By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

"But did you die" is a famous line from&nbsp;Hangover II, a sequel to the 2009 surprise box office hit. But one Ellinwood family may not be laughing at either of the&nbsp;The Hangover&nbsp;movies for a while. The Maxwells spent hours stuck in the ice and snow on and around I-70, passing the time by watching the first&nbsp;Hangover&nbsp;over and over. Twenty-six hours after leaving Gardner just southwest of Overland Park, the family arrived safely at home Monday morning.

Greg and Becca Maxwell were coaching their daughter, Mette, and the rest of the Velocity Volleyball Club team in Gardner at the Heart of America regional qualifier. They knew the winter weather was coming but at 8:30 a.m., attempted to beat the weather and avoid getting stuck at the hotel. Everything was slow going before coming to a complete stop between Manhattan and Junction City at 11:45.

"Hundreds of cars and trucks were stranded," Becca said. "Just parked on interstate. It wasn’t just us. It was back to back cars and trucks and so many semis stranded. The truck in front of us was from a furniture company that guaranteed delivery no matter the weather, and his customers in Colorado wanted the furniture. The young gentleman behind us was headed to his military base, and we were a family just trying to get home after a volleyball tournament to get home for work on Monday. We were just lucky we were on the road and not stuck in the ditch in the snow."

Biological functions do not cease just because cars are backed up on interstate. By 1 p.m., that's becoming an issue for several members in the Maxwell vehicle.

"It’s freezing cold," said Becca. "I braved the elements to try going outside, but apparently, my insides were frozen, too—no luck. I went back to the truck, but now we realize we can’t keep the truck running. We had to conserve gas so we would run the truck for 10 minutes every hour to stay warm."

Now six hours into the trip and still not moving, Becca tried staying busy by editing photos but there was no cell service in the area. Greg, who grew up in Leadville, Colo., the highest-elevated city in the United States at 10,000 feet and an area that is no stranger to large snowfalls, could not listen to his beloved Denver Broncos. The girls were left without their social media accounts.

"For Greg to make the decision to drive in the snow and ice was like a Tuesday in Leadville," said Becca. "This was a normal, everyday occurrence in the Colorado area. Greg mentioned that Colorado definitely has the ability and the snowplows because this happens every weekend in Colorado. There's always a big storm. In Kansas, they were saying this was the 'storm of the decade.' I don't think we were prepared for a storm of this magnitude."

Bathroom problems persisted. By 3 p.m., Becca was considering crafting an adult diaper out of a roll of paper towels. Instead, she tried the going outside again only be be blasted by 30-mile-per-hour winds.

"Thankfully, we were behind a gigantic semi truck so it felt like you had your own private spot," Becca said. "I think everyone was getting out of their cars. You couldn't see much because of the blinding snow and wind and I don't think anyone stood out there a very long time. We just kind of minded our own business."

The Maxwells, traveling to and from a volleyball tournament, had accidentally packed a safety kit. The family devoured everything in the volleyball snack bag. With internet options limited, Mette remembered she had downloaded&nbsp;The Hangover&nbsp;and the family watched it for the first time.

"We were lucky to have a bag full with six bottles of water," said Becca. "We started to ration that and the gas, but when you have a volleyball bag full of beef jerky, oranges, bananas, crackers, and cheese, we were probably good to go for at least three days but we would have had to watch&nbsp;The Hangover&nbsp;more than just three times had we been there longer."

Seven hours after coming to a stop, the Maxwells were still stuck amongst hundreds of vehicles by 6 p.m. With nothing else to do, the family hit repeat on The Hangover. The irony of watching a movie that involved a travel mishap was not lost on them.

By 7 p.m., more than 11 hours after leaving Gardner, the Maxwells resigned to the fact that they would be sleeping in the truck. They made bunk beds out of blankets, suitcases, and jackets.

Sleep was tough in the crowded automobile and an unexpected knock on the window by a police officer was a welcome surprise at 8:40 p.m. The officer said the Maxwells could follow him out of the traffic if they felt comfortable driving their 4-wheel-drive truck on the ice.

That slow-moving journey lasted approximately an hour before coming to a halt near Chapman due to a jackknifed semi truck blocking both lanes. Fifteen minutes later, the journey resumed. The Maxwells took the first clear exit and made their way to a gas station where they were able to purchase hot food before getting back on the road. Greg was trying to stay behind a semi driver he trusted.

"Another semi driver had just passed us," Becca said. "Greg didn't think that looked good and that truck ended up taking out a small vehicle. We saw him hit their vehicle, take off the bumper off the back of the car and their mirror. He just kept going because he couldn't stop. The smaller cars, if you weren't in far enough, the semi trucks were still trying to go because there was no stopping."

By 10:30, the Maxwells were stuck again. Interstate plowing had stopped and another plow was stuck in a nearby ditch. Mya approached two vehicles on an exit to ask if they could move over to allow room for the Maxwell vehicle to reach a nearby Love's gas station with the intent of staying the night there.

"Morale was not good," Becca said. People were cranky. The was very little camaraderie as the night got longer. We had made calls for hotels in Junction City and Abilene but you couldn’t get to them. Roads were impassable in town and the hotel employees and gas station workers I talked to had to walk into work. One employee said her car was snowed in at the gas station so she was just staying there for two days and most likely won’t get home for another day."

It took an hour to get to the Love's near Abilene. The family hand-shoveled space near the gas station where they were able to park and sleep.

"Maybe knowing you are steps from a bathroom and coffee helps," said Becca. "And, honestly, it was much warmer off interstate with a little block from the straight winds and blowing snow."

Just after midnight, the clan journeyed inside the gas station for one last restroom break. Once back in the vehicle, they decided on one more play of The Hangover. With gas options now available, they were also able to run the truck for heat.

With little to no sleep, by 6:15 a.m., 22 hours after leaving the original hotel, the Maxwells could see the nearby offramp is cleared, meaning traffic was likely again allowed on I-70. More than four hours later, the family finally arrived in Ellinwood, 26 hours after the trip began.

Becca said the trip was a learning experience that made her family extra grateful for the road workers and law enforcement who tried to keep roads open and assisted those who needed it.

"The semi trucks rule the road," she said. "There are so many of them it is really difficult to shut down interstate. There were clearly not enough stops and cleared space for all of them to just stop driving and get off the road. That was not possible. They had to park on interstate. I don’t know where else they could have gone."

Still, the decision was not an easy when she the Maxwells made the decision to drive home. The volleyball tournament was a large one with teams spending a lot of money to attend. Rules dictate how and when teams can drop out of tournaments and what happens to those teams if they break the rules.

"Tournaments are difficult to reschedule and I understand the need to not cancel because it’s very difficult to make things up with how busy families are," Becca said. "It was a significant cost for us to play in that tournament, so there is a financial burden as well."

The storm ended up dropping nearly six inches of snow around Gardner, but was part of a larger storm that dumped up to 18 inches of snow in the region. The official measurement at Kansas City International Airport was 11 inches, marking the fourth-largest single-day snowfall total in Kansas City history.

Becca said the biggest lesson learned was for drivers to take heed of precautions and stay off the road when officials advise.

