WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court panel ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump cannot use an 18th-century wartime law to speed the deportations of people his administration accuses of membership in a Venezuelan gang, blocking a signature administration push that is destined for a final showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court.

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative federal appeals courts in the country, agreed with immigrant rights lawyers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-alien-enemies-act-judge-ruling-f1988c63140c95f8228b42368caed96b">lower court judges</a>&nbsp;who argued the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alien-enemies-trump-immigration-deportations-21a62ede23b8c493b60d00a9c125722f">Alien Enemies Act</a>&nbsp;of 1798 was not intended to be used against gangs like Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan group Trump targeted in his March invocation.

Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the ACLU, said Tuesday: “The Trump administration’s use of a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court. This is a critically important decision reining in the administration’s view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts.”

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The administration deported people designated as Tren de Aragua members to a notorious prison in El Salvador where, it argued, U.S. courts could not order them freed.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prisoner-swap-venezuela-united-states-el-salvador-a0c3070355fbdc31f028a16096c5655c">deal announced in July</a>, more than 250 of the deported migrants returned to Venezuela.

The Alien Enemies Act was only used three times before in U.S. history, all during declared wars — in the War of 1812 and the two World Wars. The Trump administration unsuccessfully argued that courts cannot second-guess the president’s determination that Tren de Aragua was connected to Venezuela’s government and represented a danger to the United States, meriting use of the act.

In a 2-1 ruling, the judges said they granted the preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs because they “found no invasion or predatory incursion” in this case.

The decision bars deportations from Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. In the majority were U.S. Circuit Judges Leslie Southwick, a George W. Bush appointee, and Irma Carrillo Ramirez, a Joe Biden appointee. Andrew Oldham, a Trump appointee, dissented.

The majority opinion said Trump’s allegations about Tren de Aragua do not meet the historical levels of national conflict that Congress intended for the act.

“A country’s encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States,” the judges wrote.

In a lengthy dissent, Oldham complained his two colleagues were second-guessing Trump’s conduct of foreign affairs and national security, realms where courts usually give the president great deference.

“The majority’s approach to this case is not only unprecedented—it is contrary to more than 200 years of precedent,” Oldham wrote.

The panel did grant the Trump administration one legal victory, finding the procedures it uses to advise detainees under the Alien Enemies Act of their legal rights is appropriate.

The ruling can be appealed to the full 5th Circuit or directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is likely to make the ultimate decision on the issue.

Indeed, the ruling and dissent both seemed to acknowledge the judges were weighing in on issues destined to be settled only by the nation's highest court, repeatedly noting the unprecedented nature of the case and delving into 18th century conflicts and other landmark events in the nation's early decades as justification.

The Supreme Court has already gotten involved twice before in the tangled history of the Trump administration's use of the AEA. In the initial weeks after the March declaration, the court ruled that the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-deportations-el-salvador-9988b667199e1b02fc0a6a83570225c1">could deport people under the act</a>, but unanimously found that those targeted needed to be given a reasonable chance to argue their case before judges in the areas where they were held.

Then, as the administration moved to rapidly deport more Venezuelans from Texas, the high court stepped in again with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aclu-trump-deport-venezuelans-supreme-court-5d85ffec44fca7c267315b34cec9ddb2">an unusual, post-midnight ruling</a>&nbsp;that they couldn't do so until the 5th Circuit decided whether the administration was providing adequate notice to the immigrants and could weigh in on the broader legal issues of the case. The high court has yet to address whether a gang can be cited as an alien enemy under the AEA.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743444105379.png" alt="Image from video provided by U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt" />
 <figcaption>Image from video provided by U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court panel ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump cannot use an 18th-century wartime law to speed the deportations of people his administration accuses of membership in a Venezuelan gang, blocking a signature administration push that is destined for a final showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court.A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative federal appeals courts in the country, agreed with immigrant rights lawyers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-alien-enemies-act-judge-ruling-f1988c63140c95f8228b42368caed96b">lower court judges</a>&nbsp;who argued the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alien-enemies-trump-immigration-deportations-21a62ede23b8c493b60d00a9c125722f">Alien Enemies Act</a>&nbsp;of 1798 was not intended to be used against gangs like Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan group Trump targeted in his March invocation.Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the ACLU, said Tuesday: “The Trump administration’s use of a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court. This is a critically important decision reining in the administration’s view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts.”The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The administration deported people designated as Tren de Aragua members to a notorious prison in El Salvador where, it argued, U.S. courts could not order them freed.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prisoner-swap-venezuela-united-states-el-salvador-a0c3070355fbdc31f028a16096c5655c">deal announced in July</a>, more than 250 of the deported migrants returned to Venezuela.The Alien Enemies Act was only used three times before in U.S. history, all during declared wars — in the War of 1812 and the two World Wars. The Trump administration unsuccessfully argued that courts cannot second-guess the president’s determination that Tren de Aragua was connected to Venezuela’s government and represented a danger to the United States, meriting use of the act.In a 2-1 ruling, the judges said they granted the preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs because they “found no invasion or predatory incursion” in this case.The decision bars deportations from Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. In the majority were U.S. Circuit Judges Leslie Southwick, a George W. Bush appointee, and Irma Carrillo Ramirez, a Joe Biden appointee. Andrew Oldham, a Trump appointee, dissented.The majority opinion said Trump’s allegations about Tren de Aragua do not meet the historical levels of national conflict that Congress intended for the act.“A country’s encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States,” the judges wrote.In a lengthy dissent, Oldham complained his two colleagues were second-guessing Trump’s conduct of foreign affairs and national security, realms where courts usually give the president great deference.“The majority’s approach to this case is not only unprecedented—it is contrary to more than 200 years of precedent,” Oldham wrote.The panel did grant the Trump administration one legal victory, finding the procedures it uses to advise detainees under the Alien Enemies Act of their legal rights is appropriate.The ruling can be appealed to the full 5th Circuit or directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is likely to make the ultimate decision on the issue.Indeed, the ruling and dissent both seemed to acknowledge the judges were weighing in on issues destined to be settled only by the nation's highest court, repeatedly noting the unprecedented nature of the case and delving into 18th century conflicts and other landmark events in the nation's early decades as justification.The Supreme Court has already gotten involved twice before in the tangled history of the Trump administration's use of the AEA. In the initial weeks after the March declaration, the court ruled that the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-deportations-el-salvador-9988b667199e1b02fc0a6a83570225c1">could deport people under the act</a>, but unanimously found that those targeted needed to be given a reasonable chance to argue their case before judges in the areas where they were held.Then, as the administration moved to rapidly deport more Venezuelans from Texas, the high court stepped in again with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aclu-trump-deport-venezuelans-supreme-court-5d85ffec44fca7c267315b34cec9ddb2">an unusual, post-midnight ruling</a>&nbsp;that they couldn't do so until the 5th Circuit decided whether the administration was providing adequate notice to the immigrants and could weigh in on the broader legal issues of the case. The high court has yet to address whether a gang can be cited as an alien enemy under the AEA.

Court: Trump cannot use 1798 law to deport members of Venezuelan gang

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission heard a presentation on Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts during its meeting on Tuesday.

Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams spoke to commissioners about the program designed to help cover infrastructure costs for new housing.

Although the program has been utilized in cities like Hays, Ellis and Victoria, Ellis County has never been asked to approve one in its rural areas.

Williams said the program made the Tallgrass Addition in Hays possible. Developed by&nbsp;nonprofit Heart of America, the second addition includes 66 homes.

"I can't tell you how many times I've heard from employers who have tried to hire somebody or have hired somebody who looks around for housing and says they can't find adequate housing for their family," Williams said. "This kind of project is what it takes to try and make sure that doesn't happen, and it doesn't happen without an RHID."

The commission acknowledged the benefits of housing incentive districts but questioned whether they shift costs onto the broader community. They asked if special assessments would be more appropriate.

Adam Pray of the Platinum Group and Williams said it depends on the project. Development costs have risen beyond what many people can afford, he said.

"Each project needs to be looked at on its own merit," Williams said. "Most of the developments statewide are almost exclusively RHIDs, and it's because of the cost of development to try to keep housing within an affordable range."

Commissioner Michael Berges asked why lot prices continued to climb, even though Heart of America sold lots at reduced rates through the Reinvestment Housing Incentive District. Williams said supply and demand were the main factors.

On Sept. 1, the process for obtaining a cereal malt beverage license changed. Applicants must first submit their application and a $25 state stamp fee directly to the Kansas Department of Revenue.

Afterwards, applicants must bring the approved application and stamp to the county clerk for license issuance. The clerk will then attach the state stamp to the license.

Agreements for the 2025 High Risk Rural Road Grant

The commission approved two agreements tied to the 2025 High-Risk Rural Road grant, which will fund about $750,000 worth of road safety improvements.

One agreement authorizes inspection services, and the other gives the county authority to award a construction contract to C-Hawk Construction.

The project will install permanent markings and update no-passing zones on 126 miles of major roads.

The Ellis County Safety Committee received a risk management award from the Kansas County Association Multiline Pool for its efforts in promoting safety and risk management.

The $4,766 award will be added to the general fund and used to help offset costs for the county’s Human Resources Information System learning management program.

Eugene Rupp, county appraiser, said the county achieved 100% substantial compliance on its 2025 appraisal report across all measures. The commissioners congratulated Rupp and his staff on the strong results.

