CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The FBI said Friday it disrupted a New Year’s Eve attack plot targeting a grocery store and fast-food restaurant in North Carolina, arresting an 18-year-old man who authorities say pledged loyalty to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-islamic-state-hegseth-trump-61dcee09576ce806de3a04aaec152495">Islamic State group</a>.

Christian Sturdivant was charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Investigators said he told an undercover FBI employee posing as a supportive confidant about his plans to attack people. Their online messages, along with a recent search of his home, indicated attacks would occur with knives and hammers, according to prosecutors and records.

Worried Sturdivant might attempt violence before New Year’s Eve, the FBI placed him under constant surveillance for days, including on Christmas, U.S. Attorney for Western North Carolina Russ Ferguson said.

Agents were prepared to arrest him earlier if he left his home with weapons, Ferguson said at a news conference in Charlotte. “At no point was the public in harm’s way.”

Sturdivant was arrested Wednesday and remained in custody after a federal court appearance Friday. An attorney representing him did not immediately respond to an email or phone message seeking comment. Another hearing was scheduled for Jan. 7.

The alleged attack would have taken place one year after 14 people were killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-bourbon-attack-security-1298ae460051ab9d80e04f41ed7b6802">in New Orleans</a>&nbsp;by a U.S. citizen and Army veteran who proclaimed support for IS on social media.

The FBI has foiled several alleged attacks through sting operations in which agents posed as terror supporters, supplying advice or equipment. Critics say the strategy can amount to entrapment of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-334730f048af4529ad328f60315b5c7d">mentally vulnerable</a>&nbsp;people who wouldn’t have the wherewithal to act alone.

Searches of Sturdivant’s home and phone uncovered what investigators described as a manifesto detailing plans for the attack, FBI Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle told reporters.

“He was willing to sacrifice himself,” Barnacle said.

A handwritten note found in a trash can at Sturdivant's home listed details of the planned attacks and the number of intended victims at a Burger King restaurant and unnamed grocery store, according to an FBI affidavit.

The note also said he would attack arriving officers and “hoped to die by the hands of police.” Ferguson said the attack was to take place in Mint Hill, a bedroom community of Charlotte.

The affidavit said a database check indicated Sturdivant worked at Burger King in Mint Hill. It wasn't clear if that was the same restaurant cited in the note. Ferguson declined to identify the specific targeted businesses, citing the ongoing investigation.

If convicted, Sturdivant faces up to 20 years in prison, according to court documents.

The fact that Sturdivant encountered two undercover officers while allegedly planning the attack should reassure the public, Ferguson said.

The affidavit says the investigation began last month after authorities linked Sturdivant to a social media account that posted content supportive of IS, including imagery that appeared to promote violence. The account’s display name referenced Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former leader of the extremist group.

Some experts argue that IS is powerful today partly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-crash-islamic-state-lone-wolves-4bb6446c484737fbe9dd1b9c26a899a9">as a brand</a>, inspiring both militant groups and individuals in attacks that the group itself may have no real role in.

The affidavit says Sturdivant had been on the FBI's radar in January 2022, when he was a minor, after officials learned he'd been in contact with a suspected IS member in Europe, and received instructions to dress in black, knock on people's doors and commit attacks with a hammer.

At that time, Sturdivant set out for a neighbor’s house armed with a hammer and a knife but was restrained by his grandfather, the affidavit says.

No charges were filed at that time, but Sturdivant underwent psychological treatment and the FBI was told he no longer had access to social media, Ferguson said. But the FBI found out weeks ago that he was back on it, he added.

The FBI in Los Angeles last month announced the disruption of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-new-years-eve-turtle-liberation-arrests-a84a26742ecbd5fe813ab959162268d2">separate New Year’s Eve plot</a>, arresting members of an extremist anti-capitalist and anti-government group who federal officials said planned to bomb multiple sites in southern California.

Other IS-inspired attacks over the past decade include a 2015 shooting rampage by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-f42318ce395a471d8ffd19607c651a36">a husband-and-wife team</a>&nbsp;who killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, and a 2016 massacre at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-fa93fb3237aa41f591c1b0c026d6c7c3">a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida</a>, by a gunman who fatally shot 49 people.

Robertson reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767391410084.png" alt="Sturdivant-Gaston County" />
 <figcaption>Sturdivant-Gaston County</figcaption>
 </figure>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The FBI said Friday it disrupted a New Year’s Eve attack plot targeting a grocery store and fast-food restaurant in North Carolina, arresting an 18-year-old man who authorities say pledged loyalty to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-islamic-state-hegseth-trump-61dcee09576ce806de3a04aaec152495">Islamic State group</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Federal officials in Charlotte, NC hold a news conference on an attempted attack in the area that was thwarted by the FBI. The alleged suspect was reportedly inspired by ISIS and planned to carry out an attack on New Year&#39;s Eve in Mint Hill, NC. <a href="https://t.co/YSpplyrVjp">pic.twitter.com/YSpplyrVjp</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2007171448004063589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Christian Sturdivant was charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Investigators said he told an undercover FBI employee posing as a supportive confidant about his plans to attack people. Their online messages, along with a recent search of his home, indicated attacks would occur with knives and hammers, according to prosecutors and records.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FBI</a> thwarted a potential terrorist attack on New Year&#39;s Eve in North Carolina. The subject was directly inspired to act by ISIS. A federal criminal complaint alleges 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant planned a violent attack at a grocery store in Mint Hill. SAC Barnacle… <a href="https://t.co/njn7XBQTAC">pic.twitter.com/njn7XBQTAC</a>&mdash; FBI Charlotte (@FBICharlotte) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBICharlotte/status/2007145724538921377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Worried Sturdivant might attempt violence before New Year’s Eve, the FBI placed him under constant surveillance for days, including on Christmas, U.S. Attorney for Western North Carolina Russ Ferguson said.Agents were prepared to arrest him earlier if he left his home with weapons, Ferguson said at a news conference in Charlotte. “At no point was the public in harm’s way.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767391817051.png" alt="Handwritten document titled “New Years Attack 2026”" />
 <figcaption>Handwritten document titled “New Years Attack 2026”</figcaption>
 </figure>Sturdivant was arrested Wednesday and remained in custody after a federal court appearance Friday. An attorney representing him did not immediately respond to an email or phone message seeking comment. Another hearing was scheduled for Jan. 7.The alleged attack would have taken place one year after 14 people were killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-bourbon-attack-security-1298ae460051ab9d80e04f41ed7b6802">in New Orleans</a>&nbsp;by a U.S. citizen and Army veteran who proclaimed support for IS on social media.The FBI has foiled several alleged attacks through sting operations in which agents posed as terror supporters, supplying advice or equipment. Critics say the strategy can amount to entrapment of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-334730f048af4529ad328f60315b5c7d">mentally vulnerable</a>&nbsp;people who wouldn’t have the wherewithal to act alone.Searches of Sturdivant’s home and phone uncovered what investigators described as a manifesto detailing plans for the attack, FBI Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle told reporters.“He was willing to sacrifice himself,” Barnacle said.A handwritten note found in a trash can at Sturdivant's home listed details of the planned attacks and the number of intended victims at a Burger King restaurant and unnamed grocery store, according to an FBI affidavit.The note also said he would attack arriving officers and “hoped to die by the hands of police.” Ferguson said the attack was to take place in Mint Hill, a bedroom community of Charlotte.The affidavit said a database check indicated Sturdivant worked at Burger King in Mint Hill. It wasn't clear if that was the same restaurant cited in the note. Ferguson declined to identify the specific targeted businesses, citing the ongoing investigation.If convicted, Sturdivant faces up to 20 years in prison, according to court documents.The fact that Sturdivant encountered two undercover officers while allegedly planning the attack should reassure the public, Ferguson said.The affidavit says the investigation began last month after authorities linked Sturdivant to a social media account that posted content supportive of IS, including imagery that appeared to promote violence. The account’s display name referenced Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former leader of the extremist group.Some experts argue that IS is powerful today partly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-crash-islamic-state-lone-wolves-4bb6446c484737fbe9dd1b9c26a899a9">as a brand</a>, inspiring both militant groups and individuals in attacks that the group itself may have no real role in.The affidavit says Sturdivant had been on the FBI's radar in January 2022, when he was a minor, after officials learned he'd been in contact with a suspected IS member in Europe, and received instructions to dress in black, knock on people's doors and commit attacks with a hammer.At that time, Sturdivant set out for a neighbor’s house armed with a hammer and a knife but was restrained by his grandfather, the affidavit says.No charges were filed at that time, but Sturdivant underwent psychological treatment and the FBI was told he no longer had access to social media, Ferguson said. But the FBI found out weeks ago that he was back on it, he added.The FBI in Los Angeles last month announced the disruption of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-new-years-eve-turtle-liberation-arrests-a84a26742ecbd5fe813ab959162268d2">separate New Year’s Eve plot</a>, arresting members of an extremist anti-capitalist and anti-government group who federal officials said planned to bomb multiple sites in southern California.Other IS-inspired attacks over the past decade include a 2015 shooting rampage by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-f42318ce395a471d8ffd19607c651a36">a husband-and-wife team</a>&nbsp;who killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, and a 2016 massacre at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-fa93fb3237aa41f591c1b0c026d6c7c3">a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida</a>, by a gunman who fatally shot 49 people.___Robertson reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed.

