TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Multiple victims were reported in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-shooting-what-to-know-d444a6ee8f31024f83f0ee320acf7339">shooting Thursday at Florida State University</a>&nbsp;and a suspect was taken into police custody, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

The extent of the victims’ injuries was not immediately known and there were no additional details about the person in custody, according to the person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

At least six people were being treated, including one person who was in critical condition, a spokesperson for Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said. The other patients were in serious condition, the spokesperson said.

Authorities had not yet released details about the suspect or how the shooting unfolded.

Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies raced toward the campus that sits just west of Florida's state capital after the university issued an active shooter alert midday Thursday, saying police were responding near the student union.

Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old communications student, said he and about 30 others hid in the bowling alley in the lower level of the student union after seeing students running from a nearby bar.

“In that moment, it was survival,” he said.

After about 15 minutes of hiding, university police escorted the students out of the union and he saw a person getting emergency treatment on the lawn, he said.

Hundreds of students streamed away from the student union. Some were glued to their phones while others hugged each other. Dozens gathered near the music school waiting for news.

President Donald Trump said from the Oval Office that he had been fully briefed on the shooting. “It’s a horrible thing. It’s horrible that things like this takes place,” he said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X: “Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding.”

Junior Joshua Sirmans, 20, was in the university’s main library when he said alarms began going off warning of an active shooter. Law enforcement officers escorted him and other students from the library with their hands over their heads, he said.

Students and faculty across the campus were locked down in classrooms and sheltered in offices and dorm rooms after receiving the warnings.

“I’m in shock, you know, it’s so hard to believe,” said Kai McGalla, a sophomore who spoke by phone while locked down at a campus testing center. “The first thing you think of is just, ‘This can’t be true,’ right?”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a social media post that the Justice Department was in touch with FBI agents who were on the scene.

Florida State University is one of Florida’s 12 public universities, with its main campus in Tallahassee. About 44,000 students are enrolled in the university, per the school’s 2024 fact sheet.

Back in 2014, the main library was the site of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1be5cc23a6bf497baaf76e3928145c8e">shooting that wounded three people</a>. Officers shot and killed the gunman, 31-year-old Myron May.

The university canceled all classes and events for Thursday, advising everyone to avoid coming to the main campus. It also canceled all home athletic events through Sunday.

Fischer reported from Fort Lauderdale. Associated Press reporters Stephany Matat in West Palm Beach, Curt Anderson in St. Petersburg, Michael Schneider in Orlando, Mike Balsamo in New York, Eric Tucker and Christopher Megerian in Washington, and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed to this report.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A suspect has been taken into police custody and multiple victims were reported in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-university-shooter-alert-bf66a24ea91959697c7138089b2ef6fb">a shooting at Florida State University</a>, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

The extent of the victims’ injuries was not immediately known and there were no additional details about the person who was in custody.

The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.

Police and FBI were on scene at the university. Students and faculty were instructed to continue to seek shelter and await further instructions.

The president opened his Oval Office meeting with the Italian prime minister with comments on the shooting at Florida State University.

Trump said he had been “fully briefed.”

“It’s a horrible thing. It’s horrible that things like this take place.”

Florida State University is one of Florida’s 12 public universities, with its main campus located in Tallahassee, where the shooting occurred, just minutes from the state Capitol building. About 44,300 students are enrolled in the university, per the school’s 2024 fact sheet.

At least six people have been hospitalized

One person is in critical condition, a spokesperson for Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said. The other patients are in serious condition, the spokesperson said.

A suspect has been taken into police custody

A suspect has been taken into police custody and multiple victims were reported in a shooting Thursday at Florida State University, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

FBI agents are on the scene, officials say

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a social media post that the Justice Department is in touch with FBI agents who are on the scene.

“Our priority is the safety of everyone involved,” Bondi wrote on X. “We will keep updating as we learn more. Praying for all.”

In a social media post, FBI Director Kash Patel said that he and his team had been briefed on the shooting and that agents from the bureau’s Jacksonville field office were at the school. “We will provide full support to local law enforcement as needed,” Patel said. “Please keep the FSU community in your prayers.”

“Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding,” Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X.

Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies raced toward the campus after the university issued an active shooter alert midday Thursday, saying police were responding near the student union.

Hundreds of students streamed away from the direction of the student union. Students were glued to their phones, some visibly emotional, while others hugged each other. Dozens gathered near the music school, waiting for news.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A shooting Thursday on the Florida State University campus sent an unknown number of people to a nearby hospital, a medical center spokesperson said.

Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare was receiving and treating people affected by the shooting, said Sarah Cannon, a hospital spokesperson. She said the hospital cannot yet confirm the number of people in care, and said the details are still unfolding.

Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies raced toward the campus midday Thursday after the university issued an active shooter alert near the student union.

Hundreds of students streamed away from the direction of the student union. Students were glued to their phones, some visibly emotional.

Junior Joshua Sirmans, 20, was in the university’s main library when he said alarms began going off warning of an active shooter. Sirmans said law enforcement officers escorted him and other students out of the library with their hands over their heads.

FBI officials are on scene, a spokesperson said.

Students and faculty were instructed to seek shelter and await further instructions.

