WASHINGTON (AP) —TikTok faced off with the U.S. government in federal court on Monday, arguing a law that could ban the platform in a few short months is unconstitutional while the Justice Department said it is needed to eliminate a national security risk posed by the popular social media company.

In a more than two hour appearance before a panel of three judges at a federal appeals court in Washington, attorneys for the two sides - and content creators - were pressed on their best arguments for and against the law that forces the two companies to break ties by mid-January or lose one of their biggest markets in the world.

Andrew Pincus, a veteran attorney representing the two companies, argued in court that the law unfairly targets the company and runs afoul of the First Amendment because TikTok Inc. - the U.S. arm of TikTok - is an American entity. After his remarks, another attorney representing content creators who are also challenging the law argued it violates the rights of U.S. speakers and is akin to prohibiting Americans from publishing on foreign-owned media outlets, such as Politico, Al Jazeera or Spotify.

“The law before this court is unprecedented and its effect would be staggering,” Pincus said, adding the act would impose speech limitations based on future risks.

The measure, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-timeline-ban-biden-india-d3219a32de913f8083612e71ecf1f428">years-long saga in Washington</a>&nbsp;over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-shou-zi-chew-8d8a6a9694357040d484670b7f4833be">sees as a national security threat</a>&nbsp;due to its connections to China.

The U.S. has said it's concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-censorship-us-data-240e11d9bb6212b0c9b1adab821e5005">sensitive information on viewing habits</a>, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect.

Daniel Tenny, an attorney for the Justice Department, acknowledged in court that data collection is useful for many companies for commercial purposes, such as target advertisements or tailoring videos to users' interests.

“The problem is that same data is extremely valuable to a foreign adversary trying to compromise the security of the United States,” he said.

Pincus, the attorney for TikTok, said Congress should have erred on the side of disclosing any potential propaganda on the platform instead of pursuing a divesture-or-ban approach, which the two companies have maintained will only lead to a ban. He also said statements from lawmakers before the law was passed shows they were motivated by the propaganda they perceived to be on TikTok, namely an imbalance between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel content on the platform during the war in Gaza.

But the panel - composed of two Republican and one Democrat appointed judges - expressed some skepticism, pressing the attorneys on TikTok's side if they believe the government has any leeway to curtail an influential media company controlled by a foreign entity in an adversarial nation. In parts of their questions about TikTok's foreign ownership, the judges asked if the arguments presented would apply in cases where the U.S. is engaged in war.

Judge Neomi Rao, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, said the creators suing over the law could continue speaking on TikTok if the company is sold or if they choose to post content on other platforms. But Jeffrey Fisher, their attorney, argued there are not “interchangeable mediums” for them because TikTok — which has 170 million U.S. users — is unique in its look and feel, and the types of audiences it allows them to reach.

Paul Tran, one of the content creators who is suing the government, told reporters outside the courthouse on Monday that a skincare company him and his wife founded in 2018 was struggling until they started making TikTok videos three years ago. He said they had tried to market their products through traditional advertising and other social media apps. But the TikTok videos were the only thing that drove views, helping them get enough orders to sell out of products and even appear on TV shows.

“TikTok truly invigorated our company and saved it from collapse,” Tran said.

Currently, he noted the company - Love and Pebble - sells more than 90% of its products over TikTok, which is covering the legal fees for the creator lawsuit.

In the second half of the hearing, the panel pressed the Justice Department on First Amendment challenges to the law.

Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, said efforts to stem content manipulation through government action does set off alarm bells and impact people who receive speech on TikTok. Tenny, the attorney for the DOJ, responded by saying the law doesn't target TikTok users or creators and that any impact on them is only indirect.

For its part, TikTok has repeatedly said it does not share U.S. user data with the Chinese government and that concerns the government has raised have never been substantiated. In their lawsuit, TikTok and ByteDance have also claimed divestment is not possible. And even if it was, they say TikTok would be reduced to a shell of its former self because it would be stripped of the technology that powers it.

Though the government’s primary reasoning for the law is public, significant portions of its court filings includes information that's redacted.

In one of the redacted statements submitted in late July, the Justice Department claimed TikTok took direction from the Chinese government about content on its platform, without disclosing additional details about when or why those incidents occurred. Casey Blackburn, a senior U.S. intelligence official, wrote in a legal statement that ByteDance and TikTok “have taken action in response” to Chinese government demands “to censor content outside of China.” Though the intelligence community had “no information” that this has happened on the platform operated by TikTok in the U.S., Blackburn said it may occur.

But the companies have argued the government could have taken a more tailored approach to resolve its concerns.

During high-stakes negotiations with the Biden administration more than two years ago, TikTok presented the government with a draft 90-page agreement that allows a third party to monitor the platform’s algorithm, content moderation practices and other programming. But it said a deal was not reached because government officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-lawsuit-ban-5fc3bb029141b314c1f9d54b2ea47e61">essentially walked away</a>&nbsp;from the negotiating table in August 2022.

WASHINGTON (AP) —TikTok faced off with the U.S. government in federal court on Monday, arguing a law that could ban the platform in a few short months is unconstitutional while the Justice Department said it is needed to eliminate a national security risk posed by the popular social media company.In a more than two hour appearance before a panel of three judges at a federal appeals court in Washington, attorneys for the two sides - and content creators - were pressed on their best arguments for and against the law that forces the two companies to break ties by mid-January or lose one of their biggest markets in the world.Andrew Pincus, a veteran attorney representing the two companies, argued in court that the law unfairly targets the company and runs afoul of the First Amendment because TikTok Inc. - the U.S. arm of TikTok - is an American entity. After his remarks, another attorney representing content creators who are also challenging the law argued it violates the rights of U.S. speakers and is akin to prohibiting Americans from publishing on foreign-owned media outlets, such as Politico, Al Jazeera or Spotify.“The law before this court is unprecedented and its effect would be staggering,” Pincus said, adding the act would impose speech limitations based on future risks.The measure, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-timeline-ban-biden-india-d3219a32de913f8083612e71ecf1f428">years-long saga in Washington</a>&nbsp;over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-shou-zi-chew-8d8a6a9694357040d484670b7f4833be">sees as a national security threat</a>&nbsp;due to its connections to China.The U.S. has said it's concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-censorship-us-data-240e11d9bb6212b0c9b1adab821e5005">sensitive information on viewing habits</a>, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect.Daniel Tenny, an attorney for the Justice Department, acknowledged in court that data collection is useful for many companies for commercial purposes, such as target advertisements or tailoring videos to users' interests.“The problem is that same data is extremely valuable to a foreign adversary trying to compromise the security of the United States,” he said.Pincus, the attorney for TikTok, said Congress should have erred on the side of disclosing any potential propaganda on the platform instead of pursuing a divesture-or-ban approach, which the two companies have maintained will only lead to a ban. He also said statements from lawmakers before the law was passed shows they were motivated by the propaganda they perceived to be on TikTok, namely an imbalance between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel content on the platform during the war in Gaza.But the panel - composed of two Republican and one Democrat appointed judges - expressed some skepticism, pressing the attorneys on TikTok's side if they believe the government has any leeway to curtail an influential media company controlled by a foreign entity in an adversarial nation. In parts of their questions about TikTok's foreign ownership, the judges asked if the arguments presented would apply in cases where the U.S. is engaged in war.Judge Neomi Rao, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, said the creators suing over the law could continue speaking on TikTok if the company is sold or if they choose to post content on other platforms. But Jeffrey Fisher, their attorney, argued there are not “interchangeable mediums” for them because TikTok — which has 170 million U.S. users — is unique in its look and feel, and the types of audiences it allows them to reach.Paul Tran, one of the content creators who is suing the government, told reporters outside the courthouse on Monday that a skincare company him and his wife founded in 2018 was struggling until they started making TikTok videos three years ago. He said they had tried to market their products through traditional advertising and other social media apps. But the TikTok videos were the only thing that drove views, helping them get enough orders to sell out of products and even appear on TV shows.“TikTok truly invigorated our company and saved it from collapse,” Tran said.Currently, he noted the company - Love and Pebble - sells more than 90% of its products over TikTok, which is covering the legal fees for the creator lawsuit.In the second half of the hearing, the panel pressed the Justice Department on First Amendment challenges to the law.Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, said efforts to stem content manipulation through government action does set off alarm bells and impact people who receive speech on TikTok. Tenny, the attorney for the DOJ, responded by saying the law doesn't target TikTok users or creators and that any impact on them is only indirect.For its part, TikTok has repeatedly said it does not share U.S. user data with the Chinese government and that concerns the government has raised have never been substantiated. In their lawsuit, TikTok and ByteDance have also claimed divestment is not possible. And even if it was, they say TikTok would be reduced to a shell of its former self because it would be stripped of the technology that powers it.Though the government’s primary reasoning for the law is public, significant portions of its court filings includes information that's redacted.In one of the redacted statements submitted in late July, the Justice Department claimed TikTok took direction from the Chinese government about content on its platform, without disclosing additional details about when or why those incidents occurred. Casey Blackburn, a senior U.S. intelligence official, wrote in a legal statement that ByteDance and TikTok “have taken action in response” to Chinese government demands “to censor content outside of China.” Though the intelligence community had “no information” that this has happened on the platform operated by TikTok in the U.S., Blackburn said it may occur.But the companies have argued the government could have taken a more tailored approach to resolve its concerns.During high-stakes negotiations with the Biden administration more than two years ago, TikTok presented the government with a draft 90-page agreement that allows a third party to monitor the platform’s algorithm, content moderation practices and other programming. But it said a deal was not reached because government officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-lawsuit-ban-5fc3bb029141b314c1f9d54b2ea47e61">essentially walked away</a>&nbsp;from the negotiating table in August 2022.

TikTok and the U.S. face off in court over law that could lead to a ban

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a surge of reports of a vague school shooting threat circulating online about the USD 230 Spring Hill school district, according to a statement from the Johnson County Sheriff's office.