FBI disrupted a New Year's Eve attack plan inspired by ISIS

GREELEY COUNTY&nbsp;– The Greeley County Sheriff’s Office requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Tribune man.

The whereabouts of 77-year-old Juan Arias Vasquez are unknown, and public assistance is requested to help locate him.

Vasquez was last seen on Friday, Jan. 2, leaving his home at around 10:30 a.m. He is likely driving a maroon 2017 Dodge Ram bearing the plate 452NWX.

Vasquez is 5-feet-8 inches tall and weighs around 185 pounds. He has brown eyes and black/gray hair, and was last seen wearing&nbsp;a black jacket,&nbsp;tan pants, and a black and brown ballcap.

Vasquez has dementia, and family members are concerned about his safety.&nbsp;

If you see Juan Arias Vasquez, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Greeley County Sheriff’s Office at (620) 376-4233.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767395261041.png" alt="Arias Vasquez-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Arias Vasquez-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>GREELEY COUNTY&nbsp;– The Greeley County Sheriff’s Office requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Tribune man.The whereabouts of 77-year-old Juan Arias Vasquez are unknown, and public assistance is requested to help locate him.Vasquez was last seen on Friday, Jan. 2, leaving his home at around 10:30 a.m. He is likely driving a maroon 2017 Dodge Ram bearing the plate 452NWX.Vasquez is 5-feet-8 inches tall and weighs around 185 pounds. He has brown eyes and black/gray hair, and was last seen wearing&nbsp;a black jacket,&nbsp;tan pants, and a black and brown ballcap.Vasquez has dementia, and family members are concerned about his safety.&nbsp;If you see Juan Arias Vasquez, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Greeley County Sheriff’s Office at (620) 376-4233.

KBI: Silver Alert for missing Kansas man

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating human remains found in Shawnee County.

On Friday, police reported that just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp;officers responded to a report of a deceased individual in the area of NE U.S. 24 Highway and NE Calhoun Bluff Road, according to a media release. Upon arrival, officers discovered human remains.

At this time, foul play is not suspected. Police have not released the name of the deceased until official confirmation and the&nbsp;next of kin have been notified.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating human remains found in Shawnee County.On Friday, police reported that just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp;officers responded to a report of a deceased individual in the area of NE U.S. 24 Highway and NE Calhoun Bluff Road, according to a media release. Upon arrival, officers discovered human remains.At this time, foul play is not suspected. Police have not released the name of the deceased until official confirmation and the&nbsp;next of kin have been notified.

Police: Human remains found in northeast Kansas

A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while she was hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado on Thursday, in what would be the first fatal attack by one of the predators in the state in more than 25 years, authorities said.

Wildlife officers later in the day located two mountain lions in the area and fatally shot the animals, said Kara Van Hoose with Colorado Parks and Wildlife

The attack occurred in the mountains south of the small community of Glen Haven, about 7 miles northeast of Estes Park and considered the gateway to the eastern entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Shortly before noon, two hikers encountered a mountain lion near the woman’s body along a remote section of the Crosier Mountain trail, which is on a national forest.

The hikers threw rocks at the animal to scare it from the immediate area so they could try to help the woman, Van Hoose said. One of the hikers was a physician who attended to the victim and did not find a pulse, she said.

Details on the woman's injuries and cause of death were not immediately released.

Van Hoose said the search for other mountain lions in the area was ongoing. She said circumstances would dictate whether any additional lions that are found are killed.

Sightings of mountain lions are common in the forested area where the suspected attack occurred, but there have not been any recent documented attacks on humans, Van Hoose said.

“This is a very common time of year to take mountain lion sightings and reports and especially in Larimer County, where this is very good mountain lion habitat,” she said. “Trails in this area are in pretty remote land, so it’s wooded, it’s rocky, there’s elevation gains and dips.”

Mountain lion attacks are rare and Colorado's last suspected fatal attack was in 1999, when a 3-year-old was killed. Two years before that, a 10-year-old boy was killed by a lion and dragged away while hiking with family members in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mountain-lion-kills-man-dc8f26db4da45bd32550eadce7cf496c">in Northern California</a>&nbsp;two brothers were stalked and then attacked by a lion that they tried to fight off. One of the brothers was killed.

The animals, also known as cougars, catamounts and other names, can weigh 130 pounds (60 kilograms) and grow to more than six feet (1.8meters) long1. They eat primarily deer.

Colorado has an estimated 3,800-4,400 of the animals, which are classified as a big game species in the state and can be hunted.

By MATTHEW BROWN Associated PressA woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while she was hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado on Thursday, in what would be the first fatal attack by one of the predators in the state in more than 25 years, authorities said.Wildlife officers later in the day located two mountain lions in the area and fatally shot the animals, said Kara Van Hoose with Colorado Parks and WildlifeThe attack occurred in the mountains south of the small community of Glen Haven, about 7 miles northeast of Estes Park and considered the gateway to the eastern entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park.Shortly before noon, two hikers encountered a mountain lion near the woman’s body along a remote section of the Crosier Mountain trail, which is on a national forest.The hikers threw rocks at the animal to scare it from the immediate area so they could try to help the woman, Van Hoose said. One of the hikers was a physician who attended to the victim and did not find a pulse, she said.Details on the woman's injuries and cause of death were not immediately released.Van Hoose said the search for other mountain lions in the area was ongoing. She said circumstances would dictate whether any additional lions that are found are killed.Sightings of mountain lions are common in the forested area where the suspected attack occurred, but there have not been any recent documented attacks on humans, Van Hoose said.“This is a very common time of year to take mountain lion sightings and reports and especially in Larimer County, where this is very good mountain lion habitat,” she said. “Trails in this area are in pretty remote land, so it’s wooded, it’s rocky, there’s elevation gains and dips.”Mountain lion attacks are rare and Colorado's last suspected fatal attack was in 1999, when a 3-year-old was killed. Two years before that, a 10-year-old boy was killed by a lion and dragged away while hiking with family members in Rocky Mountain National Park.Last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mountain-lion-kills-man-dc8f26db4da45bd32550eadce7cf496c">in Northern California</a>&nbsp;two brothers were stalked and then attacked by a lion that they tried to fight off. One of the brothers was killed.The animals, also known as cougars, catamounts and other names, can weigh 130 pounds (60 kilograms) and grow to more than six feet (1.8meters) long1. They eat primarily deer.Colorado has an estimated 3,800-4,400 of the animals, which are classified as a big game species in the state and can be hunted.

