more than two victims in this investigation, according to McCabe. Police did not provide an exact number. Each parental concern brought to the attention of police must be fully investigated, which takes time. 

The team of police investigators, in conjunction with experts from the Children’s Advocacy Center of Douglas County, are working to investigate all information received. 

The scope of the investigation has now expanded to include students who were not receiving services for speech at the school. Police are asking for parents of students at Prairie Park Elementary School to have a conversation with their children about any possible contact with Mark Gridley. Should concerns arise at any point in those conversations, police ask that parents stop the conversation and contact the investigations hotline set up for this investigation at (785) 830-7430.

Police are working closely with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Douglas County, USD 497 administrators, and the District Attorney’s office to ensure all expert services coordinate to uncover the complete scope of the potential harm and crimes committed.

In addition to the on-site law enforcement presence, police set up a phone line for parents who may need to report a concern about their child and any contact with Mark Gridley. The phone number is&nbsp;(785) 830-7430. In addition, police ask that any parent who may have concerns about their child’s interaction with Gridley, please contact law enforcement before discussing it in-depth with your child.

"Lawrence Police and the Children’s Advocacy Center of Douglas County are here and ready to talk to you and your child. They are trained to address these issues while limiting the traumatic impact these discussions have on young victims."

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating alleged child sex crimes involving a staff member at an elementary school in Lawrence and learned of more victims.On Saturday, police in Lawrence launched&nbsp;an investigation into an alleged sexual assault of two students at Prairie Park Elementary, according to police spokesperson Laura McCabe.A concerned parent of one student called police Saturday morning about events that occurred during the school day on February 7. Investigators quickly uncovered evidence that led to the Saturday night arrest of 60-year-old Mark Elliott Gridley.&nbsp; &nbsp;He is a Speech and Language Pathologist at the school.Monday morning, investigators learned of a second possible victim.&nbsp; That alleged assault also occurred Friday morning at the school.On Tuesday, police confirmed there are more than two victims in this investigation, according to McCabe. Police did not provide an exact number. Each parental concern brought to the attention of police must be fully investigated, which takes time. The team of police investigators, in conjunction with experts from the Children’s Advocacy Center of Douglas County, are working to investigate all information received. The scope of the investigation has now expanded to include students who were not receiving services for speech at the school. Police are asking for parents of students at Prairie Park Elementary School to have a conversation with their children about any possible contact with Mark Gridley. Should concerns arise at any point in those conversations, police ask that parents stop the conversation and contact the investigations hotline set up for this investigation at (785) 830-7430.Police are working closely with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Douglas County, USD 497 administrators, and the District Attorney’s office to ensure all expert services coordinate to uncover the complete scope of the potential harm and crimes committed.In addition to the on-site law enforcement presence, police set up a phone line for parents who may need to report a concern about their child and any contact with Mark Gridley. The phone number is&nbsp;(785) 830-7430. In addition, police ask that any parent who may have concerns about their child’s interaction with Gridley, please contact law enforcement before discussing it in-depth with your child. "Lawrence Police and the Children’s Advocacy Center of Douglas County are here and ready to talk to you and your child. They are trained to address these issues while limiting the traumatic impact these discussions have on young victims."

More victims: Speech pathologist at Kan. school accused of child sex crimes

SALINA, Kan. – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has arrested Manuel Johnson-Ponce, 29, of Salina, related to his role in a Feb. 4 standoff and officer-involved shooting in Salina.

KBI agents arrested Johnson-Ponce following his release from Salina Regional Health Center. Agents then transported Johnson-Ponce to the Saline County Jail where he was booked on a warrant for three counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, two counts of criminal threat, aggravated endangering a child, domestic battery, criminal restraint, and criminal trespass.

At around 11:20 a.m. February 4, police received a call from a woman who reported an armed domestic disturbance at her home, in the 900 block of Birch Drive in Salina.

Preliminary information indicates that when officers arrived, they contacted a female subject outside the house and learned that a male subject, later identified as Manuel Johnson-Ponce, 29, of Salina, had barricaded inside the home with a three-year old child. He was making threats to the child and officers.

Around 12 p.m., SPD’s SWAT team also responded to the scene. KBI’s High Risk Warrant Team (HRWT) was requested to assist around 12:15 p.m.

During the standoff, Johnson-Ponce refused to comply with repeated commands to come out of the house. He would also not allow the toddler to leave. Around 1 p.m. an officer from SPD fired rounds striking Johnson-Ponce. Immediately following the shooting, law enforcement officers safely rescued the child from the home.

Officers rendered aid to Johnson-Ponce. EMS arrived and transported him to a local hospital. Johnson-Ponce was treated for non-life threatening injuries and is in stable condition. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.

This independent investigation aims to discover all events leading up to the officer-involved shooting. In police use of force cases, the KBI releases details to the public as soon as possible. This information is preliminary in nature, and is based on evidence collected and early statements of the parties involved, witnesses, medical personnel and others. It does not represent final or thorough findings which take several weeks to complete.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739316318130.png" alt="Johnson-Ponce photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Johnson-Ponce photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINA, Kan. – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has arrested Manuel Johnson-Ponce, 29, of Salina, related to his role in a Feb. 4 standoff and officer-involved shooting in Salina.KBI agents arrested Johnson-Ponce following his release from Salina Regional Health Center. Agents then transported Johnson-Ponce to the Saline County Jail where he was booked on a warrant for three counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, two counts of criminal threat, aggravated endangering a child, domestic battery, criminal restraint, and criminal trespass.At around 11:20 a.m. February 4, police received a call from a woman who reported an armed domestic disturbance at her home, in the 900 block of Birch Drive in Salina.Preliminary information indicates that when officers arrived, they contacted a female subject outside the house and learned that a male subject, later identified as Manuel Johnson-Ponce, 29, of Salina, had barricaded inside the home with a three-year old child. He was making threats to the child and officers.Around 12 p.m., SPD’s SWAT team also responded to the scene. KBI’s High Risk Warrant Team (HRWT) was requested to assist around 12:15 p.m.During the standoff, Johnson-Ponce refused to comply with repeated commands to come out of the house. He would also not allow the toddler to leave. Around 1 p.m. an officer from SPD fired rounds striking Johnson-Ponce. Immediately following the shooting, law enforcement officers safely rescued the child from the home.Officers rendered aid to Johnson-Ponce. EMS arrived and transported him to a local hospital. Johnson-Ponce was treated for non-life threatening injuries and is in stable condition. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.This independent investigation aims to discover all events leading up to the officer-involved shooting. In police use of force cases, the KBI releases details to the public as soon as possible. This information is preliminary in nature, and is based on evidence collected and early statements of the parties involved, witnesses, medical personnel and others. It does not represent final or thorough findings which take several weeks to complete.

KBI: Suspect in Salina officer shooting moved from hospital to jail

DALLAS (AP) — The FBI on Tuesday said it discovered 2,400 new records related to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jfk-assassination">assassination of former President John F. Kennedy</a>&nbsp;as federal agencies work to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order last month to release&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-assassination-documents-release-trump-50ea62770b13f0ffc11ca18dde03500d">thousands of files</a>.

The FBI said it's working to transfer the records to the National Archives and Records Administration to be included in the declassification process.

The federal government in the early 1990s mandated that all documents related to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-51224feebb8742a8a4e604da845c7fa8">Nov. 22, 1963</a>, assassination be housed in a single collection at the National Archives. And while the vast majority of the collection — over 5 million records — has been made public, researchers estimate that 3,000 files&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-assassination-documents-release-trump-50ea62770b13f0ffc11ca18dde03500d">haven't been released,</a>&nbsp;either in whole or in part.

The FBI did not say in its statement what kind of information the newly discovered files contain. The FBI in 2020 opened a Central Records Complex and began a years-long effort to ship, electronically inventory and store closed case files from field offices across the country. The agency said a more comprehensive records inventory along with technological advances allowed it to quickly search and locate records.

Jefferson Morley, vice president of the Mary Ferrell Foundation, a repository for files related to the assassination, called the FBI’s disclosure of the files “refreshingly candid.”