With the help of the school resources officers and sheriff's deputies, the sheriff's office have determine the threats are unsubstantiated.

To be proactive , the sheriff's office has increased their presence at schools in Spring Hill and adjacent districts out of an abundance of caution.&nbsp;Spring Hill is a city in Johnson and Miami counties.

The sheriff's office is working with the school district administrators to ensure and maintain a safe and secure environment for students and staff.

The sheriff's office encourage the public, " if you see something, say something."&nbsp; The sheriff's office also thanked the public for alerting them to to these social media posts circulating online. "We take every report seriously."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697128767642.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a surge of reports of a vague school shooting threat circulating online about the USD 230 Spring Hill school district, according to a statement from the Johnson County Sheriff's office.With the help of the school resources officers and sheriff's deputies, the sheriff's office have determine the threats are unsubstantiated.To be proactive , the sheriff's office has increased their presence at schools in Spring Hill and adjacent districts out of an abundance of caution.&nbsp;Spring Hill is a city in Johnson and Miami counties.The sheriff's office is working with the school district administrators to ensure and maintain a safe and secure environment for students and staff.The sheriff's office encourage the public, " if you see something, say something."&nbsp; The sheriff's office also thanked the public for alerting them to to these social media posts circulating online. "We take every report seriously."

Increased police presence in Kan. school districts due to online threats

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

This is the third year for the <a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/impact/heartland-community-foundation-youth-action-council/">Heartland Community Foundation's Youth Action Council</a>, which has grown to 45 teenage participants from eight high schools in Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties.

"They have great ideas, and they're excited about their communities. They want to help,"&nbsp; said Sarah Meitner, Heartland Community Foundation executive director.&nbsp;"They give me a lot of good energy and feel-good time when I'm with them."

One recent idea is a mural project underway in Damar, which was organized by three members of Palco High School, two of whom just graduated.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trinity Couse, Lucina Parsons and Kenzie Wells wrote grants to the Office of Rural Prosperity Kansas Department of Commerce and to Heartland Community Foundation and did some additional fundraising.&nbsp;

They've raised more than $12,000 for two building murals, one in Damar and one in Palco. The Heartland grant was for $4,000.

"The painted murals are postcard style, saying 'Welcome to Damar' and 'Welcome to Palco.' They look wonderful," Meitner said of the initial design plan.&nbsp;

"This is a tremendous legacy from these teenagers," she said.

Donors will be recognized on plaques placed at both murals.

The teens meet monthly in their respective counties to talk about different aspects of leadership with adult mentors.

They've learned about organizational tips, grant writing and community engagement.

"Hopefully, we're also instilling in them a sense of rural pride that will stay with them into their adult years," Meitner said. "I'm already eyeing a couple of them as adult board members of the community."

Some original Youth Action Council members have graduated high school and are now attending Fort Hays State University.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There, they started the new Tiger Action Council.

"It's a little bit more informal," Meitner said. "I want them to come in and have a good college experience. But if we can be a resource and be the wind in their wings for their campus or community, we're here to do that. I'm excited to see those kids grow, too."

The Gen-Z members of Tiger Action Council and Youth Action Council, are hands-on, Meitner said.

Between 12 and 27, they've also grown up sharing their experiences on social media.

"It's [still] community-oriented, but definitely a generational shift in how giving looks. ... They want to leave a mark on their communities."&nbsp;

"They want to feel empowered. They want to get their hands dirty. It's not just raising money. They want to raise the money and then go and do the project."

Other projects for the Youth Action Council are underway in Ellis County. Heartland Community Foundation awarded the group $5,000 for their "Bison on the Loose" public art installation project in Hays, Ellis and Victoria.&nbsp;

Heartland awarded the Rooks County Youth Action Council in Plainville $3,838 for raised garden beds and a collaborative project at Red Bud Village.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726505289661.jpeg" alt="Spearheaded by the Heartland Community Foundation Youth Action Council of Rooks County, the "Welcome to Damar" mural project nears completion. Artwork by Layne Stafford, a Hill City native. Courtesy image&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Spearheaded by the Heartland Community Foundation Youth Action Council of Rooks County, the "Welcome to Damar" mural project nears completion. Artwork by Layne Stafford, a Hill City native. Courtesy image&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThis is the third year for the <a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/impact/heartland-community-foundation-youth-action-council/">Heartland Community Foundation's Youth Action Council</a>, which has grown to 45 teenage participants from eight high schools in Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties."They have great ideas, and they're excited about their communities. They want to help,"&nbsp; said Sarah Meitner, Heartland Community Foundation executive director.&nbsp;"They give me a lot of good energy and feel-good time when I'm with them."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726093036151.jpeg" alt="The blank building canvas for the new Damar mural. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The blank building canvas for the new Damar mural. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726093009945.jpeg" alt="Trinity Couse and Kenzie Wells, members of the Heartland Community Foundation Youth Action Council in Rooks County, help clean and prep the building wall prior to painting a town mural in Damar. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Trinity Couse and Kenzie Wells, members of the Heartland Community Foundation Youth Action Council in Rooks County, help clean and prep the building wall prior to painting a town mural in Damar. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>One recent idea is a mural project underway in Damar, which was organized by three members of Palco High School, two of whom just graduated.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trinity Couse, Lucina Parsons and Kenzie Wells wrote grants to the Office of Rural Prosperity Kansas Department of Commerce and to Heartland Community Foundation and did some additional fundraising.&nbsp;They've raised more than $12,000 for two building murals, one in Damar and one in Palco. The Heartland grant was for $4,000."The painted murals are postcard style, saying 'Welcome to Damar' and 'Welcome to Palco.' They look wonderful," Meitner said of the initial design plan.&nbsp;"This is a tremendous legacy from these teenagers," she said.Donors will be recognized on plaques placed at both murals.The teens meet monthly in their respective counties to talk about different aspects of leadership with adult mentors.They've learned about organizational tips, grant writing and community engagement."Hopefully, we're also instilling in them a sense of rural pride that will stay with them into their adult years," Meitner said. "I'm already eyeing a couple of them as adult board members of the community."Some original Youth Action Council members have graduated high school and are now attending Fort Hays State University.&nbsp;&nbsp;There, they started the new Tiger Action Council."It's a little bit more informal," Meitner said. "I want them to come in and have a good college experience. But if we can be a resource and be the wind in their wings for their campus or community, we're here to do that. I'm excited to see those kids grow, too."The Gen-Z members of Tiger Action Council and Youth Action Council, are hands-on, Meitner said.Between 12 and 27, they've also grown up sharing their experiences on social media."It's [still] community-oriented, but definitely a generational shift in how giving looks. ... They want to leave a mark on their communities."&nbsp;"They want to feel empowered. They want to get their hands dirty. It's not just raising money. They want to raise the money and then go and do the project."Other projects for the Youth Action Council are underway in Ellis County. Heartland Community Foundation awarded the group $5,000 for their "Bison on the Loose" public art installation project in Hays, Ellis and Victoria.&nbsp;Heartland awarded the Rooks County Youth Action Council in Plainville $3,838 for raised garden beds and a collaborative project at Red Bud Village.&nbsp;

🎙 Heartland foundation youth council busy with projects in 3 counties

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;wasn’t harmed by Sunday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-gunshots-florida-f62f8378d3a8ce7b2e99d6a8fb40aba9">apparent assassination attempt</a>&nbsp;as he golfed near his Florida club. But the second attack on his life in barely two months is likely to further unsettle an election cycle already marked by upheaval.

The man suspected in the incident,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-suspect-ukraine-f76ed09f256f6bd21727a10901d92af7">Ryan Wesley Routh</a>, camped outside the golf course in West Palm Beach with food and a rifle for nearly 12 hours, according to court documents filed Monday. He is accused of lying in wait for the former president before a Secret Service agent opened fire, thwarting the potential attack.

Here are five things to know about what happened and where the investigation stands:

Routh, 58, faces charges of possessing a firearm despite a prior felony conviction and of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Additional charges are possible.

The suspect lived in North Carolina for most of his life before moving in 2018 to Kaaawa, Hawaii. He and his son operated a company building sheds, according to an archived version of the webpage for the business.

Routh appeared briefly in federal court in West Palm Beach on Monday. He had frequently posted on social media about the war in Ukraine and had a website where he sought to raise money and recruit volunteers to go to Kyiv to join the fight against the Russian invasion.

“Fight and die to stop aggression,” he posted on X in February 2023 about Ukraine. “Everyone should be outraged and helping.” In a video circulating online Routh said, “This is about good versus evil.”

He also wrote separately on X, “I am going to fight and die for Ukraine,” and he even traveled there.

Video shot by The Associated Press showed Routh at a small demonstration in Kyiv’s Independence Square in April 2022, two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of the country. A placard he was holding said: “We cannot tolerate corruption and evil for another 50+ years. End Russia for our kids.” Routh wore a blue vest with the U.S. flag on the back.

That same day, Routh also visited a makeshift memorial to “Foreigners killed by Putin.”

But Routh never served in the Ukrainian army or worked with its military, said Oleksandr Shahuri of the Foreigners Coordination Department of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Command.

Routh's politics, meanwhile, don't appear consistently aligned to one party or the other.

In June 2020, he offered a post on X directed at then-President Trump to say he would win reelection if he issued an executive order for the Justice Department to prosecute police misconduct. That year, he also posted in support of the Democratic presidential campaign of then-U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who has since left the party and endorsed Trump.

However, in recent years, his posts suggest he soured on Trump, and he expressed support for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

In July, following the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania, Routh urged Biden and Harris to visit those wounded in the shooting at the hospital and to attend the funeral of a former fire chief killed at the rally.