“Lock and stay away from all doors and windows and be prepared to take additional protective measures,” the alert said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744910638058.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744911007525.png" alt="Florida Dept. of Transportation Traffic Camera view near the campus in Tallahassee" />
 <figcaption>Florida Dept. of Transportation Traffic Camera view near the campus in Tallahassee</figcaption>
 </figure>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Multiple victims were reported in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-shooting-what-to-know-d444a6ee8f31024f83f0ee320acf7339">shooting Thursday at Florida State University</a>&nbsp;and a suspect was taken into police custody, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.The extent of the victims’ injuries was not immediately known and there were no additional details about the person in custody, according to the person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.At least six people were being treated, including one person who was in critical condition, a spokesperson for Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said. The other patients were in serious condition, the spokesperson said.Authorities had not yet released details about the suspect or how the shooting unfolded.Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies raced toward the campus that sits just west of Florida's state capital after the university issued an active shooter alert midday Thursday, saying police were responding near the student union.Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old communications student, said he and about 30 others hid in the bowling alley in the lower level of the student union after seeing students running from a nearby bar.“In that moment, it was survival,” he said.After about 15 minutes of hiding, university police escorted the students out of the union and he saw a person getting emergency treatment on the lawn, he said.Hundreds of students streamed away from the student union. Some were glued to their phones while others hugged each other. Dozens gathered near the music school waiting for news.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump: &quot;I&#39;ve been briefed on the Florida State University Tallahassee active shooting...It’s a horrible thing…we&#39;ll have more to say about it later.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/N1OTFjZWsV">pic.twitter.com/N1OTFjZWsV</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1912943955739615468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>President Donald Trump said from the Oval Office that he had been fully briefed on the shooting. “It’s a horrible thing. It’s horrible that things like this takes place,” he said.Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X: “Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding.”Junior Joshua Sirmans, 20, was in the university’s main library when he said alarms began going off warning of an active shooter. Law enforcement officers escorted him and other students from the library with their hands over their heads, he said.Students and faculty across the campus were locked down in classrooms and sheltered in offices and dorm rooms after receiving the warnings.“I’m in shock, you know, it’s so hard to believe,” said Kai McGalla, a sophomore who spoke by phone while locked down at a campus testing center. “The first thing you think of is just, ‘This can’t be true,’ right?”Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a social media post that the Justice Department was in touch with FBI agents who were on the scene.Florida State University is one of Florida’s 12 public universities, with its main campus in Tallahassee. About 44,000 students are enrolled in the university, per the school’s 2024 fact sheet.Back in 2014, the main library was the site of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1be5cc23a6bf497baaf76e3928145c8e">shooting that wounded three people</a>. Officers shot and killed the gunman, 31-year-old Myron May.The university canceled all classes and events for Thursday, advising everyone to avoid coming to the main campus. It also canceled all home athletic events through Sunday.___Fischer reported from Fort Lauderdale. Associated Press reporters Stephany Matat in West Palm Beach, Curt Anderson in St. Petersburg, Michael Schneider in Orlando, Mike Balsamo in New York, Eric Tucker and Christopher Megerian in Washington, and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed to this report.---------------------------------TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A suspect has been taken into police custody and multiple victims were reported in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-university-shooter-alert-bf66a24ea91959697c7138089b2ef6fb">a shooting at Florida State University</a>, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.The extent of the victims’ injuries was not immediately known and there were no additional details about the person who was in custody.The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.Police and FBI were on scene at the university. Students and faculty were instructed to continue to seek shelter and await further instructions.<h2>Trump has been ‘fully briefed’</h2>The president opened his Oval Office meeting with the Italian prime minister with comments on the shooting at Florida State University.Trump said he had been “fully briefed.”“It’s a horrible thing. It’s horrible that things like this take place.”<h2>What to know about FSU</h2>Florida State University is one of Florida’s 12 public universities, with its main campus located in Tallahassee, where the shooting occurred, just minutes from the state Capitol building. About 44,300 students are enrolled in the university, per the school’s 2024 fact sheet.<h2>At least six people have been hospitalized</h2>One person is in critical condition, a spokesperson for Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said. The other patients are in serious condition, the spokesperson said.<h2>A suspect has been taken into police custody</h2>A suspect has been taken into police custody and multiple victims were reported in a shooting Thursday at Florida State University, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.The extent of the victims’ injuries was not immediately known and there were no additional details about the person who was in custody.The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.By Mike Balsamo<h2>FBI agents are on the scene, officials say</h2>Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a social media post that the Justice Department is in touch with FBI agents who are on the scene.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The <a href="https://twitter.com/FBI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBI</a> is on the scene at Florida State and we are in communication with agents on the ground. Our priority is the safety of everyone involved. We will keep updating as we learn more. Praying for all.&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/1912917643452883057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Our priority is the safety of everyone involved,” Bondi wrote on X. “We will keep updating as we learn more. Praying for all.”In a social media post, FBI Director Kash Patel said that he and his team had been briefed on the shooting and that agents from the bureau’s Jacksonville field office were at the school. “We will provide full support to local law enforcement as needed,” Patel said. “Please keep the FSU community in your prayers.”<h2>Governor responds to active shooting</h2>“Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding,” Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X.<h2>Scene on campus</h2>Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies raced toward the campus after the university issued an active shooter alert midday Thursday, saying police were responding near the student union.Hundreds of students streamed away from the direction of the student union. Students were glued to their phones, some visibly emotional, while others hugged each other. Dozens gathered near the music school, waiting for news.----------TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A shooting Thursday on the Florida State University campus sent an unknown number of people to a nearby hospital, a medical center spokesperson said.Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare was receiving and treating people affected by the shooting, said Sarah Cannon, a hospital spokesperson. She said the hospital cannot yet confirm the number of people in care, and said the details are still unfolding.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Continue to shelter in place. Police have responded to an active shooter call at the Student Union. Stay alert for more information. Persons in need of immediate emergency assistance should call 9-1-1 or FSUPD at 850-644-1234. All classes and university events including… <a href="https://t.co/htXm4555Fi">pic.twitter.com/htXm4555Fi</a>&mdash; Florida State University (@FloridaState) <a href="https://twitter.com/FloridaState/status/1912914256309244311?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies raced toward the campus midday Thursday after the university issued an active shooter alert near the student union.Hundreds of students streamed away from the direction of the student union. Students were glued to their phones, some visibly emotional.Junior Joshua Sirmans, 20, was in the university’s main library when he said alarms began going off warning of an active shooter. Sirmans said law enforcement officers escorted him and other students out of the library with their hands over their heads.FBI officials are on scene, a spokesperson said.Students and faculty were instructed to seek shelter and await further instructions.“Lock and stay away from all doors and windows and be prepared to take additional protective measures,” the alert said.

Suspect in custody in Florida State shooting; multiple victims

WASHINGTON (AP) —Google has been branded an abusive monopolist by a federal judge for the second time in less than a year, this time for illegally exploiting some of its online marketing technology to boost the profits fueling an internet empire currently worth $1.8 trillion.

The ruling issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia comes on the heels of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-antitrust-search-engine-verdict-apple-319a61f20fb11510097845a30abaefd8">a separate decision in August</a>&nbsp;that concluded Google’s namesake search engine has been illegally leveraging its dominance to stifle competition and innovation.

After the U.S. Justice Department targeted Google’s ubiquitous search engine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-justice-department-antitrust-0510e8f9047956254455ec5d4db06044">during President Donald Trump’s first administration</a>, the same agency went after the company’s lucrative digital advertising network in 2023 during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-sues-google-c6afce17327b30a098b1bd6a7e947b81">President Joe Biden’s ensuing administration</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to undercut the power that Google has amassed since its inception in a Silicon Valley garage in 1998.

Although antitrust regulators prevailed both times, the battle is likely to continue for several more years as Google tries to overturn the two monopoly decisions in appeals while forging ahead in the new and highly lucrative technological frontier of artificial intelligence.

The next step in the latest case is a penalty phase that will likely begin late this year or early next year. The same so-called “remedy” hearings in the search monopoly case are scheduled to begin Monday in Washington D.C., where Justice Department lawyers will try to convince U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta to impose a sweeping punishment that includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-search-monopoly-penalty-justice-department-84e07fec51c5c59751d846118cb900a7">a proposed requirement for Google to sell its Chrome web browser</a>.

WASHINGTON (AP) —Google has been branded an abusive monopolist by a federal judge for the second time in less than a year, this time for illegally exploiting some of its online marketing technology to boost the profits fueling an internet empire currently worth $1.8 trillion.The ruling issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia comes on the heels of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-antitrust-search-engine-verdict-apple-319a61f20fb11510097845a30abaefd8">a separate decision in August</a>&nbsp;that concluded Google’s namesake search engine has been illegally leveraging its dominance to stifle competition and innovation.After the U.S. Justice Department targeted Google’s ubiquitous search engine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-justice-department-antitrust-0510e8f9047956254455ec5d4db06044">during President Donald Trump’s first administration</a>, the same agency went after the company’s lucrative digital advertising network in 2023 during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-sues-google-c6afce17327b30a098b1bd6a7e947b81">President Joe Biden’s ensuing administration</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to undercut the power that Google has amassed since its inception in a Silicon Valley garage in 1998.Although antitrust regulators prevailed both times, the battle is likely to continue for several more years as Google tries to overturn the two monopoly decisions in appeals while forging ahead in the new and highly lucrative technological frontier of artificial intelligence.The next step in the latest case is a penalty phase that will likely begin late this year or early next year. The same so-called “remedy” hearings in the search monopoly case are scheduled to begin Monday in Washington D.C., where Justice Department lawyers will try to convince U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta to impose a sweeping punishment that includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-search-monopoly-penalty-justice-department-84e07fec51c5c59751d846118cb900a7">a proposed requirement for Google to sell its Chrome web browser</a>.

Judge rules Google is an online advertising monopoly

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 11a.m. April 14, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a red 1992 Nissan Sentra with a stolen license plate near SE 6th Avenue and SE Jefferson Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

A patrol deputy located the vehicle in the 600 block of SE Sherman Avenue. Three individuals were taken into custody. During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located.

Matthew B. Banks, 36, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of hallucinogenic drug, Use/possess with intent to use drug

paraphernalia into human body, Possession of stolen property, Driving while license suspended, Vehicle liability insurance and Possession of marijuana.