“It shows that the FBI is serious about being transparent,” said Morley, who is also editor of the JFK Facts blog.

Morley said it sets a precedent for other agencies to come forward with documents that haven’t yet been turned over to the National Archives.

Trump's order last month directed the national intelligence director and attorney general to develop a plan to release classified records related to Kennedy’s assassination. A spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said that as required by the order, a release plan has been submitted, but offered no details about the plan or a timeline for when records may be made available to the public.

The collection was required to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c50d6fd107534341b9fa47b9014801ab">opened by 2017,</a>&nbsp;barring any exemptions designated by the president. In his first term, Trump said he would allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back due to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/trump-boasted-hed-open-all-jfk-files-but-now-says-he-cant-2f48d57f9ee045d98eb784d2295288ef">potential harm to national security</a>. And while files&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-statutes-assassinations-lee-harvey-oswald-5b50bdcd246d228828b24f584ccad3ab">continued to be released</a>&nbsp;under former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, some remain unseen.

The assassination fueled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e45a1408a8274447bdba8dc34b93bfa1">conspiracy theories</a>&nbsp;for decades. Kennedy was fatally shot in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-298388ef0d6e41d98a47c70c86c64788">downtown Dallas</a>&nbsp;as his motorcade passed in front of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/travel-and-tourism-e9f33c5e647d45149c1738d64ea0e3c5">Texas School Book Depository building,</a>&nbsp;where 24-year-old assassin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c7cb2904bd954273a42c9cce1458fe42">Lee Harvey Oswald</a>&nbsp;positioned himself from a sniper’s perch on the sixth floor. Two days after Kennedy was killed, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer.

The Warren Commission, established by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate the assassination, found that Oswald acted alone and that there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that conclusion never quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades.

Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed,” which concludes that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c7cb2904bd954273a42c9cce1458fe42">Oswald</a>&nbsp;acted alone, said it’s possible that the newly discovered files are repeats of documents that are already in the National Archives’ collection or they could be documents the review board for the collection had previously said it didn’t want.

“If they are really new assassination documents, then it raises a whole bunch of questions about how they were missed for all of these years,” Posner said.

He said the “wow” would be if they are related to Oswald or the investigation.

The documents&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-77243c0452d743d8ac62d03c253b6057">released over the past several years</a>&nbsp;from the collection have offered details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas.

Morley said the CIA's surveillance of Oswald has been the “emerging story over the last five to 10 years." He said there could be information on that in the new files.

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and David Klepper contributed reporting from Washington.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700660678254.png" alt="FILE - In this Nov. 22, 1963 file photo, President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot in Dallas. Riding with Kennedy are First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, right, Nellie Connally, second from left, and her husband, Texas Gov. John Connally, far left. (AP Photo/Jim Altgens, File)&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>FILE - In this Nov. 22, 1963 file photo, President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot in Dallas. Riding with Kennedy are First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, right, Nellie Connally, second from left, and her husband, Texas Gov. John Connally, far left. (AP Photo/Jim Altgens, File)&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — The FBI on Tuesday said it discovered 2,400 new records related to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jfk-assassination">assassination of former President John F. Kennedy</a>&nbsp;as federal agencies work to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order last month to release&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-assassination-documents-release-trump-50ea62770b13f0ffc11ca18dde03500d">thousands of files</a>.The FBI said it's working to transfer the records to the National Archives and Records Administration to be included in the declassification process.The federal government in the early 1990s mandated that all documents related to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-51224feebb8742a8a4e604da845c7fa8">Nov. 22, 1963</a>, assassination be housed in a single collection at the National Archives. And while the vast majority of the collection — over 5 million records — has been made public, researchers estimate that 3,000 files&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-assassination-documents-release-trump-50ea62770b13f0ffc11ca18dde03500d">haven't been released,</a>&nbsp;either in whole or in part.The FBI did not say in its statement what kind of information the newly discovered files contain. The FBI in 2020 opened a Central Records Complex and began a years-long effort to ship, electronically inventory and store closed case files from field offices across the country. The agency said a more comprehensive records inventory along with technological advances allowed it to quickly search and locate records.Jefferson Morley, vice president of the Mary Ferrell Foundation, a repository for files related to the assassination, called the FBI’s disclosure of the files “refreshingly candid.”“It shows that the FBI is serious about being transparent,” said Morley, who is also editor of the JFK Facts blog.Morley said it sets a precedent for other agencies to come forward with documents that haven’t yet been turned over to the National Archives.Trump's order last month directed the national intelligence director and attorney general to develop a plan to release classified records related to Kennedy’s assassination. A spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said that as required by the order, a release plan has been submitted, but offered no details about the plan or a timeline for when records may be made available to the public.The collection was required to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c50d6fd107534341b9fa47b9014801ab">opened by 2017,</a>&nbsp;barring any exemptions designated by the president. In his first term, Trump said he would allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back due to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/trump-boasted-hed-open-all-jfk-files-but-now-says-he-cant-2f48d57f9ee045d98eb784d2295288ef">potential harm to national security</a>. And while files&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-statutes-assassinations-lee-harvey-oswald-5b50bdcd246d228828b24f584ccad3ab">continued to be released</a>&nbsp;under former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, some remain unseen.The assassination fueled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e45a1408a8274447bdba8dc34b93bfa1">conspiracy theories</a>&nbsp;for decades. Kennedy was fatally shot in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-298388ef0d6e41d98a47c70c86c64788">downtown Dallas</a>&nbsp;as his motorcade passed in front of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/travel-and-tourism-e9f33c5e647d45149c1738d64ea0e3c5">Texas School Book Depository building,</a>&nbsp;where 24-year-old assassin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c7cb2904bd954273a42c9cce1458fe42">Lee Harvey Oswald</a>&nbsp;positioned himself from a sniper’s perch on the sixth floor. Two days after Kennedy was killed, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer.The Warren Commission, established by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate the assassination, found that Oswald acted alone and that there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that conclusion never quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades.Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed,” which concludes that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c7cb2904bd954273a42c9cce1458fe42">Oswald</a>&nbsp;acted alone, said it’s possible that the newly discovered files are repeats of documents that are already in the National Archives’ collection or they could be documents the review board for the collection had previously said it didn’t want.“If they are really new assassination documents, then it raises a whole bunch of questions about how they were missed for all of these years,” Posner said.He said the “wow” would be if they are related to Oswald or the investigation.The documents&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-77243c0452d743d8ac62d03c253b6057">released over the past several years</a>&nbsp;from the collection have offered details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas.Morley said the CIA's surveillance of Oswald has been the “emerging story over the last five to 10 years." He said there could be information on that in the new files.___Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and David Klepper contributed reporting from Washington.

FBI says it found 2,400 new JFK assassination records

HUTCHINSON, Kan.,&nbsp; – The Cosmosphere received a donation of fifteen Kansas state flags from Moon walker and former NASA astronaut Charlie Duke.

Duke took the flags with him to the Moon on Apollo 16 in 1972. “We are grateful to General Duke for this generous contribution to the Cosmosphere’s collection,” said Cosmosphere CEO Jim Remar. “Tangible artifacts that have been to the Moon strengthen the connection between present and past, solidifying historic events in our collective memory.

The Cosmosphere will use these flags to continue to inspire the future through space exploration.” At least one of the flags will become part of the Cosmosphere’s extensive collection, which includes artifacts from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, as well as the largest collection of Soviet space artifacts outside of Moscow.