Woman killed in mountain lion attack while hiking in Colorado

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump and top Iranian officials exchanged dueling threats Friday as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-traders-protest-rial-currency-ddc955739fb412b642251dee10638f03">widening protests</a>&nbsp;swept across parts of the Islamic Republic, further escalating tensions between the countries after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579">America bombed Iranian nuclear sites in June</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-economy-israel-us-nuclear-8533eacbc3c502ccc5f5339ae4384399">At least seven people have been killed</a>&nbsp;so far in violence surrounding the demonstrations, which were sparked in part by the collapse of Iran’s rial currency but have increasingly seen crowds chanting anti-government slogans.

The protests, now in their sixth day, have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, when the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-mahsa-amini-protests-un-report-366a199119720e69696a123560ef4018">22-year-old Mahsa Amini</a>&nbsp;in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations. However, the demonstrations have yet to be countrywide and have not been as intense as those surrounding the death of Amini, who was detained over not wearing her hijab, or headscarf, to the liking of authorities.

Trump initially wrote on his Truth Social platform, warning Iran that if it “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the United States “will come to their rescue.”

“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump wrote, without elaborating.

Shortly after, Ali Larijani, a former parliament speaker who serves as the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, alleged on the social platform X that Israel and the U.S. were stoking the demonstrations. He offered no evidence to support the allegation, which Iranian officials have repeatedly made during years of protests sweeping the country.

“Trump should know that intervention by the U.S. in the domestic problem corresponds to chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the U.S. interests,” Larijani wrote on X, which the Iranian government blocks. “The people of the U.S. should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers.”

Larijani’s remarks likely referenced America’s wide military footprint in the region.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-qatar-udeid-air-base-attack-us-aace65a65a0ce69090a7b65fe85cfac8">Iran in June attacked Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar</a>&nbsp;after the U.S. strikes on three nuclear sites during Israel's 12-day war on the Islamic Republic. No one was injured, though a missile did hit a radome there.

No major changes have been made to U.S. troop levels in the Middle East or their preparations following Trump’s Iran post, said a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans.

Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who previously was the council's secretary for years, separately warned that “any interventionist hand that gets too close to the security of Iran will be cut.”

“The people of Iran properly know the experience of ‘being rescued’ by Americans: from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza,” he added on X.

Iran's hard-liner parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also threatened that all American bases and forces would be “legitimate targets.”

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also responded, citing a list of Tehran's longtime grievances against the U.S., including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-1953-coup-cia-218323db3cc1aca6bde1e54827527e8d">a CIA-backed coup</a>&nbsp;in 1953, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/de425ed9833b4bdaa03306f37182995f">downing of a passenger jet</a>&nbsp;in 1988 and taking part in the June war.

The Iranian response came as the protests shake what has been a common refrain from officials in the theocracy — that the country broadly backed its government after the war.

Trump's online message marked a direct sign of support for the demonstrators, something that other American presidents have avoided out of concern that activists would be accused of working with the West.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ab649e2190834e19b1f006f76493645f">During Iran's 2009 Green Movement demonstrations</a>, President Barack Obama held back from publicly backing the protests — something he said in 2022 "was a mistake."

But such White House support still carries a risk.

“Though the grievances that fuel these and past protests are due to the Iranian government’s own policies, they are likely to use President Trump’s statement as proof that the unrest is driven by external actors,” said Naysan Rafati, an analyst at the International Crisis Group.

“But using that as a justification to crack down more violently risks inviting the very U.S. involvement Trump has hinted at," he added.

Demonstrators took to the streets Friday in Zahedan in Iran's restive Sistan and Baluchestan province on the border with Pakistan. The burials of several demonstrators killed in the protests also took place, sparking marches.

Online video purported to show mourners chasing off security force members who attended the funeral of 21-year-old Amirhessam Khodayari. He was killed Wednesday in Kouhdasht, over 400 kilometers (250 miles) southwest of Tehran in Iran's Lorestan province.

Video also showed Khodayari's father denying his son served in the all-volunteer Basij force of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, as authorities claimed. The semiofficial Fars news agency later reported that there were now questions about the government's claims that he served.

Iran’s civilian government under reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has been trying to signal it wants to negotiate with protesters. However, Pezeshkian has acknowledged there is not much he can do as Iran’s rial has rapidly depreciated, with $1 now costing some 1.4 million rials. That sparked the initial protests.

The protests, taking root in economic issues, have heard demonstrators chant against Iran’s theocracy as well. Tehran has had little luck in propping up its economy in the months since the June war.

Iran recently said it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-enrichment-c0079c38746a896e2967a9a9cc2799d5">no longer enriching uranium</a>&nbsp;at any site in the country, trying to signal to the West that it remains open to potential negotiations over its atomic program to ease sanctions. However, those talks have yet to happen as Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-gaza-ceasefire-arab-nations-229253766673f18c1195550572edd2ce">warned Tehran against reconstituting its atomic program</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765210340588.jpeg" alt="File President Donald Trump&nbsp; (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)" />
 <figcaption>File President Donald Trump&nbsp; (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump and top Iranian officials exchanged dueling threats Friday as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-traders-protest-rial-currency-ddc955739fb412b642251dee10638f03">widening protests</a>&nbsp;swept across parts of the Islamic Republic, further escalating tensions between the countries after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579">America bombed Iranian nuclear sites in June</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">“If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” - President DONALD J. TRUMP <a href="https://t.co/ctNbfJD9jv">pic.twitter.com/ctNbfJD9jv</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2007082423121748269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-economy-israel-us-nuclear-8533eacbc3c502ccc5f5339ae4384399">At least seven people have been killed</a>&nbsp;so far in violence surrounding the demonstrations, which were sparked in part by the collapse of Iran’s rial currency but have increasingly seen crowds chanting anti-government slogans.The protests, now in their sixth day, have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, when the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-mahsa-amini-protests-un-report-366a199119720e69696a123560ef4018">22-year-old Mahsa Amini</a>&nbsp;in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations. However, the demonstrations have yet to be countrywide and have not been as intense as those surrounding the death of Amini, who was detained over not wearing her hijab, or headscarf, to the liking of authorities.<h2>Trump post sparks quick Iranian response</h2>Trump initially wrote on his Truth Social platform, warning Iran that if it “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the United States “will come to their rescue.”“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump wrote, without elaborating.Shortly after, Ali Larijani, a former parliament speaker who serves as the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, alleged on the social platform X that Israel and the U.S. were stoking the demonstrations. He offered no evidence to support the allegation, which Iranian officials have repeatedly made during years of protests sweeping the country.“Trump should know that intervention by the U.S. in the domestic problem corresponds to chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the U.S. interests,” Larijani wrote on X, which the Iranian government blocks. “The people of the U.S. should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers.”Larijani’s remarks likely referenced America’s wide military footprint in the region.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-qatar-udeid-air-base-attack-us-aace65a65a0ce69090a7b65fe85cfac8">Iran in June attacked Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar</a>&nbsp;after the U.S. strikes on three nuclear sites during Israel's 12-day war on the Islamic Republic. No one was injured, though a missile did hit a radome there.No major changes have been made to U.S. troop levels in the Middle East or their preparations following Trump’s Iran post, said a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans.Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who previously was the council's secretary for years, separately warned that “any interventionist hand that gets too close to the security of Iran will be cut.”“The people of Iran properly know the experience of ‘being rescued’ by Americans: from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza,” he added on X.Iran's hard-liner parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also threatened that all American bases and forces would be “legitimate targets.”Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also responded, citing a list of Tehran's longtime grievances against the U.S., including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-1953-coup-cia-218323db3cc1aca6bde1e54827527e8d">a CIA-backed coup</a>&nbsp;in 1953, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/de425ed9833b4bdaa03306f37182995f">downing of a passenger jet</a>&nbsp;in 1988 and taking part in the June war.The Iranian response came as the protests shake what has been a common refrain from officials in the theocracy — that the country broadly backed its government after the war.Trump's online message marked a direct sign of support for the demonstrators, something that other American presidents have avoided out of concern that activists would be accused of working with the West.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ab649e2190834e19b1f006f76493645f">During Iran's 2009 Green Movement demonstrations</a>, President Barack Obama held back from publicly backing the protests — something he said in 2022 "was a mistake."But such White House support still carries a risk.“Though the grievances that fuel these and past protests are due to the Iranian government’s own policies, they are likely to use President Trump’s statement as proof that the unrest is driven by external actors,” said Naysan Rafati, an analyst at the International Crisis Group.“But using that as a justification to crack down more violently risks inviting the very U.S. involvement Trump has hinted at," he added.<h2>Protests continue Friday</h2>Demonstrators took to the streets Friday in Zahedan in Iran's restive Sistan and Baluchestan province on the border with Pakistan. The burials of several demonstrators killed in the protests also took place, sparking marches.Online video purported to show mourners chasing off security force members who attended the funeral of 21-year-old Amirhessam Khodayari. He was killed Wednesday in Kouhdasht, over 400 kilometers (250 miles) southwest of Tehran in Iran's Lorestan province.Video also showed Khodayari's father denying his son served in the all-volunteer Basij force of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, as authorities claimed. The semiofficial Fars news agency later reported that there were now questions about the government's claims that he served.Iran’s civilian government under reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has been trying to signal it wants to negotiate with protesters. However, Pezeshkian has acknowledged there is not much he can do as Iran’s rial has rapidly depreciated, with $1 now costing some 1.4 million rials. That sparked the initial protests.The protests, taking root in economic issues, have heard demonstrators chant against Iran’s theocracy as well. Tehran has had little luck in propping up its economy in the months since the June war.Iran recently said it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-enrichment-c0079c38746a896e2967a9a9cc2799d5">no longer enriching uranium</a>&nbsp;at any site in the country, trying to signal to the West that it remains open to potential negotiations over its atomic program to ease sanctions. However, those talks have yet to happen as Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-gaza-ceasefire-arab-nations-229253766673f18c1195550572edd2ce">warned Tehran against reconstituting its atomic program</a>.___