Kaylee D. Simmons, 33, of Topeka, was arrested and booked on requested charges of&nbsp; Interference with law enforcement, Possession of marijuana,&nbsp;&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body and&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of a hallucinogenic drug

Jeremiah J. Hennessee, 34, of Topeka, had three misdemeanor warrants for his arrest through the City of Topeka and was transported to municipal court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744721022175.png" alt="Banks photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Banks photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 11a.m. April 14, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a red 1992 Nissan Sentra with a stolen license plate near SE 6th Avenue and SE Jefferson Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.A patrol deputy located the vehicle in the 600 block of SE Sherman Avenue. Three individuals were taken into custody. During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744721004925.png" alt="Simmons photo Shawnee&nbsp; Co." />
 <figcaption>Simmons photo Shawnee&nbsp; Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Matthew B. Banks, 36, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of hallucinogenic drug, Use/possess with intent to use drugparaphernalia into human body, Possession of stolen property, Driving while license suspended, Vehicle liability insurance and Possession of marijuana.Kaylee D. Simmons, 33, of Topeka, was arrested and booked on requested charges of&nbsp; Interference with law enforcement, Possession of marijuana,&nbsp;&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body and&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of a hallucinogenic drugJeremiah J. Hennessee, 34, of Topeka, had three misdemeanor warrants for his arrest through the City of Topeka and was transported to municipal court.

Sheriff: Stolen license plate led to Kansas drug bust

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — More than 9,000 Catholic employers do not need to abide by federal regulations requiring accommodations for workers who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-abortion-d2a25371e09a20734803b1b9cce53c85">seek abortions</a>&nbsp;and fertility treatments, according to a ruling issued this week by a federal judge in North Dakota.

The Catholic Benefits Association and the Bismarck Diocese filed a lawsuit last year challenging the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s regulations on implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and childbirth-related needs. The EEOC interpreted the statute to include abortion and fertility treatments as among those needs, which the Catholic groups argued violated their religious rights.

The Catholic groups also challenged separate EEOC guidelines for enforcing anti-harassment laws, which the agency updated last year to specify that workers cannot be harassed over their gender-identity or for seeking or contemplating having abortions.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled Tuesday that he would make permanent an earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-catholic-benefits-association-abortion-bc75f5aeac6cc89967154e0ee9ab7804">preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;that blocked the EEOC from enforcing both its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-abortion-women-accomodations-18e5f726a9f6d04b2fa26036bbdcbb6f">final rule for</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-eeoc-rules-abortion-efbebe81e022ef8d7bb1bd3e0c317c3a">Pregnant Workers Fairness Act</a>&nbsp;and the harassment guidelines against the Catholic employers.

Traynor, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020, wrote last year: “It is a precarious time for people of religious faith in America. It has been described as a post-Christian age. One indication of this dire assessment may be the repeated illegal and unconstitutional administrative actions against one of the founding principles of our country, the free exercise of religion.”

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act initially had bipartisan support

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act passed with widespread bipartisan support in December 2022, and it had the support of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. But controversy ensued when the EEOC&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-abortion-d2a25371e09a20734803b1b9cce53c85">adopted an expansive view</a>&nbsp;of conditions related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pregnancy-and-childbirth">pregnancy and childbirth</a>&nbsp;that required accommodations, including for abortion, fertility treatment and birth control. While the rule includes an exemption for religious employers, it says determinations must be made on a case-by-case basis.

In earlier court papers, the association and the diocese said, “The combined effect of EEOC’s pronouncements is that they require CBA Members, contrary to their Catholic faith, to accommodate their employees’ abortions and immoral fertility treatments, to use false pronouns when requested by transitioning employees, to abstain from expressing Catholic teaching regarding sexual issues, and to give employees of one sex access to private spaces reserved to those of the other sex.”

Traynor was a board member of the North Dakota Catholic Conference, which represents the state’s Catholic bishops, according to a Senate Judiciary Committee judicial nominee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Daniel%20Mack%20Traynor%20Senate%20Questionnaire%20-%20PUBLIC.pdf" target="_blank">questionnaire</a>. In March 2024, he blocked the government from enforcing federal laws and regulations requiring a Christian employers’ organization to provide insurance coverage for gender-transition surgeries, counseling and other care.

Those that sued are ‘thankful ... for vindicating religious freedom rights’

Attorney Martin Nussbaum said his clients are “very thankful to the federal judiciary for vindicating religious freedom rights” in the case and previous ones involving the association.

“One of the things that we’ve seen is an emerging practice on behalf of some of the federal administrations — we also see this in certain states — a desire not only to mandate immoral benefits but to impose speech codes that would be contrary to Catholic values,” Nussbaum said. “But the speech codes go beyond pronouns to even speaking about what Catholic teaching is, and we’re just grateful to this court for protecting the freedom of speech of Catholic organizations as well.”

Bishop David D. Kagan, of Bismarck, said: “The Court has upheld our religious freedom rights and that is all we ever wanted.”

A Better Balance, a legal advocacy group that led a decades-long campaign for the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, condemned the ruling.

“This ruling is part of a broad trend of attacks on women’s rights and reproductive freedom. The fact that IVF — a highly popular and common medical procedure that millions of Catholics and Christians support — is being targeted speaks to the extremist nature of this case,” A Better Balance President Inimai Chettiar said in a statement.

Backers of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act say ruling could add to confusion

She said the ruling would contribute to confusion over implementation of a law that “was designed to close gaps in the law and bring clarity to pregnant workers and employers alike.” Chettiar emphasized that the entirety of the law remains in effect for most workers.

In an interview, she said it will be interesting to see whether the Justice Department appeals.

The EEOC declined to comment. It had previously asked the judge to deny a permanent injunction and said the other side can’t back up its claims.

However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eeoc-trump-gender-identity-discrimination-alabama-73a065c8aa5e0060472e1cac1ecd8212">the EEOC’s priorities have shifted dramatically</a>&nbsp;under the administration of Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/equal-employment-eeoc-trump-lawsuit-11c89b6c6a55c006c09345b1c80421b5">who fired two of the agency’s Democratic commissioners</a>&nbsp;in January. The new acting EEOC chair, Andrea Lucas, a Republican, has said she intends to push for a commission vote to change both the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act rules and the updated harassment guidelines.