Cosmosphere staff will confer with its governing board to determine the best use for the remaining flags.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739302117986.jpeg" alt="Charlie Duke's Kansas Flag" />
 <figcaption>Charlie Duke's Kansas Flag</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan.,&nbsp; – The Cosmosphere received a donation of fifteen Kansas state flags from Moon walker and former NASA astronaut Charlie Duke.Duke took the flags with him to the Moon on Apollo 16 in 1972. “We are grateful to General Duke for this generous contribution to the Cosmosphere’s collection,” said Cosmosphere CEO Jim Remar. “Tangible artifacts that have been to the Moon strengthen the connection between present and past, solidifying historic events in our collective memory.The Cosmosphere will use these flags to continue to inspire the future through space exploration.” At least one of the flags will become part of the Cosmosphere’s extensive collection, which includes artifacts from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, as well as the largest collection of Soviet space artifacts outside of Moscow.Cosmosphere staff will confer with its governing board to determine the best use for the remaining flags.&nbsp;

Cosmosphere gets flag collection from Apollo 16 astronaut

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police reported on Tuesday afternoon they had located the maroon Ford Focus has been located by officers involved in alleged attempted abduction.&nbsp; Police release no additional details as the investigation continues.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged attempted abduction and asking for help to locate a suspect.

Just after 3:30p.m. Monday, a concerning incident occurred in the area of 2500 W Esther Street in Wichita, according to a social media report from Wichita Police.

 A 14-year-old girl was walking home when a maroon sedan pulled up beside her. The passenger in the vehicle made inappropriate comments and attempted to coerce her into getting into the car.

The suspect is described as a man, medium complexion, approximately 6 feet tall, medium muscular build, dark curly hair with a short black beard.

If you have any information about this incident, please contact police immediately. If you know the whereabouts of this vehicle's owner, driver, or any passengers, please contact Wichita Police Investigators immediately. Police encourage the community  to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739271962406.png" alt="Photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police reported on Tuesday afternoon they had located the maroon Ford Focus has been located by officers involved in alleged attempted abduction.&nbsp; Police release no additional details as the investigation continues.------------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged attempted abduction and asking for help to locate a suspect.Just after 3:30p.m. Monday, a concerning incident occurred in the area of 2500 W Esther Street in Wichita, according to a social media report from Wichita Police. A 14-year-old girl was walking home when a maroon sedan pulled up beside her. The passenger in the vehicle made inappropriate comments and attempted to coerce her into getting into the car.The suspect is described as a man, medium complexion, approximately 6 feet tall, medium muscular build, dark curly hair with a short black beard.If you have any information about this incident, please contact police immediately. If you know the whereabouts of this vehicle's owner, driver, or any passengers, please contact Wichita Police Investigators immediately. Police encourage the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Police locate car in alleged attempted abduction of Kan. teen

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—One person died from injuries in an accident just after 8a.m. Tuesday in Pottawatomie County.

According to the Pottawatomie County Sheriff, a 2006 Pontiac Solstice driven by 66-year-old Shirley Riegel of Oklahoma was southbound on Highway 99 at North Church Road in rural Westmoreland.

The driver lost control of the car. It overturned in the west ditch and came to rest on its roof. EMS transported Riegel and a passenger 74-year-old Marsa Chandler, also of Oklahoma, to Stormont Vail in Topeka where Chandler died.

&nbsp;The accident remains under investigation, according to the sheriff's office.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—One person died from injuries in an accident just after 8a.m. Tuesday in Pottawatomie County.According to the Pottawatomie County Sheriff, a 2006 Pontiac Solstice driven by 66-year-old Shirley Riegel of Oklahoma was southbound on Highway 99 at North Church Road in rural Westmoreland.The driver lost control of the car. It overturned in the west ditch and came to rest on its roof. EMS transported Riegel and a passenger 74-year-old Marsa Chandler, also of Oklahoma, to Stormont Vail in Topeka where Chandler died.&nbsp;The accident remains under investigation, according to the sheriff's office.

Woman killed in rollover crash on Kansas highway

SEDGWICK COUNTY– A Kansas man sentenced to a life prison term in 2023 for the rape of runaway girl was given another long prison sentence&nbsp; February 7.

 Sedgwick County District Judge Bruce Brown sentenced Gerardo Aguero-Hernandez, 31 of Wichita, to 1,367 months in prison for the crimes of kidnapping and rape, following a July 2018 attack in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

 A woman in her 50’s was pulled into a car while she was walking from a gas station. In June, a jury found Aguero-Hernandez guilty .

The sentence was ordered to run consecutive to the previous sentence imposed in September of 2023 by Judge Brown. In that case, Aguero-Hernandez was found guilty of aggravated kidnapping, rape, aggravated battery for the 2020 kidnap and rape of a girl who had run away from a foster home. 

In that matter, Judge Brown sentenced Aguero-Hernandez to life without parole eligibility for 25 years plus an additional 184 months.

Between the two cases, Aguero-Hernandez has now been sentenced to serve not less than 25 +15 years followed by 1,367 months or 113 years or approximately 153 years.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man is going to prison for the rape of a runaway girl.

Gerardo Aguero-Hernandez, 26, Wichita, was sentenced to life with without parole eligibility for 25 years plus an additional 184 months, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

On May 22, 2020, police responded to a rape report in the 1800 block of W. Pine Avenue in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;

A minor female who ran to that location and reported to a citizen that she had been sexually assaulted. The investigation revealed that the juvenile ran from her foster home earlier in the day around noon.&nbsp;

A suspect identified as Aguero-Hernandez contacted her as she walked along North Broadway and offered her a ride.&nbsp; She accepted, but instead of being taken to the agreed-upon location, Aguero-Hernandez drove her to an area near Arthur B. Sim Park.&nbsp; While in the vehicle, Aguero-Hernandez sexually assaulted and battered the girl, according to Davidson. She was able to escape the vehicle and ran to contact a citizen who called 911.&nbsp; Through further investigation, Aguero-Hernandez was identified subsequently arrested&nbsp;from a residence in the 2400 block of N. Woodland in Wichita.

A jury convicted Aguero-Hernandez of rape, aggravated kidnapping and two counts of aggravated battery. The jury acquitted him of attempted first-degree murder, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590769800736.png" alt="Aguero-Hernandez photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Aguero-Hernandez photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY– A Kansas man sentenced to a life prison term in 2023 for the rape of runaway girl was given another long prison sentence&nbsp; February 7. Sedgwick County District Judge Bruce Brown sentenced Gerardo Aguero-Hernandez, 31 of Wichita, to 1,367 months in prison for the crimes of kidnapping and rape, following a July 2018 attack in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. A woman in her 50’s was pulled into a car while she was walking from a gas station. In June, a jury found Aguero-Hernandez guilty .The sentence was ordered to run consecutive to the previous sentence imposed in September of 2023 by Judge Brown. In that case, Aguero-Hernandez was found guilty of aggravated kidnapping, rape, aggravated battery for the 2020 kidnap and rape of a girl who had run away from a foster home. In that matter, Judge Brown sentenced Aguero-Hernandez to life without parole eligibility for 25 years plus an additional 184 months.Between the two cases, Aguero-Hernandez has now been sentenced to serve not less than 25 +15 years followed by 1,367 months or 113 years or approximately 153 years.-------------SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man is going to prison for the rape of a runaway girl.Gerardo Aguero-Hernandez, 26, Wichita, was sentenced to life with without parole eligibility for 25 years plus an additional 184 months, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;On May 22, 2020, police responded to a rape report in the 1800 block of W. Pine Avenue in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;A minor female who ran to that location and reported to a citizen that she had been sexually assaulted. The investigation revealed that the juvenile ran from her foster home earlier in the day around noon.&nbsp;A suspect identified as Aguero-Hernandez contacted her as she walked along North Broadway and offered her a ride.&nbsp; She accepted, but instead of being taken to the agreed-upon location, Aguero-Hernandez drove her to an area near Arthur B. Sim Park.&nbsp; While in the vehicle, Aguero-Hernandez sexually assaulted and battered the girl, according to Davidson. She was able to escape the vehicle and ran to contact a citizen who called 911.&nbsp; Through further investigation, Aguero-Hernandez was identified subsequently arrested&nbsp;from a residence in the 2400 block of N. Woodland in Wichita.A jury convicted Aguero-Hernandez of rape, aggravated kidnapping and two counts of aggravated battery. The jury acquitted him of attempted first-degree murder, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man convicted of rape gets another long prison sentence

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday he is banning federal use of paper straws, saying they “don’t work” and don't last very long. Instead he wants the government to exclusively move to plastic.