Trump warns Iran: US ‘locked and loaded’ if regime kills protesters

DOUGLAS COUNTY&nbsp; –A suspect arrested in connection with a decades old Kansas cold case involving child sex assault is now in a Kansas jail.

According to online jail records, 58-year-old David Zimbrick was booked into the Douglas County jail just after 10a.m. Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Lawrence Department in collaboration with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office announced the arrest of the alleged child sex offender whose crimes date back to 2000-2003.

Zimbrick's identification and ultimate arrest are the result of meticulous investigative work and the same science that brought in California’s “Golden State Killer” in 2018.

Monday, December 29, 2025, at the request of the Lawrence Kansas Police Department, U.S. Marshals arrested Zimbrick of Raytown, Missouri. Zimbrick was being held in Jackson County Missouri until his extradidtion to Douglas County.

Between 2000 and 2003, a series of sex crimes occurred in the Naismith Valley Park area, 1400 W. 27th Street. Reports indicate the suspect would lure children into the bushes to perform sexual assaults. The children involved were between 7 and 10 years old.

Despite unknown future technology, detectives thoroughly inspected the scene collecting any potential clues. While a distinct DNA profile was recovered, it yielded no match in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the national database of known offenders. With no further leads, the case eventually sat dormant.

In 2018, when California’s “Golden State Killer” was arrested, Detective Amy Price, who was involved in the original investigations, took note of their use of genetic genealogy. Detective Price submitted a request for funding and ultimately sent the evidence to Parbon Nanolabs. Parabon specializes in forensic genetic genealogy to solve cases where there is DNA evidence, but the offender’s identity remains unknown.

In March of 2020, Parabon notified Price that they had successfully genotyped the newly submitted DNA from one of the cases. The lengthy investigation that followed led to clues throughout the United States until the suspect was ultimately identified then located in Raytown, MO.

U.S. Marshals made the arrest without incident. Zimbrick is charged with one count of Aggravated Criminal Sodomy and one count of Rape in two cases.&nbsp;

“This arrest is a testament to the fact that time does not diminish our commitment to victims and their families,” said Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart. “I am continually impressed with the dedicated professionals who work in this department and am specifically proud of Detective Amy Price, who was assigned to this case and never let time nor dead ends deter her from continuing the search. Crimes against children last a lifetime. It is my hope that this arrest provides some comfort.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767123596759.png" alt="Zimbrick photo Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>Zimbrick photo Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY&nbsp; –A suspect arrested in connection with a decades old Kansas cold case involving child sex assault is now in a Kansas jail.According to online jail records, 58-year-old David Zimbrick was booked into the Douglas County jail just after 10a.m. Wednesday.On Tuesday, Lawrence Department in collaboration with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office announced the arrest of the alleged child sex offender whose crimes date back to 2000-2003.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLawrenceKansasPolice%2Fvideos%2F1507095610346296%2F&show_text=true&width=560&t=58" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Zimbrick's identification and ultimate arrest are the result of meticulous investigative work and the same science that brought in California’s “Golden State Killer” in 2018.Monday, December 29, 2025, at the request of the Lawrence Kansas Police Department, U.S. Marshals arrested Zimbrick of Raytown, Missouri. Zimbrick was being held in Jackson County Missouri until his extradidtion to Douglas County.Between 2000 and 2003, a series of sex crimes occurred in the Naismith Valley Park area, 1400 W. 27th Street. Reports indicate the suspect would lure children into the bushes to perform sexual assaults. The children involved were between 7 and 10 years old.Despite unknown future technology, detectives thoroughly inspected the scene collecting any potential clues. While a distinct DNA profile was recovered, it yielded no match in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the national database of known offenders. With no further leads, the case eventually sat dormant.In 2018, when California’s “Golden State Killer” was arrested, Detective Amy Price, who was involved in the original investigations, took note of their use of genetic genealogy. Detective Price submitted a request for funding and ultimately sent the evidence to Parbon Nanolabs. Parabon specializes in forensic genetic genealogy to solve cases where there is DNA evidence, but the offender’s identity remains unknown.In March of 2020, Parabon notified Price that they had successfully genotyped the newly submitted DNA from one of the cases. The lengthy investigation that followed led to clues throughout the United States until the suspect was ultimately identified then located in Raytown, MO.U.S. Marshals made the arrest without incident. Zimbrick is charged with one count of Aggravated Criminal Sodomy and one count of Rape in two cases.&nbsp;“This arrest is a testament to the fact that time does not diminish our commitment to victims and their families,” said Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart. “I am continually impressed with the dedicated professionals who work in this department and am specifically proud of Detective Amy Price, who was assigned to this case and never let time nor dead ends deter her from continuing the search. Crimes against children last a lifetime. It is my hope that this arrest provides some comfort.”

Suspect in cold case child sex assault moved to Kansas jail

NEW YORK (AP) — The year's first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supermoon-december-2025-how-to-see-6a5fe21cb247932f691781f04dd8f33e">supermoon</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-to-watch-quadrantid-meteor-shower-5e6daab02a494ab4bbd629f81175b030">meteor shower</a>&nbsp;will sync up in January skies, but the light from one may dim the other.

The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks Friday night into Saturday morning,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/#Quadrantids">according to the American Meteor Society</a>. In dark skies during the peak, skygazers typically see around 25 meteors per hour, but this time they'll likely glimpse less than 10 per hour due to light from Saturday's supermoon.

“The biggest enemy of enjoying a meteor shower is the full moon,” said Mike Shanahan, planetarium director at Liberty Science Center in New Jersey.

Meteor showers happen when speedy space rocks collide with Earth’s atmosphere, burning up and leaving fiery tails in their wake — the end of a “shooting star.” A handful of meteors are visible on any given night, but predictable showers appear annually when Earth passes through dense streams of cosmic debris.

Supermoons occur when a full moon is closer to Earth in its orbit. That makes it appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year, according to NASA. That difference can be tough to notice with the naked eye.

Supermoons, like all full moons, are visible in clear skies everywhere that it's night. The Quadrantids, on the other hand, can be seen mainly from the Northern Hemisphere. Both can be glimpsed without any special equipment.

To spot the Quadrantids, venture out in the early evening away from city lights and watch for fireballs before the moon crashes the party, said Jacque Benitez with the Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences. Skygazers can also try looking during early dawn hours on Sunday.