Voter records show he registered as an unaffiliated voter in North Carolina in 2012, most recently voting in person during the state’s Democratic Party primary in March 2024. Federal campaign finance records show Routh made 19 small political donations totaling $140 since 2019 using his Hawaii address through a political action committee that supports Democratic candidates.

Records show that while living in Greensboro, North Carolina, Routh had multiple run-ins with law enforcement. The top FBI official in the Miami, Jeffrey B. Veltri, said Routh has numerous felony charges for stolen goods between 1997 and 2010. He also was the subject of a closed investigation in 2019 when someone reported he was a felon in possession of a firearm, but Veltri said the tipster would not confirm making the report.

Routh was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, according to online North Carolina Department of Adult Correction records.

Authorities spotted a firearm poking out of shrubbery on the West Palm Beach golf course around 400 to 500 yards from where Trump was playing. As the former president was moving through the fifth hole's fairway, an agent who was visually sweeping the area of the sixth hole's green saw the subject, armed with what he perceived to be a rifle, and immediately discharged his firearm, said acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. of the U.S. Secret Service.

Rowe said Routh “did not have a line of sight to the former president” and did not fire at Secret Service agents before fleeing.

Routh sped away before being captured in a neighboring county.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2214283825615030&amp;rdid=5QlCDJr1drAouqI4">Body camera footage</a>&nbsp;of Routh’s arrest showed him walking backward with his hands over his head on the side of a road before being handcuffed and led away.

The suspect is believed to have been positioned at the tree line of the golf course from about 1:59 a.m. to 1:31 p.m. Sunday. A digital camera, a loaded SKS-style rifle with a scope and a plastic bag containing food were recovered from the area.

Trump’s protective detail has been higher than some of his peers because of his high visibility and his campaign to seek the White House again. His security was bolstered days before the July 13 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania because of a threat on Trump’s life from Iran, U.S. officials said.

Trump initially posted, “I AM SAFE AND WELL!” and subsequently praised the Secret Service for protecting him.

But the former president pivoted Monday to the politics surrounding the incident, claiming — without evidence — that Biden and Harris comments that he is a threat to democracy had inspired the latest attempt on his life.

“Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at," Trump told Fox News Digital. In a subsequent post on his social media site Monday, Trump wrote that the left “has taken politics in our Country to a whole new level of Hatred, Abuse, and Distrust.” He said “it will only get worse,” then veered into comments about immigration, even though there is no evidence immigrants were involved in the incident.

The former president made those comments despite his own long history of inflammatory campaign rhetoric and advocacy for jailing or prosecuting his political enemies.

Trump hasn't announced any changes to his schedule and spoke live on X on Monday night from his Mar-a-Lago resort. Harris met with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters at the 1.3 million-member group’s headquarters in Washington.

Still, a presidential race already rocked by Biden giving up his reelection bid and the first attack on Trump now is being further shaped by a second one. The leaders of a congressional bipartisan task force investigating Trump's Pennsylvania shooting said they have requested a briefing by the Secret Service.

“We are thankful that the former President was not harmed, but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms,” Reps. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Jason Crow, D-Colo., said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726536262473.png" alt="Ryan Wesley Routh at his arrest -photo Martin County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Ryan Wesley Routh at his arrest -photo Martin County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;wasn’t harmed by Sunday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-gunshots-florida-f62f8378d3a8ce7b2e99d6a8fb40aba9">apparent assassination attempt</a>&nbsp;as he golfed near his Florida club. But the second attack on his life in barely two months is likely to further unsettle an election cycle already marked by upheaval.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMartinCountySheriffsOffice%2Fvideos%2F1805385979995807%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=7" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The man suspected in the incident,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-suspect-ukraine-f76ed09f256f6bd21727a10901d92af7">Ryan Wesley Routh</a>, camped outside the golf course in West Palm Beach with food and a rifle for nearly 12 hours, according to court documents filed Monday. He is accused of lying in wait for the former president before a Secret Service agent opened fire, thwarting the potential attack.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMartinCountySheriffsOffice%2Fvideos%2F2214283825615030%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Here are five things to know about what happened and where the investigation stands:<h2>Who is the suspect?</h2>Routh, 58, faces charges of possessing a firearm despite a prior felony conviction and of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Additional charges are possible.The suspect lived in North Carolina for most of his life before moving in 2018 to Kaaawa, Hawaii. He and his son operated a company building sheds, according to an archived version of the webpage for the business.Routh appeared briefly in federal court in West Palm Beach on Monday. He had frequently posted on social media about the war in Ukraine and had a website where he sought to raise money and recruit volunteers to go to Kyiv to join the fight against the Russian invasion.“Fight and die to stop aggression,” he posted on X in February 2023 about Ukraine. “Everyone should be outraged and helping.” In a video circulating online Routh said, “This is about good versus evil.”He also wrote separately on X, “I am going to fight and die for Ukraine,” and he even traveled there.Video shot by The Associated Press showed Routh at a small demonstration in Kyiv’s Independence Square in April 2022, two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of the country. A placard he was holding said: “We cannot tolerate corruption and evil for another 50+ years. End Russia for our kids.” Routh wore a blue vest with the U.S. flag on the back.That same day, Routh also visited a makeshift memorial to “Foreigners killed by Putin.”But Routh never served in the Ukrainian army or worked with its military, said Oleksandr Shahuri of the Foreigners Coordination Department of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Command.Routh's politics, meanwhile, don't appear consistently aligned to one party or the other.In June 2020, he offered a post on X directed at then-President Trump to say he would win reelection if he issued an executive order for the Justice Department to prosecute police misconduct. That year, he also posted in support of the Democratic presidential campaign of then-U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who has since left the party and endorsed Trump.However, in recent years, his posts suggest he soured on Trump, and he expressed support for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.In July, following the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania, Routh urged Biden and Harris to visit those wounded in the shooting at the hospital and to attend the funeral of a former fire chief killed at the rally.Voter records show he registered as an unaffiliated voter in North Carolina in 2012, most recently voting in person during the state’s Democratic Party primary in March 2024. Federal campaign finance records show Routh made 19 small political donations totaling $140 since 2019 using his Hawaii address through a political action committee that supports Democratic candidates.Records show that while living in Greensboro, North Carolina, Routh had multiple run-ins with law enforcement. The top FBI official in the Miami, Jeffrey B. Veltri, said Routh has numerous felony charges for stolen goods between 1997 and 2010. He also was the subject of a closed investigation in 2019 when someone reported he was a felon in possession of a firearm, but Veltri said the tipster would not confirm making the report.Routh was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, according to online North Carolina Department of Adult Correction records.<h2>How did this happen?</h2>Authorities spotted a firearm poking out of shrubbery on the West Palm Beach golf course around 400 to 500 yards from where Trump was playing. As the former president was moving through the fifth hole's fairway, an agent who was visually sweeping the area of the sixth hole's green saw the subject, armed with what he perceived to be a rifle, and immediately discharged his firearm, said acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. of the U.S. Secret Service.Rowe said Routh “did not have a line of sight to the former president” and did not fire at Secret Service agents before fleeing.Routh sped away before being captured in a neighboring county.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2214283825615030&amp;rdid=5QlCDJr1drAouqI4">Body camera footage</a>&nbsp;of Routh’s arrest showed him walking backward with his hands over his head on the side of a road before being handcuffed and led away.The suspect is believed to have been positioned at the tree line of the golf course from about 1:59 a.m. to 1:31 p.m. Sunday. A digital camera, a loaded SKS-style rifle with a scope and a plastic bag containing food were recovered from the area.Trump’s protective detail has been higher than some of his peers because of his high visibility and his campaign to seek the White House again. His security was bolstered days before the July 13 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania because of a threat on Trump’s life from Iran, U.S. officials said.<h2>What has Trump said since?</h2>Trump initially posted, “I AM SAFE AND WELL!” and subsequently praised the Secret Service for protecting him.But the former president pivoted Monday to the politics surrounding the incident, claiming — without evidence — that Biden and Harris comments that he is a threat to democracy had inspired the latest attempt on his life.“Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at," Trump told Fox News Digital. In a subsequent post on his social media site Monday, Trump wrote that the left “has taken politics in our Country to a whole new level of Hatred, Abuse, and Distrust.” He said “it will only get worse,” then veered into comments about immigration, even though there is no evidence immigrants were involved in the incident.The former president made those comments despite his own long history of inflammatory campaign rhetoric and advocacy for jailing or prosecuting his political enemies.<h2>What’s next?</h2>Trump hasn't announced any changes to his schedule and spoke live on X on Monday night from his Mar-a-Lago resort. Harris met with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters at the 1.3 million-member group’s headquarters in Washington.Still, a presidential race already rocked by Biden giving up his reelection bid and the first attack on Trump now is being further shaped by a second one. The leaders of a congressional bipartisan task force investigating Trump's Pennsylvania shooting said they have requested a briefing by the Secret Service.“We are thankful that the former President was not harmed, but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms,” Reps. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Jason Crow, D-Colo., said in a statement.___

🎥 New bodycam footage of arrest of Trump would-be assassin

By NATE KING Salina Post

A 37-year-old Salina man was arrested on Friday after he allegedly made alarming statements about plans to "shoot up a school" while standing in line at a local Casey's convenience store.

Just after 8 a.m. on Sept. 13,&nbsp; police responded to Casey's at 725 West Schilling Road after a concerned customer called to report a man standing in line making concerning statements.

"The reporting party indicated that they were in the store waiting in line when the suspect allegedly stated that he was running late and had plans to shoot up a school, adding that, 'people were gonna die,'" said SPD Captain James Feldman.

Officers quickly arrived on the scene and located the suspect identified as 37-year-old Johnny Baldwin of Salina. No weapons were found at the scene, and Baldwin did not attempt to flee. He was taken into custody without incident.

Baldwin remains in custody currently on a requested charge of criminal threat.