The commission appointed Jerald F. Mermis to the Joint Planning Commission to fill a vacancy. His term will run through June 2026.

The Ellis County Library Board will have a vacancy in September. The unexpired term runs until April 2026, and the commission will make an appointment at its meeting on Sept. 16.

Ellis County Public Works received approval for a bid of $28,800 from Glassman Corporation to install two gas unit heaters in the cold storage building at the public works facility.

The commission also approved a purchase order for $25,000, which will be used by Hays Fire and Rescue to transfer the vehicle body of Rescue 50 onto a new chassis.

The commission postponed consideration of a water well agreement to a later meeting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684183971486.png" alt="Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission heard a presentation on Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts during its meeting on Tuesday.Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams spoke to commissioners about the program designed to help cover infrastructure costs for new housing.Although the program has been utilized in cities like Hays, Ellis and Victoria, Ellis County has never been asked to approve one in its rural areas.Williams said the program made the Tallgrass Addition in Hays possible. Developed by&nbsp;nonprofit Heart of America, the second addition includes 66 homes."I can't tell you how many times I've heard from employers who have tried to hire somebody or have hired somebody who looks around for housing and says they can't find adequate housing for their family," Williams said. "This kind of project is what it takes to try and make sure that doesn't happen, and it doesn't happen without an RHID."The commission acknowledged the benefits of housing incentive districts but questioned whether they shift costs onto the broader community. They asked if special assessments would be more appropriate.Adam Pray of the Platinum Group and Williams said it depends on the project. Development costs have risen beyond what many people can afford, he said."Each project needs to be looked at on its own merit," Williams said. "Most of the developments statewide are almost exclusively RHIDs, and it's because of the cost of development to try to keep housing within an affordable range."Commissioner Michael Berges asked why lot prices continued to climb, even though Heart of America sold lots at reduced rates through the Reinvestment Housing Incentive District. Williams said supply and demand were the main factors.<h2>Cereal malt beverage license</h2>On Sept. 1, the process for obtaining a cereal malt beverage license changed. Applicants must first submit their application and a $25 state stamp fee directly to the Kansas Department of Revenue.Afterwards, applicants must bring the approved application and stamp to the county clerk for license issuance. The clerk will then attach the state stamp to the license.<h2>Agreements for the 2025 High Risk Rural Road Grant</h2>The commission approved two agreements tied to the 2025 High-Risk Rural Road grant, which will fund about $750,000 worth of road safety improvements.One agreement authorizes inspection services, and the other gives the county authority to award a construction contract to C-Hawk Construction.The project will install permanent markings and update no-passing zones on 126 miles of major roads.<h2>Risk management award</h2>The Ellis County Safety Committee received a risk management award from the Kansas County Association Multiline Pool for its efforts in promoting safety and risk management.The $4,766 award will be added to the general fund and used to help offset costs for the county’s Human Resources Information System learning management program.<h2>Other business</h2>Eugene Rupp, county appraiser, said the county achieved 100% substantial compliance on its 2025 appraisal report across all measures. The commissioners congratulated Rupp and his staff on the strong results.The commission appointed Jerald F. Mermis to the Joint Planning Commission to fill a vacancy. His term will run through June 2026.The Ellis County Library Board will have a vacancy in September. The unexpired term runs until April 2026, and the commission will make an appointment at its meeting on Sept. 16.Ellis County Public Works received approval for a bid of $28,800 from Glassman Corporation to install two gas unit heaters in the cold storage building at the public works facility.The commission also approved a purchase order for $25,000, which will be used by Hays Fire and Rescue to transfer the vehicle body of Rescue 50 onto a new chassis.The commission postponed consideration of a water well agreement to a later meeting.

Ellis County Commission discusses potential use of housing incentive districts

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">Venezuela</a>&nbsp;and was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang.

The president said in a social media posting that 11 people were killed in the rare U.S. military operation in the Americas, a dramatic escalation in the Republican administration's effort to stem the flow of narcotics from Latin America. Trump also posted a short video clip of a small vessel appearing to explode in flames.

“The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States,” Trump said on Truth Social. “No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America.”

The video appears to show a long, multi-engine speedboat traveling at sea when a bright flash of light bursts over the craft. The boat is then briefly seen covered in flames.

The video, which is largely in black and white, is not clear enough to see if the craft is carrying as many as 11 people. The video also did not show any large or clear stashes of drugs inside the boat.

Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuela’s central state of Aragua. The gang has expanded in recent years as more than 7.7 million Venezuelans fled economic turmoil and migrated to other Latin American countries or the U.S.

Trump and administration officials have repeatedly blamed the gang for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some cities. And the president on Tuesday repeated his claim —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-alien-enemies-act-venezuela-tren-de-aragua-103919f71db9a9e7a9a3de1028585483">contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment</a>&nbsp;— that Tren de Aragua is operating under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's control.

The White House did not immediately explain how the military determined that those aboard the vessel were Tren de Aragua members. The size of the gang is unclear, as is the extent to which its actions are coordinated across state lines and national borders.

After Trump announced the strike, Venezuelan state television showed Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores walking the streets of his childhood neighborhood. A television presenter said Maduro was “bathing in patriotic love” as he interacted with supporters.

“In the face of imperialist threats, God (is) with us,” Maduro told supporters.

Maduro did not address the strike directly, but charged that the U.S. is “coming for Venezuela’s riches,” including oil and gas. The South American country has the world’s largest proven oil reserves.

“From the neighborhoods of Caracas ... I tell you, there will be peace in Venezuela, with sovereignty,” he said.

Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez questioned the veracity of the video. “Based on the video provided, it is very likely that it was created using Artificial Intelligence,” he said on his Telegram account. He couldn’t say what tools would have been used to create the video, but said it showed an “almost cartoonish animation, rather than a realistic depiction of an explosion.”

Trump and Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;first announced the strike earlier Tuesday, shortly before Rubio left on a trip to Mexico and Ecuador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rubio-mexico-ecuador-trump-3b4050ef46b3e3dfe7cfec6041d976f8">for talks on drug cartels, security, tariffs and more.</a>

In a brief exchange with reporters before departing Miami for Mexico City, Rubio deferred questions about the specifics of the strike to the Pentagon. He said the drugs on the vessel were likely headed to Trinidad or elsewhere in the Caribbean.

For years, Rubio has spoken out against Maduro and other Latin American leftist governments and supported opposition leaders. In 2018, during Trump’s first term, Rubio told Univision there was a “strong argument” to be made for the use of the U.S. military in Venezuela. He's also accused Venezuelan officials of aiding drug traffickers.

Asked if Trump would carry out operations on Venezuelan soil, Rubio was opaque. “We’re going to take on drug cartels wherever they are and wherever they’re operating against the interests of the United States,” he said.

US sent destroyers to waters off Venezuela

The operation came after the U.S. announced plans last month to boost its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-destroyers-maduro-drug-cartels-e33794ebc24d9031e536d132ce205b4c">maritime force in the waters off Venezuela</a>&nbsp;to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-cia-senate-national-security-threats-fe773ac76f8f01eba1d3a26409816396">threats from Latin American drug cartels</a>.

Maduro's government has responded by deploying troops along Venezuela's coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia.

Maduro has insisted that the U.S. is building a false drug-trafficking narrative to try to force him out of office. He and other government officials have repeatedly cited a United Nations report that they say shows traffickers attempt to move only 5% of the cocaine produced in Colombia through Venezuela. Landlocked Bolivia and Colombia, with access to the Pacific and Caribbean, are the world’s top cocaine producers.

The latest U.N. World Drug Report shows that various countries in South America, including Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, reported larger cocaine seizures in 2022 than in 2021, but it does not assign Venezuela the outsize role that the White House has in recent months.

“The impact of increased cocaine trafficking has been felt in Ecuador in particular, which has seen a wave of lethal violence in recent years linked to both local and transnational crime groups, most notably from Mexico and the Balkan countries,” according to the report.

Maduro on Monday told reporters he “would constitutionally declare a republic in arms” if his country were attacked by U.S. forces deployed to the Caribbean.

Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City. AP journalists Matthew Lee in Mexico City, Jorge Rueda in Caracas, Venezuela, Adriana Gomez Licon in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Sagar Meghani in Washington contributed reporting.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">Venezuela</a>&nbsp;and was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://t.co/o5xOQ6HRFg">https://t.co/o5xOQ6HRFg</a> <a href="https://t.co/s9ktAlDQUi">pic.twitter.com/s9ktAlDQUi</a>&mdash; Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) <a href="https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1962992360822104110?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 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">🚨 <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: We just, over the last few minutes, shot out a drug-carrying boat... and there&#39;s more where that came from... These came out of Venezuela. <a href="https://t.co/JlurCZWBpG">pic.twitter.com/JlurCZWBpG</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1962955342523879613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 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 Donald Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela. <a href="https://t.co/g82nOBEftt">pic.twitter.com/g82nOBEftt</a>&mdash; The Associated Press (@AP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/1962972437865283848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The president said in a social media posting that 11 people were killed in the rare U.S. military operation in the Americas, a dramatic escalation in the Republican administration's effort to stem the flow of narcotics from Latin America. Trump also posted a short video clip of a small vessel appearing to explode in flames.“The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States,” Trump said on Truth Social. “No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America.”The video appears to show a long, multi-engine speedboat traveling at sea when a bright flash of light bursts over the craft. The boat is then briefly seen covered in flames.The video, which is largely in black and white, is not clear enough to see if the craft is carrying as many as 11 people. The video also did not show any large or clear stashes of drugs inside the boat.Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuela’s central state of Aragua. The gang has expanded in recent years as more than 7.7 million Venezuelans fled economic turmoil and migrated to other Latin American countries or the U.S.Trump and administration officials have repeatedly blamed the gang for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some cities. And the president on Tuesday repeated his claim —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-alien-enemies-act-venezuela-tren-de-aragua-103919f71db9a9e7a9a3de1028585483">contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment</a>&nbsp;— that Tren de Aragua is operating under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's control.The White House did not immediately explain how the military determined that those aboard the vessel were Tren de Aragua members. The size of the gang is unclear, as is the extent to which its actions are coordinated across state lines and national borders.<h2>What Maduro had to say</h2>After Trump announced the strike, Venezuelan state television showed Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores walking the streets of his childhood neighborhood. A television presenter said Maduro was “bathing in patriotic love” as he interacted with supporters.“In the face of imperialist threats, God (is) with us,” Maduro told supporters.Maduro did not address the strike directly, but charged that the U.S. is “coming for Venezuela’s riches,” including oil and gas. The South American country has the world’s largest proven oil reserves.“From the neighborhoods of Caracas ... I tell you, there will be peace in Venezuela, with sovereignty,” he said.Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez questioned the veracity of the video. “Based on the video provided, it is very likely that it was created using Artificial Intelligence,” he said on his Telegram account. He couldn’t say what tools would have been used to create the video, but said it showed an “almost cartoonish animation, rather than a realistic depiction of an explosion.”Trump and Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;first announced the strike earlier Tuesday, shortly before Rubio left on a trip to Mexico and Ecuador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rubio-mexico-ecuador-trump-3b4050ef46b3e3dfe7cfec6041d976f8">for talks on drug cartels, security, tariffs and more.</a>In a brief exchange with reporters before departing Miami for Mexico City, Rubio deferred questions about the specifics of the strike to the Pentagon. He said the drugs on the vessel were likely headed to Trinidad or elsewhere in the Caribbean.For years, Rubio has spoken out against Maduro and other Latin American leftist governments and supported opposition leaders. In 2018, during Trump’s first term, Rubio told Univision there was a “strong argument” to be made for the use of the U.S. military in Venezuela. He's also accused Venezuelan officials of aiding drug traffickers.Asked if Trump would carry out operations on Venezuelan soil, Rubio was opaque. “We’re going to take on drug cartels wherever they are and wherever they’re operating against the interests of the United States,” he said.<h2>US sent destroyers to waters off Venezuela</h2>The operation came after the U.S. announced plans last month to boost its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-destroyers-maduro-drug-cartels-e33794ebc24d9031e536d132ce205b4c">maritime force in the waters off Venezuela</a>&nbsp;to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-cia-senate-national-security-threats-fe773ac76f8f01eba1d3a26409816396">threats from Latin American drug cartels</a>.Maduro's government has responded by deploying troops along Venezuela's coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia.Maduro has insisted that the U.S. is building a false drug-trafficking narrative to try to force him out of office. He and other government officials have repeatedly cited a United Nations report that they say shows traffickers attempt to move only 5% of the cocaine produced in Colombia through Venezuela. Landlocked Bolivia and Colombia, with access to the Pacific and Caribbean, are the world’s top cocaine producers.The latest U.N. World Drug Report shows that various countries in South America, including Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, reported larger cocaine seizures in 2022 than in 2021, but it does not assign Venezuela the outsize role that the White House has in recent months.“The impact of increased cocaine trafficking has been felt in Ecuador in particular, which has seen a wave of lethal violence in recent years linked to both local and transnational crime groups, most notably from Mexico and the Balkan countries,” according to the report.Maduro on Monday told reporters he “would constitutionally declare a republic in arms” if his country were attacked by U.S. forces deployed to the Caribbean.___Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City. AP journalists Matthew Lee in Mexico City, Jorge Rueda in Caracas, Venezuela, Adriana Gomez Licon in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Sagar Meghani in Washington contributed reporting.

🎥 Video shows US launch deadly strike on drug boat in the Caribbean 

HAYS -&nbsp;The Hays High and TMP-Marian girls golf teams opened their respective seasons Monday at the Hays High Invitational  under ideal conditions at Smoky Hill Country Club. 

The Monarchs placed third and the Indians fourth. Garden City won the team title by 11 strokes over second place Goodland.

TMP-Marian’s Brynn Schoepf led the local golfers with an 84 and placed fifth. Hays High's Ava Erbert shot a 91 and finished eighth.

Goodland’s Allison Cure defeated Garden City’s Brooke Savolt on the third hole of a playoff to win the individual title. Both had rounds of 79 in regulation.

TEAM RESULTS 1. Garden City - 336 2. Goodland - 345 3 TMP-Marian - 379 4. Hays High - 385 5. Salina South - 413 6. Dodge City - 422 7. Great Bend - 501 8. Liberal - 508

TOP 10 MEDALISTS 1. Allison Cure, Goodland - 79* 2. Brooke Savolt, Garden City - 79 3. Ailynn Anderson, Garden City - 80 4. Natalie Cure, Goodland - 83 5. Brynn Schoepf, TMP-Marian - 84 6. Megan Burr, Garden City - 86 7. Tori Jones, Goodland - 89 8. Ava Erbert, Hays High - 91 9. Breckyn Lucas, Garden City - 91 10. Breckyn Putnam, Dodge City - 92 * won on third playoff hole

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717450325134.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsHAYS -&nbsp;The Hays High and TMP-Marian girls golf teams opened their respective seasons Monday at the Hays High Invitational under ideal conditions at Smoky Hill Country Club. The Monarchs placed third and the Indians fourth. Garden City won the team title by 11 strokes over second place Goodland.TMP-Marian’s Brynn Schoepf led the local golfers with an 84 and placed fifth. Hays High's Ava Erbert shot a 91 and finished eighth.Goodland’s Allison Cure defeated Garden City’s Brooke Savolt on the third hole of a playoff to win the individual title. Both had rounds of 79 in regulation.TEAM RESULTS 1. Garden City - 336 2. Goodland - 345 3 TMP-Marian - 379 4. Hays High - 385 5. Salina South - 413 6. Dodge City - 422 7. Great Bend - 501 8. Liberal - 508TOP 10 MEDALISTS 1. Allison Cure, Goodland - 79* 2. Brooke Savolt, Garden City - 79 3. Ailynn Anderson, Garden City - 80 4. Natalie Cure, Goodland - 83 5. Brynn Schoepf, TMP-Marian - 84 6. Megan Burr, Garden City - 86 7. Tori Jones, Goodland - 89 8. Ava Erbert, Hays High - 91 9. Breckyn Lucas, Garden City - 91 10. Breckyn Putnam, Dodge City - 92 * won on third playoff hole

⛳ Monarchs third, HHS fourth at Hays High Invitational

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday publicly posted the files it has received from the Justice Department on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">sex trafficking investigations into Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/98fthv8otekjk28lcrnc5/AIn3egnE58MYe4Bn4fliVBw?rlkey=m7p8e9omml96fgxl13kr2nuyt&amp;e=2&amp;st=0xvm0p08&amp;dl=0">Click here to view the files</a>

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TrGxDGQLDLZu1vvvZDBAh-e7wN3y6Hoz?usp=sharing">here</a>&nbsp;to read Epstein-related documents&nbsp;

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/98fthv8otekjk28lcrnc5/AIn3egnE58MYe4Bn4fliVBw?rlkey=m7p8e9omml96fgxl13kr2nuyt&amp;st=0xvm0p08&amp;dl=0">here</a>. for back up access to the files.

The folders contained hundreds of image files of years-old court filings related to Epstein and Maxwell. They also contained video files appearing to be body cam footage from police searches, as well as law enforcement interviews with victims with their faces obscured.

The Justice Department released the files to the committee in response to a subpoena, but the files mostly contain information that was already publicly known.

Still, pressure is growing in Congress for lawmakers to act to force greater disclosure in the case. House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to quell an effort by Democrats and some Republicans to force a vote on a bill that would require the Justice Department to release all the information in the so-called Epstein files, with the exception of the victims’ personal information of the victims.

Acting quickly, lawmakers pressing for the full release of the so-called Epstein files launched a campaign for the House to take up their bill. Meanwhile, Johnson and a bipartisan group of lawmakers met with survivors of abuse by Epstein and his former girlfriend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ghislaine-maxwell">Ghislaine Maxwell</a>.

“The objective here is not just to uncover, investigate the Epstein evils, but also to ensure that this never happens again and ultimately to find out why justice has been delayed for these ladies for so very long,” said Johnson, R-La., after he emerged from a two-hour meeting with six of the survivors.

“It is inexcusable. And it will stop now because the Congress is dialed in on this,” he added.

But there are still intense disagreements on how lawmakers should proceed. Johnson is pressing for the inquiry to be handled by the House Oversight Committee and putting forward a resolution that directs the committee to publicly release its findings.

The files released Tuesday included audio of an Epstein employee describing to a law enforcement official how “there were a lot of girls that were very, very young” visiting the home but couldn’t say for sure if they were minors.