Wait for your eyes to get used to the darkness, and don’t look at your phone. The space rocks will look like fast-moving white dots and appear over the whole sky.

Meteor showers are named for the constellation where the fireballs appear to come from. The Quadrantids — space debris from the asteroid 2003 EH1 — are named for a constellation that's no longer recognized.

The next major meteor shower, called the Lyrids, is slotted for April.

Supermoons happen a few times a year and come in groups, taking advantage of the sweet spot in the moon’s elliptical orbit. Saturday night’s event ends a four-month streak that started in October. There won't be another supermoon until the end of 2026.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767303249179.png" alt="Image from NASA video" />
 <figcaption>Image from NASA video</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The year's first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supermoon-december-2025-how-to-see-6a5fe21cb247932f691781f04dd8f33e">supermoon</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-to-watch-quadrantid-meteor-shower-5e6daab02a494ab4bbd629f81175b030">meteor shower</a>&nbsp;will sync up in January skies, but the light from one may dim the other.The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks Friday night into Saturday morning,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/#Quadrantids">according to the American Meteor Society</a>. In dark skies during the peak, skygazers typically see around 25 meteors per hour, but this time they'll likely glimpse less than 10 per hour due to light from Saturday's supermoon.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Cozy up for a planet parade! January is an incredible month for skywatchers, with multi-planet viewing opportunities, Mars in opposition, and the Quadrantid meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere. Take a look at what the night sky has to offer this month. <a href="https://t.co/TsRop2djyA">pic.twitter.com/TsRop2djyA</a>&mdash; NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1875247448173564250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“The biggest enemy of enjoying a meteor shower is the full moon,” said Mike Shanahan, planetarium director at Liberty Science Center in New Jersey.Meteor showers happen when speedy space rocks collide with Earth’s atmosphere, burning up and leaving fiery tails in their wake — the end of a “shooting star.” A handful of meteors are visible on any given night, but predictable showers appear annually when Earth passes through dense streams of cosmic debris.Supermoons occur when a full moon is closer to Earth in its orbit. That makes it appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year, according to NASA. That difference can be tough to notice with the naked eye.Supermoons, like all full moons, are visible in clear skies everywhere that it's night. The Quadrantids, on the other hand, can be seen mainly from the Northern Hemisphere. Both can be glimpsed without any special equipment.To spot the Quadrantids, venture out in the early evening away from city lights and watch for fireballs before the moon crashes the party, said Jacque Benitez with the Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences. Skygazers can also try looking during early dawn hours on Sunday.Wait for your eyes to get used to the darkness, and don’t look at your phone. The space rocks will look like fast-moving white dots and appear over the whole sky.Meteor showers are named for the constellation where the fireballs appear to come from. The Quadrantids — space debris from the asteroid 2003 EH1 — are named for a constellation that's no longer recognized.The next major meteor shower, called the Lyrids, is slotted for April.Supermoons happen a few times a year and come in groups, taking advantage of the sweet spot in the moon’s elliptical orbit. Saturday night’s event ends a four-month streak that started in October. There won't be another supermoon until the end of 2026.___

The year's first meteor shower and supermoon clash in January skies

JACKSON COUNTY —A teen died in a pedestrian accident just before 9p.m. Thursday in Jackson County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Ford Bronco driven by a 27-year-old Independence, Missouri woman was westbound on Interstate 70 at Woods Chapel Road and struck a pedestrian identified as a 17-year-old Oak Grove, Missouri, boy.

Preliminary investigation reveals the teen was the driver of a vehicle being pursued by police, according to the MSHP.. The driver fled the vehicle, running across the eastbound lanes onto the westbound lanes where he struck and killed.&nbsp; The MSHP released no additional details.

JACKSON COUNTY —A teen died in a pedestrian accident just before 9p.m. Thursday in Jackson County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Ford Bronco driven by a 27-year-old Independence, Missouri woman was westbound on Interstate 70 at Woods Chapel Road and struck a pedestrian identified as a 17-year-old Oak Grove, Missouri, boy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The roadway is back open. Next of kin has been notified. Online report is pending.&mdash; MSHP Troop A (@MSHPTrooperA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSHPTrooperA/status/2006985205698228228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Preliminary investigation reveals the teen was the driver of a vehicle being pursued by police, according to the MSHP.. The driver fled the vehicle, running across the eastbound lanes onto the westbound lanes where he struck and killed.&nbsp; The MSHP released no additional details.

Teen running from police struck and killed by SUV on I-70

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/ali-swenson">ALI SWENSON</a>

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-vote-affordable-care-act-obamacare-6ffc1ea9f878c6b3da995589ef8a012c">Enhanced tax credits</a>&nbsp;that have helped reduce the cost of health insurance for the vast majority of Affordable Care Act enrollees expired Thursday cementing higher health costs for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">millions of Americans</a>&nbsp;at the start of the new year.

Democrats forced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">43-day government shutdown</a>&nbsp;over the issue. Moderate Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-tax-credits-congress-trump-swing-districts-e030d7a0dd61ca8815fe4722ddbe94b7">called for a solution</a>&nbsp;to save their 2026 political aspirations. President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-health-care-plan-affordable-care-act-obamacare-97483a1f4d5e844f439c630d74d86ff2">floated a way out</a>, only to back off after conservative backlash.

In the end, no one’s efforts were enough to save the subsidies before their expiration date. A House vote expected in January could offer another chance, but success is far from guaranteed.

The change affects a diverse cross-section of Americans who don’t get their health insurance from an employer and don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare — a group that includes many self-employed workers, small business owners, farmers and ranchers.

It comes at the start of a high-stakes midterm election year, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-poll-approval-economy-immigration-inflation-crime-9e5bd096964990e040bc4bacd9fcac21">affordability</a>&nbsp;— including the cost of health care — topping the list of voters’ concerns.

“It really bothers me that the middle class has moved from a squeeze to a full suffocation, and they continue to just pile on and leave it up to us,” said 37-year-old single mom Katelin Provost, whose health care costs are set to jump. “I’m incredibly disappointed that there hasn’t been more action.”

Some families grapple with insurance costs that are doubling, tripling or more

The expired subsidies were first given to Affordable Care Act enrollees in 2021 as a temporary measure to help Americans get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Democrats in power at the time extended them, moving the expiration date to the start of 2026.

With the expanded subsidies, some lower-income enrollees received health care with no premiums, and high earners paid no more than 8.5% of their income. Eligibility for middle-class earners was also expanded.

On average, the more than 20 million subsidized enrollees in the Affordable Care Act program are seeing their premium costs rise by 114% in 2026, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF.

Those surging prices come alongside an overall increase in health costs in the U.S., which are further driving up out-of-pocket costs in many plans.

Some enrollees, like Salt Lake City freelance filmmaker and adjunct professor Stan Clawson, have absorbed the extra expense. Clawson said he was paying just under $350 a month for his premiums last year, a number that will jump to nearly $500 a month this year. It’s a strain for the 49-year-old but one he’s willing to take on because he needs health insurance as someone who lives with paralysis from a spinal cord injury.

Others, like Provost, are dealing with steeper hikes. The social worker’s monthly premium payment is increasing from $85 a month to nearly $750.

Health analysts have predicted the expiration of the subsidies will drive many of the 24 million total Affordable Care Act enrollees — especially younger and healthier Americans — to forgo health insurance coverage altogether.

Over time, that could make the program more expensive for the older, sicker population that remains.

An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/4.8-Million-People-Will-Lose-Coverage-in-2026-If-Enhanced-Premium-Tax-Credits-Expire.pdf" target="_blank">analysis</a>&nbsp;conducted last September by the Urban Institute and Commonwealth Fund projected the higher premiums from expiring subsidies would prompt some 4.8 million Americans to drop coverage in 2026.

But with the window to select and change plans still ongoing until Jan. 15 in most states, the final effect on enrollment is yet to be determined.