Police urge the community to remain vigilant and report any concerning behavior they see or hear. SPD Feldman thanked the citizen for making the call.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726407579924.png" alt="Baldwin remains jailed in Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Baldwin remains jailed in Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>By NATE KING Salina PostA 37-year-old Salina man was arrested on Friday after he allegedly made alarming statements about plans to "shoot up a school" while standing in line at a local Casey's convenience store.Just after 8 a.m. on Sept. 13,&nbsp; police responded to Casey's at 725 West Schilling Road after a concerned customer called to report a man standing in line making concerning statements."The reporting party indicated that they were in the store waiting in line when the suspect allegedly stated that he was running late and had plans to shoot up a school, adding that, 'people were gonna die,'" said SPD Captain James Feldman.Officers quickly arrived on the scene and located the suspect identified as 37-year-old Johnny Baldwin of Salina. No weapons were found at the scene, and Baldwin did not attempt to flee. He was taken into custody without incident.Baldwin remains in custody currently on a requested charge of criminal threat.Police urge the community to remain vigilant and report any concerning behavior they see or hear. SPD Feldman thanked the citizen for making the call.

Kansas man accused of making school shooting threat

TOPEKA—The FBI is investigating suspicious mail delivered to a state office building in Topeka. Just after 2:30 p.m. Monday, the Topeka Police Department’s&nbsp; bomb unit responded to a suspicious mail call at Memorial Hall 120 SW 10th Street in Topeka, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols. 

It was reported that several pieces of mail had an unknown substance on them. The Topeka Fire Department’s Hazmat team responded in addition to an ambulance from American Medical Response and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A field test found no hazardous materials. Further testing will be conducted.

TOPEKA —Fire and law enforcement officials are investigating the contents of two suspicious packages at a state office building in Topeka.

Just after 2 p.m. Monday, crews from the Topeka Fire Department (TFD) responded to a reported suspicious package at the Memorial Building located at 120 SW 10th Avenue, according to Fire Department spokesperson Rosie Nichols

 It was reported that two pieces of mail contained unknown substances. the Topeka Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials team, one engine company, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and an American Medical Response ambulance responded. Crews located two packages with unknown substances in them. 

Several personnel in the Secretary of State and Attorney General’s offices were exposed and are being medically monitored.

TFD crews are currently on scene working to determine the substances. are.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since 2000, Memorial Hall has served as headquarters for the&nbsp;Kansas Attorney General&nbsp;and&nbsp;Kansas Secretary of State.

Check the Post for additional details as they are available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726521879166.png" alt="First responders on the scene Monday afternoon -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene Monday afternoon -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA—The FBI is investigating suspicious mail delivered to a state office building in Topeka. Just after 2:30 p.m. Monday, the Topeka Police Department’s&nbsp; bomb unit responded to a suspicious mail call at Memorial Hall 120 SW 10th Street in Topeka, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols. It was reported that several pieces of mail had an unknown substance on them. The Topeka Fire Department’s Hazmat team responded in addition to an ambulance from American Medical Response and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.A field test found no hazardous materials. Further testing will be conducted.-------------TOPEKA —Fire and law enforcement officials are investigating the contents of two suspicious packages at a state office building in Topeka.Just after 2 p.m. Monday, crews from the Topeka Fire Department (TFD) responded to a reported suspicious package at the Memorial Building located at 120 SW 10th Avenue, according to Fire Department spokesperson Rosie Nichols It was reported that two pieces of mail contained unknown substances. the Topeka Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials team, one engine company, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and an American Medical Response ambulance responded. Crews located two packages with unknown substances in them. Several personnel in the Secretary of State and Attorney General’s offices were exposed and are being medically monitored.TFD crews are currently on scene working to determine the substances. are.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since 2000, Memorial Hall has served as headquarters for the&nbsp;Kansas Attorney General&nbsp;and&nbsp;Kansas Secretary of State.Check the Post for additional details as they are available.

FBI checking on suspicious packages sent to government office in Topeka

WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp; In the wake of a&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fx.com%2fHawleyMO%2fstatus%2f1835429374792970292&amp;redir_log=343221794648289" target="_blank">second assassination attempt</a>&nbsp;against former President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) unveiled&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2024%2f09%2fHawley-Whistleblower-Report-re-USSS-Failures-2024-09-16.pdf&amp;redir_log=255885719553759">a new, 22-page whistleblower report</a>&nbsp;detailing the failures of the United States Secret Service in connection with the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Trump.

The Hawley Report has been shared with the House Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump to supplement their investigation.

<a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Hawley-Whistleblower-Report-re-USSS-Failures-2024-09-16.pdf">CLICK HERE to read</a> the entire Hawley Report.&nbsp;

The Hawley Report’s findings are highly damaging to the credibility of the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). They reveal a compounding pattern of negligence, sloppiness, and gross incompetence that goes back years, all of which culminated in an assassination attempt that came inches from succeeding.

In addition to a comprehensive review of previous whistleblower allegations that Senator Hawley has uncovered, the Hawley Report includes&nbsp;new findings from whistleblowers that have not yet been reported, including:

To date, Secret Service and DHS have provided virtually no answers and there remain many outstanding questions, including:

The Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Department of Homeland Security have all tried to evade real accountability. Their leaders have slow-walked congressional investigations, misled the American people, and shirked responsibility. DHS is now&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fx.com%2fHawleyMO%2fstatus%2f1834396709964628463&amp;redir_log=693803866273289" target="_blank">reportedly</a>&nbsp;pressuring the Secret Service not to comply with document requests by Congress about the Trump assassination attempt. The American people deserve answers.

As a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Hawley has been a leader in the investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Trump. He has&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fx.com%2fHawleyMO%2fstatus%2f1814657791774036032&amp;redir_log=363485896701288" target="_blank">personally surveyed&nbsp;</a>the Butler site and has publicized multiple whistleblower allegations. Previous allegations assert that agents were&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2foutreach.senate.gov%2fiqextranet%2fiqClickTrk.aspx%3f%26cid%3dSenHawley%26crop%3d14442.9285199.8119262.8019990%26report_id%3d%26redirect%3dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.hawley.senate.gov%252fnew-whistleblower-allegation-secret-service-prevented-extra-security-assets-for-trump-rally%252f%26redir_log%3d380552127117865&amp;redir_log=516773093792034" target="_blank">discouraged</a>&nbsp;from requesting additional security and note&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2foutreach.senate.gov%2fiqextranet%2fiqClickTrk.aspx%3f%26cid%3dSenHawley%26crop%3d14442.9285199.8119262.8019990%26report_id%3d%26redirect%3dhttps%253a%252f%252foutreach.senate.gov%252fiqextranet%252fiqClickTrk.aspx%253f%2526cid%253dSenHawley%2526crop%253d14275.9278220.8114513.8019990%2526report_id%253d%2526redirect%253dhttps%25253a%25252f%25252fwww.hawley.senate.gov%25252fhawley-reveals-new-whistleblower-allegations-exposing-loose-security-ahead-of-trump-assassination-attempt%25252f%2526redir_log%253d182953689345966%26redir_log%3d688733780582138&amp;redir_log=721852135923331" target="_blank">loose security</a>&nbsp;at the Trump rally,&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fnew-whistleblower-allegations-hawley-reveals-law-enforcement-supposed-to-cover-roof-at-butler-pa-trump-rally%2f&amp;redir_log=901068615772977" target="_blank">abandoned posts</a>&nbsp;on the roof where the shooter was located, and&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fhawley-releases-new-whistleblower-claims-alleging-secret-service-directors-role-in-scaling-back-agencys-manpower-retaliating-against-agents-who-speak-out%2f&amp;redir_log=678420953921292" target="_blank">scaled-back security</a>&nbsp;due to the decisions of Acting Director Rowe.