Over the course of Epstein’s visits to the home, the man said more than a dozen girls might visit, and that he was charged with cleaning the room where Epstein had massages, twice daily.

Some of the interviews with officers from the Palm Beach Police Department date to 2005, according to timestamps read out by officials at the beginning of the files.

Most, if not all, of the text documents posted Tuesday had already been public. Notably, the probable cause affidavit and other records from the 2005 investigation into Epstein contained a notation indicating that they’d been previously released in a 2017 public records request. An internet search showed those files were posted to the website of the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office in July 2017.

If the purpose of the release was to provide answers to a public still curious over the long-concluded cases, the raw mechanics of the clunky rollout made that a challenge.

Lawmakers at 6 p.m. released thousands of pages and videos via a cumbersome Google Drive, leaving it to readers and viewers to decipher new and interesting tidbits on their own. The disclosure also left open the question of why the Justice Department did not release the material directly to the public instead of operating through Capitol Hill.

Meanwhile, Democrats and some Republicans are trying to maneuver around Johnson’s control of the House floor to hold a vote on a separate bill that would require the Justice Department to publicly release the files, with the exception of names and personal information of the victims.

The clash suggests little has changed in Congress since late July, when Johnson sent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-jeffrey-epstein-trump-f2a03eca247268b14a9e38858338eded">lawmakers home early</a>&nbsp;in hopes of cooling the political battle over the Epstein case. Members of both parties remain dissatisfied and are demanding more details on the years-old investigation into Epstein, the wealthy and well-connected financier whose 2019 death in a New York jail cell while he faced sex trafficking charges has sparked wide-ranging conspiracy theories and speculation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704330351229.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein photo New York Sex Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein photo New York Sex Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday publicly posted the files it has received from the Justice Department on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">sex trafficking investigations into Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/98fthv8otekjk28lcrnc5/AIn3egnE58MYe4Bn4fliVBw?rlkey=m7p8e9omml96fgxl13kr2nuyt&amp;e=2&amp;st=0xvm0p08&amp;dl=0">Click here to view the files</a>Click&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TrGxDGQLDLZu1vvvZDBAh-e7wN3y6Hoz?usp=sharing">here</a>&nbsp;to read Epstein-related documents&nbsp;Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/98fthv8otekjk28lcrnc5/AIn3egnE58MYe4Bn4fliVBw?rlkey=m7p8e9omml96fgxl13kr2nuyt&amp;st=0xvm0p08&amp;dl=0">here</a>. for back up access to the files.The folders contained hundreds of image files of years-old court filings related to Epstein and Maxwell. They also contained video files appearing to be body cam footage from police searches, as well as law enforcement interviews with victims with their faces obscured.The Justice Department released the files to the committee in response to a subpoena, but the files mostly contain information that was already publicly known.Still, pressure is growing in Congress for lawmakers to act to force greater disclosure in the case. House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to quell an effort by Democrats and some Republicans to force a vote on a bill that would require the Justice Department to release all the information in the so-called Epstein files, with the exception of the victims’ personal information of the victims.Acting quickly, lawmakers pressing for the full release of the so-called Epstein files launched a campaign for the House to take up their bill. Meanwhile, Johnson and a bipartisan group of lawmakers met with survivors of abuse by Epstein and his former girlfriend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ghislaine-maxwell">Ghislaine Maxwell</a>.“The objective here is not just to uncover, investigate the Epstein evils, but also to ensure that this never happens again and ultimately to find out why justice has been delayed for these ladies for so very long,” said Johnson, R-La., after he emerged from a two-hour meeting with six of the survivors.“It is inexcusable. And it will stop now because the Congress is dialed in on this,” he added.But there are still intense disagreements on how lawmakers should proceed. Johnson is pressing for the inquiry to be handled by the House Oversight Committee and putting forward a resolution that directs the committee to publicly release its findings.The files released Tuesday included audio of an Epstein employee describing to a law enforcement official how “there were a lot of girls that were very, very young” visiting the home but couldn’t say for sure if they were minors.Over the course of Epstein’s visits to the home, the man said more than a dozen girls might visit, and that he was charged with cleaning the room where Epstein had massages, twice daily.Some of the interviews with officers from the Palm Beach Police Department date to 2005, according to timestamps read out by officials at the beginning of the files.Most, if not all, of the text documents posted Tuesday had already been public. Notably, the probable cause affidavit and other records from the 2005 investigation into Epstein contained a notation indicating that they’d been previously released in a 2017 public records request. An internet search showed those files were posted to the website of the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office in July 2017.If the purpose of the release was to provide answers to a public still curious over the long-concluded cases, the raw mechanics of the clunky rollout made that a challenge.Lawmakers at 6 p.m. released thousands of pages and videos via a cumbersome Google Drive, leaving it to readers and viewers to decipher new and interesting tidbits on their own. The disclosure also left open the question of why the Justice Department did not release the material directly to the public instead of operating through Capitol Hill.Meanwhile, Democrats and some Republicans are trying to maneuver around Johnson’s control of the House floor to hold a vote on a separate bill that would require the Justice Department to publicly release the files, with the exception of names and personal information of the victims.The clash suggests little has changed in Congress since late July, when Johnson sent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-jeffrey-epstein-trump-f2a03eca247268b14a9e38858338eded">lawmakers home early</a>&nbsp;in hopes of cooling the political battle over the Epstein case. Members of both parties remain dissatisfied and are demanding more details on the years-old investigation into Epstein, the wealthy and well-connected financier whose 2019 death in a New York jail cell while he faced sex trafficking charges has sparked wide-ranging conspiracy theories and speculation.

🏈📹 Chris Brown: "The team that showed up isn't the normal Tiger team," | Tiger Press Conference 9-2-25

The Hays Police Department is investigating a child sex crime from Friday and has made one arrest.

According to the Ellis County Jail bookings logs, Edgar Abraham Avalos-Aguilar was arrested for alleged sexual exploitation of a child.

Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said the case remains open and released no further details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716320706146.jpeg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Hays Police Department is investigating a child sex crime from Friday and has made one arrest.According to the Ellis County Jail bookings logs, Edgar Abraham Avalos-Aguilar was arrested for alleged sexual exploitation of a child.Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said the case remains open and released no further details.

Hays Police investigating child sex crime; one arrest made

A Hays man was arrested Friday on two counts of alleged aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

According to public records, 19-year-old Aramist David McCottry had been out on a $15,000 bond for a previous case involving a minor before the bond was revoked on Aug. 29.

Public records state that on about May 18, McCottry allegedly used Snapchat to encourage a minor to assist in the distribution of marijuana.

He was arrested in May on requested charges of distribution of marijuana between 25 and 450 grams,&nbsp;contributing to a child’s misconduct by encouraging a child to commit a felony, and using a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug violation.

McCottry also faces three misdemeanor counts of&nbsp;contributing to a child’s misconduct by encouraging a child to remain or become a child in need of care.&nbsp;

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 15 regarding the charges from May.

Police released no other information on the indecent liberties allegations.&nbsp;

Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said the indecent liberties case is still under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756866734691.png" alt="McCottry photo Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>McCottry photo Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostA Hays man was arrested Friday on two counts of alleged aggravated indecent liberties with a child.According to public records, 19-year-old Aramist David McCottry had been out on a $15,000 bond for a previous case involving a minor before the bond was revoked on Aug. 29.Public records state that on about May 18, McCottry allegedly used Snapchat to encourage a minor to assist in the distribution of marijuana.He was arrested in May on requested charges of distribution of marijuana between 25 and 450 grams,&nbsp;contributing to a child’s misconduct by encouraging a child to commit a felony, and using a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug violation.McCottry also faces three misdemeanor counts of&nbsp;contributing to a child’s misconduct by encouraging a child to remain or become a child in need of care.&nbsp;A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 15 regarding the charges from May.Police released no other information on the indecent liberties allegations.&nbsp;Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said the indecent liberties case is still under investigation.

Hays man out on bond arrested for alleged child sex crime

A Hays man and a Victoria man were arrested after an alleged physical disturbance in the 500 block of West Seventh Street, which includes three bars across the street from the Fort Hays State University campus.

Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said at about 1:40 a.m. on Saturday, officers were on a routine patrol near bar closing time when they allegedly witnessed a verbal dispute escalate into a physical altercation.

Greenwood said 26-year-old Dakota Jayden Wise of Hays was arrested on a requested battery charge after allegedly shoving another person. As officers took Wise into custody, a crowd of 12 to 20 people gathered, Greenwood said.

Greenwood said additional officers were called in to help manage the crowd, which had created a tense situation.

Greenwood said 22-year-old Nathan Glenn Hrabe of Victoria allegedly refused to back away and physically resisted officers, leading to him being tased and arrested on a requested charge of interference with law enforcement.