Several serious accidents were reported across northeast and north central Kansas Saturday through Monday. On Monday afternoon, a man was killed at the gas station near the I-70 and K-156 junction north of Ellsworth. The man was attempted to help a semi truck navigate a snow-covered parking lot when he was ran over by the truck.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736260509071.jpeg" alt="Maxwell family courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Maxwell family courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post"But did you die" is a famous line from&nbsp;Hangover II, a sequel to the 2009 surprise box office hit. But one Ellinwood family may not be laughing at either of the&nbsp;The Hangover&nbsp;movies for a while. The Maxwells spent hours stuck in the ice and snow on and around I-70, passing the time by watching the first&nbsp;Hangover&nbsp;over and over. Twenty-six hours after leaving Gardner just southwest of Overland Park, the family arrived safely at home Monday morning.Greg and Becca Maxwell were coaching their daughter, Mette, and the rest of the Velocity Volleyball Club team in Gardner at the Heart of America regional qualifier. They knew the winter weather was coming but at 8:30 a.m., attempted to beat the weather and avoid getting stuck at the hotel. Everything was slow going before coming to a complete stop between Manhattan and Junction City at 11:45."Hundreds of cars and trucks were stranded," Becca said. "Just parked on interstate. It wasn’t just us. It was back to back cars and trucks and so many semis stranded. The truck in front of us was from a furniture company that guaranteed delivery no matter the weather, and his customers in Colorado wanted the furniture. The young gentleman behind us was headed to his military base, and we were a family just trying to get home after a volleyball tournament to get home for work on Monday. We were just lucky we were on the road and not stuck in the ditch in the snow."Biological functions do not cease just because cars are backed up on interstate. By 1 p.m., that's becoming an issue for several members in the Maxwell vehicle."It’s freezing cold," said Becca. "I braved the elements to try going outside, but apparently, my insides were frozen, too—no luck. I went back to the truck, but now we realize we can’t keep the truck running. We had to conserve gas so we would run the truck for 10 minutes every hour to stay warm."Now six hours into the trip and still not moving, Becca tried staying busy by editing photos but there was no cell service in the area. Greg, who grew up in Leadville, Colo., the highest-elevated city in the United States at 10,000 feet and an area that is no stranger to large snowfalls, could not listen to his beloved Denver Broncos. The girls were left without their social media accounts."For Greg to make the decision to drive in the snow and ice was like a Tuesday in Leadville," said Becca. "This was a normal, everyday occurrence in the Colorado area. Greg mentioned that Colorado definitely has the ability and the snowplows because this happens every weekend in Colorado. There's always a big storm. In Kansas, they were saying this was the 'storm of the decade.' I don't think we were prepared for a storm of this magnitude."Bathroom problems persisted. By 3 p.m., Becca was considering crafting an adult diaper out of a roll of paper towels. Instead, she tried the going outside again only be be blasted by 30-mile-per-hour winds."Thankfully, we were behind a gigantic semi truck so it felt like you had your own private spot," Becca said. "I think everyone was getting out of their cars. You couldn't see much because of the blinding snow and wind and I don't think anyone stood out there a very long time. We just kind of minded our own business."The Maxwells, traveling to and from a volleyball tournament, had accidentally packed a safety kit. The family devoured everything in the volleyball snack bag. With internet options limited, Mette remembered she had downloaded&nbsp;The Hangover&nbsp;and the family watched it for the first time."We were lucky to have a bag full with six bottles of water," said Becca. "We started to ration that and the gas, but when you have a volleyball bag full of beef jerky, oranges, bananas, crackers, and cheese, we were probably good to go for at least three days but we would have had to watch&nbsp;The Hangover&nbsp;more than just three times had we been there longer."Seven hours after coming to a stop, the Maxwells were still stuck amongst hundreds of vehicles by 6 p.m. With nothing else to do, the family hit repeat on The Hangover. The irony of watching a movie that involved a travel mishap was not lost on them.By 7 p.m., more than 11 hours after leaving Gardner, the Maxwells resigned to the fact that they would be sleeping in the truck. They made bunk beds out of blankets, suitcases, and jackets.Sleep was tough in the crowded automobile and an unexpected knock on the window by a police officer was a welcome surprise at 8:40 p.m. The officer said the Maxwells could follow him out of the traffic if they felt comfortable driving their 4-wheel-drive truck on the ice.That slow-moving journey lasted approximately an hour before coming to a halt near Chapman due to a jackknifed semi truck blocking both lanes. Fifteen minutes later, the journey resumed. The Maxwells took the first clear exit and made their way to a gas station where they were able to purchase hot food before getting back on the road. Greg was trying to stay behind a semi driver he trusted."Another semi driver had just passed us," Becca said. "Greg didn't think that looked good and that truck ended up taking out a small vehicle. We saw him hit their vehicle, take off the bumper off the back of the car and their mirror. He just kept going because he couldn't stop. The smaller cars, if you weren't in far enough, the semi trucks were still trying to go because there was no stopping."By 10:30, the Maxwells were stuck again. Interstate plowing had stopped and another plow was stuck in a nearby ditch. Mya approached two vehicles on an exit to ask if they could move over to allow room for the Maxwell vehicle to reach a nearby Love's gas station with the intent of staying the night there."Morale was not good," Becca said. People were cranky. The was very little camaraderie as the night got longer. We had made calls for hotels in Junction City and Abilene but you couldn’t get to them. Roads were impassable in town and the hotel employees and gas station workers I talked to had to walk into work. One employee said her car was snowed in at the gas station so she was just staying there for two days and most likely won’t get home for another day."It took an hour to get to the Love's near Abilene. The family hand-shoveled space near the gas station where they were able to park and sleep."Maybe knowing you are steps from a bathroom and coffee helps," said Becca. "And, honestly, it was much warmer off interstate with a little block from the straight winds and blowing snow."Just after midnight, the clan journeyed inside the gas station for one last restroom break. Once back in the vehicle, they decided on one more play of The Hangover. With gas options now available, they were also able to run the truck for heat.With little to no sleep, by 6:15 a.m., 22 hours after leaving the original hotel, the Maxwells could see the nearby offramp is cleared, meaning traffic was likely again allowed on I-70. More than four hours later, the family finally arrived in Ellinwood, 26 hours after the trip began.Becca said the trip was a learning experience that made her family extra grateful for the road workers and law enforcement who tried to keep roads open and assisted those who needed it."The semi trucks rule the road," she said. "There are so many of them it is really difficult to shut down interstate. There were clearly not enough stops and cleared space for all of them to just stop driving and get off the road. That was not possible. They had to park on interstate. I don’t know where else they could have gone."Still, the decision was not an easy when she the Maxwells made the decision to drive home. The volleyball tournament was a large one with teams spending a lot of money to attend. Rules dictate how and when teams can drop out of tournaments and what happens to those teams if they break the rules."Tournaments are difficult to reschedule and I understand the need to not cancel because it’s very difficult to make things up with how busy families are," Becca said. "It was a significant cost for us to play in that tournament, so there is a financial burden as well."The storm ended up dropping nearly six inches of snow around Gardner, but was part of a larger storm that dumped up to 18 inches of snow in the region. The official measurement at Kansas City International Airport was 11 inches, marking the fourth-largest single-day snowfall total in Kansas City history.Becca said the biggest lesson learned was for drivers to take heed of precautions and stay off the road when officials advise.Several serious accidents were reported across northeast and north central Kansas Saturday through Monday. On Monday afternoon, a man was killed at the gas station near the I-70 and K-156 junction north of Ellsworth. The man was attempted to help a semi truck navigate a snow-covered parking lot when he was ran over by the truck.

Kan. family safe after stuck on I-70 for 24 hours during snow storm

Death toll from wildfire in Los Angeles continues to climb

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Hays experienced its first major snowstorm of the year, which led the Hays Police Department to respond to 65 disabled vehicles over the weekend.

Hays Police Lieutenant Tim Greenwood reported 15 accidents, most of which were non-injury and resulted from sliding on icy roads.

Greenwood recommends warming up vehicles, thoroughly clearing windshields of ice and driving cautiously, even when using four-wheel drive.

By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostHays experienced its first major snowstorm of the year, which led the Hays Police Department to respond to 65 disabled vehicles over the weekend.Hays Police Lieutenant Tim Greenwood reported 15 accidents, most of which were non-injury and resulted from sliding on icy roads.Greenwood recommends warming up vehicles, thoroughly clearing windshields of ice and driving cautiously, even when using four-wheel drive.

Weekend snowstorm leads to disabled vehicles, accidents in Hays

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, as he declared U.S. control of both to be vital to American national security.

Speaking to reporters less than two weeks before he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-security-a3df8ed878f2c0587f7038d68a0447f6">takes office on Jan. 20</a>&nbsp;and as a delegation of aides and advisers that includes Donald Trump Jr. is in Greenland, Trump left open the use of the American military to secure both territories. Trump's intention marks a rejection of decades of U.S. policy that has prioritized self-determination over territorial expansion.

“I’m not going to commit to that," Trump said, when asked if he would rule out the use of the military. "It might be that you’ll have to do something. The Panama Canal is vital to our country.” He added, “We need Greenland for national security purposes."

Greenland, home to a large U.S. military base, is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a longtime U.S. ally and a founding member of NATO. Trump cast doubts on the legitimacy of Denmark's claim to Greenland.

The Panama Canal has been solely controlled by the eponymous country for more than 25 years. The U.S. returned the Panama Canal Zone to the country in 1979 and ended its joint partnership in controlling the strategic waterway in 1999.

Earlier, Trump posted a video of his private plane landing in Nuuk, the Arctic territory’s capital, in a landscape of snow-capped peaks and fjords.

“Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland,” Trump wrote. “The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”

In a statement, Greenland’s government said Donald Trump Jr.’s visit was taking place “as a private individual” and not as an official visit, and Greenlandic representatives would not meet with him.

Trump, a Republican, has also floated having Canada join the United States, but he said he would not use military force to do that, saying he would rely on “economic force."

Promising a “Golden age of America," Trump also said he would move to try to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” saying that has a “beautiful ring to it.”

Trump also used his press conference to complain that President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;was undermining his transition to power a day after the incumbent moved to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-offshore-drilling-trump-florida-atlantic-pacific-aa26f50e158fd4f9c24d368898244dce">ban offshore energy drilling</a>&nbsp;in most federal waters.

Biden, whose term expires in two weeks, used his authority under the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect offshore areas along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and portions of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea from future oil and natural gas leasing. All told, about 625 million acres of federal waters were withdrawn from energy exploration by Biden in a move that may require an act of Congress to undo.

“I’m going to put it back on day one," Trump told reporters. He pledged to take it to the courts “if we need to."

Trump said Biden's effort — part of a series of final actions in office by the Democrat's administration — was undermining his plans for once he's in office.

“You know, they told me that, we’re going to do everything possible to make this transition to the new administration very smooth," Trump said. “It’s not smooth.”