“It’s a ridiculous situation. We’re going back to plastic straws,” Trump said as he signed an executive order to reverse federal purchasing policies that encourage paper straws and restrict plastic ones. The order directs federal agencies to stop buying paper straws “and otherwise ensure that paper straws are no longer provided within agency buildings.”

The move by Trump — who has long railed against paper straws, and whose 2019 reelection campaign&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-b563fe72490a422e809fad211100d06d">sold Trump-branded reusable plastic straws</a>&nbsp;for $15 per pack of 10 — targets a Biden administration policy to&nbsp;<a href="https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/07/19/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-releases-new-strategy-to-tackle-plastic-pollution-takes-action-to-reduce-single-use-plastics-in-federal-operations/">phase out federal purchases of single-use plastics,</a>&nbsp;including straws, from food service operations, events and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035.

Trump declared President Joe Biden’s policy “DEAD!” in a social media post over the weekend.

While plastic straws have been blamed for polluting oceans and harming marine life, Trump said Monday that he thinks "it's OK” to continue using them. “I don’t think that plastic is going to affect the shark very much as they’re eating, as they’re munching their way through the ocean,'' he said at a White House announcement.

Several U.S. states and cities have banned plastic straws, and some restaurants no longer automatically give them to customers. But plastic straws are only a small part of the problem. The environment is littered with single-use plastic food and beverage containers — water bottles, takeout containers, coffee lids, shopping bags and more.

Around the world, the equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic&nbsp;<a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26132/reckoning-with-the-us-role-in-global-ocean-plastic-waste">enters the ocean every minute</a>&nbsp;from a range of sources, including plastic bags, toothbrushes, bottles, food packaging and more, experts say. As those materials break down in the environment, microplastics are turning up in the stomachs of fish, birds and other animals, as well as in human blood and tissue.

And plastic manufacturing releases planet-warming greenhouse gases and other dangerous pollutants. More than 90% of plastic products are derived from fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, and millions of tons of plastic waste enter the world’s oceans every year. Many multinational companies have moved away from plastic straws and have made reducing plastic use across their operations central to their sustainability goals, making Trump's decision an outlier in the business world.

Trump’s order is “more about messaging than finding solutions,″ said Christy Leavitt, plastics campaign director for the environmental group Oceana, noting that most U.S. voters support requiring companies to reduce single-use plastic packaging and foodware.

“President Trump is moving in the wrong direction on single-use plastics,'' Leavitt said. “The world is facing a plastic pollution crisis, and we can no longer ignore one of the biggest environmental threats facing our oceans and our planet today.”

The plastic manufacturing industry applauded Trump's move.

“Straws are just the beginning,” Matt Seaholm, president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association, said in a statement. “‘Back to Plastic’ is a movement we should all get behind.”

More than 390 million straws are used every day in the United States, mostly for 30 minutes or less, according to advocacy group Straws Turtle Island Restoration Network. Straws take at least 200 years to decompose and pose a threat to turtles and other wildlife as they degrade into microplastics, the group says.

"To prevent another sea turtle from becoming a victim to plastic, we must make personal lifestyle alterations to fight for these species,'' the group said in a statement.

Every year, the world produces more than 400 million tons of new plastic.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/plastic-pollution-crisis-treaty-south-korea-631960e4375aeec46517133348635a7d">About 40% of all plastics are used in packaging</a>, according to the United Nations.

Globally, nations are creating a treaty to address plastic pollution. Leaders met for a week in South Korea late last year but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/plastic-pollution-treaty-south-korea-75187319a8cebc6e54fc1557ff40b266">didn’t reach an agreement</a>. Talks resume this year as more than 100 countries pursue a pact that limits plastic production as well as tackles cleanup and recycling.

The U.S., China and Germany are the biggest players in the global plastics trade. U.S. manufacturers have asked Trump to remain at the negotiating table, and to revert to Biden’s previous position that focused on redesigning plastic products, recycling and reuse.

White House staff secretary Will Scharf, who presented the executive order to Trump, told him the push for paper straws has cost the government and private industry “an absolute ton of money and left consumers all over the country wildly dissatisfied with their straws. It really is something that affects ordinary Americans in their everyday lives."

Associated Press writer Jennifer McDermott in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this story.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday he is banning federal use of paper straws, saying they “don’t work” and don't last very long. Instead he wants the government to exclusively move to plastic.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;We&#39;re going back to plastic straws.&quot; –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/GONNjP6UNn">pic.twitter.com/GONNjP6UNn</a>&mdash; President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1889090935071388109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Trump signs exec order on paper straws: &quot;We&#39;re going to plastic straws. These things don&#39;t work. They break. They explode. If something&#39;s hot they don&#39;t last very long..I don&#39;t think that plastic&#39;s going to affect a shark very much as they&#39;re munching their way through the ocean&quot; <a href="https://t.co/8HHMeRsHHU">pic.twitter.com/8HHMeRsHHU</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1889120837149524210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“It’s a ridiculous situation. We’re going back to plastic straws,” Trump said as he signed an executive order to reverse federal purchasing policies that encourage paper straws and restrict plastic ones. The order directs federal agencies to stop buying paper straws “and otherwise ensure that paper straws are no longer provided within agency buildings.”The move by Trump — who has long railed against paper straws, and whose 2019 reelection campaign&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-b563fe72490a422e809fad211100d06d">sold Trump-branded reusable plastic straws</a>&nbsp;for $15 per pack of 10 — targets a Biden administration policy to&nbsp;<a href="https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/07/19/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-releases-new-strategy-to-tackle-plastic-pollution-takes-action-to-reduce-single-use-plastics-in-federal-operations/">phase out federal purchases of single-use plastics,</a>&nbsp;including straws, from food service operations, events and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035.Trump declared President Joe Biden’s policy “DEAD!” in a social media post over the weekend.While plastic straws have been blamed for polluting oceans and harming marine life, Trump said Monday that he thinks "it's OK” to continue using them. “I don’t think that plastic is going to affect the shark very much as they’re eating, as they’re munching their way through the ocean,'' he said at a White House announcement.Several U.S. states and cities have banned plastic straws, and some restaurants no longer automatically give them to customers. But plastic straws are only a small part of the problem. The environment is littered with single-use plastic food and beverage containers — water bottles, takeout containers, coffee lids, shopping bags and more.Around the world, the equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic&nbsp;<a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26132/reckoning-with-the-us-role-in-global-ocean-plastic-waste">enters the ocean every minute</a>&nbsp;from a range of sources, including plastic bags, toothbrushes, bottles, food packaging and more, experts say. As those materials break down in the environment, microplastics are turning up in the stomachs of fish, birds and other animals, as well as in human blood and tissue.And plastic manufacturing releases planet-warming greenhouse gases and other dangerous pollutants. More than 90% of plastic products are derived from fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, and millions of tons of plastic waste enter the world’s oceans every year. Many multinational companies have moved away from plastic straws and have made reducing plastic use across their operations central to their sustainability goals, making Trump's decision an outlier in the business world.Trump’s order is “more about messaging than finding solutions,″ said Christy Leavitt, plastics campaign director for the environmental group Oceana, noting that most U.S. voters support requiring companies to reduce single-use plastic packaging and foodware.“President Trump is moving in the wrong direction on single-use plastics,'' Leavitt said. “The world is facing a plastic pollution crisis, and we can no longer ignore one of the biggest environmental threats facing our oceans and our planet today.”The plastic manufacturing industry applauded Trump's move.“Straws are just the beginning,” Matt Seaholm, president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association, said in a statement. “‘Back to Plastic’ is a movement we should all get behind.”More than 390 million straws are used every day in the United States, mostly for 30 minutes or less, according to advocacy group Straws Turtle Island Restoration Network. Straws take at least 200 years to decompose and pose a threat to turtles and other wildlife as they degrade into microplastics, the group says."To prevent another sea turtle from becoming a victim to plastic, we must make personal lifestyle alterations to fight for these species,'' the group said in a statement.Every year, the world produces more than 400 million tons of new plastic.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/plastic-pollution-crisis-treaty-south-korea-631960e4375aeec46517133348635a7d">About 40% of all plastics are used in packaging</a>, according to the United Nations.Globally, nations are creating a treaty to address plastic pollution. Leaders met for a week in South Korea late last year but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/plastic-pollution-treaty-south-korea-75187319a8cebc6e54fc1557ff40b266">didn’t reach an agreement</a>. Talks resume this year as more than 100 countries pursue a pact that limits plastic production as well as tackles cleanup and recycling.The U.S., China and Germany are the biggest players in the global plastics trade. U.S. manufacturers have asked Trump to remain at the negotiating table, and to revert to Biden’s previous position that focused on redesigning plastic products, recycling and reuse.White House staff secretary Will Scharf, who presented the executive order to Trump, told him the push for paper straws has cost the government and private industry “an absolute ton of money and left consumers all over the country wildly dissatisfied with their straws. It really is something that affects ordinary Americans in their everyday lives."___Associated Press writer Jennifer McDermott in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this story.