On July 30, Senator Hawley&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fno-one-has-been-fired-hawley-pushes-for-accountability-from-secret-service-on-trump-assassination-attempt%2f&amp;redir_log=504810180305961" target="_blank">questioned</a>&nbsp;Acting Director Rowe in a Senate hearing. The Acting Director&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fnew-whistleblower-allegations-hawley-reveals-secret-service-declined-drone-usage-day-of-trump-butler-rally%2f&amp;redir_log=303746225621962" target="_blank">confirmed</a>&nbsp;that the Secret Service did, in fact, refuse drones from local law enforcement—a detail brought to light by a whistleblower in contact with Senator Hawley’s office.&nbsp;Whistleblowers with information are encouraged to contact Senator Hawley’s office&nbsp;by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tips@hawley.senate.gov">tips@hawley.senate.gov</a>&nbsp;or by phone at (202) 224-6154. Whistleblower identities will be protected against disclosure. Tips from federal employees are protected by the Whistleblower Protection Act, 5 U.S.C. § 2302, which prohibits the federal government from taking any personnel action on the basis of a disclosure of evidence of gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or illegal activity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720975879185.jpeg" alt="Former President Donald Trump gestures while surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is helped off the stage at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)" />
 <figcaption>Former President Donald Trump gestures while surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is helped off the stage at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp; In the wake of a&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fx.com%2fHawleyMO%2fstatus%2f1835429374792970292&amp;redir_log=343221794648289" target="_blank">second assassination attempt</a>&nbsp;against former President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) unveiled&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2024%2f09%2fHawley-Whistleblower-Report-re-USSS-Failures-2024-09-16.pdf&amp;redir_log=255885719553759">a new, 22-page whistleblower report</a>&nbsp;detailing the failures of the United States Secret Service in connection with the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Trump. The Hawley Report has been shared with the House Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump to supplement their investigation.<a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Hawley-Whistleblower-Report-re-USSS-Failures-2024-09-16.pdf">CLICK HERE to read</a> the entire Hawley Report.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726517941485.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Hawley Report’s findings are highly damaging to the credibility of the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). They reveal a compounding pattern of negligence, sloppiness, and gross incompetence that goes back years, all of which culminated in an assassination attempt that came inches from succeeding.In addition to a comprehensive review of previous whistleblower allegations that Senator Hawley has uncovered, the Hawley Report includes&nbsp;new findings from whistleblowers that have not yet been reported, including:<ul>
 <li>Secret&nbsp;Service intelligence units—teams of Secret Service agents paired with state and local law enforcement to handle reports of suspicious persons—were absent from the Butler rally.</li><li>The&nbsp;hospital site where former President Trump received treatment after the shooting was poorly secured, and the hospital site agent could not answer basic questions about site security.</li>
 </ul>To date, Secret Service and DHS have provided virtually no answers and there remain many outstanding questions, including:<ul>
 <li>Who,&nbsp;within the Secret Service or DHS, made the decision to deny counter sniper coverage to the rooftop from which Thomas Crooks shot former President Trump on July 13?</li><li>When&nbsp;will Secret Service or DHS publicly name the lead site agent for the rally and the lead agent for the Butler visit?</li><li>Did&nbsp;the Acting Secret Service Director ever deny resources to the Trump campaign, or USSS sniper teams, as has been reported in the press?</li>
 </ul>The Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Department of Homeland Security have all tried to evade real accountability. Their leaders have slow-walked congressional investigations, misled the American people, and shirked responsibility. DHS is now&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fx.com%2fHawleyMO%2fstatus%2f1834396709964628463&amp;redir_log=693803866273289" target="_blank">reportedly</a>&nbsp;pressuring the Secret Service not to comply with document requests by Congress about the Trump assassination attempt. The American people deserve answers.As a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Hawley has been a leader in the investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Trump. He has&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fx.com%2fHawleyMO%2fstatus%2f1814657791774036032&amp;redir_log=363485896701288" target="_blank">personally surveyed&nbsp;</a>the Butler site and has publicized multiple whistleblower allegations. Previous allegations assert that agents were&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2foutreach.senate.gov%2fiqextranet%2fiqClickTrk.aspx%3f%26cid%3dSenHawley%26crop%3d14442.9285199.8119262.8019990%26report_id%3d%26redirect%3dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.hawley.senate.gov%252fnew-whistleblower-allegation-secret-service-prevented-extra-security-assets-for-trump-rally%252f%26redir_log%3d380552127117865&amp;redir_log=516773093792034" target="_blank">discouraged</a>&nbsp;from requesting additional security and note&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2foutreach.senate.gov%2fiqextranet%2fiqClickTrk.aspx%3f%26cid%3dSenHawley%26crop%3d14442.9285199.8119262.8019990%26report_id%3d%26redirect%3dhttps%253a%252f%252foutreach.senate.gov%252fiqextranet%252fiqClickTrk.aspx%253f%2526cid%253dSenHawley%2526crop%253d14275.9278220.8114513.8019990%2526report_id%253d%2526redirect%253dhttps%25253a%25252f%25252fwww.hawley.senate.gov%25252fhawley-reveals-new-whistleblower-allegations-exposing-loose-security-ahead-of-trump-assassination-attempt%25252f%2526redir_log%253d182953689345966%26redir_log%3d688733780582138&amp;redir_log=721852135923331" target="_blank">loose security</a>&nbsp;at the Trump rally,&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fnew-whistleblower-allegations-hawley-reveals-law-enforcement-supposed-to-cover-roof-at-butler-pa-trump-rally%2f&amp;redir_log=901068615772977" target="_blank">abandoned posts</a>&nbsp;on the roof where the shooter was located, and&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fhawley-releases-new-whistleblower-claims-alleging-secret-service-directors-role-in-scaling-back-agencys-manpower-retaliating-against-agents-who-speak-out%2f&amp;redir_log=678420953921292" target="_blank">scaled-back security</a>&nbsp;due to the decisions of Acting Director Rowe. On July 30, Senator Hawley&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fno-one-has-been-fired-hawley-pushes-for-accountability-from-secret-service-on-trump-assassination-attempt%2f&amp;redir_log=504810180305961" target="_blank">questioned</a>&nbsp;Acting Director Rowe in a Senate hearing. The Acting Director&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14540.9298959.8127925.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fnew-whistleblower-allegations-hawley-reveals-secret-service-declined-drone-usage-day-of-trump-butler-rally%2f&amp;redir_log=303746225621962" target="_blank">confirmed</a>&nbsp;that the Secret Service did, in fact, refuse drones from local law enforcement—a detail brought to light by a whistleblower in contact with Senator Hawley’s office.&nbsp;Whistleblowers with information are encouraged to contact Senator Hawley’s office&nbsp;by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tips@hawley.senate.gov">tips@hawley.senate.gov</a>&nbsp;or by phone at (202) 224-6154. Whistleblower identities will be protected against disclosure. Tips from federal employees are protected by the Whistleblower Protection Act, 5 U.S.C. § 2302, which prohibits the federal government from taking any personnel action on the basis of a disclosure of evidence of gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or illegal activity.

Read Senator's new whistleblower report on 1st Trump assassination attempt 

LIBERAL -&nbsp;
















The Hays High girls’ golf team finished second at the four-team Liberal Redskin Invitational Monday at the Willow Tree Golf Course.
The Indians shot a 396, 51 strokes behind first place Garden City.


Jaycee Oakley led the Indians with an 83 and placed second, four behind Garden City's Brooke Savolt. Ava Erbert finished sixth for Hays with a102, Liz Dreiling placed ninth with a 105 and Kinley Pfannenstiel came in 10th
with a 106.





Hays PostLIBERAL -&nbsp;
















The Hays High girls’ golf team finished second at the four-team Liberal Redskin Invitational Monday at the Willow Tree Golf Course.
The Indians shot a 396, 51 strokes behind first place Garden City.
Jaycee Oakley led the Indians with an 83 and placed second, four behind Garden City's Brooke Savolt. Ava Erbert finished sixth for Hays with a102, Liz Dreiling placed ninth with a 105 and Kinley Pfannenstiel came in 10th
with a 106.

⛳ HHS girls' runner-up in Liberal

WASHINGTON (AP) —President Joe Biden on Monday again decried the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump and said America must work to stop the scourge of political violence.

“America has suffered too many times the tragedy of an assassin’s bullet,” Biden said at the start of an address to the National HBCU Week Conference in Philadelphia. “It solves nothing. It just tears the country apart. We must do everything we can to prevent it and never give it any oxygen.”

The president’s comments came after Trump said, without evidence, that Biden and Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;inspired&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-gunshots-florida-f62f8378d3a8ce7b2e99d6a8fb40aba9">another apparent attempt on his life</a>, deriding their criticism of him as a threat to democracy despite his own long history of inflammatory campaign rhetoric and advocacy for jailing or prosecuting his political enemies.

“Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country and they are the ones that are destroying the country — both from the inside and out,” Trump said in comments to Fox News Digital.

Biden in his speech added that Acting Director Secret Service Ronald Rowe, Jr. was in Florida “assessing what happened and determining whether any further adjustments need to be made to ensure” Trump’s safety.

Justice Department to ‘bring every available resource’ to investigation of apparent assassination attempt, Garland says

Attorney General Merrick Garland says the Justice Department will “work tirelessly to ensure accountability” in the apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump.

Garland said in an emailed statement that the Justice Department will “bring every available resource to bear in this investigation.”

“We are grateful that the former President is safe,” Garland said.

Trump was 'courageous', his golf partner says

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s golf partner on Sunday, says the former president’s reaction to the apparent assassination attempt was “courageous and stoic.”

The real estate investor said Monday in a post on the social platform X that Trump, his “very close friend,” was “concerned about his friends first before thinking of himself,” something Witkoff said exemplified “the truest example of leadership.”

Fox News host Sean Hannity, a close friend of the former president’s, said on air Sunday that he had spoken with Trump and Witkoff, who told him that Secret Service agents “pounced on” Trump and “covered him” to protect him.

Body camera footage shows Routh’s arrest

Body camera footage posted on Facebook Monday shows the arrest of the man suspected in the apparent assassination attempt.

The video posted by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office shows Ryan Routh walking backward with his hands over his head on the side of a road before being handcuffed and led away by law enforcement.

Law enforcement block and search Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach

Local law enforcement was still blocking the palm tree-lined road south of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, as a group of FBI agents were searching Monday near the hedge surrounding the property.

Other investigators were also in the area walking back and forth from their vehicles to the hedge.

Journalists had set up cameras near a gas station facing the property as temperatures were nearing 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

‘There’s no quick fix,’ retired agent says of adding more personnel to the Secret Service

Retired supervisory Secret Service agent Bobby McDonald, now a criminal justice lecturer at the University of New Haven, said Monday that he hopes the agency will analyze the Sunday’s events and take ownership of what went right and what went wrong — and use it to improve as it moves into the home stretch of election season.

He noted that it’s a “very busy time” for the Secret Service with the election going on, more candidates now needing protection and with preparations underway for the United Nations General Assembly. The Secret Service currently has 40 people it’s responsible for protecting fulltime. In addition to Trump and Biden, that list also includes Harris, vice presidential candidates, other former presidents and their families and others.

McDonald cautioned that it can take nine to 18 months to bring on a Secret Service staffer. The service may want to transfer more personnel from the investigative work the agency does to its protective side, McDonald said.

“There is no quick fix,” he said, noting that temporarily bringing in people from outside the agency to help can come with its own challenges because they don’t regularly do protective work.

Former Secret Service agent says there’s an obvious need for more protection for Trump

Anthony Cangelosi, a former Secret Service agent, said the events Sunday show that there’s an obvious need for more personnel assigned to protect former President Trump.

“They could have been utilized to secure the perimeter,” he said.

He said it’s understandable that former presidents like Trump do not have the same level of protection as a sitting president. But, he said, Trump also isn’t like former presidents Obama or Clinton for example. He’s both a former president and a current nominee hoping to return to the White House.