But Biden's team has extended access and courtesies to the Trump team that the Republican former president initially denied Biden after his 2020 election victory. Trump incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles told Axios in an interview published Monday that Biden chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-zients">Jeff Zients</a>&nbsp;had been “has been very helpful.”

In extended remarks, Trump also railed against the work of special counsel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jack-smith">Jack Smith</a>, who oversaw now-dropped prosecutions over his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol and possession of of classified documents after he left office in 2021. The Justice Department is expected to soon release a report from Smith summarizing his investigation after the criminal cases were forced to an end by Trump's victory in November.

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, as he declared U.S. control of both to be vital to American national security.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Question on Greenland and Panama Canal: &quot;Can you assure the world that as you try to get control of these areas you are not going to use military or economic coercion? President-Elect Trump: &quot;No...I can&#39;t assure you on either of those two. We need them for economic security...&quot; <a href="https://t.co/zJ8Fb67ZrX">pic.twitter.com/zJ8Fb67ZrX</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1876678479053259091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President-elect Trump: &quot;We&#39;re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America...what a beautiful name. It&#39;s appropriate.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ZspLXgkgcZ">pic.twitter.com/ZspLXgkgcZ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1876674752741314677?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Speaking to reporters less than two weeks before he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-security-a3df8ed878f2c0587f7038d68a0447f6">takes office on Jan. 20</a>&nbsp;and as a delegation of aides and advisers that includes Donald Trump Jr. is in Greenland, Trump left open the use of the American military to secure both territories. Trump's intention marks a rejection of decades of U.S. policy that has prioritized self-determination over territorial expansion.“I’m not going to commit to that," Trump said, when asked if he would rule out the use of the military. "It might be that you’ll have to do something. The Panama Canal is vital to our country.” He added, “We need Greenland for national security purposes."Greenland, home to a large U.S. military base, is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a longtime U.S. ally and a founding member of NATO. Trump cast doubts on the legitimacy of Denmark's claim to Greenland.The Panama Canal has been solely controlled by the eponymous country for more than 25 years. The U.S. returned the Panama Canal Zone to the country in 1979 and ended its joint partnership in controlling the strategic waterway in 1999.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-Elect Trump pardoning January 6th defendants: &quot;We&#39;re be looking at the whole thing, but yes I&#39;ll be making major pardons, yes.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/arHvANly7j">pic.twitter.com/arHvANly7j</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1876679962188468655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Earlier, Trump posted a video of his private plane landing in Nuuk, the Arctic territory’s capital, in a landscape of snow-capped peaks and fjords.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736263303205.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland,” Trump wrote. “The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Greenland is beautiful!!! 🇬🇱 <a href="https://t.co/PKoeeCafPz">pic.twitter.com/PKoeeCafPz</a>&mdash; Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1876631282635186587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a statement, Greenland’s government said Donald Trump Jr.’s visit was taking place “as a private individual” and not as an official visit, and Greenlandic representatives would not meet with him.Trump, a Republican, has also floated having Canada join the United States, but he said he would not use military force to do that, saying he would rely on “economic force."Promising a “Golden age of America," Trump also said he would move to try to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” saying that has a “beautiful ring to it.”Trump also used his press conference to complain that President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;was undermining his transition to power a day after the incumbent moved to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-offshore-drilling-trump-florida-atlantic-pacific-aa26f50e158fd4f9c24d368898244dce">ban offshore energy drilling</a>&nbsp;in most federal waters.Biden, whose term expires in two weeks, used his authority under the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect offshore areas along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and portions of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea from future oil and natural gas leasing. All told, about 625 million acres of federal waters were withdrawn from energy exploration by Biden in a move that may require an act of Congress to undo.“I’m going to put it back on day one," Trump told reporters. He pledged to take it to the courts “if we need to."Trump said Biden's effort — part of a series of final actions in office by the Democrat's administration — was undermining his plans for once he's in office.“You know, they told me that, we’re going to do everything possible to make this transition to the new administration very smooth," Trump said. “It’s not smooth.”But Biden's team has extended access and courtesies to the Trump team that the Republican former president initially denied Biden after his 2020 election victory. Trump incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles told Axios in an interview published Monday that Biden chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-zients">Jeff Zients</a>&nbsp;had been “has been very helpful.”In extended remarks, Trump also railed against the work of special counsel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jack-smith">Jack Smith</a>, who oversaw now-dropped prosecutions over his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol and possession of of classified documents after he left office in 2021. The Justice Department is expected to soon release a report from Smith summarizing his investigation after the criminal cases were forced to an end by Trump's victory in November.

🎥Trump on Panama Canal, renaming Gulf of Mexico and pardons

The Kansas Basketball Coaches Association has released their first regular season rankings for 2025.

Despite a road win over state-ranked Manhattan before the Christmas break, the Hays High girls' drop two spots to No. 7 in Class 5A. Manhattan jumps two to No. 8 in Class 6A.

The Hoxie girls are ranked 7th in class 2A.

The Logan-Palco boys are ranked third and Otis-Bison ninth in 1A Division 2.

6A Girls 1. Blue Valley North 2. Wichita Heights 3. Washburn Rural 4. Derby 5. Olathe South 6. Shawnee Mission South 7. Shawnee Mission Northwest| 8. Manhattan 9. Blue Valley NW 10. Olathe North

5A Girls 1. Topeka Seaman 2. Andover 3. St. Thomas Aquinas 4. St. James&nbsp;Academy 5. DeSoto 6. Kansas City Piper 7. Hays 8. Bishop Carroll 8. Blue Valley SW 10. Maize South

4A Girls 1. Wellington 2. Bishop Miege 3. Topeka Hayden 4. Eudora 5. Clay Center 6. Labette County 7. Fort Scott 8. Baldwin 9. Buhler 10. Rock Creek

3A Girls 1. Hesston 2. Halstead 3. Haven 4. Colby 5. Silver Lake 6. Girard 7. Goodland 8. Osage City 9. Holcomb 10. Cheney

2A Girls&nbsp; 1. St. Mary’s Colgan&nbsp; 2. Eureka&nbsp; Hillsboro &nbsp; 3. Moundridge 4. Wichita County&nbsp; 5. Inman 6. Ellinwood 7. Hoxie&nbsp; 8.&nbsp; Berean Academy&nbsp; 9. Doniphan West&nbsp; 10. Hillsboro

1A Div. 1 Girls 1. Little River&nbsp; 2. Centralia&nbsp; 3. South Gray &nbsp; 4. Clifton Clyde&nbsp; 5. St. John - Hudson&nbsp; 6. Rawlins County&nbsp; 7. Central Plains&nbsp; 8. Madison-Hamilton&nbsp; 9. Troy 10. Olpe&nbsp;

1A Div. 2 Girls 1. Hanover 2. Wallace County 3. South Haven 4. Lebo 5. Marias des Cygnes 6. Hodgeman County 7. Hartford 8. Cheylin 9. Attica 10. Ingalls&nbsp;

6A Boys 1. Shawnee Mission Northwest 2. Wichita Heights 3. Wichita Northwest 4. Olathe North 5.&nbsp; Shawnee Mission South 6. Mill Valley 7. Junction City 8. Blue Valley North 9. Derby 10. Blue Valley Northwest

5A Boys 1. Highland Park 2. Andover Central 3. Kansas City -Piper 4. Shawnee Heights 5. Kapaun Mt. Carmel 6.&nbsp; Valley Center 7. Topeka Seaman 8. St. Thomas Aquinas 9. Topeka West 10. Great Bend

4A Boys 1. Baldwin 2. Ottawa 3. McPherson 4. Rock Creek 5. Concordia 6. Atchison 7. Augusta 8. Abilene 9. Clay Center 10. Bishop Miege

3A Boys 1. Wichita Collegiate 2. Goodland 3. Hesston 4. Cheney 5. Haven 6. Lakin 7. Scott City 8. Wellsville 9. Burlington&nbsp; 10.&nbsp;Holcomb

2A Boys 1. Moundridge 2. Sterling 3. Ell-Saline 4. Salina-Sacred Heart 5. Rossville 6. Whitewater-Remington 7. Bennington 8. Pitt-Colgan 9. Berean Academy 10. Medicine Lodge

1A Div. 1 Boys 1. South Central 2. South Gray 3. Lawrence-Bishop Seabury 4. Oxford 5. Central Plains 6. Olpe 7. Macksville 8. Central Burden 9. Frankfort 10. Clifton-Clyde

1A Div. 2 Boys 1. Cunningham 2. Axtell 3. Logan-Palco 4. Elyria Christian 5. Weskan 6. Hodgeman Co 7. Hanover 8. Dighton 9. Otis-Bison 10. St. John’s Tipton