🎥Trump bans federal use of paper straws; paper ones 'don’t work'

Several brands of canned tuna sold at stores including Kroger (Dillons), Trader Joe's, Costco and H-E-B&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tri-union-seafoods-issues-recall-select-genovar-van-campsr-h-e-b-and-trader-joesr-tuna-cans-due">have been recalled</a>&nbsp;because they might be contaminated with a type of bacteria that causes botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning.

<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tri-union-seafoods-issues-recall-select-genovar-van-campsr-h-e-b-and-trader-joesr-tuna-cans-due">Click here to see</a> the list.

Tri-Union Seafoods of El Segundo, California, last week recalled certain lots of tuna sold under the Genova, Van Camp's, H-E-B and Trader Joe's brand names, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The company said that lids on the “easy open” cans may have a manufacturing defect that could cause the products to leak or to become contaminated with the bacteria that causes botulism.

The affected products have retail codes listed in the recall notice and best-by dates in 2027 and 2028. The tuna was also sold at Harris Teeter, Publix, Safeway and some independent stores in several states.

No illnesses have been reported to date, the company said. Consumers should not consume the recalled tuna even if it doesn't look or smell spoiled. Return the recalled tuna to the store for a full refund, throw it away or contact Tri-Union Seafoods.

Botulism is a rare but serious illness that occurs when a toxin caused by the bacteria attacks the body's nerves. It can cause difficulty breathing, paralysis and death.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Several brands of canned tuna sold at stores including Kroger (Dillons), Trader Joe's, Costco and H-E-B&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tri-union-seafoods-issues-recall-select-genovar-van-campsr-h-e-b-and-trader-joesr-tuna-cans-due">have been recalled</a>&nbsp;because they might be contaminated with a type of bacteria that causes botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning.<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tri-union-seafoods-issues-recall-select-genovar-van-campsr-h-e-b-and-trader-joesr-tuna-cans-due">Click here to see</a> the list.Tri-Union Seafoods of El Segundo, California, last week recalled certain lots of tuna sold under the Genova, Van Camp's, H-E-B and Trader Joe's brand names, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.The company said that lids on the “easy open” cans may have a manufacturing defect that could cause the products to leak or to become contaminated with the bacteria that causes botulism.The affected products have retail codes listed in the recall notice and best-by dates in 2027 and 2028. The tuna was also sold at Harris Teeter, Publix, Safeway and some independent stores in several states.No illnesses have been reported to date, the company said. Consumers should not consume the recalled tuna even if it doesn't look or smell spoiled. Return the recalled tuna to the store for a full refund, throw it away or contact Tri-Union Seafoods.Botulism is a rare but serious illness that occurs when a toxin caused by the bacteria attacks the body's nerves. It can cause difficulty breathing, paralysis and death.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Canned tuna sold at Walmart, Costco in Kansas recalled for botulism risk

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a woman on sex crime allegations.

On January 29, an 18-year-old woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted by her former softball coach over several years, between 2021 and 2024, before she reached the age of consent, according to Wichita Police Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Just before 2p.m. Friday police arrested 31-year-old Savana King on requested charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child; fondling, criminal sodomy with a child under the age of 14 and unlawful sexual relations, according to Sedgwick County arrest records. After spending the weekend in jail, King met the requirement of a $250,00 bond and was released from jail just before 10:30a.m. on Monday.

<a href="https://friendsathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/savana-king/2824">King played softball for</a> Friends University, according to the school's website.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739222315038.png" alt="King-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>King-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a woman on sex crime allegations.On January 29, an 18-year-old woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted by her former softball coach over several years, between 2021 and 2024, before she reached the age of consent, according to Wichita Police Officer Juan Rebolledo.Just before 2p.m. Friday police arrested 31-year-old Savana King on requested charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child; fondling, criminal sodomy with a child under the age of 14 and unlawful sexual relations, according to Sedgwick County arrest records. After spending the weekend in jail, King met the requirement of a $250,00 bond and was released from jail just before 10:30a.m. on Monday.<a href="https://friendsathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/savana-king/2824">King played softball for</a> Friends University, according to the school's website.

Kansas teen accused her softball coach of sexual assault

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/david-a-lieb">DAVID A. LIEB</a> Associated Press

For years, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in suburban Indianapolis has wanted to partner with federal immigration authorities to identify and detain immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally and facing charges.

President Joe Biden’s administration never returned its calls, the sheriff’s office said. But as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;cracks down on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">illegal immigration</a>, Hamilton County deputies soon could become the first in Indiana empowered to carry out federal immigration duties and one of many nationally that Trump’s administration hopes to enlist.

“We definitely are joining,” Chief Deputy John Lowes told The Associated Press. “We want to collaborate with ICE to make sure we keep our community safe.”

Under Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-immigration-and-customs-enforcement">U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement</a>&nbsp;is reviving and expanding a decades-old program that trains local law officers to interrogate immigrants in their custody and detain them for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-deportations-border-immigration-bcd2737e6f9b482ec500238c6caa4f35">potential deportation</a>. The 287(g) program — named for a section of the 1996 law that created it — currently applies only to those already jailed or imprisoned on charges.

But Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, recently told sheriffs that he wants to expand it to include local task forces that can make arrests on the streets, reviving a model that former President Barrack Obama discontinued amid concerns about racial profiling. It’s unclear whether that could allow local officers to stop people solely to check their immigration status.

On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Highway Patrol had struck an agreement with ICE to interrogate, arrest and detain immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally and deliver them to federal authorities.

The arrangement will help “fulfill the president’s mission to effectuate the largest deportation program in American history,” DeSantis said.

Advocates for immigrants, meanwhile, are raising alarm about new pacts that put local law officers on immigration enforcement.

“All of these agreements, in practice, have the same track record of racial profiling, of sweeping in U.S. citizens or people who have lawful status, of having a chilling effect in terms of communities reporting crime to local law enforcement agencies,” said Nayna Gupta, policy director at the nonprofit American Immigration Council.

In the early 2000s, many of the initial participants in the 287(g) program had agreements that allowed them to enforce immigration laws in their communities, not just their jails. But problems arose in several places, including Arizona.

In 2011, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25515657-mcso_justice-department_2011/" target="_blank">civil rights investigation</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Department of Justice found that deputies in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, had engaged in a pattern of racial profiling, unlawful stops and arrests of Latinos. The Department of Homeland Security&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbbc09f793ce4550b2445ce30cc8d418">ended its agreement</a>&nbsp;with the county.

The program became “the hallmark of far-right, anti-immigrant sheriffs” as a means “to feed people on the basis of their ethnicity into the deportation machine,” asserted Lena Graber, senior staff attorney at the nonprofit Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

In recent years, ICE has offered two types of 287(g) agreements to law enforcement agencies. One model requires four weeks of training and allows local officers to question suspected noncitizens who are jailed on other charges and detain them for ICE. The other model, which Trump launched during his first term, requires just eight hours of training and only allows local officers to serve federal immigration warrants.