"You have to give officers room to work," Greenwood said. "You can't get in there and interfere because it makes it dangerous for everyone involved."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756865362680.png" alt="Hrabe photo Ellis&nbsp; Co." />
 <figcaption>Hrabe photo Ellis&nbsp; Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostA Hays man and a Victoria man were arrested after an alleged physical disturbance in the 500 block of West Seventh Street, which includes three bars across the street from the Fort Hays State University campus.Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said at about 1:40 a.m. on Saturday, officers were on a routine patrol near bar closing time when they allegedly witnessed a verbal dispute escalate into a physical altercation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756865336963.png" alt="Wise photo Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Wise photo Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>Greenwood said 26-year-old Dakota Jayden Wise of Hays was arrested on a requested battery charge after allegedly shoving another person. As officers took Wise into custody, a crowd of 12 to 20 people gathered, Greenwood said.Greenwood said additional officers were called in to help manage the crowd, which had created a tense situation.Greenwood said 22-year-old Nathan Glenn Hrabe of Victoria allegedly refused to back away and physically resisted officers, leading to him being tased and arrested on a requested charge of interference with law enforcement."You have to give officers room to work," Greenwood said. "You can't get in there and interfere because it makes it dangerous for everyone involved."

Two men arrested in Hays bar district following alleged battery

By:<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a> <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst announced Tuesday she is officially not running for another term in the U.S. Senate, leaving the seat open heading into the 2026 election cycle.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb9FWd-0Y08" target="_blank">video</a>&nbsp;address, Ernst said it was “no easy decision” to decide not to seek reelection for a third term as senator.

“It has been an honor to dedicate my life to the service of our great state and country, having been raised in a family who has given me so much love and support,” Ernst said. “Now, as our family ages and grows, it’s my time for me to give back to them. After a tremendous amount of prayer and reflection, I will not be seeking reelection in 2026.”

Ernst, who was first elected in 2014 and reelected in 2020, is the first female combat veteran elected to the U.S. Senate, having served in the U.S. Army Reserves and Iowa Army National Guard. Before her time in Congress, she had served in public office as a state senator and Montgomery County auditor.

The Republican said Iowans sent her to Washington “with a mission in mind — to make Washington squeal,” referencing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BgLwe8bFNg" target="_blank">her 2014 campaign ad</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/make-em-squeal" target="_blank">efforts in office</a>&nbsp;to address federal government waste, fraud and abuse. Ernst said she was “proud to say we have delivered” on her “squeal” promises. She also highlighted her work in the U.S. Senate on anti-abortion measures, preventing violence against women and supporting farmers and veterans.

“As a proud Harley rider, you can rest assured, I’m not slowing down anytime soon,” Ernst said. “There is still so much to accomplish before the end of my term, and I’ll keep fighting every single day, as I always have, to make Iowans’ voices heard loud and clear in the halls of Congress.”

Reports&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/08/29/new-report-says-ernst-plans-to-not-seek-reelection-in-2026/">were published Friday</a>&nbsp;from multiple outlets saying that sources close to Ernst expected she would announce her plans for 2026 this week. Though&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/10/joni-ernst-retirement-watch-iowa-senate-seat-00447670" target="_blank">Senate GOP leadership</a>&nbsp;had reportedly encouraged Ernst to run for another term, the senator faced criticism from Republicans for expressing concerns about U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during the nomination process. She also gained national attention for saying “<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/05/30/well-were-all-going-to-die-u-s-sen-joni-ernst-defends-medicaid-cuts-at-heated-town-hall/">well, we all are going to die,”</a>&nbsp;at a May town hall when responding to a person who said GOP-backed Medicaid cuts would cause people to die.

Democrats running for the U.S. Senate seat in the 2026 election, responded that Ernst’s decision not to run was a signal that Republicans’ hold of Iowa’s congressional seats could be at risk. Currently, Iowa’s federal delegation is all Republican, but Iowa’s 1st and 3rd Districts have been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings" target="_blank">brought up by political forecasters</a>&nbsp;as pivotal battlegrounds for control of the U.S. House in the upcoming midterms.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings" target="_blank">Cook Political Report</a>&nbsp;rated the race for Iowa’s Senate seat as “likely Republican” — but the race could be more contentious without an incumbent Republican candidate.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Kirsten Gillibrand released a statement responding to Ernst’s announcement, and said her decision shows that “Donald Trump and Senate Republicans’ devastating agenda has put their majority in jeopardy.”

“Republicans can see the writing on the wall: spiking costs and ripping away health care does so much damage to their states that they would rather leave the Senate than defend their actions to voters,” Schumer and Gillibrand said in the statement. “Democrats are in a strong position to win seats and continue fighting for working families.”

State Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris and former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage are currently running to become Iowa’s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in 2026.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott said in a statement the Senate GOP campaign arm “is confident Iowans will elect a Republican to continue fighting for them and championing President Trump’s agenda in 2026.” He also thanked Ernst for her service in Washington and in the military.

“Joni Ernst has dedicated her life to serving our nation and improving the lives of Iowans,” Scott said. “Traveling across the Hawkeye State with Joni, I know she loves Iowa, and Iowa loves her. We are grateful for all she has accomplished in helping Iowa families keep more of their hard-earned money and make Washington squeal.”

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said Ernst “dropped out of this race because she knows her support for Medicaid cuts is a nonstarter” — and said whoever becomes the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate will have to contend with “the same toxic Republican agenda that’s harming Iowa families.”

“The energy is on our side heading into the midterms as Iowans are fed up with Washington Republicans spiking costs for working people to deliver tax cuts for billionaires,” Hart said. “In 2026, Iowans will elect a Democrat to the U.S. Senate who will prioritize making Iowa economically prosperous and a healthier state.”

Hinson expected to make a bid for U.S. Senate

There are two Republicans currently running for the nomination: former state lawmaker&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/06/06/republican-jim-carlin-launches-primary-bid-against-u-s-sen-joni-ernst-in-week-of-campaign-kickoffs/">Jim Carlin</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/30/joshua-smith-republican-iowa-senate-joni-ernst/83347040007/" target="_blank">Joshua Smith</a>, a former Libertarian candidate for the state Senate.

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District is also expected to join the race. In a social media post Monday, Hinson thanked Ernst for her service and added that she and her husband will share an announcement soon.

“As we look forward, President Trump needs a fighter in the Senate who will always have his back to continue to cut spending, deport illegal aliens, and put working families first,” Hinson wrote. “I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with the President to pass this America First agenda in the House and I would be his strongest ally in the Senate. Matt and I will have an announcement soon about how we believe we can best serve Iowa, and how we can help President Trump make America great again.”

Hinson has been working on reelection efforts in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District in recent months. There are currently three Democrats running for the seat in 2026,&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/08/19/democrat-lindsay-james-announces-2nd-congressional-district-bid/">state Rep. Lindsay James</a>, D-Dubuque, &nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/07/22/clint-twedt-ball-founder-of-matthew-25-nonprofit-launches-2nd-district-campaign/">Clint Twedt-Ball</a>, the founder of the nonprofit Matthew 25 and&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/07/15/democrat-kathy-dolter-launches-bid-for-2nd-congressional-district-rep-lindsay-james-mulls-a-run/">Kathy Dolter</a>, the former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College.

Katie Smith, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said Hinson’s expected move to the U.S. Senate race in 2026 shows Democrats have a strong chance in the 2nd District race.