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712064660369.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostThe Kansas Basketball Coaches Association has released their first regular season rankings for 2025.Despite a road win over state-ranked Manhattan before the Christmas break, the Hays High girls' drop two spots to No. 7 in Class 5A. Manhattan jumps two to No. 8 in Class 6A.The Hoxie girls are ranked 7th in class 2A.The Logan-Palco boys are ranked third and Otis-Bison ninth in 1A Division 2.6A Girls 1. Blue Valley North 2. Wichita Heights 3. Washburn Rural 4. Derby 5. Olathe South 6. Shawnee Mission South 7. Shawnee Mission Northwest| 8. Manhattan 9. Blue Valley NW 10. Olathe North5A Girls 1. Topeka Seaman 2. Andover 3. St. Thomas Aquinas 4. St. James&nbsp;Academy 5. DeSoto 6. Kansas City Piper 7. Hays 8. Bishop Carroll 8. Blue Valley SW 10. Maize South4A Girls 1. Wellington 2. Bishop Miege 3. Topeka Hayden 4. Eudora 5. Clay Center 6. Labette County 7. Fort Scott 8. Baldwin 9. Buhler 10. Rock Creek3A Girls 1. Hesston 2. Halstead 3. Haven 4. Colby 5. Silver Lake 6. Girard 7. Goodland 8. Osage City 9. Holcomb 10. Cheney2A Girls&nbsp; 1. St. Mary’s Colgan&nbsp; 2. Eureka&nbsp; Hillsboro &nbsp; 3. Moundridge 4. Wichita County&nbsp; 5. Inman 6. Ellinwood 7. Hoxie&nbsp; 8.&nbsp; Berean Academy&nbsp; 9. Doniphan West&nbsp; 10. Hillsboro1A Div. 1 Girls 1. Little River&nbsp; 2. Centralia&nbsp; 3. South Gray &nbsp; 4. Clifton Clyde&nbsp; 5. St. John - Hudson&nbsp; 6. Rawlins County&nbsp; 7. Central Plains&nbsp; 8. Madison-Hamilton&nbsp; 9. Troy 10. Olpe&nbsp;1A Div. 2 Girls 1. Hanover 2. Wallace County 3. South Haven 4. Lebo 5. Marias des Cygnes 6. Hodgeman County 7. Hartford 8. Cheylin 9. Attica 10. Ingalls&nbsp;6A Boys 1. Shawnee Mission Northwest 2. Wichita Heights 3. Wichita Northwest 4. Olathe North 5.&nbsp; Shawnee Mission South 6. Mill Valley 7. Junction City 8. Blue Valley North 9. Derby 10. Blue Valley Northwest5A Boys 1. Highland Park 2. Andover Central 3. Kansas City -Piper 4. Shawnee Heights 5. Kapaun Mt. Carmel 6.&nbsp; Valley Center 7. Topeka Seaman 8. St. Thomas Aquinas 9. Topeka West 10. Great Bend4A Boys 1. Baldwin 2. Ottawa 3. McPherson 4. Rock Creek 5. Concordia 6. Atchison 7. Augusta 8. Abilene 9. Clay Center 10. Bishop Miege3A Boys 1. Wichita Collegiate 2. Goodland 3. Hesston 4. Cheney 5. Haven 6. Lakin 7. Scott City 8. Wellsville 9. Burlington&nbsp; 10.&nbsp;Holcomb2A Boys 1. Moundridge 2. Sterling 3. Ell-Saline 4. Salina-Sacred Heart 5. Rossville 6. Whitewater-Remington 7. Bennington 8. Pitt-Colgan 9. Berean Academy 10. Medicine Lodge1A Div. 1 Boys 1. South Central 2. South Gray 3. Lawrence-Bishop Seabury 4. Oxford 5. Central Plains 6. Olpe 7. Macksville 8. Central Burden 9. Frankfort 10. Clifton-Clyde1A Div. 2 Boys 1. Cunningham 2. Axtell 3. Logan-Palco 4. Elyria Christian 5. Weskan 6. Hodgeman Co 7. Hanover 8. Dighton 9. Otis-Bison 10. St. John’s Tipton

🏀 Kansas Basketball Coaches Association rankings (Jan. 7)

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A Kansas legislator renewed attempts to rid the state of daylight saving time under a bill filed ahead of the state’s 2025 legislative session, which begins later this month.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb1/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 1</a>, which was prefiled Friday, seeks to exempt Kansas from participating in the national practice of switching clocks back an hour every November and forward again every March.

Sen. Kenny Titus, a Wamego Republican who was elected to the Senate in November after serving a term in the House, is sponsoring the bill that would create year-round standard time beginning November 2025.

“Every year I get asked by constituents why the state doesn’t do something about switching clocks back and forth,” Titus said. “Most often I hear from folks that they don’t really care if we are on daylight saving or standard time, they just want to keep it consistent throughout the year.”

Recent attempts to put an end to the time changes at state and federal levels have failed. The last attempt in Kansas was in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/02/14/clock-is-ticking-ditch-the-switch-for-year-round-standard-or-daylight-saving-time/">2021</a>&nbsp;when Rep. Shannon Francis, a Republican from Liberal, drafted a resolution asking Congress to eradicate standard time and stick with daylight time year-round.

Only Arizona, Hawaii and the U.S.’s unincorporated territories are exempt from the switch.

In 2022, the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/15/u-s-senate-backs-shift-to-permanent-daylight-saving-time/">Senate</a>&nbsp;passed a bill that would’ve made daylight saving time permanent, but the U.S. House declined to take it up.&nbsp;

Despite the U.S. House’s resistance, Titus said, “it shows there is popular support to at least talk about making a change.”

A 2021 AP-NORC&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/dislike-for-changing-the-clocks-persists/" target="_blank">poll</a>&nbsp;found that 75% of Americans want to stop switching their clocks, and studies have shown switching clocks can be detrimental to sleep habits and overall&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7954020/" target="_blank">health</a>.&nbsp;

“When I compared the arguments for daylight saving time and standard time, the primary benefit of daylight saving time was increased consumer spending (because there is more daylight in the evening for shopping and activities) compared to the increased health benefits of standard time with more daylight in the morning

In comparing year-round daylight saving time to standard time, Titus found increased consumer spending was the primary benefit because of more daylight in the evening for shopping and activities. More daylight in the morning with year-round standard time, on the other hand, can lead to health benefits, he said.

“For me, it was a no-brainer to prioritize the health of Kansans,” Titus said.

President-elect Donald Trump vowed last month in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1867686000711155989" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;to social media platform X that the Republican Party would attempt to eliminate daylight saving time, calling it “inconvenient” and “costly.” Titus’ bill provides for the possibility of Congress taking its own action.

His is the only Senate bill to be prefiled so far.&nbsp;

“The primary issue is fairly straightforward, so I thought it was best to get the conversation started before committee calendars are filled up with other topics,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736271143458.jpeg" alt=" Sen. Kenny Titus, a Wamego Republican, prefiled a bill that would eradicate daylight saving time in Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Sen. Kenny Titus, a Wamego Republican, prefiled a bill that would eradicate daylight saving time in Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A Kansas legislator renewed attempts to rid the state of daylight saving time under a bill filed ahead of the state’s 2025 legislative session, which begins later this month.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb1/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 1</a>, which was prefiled Friday, seeks to exempt Kansas from participating in the national practice of switching clocks back an hour every November and forward again every March.Sen. Kenny Titus, a Wamego Republican who was elected to the Senate in November after serving a term in the House, is sponsoring the bill that would create year-round standard time beginning November 2025.“Every year I get asked by constituents why the state doesn’t do something about switching clocks back and forth,” Titus said. “Most often I hear from folks that they don’t really care if we are on daylight saving or standard time, they just want to keep it consistent throughout the year.”Recent attempts to put an end to the time changes at state and federal levels have failed. The last attempt in Kansas was in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/02/14/clock-is-ticking-ditch-the-switch-for-year-round-standard-or-daylight-saving-time/">2021</a>&nbsp;when Rep. Shannon Francis, a Republican from Liberal, drafted a resolution asking Congress to eradicate standard time and stick with daylight time year-round.Only Arizona, Hawaii and the U.S.’s unincorporated territories are exempt from the switch.In 2022, the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/15/u-s-senate-backs-shift-to-permanent-daylight-saving-time/">Senate</a>&nbsp;passed a bill that would’ve made daylight saving time permanent, but the U.S. House declined to take it up.&nbsp;Despite the U.S. House’s resistance, Titus said, “it shows there is popular support to at least talk about making a change.”A 2021 AP-NORC&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/dislike-for-changing-the-clocks-persists/" target="_blank">poll</a>&nbsp;found that 75% of Americans want to stop switching their clocks, and studies have shown switching clocks can be detrimental to sleep habits and overall&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7954020/" target="_blank">health</a>.&nbsp;“When I compared the arguments for daylight saving time and standard time, the primary benefit of daylight saving time was increased consumer spending (because there is more daylight in the evening for shopping and activities) compared to the increased health benefits of standard time with more daylight in the morningIn comparing year-round daylight saving time to standard time, Titus found increased consumer spending was the primary benefit because of more daylight in the evening for shopping and activities. More daylight in the morning with year-round standard time, on the other hand, can lead to health benefits, he said.“For me, it was a no-brainer to prioritize the health of Kansans,” Titus said.President-elect Donald Trump vowed last month in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1867686000711155989" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;to social media platform X that the Republican Party would attempt to eliminate daylight saving time, calling it “inconvenient” and “costly.” Titus’ bill provides for the possibility of Congress taking its own action.His is the only Senate bill to be prefiled so far.&nbsp;“The primary issue is fairly straightforward, so I thought it was best to get the conversation started before committee calendars are filled up with other topics,” he said.