As of December, ICE had 135 agreements with sheriff’s offices, police departments and prison systems in 21 states, with requests pending from 35 others. Two-thirds of the agreements were in just three states — Florida, Texas and North Carolina. But no agreements had been signed during Biden’s four years as president, according to ICE data.

On his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-immigration-homan-asylum-inauguration-ac10480dc636b758ab3c435b974aeb19">first day back in office</a>, Trump ordered the Department of Homeland Security to maximize 287(g) agreements for local law officers to investigate, apprehend and detain immigrants. At a recent National Sheriffs’ Association conference, Homan said the administration is looking to lighten detention facility regulations and shorten the training to encourage greater collaboration with federal immigration officials.

The association’s president, Kieran Donahue, applauded the announcement.

“There’s going to be local sheriffs’ offices throughout the country, no question, they’re going to sign onto this program,” Donahue told the AP.

But Donahue is not planning to sign up his own department in Canyon County, Idaho.

“I don’t have that kind of manpower,” he said, adding: “I have no bed space in my facility. Zero.”

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement in 2002 was the first to sign a 287(g) agreement with the federal government, running a task force for immigration enforcement. Twenty years later, Florida became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-business-florida-ron-desantis-a16cc42c3a77bd80e2c45ee8e6234c13">the first state to require</a>&nbsp;all local agencies with county jails to join the program or inform the state why they couldn’t.

After a Venezuelan man who was illegally in the U.S. killed University of Georgia student Laken Riley, Georgia passed a law last year requiring local law enforcement agencies to apply for the program.

This year, Republican lawmakers in about a dozen states are seeking to require or incentivize cooperative agreements with ICE. One measure is sponsored by Texas state Rep. David Spiller, a Republican who also authored a law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-immigration-migrants-arrest-explainer-306f644e8bb95333b078ed3923adacf0">allowing any law enforcement officer to arrest migrants</a>&nbsp;suspected of entering the country illegally. That law is on hold amid a legal challenge.

Spiller said mandatory participation in ICE programs is essential.

“President Trump and border czar Homan cannot remove and deport all the people that are a public safety threat to our state and our nation over the next year and a half without the help of our local law enforcement,” Spiller said.

Already this year, Florida lawmakers have passed legislation that would allot millions of dollars for local immigration enforcement efforts.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-bill-tennessee-republican-17af910d31b325516da02f0ff9a5c853">Legislation passed in Tennessee</a>&nbsp;would direct the state to apply for the 287(g) program and authorize grants for local agencies that join.

Legislation creating a state grant program for 287(g) participants also passed the Indiana Senate this week and is pending in the House. Democratic state Sen. Rodney Pol called it a “very, very dangerous” and “very, very disturbing” proposal.

“We’re putting too much on people, particularly police officers, that are going to be put into situations where they’re going to have to break up their communities,” Pol said.

But Lowes said Hamilton County deputies plan to focus only on people who are already in jail. Last year, he said, the jail booked over 500 people believed to be noncitizens on charges that included driving while intoxicated, drug possession, theft, burglary, sexual battery and other offenses. It’s unclear how many were in the country illegally, but ICE became involved in 64 of those cases, he said.

“We believe that this program will help us see a reduction in some of those crimes and will help us get some of the people out of our community that are committing crimes that endanger our safety,” Lowes said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738002670796.png" alt="Photo Homeland Security-Ice" />
 <figcaption>Photo Homeland Security-Ice</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/david-a-lieb">DAVID A. LIEB</a> Associated PressFor years, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in suburban Indianapolis has wanted to partner with federal immigration authorities to identify and detain immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally and facing charges.President Joe Biden’s administration never returned its calls, the sheriff’s office said. But as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;cracks down on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">illegal immigration</a>, Hamilton County deputies soon could become the first in Indiana empowered to carry out federal immigration duties and one of many nationally that Trump’s administration hopes to enlist.“We definitely are joining,” Chief Deputy John Lowes told The Associated Press. “We want to collaborate with ICE to make sure we keep our community safe.”Under Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-immigration-and-customs-enforcement">U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement</a>&nbsp;is reviving and expanding a decades-old program that trains local law officers to interrogate immigrants in their custody and detain them for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-deportations-border-immigration-bcd2737e6f9b482ec500238c6caa4f35">potential deportation</a>. The 287(g) program — named for a section of the 1996 law that created it — currently applies only to those already jailed or imprisoned on charges.But Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, recently told sheriffs that he wants to expand it to include local task forces that can make arrests on the streets, reviving a model that former President Barrack Obama discontinued amid concerns about racial profiling. It’s unclear whether that could allow local officers to stop people solely to check their immigration status.On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Highway Patrol had struck an agreement with ICE to interrogate, arrest and detain immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally and deliver them to federal authorities.The arrangement will help “fulfill the president’s mission to effectuate the largest deportation program in American history,” DeSantis said.Advocates for immigrants, meanwhile, are raising alarm about new pacts that put local law officers on immigration enforcement.“All of these agreements, in practice, have the same track record of racial profiling, of sweeping in U.S. citizens or people who have lawful status, of having a chilling effect in terms of communities reporting crime to local law enforcement agencies,” said Nayna Gupta, policy director at the nonprofit American Immigration Council.<h2>A dormant program gets a jumpstart</h2>In the early 2000s, many of the initial participants in the 287(g) program had agreements that allowed them to enforce immigration laws in their communities, not just their jails. But problems arose in several places, including Arizona.In 2011, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25515657-mcso_justice-department_2011/" target="_blank">civil rights investigation</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Department of Justice found that deputies in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, had engaged in a pattern of racial profiling, unlawful stops and arrests of Latinos. The Department of Homeland Security&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbbc09f793ce4550b2445ce30cc8d418">ended its agreement</a>&nbsp;with the county.The program became “the hallmark of far-right, anti-immigrant sheriffs” as a means “to feed people on the basis of their ethnicity into the deportation machine,” asserted Lena Graber, senior staff attorney at the nonprofit Immigrant Legal Resource Center.In recent years, ICE has offered two types of 287(g) agreements to law enforcement agencies. One model requires four weeks of training and allows local officers to question suspected noncitizens who are jailed on other charges and detain them for ICE. The other model, which Trump launched during his first term, requires just eight hours of training and only allows local officers to serve federal immigration warrants.As of December, ICE had 135 agreements with sheriff’s offices, police departments and prison systems in 21 states, with requests pending from 35 others. Two-thirds of the agreements were in just three states — Florida, Texas and North Carolina. But no agreements had been signed during Biden’s four years as president, according to ICE data.On his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-immigration-homan-asylum-inauguration-ac10480dc636b758ab3c435b974aeb19">first day back in office</a>, Trump ordered the Department of Homeland Security to maximize 287(g) agreements for local law officers to investigate, apprehend and detain immigrants. At a recent National Sheriffs’ Association conference, Homan said the administration is looking to lighten detention facility regulations and shorten the training to encourage greater collaboration with federal immigration officials.The association’s president, Kieran Donahue, applauded the announcement.“There’s going to be local sheriffs’ offices throughout the country, no question, they’re going to sign onto this program,” Donahue told the AP.But Donahue is not planning to sign up his own department in Canyon County, Idaho.“I don’t have that kind of manpower,” he said, adding: “I have no bed space in my facility. Zero.”<h2>States push for mandatory ICE training</h2>The Florida Department of Law Enforcement in 2002 was the first to sign a 287(g) agreement with the federal government, running a task force for immigration enforcement. Twenty years later, Florida became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-business-florida-ron-desantis-a16cc42c3a77bd80e2c45ee8e6234c13">the first state to require</a>&nbsp;all local agencies with county jails to join the program or inform the state why they couldn’t.After a Venezuelan man who was illegally in the U.S. killed University of Georgia student Laken Riley, Georgia passed a law last year requiring local law enforcement agencies to apply for the program.This year, Republican lawmakers in about a dozen states are seeking to require or incentivize cooperative agreements with ICE. One measure is sponsored by Texas state Rep. David Spiller, a Republican who also authored a law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-immigration-migrants-arrest-explainer-306f644e8bb95333b078ed3923adacf0">allowing any law enforcement officer to arrest migrants</a>&nbsp;suspected of entering the country illegally. That law is on hold amid a legal challenge.Spiller said mandatory participation in ICE programs is essential.“President Trump and border czar Homan cannot remove and deport all the people that are a public safety threat to our state and our nation over the next year and a half without the help of our local law enforcement,” Spiller said.Already this year, Florida lawmakers have passed legislation that would allot millions of dollars for local immigration enforcement efforts.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-bill-tennessee-republican-17af910d31b325516da02f0ff9a5c853">Legislation passed in Tennessee</a>&nbsp;would direct the state to apply for the 287(g) program and authorize grants for local agencies that join.Legislation creating a state grant program for 287(g) participants also passed the Indiana Senate this week and is pending in the House. Democratic state Sen. Rodney Pol called it a “very, very dangerous” and “very, very disturbing” proposal.“We’re putting too much on people, particularly police officers, that are going to be put into situations where they’re going to have to break up their communities,” Pol said.But Lowes said Hamilton County deputies plan to focus only on people who are already in jail. Last year, he said, the jail booked over 500 people believed to be noncitizens on charges that included driving while intoxicated, drug possession, theft, burglary, sexual battery and other offenses. It’s unclear how many were in the country illegally, but ICE became involved in 64 of those cases, he said.“We believe that this program will help us see a reduction in some of those crimes and will help us get some of the people out of our community that are committing crimes that endanger our safety,” Lowes said.