“Ashley Hinson is clearly eager to jump off the sinking ship that is her re-election in Iowa’s 2nd district,” Smith said. “Hinson is terrified to face her voters, who’ve had a front row seat as she’s prioritized Washington and billionaires while voting to raise Iowans’ costs. There’s change coming in Iowa: voters are ready for new leadership and no matter what Hinson decides, she will lose her seat.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756840672871.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a> <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a> U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst announced Tuesday she is officially not running for another term in the U.S. Senate, leaving the seat open heading into the 2026 election cycle.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My message to Iowans: <a href="https://t.co/K6mHG6bSuE">pic.twitter.com/K6mHG6bSuE</a>&mdash; Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJoniErnst/status/1962923952193282085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb9FWd-0Y08" target="_blank">video</a>&nbsp;address, Ernst said it was “no easy decision” to decide not to seek reelection for a third term as senator.“It has been an honor to dedicate my life to the service of our great state and country, having been raised in a family who has given me so much love and support,” Ernst said. “Now, as our family ages and grows, it’s my time for me to give back to them. After a tremendous amount of prayer and reflection, I will not be seeking reelection in 2026.”Ernst, who was first elected in 2014 and reelected in 2020, is the first female combat veteran elected to the U.S. Senate, having served in the U.S. Army Reserves and Iowa Army National Guard. Before her time in Congress, she had served in public office as a state senator and Montgomery County auditor.The Republican said Iowans sent her to Washington “with a mission in mind — to make Washington squeal,” referencing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BgLwe8bFNg" target="_blank">her 2014 campaign ad</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/make-em-squeal" target="_blank">efforts in office</a>&nbsp;to address federal government waste, fraud and abuse. Ernst said she was “proud to say we have delivered” on her “squeal” promises. She also highlighted her work in the U.S. Senate on anti-abortion measures, preventing violence against women and supporting farmers and veterans.“As a proud Harley rider, you can rest assured, I’m not slowing down anytime soon,” Ernst said. “There is still so much to accomplish before the end of my term, and I’ll keep fighting every single day, as I always have, to make Iowans’ voices heard loud and clear in the halls of Congress.”Reports&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/08/29/new-report-says-ernst-plans-to-not-seek-reelection-in-2026/">were published Friday</a>&nbsp;from multiple outlets saying that sources close to Ernst expected she would announce her plans for 2026 this week. Though&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/10/joni-ernst-retirement-watch-iowa-senate-seat-00447670" target="_blank">Senate GOP leadership</a>&nbsp;had reportedly encouraged Ernst to run for another term, the senator faced criticism from Republicans for expressing concerns about U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during the nomination process. She also gained national attention for saying “<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/05/30/well-were-all-going-to-die-u-s-sen-joni-ernst-defends-medicaid-cuts-at-heated-town-hall/">well, we all are going to die,”</a>&nbsp;at a May town hall when responding to a person who said GOP-backed Medicaid cuts would cause people to die.Democrats running for the U.S. Senate seat in the 2026 election, responded that Ernst’s decision not to run was a signal that Republicans’ hold of Iowa’s congressional seats could be at risk. Currently, Iowa’s federal delegation is all Republican, but Iowa’s 1st and 3rd Districts have been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings" target="_blank">brought up by political forecasters</a>&nbsp;as pivotal battlegrounds for control of the U.S. House in the upcoming midterms.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings" target="_blank">Cook Political Report</a>&nbsp;rated the race for Iowa’s Senate seat as “likely Republican” — but the race could be more contentious without an incumbent Republican candidate.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Kirsten Gillibrand released a statement responding to Ernst’s announcement, and said her decision shows that “Donald Trump and Senate Republicans’ devastating agenda has put their majority in jeopardy.”“Republicans can see the writing on the wall: spiking costs and ripping away health care does so much damage to their states that they would rather leave the Senate than defend their actions to voters,” Schumer and Gillibrand said in the statement. “Democrats are in a strong position to win seats and continue fighting for working families.”State Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris and former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage are currently running to become Iowa’s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in 2026.National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott said in a statement the Senate GOP campaign arm “is confident Iowans will elect a Republican to continue fighting for them and championing President Trump’s agenda in 2026.” He also thanked Ernst for her service in Washington and in the military.“Joni Ernst has dedicated her life to serving our nation and improving the lives of Iowans,” Scott said. “Traveling across the Hawkeye State with Joni, I know she loves Iowa, and Iowa loves her. We are grateful for all she has accomplished in helping Iowa families keep more of their hard-earned money and make Washington squeal.”Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said Ernst “dropped out of this race because she knows her support for Medicaid cuts is a nonstarter” — and said whoever becomes the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate will have to contend with “the same toxic Republican agenda that’s harming Iowa families.”“The energy is on our side heading into the midterms as Iowans are fed up with Washington Republicans spiking costs for working people to deliver tax cuts for billionaires,” Hart said. “In 2026, Iowans will elect a Democrat to the U.S. Senate who will prioritize making Iowa economically prosperous and a healthier state.”<h2>Hinson expected to make a bid for U.S. Senate</h2>There are two Republicans currently running for the nomination: former state lawmaker&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/06/06/republican-jim-carlin-launches-primary-bid-against-u-s-sen-joni-ernst-in-week-of-campaign-kickoffs/">Jim Carlin</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/30/joshua-smith-republican-iowa-senate-joni-ernst/83347040007/" target="_blank">Joshua Smith</a>, a former Libertarian candidate for the state Senate.U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District is also expected to join the race. In a social media post Monday, Hinson thanked Ernst for her service and added that she and her husband will share an announcement soon.“As we look forward, President Trump needs a fighter in the Senate who will always have his back to continue to cut spending, deport illegal aliens, and put working families first,” Hinson wrote. “I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with the President to pass this America First agenda in the House and I would be his strongest ally in the Senate. Matt and I will have an announcement soon about how we believe we can best serve Iowa, and how we can help President Trump make America great again.”Hinson has been working on reelection efforts in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District in recent months. There are currently three Democrats running for the seat in 2026,&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/08/19/democrat-lindsay-james-announces-2nd-congressional-district-bid/">state Rep. Lindsay James</a>, D-Dubuque, &nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/07/22/clint-twedt-ball-founder-of-matthew-25-nonprofit-launches-2nd-district-campaign/">Clint Twedt-Ball</a>, the founder of the nonprofit Matthew 25 and&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/07/15/democrat-kathy-dolter-launches-bid-for-2nd-congressional-district-rep-lindsay-james-mulls-a-run/">Kathy Dolter</a>, the former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College.Katie Smith, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said Hinson’s expected move to the U.S. Senate race in 2026 shows Democrats have a strong chance in the 2nd District race.“Ashley Hinson is clearly eager to jump off the sinking ship that is her re-election in Iowa’s 2nd district,” Smith said. “Hinson is terrified to face her voters, who’ve had a front row seat as she’s prioritized Washington and billionaires while voting to raise Iowans’ costs. There’s change coming in Iowa: voters are ready for new leadership and no matter what Hinson decides, she will lose her seat.”

🎥U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst explains why she will not seek reelection

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration violated federal law by sending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-immigration-raid-troops-military-2d81f5c35f9d11db9e32234e03480497">National Guard troops</a>&nbsp;to Southern California during immigration enforcement operations and accompanying protests, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco did not require the several hundred remaining troops to be withdrawn and set his order to go into effect Sept. 12.

The order comes after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/california-pursues-lawsuit-against-trump-over-national-guard-deployment-to-protests-790c2b244cea4dff8cff6815862a9fa9">California sued</a>, saying the troops sent to Los Angeles over the summer were violating a law that prohibits military enforcement of domestic laws. Lawyers for Trump's Republican administration have argued the Posse Comitatus Act doesn’t apply because the troops were protecting federal officers, not enforcing laws. They say the troops were mobilized under an authority that allows the president to deploy them.

The judge's decision comes as Trump has discussed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-trump-federal-intervention-chicago-a206278c6948dfd17f9224be81c440f1">National Guard deployments in Democratic-led cities</a>&nbsp;like Chicago, Baltimore and New York. He has already deployed the guard as part of his unprecedented law enforcement takeover in Washington, where he has direct legal control.

Trump federalized members of the California National Guard and sent them to the second-largest U.S. city over the objections of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and city leaders. Trump did so under a law that allows the president to call the guard into federal service when the country “is invaded,” when “there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government,” or when the president is otherwise unable “to execute the laws of the United States.”

Trump has pushed the bounds of typical military activity on domestic soil, including through the creation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-us-border-militarized-zones-arizona-trump-be3ee9f55a62c323ac5e03b5366f5d25">militarized zones</a>&nbsp;along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Newsom posted on X, in an all-caps reflection of the president’s own social media style, “DONALD TRUMP LOSES AGAIN. The courts agree -- his militarization of our streets and use of the military against US citizens is ILLEGAL.”

The White House and the Defense Department did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Breyer's scathing ruling accused the Trump administration of “willfully” violating the law, saying it used troops for functions that were barred by their own training materials, refused to “meaningfully coordinate with state and local officials” and “'coached’” federal law enforcement agencies on the language to use when requesting assistance.

“These actions demonstrate that Defendants knew that they were ordering troops to execute domestic law beyond their usual authority,” he wrote. “The evidence at trial established that Defendants systematically used armed soldiers (whose identity was often obscured by protective armor) and military vehicles to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control, and otherwise demonstrate a military presence in and around Los Angeles."

Roughly 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines were deployed to Los Angeles in early June to deal with protests, over the objections of state and local officials. All were pulled back by the end of July except about 250 National Guard troops. The judge noted that the remaining troops got improper training on what they can and cannot do under the law.

Breyer also noted the Trump administration’s possible plans to call National Guard troops into other U.S. cities.

In Los Angeles, National Guard members joined an operation at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-happened-ice-raid-la-macarthur-park-cc04479ed94ed68d11acf807d97914e6">MacArthur Park</a>&nbsp;in downtown Los Angeles intended as a show of force against people in the U.S. illegally and those protesting the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. They also accompanied federal immigration officers on raids at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-farm-immigration-raid-cannabis-fbcf4620675523aa7630599331777ec5">two state-licensed marijuana nurseries</a>&nbsp;in Ventura County, Army Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman testified.

Sherman, who initially commanded the troops deployed to Los Angeles, testified during the second day of the trial that he raised concerns the deployment could violate the Posse Comitatus Act.

He said soldiers were trained on the law and given materials that included a list of activities prohibited by the act, including doing security patrols and conducting traffic control, crowd control and riot control.