The Catholic Benefits Association serves more than 9,000 Catholic employers and has about 164,000 employees enrolled in member health plans, according to its website.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744904171890.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — More than 9,000 Catholic employers do not need to abide by federal regulations requiring accommodations for workers who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-abortion-d2a25371e09a20734803b1b9cce53c85">seek abortions</a>&nbsp;and fertility treatments, according to a ruling issued this week by a federal judge in North Dakota.The Catholic Benefits Association and the Bismarck Diocese filed a lawsuit last year challenging the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s regulations on implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and childbirth-related needs. The EEOC interpreted the statute to include abortion and fertility treatments as among those needs, which the Catholic groups argued violated their religious rights.The Catholic groups also challenged separate EEOC guidelines for enforcing anti-harassment laws, which the agency updated last year to specify that workers cannot be harassed over their gender-identity or for seeking or contemplating having abortions.U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled Tuesday that he would make permanent an earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-catholic-benefits-association-abortion-bc75f5aeac6cc89967154e0ee9ab7804">preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;that blocked the EEOC from enforcing both its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-abortion-women-accomodations-18e5f726a9f6d04b2fa26036bbdcbb6f">final rule for</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-eeoc-rules-abortion-efbebe81e022ef8d7bb1bd3e0c317c3a">Pregnant Workers Fairness Act</a>&nbsp;and the harassment guidelines against the Catholic employers.Traynor, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020, wrote last year: “It is a precarious time for people of religious faith in America. It has been described as a post-Christian age. One indication of this dire assessment may be the repeated illegal and unconstitutional administrative actions against one of the founding principles of our country, the free exercise of religion.”<h2>Pregnant Workers Fairness Act initially had bipartisan support</h2>The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act passed with widespread bipartisan support in December 2022, and it had the support of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. But controversy ensued when the EEOC&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-abortion-d2a25371e09a20734803b1b9cce53c85">adopted an expansive view</a>&nbsp;of conditions related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pregnancy-and-childbirth">pregnancy and childbirth</a>&nbsp;that required accommodations, including for abortion, fertility treatment and birth control. While the rule includes an exemption for religious employers, it says determinations must be made on a case-by-case basis.In earlier court papers, the association and the diocese said, “The combined effect of EEOC’s pronouncements is that they require CBA Members, contrary to their Catholic faith, to accommodate their employees’ abortions and immoral fertility treatments, to use false pronouns when requested by transitioning employees, to abstain from expressing Catholic teaching regarding sexual issues, and to give employees of one sex access to private spaces reserved to those of the other sex.”Traynor was a board member of the North Dakota Catholic Conference, which represents the state’s Catholic bishops, according to a Senate Judiciary Committee judicial nominee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Daniel%20Mack%20Traynor%20Senate%20Questionnaire%20-%20PUBLIC.pdf" target="_blank">questionnaire</a>. In March 2024, he blocked the government from enforcing federal laws and regulations requiring a Christian employers’ organization to provide insurance coverage for gender-transition surgeries, counseling and other care.<h2>Those that sued are ‘thankful ... for vindicating religious freedom rights’</h2>Attorney Martin Nussbaum said his clients are “very thankful to the federal judiciary for vindicating religious freedom rights” in the case and previous ones involving the association.“One of the things that we’ve seen is an emerging practice on behalf of some of the federal administrations — we also see this in certain states — a desire not only to mandate immoral benefits but to impose speech codes that would be contrary to Catholic values,” Nussbaum said. “But the speech codes go beyond pronouns to even speaking about what Catholic teaching is, and we’re just grateful to this court for protecting the freedom of speech of Catholic organizations as well.”Bishop David D. Kagan, of Bismarck, said: “The Court has upheld our religious freedom rights and that is all we ever wanted.”A Better Balance, a legal advocacy group that led a decades-long campaign for the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, condemned the ruling.“This ruling is part of a broad trend of attacks on women’s rights and reproductive freedom. The fact that IVF — a highly popular and common medical procedure that millions of Catholics and Christians support — is being targeted speaks to the extremist nature of this case,” A Better Balance President Inimai Chettiar said in a statement.<h2>Backers of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act say ruling could add to confusion</h2>She said the ruling would contribute to confusion over implementation of a law that “was designed to close gaps in the law and bring clarity to pregnant workers and employers alike.” Chettiar emphasized that the entirety of the law remains in effect for most workers.In an interview, she said it will be interesting to see whether the Justice Department appeals.The EEOC declined to comment. It had previously asked the judge to deny a permanent injunction and said the other side can’t back up its claims.However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eeoc-trump-gender-identity-discrimination-alabama-73a065c8aa5e0060472e1cac1ecd8212">the EEOC’s priorities have shifted dramatically</a>&nbsp;under the administration of Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/equal-employment-eeoc-trump-lawsuit-11c89b6c6a55c006c09345b1c80421b5">who fired two of the agency’s Democratic commissioners</a>&nbsp;in January. The new acting EEOC chair, Andrea Lucas, a Republican, has said she intends to push for a commission vote to change both the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act rules and the updated harassment guidelines.The Catholic Benefits Association serves more than 9,000 Catholic employers and has about 164,000 employees enrolled in member health plans, according to its website.

Judge blocks worker protections for abortion and fertility care for Catholic employers

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect accused in connection with a fire near the Orpheum Theatre,&nbsp;200 N Broadway Street, in Wichita&nbsp; made his first court appearance Wednesday.

Jeremy Wycoff, 33, Wichita, was charged with aggravated arson and arson, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

On the evening of April 10, crews responded to report of a fire near the 102-year-old theatre that is undergoing renovations.&nbsp;

"Thanks to the quick response of Wichita Fire Department, the situation was contained before it caused any major damage to our building or our neighbors along First Street," the theatre announced on their social media page.

Police arrested Wycoff on Sunday and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp; His next court appearance (PH-CAD) is April 28. He remains jailed on&nbsp; a&nbsp;150,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744832383037.png" alt="Wycoff photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Wycoff photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect accused in connection with a fire near the Orpheum Theatre,&nbsp;200 N Broadway Street, in Wichita&nbsp; made his first court appearance Wednesday.Jeremy Wycoff, 33, Wichita, was charged with aggravated arson and arson, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;On the evening of April 10, crews responded to report of a fire near the 102-year-old theatre that is undergoing renovations.&nbsp;"Thanks to the quick response of Wichita Fire Department, the situation was contained before it caused any major damage to our building or our neighbors along First Street," the theatre announced on their social media page.Police arrested Wycoff on Sunday and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp; His next court appearance (PH-CAD) is April 28. He remains jailed on&nbsp; a&nbsp;150,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

Suspect in arson fire near historic Kan. theatre faced a judge

WASHINGTON (AP) —The president addressed about 40 Christian leaders in the White House’s Blue Room for an Easter prayer service and dinner, telling them, “I hope this is going to be one of the great Easters ever.”

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-hosts-easter-prayer-service-and-dinner/658676">Click here to watch th</a>e White House Easter Service and dinner.

He called the death and resurrection of Jesus “two of the most monumental events in history.”

In brief remarks that stuck mostly to a religious message — without the many lengthy asides the president usually relishes when giving speeches — Trump denounced the persecution of Christians in other parts of the world and noted the creation of a Department of Justice task force to combat anti-Christian bias.

Trump also told those gathered that his administration is filled with “fantastic people, and they’re people that believe like you do.”

WASHINGTON (AP) —The president addressed about 40 Christian leaders in the White House’s Blue Room for an Easter prayer service and dinner, telling them, “I hope this is going to be one of the great Easters ever.”<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-hosts-easter-prayer-service-and-dinner/658676">Click here to watch th</a>e White House Easter Service and dinner.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Three days later, Christ followers found the empty tomb. Jesus had defeated darkness and death, and promised new life to all of humankind, and that&#39;s what we celebrate each year at Easter, as we joyfully proclaim on Sunday, &#39;He is risen.&#39;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/bTpher5fUv">pic.twitter.com/bTpher5fUv</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1912650300411773010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: “Nearly 2,000 years ago during this sacred week, the living son of God entered Jerusalem in triumph… The savior of mankind, who brought truth and light into the world, was betrayed, arrested, tried, beaten, nailed to a cross, and crucified. For our sake, he gave up his… <a href="https://t.co/39r0YjZIS6">pic.twitter.com/39r0YjZIS6</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1912649062135853151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">✝️&quot;This Holy Week, Melania and I join in prayer with Christians celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—the living Son of God who conquered death, freed us from sin, and unlocked the gates of Heaven for all of humanity.&quot; –President Trump <a href="https://t.co/WdW2kRDi4p">pic.twitter.com/WdW2kRDi4p</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1911566089512952105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He called the death and resurrection of Jesus “two of the most monumental events in history.”In brief remarks that stuck mostly to a religious message — without the many lengthy asides the president usually relishes when giving speeches — Trump denounced the persecution of Christians in other parts of the world and noted the creation of a Department of Justice task force to combat anti-Christian bias.Trump also told those gathered that his administration is filled with “fantastic people, and they’re people that believe like you do.”

🎥Trump hosts Easter service and dinner at the White House

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting at a convenience store.