Trump is signing up local law officers to help with immigration enforcement

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted in connection with a fatal crash in March that killed a police officer on his way home from work is going to prison.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Monday, Judge Christopher Magana followed the plea agreement and sentenced Gage Kaiser, 20, Mulvane, to 43 months in prison and ordered him to pay $2,962 in restitution, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

In December, Kaiser pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under influence, according to the&nbsp;the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;

The accident occurred just before 3:30a.m. March 16, 2024, when a passenger vehicle driven by 26-year-old Scott Hollingsworth was southbound on U.S. 81 at 119th Street, according to Sumner County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Friday. A westbound pickup struck the vehicle driven by Hollingsworth.&nbsp;

Hollingsworth was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported three passengers in the pickup to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The pickup driver, later identified as Kaiser, was not injured.

Clearwater PD said Hollingsworth had served the department for a year. On Sept. 10, Geary County deputies arrested Kaiser.

Hollingsworth's survivors included his wife, Hadley, daughter, Claire, parents, Greg and Nataly, and siblings, Jordan and Sydney.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710681634704.png" alt="Officer Scott Hollingsworth-photo city of Clearwater" />
 <figcaption>Officer Scott Hollingsworth-photo city of Clearwater</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted in connection with a fatal crash in March that killed a police officer on his way home from work is going to prison.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Monday, Judge Christopher Magana followed the plea agreement and sentenced Gage Kaiser, 20, Mulvane, to 43 months in prison and ordered him to pay $2,962 in restitution, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726259901569.png" alt="Kaiser from his arrest in Geary County" />
 <figcaption>Kaiser from his arrest in Geary County</figcaption>
 </figure>In December, Kaiser pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under influence, according to the&nbsp;the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;The accident occurred just before 3:30a.m. March 16, 2024, when a passenger vehicle driven by 26-year-old Scott Hollingsworth was southbound on U.S. 81 at 119th Street, according to Sumner County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Friday. A westbound pickup struck the vehicle driven by Hollingsworth.&nbsp;Hollingsworth was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported three passengers in the pickup to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The pickup driver, later identified as Kaiser, was not injured.Clearwater PD said Hollingsworth had served the department for a year. On Sept. 10, Geary County deputies arrested Kaiser.Hollingsworth's survivors included his wife, Hadley, daughter, Claire, parents, Greg and Nataly, and siblings, Jordan and Sydney.&nbsp;

Plea deal for DUI crash that killed Kansas police officer

KANSAS CITY —It was a deadly Monday in Kansas City. Police are investigating two homicides and have identified the victims.

Just before 6p.m., patrol&nbsp; were dispatched to the 3400 block of Wyoming on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.&nbsp; Upon arrival officers located a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers began performing lifesaving measures and ordered emergency medical personnel to the scene. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.

This is being investigated as a homicide. 

Preliminary information revealed there was an altercation in the parking lot between multiple individuals before shots were fired. Detectives are trying to determine what led up to the incident.

At about the same time, KCPD patrol officers were dispatched to the 8000 block of Hickman Mills on a reported medical nature unknown. Upon arrival officers located a man in the parking lot of a nearby convenience store. He suffering from a gunshot wound. EMS was ordered to the scene and the victim was subsequently pronounced deceased. This is also being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp; Police released no additional details late Monday and have not reported an arrest or possible suspect information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739240797760.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —It was a deadly Monday in Kansas City. Police are investigating two homicides and have identified the victims.Just before 6p.m., patrol&nbsp; were dispatched to the 3400 block of Wyoming on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.&nbsp; Upon arrival officers located a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers began performing lifesaving measures and ordered emergency medical personnel to the scene. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.This is being investigated as a homicide. Preliminary information revealed there was an altercation in the parking lot between multiple individuals before shots were fired. Detectives are trying to determine what led up to the incident.At about the same time, KCPD patrol officers were dispatched to the 8000 block of Hickman Mills on a reported medical nature unknown. Upon arrival officers located a man in the parking lot of a nearby convenience store. He suffering from a gunshot wound. EMS was ordered to the scene and the victim was subsequently pronounced deceased. This is also being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp; Police released no additional details late Monday and have not reported an arrest or possible suspect information.

Deadly Monday in Kansas City: Police investigate 2 homicides

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Monday that a precarious ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas should be canceled if Hamas doesn’t release all the remaining hostages it is holding in Gaza by midday on Saturday — though he also said that such a decision would be up to Israel.

Trump was responding to Hamas saying it will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hostage-release-delay-ceasefire-violations-76d6fd9162160f9554fec37041342714">delay the further release</a>&nbsp;of hostages in the Gaza Strip after accusing Israel of violating the three-week-old ceasefire. The U.S. president said that after the freeing of three visibly emaciated hostages on Saturday it was time for Israel to demand the release of all hostages by noon on Saturday, or restart the war.

“If they’re not here, all hell is going to break out," Trump said. He added of the ceasefire, “Cancel it, and all bets are off.”

Trump said the final decision would be up to Israel, saying, “I’m speaking for myself. Israel can override it.” But asked if the U.S. would join in a response to Hamas if hostages weren't freed, Trump added, "Hamas will find out what I mean.”

Those comments came after Trump said in an interview with Fox News Channel that Palestinians in Gaza would not have a right to return under his plan for U.S. “ownership” of the war-torn territory — contradicting other officials in his administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rubio-leavitt-gaza-permanent-temporary-funding-53d3c737d24dd8ea290e0e7962546575">who have sought to argue Trump was only calling for the temporary relocation of its population</a>.

Less than a week after he floated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-washington-ceasefire-1c8deec4dd46177e08e07d669d595ed3">his plan for the U.S. to take control of Gaza</a>&nbsp;and turn it into “the Riviera of the Middle East,” Trump, in an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier airing Monday, said “No, they wouldn’t” when asked if Palestinians in Gaza would have a right to return to the territory. It comes as he has ramped up pressure on Arab states, especially U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-trump-gaza-egypt-jordan-c6bedbd6ca0702c22b80f1bf07cd4326">allies Jordan and Egypt</a>, to take in Palestinians from Gaza, who claim the territory as part of a future homeland.

“We’ll build safe communities, a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is,” Trump said. “In the meantime, I would own this. Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land. No big money spent.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/egypt-gaza-arab-summit-trump-16697d5c6671b5edeb0d864901fe7edc">Arab nations have sharply criticized the Trump proposal</a>, and Trump is set to host Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday. In addition to concerns about jeopardizing the long-held goals of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Egypt and Jordan have privately raised security concerns about welcoming large numbers of additional refugees into their countries even temporarily.