Sherman said that while the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits troops from carrying out those actions, he was told by his superiors that there was a “constitutional exception” that permitted such activities when the troops are protecting federal property or personnel.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750413132016.jpeg" alt="California National Guard stand in formation guarding the federal building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)" />
 <figcaption>California National Guard stand in formation guarding the federal building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration violated federal law by sending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-immigration-raid-troops-military-2d81f5c35f9d11db9e32234e03480497">National Guard troops</a>&nbsp;to Southern California during immigration enforcement operations and accompanying protests, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">DONALD TRUMP LOSES AGAIN. The courts agree -- his militarization of our streets and use of the military against US citizens is ILLEGAL. <a href="https://t.co/rDq1Li5fug">pic.twitter.com/rDq1Li5fug</a>&mdash; Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1962873063223202205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco did not require the several hundred remaining troops to be withdrawn and set his order to go into effect Sept. 12.The order comes after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/california-pursues-lawsuit-against-trump-over-national-guard-deployment-to-protests-790c2b244cea4dff8cff6815862a9fa9">California sued</a>, saying the troops sent to Los Angeles over the summer were violating a law that prohibits military enforcement of domestic laws. Lawyers for Trump's Republican administration have argued the Posse Comitatus Act doesn’t apply because the troops were protecting federal officers, not enforcing laws. They say the troops were mobilized under an authority that allows the president to deploy them.The judge's decision comes as Trump has discussed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-trump-federal-intervention-chicago-a206278c6948dfd17f9224be81c440f1">National Guard deployments in Democratic-led cities</a>&nbsp;like Chicago, Baltimore and New York. He has already deployed the guard as part of his unprecedented law enforcement takeover in Washington, where he has direct legal control.Trump federalized members of the California National Guard and sent them to the second-largest U.S. city over the objections of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and city leaders. Trump did so under a law that allows the president to call the guard into federal service when the country “is invaded,” when “there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government,” or when the president is otherwise unable “to execute the laws of the United States.”Trump has pushed the bounds of typical military activity on domestic soil, including through the creation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-us-border-militarized-zones-arizona-trump-be3ee9f55a62c323ac5e03b5366f5d25">militarized zones</a>&nbsp;along the U.S.-Mexico border.Newsom posted on X, in an all-caps reflection of the president’s own social media style, “DONALD TRUMP LOSES AGAIN. The courts agree -- his militarization of our streets and use of the military against US citizens is ILLEGAL.”The White House and the Defense Department did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.Breyer's scathing ruling accused the Trump administration of “willfully” violating the law, saying it used troops for functions that were barred by their own training materials, refused to “meaningfully coordinate with state and local officials” and “'coached’” federal law enforcement agencies on the language to use when requesting assistance.“These actions demonstrate that Defendants knew that they were ordering troops to execute domestic law beyond their usual authority,” he wrote. “The evidence at trial established that Defendants systematically used armed soldiers (whose identity was often obscured by protective armor) and military vehicles to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control, and otherwise demonstrate a military presence in and around Los Angeles."Roughly 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines were deployed to Los Angeles in early June to deal with protests, over the objections of state and local officials. All were pulled back by the end of July except about 250 National Guard troops. The judge noted that the remaining troops got improper training on what they can and cannot do under the law.Breyer also noted the Trump administration’s possible plans to call National Guard troops into other U.S. cities.In Los Angeles, National Guard members joined an operation at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-happened-ice-raid-la-macarthur-park-cc04479ed94ed68d11acf807d97914e6">MacArthur Park</a>&nbsp;in downtown Los Angeles intended as a show of force against people in the U.S. illegally and those protesting the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. They also accompanied federal immigration officers on raids at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-farm-immigration-raid-cannabis-fbcf4620675523aa7630599331777ec5">two state-licensed marijuana nurseries</a>&nbsp;in Ventura County, Army Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman testified.Sherman, who initially commanded the troops deployed to Los Angeles, testified during the second day of the trial that he raised concerns the deployment could violate the Posse Comitatus Act.He said soldiers were trained on the law and given materials that included a list of activities prohibited by the act, including doing security patrols and conducting traffic control, crowd control and riot control.Sherman said that while the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits troops from carrying out those actions, he was told by his superiors that there was a “constitutional exception” that permitted such activities when the troops are protecting federal property or personnel.___

Calif. Governor taunts Trump after judge's ruling on use of troops in LA

By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Media

A new government report ranked the states on energy spending, and Kansas is #19. 

The Energy Information Administration added up the total amount of money spent by end users on petroleum, electricity, natural gas and other fuels. 

In the year 2023, the most expensive energy states were Alaska, Wyoming and North Dakota. Alaska residents spent an average of $12,000 each that year. Florida residents enjoyed the lowest energy expenses at about $3,700. Kansans spent more than $5,000. 

Kansas operators discovered five new oil fields in Kansas in June and July. That's 14 new fields so far this year. The Kansas Geological Society recognized two new fields in Gove County, and one each in Graham, Logan and Sheridan counties.

Regulators okayed 20 new drilling locations in Kansas last week, with five new permits in western Kansas and 15 east of Wichita. Three of those are in Haskell County.&nbsp; That's at 478 permits so far this year, down from 664 last year at this time.

Operators in The Sunflower State completed nine wells last week. Five are east of Wichita and four are in western Kansas, including two wells in Barton County and one in Finney County. Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 801 completed wells so far this year, compared to 901 a year ago.

The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil and Gas Service is up 13 percent from a week ago, but down five percent from a month ago, and down 34 percent from a year ago. The tally west of Wichita this week is up two rigs to eleven.

The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes shows a decline of three gas rigs but an increase of one rig drilling for oil.&nbsp; The total in Texas is up one; North Dakota and Louisiana are each down one.

Media analysis of crude oil prices is all over the map. So are prices, but it's a smaller map.&nbsp; 

Crude traders shrugged off "Russia supply fears" on Monday thanks to "India tariff uncertainty" on Tuesday. 

NYMEX crude settled more than a dollar higher Monday, but held underneath a $65 ceiling established three weeks ago. Prices cascaded on Tuesday dropping two percent by lunchtime. Prices this month started within striking distance of $70 a barrel, but by the second week in August had dipped below $65 a barrel, where they remained for the last 16 trading sessions. Prices were flirting with 65 in New York after the holiday break on Tuesday.

India is reportedly curbing its sanctioned oil purchases from Iran and Russia, but China insists it will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve its national interest.&nbsp; The foreign ministry posted on social media that it won't respond to what it called coercion and pressuring, but will instead firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.

Reuters reports that oil shipments to China from Saudi Arabia are set to fall next month, down from a more than two-year high this month, after the state oil firm raised prices. Saudi Aramco will ship about 43 million barrels or 1.43 million barrels per day to China in September, down from 1.65 million in August.

The government reports lower pre-Labor Day gasoline prices than last year. EIA said the national average of $3.15 per gallon last week was 5% (or 17 cents per gallon) lower than at the same time last year. The government expects that to drop another 35 cents by December, driven by continuing growth in crude supplies.

The government American natural gas consumption is near an all-time high and will likely set a record this year. The Energy Information Administration predicts natural gas consumption will rise one percent to a record 91.4 billion cubic feet per day this year, then dip slightly next year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684775008059.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle MediaA new government report ranked the states on energy spending, and Kansas is #19. The Energy Information Administration added up the total amount of money spent by end users on petroleum, electricity, natural gas and other fuels. In the year 2023, the most expensive energy states were Alaska, Wyoming and North Dakota. Alaska residents spent an average of $12,000 each that year. Florida residents enjoyed the lowest energy expenses at about $3,700. Kansans spent more than $5,000. Kansas operators discovered five new oil fields in Kansas in June and July. That's 14 new fields so far this year. The Kansas Geological Society recognized two new fields in Gove County, and one each in Graham, Logan and Sheridan counties.Regulators okayed 20 new drilling locations in Kansas last week, with five new permits in western Kansas and 15 east of Wichita. Three of those are in Haskell County.&nbsp; That's at 478 permits so far this year, down from 664 last year at this time.Operators in The Sunflower State completed nine wells last week. Five are east of Wichita and four are in western Kansas, including two wells in Barton County and one in Finney County. Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 801 completed wells so far this year, compared to 901 a year ago.The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil and Gas Service is up 13 percent from a week ago, but down five percent from a month ago, and down 34 percent from a year ago. The tally west of Wichita this week is up two rigs to eleven.The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes shows a decline of three gas rigs but an increase of one rig drilling for oil.&nbsp; The total in Texas is up one; North Dakota and Louisiana are each down one.Media analysis of crude oil prices is all over the map. So are prices, but it's a smaller map.&nbsp; Crude traders shrugged off "Russia supply fears" on Monday thanks to "India tariff uncertainty" on Tuesday. NYMEX crude settled more than a dollar higher Monday, but held underneath a $65 ceiling established three weeks ago. Prices cascaded on Tuesday dropping two percent by lunchtime. Prices this month started within striking distance of $70 a barrel, but by the second week in August had dipped below $65 a barrel, where they remained for the last 16 trading sessions. Prices were flirting with 65 in New York after the holiday break on Tuesday.India is reportedly curbing its sanctioned oil purchases from Iran and Russia, but China insists it will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve its national interest.&nbsp; The foreign ministry posted on social media that it won't respond to what it called coercion and pressuring, but will instead firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.Reuters reports that oil shipments to China from Saudi Arabia are set to fall next month, down from a more than two-year high this month, after the state oil firm raised prices. Saudi Aramco will ship about 43 million barrels or 1.43 million barrels per day to China in September, down from 1.65 million in August.The government reports lower pre-Labor Day gasoline prices than last year. EIA said the national average of $3.15 per gallon last week was 5% (or 17 cents per gallon) lower than at the same time last year. The government expects that to drop another 35 cents by December, driven by continuing growth in crude supplies.The government American natural gas consumption is near an all-time high and will likely set a record this year. The Energy Information Administration predicts natural gas consumption will rise one percent to a record 91.4 billion cubic feet per day this year, then dip slightly next year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

News from the Oil Patch: Kansas in Top 20 most expensive energy states

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, KEVIN FREKING and STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press1

Congressional Republicans scored a massive victory this summer when they passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-republican-trump-tax-bill-f65be44e1050431a601320197322551b">President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” of tax and spending cuts</a>&nbsp;without a single Democratic vote. But as they return to Washington this fall after a monthlong August recess, they will have to find a way to work with Democrats — or around them — as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-spending-trump-government-shutdown-democrats-republicans-a282c46016d64c5f4ffb8c3c99c9077e">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;looms.