Just after 3:00 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting at the Kwik Shop gas station, 746 NE Wabash Avenue in Topeka, according to Topeka Police Lt. Edward Stanley. First responders located one individual with life threatening injuries.&nbsp; Medical personnel pronounced the victim deceased on scene. Police released no additional details including the name of the victim or suspect information.

This is the city’s 4th homicide investigation of 2025, according to Stanley.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744885831034.png" alt="Photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting at a convenience store.Just after 3:00 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting at the Kwik Shop gas station, 746 NE Wabash Avenue in Topeka, according to Topeka Police Lt. Edward Stanley. First responders located one individual with life threatening injuries.&nbsp; Medical personnel pronounced the victim deceased on scene. Police released no additional details including the name of the victim or suspect information.This is the city’s 4th homicide investigation of 2025, according to Stanley..

Police: 1 dead after shooting at Kansas convenience store

WASHINGTON (AP) —Attorney General&nbsp; Pam Bondi was asked at an unrelated news conference about the case of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-deportation-trump-9f46dd62890befdc321ed1ab56107470">El Salvador man living in Maryland</a>&nbsp;who was mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison. The Supreme Court has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-trump-deported-e537cfb69a9840046b5d3e512509e9a8">the administration must “facilitate” his release</a>.

Bondi said the U.S. government would fly him back on a plane if El Salvador President Nayib Bukele wanted to return him.

“President Bukele said he was not sending him back. That’s the end of the story,” Bondi said. Even if he were to return to the U.S., the government would deport him again, Bondi said.

“He would have come back, had one extra step of paperwork and gone back again. But he’s from El Salvador, he’s in El Salvador and that’s where the president plans on keeping him,” Bondi said.

The Trump administration has alleged he’s a member of MS-13. Abrego Garcia was never charged with a crime and has denied the allegations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744856849154.png" alt="File Image from video provided by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt" />
 <figcaption>File Image from video provided by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Attorney General&nbsp; Pam Bondi was asked at an unrelated news conference about the case of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-deportation-trump-9f46dd62890befdc321ed1ab56107470">El Salvador man living in Maryland</a>&nbsp;who was mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison. The Supreme Court has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-trump-deported-e537cfb69a9840046b5d3e512509e9a8">the administration must “facilitate” his release</a>.Bondi said the U.S. government would fly him back on a plane if El Salvador President Nayib Bukele wanted to return him.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The evidence shows Kilmar Abrego Garcia has repeatedly been identified as a member of MS-13 by: ⁃ A Maryland county police gang unit ⁃ A reliable confidential informant ⁃ ICE officers ⁃ An immigration judge agreed ⁃ An appellate board agreed <a href="https://t.co/ym0X4tYSAe">pic.twitter.com/ym0X4tYSAe</a>&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/1912682960156795369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“President Bukele said he was not sending him back. That’s the end of the story,” Bondi said. Even if he were to return to the U.S., the government would deport him again, Bondi said.“He would have come back, had one extra step of paperwork and gone back again. But he’s from El Salvador, he’s in El Salvador and that’s where the president plans on keeping him,” Bondi said.The Trump administration has alleged he’s a member of MS-13. Abrego Garcia was never charged with a crime and has denied the allegations.

🎥AG Pam Bondi: Wrongly deported man ‘is not coming back to our country’

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Hays firefighters responded to a house fire at 413 W. 14th St. at about 11:30 this morning.&nbsp;

Shane Preston, deputy fire chief, said the front porch of the multi-level home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.

One person, tenant Cassandra Brockmann, was home at the time of the fire, but was able to evacuate from the home uninjured.

Brockmann lived in the home with her two young children and a roommate who lived in the basement. The downstairs tenant and the children were not home at the time of the fire.

No firefighters were injured fighting the fire.

One pet was killed in the fire. Another pet was located after the fire was under control and given oxygen. Two other pets in the home were found safe, Preston said.

Preston said firefighters initially attacked the fire with a single line from a brush truck and brought the fire in check before using additional lines to extinguish the fire.

An investigation concluded that the cause of the fire was improperly extinguished smoking material on the front porch.

Preston estimated damages to be more than $50,000.

He said the fire caused extensive damage to the porch and broke out the home's front windows, which allowed smoke into the structure. He said there was much smoke damage throughout the home. Smoke and heat also made it to the second floor.

Closed doors limited the smoke damage in the bedrooms.

"We want to remind people when they do smoke, be sure they extinguish those cigarette butts properly, empty their butt cans and make sure they have a water source they can throw their cigarette butts into," Preston said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744831311350.jpeg" alt="A fire caused extensive damage to a house at 411 W. 14th St. in Hays this morning. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A fire caused extensive damage to a house at 411 W. 14th St. in Hays this morning. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHays firefighters responded to a house fire at 413 W. 14th St. at about 11:30 this morning.&nbsp;Shane Preston, deputy fire chief, said the front porch of the multi-level home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.One person, tenant Cassandra Brockmann, was home at the time of the fire, but was able to evacuate from the home uninjured.Brockmann lived in the home with her two young children and a roommate who lived in the basement. The downstairs tenant and the children were not home at the time of the fire.No firefighters were injured fighting the fire.One pet was killed in the fire. Another pet was located after the fire was under control and given oxygen. Two other pets in the home were found safe, Preston said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744831386632.jpeg" alt="Fire crews clean up at a house fire scene at 411 W. 14th St. this morning in Hays. The fire displaced four people. One person was at home at the time of the fire, but escaped without injury. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Fire crews clean up at a house fire scene at 411 W. 14th St. this morning in Hays. The fire displaced four people. One person was at home at the time of the fire, but escaped without injury. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Preston said firefighters initially attacked the fire with a single line from a brush truck and brought the fire in check before using additional lines to extinguish the fire.An investigation concluded that the cause of the fire was improperly extinguished smoking material on the front porch.Preston estimated damages to be more than $50,000.He said the fire caused extensive damage to the porch and broke out the home's front windows, which allowed smoke into the structure. He said there was much smoke damage throughout the home. Smoke and heat also made it to the second floor.Closed doors limited the smoke damage in the bedrooms."We want to remind people when they do smoke, be sure they extinguish those cigarette butts properly, empty their butt cans and make sure they have a water source they can throw their cigarette butts into," Preston said.

Pet dies, 3 other pets survive Kansas house fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — Health secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;warned that children in the U.S. are being diagnosed with autism at an “alarming rate,” promising on Wednesday to conduct exhaustive studies to identify any environmental factors that may cause the developmental disorder.

His call comes the day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autism-rates-us-rfk-diagnosis-cdc-cb3abd799edd591dc1ea6b63c69a2279">a report that found</a>&nbsp;an estimated 1 in 31 U.S. children have autism, a marked increase from 2020. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/ss/ss7402a1.htm?s_cid=ss7402a1_w">Click here to read the report.</a>

Autism experts applaud efforts to further understand the condition, but say the number of reported cases began to balloon as the definition of the condition expanded to include mild cases.

“Autism destroys families," Kennedy said. "More importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children. These are children who should not be suffering like this.”

Kennedy described autism as a “preventable disease,” although researchers and scientists have identified genetic factors that are associated with it. Autism is not considered a disease, but a complex disorder that affects the brain. Cases range widely in severity, with symptoms that can include delays in language, learning, and social or emotional skills. Some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adult-autism-diagnosis-spectrum-4babb9b0eea3335dddc93c35f7fcd913">autistic traits</a>&nbsp;can go unnoticed well into adulthood.

Those who have spent decades researching autism have found no single cause. Besides genetics, scientists have identified various possible factors, including the age of a child’s father, the mother’s weight, and whether she had diabetes or was exposed to certain chemicals.

Kennedy said his wide-ranging plan to determine the cause of autism will look at all of those environmental factors, and others. He had previously set a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autism-kennedy-trump-vaccines-rfk-jr-cdc-b66251888f039c80b15beda23c279d5b">September deadline</a>&nbsp;for determining what causes autism, but said Wednesday that by then, his department will determine at least “some” of the answers.