Daylight saving time would end in Kansas under senator’s prefiled bill

WASHINGTON (AP) —President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;told residents of Greenland that “we’re going to treat you well" as his oldest son visited the mineral-rich Danish territory that’s home to a large U.S. military base, heightening speculation that the incoming U.S. administration could seek to acquire it.

Trump posted a video showing a plane emblazoned with the word TRUMP landing in Nuuk, the Arctic territory's capital, in a landscape of snow-capped peaks and fjords.

“Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland,” Trump wrote. “The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!” Supporters later posted video of Trump speaking by phone to locals.

In a statement, Greenland's government said Donald Trump Jr.'s visit was taking place “as a private individual” and not as an official visit, and Greenlandic representatives would not meet with him.

Trump Jr. was in Greenland for a day trip to shoot video content for podcasting, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorized to speak publicly. Trump’s eldest son has become a prominent player in his father’s political movement and has served on his presidential transition team.

Mininguaq Kleist, permanent secretary of the ministry of statehood and foreign affairs, told The Associated Press that authorities were informed that Trump Jr. would stay for about four to five hours. Neither Trump Jr.'s delegation nor Greenlandic government officials had requested a meeting, Kleist said.

The visit nonetheless had political overtones. The president-elect has voiced a desire — also expressed during his first presidency — to acquire the territory in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/arctic">the Arctic</a>, an area of strategic importance for the U.S, China, Russia and others.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday that the future of Greenland would be decided by Greenland, and called the United States Denmark’s most important ally. “Greenland is not for sale,” Frederiksen said, adding that “we need to stay calm and stick to our principles”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-international-news-greenland-arctic-8e2d4e38c5b64997b26da54d8ea7c7ef">world’s largest island</a>, Greenland sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and is 80% covered by an ice sheet. The autonomous territory has some 56,000 residents, most of them Indigenous Inuit people.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede has called for independence from Denmark, saying in a New Year’s speech that it would be a way for Greenland to free itself from its colonial past. But Egede has also said he has no interest in Greenland becoming part of the United States, insisting that the island is not for sale.

Independence has become a key issue ahead of an election for the Greenlandic parliament. A date hasn't been set, but it must take place no later than April 6.

A former colony of Denmark, Greenland in 1979 gained self-rule, which is exercises through its parliament. Copenhagen still exercises control over Greenland's foreign and defense policy. A treaty with the United States, with the U.S. base, also gives Washington say over the territory's defense.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-queen-king-margrethe-frederik-abdication-22d9356ab4bad4b058b2305fa8730a27">Denmark’s King Frederik X</a>&nbsp;has been asserting the kingdom's rights to Greenland as well as the Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago located between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean. The king's power is mostly symbolic.

Last month, the king by royal decree changed Denmark's coat of arms to include fields that represent Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Greenland is represented by a silver bear with red tongue. The royal announcement noted that since 1194, the royal coat of arms “visually symbolized the legitimacy and sovereignty of the state and the monarch.”

“We are all united and each of us committed for the Kingdom of Denmark,” the king said in his New Year’s address, adding: “all the way to Greenland.”

The idea of the U.S. purchasing Greenland — located near the North American landmass — is not new, with early attempts in the late 19th century.

During his first term, Trump mused about purchasing Greenland. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-international-news-greenland-denmark-2f589698d5424dbda4be8d3acdf7ce6e">canceled a scheduled trip to Denmark in August 2019</a>&nbsp;after the prime minister dismissed the idea.

Reviving the issue in a statement last month as he announced his pick for U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote: “For purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”

WASHINGTON (AP) —The eldest son of President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;arrived in Greenland on Tuesday for a private visit that heightened speculation that the incoming U.S. administration could seek to take control of the mineral-rich Danish territory that's home to a large U.S. military base.

The Danish state broadcaster reported that Donald Trump Jr.'s plane landed in Nuuk, capital of the vast and icy Arctic territory that has some 57,000 residents. Local media broadcast footage of him walking across a snowy tarmac.

In a statement, Greenland's government said Trump Jr.'s visit would take place “as a private individual” and not as an official visit and that Greenlandic representatives would not meet with him. Greenland is an autonomous territory that’s part of Denmark.

Trump Jr. is in Greenland for a day trip to shoot video content for podcasting, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Mininguaq Kleist, permanent secretary for the Greenland foreign affairs department, told The Associated Press that authorities were informed that Trump Jr. would stay for about four to five hours.

Neither Trump Jr.'s delegation nor Greenlandic government officials had requested a meeting, Kleist said.

The visit nonetheless had political overtones. The president-elect recently voiced a desire — also expressed during his first presidency — to acquire the territory in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/arctic">the Arctic</a>, an area of strategic importance for the U.S, China, Russia and others.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-international-news-greenland-arctic-8e2d4e38c5b64997b26da54d8ea7c7ef">world’s largest island</a>, Greenland sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and is 80% covered by an ice sheet.

“I am hearing that the people of Greenland are ‘MAGA.’ My son, Don Jr., and various representatives, will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights,” the president-elect posted on his social media site Monday night, referring to his “Make America Great Again” movement.

“Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation,” Trump wrote. “We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday that the future of Greenland would be decided by Greenland, and called the United States Denmark’s most important ally.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-queen-king-margrethe-frederik-abdication-22d9356ab4bad4b058b2305fa8730a27">Denmark’s King Frederik X</a>&nbsp;has been asserting the kingdom's rights to Greenland as well as the Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago located between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Last month, the king changed Denmark's coat of arms to include fields that represent Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Greenland is represented by a silver bear with red tongue. The royal announcement noted that since 1194, the royal coat of arms “visually symbolized the legitimacy and sovereignty of the state and the monarch.”

During his first term, the U.S. president-elect mused about purchasing Greenland, which gained home rule from Denmark in 1979. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-international-news-greenland-denmark-2f589698d5424dbda4be8d3acdf7ce6e">canceled a scheduled trip to Denmark in August 2019</a>&nbsp;after its prime minister dismissed the idea.

Trump’s eldest son has become a prominent player in his father’s political movement and has served on his presidential transition team, helping to select the people who will staff the incoming White House.