The annual spending battle will dominate the September agenda, along with a possible effort by Senate Republicans to change their chamber's rules to thwart Democratic stalling tactics on nominations. The Senate is also debating whether to move forward on legislation that would slap steep tariffs on some of Russia’s trading partners as the U.S. pressures Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine.

In the House, Republicans will continue their investigations of former President Joe Biden while Speaker Mike Johnson navigates a split in his conference over whether the Trump administration should release more files in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;investigation.

A look at what Congress will be doing as lawmakers return from the August break:

The most urgent task for Congress is to avoid a government shutdown on Sept. 30, when federal funding runs out. And it’s so far unclear if Republicans and Democrats will be able to agree on how to do that.

Congress will have to pass a short-term spending measure to keep the government funded for a few weeks or months while they try to finish the full-year package. But Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass an extension, and Democrats will want significant concessions. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s vote with Republicans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-gop-chuck-schumer-86385e644239a3dc1558b37d13094234">avoid a shutdown in March</a>&nbsp;prompted furious backlash within his party.

The Trump administration's efforts to claw back previously approved spending could also complicate the negotiations. Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pbs-npr-budget-cuts-trump-republicans-7d29c97c85d0b450549af657e115f0f8">passed legislation this summer that rescinded about $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funds</a>&nbsp;and Trump notified Congress again on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-foreign-aid-pocket-rescission-374c63e6b4004e819a657e33b76f502e">that he will block</a>&nbsp;$4.9 billion in congressionally approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/foreign-aid">foreign aid</a>.

Democrats have warned that such efforts could tank the broader negotiations. “Trump is rooting for a shutdown,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., posted on social media Friday.

Senators are expected to return to Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-confirmations-nominations-trump-schumer-thune-905a63d0046319eeb7c266d5e24e70b6">right where they left off in early August</a>&nbsp;— fighting over Trump’s nominees.

Exasperated Republicans fled Washington for the month after making little headway with Senate Democrats over their nominations blockade, which has forced delays in confirmations and angered Trump as many of his administration’s positions remain unfilled. Republican leaders called it quits after a rare Saturday session that ended with a breakdown in bipartisan negotiations and Trump posting on social media that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/charles-schumer">Chuck Schumer</a>&nbsp;could “GO TO HELL!”

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, KEVIN FREKING and STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press1Congressional Republicans scored a massive victory this summer when they passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-republican-trump-tax-bill-f65be44e1050431a601320197322551b">President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” of tax and spending cuts</a>&nbsp;without a single Democratic vote. But as they return to Washington this fall after a monthlong August recess, they will have to find a way to work with Democrats — or around them — as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-spending-trump-government-shutdown-democrats-republicans-a282c46016d64c5f4ffb8c3c99c9077e">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;looms.The annual spending battle will dominate the September agenda, along with a possible effort by Senate Republicans to change their chamber's rules to thwart Democratic stalling tactics on nominations. The Senate is also debating whether to move forward on legislation that would slap steep tariffs on some of Russia’s trading partners as the U.S. pressures Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine.In the House, Republicans will continue their investigations of former President Joe Biden while Speaker Mike Johnson navigates a split in his conference over whether the Trump administration should release more files in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;investigation.A look at what Congress will be doing as lawmakers return from the August break:<h2>Keeping the Government Open</h2>The most urgent task for Congress is to avoid a government shutdown on Sept. 30, when federal funding runs out. And it’s so far unclear if Republicans and Democrats will be able to agree on how to do that.Congress will have to pass a short-term spending measure to keep the government funded for a few weeks or months while they try to finish the full-year package. But Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass an extension, and Democrats will want significant concessions. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s vote with Republicans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-gop-chuck-schumer-86385e644239a3dc1558b37d13094234">avoid a shutdown in March</a>&nbsp;prompted furious backlash within his party.The Trump administration's efforts to claw back previously approved spending could also complicate the negotiations. Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pbs-npr-budget-cuts-trump-republicans-7d29c97c85d0b450549af657e115f0f8">passed legislation this summer that rescinded about $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funds</a>&nbsp;and Trump notified Congress again on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-foreign-aid-pocket-rescission-374c63e6b4004e819a657e33b76f502e">that he will block</a>&nbsp;$4.9 billion in congressionally approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/foreign-aid">foreign aid</a>.Democrats have warned that such efforts could tank the broader negotiations. “Trump is rooting for a shutdown,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., posted on social media Friday.<h2>Senate Nominations Fight</h2>Senators are expected to return to Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-confirmations-nominations-trump-schumer-thune-905a63d0046319eeb7c266d5e24e70b6">right where they left off in early August</a>&nbsp;— fighting over Trump’s nominees.Exasperated Republicans fled Washington for the month after making little headway with Senate Democrats over their nominations blockade, which has forced delays in confirmations and angered Trump as many of his administration’s positions remain unfilled. Republican leaders called it quits after a rare Saturday session that ended with a breakdown in bipartisan negotiations and Trump posting on social media that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/charles-schumer">Chuck Schumer</a>&nbsp;could “GO TO HELL!”Republicans now say they’re ready to try and change Senate rules to get around the Democratic delays, and they are expected to spend the next several weeks discussing how that might work.<h2>Russian Sanctions</h2>Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of Trump’s closest congressional allies, has pushed the president for months to support his sweeping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-us-ukraine-russia-sanctions-graham-blumenthal-d1ec6840d4452a0209403e4c4c3ef861">bipartisan sanctions bill</a>&nbsp;that would impose steep tariffs on countries that are fueling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by buying its oil, gas, uranium, and other exports. The legislation has the backing of 85 senators, but Trump has yet to endorse it, and Republican leaders have so far said they won’t move without him.Graham has stepped up his calls after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-summit-alaska-russia-ukraine-a7b167f17a3e06fbce2f583c93f8bae1">met with Russian President Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;and Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy last month in hopes of a peace deal. Since then, Russia has continued to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kyiv-attack-23e051f1b7e93308f99b6fdfdd8949f2">step up attacks on Ukraine</a>.“If we don’t have this thing moving in the right direction by the time we get back, then I think that plan B needs to kick in,” Graham said of his bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-sanctions-ukraine-trump-zelenskyy-war-negotiations-d94711651ab5b96f7b771c1fb3af1179">in an interview with The Associated Press last month.</a><h2>Oversight of the CDC</h2>Health and Human Service Secretary Robert F. Kennedy will appear before the Senate Finance Committee to discuss his health care agenda on Thursday, less than a week after he ousted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-director-susan-monarez-50dfbec849b53b4593755d2e6e616687">Susan Monarez</a>&nbsp;as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Several other top officials also resigned in protest.Kennedy has tried to advance&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-vaccines-trump-rfkjr-7f8dcb25de76a5a70710d22bbc63f6fa">anti-vaccine policies</a>&nbsp;that are contradicted by decades of scientific research. Monarez’s lawyers said she refused “to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts.”Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Republican chairman of the HELP panel that oversees the CDC and a member of the Finance Committee, has called on the CDC to delay a meeting of outside experts who make recommendations on the use of vaccines until Congress can look into the issue.<h2>Divisions over Epstein</h2>The House left Washington in July amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-jeffrey-epstein-trump-f2a03eca247268b14a9e38858338eded">disagreements among Republicans</a>&nbsp;about whether they should force President Donald Trump’s administration to release more information on the sex trafficking investigation into the late Jeffrey Epstein. The pressure for more disclosure could only get more intense when lawmakers return.Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky are pushing the House to take up their bill to force the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigation. They are planning a news conference this week joined by Epstein victims. The House Oversight Committee is also investigating the issue.Democrats are eager to keep pressing on the Epstein files, especially after the Trump administration reneged on pledges for transparency. The case for years has been the subject of online conspiracy theories and speculation about who may have been involved or aware of the wealthy financier’s abuse.<h2>Investigating Biden</h2>The House Oversight Committee will return from August recess with a slate of interviews lined up as part of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-biden-election-democrat-midterm-78b6e3998772b987625abbbc9bebf3d0">investigation into former President Joe Biden’s mental state while in office</a>. The committee has already conducted interviews and depositions with nearly a dozen former top Biden aides and members of the president’s inner circle.The Republican-led committee will hear from former top Biden staffers in September like Jeff Zients, Biden’s final White House chief of staff, Karine Jean-Pierre, the former White House press secretary, and Andrew Bates, a top press aide.Oversight Chair James Comer, R-Ky., has said public hearings and a full report can be expected sometime in the fall.<h2>Stock Trading Ban</h2>Congress has discussed proposals for years to keep lawmakers from engaging in trading individual stocks, nodding to the idea that there’s a potential conflict of interest when they are often privy to information and decisions that can dramatically move markets.That push is now gaining momentum. A Senate committee has approved legislation from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hawley-pelosi-stocks-insider-trading-ban-cf6200d0ec71fe012bb3b9a916696b37">GOP Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri</a>&nbsp;that would also extend the prohibition on stock trading to future presidents and vice presidents — while notably exempting Trump. In the House, several members are putting forward proposals and even threatening to maneuver around GOP leadership to force a vote.Still, there is plenty of resistance to the idea, including from many wealthy lawmakers who reap dividends from their portfolios.___Associated Press writers Matt Brown and Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report.