Provost, the single mother, said she is holding out hope that Congress finds a way to revive the subsidies early in the year — but if not, she’ll drop herself off the insurance and keep it only for her four-year-old daughter. She can’t afford to pay for both of their coverage at the current price.

Last year, after Republicans cut more than $1 trillion in federal health care and food assistance with Trump’s big tax and spending cuts bill, Democrats repeatedly called for the subsidies to be extended. But while some Republicans in power acknowledged the issue needed to be addressed, they refused to put it to a vote until late in the year.

In December, the Senate rejected two partisan health care bills — a Democratic pitch to extend the subsidies for three more years and a Republican alternative that would instead provide Americans with health savings accounts.

In the House, four centrist Republicans broke with GOP leadership and joined forces with Democrats to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-aca-speaker-johnson-1087a9f64168d66b2acf9082af16c253">force a vote</a>&nbsp;that could come as soon as January on a three-year extension of the tax credits. But with the Senate already having rejected such a plan, it’s unclear whether it could get enough momentum to pass.

Meanwhile, Americans whose premiums are skyrocketing say lawmakers don’t understand what it’s really like to struggle to get by as health costs ratchet up with no relief.

Many say they want the subsidies restored alongside broader reforms to make health care more affordable for all Americans.

“Both Republicans and Democrats have been saying for years, oh, we need to fix it. Then do it,” said Chad Bruns, a 58-year-old Affordable Care Act enrollee in Wisconsin. “They need to get to the root cause, and no political party ever does that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764040197249.png" alt="Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/ali-swenson">ALI SWENSON</a>NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-vote-affordable-care-act-obamacare-6ffc1ea9f878c6b3da995589ef8a012c">Enhanced tax credits</a>&nbsp;that have helped reduce the cost of health insurance for the vast majority of Affordable Care Act enrollees expired Thursday cementing higher health costs for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">millions of Americans</a>&nbsp;at the start of the new year.Democrats forced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">43-day government shutdown</a>&nbsp;over the issue. Moderate Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-tax-credits-congress-trump-swing-districts-e030d7a0dd61ca8815fe4722ddbe94b7">called for a solution</a>&nbsp;to save their 2026 political aspirations. President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-health-care-plan-affordable-care-act-obamacare-97483a1f4d5e844f439c630d74d86ff2">floated a way out</a>, only to back off after conservative backlash.In the end, no one’s efforts were enough to save the subsidies before their expiration date. A House vote expected in January could offer another chance, but success is far from guaranteed.The change affects a diverse cross-section of Americans who don’t get their health insurance from an employer and don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare — a group that includes many self-employed workers, small business owners, farmers and ranchers.It comes at the start of a high-stakes midterm election year, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-poll-approval-economy-immigration-inflation-crime-9e5bd096964990e040bc4bacd9fcac21">affordability</a>&nbsp;— including the cost of health care — topping the list of voters’ concerns.“It really bothers me that the middle class has moved from a squeeze to a full suffocation, and they continue to just pile on and leave it up to us,” said 37-year-old single mom Katelin Provost, whose health care costs are set to jump. “I’m incredibly disappointed that there hasn’t been more action.”<h2>Some families grapple with insurance costs that are doubling, tripling or more</h2>The expired subsidies were first given to Affordable Care Act enrollees in 2021 as a temporary measure to help Americans get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Democrats in power at the time extended them, moving the expiration date to the start of 2026.With the expanded subsidies, some lower-income enrollees received health care with no premiums, and high earners paid no more than 8.5% of their income. Eligibility for middle-class earners was also expanded.On average, the more than 20 million subsidized enrollees in the Affordable Care Act program are seeing their premium costs rise by 114% in 2026, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF.Those surging prices come alongside an overall increase in health costs in the U.S., which are further driving up out-of-pocket costs in many plans.Some enrollees, like Salt Lake City freelance filmmaker and adjunct professor Stan Clawson, have absorbed the extra expense. Clawson said he was paying just under $350 a month for his premiums last year, a number that will jump to nearly $500 a month this year. It’s a strain for the 49-year-old but one he’s willing to take on because he needs health insurance as someone who lives with paralysis from a spinal cord injury.Others, like Provost, are dealing with steeper hikes. The social worker’s monthly premium payment is increasing from $85 a month to nearly $750.<h2>Effects on enrollment remain to be seen</h2>Health analysts have predicted the expiration of the subsidies will drive many of the 24 million total Affordable Care Act enrollees — especially younger and healthier Americans — to forgo health insurance coverage altogether.Over time, that could make the program more expensive for the older, sicker population that remains.An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/4.8-Million-People-Will-Lose-Coverage-in-2026-If-Enhanced-Premium-Tax-Credits-Expire.pdf" target="_blank">analysis</a>&nbsp;conducted last September by the Urban Institute and Commonwealth Fund projected the higher premiums from expiring subsidies would prompt some 4.8 million Americans to drop coverage in 2026.But with the window to select and change plans still ongoing until Jan. 15 in most states, the final effect on enrollment is yet to be determined.Provost, the single mother, said she is holding out hope that Congress finds a way to revive the subsidies early in the year — but if not, she’ll drop herself off the insurance and keep it only for her four-year-old daughter. She can’t afford to pay for both of their coverage at the current price.<h2>Months of discussion, but no relief yet</h2>Last year, after Republicans cut more than $1 trillion in federal health care and food assistance with Trump’s big tax and spending cuts bill, Democrats repeatedly called for the subsidies to be extended. But while some Republicans in power acknowledged the issue needed to be addressed, they refused to put it to a vote until late in the year.In December, the Senate rejected two partisan health care bills — a Democratic pitch to extend the subsidies for three more years and a Republican alternative that would instead provide Americans with health savings accounts.In the House, four centrist Republicans broke with GOP leadership and joined forces with Democrats to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-aca-speaker-johnson-1087a9f64168d66b2acf9082af16c253">force a vote</a>&nbsp;that could come as soon as January on a three-year extension of the tax credits. But with the Senate already having rejected such a plan, it’s unclear whether it could get enough momentum to pass.Meanwhile, Americans whose premiums are skyrocketing say lawmakers don’t understand what it’s really like to struggle to get by as health costs ratchet up with no relief.Many say they want the subsidies restored alongside broader reforms to make health care more affordable for all Americans.“Both Republicans and Democrats have been saying for years, oh, we need to fix it. Then do it,” said Chad Bruns, a 58-year-old Affordable Care Act enrollee in Wisconsin. “They need to get to the root cause, and no political party ever does that.”<figure>
 <img src="https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/6c69240/2147483647/strip/true/crop/793x793+0+0/resize/100x100!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F83%2F7a%2F5ab9078b4fd5b482122aed2630a3%2Fheadshota-ali-swenson.png" alt="" />
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Health subsidies expire: Millions of Americans face steep insurance hikes

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident during a police chase just before 5a.m. New Year's Day in Kansas City. Missouri.

Independence police officers were pursuing a gray Ford F-250 for multiple alleged traffic violations. While traveling westbound on 9th Street approaching Benton Boulevard in Kansas City, the suspect vehicle failed to stop for a red traffic signal and collided with a blue pickup truck traveling southbound on Benton Boulevard, according to KCPD Captain Jake&nbsp; Becchina.

 The suspect vehicle also struck a silver Nissan Cube that was stopped at the traffic signal facing eastbound. 

Following the collision, the gray Ford F-250 continued and struck a parked RV on private property, becoming immobilized. The driver fled the scene on foot. It was later determined that the Ford F250 was reported stolen. The driver of the blue pickup truck sustained minor injuries. Three occupants of the silver Nissan Cube were transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. On Thursday afternoon, police reported the driver of the Nissan had died.