WASHINGTON (AP) —President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;told residents of Greenland that “we’re going to treat you well" as his oldest son visited the mineral-rich Danish territory that’s home to a large U.S. military base, heightening speculation that the incoming U.S. administration could seek to acquire it.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Greenland is beautiful!!! 🇬🇱 <a href="https://t.co/PKoeeCafPz">pic.twitter.com/PKoeeCafPz</a>&mdash; Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1876631282635186587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Greenland coming in hot… well, actually, really really cold!!!! <a href="https://t.co/IhLKVOfYVM">pic.twitter.com/IhLKVOfYVM</a>&mdash; Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1876624138174976459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump posted a video showing a plane emblazoned with the word TRUMP landing in Nuuk, the Arctic territory's capital, in a landscape of snow-capped peaks and fjords.“Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland,” Trump wrote. “The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!” Supporters later posted video of Trump speaking by phone to locals.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736263303205.png" alt="Trump" />
 <figcaption>Trump</figcaption>
 </figure>In a statement, Greenland's government said Donald Trump Jr.'s visit was taking place “as a private individual” and not as an official visit, and Greenlandic representatives would not meet with him.Trump Jr. was in Greenland for a day trip to shoot video content for podcasting, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorized to speak publicly. Trump’s eldest son has become a prominent player in his father’s political movement and has served on his presidential transition team.Mininguaq Kleist, permanent secretary of the ministry of statehood and foreign affairs, told The Associated Press that authorities were informed that Trump Jr. would stay for about four to five hours. Neither Trump Jr.'s delegation nor Greenlandic government officials had requested a meeting, Kleist said.The visit nonetheless had political overtones. The president-elect has voiced a desire — also expressed during his first presidency — to acquire the territory in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/arctic">the Arctic</a>, an area of strategic importance for the U.S, China, Russia and others.Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday that the future of Greenland would be decided by Greenland, and called the United States Denmark’s most important ally. “Greenland is not for sale,” Frederiksen said, adding that “we need to stay calm and stick to our principles”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-international-news-greenland-arctic-8e2d4e38c5b64997b26da54d8ea7c7ef">world’s largest island</a>, Greenland sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and is 80% covered by an ice sheet. The autonomous territory has some 56,000 residents, most of them Indigenous Inuit people.Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede has called for independence from Denmark, saying in a New Year’s speech that it would be a way for Greenland to free itself from its colonial past. But Egede has also said he has no interest in Greenland becoming part of the United States, insisting that the island is not for sale.Independence has become a key issue ahead of an election for the Greenlandic parliament. A date hasn't been set, but it must take place no later than April 6.A former colony of Denmark, Greenland in 1979 gained self-rule, which is exercises through its parliament. Copenhagen still exercises control over Greenland's foreign and defense policy. A treaty with the United States, with the U.S. base, also gives Washington say over the territory's defense.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-queen-king-margrethe-frederik-abdication-22d9356ab4bad4b058b2305fa8730a27">Denmark’s King Frederik X</a>&nbsp;has been asserting the kingdom's rights to Greenland as well as the Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago located between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean. The king's power is mostly symbolic.Last month, the king by royal decree changed Denmark's coat of arms to include fields that represent Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Greenland is represented by a silver bear with red tongue. The royal announcement noted that since 1194, the royal coat of arms “visually symbolized the legitimacy and sovereignty of the state and the monarch.”“We are all united and each of us committed for the Kingdom of Denmark,” the king said in his New Year’s address, adding: “all the way to Greenland.”The idea of the U.S. purchasing Greenland — located near the North American landmass — is not new, with early attempts in the late 19th century.During his first term, Trump mused about purchasing Greenland. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-international-news-greenland-denmark-2f589698d5424dbda4be8d3acdf7ce6e">canceled a scheduled trip to Denmark in August 2019</a>&nbsp;after the prime minister dismissed the idea.Reviving the issue in a statement last month as he announced his pick for U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote: “For purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”-------------WASHINGTON (AP) —The eldest son of President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;arrived in Greenland on Tuesday for a private visit that heightened speculation that the incoming U.S. administration could seek to take control of the mineral-rich Danish territory that's home to a large U.S. military base.The Danish state broadcaster reported that Donald Trump Jr.'s plane landed in Nuuk, capital of the vast and icy Arctic territory that has some 57,000 residents. Local media broadcast footage of him walking across a snowy tarmac.In a statement, Greenland's government said Trump Jr.'s visit would take place “as a private individual” and not as an official visit and that Greenlandic representatives would not meet with him. Greenland is an autonomous territory that’s part of Denmark.Trump Jr. is in Greenland for a day trip to shoot video content for podcasting, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorized to speak publicly.Mininguaq Kleist, permanent secretary for the Greenland foreign affairs department, told The Associated Press that authorities were informed that Trump Jr. would stay for about four to five hours.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736263303205.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Neither Trump Jr.'s delegation nor Greenlandic government officials had requested a meeting, Kleist said.The visit nonetheless had political overtones. The president-elect recently voiced a desire — also expressed during his first presidency — to acquire the territory in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/arctic">the Arctic</a>, an area of strategic importance for the U.S, China, Russia and others.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-international-news-greenland-arctic-8e2d4e38c5b64997b26da54d8ea7c7ef">world’s largest island</a>, Greenland sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and is 80% covered by an ice sheet.“I am hearing that the people of Greenland are ‘MAGA.’ My son, Don Jr., and various representatives, will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights,” the president-elect posted on his social media site Monday night, referring to his “Make America Great Again” movement.“Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation,” Trump wrote. “We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede has called for independence from Denmark, saying in a New Year’s speech that it would be a way for Greenland to free itself from its colonial past. But Egede has also said he has no interest in Greenland becoming part of the United States, insisting that the island is not for sale.Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday that the future of Greenland would be decided by Greenland, and called the United States Denmark’s most important ally.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-queen-king-margrethe-frederik-abdication-22d9356ab4bad4b058b2305fa8730a27">Denmark’s King Frederik X</a>&nbsp;has been asserting the kingdom's rights to Greenland as well as the Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago located between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean.Last month, the king changed Denmark's coat of arms to include fields that represent Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Greenland is represented by a silver bear with red tongue. The royal announcement noted that since 1194, the royal coat of arms “visually symbolized the legitimacy and sovereignty of the state and the monarch.”“We are all united and each of us committed for the Kingdom of Denmark,” the king said in his New Year’s address, adding: “all the way to Greenland.”During his first term, the U.S. president-elect mused about purchasing Greenland, which gained home rule from Denmark in 1979. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-international-news-greenland-denmark-2f589698d5424dbda4be8d3acdf7ce6e">canceled a scheduled trip to Denmark in August 2019</a>&nbsp;after its prime minister dismissed the idea.Reviving the issue in a statement last month as he announced his pick for U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote: “For purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”Trump’s eldest son has become a prominent player in his father’s political movement and has served on his presidential transition team, helping to select the people who will staff the incoming White House.

Trump, Jr. in Greenland amid talk of U.S. buying island

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Hays public water supply system.&nbsp; This advisory also includes customers of Countryside Estates Mobile Home Park.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

The advisory took effect on January 21 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. 

KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system.&nbsp;

Two waterline breaks occurred in Hays Monday, Jeff Crispin, water resources department director, told Hays Post. &nbsp;"Due to difficulty shutting down one of them to make the repair, we lost system pressure," Crispin said.

The two breaks were at 1240 Vine and the 400 block of West 18th.

Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 785-628-7380, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. 

For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2F468%2FDisruption-in-Water-Service%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019487cc70b7-7ad0ff7a-077f-4c35-af9b-42baa08c0333-000000/CSKKU2U0twCYT6SeRqz5zRztKdaNMmHTfXjY9ahykTY=388">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service</a>

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety &amp; lodging program at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.fsl@ks.gov">kda.fsl@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 785-564-6767.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737445278089.jpeg" alt="City workers on the site a water main break at 1240 Vine, one of two water main breaks Monday in Hays.&nbsp; A boil water advisory has been issued for Hays by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Photo courtesy Hays Dept. of Water Resources" />
 <figcaption>City workers on the site a water main break at 1240 Vine, one of two water main breaks Monday in Hays.&nbsp; A boil water advisory has been issued for Hays by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Photo courtesy Hays Dept. of Water Resources</figcaption>
 </figure>KDHETOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Hays public water supply system.&nbsp; This advisory also includes customers of Countryside Estates Mobile Home Park.Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:<ul>
 <li>Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.</li><li>Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.</li><li>If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.</li><li>Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.</li><li>Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.</li>
 </ul>The advisory took effect on January 21 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system.&nbsp;Two waterline breaks occurred in Hays Monday, Jeff Crispin, water resources department director, told Hays Post. &nbsp;"Due to difficulty shutting down one of them to make the repair, we lost system pressure," Crispin said.The two breaks were at 1240 Vine and the 400 block of West 18th.Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 785-628-7380, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2F468%2FDisruption-in-Water-Service%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019487cc70b7-7ad0ff7a-077f-4c35-af9b-42baa08c0333-000000/CSKKU2U0twCYT6SeRqz5zRztKdaNMmHTfXjY9ahykTY=388">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service</a>Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety &amp; lodging program at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.fsl@ks.gov">kda.fsl@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 785-564-6767.

Hays is under boil water advisory from KDHE

United Way of Ellis County's 71st-annual fundraising campaign has raised about $211,000 of its $350,000 goal to fund local programs.

The nonprofit focuses on key pillars that foster a good quality of life and strengthen the community.

United Way Executive Director Erica Berges said the organization's mission is to support funding for essential programs.

"We base those programs on four criteria: youth opportunity, community resiliency, healthy community and financial security," she said.

Berges said she anticipates more donations in the weeks ahead.

Campaign donations are accepted <a href="https://liveunited.harnessgiving.org/donate/?selected-method=one-time&amp;amount=50&amp;campaign_id=0">online </a>until Jan. 31, by phone at 785-628-8281, and in person at the United Way of Ellis County office, 1200 Main Street, Suite 102.

United Way will continue to accept donations after Jan. 31 as the deadline helps facilitate the Care Council's funding decisions.

Giving options include payroll deductions, monthly contributions and rounding up purchases to support programs such as rent assistance, utility aid and physical therapy for children.

"The nice thing about donating to United Way is it's going to multiple agencies and programs across every demographic," Berges said. "From birth to our senior citizens and everybody in between."

Donors can designate their contributions to specific agencies or allow United Way of Ellis County to allocate them to an agency they select.

"You can always give us a call. I'm more than happy to talk to individuals to let them know what their donation dollars are going to," Berges said.

The Care Council consists of 12 community volunteers who review agency funding requests and recommend United Way allocations.

The council strives to ensure funded programs and agencies deliver essential community services.

"Unfortunately, the ask is always more than we can give, and we always want to give out as much as we can," Berges said. "That's why our annual campaign is so important."

United Way of Ellis County will host a Chamber Chat at 9 a.m. on Jan. 24 at its offices at  1200 Main St., Suite 102, to allow the public to learn about the group.

The organization is hosting a Dueling Pianos event at 6 p.m. on Feb. 8 at the Schenk Community Building. The event will include food, drinks and music. Tickets are $50 each.