The effort will involve issuing grants to universities and researchers, Kennedy said. He said the researchers will be encouraged to “follow the science, no matter what it says.”

The Trump administration has recently&nbsp;<a href="https://taggs.hhs.gov/Content/Data/HHS_Grants_Terminated.pdf">canceled</a>&nbsp;billions of dollars in grants for health and science research sent to universities.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/ss/ss7402a1.htm?s_cid=ss7402a1_w">CDC’s latest autism data</a>&nbsp;was from 14 states and Puerto Rico in 2022. The previous estimate — from 2020 — was 1 in 36.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autism-tennis-jenson-brooksby-55fd36df73bfe3a429b959cb8efd399c">Boys</a>&nbsp;continue to be diagnosed more than girls, and the highest rates are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/bella-ramsey-on-sharing-autism-diagnosis-its-just-part-of-who-i-am-8efe3092914d420aba6def8a0231eca4">among children</a>&nbsp;who are Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native and Black.

To estimate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/profound-autism-rate-us-bc21057fabe11774843d4ac2197956a4">how common autism</a>&nbsp;is, the CDC checked health and school records for 8-year-olds, because most cases are diagnosed by that age. Other researchers have their own estimates, but experts say the CDC’s estimate is the most rigorous and the gold standard.

On Wednesday, Kennedy criticized theories that the rise in autism cases can be attributed to more awareness about the disorder. Autism researchers have cited heightened awareness, as well as medical advancements and increased diagnoses of mild cases.

“The reasons for increases in autism diagnosis come down to scientific and health care progress,” said Annette Estes, director of the autism center at the University of Washington. "It's hard for many people to understand this because the causes of autism are complex.”

The Autism Science Foundation said Kennedy’s emphasis on environmental factors contradicted the findings in the CDC’s report.

“This report is the most convincing evidence yet that changes in factors like access to services and de-stigmatization of (autism spectrum disorders) are leading to the increases in prevalence,” said Autism Science Foundation Chief Science Officer Dr. Alycia Halladay.

Associated Press writers JoNel Aleccia in Temecula, California, and Mike Stobbe in Atlanta contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Health secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;warned that children in the U.S. are being diagnosed with autism at an “alarming rate,” promising on Wednesday to conduct exhaustive studies to identify any environmental factors that may cause the developmental disorder.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecKennedy</a> on autism: &quot;This is an individual tragedy as well. Autism destroys families but more importantly it destroys our greatest resource, which are our children...we have to recognize we are doing this to our children and we need to put an end to it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/gbCfiEOcyY">pic.twitter.com/gbCfiEOcyY</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1912533292148027745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>His call comes the day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autism-rates-us-rfk-diagnosis-cdc-cb3abd799edd591dc1ea6b63c69a2279">a report that found</a>&nbsp;an estimated 1 in 31 U.S. children have autism, a marked increase from 2020. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/ss/ss7402a1.htm?s_cid=ss7402a1_w">Click here to read the report.</a>Autism experts applaud efforts to further understand the condition, but say the number of reported cases began to balloon as the definition of the condition expanded to include mild cases.“Autism destroys families," Kennedy said. "More importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children. These are children who should not be suffering like this.”Kennedy described autism as a “preventable disease,” although researchers and scientists have identified genetic factors that are associated with it. Autism is not considered a disease, but a complex disorder that affects the brain. Cases range widely in severity, with symptoms that can include delays in language, learning, and social or emotional skills. Some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adult-autism-diagnosis-spectrum-4babb9b0eea3335dddc93c35f7fcd913">autistic traits</a>&nbsp;can go unnoticed well into adulthood.Those who have spent decades researching autism have found no single cause. Besides genetics, scientists have identified various possible factors, including the age of a child’s father, the mother’s weight, and whether she had diabetes or was exposed to certain chemicals.Kennedy said his wide-ranging plan to determine the cause of autism will look at all of those environmental factors, and others. He had previously set a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autism-kennedy-trump-vaccines-rfk-jr-cdc-b66251888f039c80b15beda23c279d5b">September deadline</a>&nbsp;for determining what causes autism, but said Wednesday that by then, his department will determine at least “some” of the answers.The effort will involve issuing grants to universities and researchers, Kennedy said. He said the researchers will be encouraged to “follow the science, no matter what it says.”The Trump administration has recently&nbsp;<a href="https://taggs.hhs.gov/Content/Data/HHS_Grants_Terminated.pdf">canceled</a>&nbsp;billions of dollars in grants for health and science research sent to universities.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/ss/ss7402a1.htm?s_cid=ss7402a1_w">CDC’s latest autism data</a>&nbsp;was from 14 states and Puerto Rico in 2022. The previous estimate — from 2020 — was 1 in 36.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autism-tennis-jenson-brooksby-55fd36df73bfe3a429b959cb8efd399c">Boys</a>&nbsp;continue to be diagnosed more than girls, and the highest rates are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/bella-ramsey-on-sharing-autism-diagnosis-its-just-part-of-who-i-am-8efe3092914d420aba6def8a0231eca4">among children</a>&nbsp;who are Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native and Black.To estimate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/profound-autism-rate-us-bc21057fabe11774843d4ac2197956a4">how common autism</a>&nbsp;is, the CDC checked health and school records for 8-year-olds, because most cases are diagnosed by that age. Other researchers have their own estimates, but experts say the CDC’s estimate is the most rigorous and the gold standard.On Wednesday, Kennedy criticized theories that the rise in autism cases can be attributed to more awareness about the disorder. Autism researchers have cited heightened awareness, as well as medical advancements and increased diagnoses of mild cases.“The reasons for increases in autism diagnosis come down to scientific and health care progress,” said Annette Estes, director of the autism center at the University of Washington. "It's hard for many people to understand this because the causes of autism are complex.”The Autism Science Foundation said Kennedy’s emphasis on environmental factors contradicted the findings in the CDC’s report.“This report is the most convincing evidence yet that changes in factors like access to services and de-stigmatization of (autism spectrum disorders) are leading to the increases in prevalence,” said Autism Science Foundation Chief Science Officer Dr. Alycia Halladay.___Associated Press writers JoNel Aleccia in Temecula, California, and Mike Stobbe in Atlanta contributed to this report.

🎥Health secretary RFK Jr. calls growing rate of autism an 'epidemic'

PAWNEE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred just after 2:30p.m. Wednesday in Pawnee County.

The patrol reported a vehicle was westbound on U.S. Highway 56 five miles west of Garfield. 

The vehicle traveled onto the north shoulder, into a ditch, struck a dirt embankment and rolled end over end before coming to rest in the ditch.

The Patrol reported no additional details late Wednesday. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

PAWNEE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred just after 2:30p.m. Wednesday in Pawnee County.The patrol reported a vehicle was westbound on U.S. Highway 56 five miles west of Garfield. The vehicle traveled onto the north shoulder, into a ditch, struck a dirt embankment and rolled end over end before coming to rest in the ditch.The Patrol reported no additional details late Wednesday. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

KHP investigating fatal rollover crash

KANSAS CITY—Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced a total of 18 felony charges have been filed against the owner of a Kansas City towing company and his mother, following an in-depth investigation by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, law enforcement, and the Department of Revenue Compliance and Investigation Bureau into illegal towing practices.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2580/Donald-Adamson-RED-COMPLAINT-DA">Donald Adamson</a>&nbsp;and Lannette Adamson face four counts of Stealing, four counts of Forgery, and 1st Degree Harassment.