This incident represents the first traffic fatality this year, compared to none at this time last year.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident during a police chase just before 5a.m. New Year's Day in Kansas City. Missouri.Independence police officers were pursuing a gray Ford F-250 for multiple alleged traffic violations. While traveling westbound on 9th Street approaching Benton Boulevard in Kansas City, the suspect vehicle failed to stop for a red traffic signal and collided with a blue pickup truck traveling southbound on Benton Boulevard, according to KCPD Captain Jake&nbsp; Becchina. The suspect vehicle also struck a silver Nissan Cube that was stopped at the traffic signal facing eastbound. Following the collision, the gray Ford F-250 continued and struck a parked RV on private property, becoming immobilized. The driver fled the scene on foot. It was later determined that the Ford F250 was reported stolen. The driver of the blue pickup truck sustained minor injuries. Three occupants of the silver Nissan Cube were transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. On Thursday afternoon, police reported the driver of the Nissan had died.This incident represents the first traffic fatality this year, compared to none at this time last year.&nbsp;

KCPD: Driver stopped at traffic signal killed in crash with stolen pickup

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump defended his energy and health in an interview with The Wall Street Journal and disclosed that he had a CT scan, not an MRI scan, during an October examination about which he and the White House delayed offering details.

Trump, in the interview published Thursday, said he regretted undergoing the advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center because it raised public questions about his health. His physician said in a memo the White House released in December that he had “advanced imaging” as a preventative screening for a man his age.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mri-physical-white-house-0c66f2f9fca865d842ee94329a210a42">had initially described it as an MRI</a>&nbsp;but said he didn’t know what part of his body he had scanned. A CT scan is a quicker form of diagnostic imaging than an MRI but offers less detail about differences in tissue.

The president’s doctor, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said in a statement released Thursday by the White House that Trump underwent the exam in October because he planned to be at Walter Reed to meet people working there. Trump had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-physical-weight-loss-oldest-president-75913b1e114cec64ae0acab1389118b2">already undergone an annual physical in April.</a>

“President Trump agreed to meet with the staff and soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Hospital in October. In order to make the most of the President’s time at the hospital, we recommended he undergo another routine physical evaluation to ensure continued optimal health,” Barbabella said.

Barbabella said he asked the president to undergo either a CT scan or MRI “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues” and the results were “perfectly normal and revealed absolutely no abnormalities.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Thursday that the president’s doctors and the White House have “always maintained the President received advanced imaging” but said that “additional details on the imaging have been disclosed by the President himself” because he “has nothing to hide.”

“In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition,” Trump said in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/as-signs-of-aging-emerge-trump-responds-with-defiance-769c5dcd?st=7vVWU7&amp;reflink=article_copyURL_share" target="_blank">interview with The Wall Street Journal</a>. “I would have been a lot better off if they didn’t, because the fact that I took it said, ‘Oh gee, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing’s wrong.”

The 79-year-old became the oldest person to take the oath of office when he was sworn in as president last year and has been sensitive to questions about his health, particularly as he has repeatedly questioned his predecessor Joe Biden’s fitness for office.

Biden, who turned 82 in the last year of his presidency, was dogged by scrutiny of his age and mental acuity at the end of his tenure and during his abandoned attempt to seek reelection.

But questions have also swirled around Trump’s health this year as he’s been seen with bruising on the back of his right hand that has been conspicuous despite a slathering of makeup on top, along with noticeable swelling at his ankles.

The White House this summer said the president had been diagnosed with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chronic-venous-insufficiency-trump-c2e8884d5e5debd1a0c156cb0060928a">chronic venous insufficiency</a>, a common condition among older adults. The condition happens when veins in the legs can’t properly carry blood back to the heart and it pools in the lower legs.

In the interview, Trump said he briefly tried wearing compression socks to address the swelling but stopped because he didn’t like them.

The bruising on Trump’s hand, according to Leavitt, is from “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” which Trump takes regularly to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

He said he takes more aspirin than his doctors recommend but said he has resisted taking less because he’s been taking it for 25 years and said he is “a little superstitious.” Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, according to Barbabella.

“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump said. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”

Trump, in the interview, denied he has fallen asleep during White House meetings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-doodle-misspelling-eyes-closed-84df52bbc901a001e98e325155224954">when cameras have caught him with his eyes closed</a>, instead insisting he was resting his eyes or blinking.

“I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to me,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”

He said that he’s never slept much at night,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-331632d4847644e1bf1dcbc27e0d3dc1">a habit he also described during his first term</a>, and said he starts his day early in the White House residence before moving to the Oval Office around 10 a.m. and working until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.

The president dismissed questions about his hearing, saying he only struggled to hear “when there’s a lot of people talking,” and said he has plenty of energy, which he credited to his genes.

“Genetics are very important,” he said. “And I have very good genetics.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767236086469.png" alt="The President and first lady&nbsp;arrive for the New Year's Eve Celebration at Mar-a-Lago. image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>The President and first lady&nbsp;arrive for the New Year's Eve Celebration at Mar-a-Lago. image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump defended his energy and health in an interview with The Wall Street Journal and disclosed that he had a CT scan, not an MRI scan, during an October examination about which he and the White House delayed offering details.Trump, in the interview published Thursday, said he regretted undergoing the advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center because it raised public questions about his health. His physician said in a memo the White House released in December that he had “advanced imaging” as a preventative screening for a man his age.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764616418997.png" alt="Letter released Dec. 1 from President Trump's physician" />
 <figcaption>Letter released Dec. 1 from President Trump's physician</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mri-physical-white-house-0c66f2f9fca865d842ee94329a210a42">had initially described it as an MRI</a>&nbsp;but said he didn’t know what part of his body he had scanned. A CT scan is a quicker form of diagnostic imaging than an MRI but offers less detail about differences in tissue.The president’s doctor, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said in a statement released Thursday by the White House that Trump underwent the exam in October because he planned to be at Walter Reed to meet people working there. Trump had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-physical-weight-loss-oldest-president-75913b1e114cec64ae0acab1389118b2">already undergone an annual physical in April.</a>“President Trump agreed to meet with the staff and soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Hospital in October. In order to make the most of the President’s time at the hospital, we recommended he undergo another routine physical evaluation to ensure continued optimal health,” Barbabella said.Barbabella said he asked the president to undergo either a CT scan or MRI “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues” and the results were “perfectly normal and revealed absolutely no abnormalities.”White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Thursday that the president’s doctors and the White House have “always maintained the President received advanced imaging” but said that “additional details on the imaging have been disclosed by the President himself” because he “has nothing to hide.”“In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition,” Trump said in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/as-signs-of-aging-emerge-trump-responds-with-defiance-769c5dcd?st=7vVWU7&amp;reflink=article_copyURL_share" target="_blank">interview with The Wall Street Journal</a>. “I would have been a lot better off if they didn’t, because the fact that I took it said, ‘Oh gee, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing’s wrong.”The 79-year-old became the oldest person to take the oath of office when he was sworn in as president last year and has been sensitive to questions about his health, particularly as he has repeatedly questioned his predecessor Joe Biden’s fitness for office.Biden, who turned 82 in the last year of his presidency, was dogged by scrutiny of his age and mental acuity at the end of his tenure and during his abandoned attempt to seek reelection.But questions have also swirled around Trump’s health this year as he’s been seen with bruising on the back of his right hand that has been conspicuous despite a slathering of makeup on top, along with noticeable swelling at his ankles.The White House this summer said the president had been diagnosed with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chronic-venous-insufficiency-trump-c2e8884d5e5debd1a0c156cb0060928a">chronic venous insufficiency</a>, a common condition among older adults. The condition happens when veins in the legs can’t properly carry blood back to the heart and it pools in the lower legs.In the interview, Trump said he briefly tried wearing compression socks to address the swelling but stopped because he didn’t like them.The bruising on Trump’s hand, according to Leavitt, is from “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” which Trump takes regularly to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.He said he takes more aspirin than his doctors recommend but said he has resisted taking less because he’s been taking it for 25 years and said he is “a little superstitious.” Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, according to Barbabella.“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump said. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”Trump, in the interview, denied he has fallen asleep during White House meetings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-doodle-misspelling-eyes-closed-84df52bbc901a001e98e325155224954">when cameras have caught him with his eyes closed</a>, instead insisting he was resting his eyes or blinking.“I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to me,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”He said that he’s never slept much at night,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-331632d4847644e1bf1dcbc27e0d3dc1">a habit he also described during his first term</a>, and said he starts his day early in the White House residence before moving to the Oval Office around 10 a.m. and working until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.The president dismissed questions about his hearing, saying he only struggled to hear “when there’s a lot of people talking,” and said he has plenty of energy, which he credited to his genes.“Genetics are very important,” he said. “And I have very good genetics.”