You can visit the United Way of Ellis County <a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">website </a>and follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/unitedwayofelliscounty/events">Facebook</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687976834535.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostUnited Way of Ellis County's 71st-annual fundraising campaign has raised about $211,000 of its $350,000 goal to fund local programs.The nonprofit focuses on key pillars that foster a good quality of life and strengthen the community.United Way Executive Director Erica Berges said the organization's mission is to support funding for essential programs."We base those programs on four criteria: youth opportunity, community resiliency, healthy community and financial security," she said.Berges said she anticipates more donations in the weeks ahead.Campaign donations are accepted <a href="https://liveunited.harnessgiving.org/donate/?selected-method=one-time&amp;amount=50&amp;campaign_id=0">online </a>until Jan. 31, by phone at 785-628-8281, and in person at the United Way of Ellis County office, 1200 Main Street, Suite 102.United Way will continue to accept donations after Jan. 31 as the deadline helps facilitate the Care Council's funding decisions.Giving options include payroll deductions, monthly contributions and rounding up purchases to support programs such as rent assistance, utility aid and physical therapy for children."The nice thing about donating to United Way is it's going to multiple agencies and programs across every demographic," Berges said. "From birth to our senior citizens and everybody in between."Donors can designate their contributions to specific agencies or allow United Way of Ellis County to allocate them to an agency they select."You can always give us a call. I'm more than happy to talk to individuals to let them know what their donation dollars are going to," Berges said.The Care Council consists of 12 community volunteers who review agency funding requests and recommend United Way allocations.The council strives to ensure funded programs and agencies deliver essential community services."Unfortunately, the ask is always more than we can give, and we always want to give out as much as we can," Berges said. "That's why our annual campaign is so important."United Way of Ellis County will host a Chamber Chat at 9 a.m. on Jan. 24 at its offices at 1200 Main St., Suite 102, to allow the public to learn about the group.The organization is hosting a Dueling Pianos event at 6 p.m. on Feb. 8 at the Schenk Community Building. The event will include food, drinks and music. Tickets are $50 each.You can visit the United Way of Ellis County <a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">website </a>and follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/unitedwayofelliscounty/events">Facebook</a>.

United Way of Ellis County short of fundraising campaign goal

NEW YORK (AP) —Facebook and Instagram owner Meta said Tuesday it's scrapping its third-party fact-checking program and replacing it with a Community Notes program written by users similar to the model used by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/x-musk-twitter-misinformation-ccdh-0fa4fec0f703369b93be248461e8005d">Elon Musk's social media platform X</a>.

Starting in the U.S., Meta will end its fact-checking program with independent third parties. The company said it decided to end the program because expert fact checkers had their own biases and too much content ended up being fact checked.

Instead, it will pivot to a Community Notes model that uses crowdsourced fact-checking contributions from users.

“We’ve seen this approach work on X – where they empower their community to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context,” Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan said in a blog post.

The social media company also said it plans to allow “more speech” by lifting some restrictions on some topics that are part of mainstream discussion in order to focus on illegal and “high severity violations" like terrorism, child sexual exploitation and drugs.

Meta said that its approach of building complex systems to manage content on its platforms has "gone too far" and has made “too many mistakes” by censoring too much content.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged that the changes are in part sparked by political events including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-trump-election-certification-capitol-b8284b9b6b22f78ab7f23f8c8b3c3da3">Donald Trump's presidential election victory</a>.

“The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritizing speech,” Zuckerberg said in an online video.

Meta's quasi-independent Oversight Board, which was set up to act as a referee on controversial content decisions, said it welcomed the changes and looked forward to working with the company "to understand the changes in greater detail, ensuring its new approach can be as effective and speech-friendly as possible."

NEW YORK (AP) —Facebook and Instagram owner Meta said Tuesday it's scrapping its third-party fact-checking program and replacing it with a Community Notes program written by users similar to the model used by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/x-musk-twitter-misinformation-ccdh-0fa4fec0f703369b93be248461e8005d">Elon Musk's social media platform X</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It&#39;s time to get back to our roots around free expression. We&#39;re replacing fact checkers with Community Notes, simplifying our policies and focusing on reducing mistakes. Looking forward to this next chapter. <a href="https://t.co/NRJdpN3Qxg">pic.twitter.com/NRJdpN3Qxg</a>&mdash; Mark Zuckerberg (@zuckerberg5143) <a href="https://twitter.com/zuckerberg5143/status/1876608937052811353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Starting in the U.S., Meta will end its fact-checking program with independent third parties. The company said it decided to end the program because expert fact checkers had their own biases and too much content ended up being fact checked.Instead, it will pivot to a Community Notes model that uses crowdsourced fact-checking contributions from users.“We’ve seen this approach work on X – where they empower their community to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context,” Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan said in a blog post.The social media company also said it plans to allow “more speech” by lifting some restrictions on some topics that are part of mainstream discussion in order to focus on illegal and “high severity violations" like terrorism, child sexual exploitation and drugs.Meta said that its approach of building complex systems to manage content on its platforms has "gone too far" and has made “too many mistakes” by censoring too much content.CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged that the changes are in part sparked by political events including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-trump-election-certification-capitol-b8284b9b6b22f78ab7f23f8c8b3c3da3">Donald Trump's presidential election victory</a>.“The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritizing speech,” Zuckerberg said in an online video.Meta's quasi-independent Oversight Board, which was set up to act as a referee on controversial content decisions, said it welcomed the changes and looked forward to working with the company "to understand the changes in greater detail, ensuring its new approach can be as effective and speech-friendly as possible."

Meta ends fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram 

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;told mourners in New Orleans on Monday that they are not alone as he paid tribute to victims of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-truck-attack-fbi-47fd819355e6d31475529e4f3b1328e5">deadly New Year’s attack</a>&nbsp;and channeled the pain felt by their loved ones.

Biden made the remarks at St. Louis Cathedral in the city's historic French Quarter. not far from the area where an Army veteran drove a truck into revelers last week, killing 14 and injuring 30 more.

Biden praised “so many that ran toward the chaos, trying to help save others," including first responders. He noted the city's enduring strength and resilience amid tragedy, invoking past devastation like Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“The city’s people get back up," Biden said. "That’s the spirit of America as well.”

Biden met privately with grieving families, survivors and first responders before the prayer service. He also stopped at a makeshift memorial where the attack had begun to unfold. It is being investigated as an act of terrorism inspired by the Islamic State group.

Biden has made dozens of visits to sites of violence, natural disaster and other calamities during his four years in office. With two weeks left, Monday's visit to New Orleans could be his last such trip.

In his remarks Monday, Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-memorial-wife-daughter-killed-accident-delaware-a00f53d572a90386a55f206f59c7ff3e">alluded to the personal loss in his own life</a>&nbsp;and recounted words of collective grief he’s delivered time and again as president. He acknowledged the searing loss the grieving families will feel at holidays and birthdays to come, along with the small details they will miss about their loved ones.

“We know what it’s like to lose a piece of our soul. The anger. The emptiness,” he said.

He told the grieving families that they will eventually reach a day when the memory of their loved ones will make them smile before it makes them cry.

“It will take time, but I promise you, it will come. I promise you," he said.

Before he met privately with the victims’ families, Biden and first lady Jill Biden made their first stop in the city at a memorial that sprung up on Bourbon Street at the spot where the attack started.

Flowers and messages were left at the bases of the crosses erected on the sidewalk. After Jill Biden placed white flowers at the memorial, she and the president stood in silence and bowed their heads.

At the public prayer service at the cathedral, a rendition of “Amazing Grace” was performed with a New Orleans jazz spin. The Bidens placed a candle at the altar. The president then returned to his seat in front pew, shutting his eyes tight in prayer.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Louisiana that Biden "believes this is also an important part of the job that he believes he needs to do as president.”

It's a grim task that presidents perform, though not every leader has embraced the role with such intimacy as the 82-year-old Biden, who has experienced a lot of personal tragedy in his own life. His first wife and baby daughter died in a car accident in the early 1970s, and his elder son, Beau,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d8f69eb645d74b7886387f713981b739">died of cancer</a>&nbsp;in 2015.

“I've been there. There’s nothing you can really say to somebody that’s just had such a tragic loss," Biden told reporters Sunday in a preview of his visit. "My message is going to be personal if I get to get them alone.”

Biden often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-school-shooting-biden-visits-uvalde-5602203ec1088223e3b6aaed3d219136">takes the opportunity at such bleak occasions</a>&nbsp;to speak behind closed doors with the families, offer up his personal phone number in case people want to talk later on and talk about grief in stark, personal terms.

The Democratic president will continue on to California following his stop in New Orleans. With a snowstorm hitting the Washington region on Monday, Biden's trip began with Air Force One starting its takeoff from inside a large hangar instead of on the tarmac as thick snow covered the ground at Joint Base Andrews and snowplows worked to clear the runway.

In New Orleans on Jan. 1, the driver plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-1685016388d65039ce62e720aab2ba14">Shamsud-Din Jabbar</a>, who steered his speeding truck around a barricade and plowed into the crowd, later was fatally shot in a firefight with police.

Jabbar,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-attack-bourbon-street-5bbf5fdc715c4d0d4c8764dd8da22720">an American citizen from Texas</a>, had posted five videos on his Facebook account in the hours before the attack in which he proclaimed his support for the Islamic State militant group and previewed the violence that he would soon unleash in the French Quarter.