“He’s not your typical former president,” he said.

Cangelosi, who’s currently a lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, questioned whether a request had been made by anyone in the Secret Service for more personnel and if so what happened to that request? And if no requests have been made for more personnel, why not?

Without the resources to secure the entire perimeter, Cangelosi said the Secret Service did the next best thing, which was to have agents going ahead of the president to scout the next locations. He commended the work they did to spot the muzzle of the gun and open fire, saying they were vigilant. But he said there’s always a chance that they could have missed the muzzle. Extra coverage could include roving uniformed personnel outside the perimeter, for example, he said. The goal is to create a presence that serves as a deterrence.

He said the Secret Service doesn’t have the extra personnel but they can be pulled from other agencies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726517249192.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —President Joe Biden on Monday again decried the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump and said America must work to stop the scourge of political violence.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">From earlier today, President Biden on former President Trump: “Thank God the president is ok...the Service needs more help and I think the Congress should respond to their needs.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/scmdJTqrmi">pic.twitter.com/scmdJTqrmi</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1835734379047338024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“America has suffered too many times the tragedy of an assassin’s bullet,” Biden said at the start of an address to the National HBCU Week Conference in Philadelphia. “It solves nothing. It just tears the country apart. We must do everything we can to prevent it and never give it any oxygen.”The president’s comments came after Trump said, without evidence, that Biden and Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;inspired&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-gunshots-florida-f62f8378d3a8ce7b2e99d6a8fb40aba9">another apparent attempt on his life</a>, deriding their criticism of him as a threat to democracy despite his own long history of inflammatory campaign rhetoric and advocacy for jailing or prosecuting his political enemies.“Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country and they are the ones that are destroying the country — both from the inside and out,” Trump said in comments to Fox News Digital.Biden in his speech added that Acting Director Secret Service Ronald Rowe, Jr. was in Florida “assessing what happened and determining whether any further adjustments need to be made to ensure” Trump’s safety.<h2>Justice Department to ‘bring every available resource’ to investigation of apparent assassination attempt, Garland says</h2>Attorney General Merrick Garland says the Justice Department will “work tirelessly to ensure accountability” in the apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump.Garland said in an emailed statement that the Justice Department will “bring every available resource to bear in this investigation.”“We are grateful that the former President is safe,” Garland said.<h2>Trump was 'courageous', his golf partner says</h2>Steve Witkoff, Trump’s golf partner on Sunday, says the former president’s reaction to the apparent assassination attempt was “courageous and stoic.”The real estate investor said Monday in a post on the social platform X that Trump, his “very close friend,” was “concerned about his friends first before thinking of himself,” something Witkoff said exemplified “the truest example of leadership.”Fox News host Sean Hannity, a close friend of the former president’s, said on air Sunday that he had spoken with Trump and Witkoff, who told him that Secret Service agents “pounced on” Trump and “covered him” to protect him.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726480816341.png" alt="Ryan Wesley Routh takes part in a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)" />
 <figcaption>Ryan Wesley Routh takes part in a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Body camera footage shows Routh’s arrest</h2>Body camera footage posted on Facebook Monday shows the arrest of the man suspected in the apparent assassination attempt.The video posted by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office shows Ryan Routh walking backward with his hands over his head on the side of a road before being handcuffed and led away by law enforcement.<h2>Law enforcement block and search Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach</h2>Local law enforcement was still blocking the palm tree-lined road south of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, as a group of FBI agents were searching Monday near the hedge surrounding the property.Other investigators were also in the area walking back and forth from their vehicles to the hedge.Journalists had set up cameras near a gas station facing the property as temperatures were nearing 90 degrees Fahrenheit.<h2>‘There’s no quick fix,’ retired agent says of adding more personnel to the Secret Service</h2>Retired supervisory Secret Service agent Bobby McDonald, now a criminal justice lecturer at the University of New Haven, said Monday that he hopes the agency will analyze the Sunday’s events and take ownership of what went right and what went wrong — and use it to improve as it moves into the home stretch of election season.He noted that it’s a “very busy time” for the Secret Service with the election going on, more candidates now needing protection and with preparations underway for the United Nations General Assembly. The Secret Service currently has 40 people it’s responsible for protecting fulltime. In addition to Trump and Biden, that list also includes Harris, vice presidential candidates, other former presidents and their families and others.McDonald cautioned that it can take nine to 18 months to bring on a Secret Service staffer. The service may want to transfer more personnel from the investigative work the agency does to its protective side, McDonald said.“There is no quick fix,” he said, noting that temporarily bringing in people from outside the agency to help can come with its own challenges because they don’t regularly do protective work.<h2>Former Secret Service agent says there’s an obvious need for more protection for Trump</h2>Anthony Cangelosi, a former Secret Service agent, said the events Sunday show that there’s an obvious need for more personnel assigned to protect former President Trump.“They could have been utilized to secure the perimeter,” he said.He said it’s understandable that former presidents like Trump do not have the same level of protection as a sitting president. But, he said, Trump also isn’t like former presidents Obama or Clinton for example. He’s both a former president and a current nominee hoping to return to the White House.“He’s not your typical former president,” he said.Cangelosi, who’s currently a lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, questioned whether a request had been made by anyone in the Secret Service for more personnel and if so what happened to that request? And if no requests have been made for more personnel, why not?Without the resources to secure the entire perimeter, Cangelosi said the Secret Service did the next best thing, which was to have agents going ahead of the president to scout the next locations. He commended the work they did to spot the muzzle of the gun and open fire, saying they were vigilant. But he said there’s always a chance that they could have missed the muzzle. Extra coverage could include roving uniformed personnel outside the perimeter, for example, he said. The goal is to create a presence that serves as a deterrence.He said the Secret Service doesn’t have the extra personnel but they can be pulled from other agencies.

🎥President decries 2nd assassination attempt against Trump

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said in an email Monday that the department received a report of a written threat of a bomb inside Hays Middle School.&nbsp; 

The threat was texted to Hays resident, who reported it to the Hays Police Department, he said. Other threats were later texted to the Ellis County Communication Center, he said.

"Thank you to the Hays resident for sharing the message and helping us to ensure the safety of the students," Scheibler said.

The Hays Police Department worked with members of the USD 489 staff to fully investigate the reported threat. The school and the grounds were searched by members of the Hays Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol Emergency Service Unit (canines), Scheibler said.

During the investigation, the Hays Police Department also identified and located the person who made all the threats against Hays Middle School, Scheibler said.

"The Hays Police Department works closely with USD 489 to ensure the safety and well-being of all the students, and we are grateful for this partnership. I am also especially grateful for the quick response of the Kansas Highway Patrol and their assistance with this investigation, Scheibler said.

The following message was sent to Hays Middle School parents regarding a bomb threat on Sunday at Hays Middle School.

On Sunday, September 15, Hays city law enforcement received a report regarding a potential explosive device at Hays Middle School (HMS). In response, the Hays Police Department, along with bomb-sniffing dogs from the Kansas Highway Patrol, thoroughly searched the premises. No explosives were found, and the building has been declared safe and secure.

The Hays Police Department has made an arrest in connection with the threat, though the investigation remains ongoing. Please be assured that the safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priority. We take all threats seriously and conduct thorough investigations to ensure the security of our school community.

We are sharing this information with you to provide clarity and to help you discuss the situation with your child. It is important that they understand the gravity of such threats, as well as the fact that the school has been deemed safe for classes to resume on Tuesday.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued support of our students' safety and education.

Sincerely, Tom Albers HMS Principal

Hays PostHays Police Chief Don Scheibler said in an email Monday that the department received a report of a written threat of a bomb inside Hays Middle School.&nbsp; The threat was texted to Hays resident, who reported it to the Hays Police Department, he said. Other threats were later texted to the Ellis County Communication Center, he said."Thank you to the Hays resident for sharing the message and helping us to ensure the safety of the students," Scheibler said.The Hays Police Department worked with members of the USD 489 staff to fully investigate the reported threat. The school and the grounds were searched by members of the Hays Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol Emergency Service Unit (canines), Scheibler said. The school was determined to be safe.During the investigation, the Hays Police Department also identified and located the person who made all the threats against Hays Middle School, Scheibler said."The Hays Police Department works closely with USD 489 to ensure the safety and well-being of all the students, and we are grateful for this partnership. I am also especially grateful for the quick response of the Kansas Highway Patrol and their assistance with this investigation, Scheibler said.------The following message was sent to Hays Middle School parents regarding a bomb threat on Sunday at Hays Middle School.Dear Parents and Guardians,On Sunday, September 15, Hays city law enforcement received a report regarding a potential explosive device at Hays Middle School (HMS). In response, the Hays Police Department, along with bomb-sniffing dogs from the Kansas Highway Patrol, thoroughly searched the premises. No explosives were found, and the building has been declared safe and secure.The Hays Police Department has made an arrest in connection with the threat, though the investigation remains ongoing. Please be assured that the safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priority. We take all threats seriously and conduct thorough investigations to ensure the security of our school community.We are sharing this information with you to provide clarity and to help you discuss the situation with your child. It is important that they understand the gravity of such threats, as well as the fact that the school has been deemed safe for classes to resume on Tuesday.Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued support of our students' safety and education.Sincerely, Tom Albers HMS Principal

UPDATE: Hays Middle School receives bomb threat Sunday; search clears school

By SHELDON WICKWAR Special to the Hays Post

Eighty-two race teams checked into the legendary RPM Speedway for championship night racing. Taking home feature winners were Gage Porter in the sport compacts, Blaine Walt in the sport mods, Zach Olmstead in the hobby stocks, Kyle Pfeifer in the stock cars and Daniel Gottschalk in the modifieds. Taking home 2024 season track championships were Rileigh Flohrs in the sport compact, Zach Olmstead in the hobby stock, Blaine Walt in the sport mod, Kyle Pfeifer in the stock car and Daniel Gottschalk in the modifieds.