President Trump offers new details on health screening he underwent

KANSAS CITY—One person died in a house fire New Year's Day in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 7:30a.m. Thursday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire in the 3200 block of E 52nd Street, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

&nbsp;On arrival crews reported fire from the 2nd story of a 2-story home.&nbsp;Interior operations were initiated along with a search, and a victim, later confirmed as a 90-year-old man was found inside the structure.

KCPD Bomb and Arson responded to the scene and conducted an investigation due to the fatality and as a part of standard procedure.&nbsp;No other injuries were reported at this incident.&nbsp;The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767304370600.png" alt="Photos KC Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos KC Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—One person died in a house fire New Year's Day in Kansas City, Missouri.Just before 7:30a.m. Thursday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire in the 3200 block of E 52nd Street, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767304354377.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;On arrival crews reported fire from the 2nd story of a 2-story home.&nbsp;Interior operations were initiated along with a search, and a victim, later confirmed as a 90-year-old man was found inside the structure.KCPD Bomb and Arson responded to the scene and conducted an investigation due to the fatality and as a part of standard procedure.&nbsp;No other injuries were reported at this incident.&nbsp;The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Body of  man found in Kansas City house fire

JEFFERSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Thursday in Jefferson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 GMC Sierra driven by Ahijah L&nbsp;Adams, 59, Topeka, was westbound on U.S. 24 just north of 5th and Phillips.&nbsp; The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The pickup traveled off the roadway to the left rolled and the driver was ejected.

Adams was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Frontier Forensics. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

JEFFERSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Thursday in Jefferson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 GMC Sierra driven by Ahijah L&nbsp;Adams, 59, Topeka, was westbound on U.S. 24 just north of 5th and Phillips.&nbsp; The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The pickup traveled off the roadway to the left rolled and the driver was ejected.Adams was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Frontier Forensics. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies in pickup rollover accident

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement arrested a wanted burglary suspect after a traffic stop in Jackson County.

Just after 4p.m. December 29, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Chevy S10 pickup truck for an alleged traffic infraction on 150th Road near Q. Road, near Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. 

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Jay Rell Kroulik, 46, of Cuba, Kansas. During the course of the traffic stop a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, which resulted in the discovery of an open container, and illegal drugs.

Kroulik was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, transporting an open container, and driving while suspended. Kroulik also had an outstanding felony warrant out of Cloud County, for burglary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767009352508.png" alt="Kroulik photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Kroulik photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement arrested a wanted burglary suspect after a traffic stop in Jackson County.Just after 4p.m. December 29, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Chevy S10 pickup truck for an alleged traffic infraction on 150th Road near Q. Road, near Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Jay Rell Kroulik, 46, of Cuba, Kansas. During the course of the traffic stop a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, which resulted in the discovery of an open container, and illegal drugs.Kroulik was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, transporting an open container, and driving while suspended. Kroulik also had an outstanding felony warrant out of Cloud County, for burglary.

Wanted Kan. burglary suspect captured during traffic stop

NEOSHO COUNTY—On Wednesday, the Neosho County Sheriff released additional details and a video of a video of a hit-and-run crash involving a sheriff's deputy.

On December 26,&nbsp;a Neosho County Deputy Sheriff's patrol vehicle was struck. The Deputy was legally parked, off of the roadway on a pasture access, facing east on 160th Road between Kiowa and Jackson Roads.

A west bound vehicle traveled left of center, off the roadway into the ditch. The vehicle launched the culvert and struck the Deputies patrol unit head on. 

Upon being struck, the deputy radioed in the accident and activated the emergency equipment. This causes the in-car camera system to make a recording of approx. 30 seconds before the emergency lights are activated. 

Due to the extensive damage to the patrol unit, the vehicle battery was damaged, and the patrol unit lost enough power to keep the emergency lights going and also failed to upload the video to the cloud storage. 

The video was not able to be retrieved until Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp; There were some individuals who reached out and assisted with leads in the case. Investigators were able to get enough information for a search warrant in Wilson County. The vehicle from the accident was located, the suspect was interviewed and subsequently arrested. 

  Jeremy L. Borton, 48, Buffalo, Ks., was arrested on requested charges of Leaving the Scene, Failure to Report, Driving while Suspended, No Ignition Interlock Device when Required, No Liability Insurance, Aggravated Battery (Reckless). He was transported to the Neosho County Jail. Upon completion of the investigation, reports will be forwarded to the Neosho County Attorney's Office for review.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767303995377.png" alt="Photo Neosho Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Neosho Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>NEOSHO COUNTY—On Wednesday, the Neosho County Sheriff released additional details and a video of a video of a hit-and-run crash involving a sheriff's deputy.On December 26,&nbsp;a Neosho County Deputy Sheriff's patrol vehicle was struck. The Deputy was legally parked, off of the roadway on a pasture access, facing east on 160th Road between Kiowa and Jackson Roads.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=224&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F26243040445281448%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=5" width="560" height="224" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>A west bound vehicle traveled left of center, off the roadway into the ditch. The vehicle launched the culvert and struck the Deputies patrol unit head on. Upon being struck, the deputy radioed in the accident and activated the emergency equipment. This causes the in-car camera system to make a recording of approx. 30 seconds before the emergency lights are activated. Due to the extensive damage to the patrol unit, the vehicle battery was damaged, and the patrol unit lost enough power to keep the emergency lights going and also failed to upload the video to the cloud storage. The video was not able to be retrieved until Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp; There were some individuals who reached out and assisted with leads in the case. Investigators were able to get enough information for a search warrant in Wilson County. The vehicle from the accident was located, the suspect was interviewed and subsequently arrested. Jeremy L. Borton, 48, Buffalo, Ks., was arrested on requested charges of Leaving the Scene, Failure to Report, Driving while Suspended, No Ignition Interlock Device when Required, No Liability Insurance, Aggravated Battery (Reckless). He was transported to the Neosho County Jail. Upon completion of the investigation, reports will be forwarded to the Neosho County Attorney's Office for review.&nbsp;

🎥Driver arrested after hit-and-run crash into Kan. deputy's vehicle

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department reported to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) that 86-year-old Linda Holle was located in South Dakota, and is now safe.

The statewide silver alert is canceled.&nbsp;

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide silver alert for a missing Kansas woman.

The whereabouts of 86-year-old Linda Holle of Wichita are unknown, and public assistance is requested to help locate her, according to a media release from the KBI.

Holle is likely driving a blue 2007 Ford Expedition bearing Kansas tag 1054ADS.&nbsp; She was last believed to be in St. Joseph, Missouri on Dec. 31, at approximately 11:20 p.m.

Holle is a white female who is around 5-foot-3 inches tall and weighs approximately 170 pounds. She has blonde and gray hair, brown eyes and wears glasses.

If you see Holle, or her vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about her whereabouts, please call the Wichita Police Department at (316) 268-4111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767282639484.png" alt="photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department reported to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) that 86-year-old Linda Holle was located in South Dakota, and is now safe.The statewide silver alert is canceled.&nbsp;----------The Kansas Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide silver alert for a missing Kansas woman.The whereabouts of 86-year-old Linda Holle of Wichita are unknown, and public assistance is requested to help locate her, according to a media release from the KBI.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767284978010.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Holle is likely driving a blue 2007 Ford Expedition bearing Kansas tag 1054ADS.&nbsp; She was last believed to be in St. Joseph, Missouri on Dec. 31, at approximately 11:20 p.m.Holle is a white female who is around 5-foot-3 inches tall and weighs approximately 170 pounds. She has blonde and gray hair, brown eyes and wears glasses.If you see Holle, or her vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about her whereabouts, please call the Wichita Police Department at (316) 268-4111.