Biden on Sunday pushed back against conspiracy theories surrounding the attack, and he urged New Orleans residents to ignore them.

“I spent literally 17, 18 hours with the intelligence community from the time this happened to establish exactly what happened, to establish beyond any reasonable doubt that New Orleans was the act of a single man who acted alone,” he said. “All this talk about conspiracies with other people, there’s not evidence of that — zero.”

The youngest victim was 18 years old, and the oldest was 63. Most victims were in their 20s. They came from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey and Great Britain.

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican, was asked on “Fox News Sunday” what the city was hoping for from Biden's visit.

“How can we not feel for both the families of those who die but also those who’ve been injured in their families?” he asked.

“The best thing that the city, the state, and the federal government can do is do their best to make sure that this does not happen again. And what we can do as a people is to make sure that we don’t live our lives in fear or in terror — but live our lives bravely and with liberty, and then support those families however they need support.”

Jean-Pierre said Monday that Biden was directing additional resources to help New Orleans with major upcoming events, including Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl, with both events being assigned the highest level of federal support for security measures.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;told mourners in New Orleans on Monday that they are not alone as he paid tribute to victims of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-truck-attack-fbi-47fd819355e6d31475529e4f3b1328e5">deadly New Year’s attack</a>&nbsp;and channeled the pain felt by their loved ones.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">CLIP: President Biden and <a href="https://twitter.com/firstlady?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FirstLady</a> Dr. Jill Biden pay respects in New Orleans to the 14 people who lost their lives in the Bourbon Street attack. <a href="https://t.co/ydeh2TfsNv">pic.twitter.com/ydeh2TfsNv</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1876421017838493807?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden made the remarks at St. Louis Cathedral in the city's historic French Quarter. not far from the area where an Army veteran drove a truck into revelers last week, killing 14 and injuring 30 more.Biden praised “so many that ran toward the chaos, trying to help save others," including first responders. He noted the city's enduring strength and resilience amid tragedy, invoking past devastation like Hurricane Katrina in 2005.“The city’s people get back up," Biden said. "That’s the spirit of America as well.”Biden met privately with grieving families, survivors and first responders before the prayer service. He also stopped at a makeshift memorial where the attack had begun to unfold. It is being investigated as an act of terrorism inspired by the Islamic State group.Biden has made dozens of visits to sites of violence, natural disaster and other calamities during his four years in office. With two weeks left, Monday's visit to New Orleans could be his last such trip.In his remarks Monday, Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-memorial-wife-daughter-killed-accident-delaware-a00f53d572a90386a55f206f59c7ff3e">alluded to the personal loss in his own life</a>&nbsp;and recounted words of collective grief he’s delivered time and again as president. He acknowledged the searing loss the grieving families will feel at holidays and birthdays to come, along with the small details they will miss about their loved ones.“We know what it’s like to lose a piece of our soul. The anger. The emptiness,” he said.He told the grieving families that they will eventually reach a day when the memory of their loved ones will make them smile before it makes them cry.“It will take time, but I promise you, it will come. I promise you," he said.Before he met privately with the victims’ families, Biden and first lady Jill Biden made their first stop in the city at a memorial that sprung up on Bourbon Street at the spot where the attack started.Flowers and messages were left at the bases of the crosses erected on the sidewalk. After Jill Biden placed white flowers at the memorial, she and the president stood in silence and bowed their heads.At the public prayer service at the cathedral, a rendition of “Amazing Grace” was performed with a New Orleans jazz spin. The Bidens placed a candle at the altar. The president then returned to his seat in front pew, shutting his eyes tight in prayer.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Louisiana that Biden "believes this is also an important part of the job that he believes he needs to do as president.”It's a grim task that presidents perform, though not every leader has embraced the role with such intimacy as the 82-year-old Biden, who has experienced a lot of personal tragedy in his own life. His first wife and baby daughter died in a car accident in the early 1970s, and his elder son, Beau,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d8f69eb645d74b7886387f713981b739">died of cancer</a>&nbsp;in 2015.“I've been there. There’s nothing you can really say to somebody that’s just had such a tragic loss," Biden told reporters Sunday in a preview of his visit. "My message is going to be personal if I get to get them alone.”Biden often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-school-shooting-biden-visits-uvalde-5602203ec1088223e3b6aaed3d219136">takes the opportunity at such bleak occasions</a>&nbsp;to speak behind closed doors with the families, offer up his personal phone number in case people want to talk later on and talk about grief in stark, personal terms.The Democratic president will continue on to California following his stop in New Orleans. With a snowstorm hitting the Washington region on Monday, Biden's trip began with Air Force One starting its takeoff from inside a large hangar instead of on the tarmac as thick snow covered the ground at Joint Base Andrews and snowplows worked to clear the runway.In New Orleans on Jan. 1, the driver plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-1685016388d65039ce62e720aab2ba14">Shamsud-Din Jabbar</a>, who steered his speeding truck around a barricade and plowed into the crowd, later was fatally shot in a firefight with police.Jabbar,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-attack-bourbon-street-5bbf5fdc715c4d0d4c8764dd8da22720">an American citizen from Texas</a>, had posted five videos on his Facebook account in the hours before the attack in which he proclaimed his support for the Islamic State militant group and previewed the violence that he would soon unleash in the French Quarter.Biden on Sunday pushed back against conspiracy theories surrounding the attack, and he urged New Orleans residents to ignore them.“I spent literally 17, 18 hours with the intelligence community from the time this happened to establish exactly what happened, to establish beyond any reasonable doubt that New Orleans was the act of a single man who acted alone,” he said. “All this talk about conspiracies with other people, there’s not evidence of that — zero.”The youngest victim was 18 years old, and the oldest was 63. Most victims were in their 20s. They came from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey and Great Britain.Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican, was asked on “Fox News Sunday” what the city was hoping for from Biden's visit.“How can we not feel for both the families of those who die but also those who’ve been injured in their families?” he asked.“The best thing that the city, the state, and the federal government can do is do their best to make sure that this does not happen again. And what we can do as a people is to make sure that we don’t live our lives in fear or in terror — but live our lives bravely and with liberty, and then support those families however they need support.”Jean-Pierre said Monday that Biden was directing additional resources to help New Orleans with major upcoming events, including Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl, with both events being assigned the highest level of federal support for security measures.___Price reported from New York. Associated Press writers Fatima Hussein in Washington contributed to this report.--------------NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill ordered on Monday an investigation into safety and security deficiencies in New Orleans, where an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-63a1b43d615af365cb8ba6f5f0583eca">Army veteran sped around a police blockade</a>&nbsp;and raced down Bourbon Street, killing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-killed-crash-terrorist-attack-9f2fbcc3e48d8b391590f60969e80e61">14 New Year's revelers</a>.“The People of Louisiana deserve answers,” Murrill said in a statement. “We are committed to getting a full and complete picture of what was done or not done, and more importantly, what needs to change so we can prevent this from ever happening again.”President Joe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-new-orleans-attack-5c92619c079e2f104e42e1d7b8bea424">Biden visited New Orleans Monday</a>&nbsp;to meet with the families of those killed and first responders. He also directed additional resources to help New Orleans with major upcoming events, including Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl. Both have been upgraded and given the special event assessment rating of one, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.“The Biden-Harris administration has determined that these significant events require extensive federal interagency support, and we will use every tool available to fill local capability shortfalls to assure safe and secure events,” she told reporters traveling with Biden to New Orleans.The attack last week was carried out by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-1685016388d65039ce62e720aab2ba14">Shamsud-Din Jabbar</a>, a former U.S. Army soldier who had proclaimed his support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-crash-islamic-state-lone-wolves-4bb6446c484737fbe9dd1b9c26a899a9">the Islamic State militant group</a>. He was killed in a firefight with police.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-into-crowd-terrorist-attack-barriers-361d9acb509a37a7b7ec1253e32ec3ce">steel columns known as bollards</a>&nbsp;that had previously been installed to restrict vehicle access to Bourbon Street were in the process of being replaced ahead of the Super Bowl, which New Orleans will host on Feb. 9.Murrill said she directed the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to conduct a “full review” of security plans for New Year’s Eve and the Sugar Bowl. The probe should “explore all aspects of the planning for and execution of security measures” for Jan. 1. That would include existing security assessments and recommendations; funding sources and the use of state, federal, and local funding for security measures; assets and allocations; operational failures; and state, local and federal coordination.The New Orleans Chief of Police, District Attorney, Inspector General and City Council members have “pledged complete support and cooperation with this review," Murrill said.“It’s my hope that our findings will help provide our law enforcement officers and the City of New Orleans with the tools and insight they need to best ensure the safety of the community and our many visitors,” Murrill said.The additional federal assistance offered by Biden could include explosive detection, K-9 teams, and cyber risk assessments, screening of venues and field intelligence teams, and air security and tactical operations support.“There’s no higher priority to the president than the safety and security of the American people,” Jean-Pierre said. “We will continue to ensure we do everything possible to get to the bottom of this horrific event, while also ensuring that this community has the resources they need in the wake of this tragedy.”