“After months of investigation by our assistant prosecutors and law enforcement partners, I am proud to present charges as we work to hold predatory towing companies accountable for their actions,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “The impact of illegal towing falls hardest on those already struggling financially, creating a snowball effect of towing fees, lost wages, transportation challenges, and stress piling up. I am proud of our team for building a strong case and bringing justice to victims impacted by these practices. We will not tolerate businesses that exploit hardworking people in Jackson County.”&nbsp;

The investigation revealed Metro Tow and Transport owner Donald Adamson and employee Lannette Adamson&nbsp;allegedly acted in concert to allow&nbsp;the company to tow vehicles illegally without proper authorization; falsified required 4669 Forms; and made it extremely difficult for victims to retrieve their vehicles.

State law requires towing companies to have a properly completed and signed 4669 Form with a signature from an authorized, full-time employee representative of the property who must also be present at the time of removal. Tow companies must also report vehicle information to police, so owners can be notified of the location of their vehicle. State law requires the property representative to provide an original signature and should not be photocopied.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2575/AdamsonDonald---PC-Statement-Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were made aware of numerous complaints and disputes related to Metro Tow and Transport over the past several years. Victims questioned the legitimacy of their tows and the lengthy, almost impossible tasks of retrieving their vehicles from the tow lot.

Donald has another active case from last year for similar illegal towing conduct.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744835942075.png" alt="Adamson photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Adamson photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced a total of 18 felony charges have been filed against the owner of a Kansas City towing company and his mother, following an in-depth investigation by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, law enforcement, and the Department of Revenue Compliance and Investigation Bureau into illegal towing practices.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744836235521.png" alt="Adamson photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Adamson photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2580/Donald-Adamson-RED-COMPLAINT-DA">Donald Adamson</a>&nbsp;and Lannette Adamson face four counts of Stealing, four counts of Forgery, and 1st Degree Harassment.“After months of investigation by our assistant prosecutors and law enforcement partners, I am proud to present charges as we work to hold predatory towing companies accountable for their actions,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “The impact of illegal towing falls hardest on those already struggling financially, creating a snowball effect of towing fees, lost wages, transportation challenges, and stress piling up. I am proud of our team for building a strong case and bringing justice to victims impacted by these practices. We will not tolerate businesses that exploit hardworking people in Jackson County.”&nbsp;The investigation revealed Metro Tow and Transport owner Donald Adamson and employee Lannette Adamson&nbsp;allegedly acted in concert to allow&nbsp;the company to tow vehicles illegally without proper authorization; falsified required 4669 Forms; and made it extremely difficult for victims to retrieve their vehicles.State law requires towing companies to have a properly completed and signed 4669 Form with a signature from an authorized, full-time employee representative of the property who must also be present at the time of removal. Tow companies must also report vehicle information to police, so owners can be notified of the location of their vehicle. State law requires the property representative to provide an original signature and should not be photocopied.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2575/AdamsonDonald---PC-Statement-Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were made aware of numerous complaints and disputes related to Metro Tow and Transport over the past several years. Victims questioned the legitimacy of their tows and the lengthy, almost impossible tasks of retrieving their vehicles from the tow lot.Donald has another active case from last year for similar illegal towing conduct.

Kansas City towing company owner, mother forged docs to move cars

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just before 3p.m. April 13, sheriff's deputies&nbsp;arrested 39-year-old Amy Cash of Pulaski County Missouri. She was wanted on $25,000 Felony Warrants for Theft, Criminal Use of a Financial Card and Possession of a Depressant, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant. 

She remains jailed on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744731583640.png" alt="Cash-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Cash-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.Just before 3p.m. April 13, sheriff's deputies&nbsp;arrested 39-year-old Amy Cash of Pulaski County Missouri. She was wanted on $25,000 Felony Warrants for Theft, Criminal Use of a Financial Card and Possession of a Depressant, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant. She remains jailed on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Kansas deputy captured woman wanted for ID theft in Missouri

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday said he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436.81.0_1.pdf">criminal contempt</a>&nbsp;of court for violating his orders last month to turn around planes carrying deportees to an El Salvador prison.

<a href="https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2025cv0766-81">Click here to read the full ruling</a>

The ruling from U.S District Judge James E. Boasberg, whom President Donald Trump has said should be impeached, marks a dramatic battle between the judicial and executive branches of government over the president’s powers to carry out key White House priorities.

Boasberg accused administration officials of rushing deportees out of the country under the Alien Enemies Act last month before they could challenge their removal in court, and then willfully disregarding his order that planes already in the air should return to the United States.

The judge warned he could hold hearings and potentially refer the matter for prosecution if the administration does not act to remedy the violation. If the Justice Department declines to prosecute the matter, Boasberg said he will appoint another attorney to do so.

“The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders — especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it," wrote Boasberg, the chief judge of Washington's federal court.

“The President is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country,” White House communications director Steven Cheung wrote in a post on X.

The case has become one of the most contentious amid a slew of legal battles being waged against the Republican administration that has put the White House on a collision course with the federal courts.

Administration officials have repeatedly criticized judges for reigning in the president's actions, accusing the courts of improperly impinging on his executive powers. Trump and his allies have called for impeaching Boasberg, prompting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-federal-judges-impeachment-29da1153a9f82106748098a6606fec39">a rare statement</a>&nbsp;from Chief Justice John Roberts, who said “impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.”

Boasberg said the government could avoid contempt proceedings if it takes custody of the deportees, who were sent to the El Salvador prison in violation of his order, so they have a chance to challenge their removal. It was not clear how that would work because he said the government "would not need to release any of those individuals, nor would it need to transport them back to the homeland.”

In a separate case, the administration has acknowledged mistakenly deporting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-abrego-garcia-e1b2af6528f915a1f0ec60f9a1c73cdd">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>&nbsp;to the El Salvador prison, but does not intend to return him to the U.S. despite a Supreme Court ruling that the administration must “facilitate” his release. The judge in that case has said she is determining whether to undertake contempt proceedings, saying officials “appear to have done nothing to aid in Abrego Garcia’s release from custody and return to the United States.”

Boasberg, who was nominated for the federal bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, had ordered the administration last month not to deport anyone in its custody under the Alien Enemies Act after Trump invoked the 1798 wartime law over what he claimed was an invasion by the Venezuelan gang&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tren-de-aragua-gang-venezuela-trump-40ec0390047c2b17e961dd029da02e65">Tren de Aragua</a>.

When Boasberg was told there were already planes in the air headed to El Salvador, which has agreed to house deported migrants in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-el-salvador-immigration-dd4f61999f85c4dd8bcaba7d4fc7c9af">notorious</a>&nbsp;prison, the judge said the aircraft needed to be returned to the United States. But hours later, El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, announced that the deportees had arrived in his country. In a social media post, he said, “Oopsie...too late” above an article referencing Boasberg’s order.

The administration has argued it did not violate any orders, noted the judge did not include the turnaround directive in his written order and said the planes had already left the U.S. by the time that order came down.

The Supreme Court earlier this month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-deportations-el-salvador-9988b667199e1b02fc0a6a83570225c1">vacated Boasberg's temporary order</a>&nbsp;blocking the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, but said the immigrants must be given a chance to fight their removals before they are deported. The conservative majority said the legal challenges must take place in Texas, instead of a Washington courtroom.

Boasberg wrote that even though the Supreme Court found his order “suffered from a legal defect,” that “does not excuse the Government’s violation.”

He wrote that the government's “conduct betrayed a desire to outrun the equitable reach of the Judiciary.”