The sport compacts started the evening off, they ran two six-lap heat races won by Kaishen Brack and Alison Jeske. Their fifteen-lap feature event started with a front row of Kaishen Brack and Alison Jeske, Kaishen Brack led early on but quickly Kyle Mortensen and Gage Porter would fight for second, with Porter grabbing the lead after a few laps. Jake Schwien broke after a few laps, and that would hand the championship over to Rileigh Flohrs, meanwhile nobody could catch Gage Porter as he ran away with the feature win. Gage Porter picked up win number five on the season, second was track champion Rileigh Flohrs, third was Connor Schwien, fourth was Kyle Mortensen and fifth was Kaishen Brack. Hard charger in the event was Rileigh Flohrs who gained seven spots, other nice runs included Connor Schwien up five spots and Gage Porter up three spots.

The hobby stocks were second on the program, they ran three eight-lap heat races won by Cody Williams, Colton Czapanskiy and Trent Matson. Their twenty-lap feature main event started with a front row of Blake Holmes and Danny Schulte. Holmes got the early lead, meanwhile Zach Olmstead, Jonathan Saliba and Cody Williams were charging to the front. Dion Priddy gained the lead on lap two, with Williams right behind him. Lap three saw Tyler Heath spin, he was able to continue. The field restarted and Williams found the lead. Williams led for a while, before Zach Olmstead was able to get by. Once Olmstead found the lead, he cruised to the feature win, along with grabbing the track championship. Second was Cody Williams, third was Colton Czapanskiy, fourth was Dylan Bell and fifth was Trent Matson. Hard charger in the event was Dylan Bell who gained fifteen spots, other nice runs included Zach Olmstead up nine spots, and Colton Czapanskiy up eight spots.

The sport mods were third on the program, they ran three eight-lap heat races won by Brianna Maughlin, Cody Gearhart and Blaine Walt. Their twenty-lap feature event started with a front row of Cody Gearhart and Dalton Bell. Blaine Walt started tenth in the feature event, it took a handful of laps, but he found himself up front, and then got to the lead, and stormed away with the feature event win, securing a track championship after Brianna Maughlin was forced to retire from the race prematurely with an issue. Blaine Walt picked up his fifth RPM track championship, after collecting feature win number six on the season. Second was Tyler Watts, third was Cody Gearhart, fourth was Adam Weber and fifth was Cody Williams. Hard chargers in the event were Cody Williams, Preston Donovan, Ethan Zweygardt, and Justin Meserve who each gained eleven spots. Other nice runs included Blaine Walt up nine spots, Dallas Chambers up seven spots, Dalton Chambers up six spots, and Tyler Watts along with Jeff Hunter gained five spots each.

The stock cars were fourth on the program, they ran two eight-lap heat races won by Garrett Hager and Tathan Burkhart. Their twenty-lap feature event started with a front row of Troy Burkhart and Garrett Hager. Troy Burkhart led the bulk of the first half of the feature event, before Kyle Pfeifer was able to get by Tathan Burkhart held on to second or third throughout the feature event but was unable to find victory lane to have a shot at the championship. Kyle Pfeifer picked up the feature win, along with the track championship. Second was Tathan Burkhart, third was Garrett Hager, fourth was Tim Watts and fifth was Troy Burkhart. Hard charger in the event was Kyle Pfeifer who gained three spots.

The modifieds closed out the show, they ran two eight-lap heat races won by Clay Money and Dylan Sherfick. Their twenty-lap feature event started with a front row of Kaid Calhoon and Dalton Murphy, quickly Jake Nightingale found the race lead, and led the first eight laps before breaking a right rear shock. The broken shock occurred on a restart which formed a parking lot including championship contenders Daniel Gottschalk and Clay Money, both returned to the feature event. Daniel Gottschalk charged from the rear of the field to win the race and collect his fourth track championship at RPM Speedway. Second was Dylan Sherfick, third was Kyle Rohleder, fourth was Clay Money and fifth was Tyler Harr. Hard chargers in the event were Daniel Gottschalk and Ayden Steffens who gained eight spots, other nice runs included Tyler Harr up seven spots, and Dylan Sherfick up five spots.

RPM's next event will be Fall Nationals, which take place Oct. 3, 4 and 5. This big show to end the year will feature all five regular IMCA classes, along with Dirt Car Late Models, and the local cruisers class.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726502851136.jpeg" alt="RPM CHAMP NIGHT COMPACT FEATURE WINNER. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>RPM CHAMP NIGHT COMPACT FEATURE WINNER. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHELDON WICKWAR Special to the Hays PostEighty-two race teams checked into the legendary RPM Speedway for championship night racing. Taking home feature winners were Gage Porter in the sport compacts, Blaine Walt in the sport mods, Zach Olmstead in the hobby stocks, Kyle Pfeifer in the stock cars and Daniel Gottschalk in the modifieds. Taking home 2024 season track championships were Rileigh Flohrs in the sport compact, Zach Olmstead in the hobby stock, Blaine Walt in the sport mod, Kyle Pfeifer in the stock car and Daniel Gottschalk in the modifieds.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726502929305.jpeg" alt="RPM CHAMP NIGHT COMPACT TRACK CHAMP.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>RPM CHAMP NIGHT COMPACT TRACK CHAMP.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The sport compacts started the evening off, they ran two six-lap heat races won by Kaishen Brack and Alison Jeske. Their fifteen-lap feature event started with a front row of Kaishen Brack and Alison Jeske, Kaishen Brack led early on but quickly Kyle Mortensen and Gage Porter would fight for second, with Porter grabbing the lead after a few laps. Jake Schwien broke after a few laps, and that would hand the championship over to Rileigh Flohrs, meanwhile nobody could catch Gage Porter as he ran away with the feature win. Gage Porter picked up win number five on the season, second was track champion Rileigh Flohrs, third was Connor Schwien, fourth was Kyle Mortensen and fifth was Kaishen Brack. Hard charger in the event was Rileigh Flohrs who gained seven spots, other nice runs included Connor Schwien up five spots and Gage Porter up three spots.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726502959785.jpeg" alt="RPM CHAMP NIGHT HOBBY WINNER.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>RPM CHAMP NIGHT HOBBY WINNER.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The hobby stocks were second on the program, they ran three eight-lap heat races won by Cody Williams, Colton Czapanskiy and Trent Matson. Their twenty-lap feature main event started with a front row of Blake Holmes and Danny Schulte. Holmes got the early lead, meanwhile Zach Olmstead, Jonathan Saliba and Cody Williams were charging to the front. Dion Priddy gained the lead on lap two, with Williams right behind him. Lap three saw Tyler Heath spin, he was able to continue. The field restarted and Williams found the lead. Williams led for a while, before Zach Olmstead was able to get by. Once Olmstead found the lead, he cruised to the feature win, along with grabbing the track championship. Second was Cody Williams, third was Colton Czapanskiy, fourth was Dylan Bell and fifth was Trent Matson. Hard charger in the event was Dylan Bell who gained fifteen spots, other nice runs included Zach Olmstead up nine spots, and Colton Czapanskiy up eight spots.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726502983005.jpeg" alt="RPM CHAMP NIGHT MOD WIN.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>RPM CHAMP NIGHT MOD WIN.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The sport mods were third on the program, they ran three eight-lap heat races won by Brianna Maughlin, Cody Gearhart and Blaine Walt. Their twenty-lap feature event started with a front row of Cody Gearhart and Dalton Bell. Blaine Walt started tenth in the feature event, it took a handful of laps, but he found himself up front, and then got to the lead, and stormed away with the feature event win, securing a track championship after Brianna Maughlin was forced to retire from the race prematurely with an issue. Blaine Walt picked up his fifth RPM track championship, after collecting feature win number six on the season. Second was Tyler Watts, third was Cody Gearhart, fourth was Adam Weber and fifth was Cody Williams. Hard chargers in the event were Cody Williams, Preston Donovan, Ethan Zweygardt, and Justin Meserve who each gained eleven spots. Other nice runs included Blaine Walt up nine spots, Dallas Chambers up seven spots, Dalton Chambers up six spots, and Tyler Watts along with Jeff Hunter gained five spots each.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726503036653.jpeg" alt="RPM CHAMP NIGHT SPORT MODIFIED WINNER.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>RPM CHAMP NIGHT SPORT MODIFIED WINNER.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The stock cars were fourth on the program, they ran two eight-lap heat races won by Garrett Hager and Tathan Burkhart. Their twenty-lap feature event started with a front row of Troy Burkhart and Garrett Hager. Troy Burkhart led the bulk of the first half of the feature event, before Kyle Pfeifer was able to get by Tathan Burkhart held on to second or third throughout the feature event but was unable to find victory lane to have a shot at the championship. Kyle Pfeifer picked up the feature win, along with the track championship. Second was Tathan Burkhart, third was Garrett Hager, fourth was Tim Watts and fifth was Troy Burkhart. Hard charger in the event was Kyle Pfeifer who gained three spots.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726503060587.jpeg" alt="RPM CHAMP NIGHT STOCK WINNER.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>RPM CHAMP NIGHT STOCK WINNER.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The modifieds closed out the show, they ran two eight-lap heat races won by Clay Money and Dylan Sherfick. Their twenty-lap feature event started with a front row of Kaid Calhoon and Dalton Murphy, quickly Jake Nightingale found the race lead, and led the first eight laps before breaking a right rear shock. The broken shock occurred on a restart which formed a parking lot including championship contenders Daniel Gottschalk and Clay Money, both returned to the feature event. Daniel Gottschalk charged from the rear of the field to win the race and collect his fourth track championship at RPM Speedway. Second was Dylan Sherfick, third was Kyle Rohleder, fourth was Clay Money and fifth was Tyler Harr. Hard chargers in the event were Daniel Gottschalk and Ayden Steffens who gained eight spots, other nice runs included Tyler Harr up seven spots, and Dylan Sherfick up five spots.RPM's next event will be Fall Nationals, which take place Oct. 3, 4 and 5. This big show to end the year will feature all five regular IMCA classes, along with Dirt Car Late Models, and the local cruisers class.