When asked how he'd convince Abdullah to take in Palestinians, Trump told reporters, “I do think he’ll take, and I think other countries will take also. They have good hearts.”

But he also threatened to potentially withhold billions of dollars of U.S. assistance to Jordan and Egypt if they don't go along with his plan.

“Yeah, maybe, sure why not," Trump said. "If they don’t, I would conceivably withhold aid, yes.”

Trump’s comments risked jeopardizing the already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hostage-release-delay-ceasefire-violations-76d6fd9162160f9554fec37041342714">tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas</a>&nbsp;in Gaza after 15 months of war, with the existing framework for negotiations calling for the massive humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for civilians in Gaza.

After Trump’s initial comments last week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Secretary of State Marco Rubio respectfully insisted that Trump only wanted Palestinians relocated from Gaza “temporarily” and for an “interim” period to allow for debris removal, the disposal of unexploded ordnance and reconstruction.

Speaking of the condition of the remaining hostages, Trump told reporters Monday that he feared Hamas had released the hostages in the best condition and that many scheduled for release are gravely ill or already dead. “Based on what I saw over the past two days, they’re not going to be alive for long," he said.

In a video message released Saturday after Hamas freed the latest hostages on Saturday, Rachel and Jon Goldberg-Polin, the parents of slain American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, called on Trump and his negotiating team to “think bigger and faster” and press for the release of all the remaining hostages this week.

“All 76 hostages out this week,” they said. “End of war. Who benefits from dragging it out for so long? Not the people of this region. Let’s get it done right now.”

Trump last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-washington-ceasefire-1c8deec4dd46177e08e07d669d595ed3">didn't rule out deploying U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;to help secure Gaza but at the same time insisted no U.S. funds would go to pay for the reconstruction of the territory, raising fundamental questions about the nature of his plan.

Egypt on Monday reiterated its rejection to the transfer of Palestinians from their territories in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, warning that such proposals threaten “the foundations of people” in the Middle East.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem its capital is the base for “comprehensive and just peace” in the region.

The statement said Egypt rejects any violations to the Palestinians’ “right of self-determination … and independence,” and “upholds the right of return for Palestinian refugees who were forced to leave their homeland,” in a reference to hundreds of thousands who were forced to flee their homes in what is now Israel during the 1948 war.

A senior Hamas official blasted Trump’s latest remarks about the U.S. ownership of Gaza as “absurd.”

Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas' politico bureau, said these comments “reflect a deep ignorance of Palestine and the region.”

In comments released by Hamas early Monday, he said Trump’s approach toward the Palestinian cause will fail.

“Dealing with the Palestinian cause with the mentality of a real estate dealer is a recipe for failure,” he said. “Our Palestinian people will thwart all transfer and deportation plans.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Monday that a precarious ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas should be canceled if Hamas doesn’t release all the remaining hostages it is holding in Gaza by midday on Saturday — though he also said that such a decision would be up to Israel.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 PRESIDENT TRUMP: &quot;If all of the hostages are not returned by Saturday at 12 o&#39;clock, I would say cancel it and all bets are off... All of them. Not in drips and drabs.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/MozJATMKRy">pic.twitter.com/MozJATMKRy</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1889097153118646439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump was responding to Hamas saying it will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hostage-release-delay-ceasefire-violations-76d6fd9162160f9554fec37041342714">delay the further release</a>&nbsp;of hostages in the Gaza Strip after accusing Israel of violating the three-week-old ceasefire. The U.S. president said that after the freeing of three visibly emaciated hostages on Saturday it was time for Israel to demand the release of all hostages by noon on Saturday, or restart the war.“If they’re not here, all hell is going to break out," Trump said. He added of the ceasefire, “Cancel it, and all bets are off.”Trump said the final decision would be up to Israel, saying, “I’m speaking for myself. Israel can override it.” But asked if the U.S. would join in a response to Hamas if hostages weren't freed, Trump added, "Hamas will find out what I mean.”Those comments came after Trump said in an interview with Fox News Channel that Palestinians in Gaza would not have a right to return under his plan for U.S. “ownership” of the war-torn territory — contradicting other officials in his administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rubio-leavitt-gaza-permanent-temporary-funding-53d3c737d24dd8ea290e0e7962546575">who have sought to argue Trump was only calling for the temporary relocation of its population</a>.Less than a week after he floated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-washington-ceasefire-1c8deec4dd46177e08e07d669d595ed3">his plan for the U.S. to take control of Gaza</a>&nbsp;and turn it into “the Riviera of the Middle East,” Trump, in an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier airing Monday, said “No, they wouldn’t” when asked if Palestinians in Gaza would have a right to return to the territory. It comes as he has ramped up pressure on Arab states, especially U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-trump-gaza-egypt-jordan-c6bedbd6ca0702c22b80f1bf07cd4326">allies Jordan and Egypt</a>, to take in Palestinians from Gaza, who claim the territory as part of a future homeland.“We’ll build safe communities, a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is,” Trump said. “In the meantime, I would own this. Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land. No big money spent.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/egypt-gaza-arab-summit-trump-16697d5c6671b5edeb0d864901fe7edc">Arab nations have sharply criticized the Trump proposal</a>, and Trump is set to host Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday. In addition to concerns about jeopardizing the long-held goals of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Egypt and Jordan have privately raised security concerns about welcoming large numbers of additional refugees into their countries even temporarily.When asked how he'd convince Abdullah to take in Palestinians, Trump told reporters, “I do think he’ll take, and I think other countries will take also. They have good hearts.”But he also threatened to potentially withhold billions of dollars of U.S. assistance to Jordan and Egypt if they don't go along with his plan.“Yeah, maybe, sure why not," Trump said. "If they don’t, I would conceivably withhold aid, yes.”Trump’s comments risked jeopardizing the already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hostage-release-delay-ceasefire-violations-76d6fd9162160f9554fec37041342714">tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas</a>&nbsp;in Gaza after 15 months of war, with the existing framework for negotiations calling for the massive humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for civilians in Gaza.After Trump’s initial comments last week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Secretary of State Marco Rubio respectfully insisted that Trump only wanted Palestinians relocated from Gaza “temporarily” and for an “interim” period to allow for debris removal, the disposal of unexploded ordnance and reconstruction.Speaking of the condition of the remaining hostages, Trump told reporters Monday that he feared Hamas had released the hostages in the best condition and that many scheduled for release are gravely ill or already dead. “Based on what I saw over the past two days, they’re not going to be alive for long," he said.In a video message released Saturday after Hamas freed the latest hostages on Saturday, Rachel and Jon Goldberg-Polin, the parents of slain American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, called on Trump and his negotiating team to “think bigger and faster” and press for the release of all the remaining hostages this week.“All 76 hostages out this week,” they said. “End of war. Who benefits from dragging it out for so long? Not the people of this region. Let’s get it done right now.”Trump last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-washington-ceasefire-1c8deec4dd46177e08e07d669d595ed3">didn't rule out deploying U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;to help secure Gaza but at the same time insisted no U.S. funds would go to pay for the reconstruction of the territory, raising fundamental questions about the nature of his plan.Egypt on Monday reiterated its rejection to the transfer of Palestinians from their territories in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, warning that such proposals threaten “the foundations of people” in the Middle East.In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem its capital is the base for “comprehensive and just peace” in the region.The statement said Egypt rejects any violations to the Palestinians’ “right of self-determination … and independence,” and “upholds the right of return for Palestinian refugees who were forced to leave their homeland,” in a reference to hundreds of thousands who were forced to flee their homes in what is now Israel during the 1948 war.A senior Hamas official blasted Trump’s latest remarks about the U.S. ownership of Gaza as “absurd.”Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas' politico bureau, said these comments “reflect a deep ignorance of Palestine and the region.”In comments released by Hamas early Monday, he said Trump’s approach toward the Palestinian cause will fail.“Dealing with the Palestinian cause with the mentality of a real estate dealer is a recipe for failure,” he said. “Our Palestinian people will thwart all transfer and deportation plans.”___Magdy reported from Cairo.