"The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions. None of their responses has been satisfactory," Boasberg wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744068208069.png" alt="Image from video provided by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt" />
 <figcaption>Image from video provided by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday said he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436.81.0_1.pdf">criminal contempt</a>&nbsp;of court for violating his orders last month to turn around planes carrying deportees to an El Salvador prison.<a href="https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2025cv0766-81">Click here to read the full ruling</a>The ruling from U.S District Judge James E. Boasberg, whom President Donald Trump has said should be impeached, marks a dramatic battle between the judicial and executive branches of government over the president’s powers to carry out key White House priorities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744833653771.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Boasberg accused administration officials of rushing deportees out of the country under the Alien Enemies Act last month before they could challenge their removal in court, and then willfully disregarding his order that planes already in the air should return to the United States.The judge warned he could hold hearings and potentially refer the matter for prosecution if the administration does not act to remedy the violation. If the Justice Department declines to prosecute the matter, Boasberg said he will appoint another attorney to do so.“The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders — especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it," wrote Boasberg, the chief judge of Washington's federal court.The administration said it would appeal.“The President is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country,” White House communications director Steven Cheung wrote in a post on X.The case has become one of the most contentious amid a slew of legal battles being waged against the Republican administration that has put the White House on a collision course with the federal courts.Administration officials have repeatedly criticized judges for reigning in the president's actions, accusing the courts of improperly impinging on his executive powers. Trump and his allies have called for impeaching Boasberg, prompting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-federal-judges-impeachment-29da1153a9f82106748098a6606fec39">a rare statement</a>&nbsp;from Chief Justice John Roberts, who said “impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.”Boasberg said the government could avoid contempt proceedings if it takes custody of the deportees, who were sent to the El Salvador prison in violation of his order, so they have a chance to challenge their removal. It was not clear how that would work because he said the government "would not need to release any of those individuals, nor would it need to transport them back to the homeland.”In a separate case, the administration has acknowledged mistakenly deporting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-abrego-garcia-e1b2af6528f915a1f0ec60f9a1c73cdd">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>&nbsp;to the El Salvador prison, but does not intend to return him to the U.S. despite a Supreme Court ruling that the administration must “facilitate” his release. The judge in that case has said she is determining whether to undertake contempt proceedings, saying officials “appear to have done nothing to aid in Abrego Garcia’s release from custody and return to the United States.”Boasberg, who was nominated for the federal bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, had ordered the administration last month not to deport anyone in its custody under the Alien Enemies Act after Trump invoked the 1798 wartime law over what he claimed was an invasion by the Venezuelan gang&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tren-de-aragua-gang-venezuela-trump-40ec0390047c2b17e961dd029da02e65">Tren de Aragua</a>.When Boasberg was told there were already planes in the air headed to El Salvador, which has agreed to house deported migrants in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-el-salvador-immigration-dd4f61999f85c4dd8bcaba7d4fc7c9af">notorious</a>&nbsp;prison, the judge said the aircraft needed to be returned to the United States. But hours later, El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, announced that the deportees had arrived in his country. In a social media post, he said, “Oopsie...too late” above an article referencing Boasberg’s order.The administration has argued it did not violate any orders, noted the judge did not include the turnaround directive in his written order and said the planes had already left the U.S. by the time that order came down.The Supreme Court earlier this month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-deportations-el-salvador-9988b667199e1b02fc0a6a83570225c1">vacated Boasberg's temporary order</a>&nbsp;blocking the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, but said the immigrants must be given a chance to fight their removals before they are deported. The conservative majority said the legal challenges must take place in Texas, instead of a Washington courtroom.Boasberg wrote that even though the Supreme Court found his order “suffered from a legal defect,” that “does not excuse the Government’s violation.”He wrote that the government's “conduct betrayed a desire to outrun the equitable reach of the Judiciary.”"The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions. None of their responses has been satisfactory," Boasberg wrote.

Read the ruling: Judge threatens Trump admin. over deportation flights

HARVEY COUNTY —On Wednesday, the Harvey County Attorney reported&nbsp; Judge Michael X. Llamas sentenced 71-year-old&nbsp;Edward L. Altum of Newton, to 208 months in Kansas Department of Corrections custody following a conviction for 2nd Degree Intentional Homicide and Aggravated Battery in the killing of his wife Peggy S. Altum.

On December 15, 2023, in the early morning hours Newton Police officers were dispatched to a report of a shooting in the 2000 Block of Terrace Drive in Newton after a caller advised a shooting had occurred at the residence. The man who called then disconnected the call.

When law enforcement arrived on scene, Mr. Altum exited the house with his hands raised above his head and when asked if everyone was ok inside the residence he replied no. Officers located a .22 caliber revolver laying on the kitchen counter and his wife, the victim, lying in bed with multiple gunshot injuries. 

She was transported to Wesley Medical Center where she died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702667856753.png" alt="Altum photo Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>Altum photo Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —On Wednesday, the Harvey County Attorney reported&nbsp; Judge Michael X. Llamas sentenced 71-year-old&nbsp;Edward L. Altum of Newton, to 208 months in Kansas Department of Corrections custody following a conviction for 2nd Degree Intentional Homicide and Aggravated Battery in the killing of his wife Peggy S. Altum.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703175587665.jpeg" alt="Peggy Sue Altum-courtesy. photo" />
 <figcaption>Peggy Sue Altum-courtesy. photo</figcaption>
 </figure>On December 15, 2023, in the early morning hours Newton Police officers were dispatched to a report of a shooting in the 2000 Block of Terrace Drive in Newton after a caller advised a shooting had occurred at the residence. The man who called then disconnected the call.When law enforcement arrived on scene, Mr. Altum exited the house with his hands raised above his head and when asked if everyone was ok inside the residence he replied no. Officers located a .22 caliber revolver laying on the kitchen counter and his wife, the victim, lying in bed with multiple gunshot injuries. She was transported to Wesley Medical Center where she died.

Kansas man going to prison for killing his wife

JEWELL COUNTY — What began as a routine traffic stop turned into something much more meaningful in eastern Jewell County Wednesday morning.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Trooper Mai was on patrol when a vehicle approached his patrol car at 92 mph in a 65-mph zone. As Trooper Mai turned around and attempted to stop the vehicle, he noticed it was crossing the centerline and initially failed to yield to emergency lights—causing concern.

Thankfully, the vehicle eventually pulled over, and Trooper Mai made contact with the elderly driver. After taking time to talk with him, it became clear this wasn’t just about speeding. 

The driver appeared confused and was trying to make his way back to Omaha, Nebraska. Further investigation revealed the driver had been reported missing from Omaha. 

His wife hadn’t seen him since the day before and he was listed as a missing person with Alzheimer’s. With help from the Omaha Police Department, Republic County Sheriff’s Office, and a nearby first responder, Trooper Mai was able to ensure the driver’s safety, arrange for his vehicle to be transported safely, and coordinate a reunion with the man’s family.

"This is another reminder that while the mission of the KHP is to keep Kansas roads safe, Troopers also here to help those in need—and sometimes, that means reuniting a family."

JEWELL COUNTY — What began as a routine traffic stop turned into something much more meaningful in eastern Jewell County Wednesday morning.According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Trooper Mai was on patrol when a vehicle approached his patrol car at 92 mph in a 65-mph zone. As Trooper Mai turned around and attempted to stop the vehicle, he noticed it was crossing the centerline and initially failed to yield to emergency lights—causing concern.Thankfully, the vehicle eventually pulled over, and Trooper Mai made contact with the elderly driver. After taking time to talk with him, it became clear this wasn’t just about speeding. The driver appeared confused and was trying to make his way back to Omaha, Nebraska. Further investigation revealed the driver had been reported missing from Omaha. His wife hadn’t seen him since the day before and he was listed as a missing person with Alzheimer’s. With help from the Omaha Police Department, Republic County Sheriff’s Office, and a nearby first responder, Trooper Mai was able to ensure the driver’s safety, arrange for his vehicle to be transported safely, and coordinate a reunion with the man’s family."This is another reminder that while the mission of the KHP is to keep Kansas roads safe, Troopers also here to help those in need—and sometimes, that means reuniting a family."