RPM Speedway: Daniel Gottschalk wins on Championship Night

PALM BEACH, FL (AP) —Ryan Wesley Routh has had his first appearance in federal court.

During an eight-minute hearing, prosecutors levied two charges against him: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Officials said Routh could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the first charge, and a possible five-year sentence on the second charge.

A bond hearing has been schedule for Sept. 23, and a probable cause hearing or arraignment has been set for Sept. 30, depending on whether the government secures an indictment on the charges.

During the hearing, Routh gave routine information to court officials as to his work status and income. Speaking in a soft voice, he said that he was working and making around $3,000 a month, but has zero savings.

Routh said that he has no real estate or assets, aside from two trucks worth about $1,000, both located in Hawaii.

Routh also said that he has a 25-year-old son, whom he sometimes supports.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is blaming his political rivals’ rhetoric for Sunday’s apparent attempt on his life.

Trump said Monday in an interview with Fox News Digital that the accused gunman “believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it.”

The former president went on to say, “Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country — both from the inside and out.”

The tone was different than the one Trump adopted immediately after the Pennsylvania assassination attempt in July, when he called for unity and a cooling of the campaign’s tenor, including during his speech at the Republican National Convention.

“They use highly inflammatory language,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “I can use it too — far better than they can — but I don’t.”

Routh had expressed support for Trump online in as recently as 2020, but in recent years, his posts suggest he soured on him, expressing support for Biden and Harris.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726480816341.png" alt="Ryan Wesley Routh takes part in a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)" />
 <figcaption>Ryan Wesley Routh takes part in a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)</figcaption>
 </figure>PALM BEACH, FL (AP) —Ryan Wesley Routh has had his first appearance in federal court.During an eight-minute hearing, prosecutors levied two charges against him: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.Officials said Routh could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the first charge, and a possible five-year sentence on the second charge.A bond hearing has been schedule for Sept. 23, and a probable cause hearing or arraignment has been set for Sept. 30, depending on whether the government secures an indictment on the charges.During the hearing, Routh gave routine information to court officials as to his work status and income. Speaking in a soft voice, he said that he was working and making around $3,000 a month, but has zero savings.Routh said that he has no real estate or assets, aside from two trucks worth about $1,000, both located in Hawaii.Routh also said that he has a 25-year-old son, whom he sometimes supports.Meanwhile, Donald Trump is blaming his political rivals’ rhetoric for Sunday’s apparent attempt on his life.Trump said Monday in an interview with Fox News Digital that the accused gunman “believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it.”The former president went on to say, “Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country — both from the inside and out.”The tone was different than the one Trump adopted immediately after the Pennsylvania assassination attempt in July, when he called for unity and a cooling of the campaign’s tenor, including during his speech at the Republican National Convention.“They use highly inflammatory language,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “I can use it too — far better than they can — but I don’t.”Routh had expressed support for Trump online in as recently as 2020, but in recent years, his posts suggest he soured on him, expressing support for Biden and Harris.

Suspect in 2nd assassination attempt of Donald Trump appears in court

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724699319635.jpeg" alt="File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
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Ellis County Jail bookings, Sept. 9-16, 2024

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is safe following what the FBI says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-gunshots-florida-f62f8378d3a8ce7b2e99d6a8fb40aba9">"appears to be an attempted assassination”</a>&nbsp;while playing golf two months after another attempt on his life at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Members of the Kansas congressional delegation made comments on the assassination attempt on social media.

Local authorities said the U.S. Secret Service agents protecting Trump fired at a man pointing an AK-style rifle with a scope as Trump was playing on one of his Florida golf courses in West Palm Beach.

Here are five things to know about what happened Sunday to the Republican presidential nominee.

Law enforcement officials said the man who pointed the rifle and was arrested is Ryan Wesley Routh. The officials identified the suspect to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is safe following what the FBI says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-gunshots-florida-f62f8378d3a8ce7b2e99d6a8fb40aba9">"appears to be an attempted assassination”</a>&nbsp;while playing golf two months after another attempt on his life at a rally in Pennsylvania.Members of the Kansas congressional delegation made comments on the assassination attempt on social media.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Glad to hear President Trump is safe. Thank you to our law enforcement officers for acting quickly to ensure safety.&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1835451226890326425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I am grateful that President Trump is safe and that no one was harmed in today’s shooting. May God bless President Trump and continue to watch over him and his family.&mdash; Tracey Mann (@RepMann) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMann/status/1835418308700467215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I&#39;m grateful that President Trump has survived yet another apparent assassination attempt. This shouldn&#39;t be happening in the United States of America – we make our voices heard at the ballot box. Our constitutional republic works through voting, not through violence.&mdash; Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1835463185127645599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I am glad to hear President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> is safe. Continuing our prayers for him, his family, and everyone involved. <a href="https://t.co/BjGmcutxQ8">https://t.co/BjGmcutxQ8</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1835409165382021208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I thank God that President Trump is safe following yesterday’s assassination attempt in Florida. Thank you to the law enforcement officers who acted swiftly and apprehended the suspect. 1/2&mdash; Rep. Jake LaTurner (@RepLaTurner) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLaTurner/status/1835704324229382341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Local authorities said the U.S. Secret Service agents protecting Trump fired at a man pointing an AK-style rifle with a scope as Trump was playing on one of his Florida golf courses in West Palm Beach.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Statement from President Biden <a href="https://t.co/F3qMyF2qdX">pic.twitter.com/F3qMyF2qdX</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1835479688099119569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Here are five things to know about what happened Sunday to the Republican presidential nominee.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726480816341.png" alt="Ryan Wesley Routh takes part in a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)" />
 <figcaption>Ryan Wesley Routh takes part in a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Who is the suspect?</h2>Law enforcement officials said the man who pointed the rifle and was arrested is Ryan Wesley Routh. The officials identified the suspect to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726432346578.png" alt="Sheriff's Deputies stop the suspect-photo Martin County Florida Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Sheriff's Deputies stop the suspect-photo Martin County Florida Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>The suspect dropped the weapon and fled in an SUV and was later taken into custody in a neighboring county, authorities said. A motive is unclear. Local authorities said the gunman had two backpacks hanging on a fence and a GoPro camera.Routh was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, according to North Carolina Department of Adult Correction online records.The records do not provide details about the case. But a&nbsp;<a href="https://greensboro.com/article_3006b4f9-9370-5b08-a54e-46c87faf6cbe.html">News &amp; Record</a>&nbsp;story from 2002 says a man with the same name was arrested after a three-hour standoff with police. The story says he was pulled over during a traffic stop, put his hand on a gun and barricaded himself inside a roofing business. Routh was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a weapon of mass destruction, “referring to a fully automatic machine gun,” according to the News &amp; Record.<h2>How did this happen?</h2>Local authorities said the gunman was about 400 yards to 500 yards away from Trump and hiding in shrubbery while the former president was playing a round of golf at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726442796445.png" alt="Photos of the AK-47 rifle, a backpack and a Go-Pro camera on a fence outside Trump International Golf Club taken after an apparent assassination attempt on the former President Donald Trump, are displayed by West Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw during a news conference at the Palm Beach County Main Library.-image West Palm Beach Police" />
 <figcaption>Photos of the AK-47 rifle, a backpack and a Go-Pro camera on a fence outside Trump International Golf Club taken after an apparent assassination attempt on the former President Donald Trump, are displayed by West Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw during a news conference at the Palm Beach County Main Library.-image West Palm Beach Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Ric Bradshaw, sheriff of Palm Beach County, said that when people get into the shrubbery around the course, “they’re pretty much out of sight.” Bradshaw said the entire golf course would have been lined with law enforcement if Trump were the sitting president, but because he’s not, “security is limited to the areas the Secret Service deems possible.”Trump’s protective detail has been higher than some of his peers because of his high visibility and his campaign to seek the White House again. His security was bolstered days before the July assassination attempt in Pennsylvania because of a threat on Trump’s life from Iran, U.S. officials said.<h2>What has Trump said since the attempt?</h2>In an email to supporters, Trump said: “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!”His running mate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>, and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said they spoke with Trump after the incident, and both said he was in “good spirits.” Trump also checked in with several Fox News hosts.Fox News host Sean Hannity, a close friend of the former president's, said on air that he spoke with Trump and his golf partner, Steve Witkoff, afterward. They told Hannity they had been on the fifth hole when they heard a “pop pop, pop pop.” Within seconds, he said Witkoff recounted, Secret Service agents “pounced on” Trump and “covered him” to protect him.Moments later, Witkoff said, a “fast cart” with steel reinforcement and other protection was able to whisk Trump away.Hannity said Trump’s reaction after this happened — and when it was clear that everyone, including Witkoff, was safe — was to quip that he was sad he hadn’t been able to finish the hole since he “was even and had a birdie putt.”<h2>What is Vice President Kamala Harris saying?</h2>Harris, Trump's Democratic opponent in the presidential election, posted on X that she had been briefed on the reports of gunshots fired.“I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.”The White House said President Joe Biden and Harris would be kept updated on the investigation. The White House added it was “relieved” to know Trump is safe.<h2>What’s next?</h2>Trump has not announced any changes to his schedule and is set to speak live on X on Monday night from his Mar-a-Lago resort to launch his sons’ crypto platform.Meanwhile, the leaders of a congressional bipartisan task force investigating the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump said they have requested a briefing by the Secret Service.“We are thankful that the former President was not harmed, but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms,” Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., said in a statement. They said the task force will share updates.U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Florida Democrat who is part of the task force, said he “will seek answers about what happened today and then.”